Awe

Awe

Pause today…read slowly…savor each thought…and worship!

God, You live forever—You have no beginning and no end.

fire punchBy Your word, the foundations of the world were laid.

Mountains tremble, and the heavens bow at Your command.

Your lightning reaches the ends of the earth. Your thunder roars wondrously.

The heavens are telling the glory of God, and their expanse declares the works of His hands.

From Your breath ice is made, and the great expanse of the waters is frozen.

With moisture You load the thick clouds and change their direction.

Beautiful cloudscape over the seaWho else can spread out the skies like a molten mirror when the sun goes down?

Who else could lay the foundation of the earth, setting its measurements in perfect balance?

You enclosed the sea with doors, placing boundaries on it, saying here your proud waters stop.

You have entered the springs of the sea and walked in the deep recesses of the earth.

Dollarphotoclub_701202421-1024x787You have seen the storehouses of the snow and hail, and know their time of release.

You bring rain showers on the desert and satisfy the desolate land.

You create dew, making the seeds of grass and grain to sprout.

photo 7You lead forth a constellation in its season, binding the chains of Pleiades and the cords of Orion.

You arranged the ordinances of the heavens and fixed their rule over the earth.

You satisfy the appetite of the young lion, and know the time the mountain goats give birth.

horseGod, You see the ostrich flap her wings joyously, and have given the horse his might.

By Your understanding, You made a hawk to soar and caused the eagle to nest on high.

Your voice shakes the wilderness but also makes the deer calve.

All this speaks of Your wonder and majesty, things too wonderful for me!Continue reading

Cadence

Cadence

cemetery fallen soldiers in World War I Flanders BelgiumYears ago, I had a dream where wounded and dying people covered the landscape as far as the eye could see. A great battle had taken place. I stood in their midst and felt despair. Shaking my fist, an angry primal groan rose up in my spirit against the enemy. I wanted to scream, “Leeavve themmm alonne!” but could not form any words. My groaning startled my husband out of his sleep.

Even when I’m awake, my prayers for broken and wounded people often amount to the equivalent—deep wordless groans. I believe God understands.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together…In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”     –Romans 8:22,26

So one morning, I asked God for His perspective on the brokenness of the world. As I quieted my thoughts and waited, the word CADENCE came to mind.

Cadence Chords

Hmm. Something to do with rhythm? I wondered. What could it mean?Continue reading

Lost Outside

Lost Outside

It was all so perfect. We’d planned it for months! And as we hoped, the surprise brought more unfettered joy than I’d seen in a child for a long time.

She asked, “Is Christmas, um…nexterday?” As a four-year-old, she was searching for the word “tomorrow.”

“Yes,” I said, “Tomorrow, and tonight is Christmas Eve!”

Santa BagWe sat around the dinner table in the soft glow of candlelight. When I finished eating, I took some garbage out to the garage and snuck around to the front door to leave a small Santa bag on the doormat. Then I knocked hard three times, before running back through the garage into the house.

My granddaughter nearly jumped out of her pajamas.

“Someone’s here!” Her mother played along with enthusiasm.

“What! What’s going on?” I said.

“There was a knock!” she said to me, half-scared, half-excited. She wiggled down from her father’s arms, and we tiptoed to the door. I unlocked it and slowly opened the door a crack. No one was there. Only the Santa Bag! She shrieked with delight as Santa had brought an early present the same way last Christmas.

ErnieInside, wrapped in white tissue paper and tied with a red ribbon…Continue reading