The Hand That Sustains Me

Your precious hand
That You offer me
Nail printed.....
Revealing Your poured out love, Your sacrifice,
Your desire to provide for me to enter into You
Enter into the promise, the covenant, into union with You.

Your hand in mine
On the path, through the storm,
In the everyday, in the new adventure,
Through the wildness, the unknown,
In the midst....

As I slip my hand into Yours...and believe
Hope begins to stir
As an infusion of Your love explodes in my spirit...
Your goodness is real
Your love unfailing
Your peace all compassing
Your provision supernatural.

Your hand in mine on the journey
Never alone...
Your hand in mine in the storm
Releasing hope...wisdom...
Your hand in mine in this new adventure..
Peace, promises revelation, guidance.

Your hand in mine
Pursues and overtakes my enemies
Striking them down,
Making them so they will never rise again.

With Your hand in mine
I am victorious
More than a conqueror
Loved beyond measure

With Your hand in mine...
I can reign
I can bless
I can plant those seeds and do those good works
That You planned for me before the foundation of the world

With Your hand in mine
I truly am satisfied...complete...abundantly blessed and free!!'

My Friend Bette

My friend next door is with Jesus now...
We knew each other since 1998.
She and her husband lived with their son, who had moved into the house beside ours...

My friend, Bette, and her husband, Herb, took delight in getting to know each of my seven children.
They enjoyed receiving updates about what was going on in their lives...
We often exchanged recipes, shared garden produce, went to church events together,
And just enjoyed chatting together...

I remember the day so vividly, when I saw them out in the yard together and I went over to "catch up"
Herb sadly told me that Bette had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.
Bette cautiously continued and said,
"I don't know what is ahead... but I am forgetting things."

Those words have rung in my ears often these last 7 years
As I realized that conversation was an appointed God moment...
God had intertwined my life with Bette for a specific purpose...
And one of those purposes was obvious throughout the next 7 years...
He was giving me the privilege of walking along side of my friend as she went through this trial
My role changed from not only being her friend and neighbor,
But also her caregiver and nurse.

This was God's gift to me...
Oh, it was so much more than a job, so much more than monetary provision...

It was the beautiful story and example of a husband who loved his wife so unconditionally,
Even when she couldn't give anything in return...he loved her
Patting her head, giving her kisses, reminiscing about their wedding date and married life..

It was the story of their life together that strengthened me...

It was God speaking to me through this frail lady as I took care of her,
Telling me that her life was so valuable to Him...

It was the songs that I would sing and hear her try to sing some of the words...

It was the precious pats and embraces she would give me as I cared for her when she could no longer communicate with words...

It was the assurance that the Father gave me that He was ministering to her soul and spirit as I prayed and sang over her...

It was the privilege of caring, encouraging, being able to lavish love
Upon this beautiful woman of God, this radiant bride of Christ, this loving mother,
This endearing wife, this precious friend...

I could go on and on
But as I look back, I see a brave, courageous woman of God face a horrible disease...
And I was given the privilege of walking it with her as I cared for her,
Learning so much through the process as I watched the fruit of this woman's life
On display when all natural barriers were gone...
Jesus spilled from her character and mannerisms...despite the disease...

I am an enriched person today, Bette...
Because the Lord allowed me to be in your life up to the very end...
I am grateful and I look forward with anticipation
to our reunion in heaven one day
When we will again have so many stories to share...

I

A Tender Father

"As tenderly as a Father  treats His children,
so Yahweh treats those who fear Him. "
Psalms 103:13

As I read this verse,
A picture of my son-in- law came to mind.
He just had his first child
Baby calms down for Daddy, my son-in- law, easily.
Daddy takes him in his arms
And gently soothes him saying,
Ah, what is the matter, everything is alright."
And he comforts him, sings to him, walks him, pats him,
And that baby is fast to sleep in minutes.

Before he goes to work,
He says,
"Let me change his diaper, I love caring for my son in this way. "
And the first thing he says when he comes home,
"Where is my baby? Daddy missed you!"

Yes, as tenderly as a father treats his children,
So God loves His own, His sons and daughters.

Thank you Byron for giving me this picture of a tender Heavenly Father!

Sitting at His Feet

Mary...seated herself at the feet of Jesus...
She sat there at His feet, content
Whispering, "Yes, Lord, I want You,
I want to breathe You in...
I love Your words...they comfort me, encourage me, lift my spirit.
They give me a new way to think, a new way to look at life.
Your words speak hope into me
They bring peace to my spirit.
Your words are different than any other,
They are words of life
Words of love
Words of acceptance....."

Mary stayed at Jesus feet.
She wasn't interested in a quick fix, a mend job,
Or a pat on the back of a duty done for the day...
No, she wanted more
More of His presence, His light, His truth.

And so she stayed and listened
Becoming acquainted with His voice
Allowing His words to change her, transform her, beautify herr
She stayed there...falling in love again and again.

Jesus replied, "One thing is necessary, what Mary has chosen is best,
And it cannot be taken from her."

I Need You

I throw myself
Headlong...into Your embrace, God.
Your embrace, Your outstretched arms...
I so need to lay my head upon Your chest
And feel Your arms tightly holding me.
I need to hear Your heartbeat at this moment.
I need to hear Your endearments whispered into my ear...

I need to stay her a bit
Until I am reassured again
That I am safe with You,
Until I know
That You'll never let go
You'll never forsake, never disappoint...

The pounding of Your heart's desire of love
Reassures that is is true...
Your love is real, it's deep, it's wide...
It's unfathomably magnificent,
And it's forever!

The Lies

The enemy comes to me
And tells me that my God is far away...
That He is hidden,
That He doesn't care...

Yes, that enemy whispers lies about my God into my ear
Trying to convince me
That my God is not good
That He is withholding His love
Because of this and that...

And then that liar changes his tune
And says, if I do this and that...
God will come through for me.
And if I don't eat or drink this...
God will come through for me.
Or if I go here or there
He will be accessible...

But it's all a lie...

Because my God is already here...
He is wrapped around me
Even though I cannot see...
Even though I can't feel Him.
He is already holding me tight and true
Because I am His...

He knows it all...
He knows my mess, my past, my present
He knows my thoughts at this very moment...
And His love doesn't change.
Always and forever
His love remains abundantly, magnificently more
Than I can imagine or comprehend...

The truth puts a new song in my heart...
It allows me to see the new day arising...
And praise begins to bubble up!

His Faithfulness

Is there a limit to Your faithfulness, God?
Does Your faithfulness have a boundary, a time limit, a contingence?

Is there a shadow of change to Your faithfulness,
A span of remiss, a season of hiddenness?

Does Your faithfulness have a top, a bottom, a measurement...

No, Your great faithfulness is infinite
Stretching over the whole world
To all generations, all ages,
In all circumstances, in all cultures...

Your faithfulness continues on...forever
In unexplainable, magnificence!!!

Thank you God for Your faithfulness.