Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ What Am I?

Our country road was quiet this morning except for the occasional chatter of a bluejay. Long shadows criss-crossed our path as we hastened beneath the pine grove that stood as a strong sentinel against the vast wilderness beyond. 

The leash pulled taut as Blue and I rounded a curve. A stiff breeze whipped against my face. Thoughts tumbled through my restless mind: How are we going to make ends meet? How will we provide for our family this Christmas? How will I register for Writer's Boot Camp? What if the surgeon finds something when he checks me next week? How? Why? What if? Auurrgghh! I wanted to scream.

The wind picked up. Through tears, I looked up into a royal blue sky. I stood still long enough to let the rush of wind wash over my troubled spirit. My thoughts turned to Jesus. "Jesus...Jesus," I whispered. I felt His Presence in the wind. Peace settled over me like a fuzzy cloak of love. 

Following the Holy Spirit's lead, I looked at the tangled mess of brown underbrush growing along the road's edge. Much of it was broken and splintered. Several stalks of wild flowers, now brittle from winter's chill, leaned into the wind, refusing to lay down. 

And then I saw what He wanted me to see.

Mingled and woven into this prickly brown landscape were arches of cerulean blue, a bit frosty in nature, with undertones of scarlet. They were everywhere, looping through the bleak, tangled nod to winter. What is that? I wondered. I leaned in for a better look. "Oh my goodness!" I hollered at no one in particular. "These are the stems of the wild primroses. Wow!"

I scraped a bit of the frosty coating from one of the blue stems, revealing a deep scarlet color. I stood in awe as I recognized the symbols of God's Presence in my life: the gorgeous blue announcing  that He is the One True God - Maker of heaven and earth; the scarlet undercoating reflecting the Blood of Jesus - the One who died to set me free from these struggles. Even the thorns along the blue stems spoke loud and clear, reminding me of my Savior's love. 

All about me were long strands of blue, woven through this dismal sea of brown foliage.
All about me was the evidence that my God is near.

Psalm 8:3 & 4 reads, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You give attention to him?"

The Apostle Paul once said, "If God be for me, then who can be against me?" (Romans 8:31). Indeed! If God, Who made the heavens and the earth, is mindful of little ol' me and gives attention to my needs, then who am I to walk in the company of anxiety and despair?

I choose to walk with Jesus. 
I choose to walk with thanksgiving as I consider the wild primroses proclaiming the glory of my Lord.



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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to worship with Shawn McDonald as he sings, "Beautiful". This song will reach down and lift you out of the miry clay that keeps you bound. I promise.




10 comments :

  1. Oh Nan, I needed to be reminded of this truth today. As you well know, it's been a rough start to the week. I needed to be reminded that He's near to me...He's near to my brokenheart. Though I may feel rejected, I need to be reminded that I'm not. He's the maker of heaven and earth and this struggle didn't take him by surprise in the least. Though the tears may cascade down my face and I may wonder "why" I know that He has a plan in it all. Thank you so much for this gentle message of reassurance today. Love you sweet friend!

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    1. Jamie, you are so precious. And you are absolutely right...God has a plan for you and nothing comes your way without going past Him first. He is with you and I know He is saddened by your pain. I am praying for you. Keep that beautiful chin of yours up. I love you.

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  2. I'm sorry you're struggling today, Jamie, but isn't it just like our God to show us Who He is, right in the middle of our trials? Thank you for sharing this beautiful picture, Nan.

    Praying for both of you as we walk this often unkind journey here on earth today. Anticipating the indescribable joy of walking our journey together in Heaven one day!

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    1. I look forward to that day also, Vonda. Maybe, in the great by and by, we'll get to be neighbors :D I love you. Thank you for stopping by. You have no idea how that encourages me.

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  3. Oh my pecious Nan, how I needed this, you are a great inspiration and tho' it seems there is never enough time in the day to do all that needs to be done and talk to all those I long to talk to, just know you and your precious David are in my thoughts and prayers everyday and I LOVE YOU both with my whole heart....and yes it is true that things have been a battle for the past few days, weeks, months it seems but your beautiful words remind me of Psalm 23...Tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil......for my God is with me....he has my back..it reminded me that tho' things change and at the time we may not see the glory in it or even understand why that God will always answer...he will give us beauty for ashes and that he is for me and not against me, thank you dear friend for stirring up my mind once again to see that God is in the midst even when I can't see him and that even in the ugliest, darkest moments of my life, God still loves me and he is on my side, oh thank you precious lady...may God continuously bless you and give you more and more and may everything you have need of be met in Jesus name...HUGS TO MY WONDERFUL SISTER AND TO HER PREDIOUS HUSBAND....GOD'S RICHEST BLESSINGS TO YOU BOTH!!! IN JESUS NAME AMEN AND AMEN!!!

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    1. THIS COME FROM YOU FRIEND JOY....I LOVE YOU ANGEL...HAVE A BLESSED DAY....AMEN

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    2. Joy, I love you so much. You are so precious. I love to contemplate the Truth that, "out of the ashes will come beauty." Glory to God. Sweet lady, never forget in the dark what God showed you in the light. Love you!

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  4. I do believe that satan has been busy this week. This has been one of the worst weeks ever for me emmotionally and situational. However, I do still spy God in the midst. He is there waiting for me to cry out to Him. I encouraged all of my fellow nursing students to read this. We have been under such accusation and belittlement, not to mention stress from exams. I believe it will speak to all of them, as it did me. Thanks once again for sharing your beautiful heart with us. I love you :)

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    1. Thank you for sharing this with your friends. This one ministered to me as well. I love when God gives me a message that I need as much as my readers might. You are simply amazing Nurse McKiddy :)

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  5. I do believe that satan has been busy this week. This has been one of the worst weeks ever for me emmotionally and situational. However, I do still spy God in the midst. He is there waiting for me to cry out to Him. I encouraged all of my fellow nursing students to read this. We have been under such accusation and belittlement, not to mention stress from exams. I believe it will speak to all of them, as it did me. Thanks once again for sharing your beautiful heart with us. I love you :)

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