Scriptures of Hope ~ I Will Hasten To His Throne

"Come to Me," the Lord whispered to my weary spirit. "Come to Me and I will give you rest."

Hot tears streamed down my cheeks. I resisted His love - His answer to my prayers.

"I don't want to come to You," I answered with sarcasm. "I want You to move this mountain. I want You to change our circumstances. I want You to show Yourself strong as My Deliverer."

Yep. I really said that. I was angry and extremely disrespectful. Even as those spiteful words escaped my lips I realized that my attitude was the greatest mountain staring me in the face. But.

But the Lord was longsuffering. "Come to Me, Nan, and I will give you rest."

I resisted again, but this time my rebellion was clothed in a great sob of release. The dam of emotions exploded. Torrents of despair escaped my lips until there was nothing left but silence.

Somber. Quiet. Empty.

"Come to Me," He said.

"I'm coming, Lord. Please hold me. Comfort me. Hide me from the assault of the enemy. Open my eyes to see You. Father, fill me with Your peace and take away these fearful thoughts. I'm so tired Lord. The battle has been so long..."

"Hush, little one. Shhhh.....just rest. Let it go. I AM with you."

The psalmist wrote, "But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord God."~ Psalm 71:14-16

My strength is gone. Used up. Zapped. But that's right where I need to be, for now I can go in the strength of the Lord God. His strength. His hope. His peace. His plan. And not my own.

When I want to throw up or give up, I will hasten to His throne. I will curl up beneath the shadow of His wing and rest. I will rest and be filled up with His love so I may continue to sing His praises and tell of His Salvation.

"Lord, I want to honor You in all things. Cause me to run to You as soon as I hear Your voice calling. I want my response to Your voice to be as natural as the air I  breathe.  You are my strength. You are my hope. You are my joy."

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!



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Are you a pastor's wife or do you happen to love one? I'm gathering influencers for my upcoming book, "The Perils of a Pastor's Wife" releasing this fall. If you're interested, please contact me at nan@jubilantlight.com. Thanks.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, you don't want to miss a chance to visit the Morning Glory page. I'm featuring a music video from one of my favorite movies, The Preacher's Wife. (Imagine that!) Don't miss Whitney Houston singing, "I Love You Lord". It'll get your feet moving, your face smiling, and your spirit will soar with the eagles once again. Bless you sweet friends.

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ A Lesson in Grace

The old pickup truck rambled down the country lane. The preacher man and his two sons - my two sons - were squished into the front seat winding through the mountain roads on a mission. They were getting me a refrigerator to replace the dead one.

This is a lesson in grace.

Our refrigerator died, as in went kaput. We have absolutely no income right now. None. Nada. We have walked by faith our entire married life, but the journey lately has taken us to a new level. We are totally and completely dependent on the Lord for His provision.

Our neighbors brought over a dorm-size fridge and an ice cooler to help us save the small amount of meat and dairy products we had. A while later they called us. 

"My dad has a used fridge that's in pretty good shape," the neighbor said. "I think he'll give us a deal on it."

Sure enough, his dad gave us a good deal. Our neighbor purchased it for us (how amazing is that?) and told us we could pay him back when we had an income. We were astounded. We cried with gratitude.

So now the preacher man and his two sons are on the way to pick up the refrigerator. The old truck rounded a curve and followed the road alongside a small mountain farm. A man standing by the road flagged my men down. He was carrying a wooden crate.

"I've got some green beans fer ya," he said. "Thought you might could use some."

This man was a stranger living on the other side of the county from us. He had never seen my men before.  Could he have been an angel? I don't know. But was he used by God to provide for us? Absolutely. God is like that, you know.

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" ~ Matthew 6: 25,26

A lesson in grace.

God is faithful. He promised He would never leave us, nor forsake us. And He promised the righteous would never be found begging for bread.

As I walk deeper and closer with the Lord, I'm learning more and more what His grace means. It's simply amazing.



Father, Your grace DOES amaze me. Your goodness takes my breath away. As difficult this time is for us, I find Your eternal purpose in it - I see Your face, I feel Your Presence. Thank You. Thank You for Your provision. Thank You for Your faithfulness. And thank You for our refrigerator and green beans. I love You, Lord. Bless Your Holy Name!
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page. Laura Story will inspire you with her song, "Grace". Be encouraged sweet friend. God sees and He knows all about it.

Scriptures of Praise ~ Broken and Spilled Out For Jesus

I stood in the doorway, bowed my head and rested it against the wooden frame. Tears began to flow. My shoulders heaved with the power of emotion rushing the dam of penned up anguish. I honestly felt like I couldn't take anymore - nothing. I stood there in exhaustive brokenness.

From deep within, the Spirit of God began to sing, "Broken and spilled out and used up for Me..."

My thoughts went to Jesus. To the Cross. To His grace.

"Oh, Lord, I'm at my end. I'm bending under the pressure. But, I can see Your face; I feel Your love, Your Presence. I praise You Lord. I choose to praise You. In my brokenness let the praise from my lips flow at Your feet as a sweet aroma - a sacrifice holy and acceptable to You. In sweet abandon Lord, You were spilled out and used up for me...yes, for me. I will never take that for granted. Now I pour myself out for You. Open my eyes that I might see. Awaken my heart to rest in Your Presence. I bring You my brokenness. With my tears I wash Your feet in gratitude that You will never leave me, nor forsake me. Bless You Lord. Thank You for all that You've done. I love you."

"And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil." ~ Luke 7:37, 38

The fragrance of her sacrifice filled the air.
Gratitude born of brokenness flowed down her cheeks.

She was broken and spilled out just for love of You, Jesus.

SELAH



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Are you a pastor's wife or happen to love one? My debut book, "The Perils of a Pastor's Wife" is now in the editing process. Yay God!! I'm looking for influencers to read and post reviews on Amazon. I'm expecting a fall release. If you're interested please email me at nan@jubilantlight.com. Thanks.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page. The Lord wants to encourage you with Steve Green singing, "Broken and Spilled Out".

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ A Flaming Arrow

The woman of faith spoke about coming to church early - in the wee hours, long before the congregation arrived. She wanted to be with the Lord. In quiet. In peaceful surround. Then she said something that seared through my spirit like a flaming arrow. She said, "The Lord was waiting for me."

Think on that for a moment: "The Lord was waiting for me."

Do we approach our quiet times with that thought? I know I'm learning to, but I also know I still seem to approach it with the idea that it's me, myself, and I when I curl up in my quiet place. I mean, I realize I go there to seek the Lord, to study His Word, to pour out my heart to him. But.

But do I approach my quiet time with the realization that the Lord is waiting for me?

Do you?

Oh my goodness. That's a life-changer, don'tcha think?

"O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory." ~ Psalm 63:1,2

So I looked for You in the sanctuary...

I think I'm going to be looking the next time I go seeking.



O Lord, open our eyes to see You. Awaken our hearts to understand Your love and Your desire to dwell richly - in relationship - with Your children. Open our ears to hear You bidding us come. We love You Father. You are an amazing God. Thank You for making a way to know You.
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Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Strong Cords of Faithfulness

Father God, I bring my precious reader before Your throne of grace. Many are the afflictions of Your children. There is job loss, illness, despair, brokenness...all the results of a fallen world. But You, Lord are the Great God. You have not abandoned us to the whims of the enemy. You are with us and You are for us. Though we are in this world, we are not of it. We do not live by its standards. We choose to live by Yours. Guide us, Lord. Lead us with Your strong arm. Give us the wings of eagles to rise above the storms and peer down upon the chaos from Your heights. Hide us beneath the shadow of Your wings - comfort us in Your place of refuge. We love You Lord. We stand amazed at Your goodness - Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your faithfulness to Your children. You are an awesome God. We bow before You in adoration and in recognition of Your holiness. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! 

"Oh My child, I have loved you with an everlasting love. 

With the strong cords of My faithfulness I have bound Myself to you. Throughout all the days of your sojourn, I have been deeply concerned for you, never turning My attention from you. 

"Darkness may have pressed around your soul, 
but I was near at hand. The night of affliction may obscure your vision, but the night and the day are both alike to Me. When you pass through the waters, I am with you. Whether you see Me or not, I am at your side. Though at times you feel only aloneness, My hand is upon you, My arm encircles you, and My heart is touched by your need." 
~ Come Away My Beloved *

When the nights of struggle obscure our vision, the reality of God's Presence doesn't change. His Presence isn't hinged on our circumstances. He is with us always -in the good times; in the bad. In the peaceful places; in the chaos. God never changes. He is the constant in an ever-changing world. His Word is Truth regardless of what erupts around us. We can trust that His hand is upon us, His arm encircles us, and His heart is touched by our need. Always.

"God is our refuge and strength, 

a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." ~ Psalm 46:1

*Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour Publishing, Inc., 2002), p.221
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory page. I'm featuring Kari Jobe singing "Here". This song will carry you into the arms of Jesus. Bless you!

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Night Song

Blue and I approached the rusty gate at the edge of the meadow. Tall grass swayed in the breath of God. Black-eyed susans winked their hellos. Graceful Queen Ann's lace added their elegance to the rustic surround while an intense magenta and tangerine sky announced the transition from day to night.

I wiped the sweat trickling down my forehead. Hot, sticky air reflected my attitude. I felt desperate for the day to end so I could squelch the fear that crept along my heart's edge. I wanted the stress to be over. I wanted the conflict within me - that battle of flesh and spirit - to be done with. I wanted to know in my knower that the One who holds my future has it all under control.

By the gate grow several young saplings and a thick grove of staghorn sumac. Blue and I were only feet away when, much to our surprise, out from the branches, brilliant yellow wings took flight. Loud rustling of leaves filled the air. Glory filled the sky. A flock of goldfinches burst on the scene and sought refuge in the shadows of the nearby apple tree. A single blur of cobalt blue ascended to the giant maple on our right.

Blue and I were mesmerized. All one hundred pounds of chestnut fur stopped and joined me with an upward gaze. Out from the shadows came a melodious concert that settled upon me and Blue like a cloak of peace from the Father. The finches sang in unison while the bluebird echoed their song of praise.

I breathed in the Presence of God.

"When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, from Jordan depths to Hermon heights including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer." ~ Psalm 42:6-8, The Message

As the celestial amphitheater of magenta and tangerine morphed into inky shades of gray, I felt God's embrace and I knew that in the night His song would always be with me.



Father, thank You for Your Presence, Your faithfulness and especially Your love. Your love amazes me. Cause my spirit to rise up to meet You and enter into Your praise. Your song IS with me in the night. Praise You Lord for that revelation. You are an awesome God. Thank You.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to worship with Rush of Fools as they sing "Peace Be Still". This video is chocked full of scriptures that will encourage you and give you strength for the journey. Bless you, sweet friend.

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Kissed By Grace

Blades of emerald grass glistened in the morning dew, kissed by grace, bathed in light. Stalks of chicory bowed and bobbed in the gentle breeze--their blue caps nodding to the One True God. His Presence moved over the meadow. I heard His voice in the song of the meadowlark. His whispers breathed His goodness over all of creation.

My spirit stirred at the recognition of His Presence. My countenance glistened, kissed by grace, bathed in light.

"Walk with me, Lord. Speak Your peace over my whirlwind. Cleanse me of worry and doubt, for You Lord are the Almighty. Your Name is Adonai - my Lord and Master. Your Name is Jehovah-tsidkenu - the Lord My Righteousness. Clothe me in Your Righteousness that my life might nod to the One True God."

 "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden." ~ Genesis 3:8

"Lord God, forgive me for the sin of worry and discontentment that separates me from You, for I know when we're not in close fellowship. I sense it. I feel it. And my fear glares at me from the shadows. I want to walk closely with You - IN You and You in me. I don't ever want to feel like I need to hide from Your Presence because of my sin. You are gracious and good. Oh yes, Lord - this I know: I am no longer naked in my sin - I am covered by the Blood of Jesus. You have washed the filth away so that I may bow before Your throne and rest in Your Presence. Satan's torments are lies. NOTHING can separate me from Your love and Your pleasure."

My robe of righteousness glistens bright, kissed by grace, bathed in light.

Thank You my precious Savior. Thank You.



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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to worship with Life! Worship as they sing, "Sweetly Broken" by Jeremy Riddle.

Scriptures of Hope ~ Secured To His Sovereignty

Grandmother's crazy quilt draped across the foot of the bed. Odd pieces of fabric butted up against one another. Various colors of embroidery floss wove their magic, securing the odd pieces into a masterpiece.

And the morning light filtered through the window, oozing liquid gold across its threads.

Faith is like that.
Faith in a sovereign, holy God is just like that.

Giving Him odd pieces of our lives and trusting Him to secure  the pieces together to create a masterpiece--that's faith. Knowing that He will do this is understanding His sovereignty. His authority. His promise to work everything together for our good...

...A masterpiece of odd scraps stitched together with scarlet thread.

Injustices juxtaposed against His truth.
Despair butted up against His hope.
Fear stitched to His peace.

All joined by the scarlet thread--the Blood of Jesus. All woven according to His eternal purposes--His plan unfolding.

As sure as the new morning, divine light will filter through the angry thunderheads in our lives oozing liquid gold across His masterpiece. The scarlet thread will move in and out of the scraps, the odd pieces, the things that don't make sense and secure the life of His child with His sovereignty.

Amazing. Nothing happens by chance. God always has a plan.

"The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, 'Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand.'"~ Isaiah 14:24



Father God, teach us to trust in Your sovereignty. Open our eyes to see Your hand in all things concerning us. Your heart beats with extravagant love for Your child. Please break through the walls that prevent us from walking in this Truth. You are a good God. An amazing God. Thank You for Your authority in our lives, working all things together for our good because we belong to You.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to worship with Chris Tomlin singing, "Sovereign". I pray God's richest and most precious blessings on you, my sweet friends.

Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Been Diffusing Lately?

The "Warm Sugar Cookie" fragrance wafted through my study, ascending from the candle on my desk. Its sweet aroma diffused the musty, stagnant air created from way too much rain in our beloved mountains. I closed my eyes and drifted to a happier place away from the stress.

It's amazing what a sweet aroma can do for a heavy spirit.

I thought of the hospice nurse caring for my dad in the latter stages of leukemia. Her presence brought peace to my dad. That's because she brought Jesus to my dad.

I thought of my friend whose smile lights up the room. No matter how dark her surroundings are, the Light of Christ shines bright. Her joy is a magnet to the down and out.

My laugh therapy partner came to mind. Regardless of what's going on in her world, she can always point me back to Jesus--with abundant laughter.

I have a friend who is quiet, reserved and spends enormous amounts of time on her knees. She is clothed with the Spirit of God. It's undeniable. When I'm in her presence, I know I've been with Jesus.

 "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and
 through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

Imagine that! I knew that our praise was a sweet aroma to the Lord, but just think...WE are a sweet aroma. We are the candle in the dark, stagnant air diffusing the fragrance of Jesus to those we encounter. 

I think I figured out why. Our lives are to be a living sacrifice to God. Throughout the Word, a sacrifice was described as a sweet aroma, holy and acceptable to the Lord. So, when we live in complete surrender to the Father, when we live our lives for Him and Him alone, the candle of His Light burns within us emitting a beautiful fragrance to the world.

The fragrance is the fragrance of love.



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My first book, "The Perils of a Pastor's Wife", will be launched this fall by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. I'm looking for influencers, especially pastors' wives, who would like to read a presale copy and then post a review. We're looking a few months down the road, but I'm compiling my list. I would love to have you on board.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory  page to be inspired by a great song, "By Our Love", sung by Christy Nockels. Hope to see you there...