May His peace and comfort follow you today. Be still, the Lord is near.
Good morning from the garden! The sun is on its way up.
The early light on the clouds has a friendly, bright look to it; showing off the paintbrush clouds that God designed for us this morning.
Have a beautiful day & keep your eyes open for blessings & divine encounters.
Photo credit: Tijana Drndarski
Olivia wakes to the sound of rain pattering against the windows and sluicing off the eaves. It’s one of her favorite sounds. Soothing, repetitive, calming.
Slowly stretching her sleepy muscles, she pulls the warm quilt up under her chin. It feels chilly in her room. The weight of the quilt feels like a comfy cocoon wrapping her up in warmth and safety.
The clock on the bedside table reads 3:33 am.
Her cats, Goose and Mr. White, raise fluffy, sleep-mussed heads from the end of her bed, wondering what is disturbing the nightly routine.
Lying quietly, listening to the autumn rain, Olivia notices the wind picking up. The bamboo wind chimes hanging on the patio cover sing out their woody song as they are buffeted by the random gusts.
No longer sleepy, she decides a nice cup of herbal tea will be just right on this stormy night.
Cats in tow, Olivia slips on the soft, worn slippers she keeps next to the bed, grabs her robe, and heads to the kitchen.
The woodstove in the corner of the family room gives off a faint, warm glow, as the embers continue to spark and snap. The kettle sings! Hot tea in hand, Olivia settles onto the comfy loveseat next to the stove and nestles in listening to Mother Nature’s autumn storm.
Sleepy cats find their soft blanket tucked into an old Amazon box near the stove. They begin bathing and jostling each other for the best spot in that old box.
As she sits with her tea and listens to the rain stinging against the windows, Olivia’s mind wanders to the difficult conversations and puzzling circumstances that have been hounding her of late. Unfair accusations, misunderstandings, and self-righteous pride have clouded and tainted a long-time friendship. The situation leaves her unsure, wounded, and lonely. Her efforts at reconciliation, having the hard conversations, and trying to understand what went wrong, leave her feeling betrayed and so very tired.
“Father, I need you to take this. It hurts and I don’t understand. Can this be fixed? Will you reveal the next steps?”, she prays.
Watching the glow of the dying fire, the tendrils and flickers of orange and blue-yellow flames dart and snicker around bits of the burned logs.
A strong gust of wind rattles the windows and the front door as the lights flicker, then go out.
Dark envelopes her cozy spot, except for the glowing embers in the woodstove.
Remembering the Redwood Forest scented candle she purchased from the new boutique downtown, Olivia fumbles around in the drawer of the table on the other side of the loveseat and finds the matches.
Lighting the candle, the new flame struggles and sputters a bit, then gets its footing. The flame strengthens and burns softly.
Its warm light is like a halo pushing back the darkness, reaching into the shadows, and exposing what is hidden – highlighting those mindsets and wounds that secrets and hidden agendas seek to keep obscure and under cover. Revelation, healing, and new life are murky and hard to see under the veil of shadows.
Sitting in the glow of the wavering light, Olivia feels the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up and goosebumps raise along her arms. She’s not alone. She’s not afraid. She feels His divine presence in the air – love, safety, and ancient wisdom flowing around her. He will see to it. He will give her revelation and wisdom. He will bring healing.
“Rest now, I am here”, He says. “All is well. I see what’s in the secret, hidden places. All will be made right. Everything hidden will be revealed.”
In the flickering candlelight and warmth from the cozy woodstove, Olivia feels her mind settle and her eyes flutter. Sleep is waiting. Peace calls to her as her breathing slows. The Holy One sings to her spirit in languages of love, healing, and ancient things. All is well…
“For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.” Mark 4:22 NLT
Photo credit: Johannes Plenio
Hallowed
The word hallowed often evokes a mysterious and magical feeling. Supernatural. Visions of sacred, lovely light and silence swirl in my mind—a sense of something in the atmosphere crackling with divine prophesy. Holy ground—a place where angels and heavenly beings tread.
In my limited understanding of all things Divine, these images come from the knowledge that a place deemed hallowed has been consecrated and made holy by the divine presence of God.
Imagine a quiet neighborhood in the early morning hours, still sleepy from a night of peaceful rest. A man and his dog venture out for their morning constitutional. The beauty of the morning, the sleepy quiet of the houses, and the cool air on his skin bring a smile to his face and a lightness to his steps. Heavy things are weighing on him. This lovely morning soothes his spirit and invites conversation with the Creator. As he spills his fears and concerns to the Father, he is enveloped in such peace; peace that shouldn’t be here in light of his circumstances and worries, yet it is. The Father soothes and speaks provision and safety into his tired soul. Hallowed.
The woman on her bike follows the paved path through the city on her way to work. The busy street, impatient drivers, and slow-moving pedestrians blur as she frets over the presentation she will be giving in a few hours. Is she prepared? Did she remember to hit all the important points? Will what she says make sense? Her mind spins and panic tries to surface, so she lifts up a quick prayer asking for wisdom and courage. As she pedals, her thoughts come together more clearly. She remembers the hard work she put into this presentation and the success she’s had in the past. She is enough and deeply loved. Her worries dim and fade. Excitement replaces fear as her tense shoulders and churning insides relax. The Lord is with her; she can do this. Hallowed.
Night falls in the campground as the older couple settles into their camp chairs to relax and unwind before bed. The campfire dances and sparks, giving off a warm, happy glow as s’mores fixings are passed between them. The peace of the Redwoods falls around them, filling them with a sense of belonging. They find peace in nature. Listening to the forest slow down for the night, the feeling of being wrapped up and carefully tended to fill their souls. They know they are in the presence of the Holy One. Their campground in the Redwoods is hallowed ground. The Creator is everywhere. He whispers peace in the wind sighing through the trees, and sings provision as His creatures scout for food in the nooks and crannies of the forest floor. He speaks joy into this season of life as the campfire snaps and cracks. Hallowed ground.
Wherever life takes you today, myriad opportunities are waiting to usher you into the presence of the Divine. He is everywhere. Divine encounters and Divine appointments are waiting like hidden treasures to be found. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace, healing, hope, and freedom. Hallowed ground.
There’s a mysterious place deep in the woods. It’s far off the beaten path where no human has ventured. Untouched. Pure nature.
No boot prints are found, but there are footprints. Forest dwellers.
Creature paths appear random and meandering, but they are not. These trails are specific and intentional. They know where their food comes from and the safest way to get there. Provision. Trust.
Nestled into a craggy rock formation high on a forested slope, a spring bubbles up and over the roots and rocks, splashing its way down. It’s been bubbling and sparkling for years. Following a well-worn route along the forest floor, the stream bed weaves its way through gullies, towering pines, aspens, and mountain meadows. Sometimes the clear water tumbles and crashes over various forest debris, faster and faster as it descends. Other times, it slows and spreads, creating deep pools of cool water that laze along, peacefully chattering in swirls and eddies. Life-giving.
The absence of humans doesn’t mean the absence of sound. The deep woods are a sound garden of their own. Nature has a voice, and it’s primeval and beautiful.
The pines and aspens shiver and whisper with the wind as it sighs through branches and moves along tree trunks, creaking and bending—a symphony of sorts.
Sticks, dead leaves, and pine needles rustle and snap as unseen creatures forage and spy under fallen trees and twisting vines.
The babble of birdsong in the forest canopy sounds chaotic at first listen. But the trills, melodies, and harmonies blend into an exciting and joyful concerto that echoes through the trees, along the stream, and over the meadows.
Nightfall has its own unique orchestra. Whispery feathers blend with the haunting call of the owl in flight; it is otherworldly and beautiful. The stealthy sounds of night hunters and creepers as they prowl, hide, and call are eerie and supernatural.
This untouched slice of nature is a beautiful testament to Divine creation. The One who created all things sees and hears the happenings in the deep woods. It brings Him joy in its purity. The creaks and shushing of the wind in the canopy, rushing water, and the groans of nature are like a symphony of worship. His creation cries out to Him with joyful noises and complete trust in His provision. It is pleasing incense and a thing of deep beauty to Him who sits on the throne. Devoid of human voices, even the rocks cry out to the Father who holds the world in His hands.
Psalm 150:6 NLT “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Photo credit: Chris Mark
Extravagant Hope 