On a cold, winter morning, snow silently covered the trees, the ground and the roof of my house. Inside, the grace of God gently wrapped me in a warm, protective blanket of compassion. I did not deserve this. But Christ’s eagerness to comfort, counsel, and commune with His creation enveloped me in a tender warmth, an unexplainable contentment, and an all-encompassing peace.
As I continued to sit quietly before the Lord, yesterday’s problems and today’s challenges faded into the background. A reminder of Jesus’ promise to be with us always, deepened. Time stood still. That which was created became keenly aware of the Creator. I wanted to linger in this satisfying taste of eternity. Too quickly, my mind returned to sounds around me, and the awareness of the Almighty diminished. But the peace remained. And as I went into the challenges of the day, peace came with me.
May the wonder working miracles of
God's power establish you in HIS amazing love that streches far beyond the
universe.
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encouragement and inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, sign up for her email newsletter.
Rain pounded hard against the roof of the house. The children wished it was snow. The adults were grateful it was rain. But uneasiness stirred in the household because everyone knew that later that day, the wind would shift, the temperature would drop and the rain would turn to ice, and then to snow.
Winter wonderlands are stunning to look at once the snow has settled into place and everyone is safe. But the dangerous conditions that precede this beauty can cause worry, fear, tension and anxiety. Nobody wants to be caught in the storm. No one wants to be cut off from help. Nobody wants to be injured.
So what do we do when we know the storm is approaching? Shelter and safety usually top the list. Food and clean water to drink comes next. But if we think beyond our immediate physical needs and remember the promises of the Lord, we will find peace in knowing that Christ is our Shelter, our Refuge, our Provider, and our Strength. He not only weathers the storms with us, but also protects us and provides for us. And as we turn our focus to Him, we become open to signs, wonders, miracles and other things that are beyond our imagination. For the Lord of the Universe has the power and the authority to lift us higher than the storm, to quiet our anxious thoughts, and to shelter us in His peace that surpasses all understanding.
May the wonder working miracles of
God's awesome love remove fear and doubts and surround you with courage and peace.
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encouragement and inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, sign up for her email
newsletter.
We all need help to weather the violent storms of life. The fury of the raging wind, the deluging of the pounding rain and the flooding of the rising waters are too destructive for any one person to withstand. In the presence of these fierce forces, darkness will try to overpower us. The onslaught of helplessness and hopelessness will come against us. Thoughts telling us to give up will enter our minds as we find ourselves with no shield, no defense and no strong tower to run into.
But in the midst of the frightening darkness and the howling wind there is someone who can help -- someone who stands with us and watches over us -- someone who is stronger than the hurricanes of life. He is the Lord, Himself, Jesus Christ, who strengthens us when we cry out to Him. Only He can give us peace and calmness in the midst of the chaos. Only He can give us the ability to resist the temptation to give into the destructive forces running rampant around us. Jesus is our Lord, our Shelter, our Protector, and our Strong Tower. And it is because of Him, that I am still here today. He stood with me in the wind and the hail, through tempest and turmoil, and in the darkness and in the pit of despair. Jesus strengthened me with His power and His grace. He held me firmly in His Everlasting Arms when storms tried to uproot my weak faith and tear apart the very ground I stood on. And I pray He will do the same for you.
May the wonder working miracles of God's amazing love strengthen you in the storms and enable you to feast at his table of peace.
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The yellow flowers of the forsythia stretch out their elongated petals in glorious praise. The brightness of these tiny flowers reflect the brightness of God's love. Everywhere I look, the blossoms of the Lord's love burst forth from trees, bushes, and bulbs sprouting from the ground. The sweetness of all this new life remind me of the new life we have in Jesus Christ.
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Sparkling in the sunlight, the heavy frost takes on the appearance of a million diamonds. An even coat of dazzling white covers the gray roof. But it's the way the sun makes the ice crystals dance on the shingles, that catches my attention.
There are times when I feel frozen, like the roof across the street. I can't seem to budge from the place where I'm stuck. I need someone to shed light on my thinking, pull me out from the shadows, and enable me to see beauty in the tough situations. And this is where my Savior comes in. It's in the light of God's love where I can get up and dance, instead of sitting and sulking. It's warmth and compassion of Christ's heart that lifts me up, when I'm down in the dumps. It's the joy of Jesus that awakens my soul to delight in His ways, and strengthens my weary body.
So when I see the sun shining on the morning frost, and the beauty of the glimmering ice particles, I remember the Lord. For only Jesus Christ can thaw out my icy attitude and show me how to bless, despite the frigidness of the conditions around me.
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May you breakthrough every obstacle that is keeping you from the abundant joy found in Jesus Christ. For more encouragement and inspiration by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com
Fragments of dark clouds race across the early morning sky. It's rare to see them move this rapidly, especially when the cloud cover over and behind them is cotton ball white. I wonder where the small dark clouds are going. Is it God pushing the darkness out of our lives, so more of His light can shine through? Is it the wind of His Holy Spirit saying, "No more!" and kicking out the darkness? Are the dark clouds being pushed away or are they running away?Two more dispersing dark clouds dash by my window. The larger one stretches out its ugly neck and hunches over the smaller one beneath it. Within seconds, it devours the smaller cloud and races onward.It happened so quickly, I had to gasp. What a demonstration of evil devouring evil to fatten itself! What a reminder of the importance of staying in God's light. And what an illustration of the vastness of God's love, portrayed by the white cloud covering high in the sky, compared to the fleeting wisps of evil, that damage and destroy, portrayed by the small, dark clouds. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your lessons with the clouds.
For more encouragement by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com
Yesterday, a sweet blessing rested on the path in front of me. I was looking for a quiet stream to videotape, and found a turtle. A big one, too. I don't know what kind of turtle it was, but it was kind enough to allow me to take its picture. And that's how this turtle became part of the "Quiet Stream" video.Below is the "Quiet Stream" video. For more encouragement by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com
How quiet my room is with the air-tight windows. Outside, the trees bend and sway with the wind. They toss back and forth by an invisible force, and should be making some noise, but I hear nothing. The windows that keep the hot and humid air outside, also quarantine the sound. Dare I open the window to listen to the breeze, and possibly hear the singing of the birds?
Yes! I step to the window and push it open. The gushing wind roars like the ocean waves. An image of the tide, ebbing and flowing, comes to mind. Though I live far from the ocean, the surf never ceases to fascinate me as it brings both water and music to a dry and weary land. The sound of this ocean-like wind comforts my heart as it reflects the power of God's Holy Spirit blowing life, guidance and direction into my life.
When the ears to my heart are closed to God's mighty love, I hear nothing. But when I open my heart, despite the fear, discomfort, and inconvenience of stepping outside of my comfort zone, I begin to enter a new world. I begin to become aware of hidden things, to awaken to a power beyond imagination, to step into the love, gladness and acceptance of God the Father's arms, and to be welcomed by the joy of Jesus Christ. The wind of God's Holy Spirit brings refreshing, renewal, and blessings.
Holy God, I need to hear your Voice. I am overwhelmed by the many tasks that lay before me. Forgive me for shutting You out. I need your guidance, direction, and strength. I need to cling to You, Lord Jesus, like the leaves clinging to the branches of the trees. The leaves reflect the security of your love as they are held in place by your faithfulness. The foliage reflects its confidence in your competence as it's tossed back and forth by the storms of life. The leaves remain green and growing because they are attached to the source of nutrients.
I need to be like those leaves, Heavenly Father. I need to stay attached to the Source of All Good Things. I need to stay attached to You — delighting in the Lord, rejoicing in your goodness, surrounded by your love, and walking in your light. Let me be totally reliant on You, Jesus Christ, so I may become a mighty oak in the power of your love.
For more encouragement by Lynn Zuk-Lloyd, go to www.promisegarden.com
