Writings In Wonder
The sunrise often inspires creativity and wonder in my writing. In this post you’ll find my prayer journal entries inspired by the beauty of creation, all for the glory of God.
June 19, 2024 | Forest Home Camp Wild Rock @ 7:00 am
Oh Lord, you’re beautiful.
Your face is all I seek. And when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.
The camp is beginning to bounce with the morning’s excitement for the day. Counselors are making their way down the hill for coffee, the hike back up a little more prepared with caffein in hand. My own cup of steaming energy is delicious.
Lord, thank you for these kids. Please give them discernment to recognize your Holy Spirit speaking to them.
Lord, please draw these girls to you. Give them the courage to ask any questions they might have. And please bring your peace in the boys’ cabin. Give them renewed hearts and draw them to you.
June 19, 2024 | Nightly Cabin Conversations
The cabin was hushed, hearts considering decisions made. The air was calm and pens purposed for sharing life’s moments of changed hearts and restored minds.
Lord, have your way in our lives.
Bring truth to the page and reflections to the light.
June 20, 2024 – Forest Home Camp Wild Rock @ 6:30 am
I wonder what wildlife is awake with me. Birds are already greeting each other in song – tenor, alto and soprano . . . with even the percussion section pecking the trees with their beaks. The constant sound of the forest still feels silent as the campers still slumber.
The peace of this early morning is my favorite time with you, Jesus. It’s just you and me . . . and Selah on her morning run. 🙂
I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you.
Oh, my soul rejoice.
Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.
My voice has been gone since the third day of camp. And yet you hear the songs of praise in my heart. The song from my lips has been quiet, but my lips can still whistle in worship like these song birds joining me this morning.
Thank you for welcoming every kind of praise to you, whether it’s with my hands in sign, my feet in dance, or my smile in gratitude.
You are worthy of it all.
The little chipmunk seems to think I’m invading his space. So I’ll go back to my bunk and await the time for my walk down for coffee with Adam. Thank you that he and I can share in this children’s ministry together. It truly makes my heart happy.
June 20, 2024 – later that afternoon
We just finished our last lake day and made the hike to the prayer chapel. Everyone is journaling, writing their 2 minute stories to share how God has been working in their lives this week.
Father, I love to see you work in the hearts of these 4th & 5th graders. Thank you for your love and faithfulness. Please continue to draw us closer to you through Jesus.
Lord Jesus, please remain with these children as they grow. Keep these memories as treasures in their hearts and minds forever.
September 30, 2023 – Forest Home @ 6:13 am
Silence.
Breeze.
Gray clouds hiding a patch of orange sky.
Above the treetops is a jagged horizon. Green trees silhouetted black.
As I wait, the sky opens up to a light, ashy gray color.
The day is not awake enough for blue.
Two minutes . . . three . . . the colors brighten. Birds are beginning to squawk, scaring away the silence. The morning isn’t quite sure it’s ready for this new day.
But I am.
Even as rain clouds claim the heavens as their own, the gray clouds smeared across the sky in a solid stroke, I am grateful for Your beauty, God.
Thank you.
September 24, 2023 – Welk @ 0h : dark : thirty
The crickets and street lights are unaware that morning has arrived. The haze over the hills is like a drowsy sleep with heaving eyelids refusing to open to let in the sunlight.
The distant highway hums with drivers anxious to be home in their beds after a graveyard shift, while the other direction rushes to beat the tardy bell.
Birds are starting to wake with the gradual brightening of the sky. It’s tricky how the light sneaks up on you, as if the birds are actually calling out to the new day, “All clear!”
What creature is making that clicking sound?
On this morning twelve years ago
I awoke to the greeting of my wedding day with excited anticipation. I remember the day with sweet memories.
It’s been twelve years of love, friendship, laughs, tears . . .
Grit and perseverance.
Learning his preferences, habits and love languages. Twelve years of trying to make him laugh, binge watching our shows, battling selfish temptations and laying down my individual desires.
To hold onto our chosen love together.
[To read my anniversary post from this year, click here.]
September 23, 2023 – Welk @ 6:30 am
Oh brilliant Beauty, your glory is evident across my morning view. The crisp, cool air carries the voices of the songbirds over the tops of the trees where I’m perched on my patio.
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Two of my five guys have joined me this morning as the clouds inconspicuously usher the sunrise into this new day.
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Jesus, thank you for my sight to admire your creation, and my hearing to listen to the wildlife. The bird babies cry for their mamas and the coyote family claims their territory with their barking howls.
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Another one of my little cubs found his way to the warmth of his papa’s snuggles, and it makes this mama bear’s heart full of love and admiration.
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Wonderful Creator, you have made my senses to worship you. I praise you for your magnificent design of people made in your own image of Love. I sit here in awe of your kindness to make it possible for me to experience the beauty of a sunrise with my entire being. Thank you.
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Please go with me today and give me discernment to recognize the treasures of my day that await my arrival.
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Amen.
February 12, 2023 – Big Bear @ 5:45 am
Lord, thank you for this trip and the safety up the mountain and through the night. It’s Curtis’ birthday, which means exactly 7 years ago at this very moment I was epidural-ized, anxiously laboring and awaiting his arrival.
Thank you so much for that spunky, wild, kind, competitive, funny, goofy, handsome little redhead. He is so precious to me. Please help us parent him in a way that not only brings you glory, but trains him to be a man who loves you.
Please show us how to encourage his peacemaker personality. I love you, and I’m so grateful.
I’m watching the sunrise as we wait for Justin to get here.
The landscape is magnificent!
February 13, 2023 – Big Bear @ 3 am, written down after my experience in Wonder
“Come see me.”
It’s like I could hear your words in my ear.
Is that you, Lord?
But it was so cold out there, and I was so tired.
“Come see me.”
I must have dozed off, but then your gentle words drew me back to you. Opening my eyes, I questioned you in prayer.
Lord, am I dreaming?
“Come see me.”
It must be you.
Reluctantly, I responded to your invitation. Betraying the comfort of my warm, cozy bed, I got up and quietly made my way to the living room, socks and slippers not adequate to insulate. I stood beside the windows and watched.
I waited.
Expectantly.
Looking outside I could only see the stillness echo silently through the towering trees.
Nothing moved. Nothing stirred.
But Lord, I thought you woke me up so I wouldn’t miss the single snowfall of the weekend.
And then I saw it.
SNOW!
Lord, it’s snowing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Powder began to dust the night sky. The street lights illuminated the snowflakes as they spilled from the hidden heavens.
Jesus, you woke me up so I wouldn’t miss it. Your kindness is evident. The wonder of your beauty is breathtaking. Your love for me is unmistakable.
Thank you.
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