Re-launching my website today after taking a hiatus for a few years: https://brandiejmuncaster.com ...

“The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.” - Napoleon Hill ...

Pursue God. Cling to Him. Take time to sense the grip He has on your life.

Psalm 63:8 “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” ...

When God’s hand plucks us off of a sunny mountaintop and places us at a valley entrance, our life is thrust into a new reality. Fear tells us we’ll never get to the other side. Uncertainty shrouds our pathway with shadows. When darkness falls, our vision is limited so drastically we don’t know the way forward. So, we wait like a stone with no capacity until God comes to our rescue. And He does. When we turn our gaze from the darkness to Him, He infuses us with strength and offers us His hand. Then, He sheds just enough light on the path for us to take the next step forward. His presence keeps us calm, reminding us that He knows the safe way through.

He leads us on, pointing out the blooming wildflowers along the way, bringing us to deep, wonderous springs for refreshment. Then He offers us a stillness in the silent caverns that’s hard to find anywhere else—shielding us from the threat of dangerous wildlife. When we are tired of walking and still can’t see the end, He offers us His hand again. But this time, instead of holding our hand, He holds us in His hand. When He holds us, He can only do what we cannot do for ourselves. We find true rest. Nothing can easily move us. We find peace with the understanding He has given. And we allow that to occupy our minds instead of the fear, uncertainty, and discouragement that plagued us at the beginning.

When you find yourself in a valley, don’t be afraid. God will do great things if you allow Him to work within your soul the way He wants. There will be treasures to enjoy along the way. While you wait to see the end, absorb the joy of His presence. And when you get there, maybe you’ll look back and deem this one of the most beautiful places He’s ever taken you. And even though it was hard to walk through, you’ll realize that these low valley places you experience here on earth are the worst your life will ever get because of Heaven. ...

“Sometimes in sorrow, dread, or helplessness, our prayer of petition will be a crisis cry of creaturehood—a beating on heaven’s door with bruised knuckles in the dark.” -George A. Buttrick ...

Before the beginning, darkness filled the silent, lonely space.

Looking out into the vast chasm of nothingness, void of purpose and companionship, God the Creator imagined, considered and dreamed of all the possibilities of what He could make.

Then, He made a choice and got to work plotting and planning.

He began to make something out of nothing, creating the universe with His words.

He spoke, “Let there be,” and there it was.

Light burst forth.

Stars hung in the sky.

Planets circled the earth.

Land formed into mountains, hills, and plains.

Water poured into seas, rivers, and lakes.

Plants grew.

Clouds made shapes, snow, and rain.

The wind whispered and wailed.

The sun shone bright during the day, and so did the moon at night.

Animals came alive.

Humans did, too.

Nature stood marked with the Maker’s fingerprints of purpose on every square inch of the world.

Then, the Creator gazed at what He made and loved what He saw, for it was beautiful.

And He rested from all His work. ...