leaving behind

Friday, December 31, 2010 (3:24 p.m.)

Lake Arrowhead Chalets #120

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Beloved Lord,

Attempting to avoid You today is doing me no good at all. I keep thinking that if I just keep putting You off the year won’t be gone. How bizarre is that kind of thinking?

So. Instead. Let me come right here before You and confess that I have no idea what to do with a brand new year. You are so good. So perfect. So honest and faithful and true. And I don’t even know what to do with that.

In years past I have entered into the new year with plans and expectations of things being different, better in some way, than the year we were leaving behind. Leaving behind. Yes, Lord. Talk to me about the things I will be leaving behind this year.

I have this list of fears that are so very subtly burrowing their ways into my subconscious. I don’t want to think about them. But I’m also not letting them go. Let me leave them behind Dearest Lord. Yes, let me leave them behind with You to take care of exactly as You know is best.

There are the giant great big, “What if…?”s that are practically screaming at me. And in confessing that, I am instantly aware of satan’s crafty way of tripping up Eve when he introduced her to doubt (Genesis 3:1-6).

Thank You Lord for leading me to the Book of Ezekiel right now. With all the things that were going wrong with and for the people of Jerusalem You still called them to hope in You. As I read of Your promises to Your beloved people I am again reminded that while I indeed do NOT know what tomorrow holds, I absolutely know Who holds it! Thank You Lord for holding not only all of our tomorrows, but our hearts and hands, our very lives themselves.

In Ezekiel 39:28 You are quoted as saying, “Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into captivity among the nations, but then I brought them back to their own land, leaving no one behind.” Thank You Lord. You want desperately for us to learn. To listen. To obey. To worship and adore You. Teach us in this upcoming new year to become the people You want so very much for us to be.

I love You. I do not want to attempt to put You off or hold You at bay. I want to come rejoicing, with thanksgiving in my heart for all the blessings You have provided. Let me take those into the new year while leaving behind the fears and failings.

I love You Lord. VERY Happy New Year to You! Thank You. Amen.

(460 words ~ 4:35 p.m.)

Friend Jesus

Thursday, December 30, 2010 (7:51 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead Chalets #120

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed Lord,

I keep humming ♫You’ve Got A Friend in Me♫ and wondering if I should be trying to change my focus over to ♫What a Friend We Have In Jesus♫ Tell me Lord, do You want to talk with me this morning about being my Friend?

I’m feeling especially lost and sad right now. The sun is shining, the snow is melting and we’ve received news of the death of a dearly loved, fine, good 91 year-old gentleman. I guess sad might be an appropriate emotion after all.

(8:59 a.m.)

Stick with me, Lord. Stay with me here. I truly don’t know why I am being so stubborn. I’ve known all morning long that I need to begin our time together with a heartfelt ‘thank You’ and I wouldn’t do it because I just didn’t feel especially thankful. How selfish is that Lord?

You ARE my Friend! That in and of itself is more than enough to be truly thankful about.

Forgive me for caving in to all the negativity my mind keeps recalling. There is fear and sadness swimming around in there. But there is also faith and joy. I start to smile and then suck right back inside myself. I know this wave will pass. I can choose to dive under it, push past it, or even ride it in to shore. There are always choices. I have to decide which is best.

So I will thank You, Lord. Thank You for being my Friend! You are a precious gift. A gift I do not want to take for granted. You are big enough and strong enough and willing to hold all my burdens (Matthew 11:28-30).

You are the calm in our every storm (Matthew 8:23-27). You are all that we are not. And I AM thankful! Thankful to know You. Thankful to trust You. Thankful to turn to You and call You my Friend. Thank You Jesus. Thank You for loving me without conditions or limits. Thank You for forgiving me every single time I ask. ♫Thank You for being a Friend♫ A Friend. My Friend. THE Friend. Dear Friend. Good Friend. Friend Jesus. Yes. Thank You Friend Jesus.

Mm. And here it all finally comes together. The origin of the word: from Old English, German, Dutch and an Indo-European root meaning ‘to love’, shared by FREE. Hmm. Free to love Jesus. Mm. Yes! Thank You Jesus, my Friend who I am free to love. Thank You Lord. I DO love You. Teach me to do it well. Thank You. Amen.

(438 words ~ 10:01 a.m.)

faith

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 (7:26 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead Chalets #120

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Amazing, Awesome God,

Thank You. So many thoughts. So much appreciation. Such love. Joy. Peace. Patience… (Galatians 5:22-23)

(8:59 a.m.)

We woke up this morning to snow falling. What a sharp contrast to the sunrise I experienced yesterday on the Newport Beach pier. Lord, You amaze me!

Attempting to do my own tracking of this particular storm, I checked outside our windows periodically throughout the night. I was completely unprepared for the amount of powdered-sugary appearance that had fallen between 5 a.m. and 7. What a sight to behold.

Thank You Lord. Thank You for the husband who had a boy scout’s foresight to go to the grocery store late last night in preparation to staying indoors all day today. Thank You for his willingness to work through the fact that we had far too much stuff and way too little space to bring back all we had acquired during our week’s stay at the beach.

Only You could have kept each of us involved from resorting to our usual snarky grumblings. You were absolutely there guiding us in our coming together as a team to get us safely from one place to another.

Thank You Lord. The other day when I had tears of sadness over leaving one idyllic spot for another, You were there allowing me to express myself. No longer do I need to feel like a whimp or a wuss. I get to just identify myself as one who is highly emotional and feels some things more deeply than others. Another huge contrast to the brutal conclusion I used to draw of myself.

Thank You Lord that it is truly You working in and through me that continues drawing me to Your will, Your way and Your Word. It is Your Word that I turned to first this morning. Particularly the book of Hebrews, as it pertains to faith. Faith in You. Faith to persevere. Faith to believe. Faith to trust. Faith to dream. Faith to hope. Faith. “Forsaking All I Trust Him” – Faith!

I practiced faith yesterday Lord. There was grumbling and growling and I chose to trust that it would pass. And it did. There were hurt feelings and tears and I chose to believe that those too would be resolved. And they were. You are good Lord. You are faithfully working in each of us. Turning our hearts and our wills to You. Learning. Believing. Hoping. Trusting. All in You.

Which brings me right back to my very first thought this morning. ALL of my faith is in You Lord! Thank You for growing faith such as this in me. I love You so very much. And I thank You beyond all realms of my own understanding. You are good and I am grateful Lord. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(470 words ~ 10:16 a.m.)

Ah, but God...

Monday, December 27, 2010 (11:36 a.m.)

2000 Court Ave. Yellow House

Newport Beach, CA

Most Loving Lord,

I love You! You’ve got my back [and my front J], my insides, my outsides, my bottom, my top. In You I am safe and secure. And I thank You.

Tears are falling on my glasses and those that are not being shed, I know are softening and nourishing my soul.

Lord, I love You. That’s what it all comes down to today. It’s been almost a week. I’ve held up pretty well. It’s officially the third day of Christmas and we change locations tomorrow. All of this adds up to packing and memories and losses and choices and the sun sparkling on the ocean and my foundational decision to trust You with it all.

Choking back tears several hours ago, finally gave way to deep heaving sobs and the reality that I don’t want to go back. Thank You Lord for reminding me that You would not have me go back, but forward. Ever forward with You. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that with You I have the courage and the strength to face sadness. I can be as emotional as I need to be without there being something arrantly wrong with me. And it all keeps coming back to, “I love You”.

I watch stand up paddlers surfing the breakers and I grin from ear to ear while laughing out loud. I think of going inside to delicately pack up our most treasured Christmas decorations and begin again to feel the reemergence of sadness. And this is where I take another deep breath and remember Your very kind reminder to me much earlier on our walk together at the ocean’s edge. “Ah, but God…”

Thank You Lord for reminding me that every single thing I can’t do on my own, You are ever near to help me with it. I don’t want to pack up to go back? Ah, but God reminds me I’m going home or forward, or just leaving one place for another.

I don’t want to be overcome with emotion. Ah, but God is here to do in and for me that which I cannot do for myself. Never will You leave me nor forsake me. I HAVE to leave this current setting. In two days I won’t be waking up with a view of the Pacific Ocean right outside me window. Ah, but God not only will You go with me wherever I am going, You will go in me and before me.

Praying a favorite benediction of Michael Fischer’s I found on the Internet just now I ask You Lord to ever bless this family with Your truth and love. Wherever it is that we go may we be ever aware of Your presence there with us. Let the truth of these words sink into our hearts, souls, minds and bodies nourishing and nurturing us every step of our way.

“As you go on your way may Christ go with you. May He go before you to show you the way; May He go behind you to encourage you; Beside you to befriend you; Above you to watch over you; Within you to give you peace.”

Ah, but God You are so good to us. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(556 words ~ 12:24 p.m.)

Christmas Eve

Friday, December 24, 2010 (6:57 a.m.)

2000 Court Ave. The Yellow House

Newport Beach, CA

Most Incredibly Good and Awesome God,

Here we are. It’s officially Christmas Eve. The stockings are hung. The tree is beautiful. Everyone is doing their level best to get along with one another. What else could we possibly need? Oh yes ~ YOU!

As beautiful as this has all been up ‘til now Dearest Lord, but for You it is all for naught.

Lord, how I thank You for the laughter that has decked these halls. Thank You for the little mishaps and ‘hiccups’ that have come along to remind me of the importance of looking to You for all our strength and hope.

Without the internet at my immediate disposal right now Dearest Lord, I am unable to sing all the words to the melody humming itself within me. ♫…All our hope is in You, Lord. All our strength [or is it ‘faith’?] is in You…♫ And once again I am distracted.

Focus, Woman! Mm. Woman. That IS what You are growing me into. No longer the fanciful girl of just a few short years ago, with idyllic visions of sugarplums still dancing in my head. No. A woman ~ YOUR woman “rooted and built up” in YOU, “strengthened in the faith” as I was taught and “overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7).

Lord, I can’t possibly thank You enough for all You have done (and are continually doing) for us. And IN us! You are so incredibly good and we are genuinely, eternally grateful.

Thank You for Your loving gift of Your beloved Son (John 3:16). Teach us to be ever prudent in following Your well thought out and perfectly executed “Owner’s Manual” [Your Holy Word] for the care and use of such a prized gift as this.

With all the trimmings and trappings that could so easily sidetrack us this day, how I ask Lord that You would continue to point us right straight back to You every single time we begin to veer off the course YOU have set for us. Truly Lord, let our Christmas Eve hymn of all hymns be purely ♫We are one in His Spirit, We are one in His love…♫ Yes Lord. Let us TRULY be such so that others will absolutely ♫know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes [so] they will know we are Christians by our love♫ Thank You Lord. I love You SO much. VERY Merry Christmas Eve! Amen.

(424 words ~ 8:47 a.m.)

balance

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 (10:10 a.m.)

2000 Court Ave. The Yellow House

Newport Beach, CA

Mm, Most Dear and Merciful God,

Oh how I thank You Lord. How I praise You. THE single most used phrase by me so far this day has been, “Oh my God!” And each time with a gasp!

As I sit here with You this morning attempting to balance myself on a rocking yard chair while watching waves crash and practically explode with such force, I am awed by Your majesty Lord. The color of the clearing blue sky set against the gray green of the water, interspersed with the white of the clouds and the ocean’s foam has me mystified. Oh. And now there’s sunlight streaming over all.

How do You do it Lord? Not the actual step by step “And God said, ‘Let there be…’” (Genesis 1:1-2:6) detailed account of how You made it all. No, just how do You keep track of every single hair on every single head (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7) while all this majesty is playing out?

Yeah. I’m trying to balance myself on a chair and You, YOU, balance the entire universe! Wow! I don’t even want to wonder about it Lord. No! I just want to ♫Come let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker. For He is our God, and we the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand, just the sheep of His hand♫

Mm, God, it all just boggles my mind! From the first scent of salty sea air, to the sounds of screeching gulls I am aware of the fact that I am spending a week at the beach for the very first time in my life without my mom or my dad. And not just any week Lord. No, no. This is the week that we are to pause long enough to celebrate Your birth.

Selfishly Lord, I realize that I am preparing to ask You that rather than finding myself trying to balance anything that You would provide me the power and the strength (Ephesians 6:10) to relax and enjoy everything. Even as I search Your Word, looking for this particular verse, I am reminded that I am not called so much to relax as I am to “Be alert and always keep praying” (v.18).

That’s where I ask for the balance Lord! Balance between being alert and taking time to truly rejoice! Balance between not being afraid but instead to fully esteem and revere You. As the tears well up inside me Lord, I’m asking that You will continue working in me that I will come to ALWAYS Revere God’s Holiness no matter what the circumstance!

Thank You Lord. Thank You for knocking me just enough off balance this morning to remind me that all my faith and hope and trust needs to be in You! You, the One so perfectly described here in Isaiah 40:12. “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or with the breadth of His hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?” You Lord, that’s who!

Balance me this day Dearest Lord, for whatever it is You have for us as a family coming together for the first time without the physical presence of our beloved mom and grandma. You know the treasures and riches You want to bestow upon us. Open our hearts, our souls, our minds and our strength (Mark 12:30) to fully love and trust You to provide all for us that we in our humanness can’t possibly provide for ourselves.

I love You so much Dearest Lord. Thank You for Your balance. Amen.

(644 words ~ 11:26 a.m.)

God's goodness

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 (5:42 a.m.)

Oh Your Goodness Lord,

Your great and glorious goodness! Thank You Lord that it is because of Your goodness alone that we as a family of believers are getting to grow in Your Word.

Lord God how I thank You for being able to wake up safe and warm. Thank You that as my very early morning thoughts gave way to actually waking up, praises of Your goodness came first to mind.

While, yes, there are some very solid requests for safe traveling today, it’s Your goodness that has my rapt attention. Especially as I read of it in 2 Peter 1:3-9. “We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that He had invited us to share in His wonderful goodness.”

Lord, it is indeed Your wonderful goodness that yesterday allowed me to break a lifelong pattern of shying away from the tough questions. The rains we are having are causing damage to our home and the husband is calm about it. Because of Your incredible goodness this particular time I did not let his calmness go unquestioned.

The model I grew up with had a wife who ‘freaked out’ over problems and a husband who yelled at her because of her fear. I confess Lord, over the years we have mimicked their example almost perfectly. That is until yesterday.

I felt the panic Lord. Time after time, with varying degrees of fret and concern. But this time I voiced them. Calmly. Collectively. And the husband and I prayed together numerous times throughout the day. The rain hasn’t stopped. The leaks are still here. But for the first time in my life I said straight out loud, “My dad is yelling at my mom in my head and I don’t want to get mad at you because you don’t seem to be as upset about this as I am.”

Thank You Lord. That’s You and Your goodness at work in us and through us! “God made great and marvelous promises, so that His nature would become part of us.” (v. 4a) And You are! “Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” (4b) Thank You most dear and blessed Lord.

“Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. But if you don’t grow you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.” That’s Your goodness talking Lord! Your goodness working to change lives.

As this Christmas season continues drawing loved ones together, Lord how I ask that Your goodness and grace be ever present in our gatherings. It is the birth of Your dear and precious Son we are to celebrate. Let us remember that. Thank You Lord. Thank You for Your love, Your perfection, Your goodness. Help us use them for Your ultimate good. Amen.

(527 words ~ 6:42 a.m.)

wet

Monday, December 20, 2010 (5:35 a.m.)

Beloved, Blessed Lord,

It’s wet outside. Not just dew on the ground, couple of raindrops wet. No. It’s torrential downpour, flashflood warning kind of wet.

Lord, I confess to having grumbled yesterday about the inconvenience of a wet foot and a couple of leaky windows. Forgive me Lord. That was before I started thanking You for having a roof over our heads and all the other windows that weren’t leaking.

Watching the news last night I became horribly aware of the damage that this much-needed rain is causing for many. Forgive me Father for I am one of those of whom Jesus spoke as he hung on the cross. I am one in need of forgiveness for not knowing what I do. (Luke 23:34)

Thank You Lord for reminding me last evening that “No matter what happens” I am to “always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Lord, I can’t even begin to thank You enough for all You have been doing in our lives to change us from who we once were in ourselves and who we are now becoming in You. The difference in us now compared to how we once were is paramount. And we are grateful to You for this Lord.

Now, back to speaking of the wet that’s going on outside. I’m concerned and praying to You on behalf of those who are being so hugely affected by it. There are the homeless with truly no way to stay dry. There are the shelters that are in no doubt filled to capacity. Trees are being uprooted and crashing into homes. Foundations are giving way to mud and floodwaters.

Turning in Your Word I read some of Job’s (24:8) words to You. Lord God, how I thank You for this record of his losses and his faith in You. Thank You for being a faithful God. Thank You for his example of faithfulness to You. Thank You Lord that You are just and righteousness. Thank You that You are worthy of our trust. Thank You Lord that from one minute to the next we cannot be sure of anything but Your love for us. Help us realize Lord that You are trustworthy and able to do all for us that we cannot do for ourselves.

Guide and direct us this very wet day Dearest Lord. Show us what and how to share whatever it is You would have of us. We love and thank You Lord. You are good and we are grateful. Thank You Lord. Amen.

(437 words ~ 7:09 a.m.)

unrest

Sunday, December 19, 2010 (6:22 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

Blessed Lord, Precious Lord, My Lord, Our Lord, THE Lord, thank You! Thank You for all of the unrest in my soul yesterday. Unrest that indeed led to a greater dependence on You.

Thank You Lord that in the midst of such agonizing self-examination Your Truth prevailed. You stood victorious as Lord and Master of my life. Thank You Lord for Your Word as truth that truly sets us free (John 8:32). Free of ourselves. Free from self-imposed prisons of false beliefs.

Lord, it took until very early this morning for me to realize that whatever was causing the unrest of my soul yesterday it was that I wasn’t feeling loved. In the past I have looked for ways to fill that void. Anger comes immediately to mind, because as a therapist told me many years ago “It’s easy.”

What a challenge it was for me not to turn to the addictions of my past in an attempt to bypass the pain of feeling unimportant. Thank You Lord for the struggle through which I grew just a little bit stronger.

Even as I came out here this morning expecting to go directly to Ephesians 4:15 and thanking You for another lesson in ‘speaking the truth in love’, You veered me to considering the unrest that brought me there in the first place.

Your Word is a treasure trove Lord. With the various translations and paraphrases at my disposal I get to jump in with both feet and splash around. Thank You Lord. Thank You for teaching me that there is far more to Your Word than my own interpretation of it. Thank You for the two verses that resonate with me most this morning.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote of his fruitless attempts to warn the people of Judah to turn from their sin and denial. He was faithful to You Lord despite being ignored, rejected, imprisoned and abused. Thank You for his example of faithfulness Lord. Thank You for his willingness to speak Your message to Babylon (chapter 50). “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go. Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is His name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that He may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.’” (vs. 33-34 NIV)

Thank You Lord for reminders such as this of Your strength, Your might, Your vigor. Thank You as well for the ‘trouble and unrest everywhere’ You caused (2 Chronicles 15:6) that ultimately brings all of us to a point when we have to face ourselves. Thank You Lord for the courage yesterday to not turn and run away from the struggle at hand but to face it head-on. Looking again and again to You for the strength and power to ride it out.

Thank You Lord for all You are teaching us. I love You so much. Be with us again this day as we seek to do Your will. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(531 words ~ 8:32 a.m.)

another song

Saturday, December 18, 2010 (6:17 a.m.)

Blessed, Blessed Lord,

Thank You. I couldn’t get started with You. Thoughts and feelings seemed to be stalled. Focus was turned inwards. Even in attempting to ♫Turn my Eyes Upon Jesus♫ I was falling short. My desire was there, with very little follow through.

So here I am Lord. Just as I am. And what I mostly am is grateful. Not in an excited and eager to tell (agog) kind of way. No. This one is much more understated. Hesitant. Concerned.

I’ve read of the cancers of children this morning and the sadness and fear that brings into their lives and those of their loved ones. I truly feel a huge sense of guilt for even considering whining about a sore back, a stiff neck or a tiny little ache in my head. Forgive me Lord. Bless the babies. Bless their families. I can’t even imagine. I don’t want to imagine. I just ask Your peace, Your presence, Your comfort for them.

Lord, how I love You. How I thank You that every time I’ve turned around this morning there has been another song coming to mind. It started with ♫Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace♫ I thought for sure “Yep. That’s the one!”

But then I couldn’t get started with You so I went outside and thought I would come back in here and thank You for roses. Then I thought no I’d change that to thanking You for raindrops. It wasn’t until I was actually sitting here getting ready to join them together and thank You for raindrops on roses that I smiled after realizing it had already been done.

Of course even the thought of smiling switched my tune to that of Charlie Chaplin’s from Modern Times. And just tapping out these words I heard my mom’s threatening phrase [which I choose now to hear as a voice of encouragement J] telling me that I had better change my tune whenever I was behaving quite out of sorts.

So here I am Lord. Thanking You. Thanking You for music. Thanking You for joy. Thanking You for sorrow. Thanking You for Your plan. Thanking You for Your gifts. Thanking You for being our God and Father.

Lord, I truly can’t think of life without You. Thank You that because of Your precious Son I don’t have to (Romans 8:31-39). Thank You for Your perfect plan in this imperfect world. I love You so much. Continue Your work in me that I will become a much better follower of 1Thessalonians 5:16-18. "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(482 words ~ 7:26 a.m.)

stalling

Friday, December 17, 2010 (5:50 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I don’t know how to start. I’ve been here for more than an hour. Stalling. Hmm. How about start there? Thank You Lord. With stuff stacked in the other room where I can’t reach my usual Bibles, You provide the only mention of ‘stalling’ in the translation I have available. How cool are You?

Daniel 2:8 (CEV), “The king replied, ‘You’re stalling for time

(9:10 a.m.)

Speaking of stalling for time, have I ever told You Lord how easily I fall asleep when reading history? Especially on cold, dreary early mornings?

Thank You for getting me into Your Word this morning. Thank You for whatever it is You’d have me learn from this particular section of scripture. Help me use it today to bring You honor and glory.

Wow! In just reading the introduction to the book of Daniel, I am once again amazed and eager to tell (agog!) of Your faithfulness. Here’s a young man, taken from his country and culture of origin, that stayed true to You at all times. What a positive example!

Lord, I can’t even begin to imagine possessing the kind of discipline that kept he and his friends ever faithful to You and Your will for them. How I thank You for this reminder!

As I read of ‘the capture of innocent bystanders’ and of You ‘humbling the proud’, I am so pleased to also read that there is always ‘hope for ultimate recovery’ even when there are ‘limited answers to life’s painful questions’.

The subtitles used under the Recovery Themes section are: ‘Life is Unfair’, ‘Not Victims Forever’, ‘God Can Do Anything’, ‘Pain in Recovery’. Lord, these are such vital truths to read! How I ask You to instill Your Truth in me this day.

As I prepare to go into the day, enable me to be faithful to You and Your will for me. I long to be counted as one mentioned in chapter 12, verse 3. “And those who are wise – the people of God – shall shine as brightly as the sun’s brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever.”

Lord God, thank You for what ever reason it was that I was stalling in coming to You this morning. Thank You for the jumpstart I needed in being able to get into Your Word this morning. Be with me as I go out to feel and be and think and do (Mark 12:30) all that You have for me this day. I love You so very much Dearest Lord. Amen.

(432 words ~ 10:14 a.m.)

Christmas music

Thursday, December 16, 2010 (5:53 a.m.)

You’re doing it again Lord,

And I’m grateful! Thank You that with the amount of Christmas music we’ve been listening to I’ve come to question some of the lyrics. Especially when they plant themselves so deeply into my subconscious.

Thank You Lord that this particular Advent season I’m paying close attention to the words of these seasonal songs. Tuned to different stations than in years past, I’m keeping a list [and checking it more than twice J] of the songs I’ve never heard before.

Even the music with which I am familiar takes on a whole new meaning when I put YOU at the focus of it. Take this morning’s first song before even opening my eyes. I distinctly remember thinking “Really God?”

After just a little bit of thought and the change of ‘tree’ to ‘me’ I almost laughed out loud with delight. ♫Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas me Ho-ho-ho, hee-hee-hee SOMEONE came and HE found me And took me home with Him♫

Blessed Lord, thank You for changing the meaning of all these songs for me this year. I noticed it first and foremost the day I started putting You name in whenever I hear that ♫We need a little JESUS Right this very minute…♫ All the other things listed in the song fall readily into place when we recognize what we need is You!

♫Oh, I’m the happiest Christmas me Ho-ho-ho, hee-hee-hee Look how pretty He dressed me Oh, lucky, lucky me♫ Lord how blessed we are that You didn’t come to just pick one of us. Not the prettiest, nor the finest. No. You came to choose us all. Save us. Each and every one.

Lord God, as the Christmas music continues this season how I ever so humbly ask that YOU would deck each of our halls that we would truly put our focus on You. As we each ever so joyfully sing ♫Oh I’m the happiest Christmas me Christmas Day, wait and see I’ll be laughing happily With a ho-ho-ho, hee-hee♫ let it truly be a deep and resounding representation of the joy that only comes from loving and being loved by You.

Thank You Lord. Thank You for Christmas music that truly points to You! I love You Lord. Use me this day exactly as You wish. Thank You. Amen.

(394 words ~ 6:55 a.m.)

obedience

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 (3:04 a.m.)

Awesome, Amazing Blessed God,

For almost two hours I’ve been awake trying to go back to sleep. I’m thinking there’s something You want me to learn, so here I am. Finally.

Hmm. Do you want to speak to me about obedience Lord?

(6:25 a.m.)

Mm. Maybe so. I obeyed. I came. I read (Psalm 111, Job 28:28, James 1:5). And I got to go back to sleep. Thank You Lord. Now I … had a question. But You, being the perfect You that You are, answered it before I even got it out.

Yes. You want to speak to me this morning about obedience. Thank You that You would lead me to and then guide me through Your Word this morning.

“Obedience involves battle – it’s excruciating to give up control.” This from a women’s devotional (by Rebecca Manley Pippert) linked to Galatians 2:15-21. As I notice the stars I drew long ago on both sides of the title “More Myself” I’m excited to realize that I have felt emphatically about this passage in the past. I have a circle, bracket, exclamation point and underlines clearly attesting to my agreement more than once before.

“To struggle does not mean we are incorrigible. It means we are alive!” Thank You God! Thank You that I am in good company with other strugglers.

“A disciple says, ‘I hear You, Lord. It’s the nuttiest thing I ever heard. It’s risky. I’ll look like a fool, but I’ll do it. Because my life is no longer committed to doing my thing but Your thing.’”

Oh and then I keep reading and tears come to my heart and my soul. “Why should we want Him to have control of our lives? Besides the fact that He deserves it because of who He is, He knows He is the only One in the universe who can control us without destroying us. No one will ever love you like Jesus. No one will ever know you better, care more for your wholeness. The last breath Jesus breathed on this planet was for you.”

As I consider Your last breath I turn the page to read the corresponding verse. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Mm Lord. How can I ever not want to practice obedience? “Jesus will meet you wherever you are and He will help you. He is not intimidated by past failures, broken promises or wounds. He will make sense out of your brokenness. But He can only begin to be the Lord of your life today, not next Monday or next month, but now.”

And here comes the part where my entire being relaxes and smiles even more. “And the great and joyful paradox is that while He totally transforms us He makes us more ourselves than ever before.”

Mm. ♫Come Lord Jesus Come♫ Come teach me more about obedience to (and in) You. Come make me more my true self than ever before. I love You Lord. Amen.

(536 words ~ 8:27 a.m.)

praise

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 (6:09 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Teach me today about praising You. “Thanks” comes fairly easy. But I don’t understand a lot about praise.

I heard it said a long time ago that we are to thank You for the things You do and praise You for the things You are. Is this true?

I have my Psalty Bible at the ready. This is where the songs in my heart and my head are coming from so far this morning.

♫Don’t you know it’s time to praise the Lord? In the sanctuary of His Holy Spirit So set your mind on Him And let your praise begin And the glory of the Lord will fill this place. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord♫

Even as I sing those words Dearest Lord, I wonder. Just exactly what IS the sanctuary of Your Holy Spirit? And how do I praise You there?

With that asked, let me confess to You right now. I KNOW I am to praise You! There are so many things for which I am truly grateful. And right at this very moment I’m just not ‘feelin’ it’ God.

I mean no disrespect! In fact, I think it would be more disrespectful to continue asking You about praise while I’m sitting here thinking ‘yeah, yeah, sure, sure’. You deserve SO much more from me than that!

So what do we do Dearest Lord? I confess that I can’t even praise You on my own. You remind me that You can teach me. And then I decide to let You. Hmm. Seems pretty basic to me.

My heart is weighed down with the concerns for other people Lord. I even noticed the very slight beginning to a headache last night. My neck is stiff and most of my smiles so far this morning are practically forced. None of this looks like praise to me Blessed Lord!

Oh but You are so good Dearest Lord. With tears in my eyes, I turn the pages of other Bibles and then I find it! From looking up ‘praise’ in the back of The Life Recovery Bible I am reading about ‘Hope’ at Psalm 42. My face and heart, perhaps even my mind and soul are all smiling as I read “Why then am I downcast? Why be discouraged and sad? Hope in God! I shall yet praise Him again. Yes, I shall again praise Him for His help” (v. 5).

Going into the living room to get our Learning Bible again I smile as I read about the photo of a fifth century mosaic from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy. The caption of “Hinds Longing for Water” tells of the importance of water to all living creatures, often representing life itself. Off to the side I am directed to see the note at 18:46. Curious, I go. And? Yes! Another smile!

A photo of the rocky hills and cliffs of Palestine (near Arbela) represents a “mighty rock”. Lord, I confess to not fully understanding the tears that this particular verse is provoking in me. But praise You I will!

“You are the living Lord! I will praise You. You are a Mighty Rock. I will honor You for keeping me safe” (Psalm 18:46).

Praise You God. Teach me how to praise You. I love You. Amen.

(558 words ~ 7:45 a.m.)

train of thought

Monday, December 13, 2010 (6:26 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed Lord God,

Thank You! I didn’t start out with thank You. No. I believe my first thought this morning was “Ow”. Thank You Lord that You absolutely changed my train of thought from thinking of the pain in my lower back from a negative to a positive.

Thanking You for pain? Never thought I’d see it happen. But just look at how it has truly led me already this morning. I woke up thinking how it couldn’t possibly be time to get up. I told You I didn’t really care to watch the sun today. You reminded me of the trashcans that needed to go out to the street. I countered with the pain in my back.

And there it was. No longer “Ouch” but “thank You”. Thank You Lord that because of this very pain I have slowed way down. I’m looking at things differently. If not for the pain there is the very good chance that I would have jumped headlong onto the Christmas train of mindless activity I’ve been managing to stay off so far this season.

Because of the pain [which rhymes with ‘train’ I might add J] I need to rethink the way I do everything. The way I stand and sit, even laugh and sneeze. And I’m thanking You Lord. I am choosing to be mindful in my decisions. Aware. Alert. All the things You tell us. Yeah, here’s a thought ~ maybe if I had paid more attention in the first place we wouldn’t be having this particular discourse. Ah, but having it we are. AND I am particularly grateful for it!

Lord, I am happy to have to slow down and really think about the things that truly matter. Thank You for sidelining me from rushing through things. Thank You that even in slowly moving the recyclables to the street, not only did I become aware of all the rosebuds we have just ready to bloom. No. I also caught a whiff of the neighbor’s geranium, which immediately took my thoughts back to childhood.

Glancing up to once again see that bright morning star which always helps me smile, I became more aware of the crisp, clean air and mountainous view surrounding me. And of course, thanked You!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 is the verse I got up thinking about. “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” This is one of the very first times that it came naturally Lord. Effortlessly. I didn’t have to force or wrestle with my thoughts. They just changed direction. From negative to positive. Thank You Lord for leading my train of thought this morning. How I ask that You stay with me this day. Guide and direct my whole heart, soul, mind, and body (Mark 12:30) that I will feel, be, think and do the things that will bring You honor and glory. I love You so very much Dearest Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(505 words ~ 7:27 a.m.)

power

Sunday, December 12, 2010 (9:26 a.m.)

Okay Lord,

Three hours after the fact, I’m ready. I’m pretty much done with the stomping and the pouting and am ready to ask for and receive (John 16:24) Your strength and Your power (Ephesians 6:10). Thank You Lord. Thank You that You are patient and kind (1Corinthians 13:4-7). You are faithful and just (1John1:9). Thank You that because You are all these things and so much more, I get to come to You exactly as I am. Sometimes feeling happier than others. Many times feeling excited and eager to tell others (agog) about You. And just as often, feeling sluggish, morose, even apathetic. That is until Your mighty power kicks in!

Thank You Lord that You are willing to wait me out. You don’t just give me a set amount of time to come to my senses. No. You wait. As long as it takes. Until I am finally ready to say, “You know what God? I want to want to be here! I love You and I want to want to spend time with You.” And here it is. Finally. Your patience pays off. I’m here, ready to thank You and praise You and tell You I love You.

You are far more important to me than something to just blindly cross off my list of things to do. I love You way too much to come before You without my whole heart (Mark 12:30). Thank You that You are willing to wait for my soul to catch up with my mind and my body.

I love You Lord. I like You. I want to spend time with You. Thank You for inviting me every moment of every day to be with You. To get to know You. Mm, Lord. Thank You for the power of Your Holy Spirit that is willing to come along, turning hearts, souls, minds, and strength back to You.

Thank You Lord that because of this very prayer right here and right now I’m getting acquainted with new-to-me verses that I’ve yet to know before. Romans 15:12-13 (The Message) “And Isaiah’s word: There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse, breaking through the earth and growing tree tall, Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope! Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy (power!) of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!”

Oh most precious Lord. How I love You! How I thank You. How I ask You to let me live this power to Your ultimate good this day. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(352 words ~ 10:49 a.m.)

hilarious!

Saturday, December 11, 2010 (7:25 a.m.)

Lord God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You! Never in my life would I ever have thought that I would be sitting here thanking You for a dead rodent in the bottom of our pool. Yep. Dead rodent. BLECH! But thank You!

Thank You that I had been praying just prior to going outside that You would help me regain my power. There had been a tiny little disagreement here over the use of old batteries instead of fresh ones and I found myself getting upset over the way the whole situation was being handled. The degree to which I was becoming more and more irritated didn’t match well with the triviality of it all, but I truly couldn’t stop myself on my own.

That’s when I noticed what was happening with me! I saw clearly how I didn’t like being ignored. I was completely aware that I had the choice to let it bother me or to let it go. In choosing to let it go [thank YOU very much J] I noticed that it didn’t take long until I was being sucked back into negative, childish thoughts and behaviors.

That’s when I began praying and asking You to change my focus. I asked You to help me learn to allow someone to be upset with me without thinking I had to fix the situation. Even as I prayed, I was keenly aware of the inner turmoil going on inside me. I knew what was best – to just let everything play out on its own. Yet I also knew how I felt – ignored and ready to ‘show him’ that I didn’t like how he was treating me.

Enter You and Your hilarious sense of humor! Lord God, I truly still can’t thank You enough for the way You absolutely, completely, without a doubt changed my focus and state of mind.

How perfect it was that I had fairly mindlessly gone out to take care of the pool while the other half of the disagreement went to get lunch [which I thought was awfully nice under the circumstances!] It was as I drew closer to the fence, thinking how I would start by taking that great big leaf out first that I realized this was no leaf.

Nope. Furry. Tail. Grosser than gross! And what did I do after my initial scream of disgust? I laughed. Loud. And long. All the way from deep in my belly. Between an occasional screech of “Eeew!” and “Gross!” there were only the sounds of my laughter. And thanksgiving. To You!

Only you could take me from what was truly becoming a foul mood, by introducing something even fouler. Thank You Lord. Thank You that You could use a dead rodent, a large dead rodent at that, to bring me back to my senses.

I didn’t have to give away the power of my being okay. I needed that power to take care of the business at hand. Thank You that I was fully aware that it was You here with me proving once again that I truly “can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need” (Philippians 4:13).

Thank You Lord. You are amazing. Brilliant. Creative. Deliberate… Hilarious! I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(555 words ~ 8:30 a.m.)

the dream

Friday, December 10, 2010 (6:37 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

There is so much to learn. Thank You that You make us teachable. Thank You that I was delightfully eager [agog] to come out here with You this morning.

Having just woken up from an action packed dream, filled with drama. I look at symbols like a broken bridge and other things that weren’t working to my liking and I see how my whole self [thank You that I was honestly aware of the way I was feeling] relaxed as I sought and looked for other avenues. Lord, I want very much to take the attention to detail I paid in this dream into my everyday life. A wooden suspension bridge was broken and splintered. Continuing ahead only got harder and more dangerous. Trying to do it all on my own? Not a good idea.

Asking others for help, while still thinking the answer was straight ahead finally resulted with me turning around and seeing that I had only come a little way. Going back to where I started was clearly the better option.

Mm, Lord. Just yesterday You reminded me a little bit about the importance of ‘being alert and always keep praying’ (Ephesians 6:18) as well as ‘being earnest and repenting’ (Revelation 3:19).

Oh but Lord, it just gets so much better! I looked up the Revelation verse in The Message. “The people I love, I call to account – prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!”

That’s what I did in the dream Lord! As I inched my way along that broken, splintered bridge on my hands and knees there finally came the good sense to turn around. I got up on my feet and ran back to safety to begin again.

Lord, thank You for being our safety! Thank You for having ‘plans for us that are for good and not for evil. Plans to give us a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11). Thank You that there was even more to the dream.

I stood in a slow moving line and waited patiently to get where I thought I needed to go. After the other people stopped and split into two different lines, I realized I wasn’t at all where I needed to be. Stopping to ask for directions, I received varying opinions.

Lord, thank You that it was the wisdom of some little kids that once again got me moving. I realized I was dragging and attempting to balance many unnecessary items. These children very simply and directly asked me, “Why?”

Even in remembering this with You right now, I turned immediately to Hebrews (12:1-2) and am still nodding my head. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Lord God, it IS You we long to glorify this holiday season! I actually had an “Ah-ha!” moment in that dream dearest Lord. As the little children led me to rethink my priorities, not only did I become fully aware of what all I was trying to do, I honestly asked myself “Why?” When I realized I was feeling hurt and slighted, I changed my focus to the things that truly brought me joy. WOW! What a difference Lord! Right then, in my dream [and still now] another song began.

I haven’t been able to find it yet, but it has to do with having a very special Christmas. Lord. This is what I ask this morning. Help me stay focused on YOU and the things that bring us joy. I love You so very much Lord. Merry Christmas. I love You. Amen.

(671 words ~ 7:46 a.m.)

Teach me

Thursday, December 9, 2010 (5:38 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Make me teachable today.

(6:49 a.m.)

Yes Lord. Teach me. Teach me Your will and Your way. Teach me the things YOU would have me know [and do] today.

Lord, I’m having trouble staying focused here. My mind [as well as my being] keeps wandering. First I delighted in again seeing that bright morning star out in the crisp morning air.

(8:35 a.m.)

Rattled. Easily distracted. Unfocused. Undisciplined. These are words that seem to describe me this morning Lord. Help! Again I ask You to help me learn what it is You have for me today.

Bouncing all around Your Word this morning, I keep trying to read Psalm 119. How appropriate that the last verse (176) says so clearly, “I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not turned away from Your commandments.”

Mm. Lord. I confess 176 verses of one psalm seems to be too much for me to stay focused on this morning. Not only have I been jumping from book to book in Your Word this morning, I find myself all over the place in this one chapter alone. A genuine tilted (toppled, unsteady) pinball machine!

Oh but the truth of Your Word Dearest Lord. As I literally hop, skip and jump around this particular psalm this morning, my eyes are drawn to a Step 11 devotion regarding verses 1-11 entitled Powerful Secrets. Spelling out Step 11, “We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out” I ask exactly that Dearest Lord.

Through the years I’ve come to view the word ‘secrets’ in a very negative light. The phrase, “We are only as sick as our secrets” readily comes to mind whenever I hear the word. This particular devotion challenges that for me this morning. It starts out very familiar for me, “The secrets we hide away have enormous power in our life. How many of our addictive/compulsive behaviors have been hidden or covered up?”

It goes on to describe how addictive behaviors and secrets lose their power over us when they are exposed. This thought too I am familiar with. Oh but look! Something I’ve managed to miss all these years. “The power of hidden behaviors and secrets can work for us as well as against us.” Hmm. Now THERE’S a refreshing thought!

In verse 11, David speaks of thinking much about Your words and storing them in his heart. The word ‘stored’ can trace back to meaning ‘to hide by covering over’ or ‘to hoard secretly’.

The devotion goes on to say, “If we ‘hide’ God’s Word in our heart by memorizing and meditating on it, we will find new power to keep our mind and heart clean. The power of secrets will also work to our advantage in our prayer life.”

Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you.”

Hmm Lord, as I turn to You now – secretly – I ask You to indeed provide the power I need to do as You would have me do this day. I love You Lord. Thank You for once again teaching me! Amen.

(579 words ~ 9:14 a.m.)

Lord, Lord

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 (5:41 a.m.)

Lord, Lord,

Oh how I thank You Lord! Thank You for peace. Thank You for love. Thank You for joy. Thank You that You came so that we would have these, and so much more.

Thank You Lord that You call to us to get to know You. You want us to love You and trust You and build our very lives on You. It’s not outward appearances You want. You want all of our hearts and souls and minds and strength (Mark 12:30). Thank You Lord that You don’t expect us to just figure this all out on our own.

No. You came in person to teach us. You came to guide us. Walk with us. Be our Friend. That we would get to know You. And trust You. Depend upon You. Love You.

Oh most dear and holy Lord, as I experience the roots of this household growing down more and more deeply in You, again I turn to Colossians 2:7. Lord, how I ask that as these roots continue growing into You that we will indeed ‘draw up nourishment from You. See that we go on growing in You, and become strong and vigorous in the truth we were taught. Let our lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all You have done.’

Lord, Lord. Just in saying those words a pop song of the past came immediately to mind. Seemingly out of nowhere as I was considering You as Lord I heard in my head ♫Woman, do you love Me? Woman, if you need Me then Believe Me I need you To be My woman♫ Oh yes Lord. Lord that IS the desire of my heart. To be Your woman!

♫Woman, don’t forsake Me Woman, if you take Me then Believe Me I’ll take you To be My woman♫ Thank You Lord. I love You so very much. Thank You. Amen.

317 words ~ 6:44 a.m.)

trust

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 (5:25 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Good morning. I love You. I had bad/scary dreams and I can’t shake them. I’ve tried going outside to enjoy the bright stars and cool air. Thinking on the things that are lovely…

Hmm. Let’s go back to that “I can’t”. Let me take that thought back to bed with me and see what happens Lord. Surrender. To You. Yes to You in whom I can always trust. Mm. Yes. I will return! I love You Lord. Thank You.

(2:40 p.m.)

Holy Lord,

I think I might be more confused now than I was earlier [but at least I’m fully awake J] Lord, I DID get to go back to sleep for which I am grateful. More disturbing dreams that I did not understand equate a little to the many things I’ve not understood in my waking hours. And for one of the first times I can ever remember, that’s okay with me!

Lord, I’m the one that always wants to know what happened. And why! [How was that particular bubble light okay one day yet broken and completely empty the next?]

Here’s where I come back to thanking You Lord. Honestly, truly I thank You that I don’t have to understand things to be able to trust You. As I sit here basking in the comfort of Your presence I love the fact that Your Word is true. Everywhere I turn in it are promises of Your peace. Peace which I am experiencing daily in my life.

Lord, how I thank You for this truth. Your truth. Right here, right now I am content. Safe. At peace. In You. Why? Because of You! Isaiah 26:3-4 tells us, “The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. So always trust the Lord because He is forever our mighty Rock.”

Oh most dear and precious Lord, thank You that You are truly trustworthy and I get to fully trust in You. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(338 words ~ 4:51 p.m.)

fellowship

Monday, December 6, 2010 (6:39 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

Thank You for amazing beauty. Thank You for true fellowship with friends and loved ones. Thank You Lord that as I even consider the word ‘fellowship’ I immediately relate it to Paul’s closing benediction to Your followers in Corinth. “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2Corinthians 13:14).

Mm, most loving Lord, how I thank You for the opportunity to again explore this blessing. My mind seems to go into overload in just trying to wrap myself in this truth. Your Son’s grace, Your love and genuine camaraderie (mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together) with Your Holy Spirit. It’s the most perfect, divine trifecta imaginable. Thank You Lord!

As I pour over Your Word this morning, with a multitude of side trips – like the few walks outside to watch the majesty of Your glorious morning parfait unfold – I am thankful. Grateful. Awed. At peace.

Lord God, how I thank You for drawing me to this particular section of Your Word this morning. In wanting to better understand Paul’s benediction to his Corinthian friends, I turned to The Learning Bible. At the top of the page I find him encouraging them (v.5) to take a close look at themselves to see if they are really being true to their faith in Christ. “Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all?”

Hmm Lord. Leave it to You not to let us get too comfortable with ourselves. Thank You for the push to examine ourselves in Your light. Thank You for this call to admit our failures to You, all the while trusting that You will help rebuild relationships that will glorify and honor You.

Lord, how I love You and thank You. Now, ‘may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.’ Indeed. Amen.

(373 words ~ 8:00 a.m.)

truth in love

Sunday, December 5, 2010 (4:23 a.m.)

Amazing God of Glory,

Thank You! Thank You for unrest and dissent and disagreements in which we grow. Lord, thank You for truth that can be spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15). Thank You for continuing to work in us. Thank You for Your Word that indeed speaks truth to us, in love!

Lord God, how I come before You eager to tell others of Your love. Living with You and in You and through You is awkward Lord. It’s freeing (John 8:32) while at the very same time so completely different than the yelling, bickering or complete silence with which I grew accustomed at a very early age. With old habits dying hard Lord, I find anger my first weapon of defense when differences of opinions come along. Anger either expressed by my own sullen silence, or by unkind words and attitudes.

Thank You Lord that Your way is SO much better! Truth. Spoken in love. Ah, Lord. What an amazing and glorious concept! Thank You for not only thinking of it, but for repeatedly sharing it with us as well.

Lord, I come here with You ready and willing to learn more of what You would have us know. As my heart continues to change in the light of Your Word I ask You to temper and balance me. I see myself changing for the good. Your good. But with change often comes opposition. Teach me Lord to be prepared, fully dressed in Your armor (Ephesians 6:10-17) and the strength that comes from Your mighty power to counter every single attack and trick from satan.

I was excited when I woke up singing this morning. I was eager to come out here with You. Finding the words, I quickly knew there would need to be a twist to this particular carol du jour. Lord I look right straight to You asking Your truth to be evident in and through it. Taking out what commerce has created for this particular time of year I ask that we would truly celebrate YOU at the very heart of all our preparation. ♫For we need a little Christmas Right this very minute, Candles in the window Carols at the spinet, Yes we need a little Christmas…♫ but NOT like we’re used to Lord! This year be in every single decoration we set out. As we ♫haul out the holly♫ and put up the tree again, this year Lord let our hearts [and our souls and our minds and our strength] make it all about You!

♫For we need a little music, Need a little laughter, Need a little singing, Ringing through the rafter, And a little snappy Happy ever after, Need a little Christmas now♫ Oh but NOT for the sake of ritual Lord! It’s NOT about the trimmings and the trappings Lord. It’s about You. All about You!

Help me speak Your truth in love this day Dearest Lord ♫For I’ve grown a little leaner [in my spirit] Grown a little colder, Grown a little sadder, Grown a little older And I need a little angel Sitting on my shoulder, Need a little Christmas now♫ Mm. Yes Lord. Christmas as YOU designed it! Speak Your truth in and through us this day dearest Lord. I love You. Amen.

(543 words ~ 6:07 a.m.)

"Wait for it..."

Saturday, December 4, 2010 (6:19 a.m.)

Mm, Awesome God,

Thank You Lord. Thank You that this morning I truly had to “wait for it”. And even when I thought there was nothing left to watch for “Bam!” there was more color. Far more intense expansive color!

Oh Your goodness Lord. Here I was, sure that the beauty of the rising sun was over only to find that it had barely just begun. Hmm, Lord. How very often do I do that? Jump to conclusions based on what I see?

Lord, how I thank You for time to sit, reading Your Word, contemplating things larger than myself. I look around me. I catch a phrase and search it out. I read Habakkuk 2:3 and Romans 8:25. And I sing. ♫Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In light of His glory and grace…♫

Oh most dear and holy God, just looking around me I am grateful at how You have never left me nor forsaken me (Deuteronomy 31:6). I have gotten to wait and see You work. I get to sit and read and wait and watch and I am grateful Lord. Really, truly, deeply grateful.

Thank You for the love You have for Your children. A love so incredible that You sent Your only Son to save us (John 3:16). Thank You Lord that just as we can only catch fleeting glimpses as the color of the sky is here one moment and gone the next, it’s Your Holy Word and loving promises that stand the test of time. If I am truly going to wait for something Lord it HAS to be Your Truth.

Habakkuk waited for You to answer his honest concerns of You. And answer him You did. 2:2-3, “Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Lord, thank You that although things that happen in our lives are often not what they appear, You are always good. You cannot change. You are well worthy waiting for!

♫My hope is built on nothing less Thank Jesus’ blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand♫

Thank You that I have this honor and this privilege of waiting for You. I love You Lord. Amen.

(436 words ~ 7:51 a.m.)

"Oh!"

Friday, December 3, 2010 (5:50 a.m.)

Absolutely Awesome God,

“Oh!” What a perfect first utterance for the day. Such an automatic response escaping my mouth so naturally upon seeing the sheer beauty of this early morning hour!

“Oh!” Lord. It’s breathtaking! When I first started walking down the hallway I wasn’t even sure it was morning yet. The darkness caused me to doubt the time I had just read on the clock. Hmm. How often does darkness cause us to doubt?

Oh, but to see the sky Lord! Still dark with just swishes of light breaking through the clouds that are becoming more visible. An occasional glimpse of the thinnest Cheshire Cat moon. Oh and let us not forget to mention the bright morning star!

Lord, it’s the first morning I’ve gone outside in I don’t remember how long. Plus, when is the last time I’ve pulled up a chair to the kitchen window just to sit and watch for over half an hour?

Oh! Lord! Such beauty. Such awe. Such genuine appreciation! Thank You Lord. Thank You for the blessings that allow us to enjoy moments such as this.

Turning to the book of Hosea this morning I thought I had found the most perfect verse to express all the feelings my initial “Oh!” represented. “Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him, and He will respond to us as surely as the coming of dawn or the rain of early spring” (6:3). But then I remembered. Isn’t this the book about the guy who was married to the prostitute?

Sure enough! The very next verse (4) reminded me all too well that things aren’t always as they seem. “People of Israel and Judah, what can I do with you? Your love for me disappears more quickly than mist or dew at sunrise.”

Oh but then in verse six You bring it all back home again Lord. “I don’t want your sacrifices – I want your love; I don’t want your offerings – I want you to know me.” And how perfectly You tie that right back to the song I immediately started singing with the very first utterance of the day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GahhhnOu4w

Oh most dear and blessed Lord, how I do indeed love You! Thank You for this day. Thank You for this opportunity to come be with You. Thank You for Your love. Your plan. Your goodness. Your grace. Help me use them well. I love You. Amen.

(419 words ~ 8:23 a.m.)

take care

Thursday, December 2, 2010 (6:23 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You Lord for a ‘take care of myself’ (instead of ‘sick’) day yesterday. Thank You for a husband who understands and encourages me in taking good care of myself. In fact Lord, thank You that he is so inclined to help take good care of me. Oh, but so much bigger than all of this is the way that YOU take care of me Lord!

Mm. And this very thought leads me to Psalm 145:9 in the Contemporary English Version of Your Word. “You are good to everyone, and You take care of all Your creation.” What a wonderful, glorious truth!

Reading the entire chapter I am so grateful to be included as one You love. Blessed, Beloved Lord, thank You for the opportunity to praise and worship You. Verse four says, “Each generation will announce to the next Your wonderful and powerful deeds.” At this particular time of the year when things can get especially chaotic and far less focused on You, Lord thank You for this opportunity to take much concentrated time to sit and truly be with You. Let us truly live out the calling of this particular psalm, to offer pure praise to You for Your many wonderful attributes and qualities.

Mm, Lord. Yes Lord. Let us take care to love, honor and worship You as You so created us. Special, tender care to point to You our God and King (v.1) our wonderful Lord who is deserving of all our praise (3). Thinking about Your marvelous glory and mighty miracles (5). Celebrating and singing about Your matchless mercy and power to save (6). Thank You Lord that You are merciful, kind, patient and always loving (8).

Thank You that You are indeed “good to everyone, and You take care of all Your creation” (9). Mm. Lord. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(316 words ~ 7:55 a.m.)

♫Be glorified...♫

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 (6:27 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

How I ask this morning that You would come and be glorified in my life. What a glorious thought to wake up to. Thank You Lord.

I tried everything I could in my own power yesterday to continue holding another cold at bay. Soup, plenty of liquids, extra vitamin C… Rather than looking at myself as a wuss, a failure, or a great big baby Lord, I am coming straight to You asking that You would indeed ♫be glorified♫ in this cold,

For the first time in quite a few weeks the husband and I have again turned our attentions to making healthier choices concerning food and exercise. I don’t want this little blip in the radar of our whole-hearted attempts to derail us with a ‘too little too late’ attitude. No Lord, I come before You longing to see You ♫be glorified♫ in all aspects of our beings. Sore throat, sniffles and all.

Most Dear and Holy God, this is a relatively new approach Lord. Usually I come before You in such a situation whining about the inconvenience. Today, instead, it’s a gift of grand proportions to be able to ask instead that You ♫be glorified♫. Thank You Lord.

Reading the various verses that mention You being glorified encourage my heart. I even smiled in John 11:4 where You said of Lazarus, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

It was in Isaiah (49:3) that I started singing another song as well. ♫Light of the world You stepped down into darkness Opened my eyes let me see Beauty that makes this heart adore You Hope of a life spent with You So here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that You’re my God Your altogether lovely Altogether worthy Altogether wonderful to me♫ Lord how I thank You for another opportunity to sing of Your glory.

As I leave here to begin whatever You have for me this day how I ever so humbly ask that You would indeed ♫be glorified♫ in it. I love You so very much Dearest Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(376 words ~ 7:41 a.m.)

♫Sing Hallelujah♫

Monday, November 29, 2010 (6:10 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

How I thank You! I’ve been making mistakes lately. Some are bigger than others. But You know what’s really cool? Just as I was waking up and beginning to think about them, I immediately started singing ♫Sing Hallelujah to the Lord♫ instead. Each time my mind begins to replay the concerns of wishing things had been done differently for better results, another verse comes to mind. ♫Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah to the Lord♫ And then I smile!

Thank You Lord. Thank You that even now as I was going to focus on searching for ‘mistakes’ in Your Word, I found myself looking up ‘sing hallelujah’ instead. And this smile of peace and contentment comes directly from the truth of Psalm 33. “Let all the joys of the godly well up in praise to the Lord, for it is right to praise Him” (v.1).

Looking to learn more about the word hallelujah I see that it is a transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “Praise God”. Again I thank You Lord that instead of waking up to think of the mistakes I’ve been making, I was immediately directed to praise You instead.

♫Sing Hallelujah to the Lord…♫ Mm. Sing hallelujah indeed! Reading a commentary note regarding this psalm You are described as 'powerful and worthy of our trust. You spoke the universe into existence and are able to re-create each of us. You are filled with tender love for all of us. You can remove the defects that bring destruction. And all You ask is that we turn our life over to You so You can work these changes in us.'

Excuse me Lord as I go now and continue singing hallelujah to You. I love You so much. Thank You. Amen.

(296 words ~ 7:28 a.m.)

Christ as Head

Sunday, November 28, 2010 (6:37 a.m.)

Most Blessed Lord God,

How I thank You Lord. Thank You for order and structure and accomplished tasks. Thank You for experience and examples. Thank You for teamwork. Especially with You as our leader. Mm. Lord. You as the Head of our household! How perfect. How wonderful. FINALLY! The truth of Ephesians is noticeably playing out here in our home.

Wow God. I can’t even think of all there is I want to thank You for. Let me instead read and then quote Paul’s words to his dear Christian friends at Ephesus. “Blessings and peace be yours” (Chapter 1:2) “God chose us to be His very own-” (v.4) “-we who stand before Him covered with His love.”

Oh most holy God, there’s far too much truth and love here for me to even try to condense it. Every single verse speaks to Your “wonderful kindness to us” (v.6). It’s all here Lord. The way You would have us live. The blessings that are to be found when we turn from the death and destruction of our old life without You to that which You have always planned for us. New life through Jesus Christ.

Oh most dear and blessed Lord, how I thank You for sparking us to life! Turning these pages I keep nodding and uttering, “Yes! Thank You. Praise You.” Paul wrote of the greatness of Your love. “When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth – that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God Himself” (3:17-19).

And see? Every single time I think ‘Yes, this is what I want to say to You’ there truly is more! Verse 20, “Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.” You amaze me Lord.

Each time I actually find myself walking in the power of Your loving grace I am amazed. I look around and take note. I want to be ever aware of becoming “equipped to do better work” for You (4:12). “Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times – speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly – and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of His body, the Church. Under His direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (vs. 14-16).

How could I possibly ask for any more than that? Lord Jesus, be the head of this family. This household. This community. This nation. This universe. Christ as Head and we Your body. Mm. Life as it was meant to be. Thank You Lord for working in us in such an incredibly powerful way. Please dearest Lord, keep us mindful and obedient to Your will and to Your way this day, as well as all those that remain. We love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(704 words ~ 8:00 a.m.)