courage

Friday, April 30, 2010 (5:37 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

I am looking to You for courage. Oh wow! Would You look at that? Smiling. Eager. Agog-ish. Yea! Thank You Lord!

Thank You for a waking dream just now that reminded me of the importance of coming to You with every single aspect of my life. Sitting here tapping out the beginning of this prayer to You, asking You for courage, knowing that the biggest thing I need Your courage for is the changes that are taking place in and around me.

The smile came immediately. And now look. Here are chills and tears to complete this picture. Lord, I love how I can be this ‘not okay’ and ‘better than ever’ all at the same time. That’s YOU Lord! You. Working in me.

Thank You Lord. Thank You that as soon as I considered the words courage and change, the Serenity Prayer came to mind. Reinhold Niebuhr nailed it for so many when he first offered, then penned his prayer.

Originally he asked that You would “give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.” Oh thank You God!

Thank You that there have long been people (Your Son being one of them) who will lead us in praying for our needs. Matthew (6:9-13) recorded His words thusly, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Your is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’”

Lord, I confess. I sit here with You in the morning. Many times I get excited, thinking that I will be taking You and Your wisdom with me throughout the day. Too often, at the first signs of any type of discontent, I seem to bail from my allegiance with You and slip right on back to old patterns.

Dearest Lord, I don’t want to continue doing life on my terms, with my habits and reactions to circumstances. Change me Lord. Keep me ever ready to ask You for the courage to make those changes as You desire.

An extended version to Reinhold Niebuhr’s prayer says this, “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.”

Oh yes Dearest Lord! Yes that I would enjoy. You! Be with me this entire day I pray. Giving me courage every single time I start to falter. There is much to do and even more to be afraid of if I try (insist) doing it all on my own. I’m Yours Dear Lord. Do with me as You will. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(579 words ~ 6:37 a.m.)

responsibilities

Thursday, April 29, 2010 (4:12 a.m.)

Revisited (6:37 a.m.)

Hi God,

So I’m a little more awake now than before. Glad to be here. Still humming ♫You alone are the matchless King To You alone be all majesty♫

Looking up the words I find ♫Your glories and wonders, what tongue can recite? You breathe in the air, You shine in light♫ and I am grateful, Lord. So very grateful!

Thank You for whatever reason it is that I looked at the clock precisely at 3:33 this morning. Thank You that I used that as my kick-start to find what You may have to say to me this morning.

Much earlier, it was much too early to try to make since of anything. Ah, but God. You are good!

Taking the 3:33 to heart, I searched Your Word to find the first verse with this address. I didn’t have to look too far. I found the first 3:33 in Numbers and stopped there to look around.

What did I find? The word “responsibilities” again and again. Okay. I can accept that. But not as it related to the Levites. So still I looked.

Did You mean singular (responsibility)? Not plural? More searching. All the way over into Isaiah 22. Verses 22-24 speak of the responsibility You will give to Your servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah. Hmm, okay. I guess.

Oh but look. One column to the left and a paragraph down. Previously underlined and arrowed by me. Starting at verse 8, “God has removed His protective care. You run to the armory for your weapons.” In this chapter Isaiah has a vision where he sees the destruction of the people of Judah. Why? Because they looked at the problem. Verses 9-11, “You inspect the walls of Jerusalem to see what needs repair! You check over the houses and tear some down for stone for fixing walls. Between the city walls, you build a reservoir for water from the lower pool! But all your feverish plans will not avail, for you never ask for help from God…”

I’ve been doing that haven’t I God? I keep looking at the problems, trying to figure out how I’m going to fix them. How will I keep calamity from reigning supreme? When all along what I’ve really needed to do is to look squarely at You. Expecting You to do all for me of that which I can’t possibly do for myself.

Forgive me Lord. Forgive me for just barreling through with responsibilities that I’ve taken on that may not even be my own. I’ve gotten so sidetracked and sideways in my thinking that I no longer recognize up from down. The line between things that are my responsibility has gotten severely blurred (to the point of being practically erased) with those that are not.

Work with me Lord. Work in me. Get me back to the point where I wholeheartedly sing ♫You alone are the matchless King To You alone be all majesty Your glories and wonders, what tongue can recite? You breathe in the air, You shine in the light♫ Lord let me drop the burden of responsibilities I have collected and truly worship You. I love You so much. Thank You. Amen.

(538 words ~ 7:42 a.m.)

indifferent

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 (8:07 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You. Thank You that good, bad or indifferent I get to keep coming to You. I might feel happy or sad. Confused or overwhelmed. It doesn’t matter my state of mind. I still get to come to You.

(9:02 a.m.)

Lord, You never cease to amaze me! My plan, more than two hours ago, was to come to You speaking of ‘in’ words like: inspiring, incredible, entice, encourage. I was not expecting indifferent. Yet here it is. You, once again reminding me of the importance found in Revelation 3:19. The Living Bible says it this way, “I (YOU!) continually discipline and punish everyone I love; so I must punish you unless you turn from your indifference and become enthusiastic about the things of God.”

Most Holy God, how easy it is for me to get lulled into a state of indifference in an ineffective attempt to protect my own feeble state of mind. I don’t want to rock boats or upset apple carts, so if I feign not caring I can protect myself from all upheavals. NOT! It absolutely doesn’t work that way! You have (ARE!) such the better Way! (John 4:16)

Eugene Peterson again used words I can understand. Revelation 3:19 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 doesn’t sound the least bit indifferent to me!

And where do I find the energy to make that about face and run after You? At the foot of Your cross! Where I come with a grateful (NOT indifferent!) heart. Grateful to You that You will even have me!

Lord, thank You! Thank You that I get to come to You EXACTLY as I am and allow You to ‘strip off every weight that slows me down, especially the sin that so easily hinders my progress. And let me run with endurance [Look! Another ‘in’ word! J] the race that You have set before me.’

Thank You so much Lord. I love You! Amen.

(360 words ~ 10:09 a.m.)

eagerly

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 (6:45 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Thank You! I get to keep being honest with You and You continue covering me with the precious blood of Your only begotten Son. Lord, as much as I can’t even begin to understand and fully appreciate that kind of sacrifice, I can come eagerly before You saying, “Thank You”!

Thank You Lord. This morning I come to You eagerly. You are uncovering and shining Your glorious light on so many of our childish ways Dear Lord. Thank You that You don’t just leave us in the midst of our own individual squalor [state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, esp. as a result of poverty or neglect]. No. You meet us exactly where we are. You take us completely as we are. Hurt. Broken. Filthy. But You don’t leave us there.

No. We reach up to You and You pull us “out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire”. You “set my feet on solid ground” and steady me as I walk along (Psalm 40:2). You did it for the psalmist Lord and You do it for each and every one of us every single time we call out to You.

Thank You Lord. Thank You too that in this very same Psalm, David went from singing Your praises (vs. 3-5) to once again expressing frustration and asking for Your help (v. 17). Such good company I am in Dear Lord!

I don’t have to have every thing figured out before expressing my heart to You. It isn’t necessary for me to tie all situations and circumstances up into neat and tidy bows. No! You will meet me at a lonely pit of despair and “let me stand on a rock with feet firm.”

How can I not come to You eagerly? Thanking, praising, expressing admiration and appreciation. Oh most dear and blessed God, keep me walking in Your will this day. Covered by the sacred blood of Your most precious Son. I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

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

reluctantly

Monday, April 26, 2010 (6:47 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I am here. Reluctantly. Lacking enthusiasm. Thank You that I get to come before You with even this and be reminded that You love a cheerful giver (2Corinthians 9:7).

Lord thank You for continuing to love me even as my heart closes in around itself in that feeble attempt to save it from all conflict and pain. This is not what You have called me to!

A small smile is breaking out across my face as I read the bookend verses here. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (v.6) “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (v.8)

Dearest Lord. Sitting here with You, reading Your Word, being reminded that all the power I need to be able to give freely of my time and resources is found in You. Lord, You lead me from one truth to another. Providing my every single need.

As I look to You this morning, I am again reminded of something the Whosoevers said last night at “PRAY HARD-Redlands”. Before I reach out, I need to reach up. To You!

I confess Lord. I truly thought I had been. Now it all seems like such a blur. I have such a heart that wants to help. But I don’t have good boundaries. I keep thinking it’s up to me to figure it all out before I say or do anything. So instead I’ve been doing nothing. I think hard. I work hard. And yes, lately, I’ve even been worrying and avoiding hard.

So here I am Lord, far less reluctantly than I began. Enthusiasm is just around the corner, sadly still held at bay by the giant invisible ‘what if’ factor. Lord, let me trade my fear of ‘what if’ for the truth of Your Word. Your love, Your Son, Your promise of everlasting life are all tied together in John 3:16. Let me again live each day as one of Your blessed ‘whosoever believeth in Him’.

I love You so much Dear Lord. Thank You for loving me first! Amen.

(379 words ~ 8:16 a.m.)

fear

Sunday, April 25, 2010 (7:21 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Thank You for opportunities to ‘trust and reverence’ You (Proverbs 1:7 TLB). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (NIV)

Thank You God for reminded me that if I’m going to fear anything, it needs to be YOU! “Fully Esteem And Revere God.” I’ve said it for years. How easy it is for me to forget!

King Solomon seemingly had it all. Money, power, wisdom... And still he made mistakes. Thank You that we are not led to believe that Your followers were ever perfect. Thank You also that they took the time to write down their thoughts, experiences and beliefs that we might all learn and grow from them.

Proverbs 3:5-6, ♫Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path♫ Thank You Lord. It’s so easy for me to run full force without Your direction and then wonder what happened.

Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey His commandments, for this is the entire duty of man.”

Lord God, I keep flipping over to being afraid. Thank You that I have these incredible Books of Yours that remind me again that it’s You I am to trust. You I am to fear. You I am to love.

When asked by a teacher of religion which of the commandments was most important, “Jesus replied, ‘The one that says, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love Him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’ The second is: ‘You must love others as much as yourself.’ No other commandments are greater than these.’” (Matthew 12:28-31)

Thank You Lord for helping me remember just who (YOU!) and what (You again!) I am to fear, trust and obey. Thank You for loving me so much that You would provide for my every single need. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(351 words ~ 8:26 a.m.)

promises

Saturday, April 24, 2010 (6:51 a.m.)

Lord,

Help me this day. There is much to do. People to see. Things to take care of. And I turn to You first. Thank You God.

Thank You that in turning to You and Your Word just now, I am reminded of just how many things are not being taken care of in a timely fashion. I have the best intentions, but my follow through leaves a lot to be desired. Lord, I don’t want to be one of those people known for making empty promises. I want desperately to be a woman of YOUR Word!

I confess to You Lord, I don’t know where to begin. All of life doesn’t stop because one person dies. Becoming paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes zaps all energy and fortitude. Thank You Lord that we have Your Word to come back to. We have Your Word to look to, to stand upon. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that in this marvelous Book we find words of hope. There are reminders of people who have faced tremendous odds and grown stronger because of them. Lord, I long to follow their example.

Starting with King David (2Samuel 9:1-9) as he remembered his promise to best friend Jonathan to show Your great kindness to any of his descendants. Thank You Lord for his example.

Thank You especially for the examples You give of always keeping Your promise! Your words to Joshua (1:5-6) promising to “never leave nor forsake” him and calling him to “Be strong and courageous” are heartening to this day.

Thank You Lord that Your Word lives on to bolster and empower each of us, each and everyday. Thank You Lord that Your Word has power and promise. Let me live this day to the best of YOUR ability, Lord. Under the direct guidance, power and promise of Your Word.

I love You so very much Lord. Let that be what I share with others today. Evidence of Your power and promises! Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(344 words ~ 8:15 a.m.)

honest heart

Friday, April 23, 2010 (6:48 a.m.)

Good Morning Lord,

Thank You that I get to be honest with You. When things are seemingly going well, I get to thank You with a grateful heart. Whenever there is a problem of any kind I get to come to You exactly as I am. I don’t have to pretend to be different or ‘better’ than what I’m feeling. I get to just blurt myself out to You and You take me from there. Thank You Lord. Thank You that You love me so much!

Most Holy God, just knowing that I have the freedom to come before You with whatever I am thinking or feeling or experiencing allows You to change my heart, my mind, my soul. Allowing YOU to change me takes the burden and pressure of doing it all myself off of my shoulders and puts it right back with You where it so perfectly belongs. Thank You God.

Thank You that You are here for us. Unchanging. Unwavering. Perfect. Strong. Steady. Secure. Dependable. Righteous. Holy. Loving. Kind… Such an unparalleled list of words that don’t come anywhere near describing all that are and all that You do.

Lord, thank You for the history that is recorded in Your Word. Thank You for the stories of people who loved and worshiped You, yet were not perfect. Reading in First Chronicles this morning, again I am reminded of two (Adam and Eve) who had the privilege of walking and talking with You on a regular basis and still they made mistakes. All the way through to the end of this particular book there are reminders and examples of others getting to know and trust You.

Thank You Lord! Thank You that as I read David’s words of prayer to You (29:10-19) I desire to resemble verse 17. “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to You.” I long to be a woman of integrity, with honest intent, who willingly gives to You.

I love You so much Dear Lord. Take my heart this day and use it to Your good. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(389 words ~ 8:57 a.m.)

mistake

Thursday, April 22, 2010 (6:52 a.m.)

So God,

I’m here. You’re wonderful. And I truly don’t even know where to begin! There’s too much to do. Somebody’s gonna get mad. Or hurt. Or sad.

I don’t want to make a big mistake. There it is! I’ve said it. Most Holy Lord, I don’t want to make (and keep making) mistakes.

You are so good. So holy. So perfect. Thank You for that. Thank You that You are all the things I can never be, this side of heaven.

Thank You that every single time I get afraid, of anything, I get to bring those fears right straight to You. I can choose to stay stuck and agonize over circumstances. OR I can come before You, in whatever state I am in.

Thank You that again and again in Your Word we are reminded to “Fear not” and “Do not be afraid”. Through Your followers, we are reminded to “Be strong”, “Take courage”. Thank You Lord.

You sent Jeremiah (7:1) over to the entrance of Your temple to warn the people of Judah about false worship and believing lies. “Once again give them this message from the Lord: When a person falls, he jumps up again; when he is on the wrong road and discovers his mistake, he goes back to the fork where he made the wrong turn” (8:4).

Lord, there are so many things going on. Each clamoring for our attention. All seemingly happening at once. I confess Lord, I have lost my focus. I am currently unable to distinguish between what’s urgent and that which can wait.

And in the midst of my despair I find handwritten notes and index cards from one of Mom’s Bibles. One, written by me, deals with Hebrews 12:1-3, “We are not to look at circumstances but keep our eyes on Jesus! Look at self and you will have doubts. Look at circumstances and you will be discouraged. But look to Jesus – and you will ALWAYS be safe, satisfied and blessed!”

Immediately my heart begins singing ♫O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! 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♫ And what verse does the hymn reference? Hebrews 12:2! “Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor.”

Lord God, I have gotten so sidetracked! My ability to prioritize is gone. The desire to follow through is not currently available. But look. Backing up just one verse (to verse one) “Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.”

Only with Your help Lord! Isaiah 41:10 (written in Mom’s hand) “Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

Make no mistake about it Lord! I am trusting You on this!

I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(572 words ~ 9:05 a.m.)

help us Lord

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 (6:49 a.m.)

Hi Lord,

Big smile. HUGE! Thank You Lord! Thank You that I didn’t even know where to begin this morning. The first word I had to offer You was simply “help”. Looking that up on blueletterbible.org I found over 140 possible verses. Narrowing the choices by adding “us” brought the search down to a more doable 20. Ending that simple pray with “Lord” took me once again to 2Chronicles 32:8.

Oh most blessed and merciful God! Even (or is that especially?) when I don’t know how to praise You, You are here with me, providing my every need. Thank You Lord. Thank You!

Change is coming. There’s much to be done. The strength of relationships is being put to the test. Only our hope and faith and trust in You will take us through these fiery trials.

Despair hides around the corner. Lurking. Seeking. Waiting. Hmm. Lord. Could despair possibly be another name for Your greatest enemy? 1Peter5: 8 warns, “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.”

Lord, thank You that every single need I have is addressed in one way or another in Your Word. Your Holy Spirit absolutely has my back. Mistakes keep getting made. Hurts and fears, which normally would have derailed us in the past, are being addressed more readily. In the light of Your Holy Book we get to come before You again and again saying simply, “Help us Lord”. And You do!

Thank You Lord. Thank You for Your saints of old who were obedient to Your leading. Thank You for King Hezekiah who reopened Your temple, restored true worship and said these words to his people, (2Chronicles 32:7-8) “‘Be strong, be brave, and do not be afraid of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is someone with us who is far greater than he is! He has a great army, but they are mere men, while we have the Lord our God to fight our battles for us!’ This greatly encouraged them.”

Most blessed Lord, it is Your Word that reminds us of all You are and all You do. Thank You Lord that it is Your love that encourages us to face change boldly and without fear. Thank You Lord for Your protection, Your strength, Your help and yes Lord, even for change.

I love You so much. Thank You for helping us Lord. Amen.

(422 words ~ 8:21 a.m.)

Colossians 2:6-7

Monday, April 19, 2010 (6:33 a.m.)

Beloved God,

Thank You for calling me to You. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for teaching me. Thank You for all You are and all You do.

Today I am again looking at Paul’s letter to his friend Titus. No. Scratch that. Instead I’m reading in the letter he wrote to the believers in Colosse. Colossians 2:6-7 as a matter of fact.

Lord, I have notations to these particular verses in my Life Recovery Bible (The Living Bible version) dating back fifteen years. Thirsting for better understanding this morning, I have out The Bible Handbook, a New King James Version, Contemporary English Version and New International Version. All of them working together causing my head to nod and my heart to beat just a little faster with eagerness and anticipation of all that can come from truly learning to live our lives in Christ.

Lord, thank You! Thank You for the opportunity to love You so much. Thank You for the chance to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6b). Thank You that all of this is made possible only by Your great, unfathomable love for each and every one of us in the world. Amazing. Lord, You are absolutely, and without parallel, amazing!

As I intended to decipher (succeed in understanding, interpreting or identifying) only these two verses, I was led deeper and deeper into the chapter, into the whole letter, into Your Word. Lord, You have so much for us to know. You spelled out so perfectly how it is that You would have us live and worship You through our living and our loving.

How I ask You Lord to continue spurring us on to greater understanding and obedience in living the life You have called us to. You are so good. So grand. So perfect. So wonderful. So marvelous. Which actually leads me into singing yet another song to You…

♫S’ wonderful! S’ marvelous! You should care for me! S’ awful nice! S’ paradise! S’ what I love to see! You’ve made my life so glamorous…♫ It’s so true! YOU have done all this for me! Thank You Lord. Thank You for again and again calling me to grow my roots down deeper into You that I would grow as You have designed and ordained. I love You so much. Thank You for all that You are and do. Amen.

(406 words ~ 10:53 a.m.)

apply

Sunday, April 18, 2010 (7:02 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Much of this morning has been spent with ♫Let God Arise♫ singing in my mind. Looking at the lyrics just now I am pleased to think of accomplishing what this song directs. ♫Hear the holy roar of God resound Watch the waters part before us now Come and see what He has done for us Tell the world of His great love♫ Hear. Watch. Come. See. Tell. Lord, I long to do each of these tasks well.

You are such a good and loving Lord. I miss the mark so often when it comes to even begin pointing the direction to You and all You have done for us. Let’s take yesterday for instance…

A B-I-G misunderstanding took place around here. Unkind words were spoken. Cruel tones were used. I considered making a life altering threat. Thank You for intervening on that one! Needless to say, much of a scheduled relaxing day was spent in strife.

Thank You Lord that You had better for us in mind. Thank You that previous time spent in Your Word resulted in what I giggling refer to this morning as “He has an ‘app’ for that!”

Lord, with tears in my eyes, I sit here looking up verses containing the word ‘apply’ and my heart wants to beat right out of my chest! Three of the four listed in the New King James Version are all from the book of Proverbs. 23:12, “Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to words of knowledge.” 2:2 says, “So that you incline your ear to wisdom [And] apply your heart to understanding;” 22:17, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to knowledge;”

These were the references I was making yesterday when I kept insisting that we have choices to make. We can choose life or death (Deuteronomy 30:19). Be bitter or better.

YOU have done this great work in us Oh Lord! YOU ingrained the wisdom of Colossians 2:7 in me last month. “Plant your roots in Christ and let Him be the foundation of your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.” (Contemporary English Version)

It’s YOU that kept our heads about us when our emotions were running away. Yes Lord. You do indeed have an ‘app’ for whatever is going on in our lives! Thank You for the presence of mind to continue coming back to the truth of Your Word.

Oh most dear and Holy God how I ask that You would allow me to apply the truth and wisdom of Proverbs 22:17-19 (The Living Bible). “Listen to this wise advice; follow it closely, for it will do you good, and you can pass it on to others: Trust in the Lord.”

The footnote here in my Life Recovery Bible sums it up wonderfully. “God alone is the source of perfect love and truth. It is only by surrendering to Him that we can experience true love and discover how our life should be lived.”

Yes Lord. Yes Lord. Yes! Thank You for loving each of us so much. Continue turning us to YOUR apps. I love You Lord. Amen.

(538 words ~ 8:08 a.m.)

helpful

Saturday, April 17, 2010 (6:21 a.m.)

Beloved Lord God,

You know my heart. You know that I long to be helpful. Healthy. Good. Yours. All the things Your Word dictates. I’m here confessing that I’m not at all sure how to do precisely that.

Blessed Lord, I love the way You reach out to me. I come to You thinking one thing and You take me in an entirely different direction than I had planned. My thoughts were those of learning how to be helpful in a healthy manner. Instead, I am reading Ephesians 4 in The Message about being precise rather than scattered. Focused. Mature.

Go God! Keep showing me what it is that You have for me to know and to practice.

And now Lord, let me just stop to say that You amaze me! There are these tiny, little inklings of my heart and my soul that seem to constantly dart around never fully connecting to one another. Taking time to sit with You, examining words through the filter of Your Word and I feel them coming together.

Lord, You gave me this heart that cares so much. You know precisely what You would have me do. You know exactly how You would have me proceed in helping others. Following along in Your Word takes me from first one book and then another and I find myself again amazed. Agog! In love. With You.

Thank You Father. Thank You that I get to bring a heartfelt desire to be helpful to You and You provide direction, limits, boundaries, insights all in the confines of Your Word.

(11:08 a.m.)

And here we are, this many hours later and I get to bring an angry heart to You. Is it really anger that I’m feeling? What emotion is deeper than what the angry mask is trying to hide? Discontent? Disappointment? I’m not sure. But I DO know this is the perfect place to come with it.

Thank You Lord. Thank You that I get to come before You with every single feeling, right as it is happening. I don’t have to wait until I have it all figured out and have properly repented. I get to just bring the whole jumbled mess to Your feet, asking simply, “Help me, Lord.”

Thank You Father. Thank You Son. Thank You Holy Spirit. Even in the midst of the slamming of a door, I was brought to the realization that our time here together had not been finished. Thank You that coming back to You and Your Word immediately settled my disproportioned heart, mind and soul.

Thank You that Your love knows no bounds. There is nothing too great or too small for me to try and keep from You. Not even my annoyance over something as simple as a window having been left open.

Lord, I come back before You now with the truth of Your Word guiding me. Turning again to Ephesians 4:20, where I had started much earlier this morning. “But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to Him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything – and I do mean everything – connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life – a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you.” (21-24)

As the chapter continues Lord, it speaks of being angry (26) and not giving the devil a foothold (27). More wisdom follows, ending with the wonderfully helpful direction of verse 32. “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”

Oh most dear and blessed Lord, continue Your work in me that I will truly become the helpful person You have planned all along for me to be.

I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(691 words ~ 11:36 a.m.)

love

Thursday, April 15, 2010 (7:10 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

Thank You for Your love. Your love, that covers a multitude of sins. Hmm. In Peter’s first letter to hurting people…

Friday, April 16, 2010 (6:32 a.m.)

…he ‘offered words of hope to the growing pressures under which Christians lived’. His was ‘a call to holiness and an explanation of the role of suffering in Christian experiences’ (The Bible Handbook).

Lord God, how I thank You that this letter has come to speak to ‘all believers, everywhere’, not only to the ‘scattered’ (Jewish Christians who lived in foreign cities) of Peter’s time.

Blessed Lord, there is always so much more to learn. Thank You for the scholars who have come before to help explain the background of Peter’s time, the purpose of this particular letter, its values and emphases.

It is so easy for me to tootle along (go or travel in a leisurely way) assuming I understand precisely what I am reading. Thank You for the opportunity to dig deeper than my first impression of any given portion of Scripture.

Forgive me Father for the countless times I get so side-tracked on researching the details, I lose focus of the message. Your message taught by and through Your followers.

Here I am, reading 1Peter 4:8. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” And come to find out, it references Proverbs 10:12. “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sin.”

There are so many versions of the Bible Lord, all trying to get Your point across. Let this truth, Your truth, seep down into my soul.

After Peter spoke of the power of Your love, he encouraged the good use of the gifts of Your Spirit. Lord, I confess to still struggling in determining what Your spiritual gifts to me actually are. For now, I will be content to continue learning to love as You would have me love. Deeply.

Help me with this, Dear Lord. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(336 words ~ 7:35 a.m.)

encourage

Monday, April 12, 2010 (9:52 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Thank You for a husband who not only reminded me to pray right not, but encouraged me to do so as well.

Hmm. Encourage. Yes Lord. That’s what I long to do for others. And look. Here come the tears to affirm this as a yearning of not only my heart, but my soul as well. Lord. I love You. I want desperately for others to love and know and trust You as well.

Turning to The Message, my heart hurts with the desire to follow Paul’s instructions to the people of Thessalonica. “Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.” (1Thessalonians 5:12-14)

Oh most dear and blessed Lord. Truly this is the way I want to live my life! I read the sidebars and smile while agreeing that “Yes! This is what I want.”

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 (8:29 a.m.)

Encourage. Encourager. Encouragement. Yes Lord. Let me learn to live Your Word! Reading to the end of this same chapter I want nothing more than to be able to obey what You have set before us.

“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. Always be joyful. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens,

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 (7:46 a.m.)

Like another interruption! ‘Encourage – take three!’

“…No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not smother the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at those who prophesy, but test everything that is said to be sure it is true, and if it is, then accept it. Keep away from every kind of evil. May the God of peace Himself make you entirely pure and devoted to God, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept strong and blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” (1Thessalonians 5:18-23).

It seems like such a tall order Lord. Just when I start to think that I will surely fail, I read verse 24. “God, who called you to become His child, will do all this for you, just as He promised.”

As if this verse itself is not enough encouragement, reading the Recovery Commentary Notes at the end of the chapter remind me that it’s You who will accomplish these things in and through me, if I let You. “In these verses, Paul leaves us with a collection of good advice. If we follow these many instructions, as we can with God’s help, we will be well on our way in the recovery process. We are called to minister to others, a part of recovery that gives hope to others and reinforces our own success. Paul calls us to rebuild our relationships by repaying the wrongs of others with kindness. We are called to live a joyful life, always prayerful, continually seeking God’s will for our life. We are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit, God’s continual helping presence in our life. God gives us what we need to succeed in recovery. Our part is to participate in the good plan He has set out for us.”

Wow Lord! ‘Minister (tend to, look after, help, assist) and give hope to others’. Doesn’t that represent what it means to encourage? One definition explains, “To encourage is to give active help or to raise confidence to the point one dares to do what is difficult.” Yes Lord. I long to encourage. I want desperately to ‘participate in the good plan You have set out for us.’ Make it so Dear Lord. Make it so. I love You. Amen.

(688 words ~ 8:33 a.m.)

exhaustion

Sunday, April 11, 2010 (6:04 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Thank You! You provide for us so far beyond our hopes and expectations. Yesterday was set to be a time of yard selling and fond farewells to our very dear and trusted friend of the past 16 years. Thank You that You knew well ahead of time of all the variables that were going to take place instead.

Lord God, thank You for the calm and matter of fact reaction of my precious niece upon the collapse of our sweet Sarah. Thank You that Teresa prayerfully took charge of assessing the situation all the while having me call 911 (twice!).

Lord, it all could have been so much scarier than it was. Here’s a 30-year-old woman who is packing up her life’s belongings to move across the country and You provided a house and yard full of people at the ready when she needed us most. Thank You God.

As I continue to thank and praise Your most holy name Dear Lord, I am also asking Your provision for the cost of the ambulance and the five hour emergency room charges. YOU can make a way when there seems to be no way! You work in ways we cannot see, You can make a way for she! I KNOW You can Lord. I ask that You will!

The lessons we all learned from this experience are vast Lord. Hearing a physician describe how our bodies can only take so much before shutting themselves off from exhaustion was pretty incredible. Watching each of us take charge of what we could do to be helpful was heartening. You giving me the power and strength to revisit the same emergency room, just four weekends after my mom’s death, was not only amazing but greatly appreciated!

Lord. You are awesome! Only You could have orchestrated all the variables. It was such an example of “the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives” that Paul wrote of in his first letter to the Corinthians (12:1). Each of us played to our own strength. Strength given by You.

Lord, let us each learn a lesson from this. Teach us to fully rely on You and each other BEFORE the point of exhaustion. Thank You Lord for all You’ve done and will continue to do for us. I love You so much. Amen.

(393 words ~ 7:15 a.m.)

crazy

Saturday, April 10, 2010 (4:54 a.m.)

Beloved Lord,

Thank You! Thank You that even in the early morning hours, when I’m feeling especially alone and beyond myself, You are here. Thank You that I can even use the word crazy to describe how I’m feeling and I find that I am in good company with others from Your Word. Here again, I am not alone.

(7:06 a.m.)

Thank You Lord. Just that little bit of time acknowledging my thoughts and feelings allowed me two more hours of restful sleep. Thank You for always being available to access the roots of our souls.

Lord, there are so many things going on inside my head that sometimes crazy is the best word I can use to describe them. Thank You that even that word is not foreign to You. Thank You that even as I read a verse (2Corinthians 5:14) containing it, I am buoyed once again. “If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.”

As I read more about this section of Scripture, I am thrilled to be reminded that we are called to be Your ambassadors. Lord, I confess that once in a great while I think I do an okay job at that.

When I start seeing myself as a person on the edge of craziness, I want desperately to change. Thank You for reminding me again and again through Your Word that it’s not up to me to change myself.

Reading backwards through the truth of this particular book brings me to verse five of chapter three, “and not because we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success comes from God.” Ah. Thank You Lord!

Thank You that I can rest in the strength of Your power. I don’t have to figure out all the things of which I am afraid. I get to keep coming to You, asking to be enabled to bring glory to You.

Oh and look, verses 16-18 speak of Your glory! Beloved Lord, I can’t thank You enough for allowing me to come before You with the word crazy. Because of that one single thought I am once again singing. ♫Let the glory of the Lord, rise among us…♫

Yes Lord, Your glory. Verse sixteen says, “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord from his sins, then the veil (of Moses and his people) is taken away.” Thank You Lord. Thank You that just by bringing my crazy heart, soul, mind and strength to You I get to leave with Your Spirit-given life. Verse seventeen, “The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where He is there is freedom [from trying to be saved by keeping the laws of God].” Oh thank You Lord!

Thank You for lifting the veil of doubt and fear which was masked as crazy. Thank You for the hope I find in verse eighteen. “But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.” Oh, yes Lord. Oh that I would become more and more like You!

Thank You for letting me bring my crazy thoughts and feelings to You Lord. Thank You for blessing them and turning them into feelings and thoughts of hope and strength and power. I love You Lord. So much. Empower me this day with the presence of Your Spirit. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(600 words ~ 8:08 a.m.)

assurance

Friday, April 9, 2010 (6:05 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

How is it that I am still amazed and thrilled every time You help me smile? While still in bed, I was wondering what to say to You today that’s different than any other morning.

Coming out to a leaking coffee maker, I could have grumbled and growled. Instead, You drew my attention to the smiling ‘Cheshire Cat’ moon just outside the kitchen window. Smile number one before six a.m. Thank You Lord!

Smile number two came shortly after. Thinking for sure that I would be singing ♫Blessed Redeemer♫ to You, I was shocked when I couldn’t find it in The Hymnal. I’m smiling again right now as I just think about it. The key word in the title? Assurance!

Oh Your goodness God! Oh, Your great and glorious goodness! Reading through this treasured hymn, how thrilled I am to be reminded that ♫Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine…♫

As I sit here smiling still, I am thrilled for yet another opportunity to thank You. Thank You Lord that ♫This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long…♫ Lord God, thank You for the faith of Fanny Crosby. The inspiration that comes from her words and her life points directly back to You. ♫Perfect submission – all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love♫

Filled with Your goodness, Lord. Lost in Your love. This is not just her story! It’s all of ours! Because of the blood of Your obedience and sacrifice “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” (Hebrews 10:19). We get to “draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (v.22).

Oh most dear and loving Lord, how I thank You for this kind love You have for us. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (v.23). How perfect and blessed is this assurance Dear Lord! How I thank You and love You. Use me today Lord. And help me smile as I follow You. Thank You. Amen. J

(388 words ~ 7:10 a.m.)

peace

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 (2:55 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Here I am. Feeling sad. Not knowing where to turn. What to do? Thank You that I get to come to You confessing the fear I have of making mistakes.

Lord, thank You that I don’t have to be afraid. Thank You that You came into this world to give us a peace and a hope. John 14:27. John 12:47. Tired as I am right now, I love the numerical similarity of these two verses. Lord, thank You for the peace that comes to my heart every time I enter Your Word. I love You so much Lord. I’ll be back soon! J

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 (4:56 a.m.)

This is not near as soon as I had expected, but thank You for the added rest I got yesterday. Thank You for the mistakes I did make, including the embarrassment of missing an appointment that was clearly marked on the calendar.

Lord God, thank You for reminding me just now that You indeed are ♫my hiding place, You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. I will trust in You. Let the weak say, “I am strong in the strength of the Lord.” I will trust in You♫

Oh yes Lord. I will trust in You! What a gift! What a blessing. What an opportunity. Lord, thank You for the time I keep needing to take to work through this radical change taking place in our lives. Thank You that instead of being afraid of the decisions that need to be made, I can turn to You trusting that You definitely ‘know the plans You have for us. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope.’ (Jeremiah 29:11)

I don’t have to be afraid. I can choose it if I want to, but it doesn’t lead to life in You. Oh Lord, thank You for these years of preparation. Thank You for making me fully aware of Your presence in our lives. Thank You for taking our tiny little mustard seeds of faith and growing them large enough to uproot a mulberry tree and send it hurtling into the sea (Luke 17:6). Thank You that You are behind every ounce of hope and faith we possess.

Lord, I haven’t been feeling especially hopeful the past few days. I have much preferred avoiding, isolating, hiding myself away in plain sight. I have pretended to be fine when I wasn’t. I have not returned phone calls. I’m so pleased that I get to trust in You Dear Lord. I don’t have to be afraid. I truly get to trust in You. Oh Lord. Thank You!

Thank You for allowing me time to feel fearful. Thank You for waiting for me to make up my mind on my own that I no longer want to live in fear. Thank You for prompting me. Encouraging me to choose You.

Thank You that You came ‘to save the world and not to judge it’ (John 12:47). Thank You for ‘leaving us with a gift – peace of mind and heart! And the peace You give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So we don’t have to be troubled or afraid’ (John 14:27).

Oh Most Blessed God, ♫You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, “Lord, blessed be Your name.”♫

Yes Lord. Blessed be Your name! Praise You. Bless You. Thank You. Amen!

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

new life

Saturday, April 3, 2010 (7:15 a.m.)

Hi God,

I’m going to lead with “I feel sad.” How’s that? I know. I know. Plenty of people will give me the pass that, given the recent circumstances, sad is an appropriate feeling. Okay. I get it. I won’t judge myself. I’ll feel what I feel until one feeling passes and another one comes along.

Thank You Lord that YOU came along! You came along to give us hope. You came along to give us a firm foundation. You came along to give us a new life. A new life built on faith and trust and obedience to You.

Most Blessed Lord, You calm me. You give me hope. You provide my every need. And I thank You.

Thank You that three weeks ago today You made Colossians 2:7 come alive for me. “Let your roots grow down into Him (Christ) and draw nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done.”

Left to my own devices I will often make choices that are not Your best for me. Thank You that You are willing to be my All-in-all.

See? Even here. I wasn’t sure that this was the phrase I wanted to use to describe You. One click and there was an entire women’s home choir singing in my mind. ♫You are my strength when I am weak You are the treasure that I seek You are my all in all Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I’d be a fool You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Taking my sin, my cross, my shame Rising up again I bless Your name You are my all in all When I fall down You pick me up When I am dry You fill my cup You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is Your name♫

Lord, how I thank You for truly being my All-in-all! I make far too many mistakes in and of myself. There is so very much to do these days and what I have been most effective at is avoidance. Please Lord, take me out of the comfort of the confines of my mind and put me back into the game of life. Help me make wise decisions. Help me live this day in ways that truly represent the new life each of us has in You. That precious new life that frees us from the paralyzing chains of fear.

Lord God, I love You. Whether I feel momentarily sad, or mad or bad or glad, I love You through it all. Thank You for loving me far more than I can ever imagine. Grow me Lord with Your strength and vigor that I may fully embrace and wholly live this new life You have called me to.

I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(524 a.m. ~ 8:26 a.m.)

wait upon

Good Friday, April 2, 2010 (6:57 a.m.)

Everlasting God,

Good Friday morning. Lord, thank You for all this day represents. Your love poured out for us in such a way that could never be appreciated enough.

Thank You for several returns to sleep throughout the night. Many of them accompanied by songs to You.

Thank You for the eagerness with which I awoke just now. Ready to come before You, all the while singing ♫Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord♫

Lord, what a privilege, what an honor to be able to wait upon You. I turn to You. I depend on You. I wait upon You. And strength will come. Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Oh Most Dear and Precious God ♫You’re the defender of the weak You comfort those in need You lift us up on wings like eagles…You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won’t grow weary… Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer♫

Blessed Lord, how I thank You for all You are, for all You have done. Your willingness to bear our sin and die an excruciating death that wasn’t rightfully Yours so that all our hope and faith and trust can be in You is absolutely priceless. There are no words to even begin thanking You for Your pain, Your obedience, Your willingness.

Because You died, I get to live. Continue teaching me to live each day to Your fullest Dearest Lord. I tend to squander, take for granted, hold tightly all the while You call me to wake up, share, give freely. Keep working in me Lord that I will truly be worthy of Your sacrifice.

I love You so much. Thank You that ♫Strength will (truly) rise as we wait upon You Lord♫ Oh, amen and amen! I love You. Amen.

(351 words ~ 7:38 a.m.)

no fooling

Thursday, April 1, 2010 (5:27 a.m.)

Sweet, Blessed Lord,

I don’t want to be a fool today. Remember? That’s what I did yesterday. Ranting, raving, fit pitching. Thank You Lord that even in the midst of all the bad language, stomping and “I hate” statements You were right there reminding me to “Be angry but do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26).

Oh Your goodness Lord! Oh, Your great and glorious goodness! Thank You for taking the pride out of the anger I was feeling. Thank You for helping me to recognize the immaturity with which I was approaching the frustration I was experiencing. Lord, You are incredible. Awesome. Powerful. Wonderful.

♫Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name♫

Lord, I confess that right in the middle of all the emotion, my heart’s first response was NOT ♫Blessed be Your name♫ Oh but when push was finally coming to shove (figuratively, NOT literally) Your wonderful “Aha!” moment came to me. Thank You for reminding me Lord that Your Word has already spelled out for us how we are to ‘live as new people’, as “Children of the Light”. It’s all right here!

Dearest Blessed Lord, thank You that even while I was struggling with what I clearly knew were old patterns of behavior, You were here with me in the turmoil. You were not put-off by my rotten demeanor (which was, after all, pretty mean!). You did not leave me nor forsake me. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that I get to sit here with You this morning knowing that it is You that is working desperately hard in each of us to separate our fleshly selves from the higher calling You have for us all.

Lord, I love You so much. It is Your love that allows me to see the mistakes I make. It is Your love that covers them with Your forgiveness. Continue Your work in me Lord that I would truly become a work of whom You can be well pleased.

I love You. I thank You. I bless and praise You. Don’t let me be a fool again today, of all days! J I love You. Amen.

(395 words ~ 6:32 a.m.)