perfect

Friday, June 29, 2012 (7:04 a.m.)

Awesome God,

You are so good. So holy. So perfect. WOW! May I just say, “I LOVE the way You work!”

One minute I’m thinking of Your attributes. Considering Your perfection. And the very next, I’m reading Jesus’ words from His sermon on the mount. Quick searching the word ‘perfect’, Matthew 5:48 popped up quite unexpectedly.

The Message immediately screamed Your message to me. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

Father, I confess to not knowing how to do that. I read about it. I like the idea of it. But I truly fail at the execution of all my good intentions. Thank You for reminders of Your messages to us. Thank You for people (such as Eugene Peterson) who work tirelessly to transcribe Your Message into words we can read, understand, get excited about and recognize when we are falling short.

I do fall short in SO many ways. Thank You that You continue to love me in spite of myself. How I ask that You will show me this day EXACTLY how You would have me live out my “God-created identity”. Teach me how to truly “Live generously and graciously toward others” the way You live toward me. I confess it sounds wonderful. I get excited just reading it. How much more would it be to really, honestly live it.

Yes. Indeed. Most perfect Parent, teach me what it is to “Grow up” in You and to live as a Kingdom subject. Live in and through me that I will know and do just as You would have me. I love You so much. And I am truly grateful for Your perfection. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

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

John 16:33

Thursday, June 28, 2012 (6:54 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Good morning. I love You. How’s that for a better attitude? Father, I’m coming before You right now asking again that You would change me, right here where I sit.

I keep getting lost thinking about the sad things in life. Too often I forget that there is much gladness to be found as well. I may joke about wanting to have a Pollyanna disposition, but when all truth is told what I truly want is to trust in You.

On the night of His last supper, Jesus told His disciples what all they could expect to happen. How I thank You that He said the words listed in John 16:33. There is so much power and hope to be found here. So often I think I am surely doing everything wrong because of how things appear to be going. It’s the truth of these words that reminds me that we are never too far away from You and Your best for us.

Here are a variety of ways that various people have transcribed His words. Each one expressing the same premise in just a different shading. Each offering a reason to rejoice in You!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (TNIV)

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (NLT)

“I have told you these things so you may have peace in Me. In the world you will have much trouble. But take hope! I have power over the world!” (NLV)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

“I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (MSG)

“I’ve told you this so my peace will be with you. In the world you’ll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.” (GW)

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” (ERV)

“I have said these things to you so that, united with me, you may have shalom. In the world, you have tsuris. But be brave! I have conquered the world!” (CJB)

“I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.” (CEV)

All of these translations, each with it’s own unique flavoring, remind us that it’s only in JESUS that we will have peace. How I thank You for this wonderful reminder of where I am to put my hope and trust.

The Amplified Bible uses even more words to describe this promise. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

There’s no getting around it. I am to be brave. Of good cheer. Hopeful…

Just for today, just for the very next moment all this day long, provide exactly as You know I need. I love You so much. It is my desire to glorify and enjoy You this day.

Thank You for Your love. Your provision. Your plan. Your promises. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(668 words ~ 8:25 a.m.)

sadness

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 (12:31 p.m.)

Awesome, Amazing, Incredible, Wonderful God,

A sentence here. A paragraph there. And then I fizzle out. The intention every morning is the same. YOU first. Then I open my eyes and something distracts me.

Forgive me, Father. Again I ask Your loving forgiveness. You are so good and gracious. Loving and kind. Eternal. And I am desperate to stay here with You. Just You and I.

Look. There’s a hint of a smile! I think of You and how very much You love each and everyone of us and I can’t help but smile.

So often these days I’ve been focusing on the sadness found in the lives of so many of our friends and family. Sadness that is deep. Profound. Real. Thank You that Your love is even deeper. More profound. More real than any of the pain any of us can feel.

Thank You Father that You love each of us so incredibly much. You care. I have taken the ‘easy’ way out lately. Too much trouble to get ready to go to church, so I haven’t gone. Other things to do through the course of the day so I haven’t stopped long enough to hear from You at all.

Even when I realize that I smile more when I’m with You, I still refuse to budge. Thank You for helping me see that I’d really rather be here with You right now than anywhere else. Thank You that looking into Your Word and being reminded of what YOU have to say about sadness is all I truly want to be doing.

Your disciples knew sadness. Deep, profound, agonizing sadness. You told them in advance (John 16:19-23) of the grief they were going to experience, yet You also promised them Joy Like a River Overflowing. Knowing the questions they wanted to ask You, You comforted them with Your Truth. “Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness” (v.20).

I keep forgetting to look to You when all around me I see heartbreak and sadness. It’s only when I come back to our true source of comfort [YOU J] that I remember that You are known for transforming grief into joy.

I confess to You Most Dear and Loving God and Savior, I am deeply affected by other people's sadness. Couple that with time spent away from You and I completely forget that on the other side of grief is freedom and joy. But it is never in the way we most expect. And it is only found in Your steady company.

Forgive me for thinking I can ever be satisfied in a day without some quality time spent with You. You ARE my Rock. My Redeemer. My ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Thank You for reminding me. Thank You for forgiving me. Thank You for loving me. No matter what.

Help me remember the joy I felt just paragraphs earlier when I tapped the words “Just You and I” and immediately thought of the Just… Little Critter books written by Mercer Mayer. I so very easily get trapped in sadness. Other peoples’, as well as my own. Thank You for always reminding me that it is with YOU that I am never alone in it. Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit. I love You. And I do indeed thank You. Amen.

(591 words ~ 1:23 p.m.)

♫Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty♫

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 (8:05 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

You are holy. And I am struggling. I don’t know what has kept me away from time with You. The intentions are there. The execution? Not so much.

Thank You that You are ever present. Ever available. All forgiving. Holy. There’s that word again. Holy. You are holy.

♫Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty♫

(62 words)

Forgive me, Father!

Sunday, June 24, 2012 (9:18 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

It’s been far too long since I’ve taken the time to come spend quiet time alone with You. I keep trying to work You in with a myriad of miscellany. Forgive me, Father! I know not what I do (Luke 23:34).

(49 words)

Father's Day weekend

Monday, June 18, 2012 (7:48 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You! You blessed us BIG this Father’s Day weekend. An unexpected illness resulted in a planned overnight guest spending two nights instead of one. “Baby proofing” didn’t happen quite as planned, but the carpets got vacuumed and the kitchen floor mopped nonetheless. Thank You Father.

Thank You for the opportunity to pitch in and help where it was truly needed. A young couple got some much needed rest and our household was again blessed with the explorations of a not yet toddler. What a perfect way to spend Father’s Day!

Thank You for the communication skills You are continuing to put in place around here. Thank You that a misunderstanding, which normally would have resulted in days of grunted silence, was resolved by the end of the first car ride.

Thank You for unexpected blessings. Yesterday while preparing to celebrate the dads in our family another mishap occurred. A vital piece of equipment could not be found. Blame was actually doled out - by me. In the midst of seeking and not finding, resolution happened quite unexpectedly. I am still amazed by the matter-of-fact decision to do things differently than planned and go on with our day. You are behind ALL of this change in us Dearest Father.

(8:34 a.m.)

As I sit here, taking in more of the story of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38) than I have in the past again I say, “Thank You God”. Searching the word ‘unexpected’ took me to several different verses this morning. It’s this particular story that reminds that all that goes on in the lives of our families is not new to You. [“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) J]

Father God, I am immensely grateful for the work You are doing in us. Reordering our responses, changing old patterns, teaching us to simply let go of things not in our best interest… All this is from You. None of it brought about by any degree of our determination to simply try harder.

YOU are at work in this family! At the end of this highly unexpected Father’s Day weekend it seems perfectly appropriate to say, “THANKS for being such a great Dad!” Thank You God. Thank You Father. Thank You “Daddy”. We love You. Amen.

(402 words ~ 8:46 a.m.)

♫Friday♫

Friday, June 15, 2012 (7:41 a.m.)

Holy God,

I asked You for order yesterday and that is exactly what You provided me. Thank You Father. This morning I am torn as to what direction You would have me take.

So often when You wake me up with a song it ties together somehow with Your Word. This morning however I can’t even begin to make it make sense.

A fun song I occasionally dance to on Wednesdays. It still has me wondering. Is there something You want to say to me here?

I definitely don’t think it’s in the chorus. ♫We’re gonna shut the club down♫ but could it be in the title? Imagine my surprise when I looked it up and found it to simply be ♫Friday♫.

Lord, is there something about Friday You want me to learn? Or know? Or be aware of?

(9:35 a.m.)

Smile. Deep breath. Heavy sigh. Another smile, of contentment. I searched ‘Friday’ for quite awhile. Read several verses in various books. One in Luke. A similar one in Mark. Another in Nehemiah. But it’s the comment regarding Exodus 16 that has me intrigued.

Yesterday while reviewing 1 Corinthians 14:40, concerning order, I was reminded by the comment in The Life Recovery Bible of the importance of “healthy interdependence… Interdependence describes a healthy relationship in which we attempt to meet one another’s needs without seeking some hidden reward.” It went on to speak of needing to “learn to love selflessly” and “restoring broken, dysfunctional relationships, turning them into healthy and interdependent ones.” Oh, how desperately I pray this Our Father!

The chapter in Exodus deals with the Israelites need for food and again their failure to believe that You would provide their needs. ‘They lacked faith in Your power and still didn’t understand their privileges as Your people.’

Father, I confess. I fall in that category far too often! The commentary goes on to tell how You “faithfully provided them anyway, and the people’s faith was given further reason to grow.” Yet, they didn’t respond to You with faith or gratitude. They didn’t trust in You or grow in character or holiness.

I ask You Dearest Father God, as You continue supplying my every need and growing my faith, remind me to seek Your help first ‘during the wilderness periods of my own life’. Prompt me to thankfulness.

You are so good. So holy. So worthy. So able. On this particular ♫Friday♫, I ask that You would bless this upcoming weekend with exactly what You would have us use with which to glorify and enjoy You forever.

Thank You for loving us. Teaching us. Providing for us. And growing us into the people of Yours that You would have us be. I love You Dad. Thank You. Amen.

(437 words ~ 10:43 a.m.)

order

Thursday, June 14, 2012 (8:09 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

There’s much to do today and already I feel out of time. I’m coming to You asking for order.

(28 words)

Psalm 104

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 (6:47 a.m.)

Awesome God,

You are doing such a good and mighty work in this family. Thank You. I turn to Your Word to see what You have to say and I am drawn to the Psalms. Particularly 103 – 106. Where would You most like for me to pay attention?

I keep coming back to Psalm 104. A song of praise that tells of all nature displaying Your glory. We saw such vast examples of this very truth these past two weeks.

(87 words)

♫Communication is Key♫

Monday, June 11, 2012 (9:34 a.m.)

Mono Hot Springs, CA

Awesome, Incredible, Mighty God ~

Sitting on a rock next to a quickly flowing stream amidst boulders and pine needles, I thank You for our safe arrival at camp yesterday.

Again, the dad and mom of this little threesome are amazed at how much adventure really is out here! Sitting around a campground gazing upward to the heavens, guessing at the constellations was not something we normally do on a Sunday night. Thank You Father!

I confess to too often taking the time You have so generously given us far too much for granted. Truly, “Dear Ol’ Dad” (NO disrespect intended!) I waste far too much of it.

Exploring this difficult to reach settlement has opened my mind and heart to wanting to do things differently when we reach home – TONIGHT.

Which brings me to another (10:40 a.m.) request Dear Lord. We are again on the ♫Scary, Scary Road♫ [sung to ♫Starry, Starry Night♫ J]. Keep our lines of communication open. It’s the last leg of our journey. We are homeward bound. ♫Eastbound and down loaded up and truckin’ We’re gonna do what they say can’t be done♫ I ask that You get us home with our communication in tact. Keep us loving and kind with one another. Remind us that loving communication is key!

(231 words)

"Safe Travels"

Sunday, 6-10-12 (8:47 a.m.)

Yosemite, CA

Asked and received! (Matthew 7:7). Thank You God!

(10:30 a.m.)

Now I ask for safe and patient travels as we follow “Mr. Iowa” / gold Prius down the Wawona Road leading us out of Yosemite. Grant him safe travels as well.

Father, I DO ask safe travels today. Surrounding an impromptu early morning fire, we met a woman traveling from the Netherlands with her husband, and three graduate students from the Bay Area all with activities planned for the day. Bless them Father, with Your wide umbrella of protection. Keep them safe in their endeavors and in their travels home.

(12:45 p.m.)

We are DEFINITELY on a highway unfamiliar to us. Our spirits are quieter. Eating would probably be a good idea. “Safe travels” Lord God. Again I am asking for our continued safe travels.

You have blessed us tremendously thus far and as grateful as we are for that, I wholeheartedly ask for more. More opportunity to praise Your Most Holy Name. More fun. You are so kind and good to us. It seems so selfish to always be asking for more. With this I ask that You teach us to better use all You have been so generous in giving and allowing us. “With great wealth comes great responsibility.” Show us Father how best to be responsible with the wealth of Your blessings.

(1:43 p.m.)

You will, Father ~

(1:47 p.m.)

Huntington Lake, CA

And again! No sooner asked…

(3:24 p.m.)

One lane road Lord – with trucks coming towards us. Safe travels. Safe travels…

(3:56 p.m.)

Scary road Lord – Scary, scary road. DEEP breath through my nose, “Safe travels. Safe travels.”

(4:13 p.m.)

Thank You, God ~ Thank You God. Thank You God! Amen.

(299 words)

PEACE!

Noon Saturday 6-9-12

Incredible God ~

Thank You! We started today’s journey with a prayer at the shore of Lake Tahoe and we just turned onto the pass (Tioga) that will take us into Yosemite.

You’ve made this trip possible. YOU’VE made it enjoyable! As we prepare to encounter even more beauty, I ask You for Your peace Dearest Father. There are lakes to the right and left of us. Patches of snow surround us as we point out various waterfalls.

Our plans have been poured over and it is to YOU we turn for their outcome (Proverbs 16:9). A campsite is requested…

(103 words)

love and laughter

Friday, June 8, 2012 (6:10 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Most Dear and Blessed Father God,

Thank You! Today is our last full day here. There is packing to be done and fun to be had. Speaking of fun, thank You for yesterday.

(7:29 a.m.)

You have blessed us with so much. We’ve experienced Your beauty, creation, love and laughter. So much laughter! Thank You Father.

Thank You for the opportunity to explore new water sports yesterday. It was a day absolutely led by You. Without a set agenda, we took one opportunity at a time.

Waking to calm water and a clear sky it seemed perfect to use our coupon for two hours of Stand Up Paddling. The compassion of two very nice men allowed us to split the hours between ourselves instead of having to stick to the fine print clause of one board, one rider. Thank You God that we had the courage to ask for what we wanted.

Coming back after a delightfully delicious and completely unexpected lunch, more water play was to be had. And with such came the laughter. SO much laughter! In fact Father God, I can’t remember the last time I laughed with such complete abandon.

Thank You! As I sit here remembering the sheer glee with which I giggled as every wave crashed more water into our incompletely filled inflatable kayak, I wish I could say You were my very first thought. Reading Psalm 100 in The Message right now I realize how appropriate it would have been at the time. [Well, except for the first four words! J]

“On your feet now – applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.” (vs.1-2) Oh how I ask that our laughter translated into genuine applause for the beauty of Your Creation.

You have blessed us Lord. Freely. Sincerely. Deeply. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to fully enjoy all You created those first six days (Genesis 1). No wonder at the end of each You were pleased!

Yesterday, right in the midst of such frolicking and frivolity, I wish I had thought to use it as a ready reminder for verses four and five. “Enter with the password: ‘Thank You!’ Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.”

I took the fun Dearest Father. I enjoyed it with every single ounce of my being. Forgive me for not offering it back to You [until now J] as the biggest thank offering I can remember.

Be with us I pray Most Holy God. We are making plans for the next stop on our journey home. Make us of one mind. That of truly glorifying You and enjoying You forever. Let us praise You and have fun in the process. You are so incredibly good to us. Thank You for all the love and laughter You have provided us thus far. We love You Lord and desire to serve You well. Thank You. Amen.

(512 words ~ 8:58 a.m.)

P.S. Just an added giggle of appreciation Lord. As I glanced down to the open pages of The Life Recovery Bible, my eyes fell directly on Psalm 98:8,9. “Let the waves clap their hands in glee and the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for He is coming to the world with perfect justice.” I look out the window at this glorious view and I see that description happening.

(9:08 a.m.)

everyone needs...

Thursday, June 7, 2012 (7:21 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Thank You Jesus,

I woke up with another song. This one I recognized from church but couldn’t place it. Just when I thought I’d have to start humming a few notes to see if anyone recognized it, three words came to me. “Everyone needs compassion.”

Truer words Lord! Thank You that I could find the lyrics to ♫Mighty to Save♫ on the very first search. Thank You that everything I needed to execute the finding was in place. Enough words to begin a search and an Internet connection with which to find it.

This week has shown me how much we rely on technology. It has been rather refreshing to realize that it’s not something we actually need all the time. Not when there are galaxies of stars to view, hikes to take and a mama bear with her three cubs to watch. Your creations are astounding. Thank You!

Now, back to the song ~ which I just realized ends with the very words the train song from yesterday began. Lord, I love the way You tie things together!

♫Everyone needs compassion A love that’s never failing Let mercy fall on me Everyone needs forgiveness A kindness of a Savior The hope of nations♫ These are the things we can only find in You Blessed Jesus!

♫My Savior, You can move the mountains You are Mighty to save, You are Mighty to save. Forever, Author of Salvation, You rose and conquered the grave, Yes You conquered the grave♫ You did that for us. Because we all need…

Jesus, today I ask You to remind us that everyone needs. Compassion. Forgiveness. Love. Acceptance. You!

As I continue working to discover the woman You have created me to be, I wholeheartedly ask that You’d complete this song in and through me. ♫So take me as You find me, All my fears and failures, Fill my life again. I give my life to follow Everything I believe in, Now I surrender ~ Shine Your Light and let the whole world see, We’re singing for the glory of the risen King…Jesus♫

Remind me today, Dearest Lord Jesus, that everyone needs… I love You so very much and I long to represent You well. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen.

(387 words ~ 8:13 a.m.)

another train song

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Tahoe Vista, CA

Blessed Father,

I woke up this morning singing another train song. And again, I’ve fashioned it to refer to You.

♫Well you wake up in the mornin’ you hear the work bell ring… Let the Midnight Special shine a light on me♫

I took those words to Yours and found Isaiah 60. Verses 1 and 19, “Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from You… No longer will you need the sun or moon to give you light, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and He will be your glory.”

While reading about the original lyrics of the song I saw where they have been changed through the years. Even the change of one word in the very last verse represents You to me. Sometimes everlovin’ is sung everlivin’. That’s YOU Lord no matter how we slice it!

As I choose to interchange these words I truly, most sincerely ask that You, my “Midnight Special” would ♫shine Your Everlovin’/livin’ Light on me♫ Shine on me Lord. Shine in me. Shine through me, I pray. Thank You Loving/Living Father. I love You. Amen.

(211 words)

♫Blue Skies♫

Tuesday, June 5, 2012 (7:37 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Blessed Father,

You are so good. Thank You for such an incredible surprise. ♫Blue skies Smiling at me Nothing but blue skies Do I see♫ Well, blue skies and snow and mountains and a calm, peaceful lake.

What a difference from yesterday. Lord God, You truly never cease to amaze me. In the blink of an eye, without much warning, we’ve gone from warm to cold. How perfect that today the sheer beauty of the skies would lead me to Psalm 19:1-4.

A rare phenomenon involving the sun and Venus is scheduled to take place this afternoon around 3:00 p.m.

The Learning Bible teaches concerning verse four, “The sun was worshiped as a god in the ancient world, sometimes by the people of Israel. It is possible that Psalm 19 had its origin as a song of praise to the sun. If so, it was changed to become a song of praise to God.”

Thank You that there are always so many reminders to praise Your most holy name and being. The very beginning of this Psalm in the Contemporary English Version of Your Word starts out The Wonders of God and the Goodness of His Law. The first four verses speak volumes concerning Your wonders.

Even the definition for the word wonders strikes a chord within me. “A feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.” I was surprised alright! I researched the weather forecasts for days before beginning our packing. NO hint of rain or freezing temperatures. A definite feeling of surprise mingled with admiration…

All those long years ago, David looked at the skies and exclaimed, “The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what He has done. Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world. In the heavens a tent is set up for the sun.”

Father, I cannot even begin to put my thoughts and feelings [mind and heart] into words. I look out and am inundated with external stimuli. Not being able to aptly express myself Father, I skip down to the closing verse (14) of this chapter. “Let my words and my thoughts be pleasing to You, Lord, because You are my mighty Rock and my Protector.”

In looking here, I find yet another song. ♫Charity’s Heart Song♫ from the Psalty’s Kids Bible ♫O Lord, fill my heart, fill it up with you. O Lord, take my heart, make me more like You. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart, Be acceptable to You. May Your love in my life be a light to the world, That keeps on shinin’ through. O Lord, fill my heart, fill it up with you.♫ Oh, Yes Dearest Father, fill my heart up with You!

As the clouds come rolling in, I can still see patches of the blue skies that brought me here to You this morning in the first place. Thank You Father for the things You do to remind us of Your very being. Thank You for Your love and Your goodness. Help me use them well this day.

♫Blue skies HIDING from me…♫ I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(576 words ~ 9:43 a.m.)

"Wow!"

Monday, June 4, 2012 (6:21 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

“Wow!”

The very first word out of my mouth this morning. Surrounded by all this beauty. The weather is constantly changing. And I am amazed. Sunny. Bright. Cloudy. Cold. Awesome. Incredible. Speechless.

(8:57 a.m.)

I keep trying to find my words. The thoughts aren’t even forming separately.

(7:00 p.m.)

After the entire day, the best I can come up with is “Thank You!” Following a dramatic day of weather, I am still in awe. We had wind, fog, rain, snow, sun, with more of the same expected through tomorrow’s lunch.

Father. My thanks to You is not empty, trite or the least bit insincere. I am heartfelt in my gratitude. You have blessed us with quiet opportunities today and I am indeed truly grateful. Thank You. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your beauty. And thank You for our opportunity to appreciate You and all this. We love You so very much Dear Father. Thank You. Amen.

(171 words ~ 7:12 p.m.)

target practice

Sunday, June 3, 2012 (7:18 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Most Incredibly Awesome God,

We had a giant hiccup yesterday. I started out praying to You about clear, clean air. The next thing we knew, our communication skills had regressed to that of our very early relationship.

Thank You Father that we got through the ordeal fairly unscathed. I confess to not knowing how to let go of the negativity.

And ‘just like THAT’ You’ve changed my focus! It’s about progress. NOT perfection!

In a matter of seconds, going from confession to insight, You’ve adjusted my attitude. While I had planned to rehash the mistakes we made yesterday, You’ve washed them away from me. Thank You God.

Thank You that as I sit here with You I truly sense Your peace washing over me. Your peace, that is promised in Philippians 4:7. “If you do this [not worry, pray instead, thank God for His answers (v.6)] you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.”

Again I confess. I got angry yesterday. Angry at all the steps backward we had taken. Angry to the point of using really bad words. And then I surrendered. But not to You. I surrendered to the circumstances.

It all makes so much more sense in the light of day. In the Light of Your Word! Father. Today I ask You to bless us and keep us. ‘May Your face radiate with joy because of us; may You be gracious to us, show us Your favor and give us Your peace’ (Numbers 6:24-26).

Your peace, in this absolutely gorgeous setting. What more could I possibly ask? How about a little more proficiency in my target practice of communication and healthy relationships? Yeah. That would be cool too.

Thank You Father. Thank You for Your love. Your patience. Your forgiveness. And Your availability to us all. You are so good. And we truly are so very grateful. Thank You. We love You. Amen.

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

The Breath of Life

Saturday, June 2, 2012 (6-ish a.m.)

Verdi, NV

Most Holy God,

Thank You for good sleep and safe travels. Thank You for detailed dreams concerning close friends and loved ones. Thank You for THE WAY You make me think. Thank You that I can wake up with a song (again ♫Starlight Express♫) and bring it back to referencing You.

I realize You are so much bigger and grander than a created musical, yet I find such comfort in relating the song back to You.

Father God ~ we are in an area with such clear skies and bright stars. There are puffy white clouds. Such clean air. That’s what I want for our relationships. Clean and cleared air.

We get so bogged down by past hurts and slights. We think we forgive and the next thing that comes along brings what we thought was buried back to life.

We are in such a beautiful location. Surrounded by genuine awe and wonder. Enable us to breathe YOU in. “Heavenly Father,” on my slow and even inhalation. “Breathe through me” as I exhale completely.

Yes Heavenly Father, You as Your Holy Spirit ARE our Breath of Life. You breathe life into hopelessness and make things whole.

Breath of Life ~ I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything without it. Teach me what You would have me know about breathing Your life.

(235 words)

"Fire!"

Friday, June 1, 2012 (7:44 a.m.)

June Lake Loop, CA

Most Amazing, Blessed Father,

Thank You! There was a fire in Anaheim last evening. Belongings were lost. All inhabitants were away from home at the time so there were no physical injuries. Thank You for Your protection in this. Now I ask Your beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

Too often we take our existence so much for granted. We make plans and expect that they will just come to be. Use this reminder of how very quickly things can go up in smoke to bring us to our senses.

You are good. Mighty. Holy. Omnipotent. And we turn to You often. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7).

In this particular set of circumstances Lord I ask Your blessings against blame. There is currently a lot of speculation. I know none of the details. However I am aware of my own tendencies to find someone else to hold responsible when disaster strikes. Let this not be the case there.

Knowing of the love and support this particular set of Believers has for one another, I ask that Your glory shine through the sadness and upheaval of this current turn of events. Let Your loving forgiveness be found in every single ounce of rubble that has to be gone through.

Father, You are so good. So mighty. So holy. Let Your name be glorified through this accident again and again. Truly, let Your beauty shine through the ashes.

We do pray this in Your Son’s most holy name. We love You. We thank You. Amen.

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

thrilling

Thursday, May 31, 2012 (6:54 a.m.)

June Lake Loop, CA

Blessed God,

Thank You. This “going with the flow” attitude has turned out to be quite an experience. Recognizing that we are in desperate need of improving our communication skills has lent us to discovering new, different, better ways of engaging one another.

Hallelujah Jesus! The stress and strife we are used to when preparing for a trip took a backseat this time to patience and practice. Thank You!

Thank You for a heightened intent to express desire. Goal setting has never been my strong suit. There are so many things I’d rather do than think of a myriad of things I may or may NOT accomplish someday.

But then Monday happened. A mistake I had made in remembering my own schedule allowed me two extra hours in the afternoon. Two hours that changed the whole climate of our household. I became willing to acquiesce my own desires to that of my husband’s. While at the very same time setting limits for what to expect from myself.

You are doing this in me Lord! Where I used to be inclined to step up my efforts, this time I clearly saw that I was more than willing to just go along with his plan at the complete sacrifice of my own.

I would not be doubling up my energy later on, trying to manufacture a semblance of order where there really was none. We had not been taking care of business in a timely manner for months and there was to be no point in making a last ditch effort to bring it all around.

What relief there was in just sitting and enjoying the company of loved ones. Laughter. Fun. Mistaken beliefs of over thirty years put to rest. Thrilling, Lord. This experience has truly been thrilling!

Tuesday was even better. Fully embracing the date, I explored options. I asked for what I wanted and we were blessed with surprise after surprise. A beloved anniversary date was truly celebrated with love, honor and esteem. Thank You God.

Taking a balanced approach to the packing that needed to be done, it was all taken care of in a matter of hours. Rolling eyes, under-breath mutterings and threats of just not going were not a part of this particular procedure. Patience and the reminders to communicate were paramount. This again was You completely working in and through each of us.

Our experiences yesterday were even more than we could have hoped. From our impromptu change of departure times to the perfectly timed breakfast, we were blessed again by You. Not only did we have delicious food, we were right next to a tire place when two separate but equally friendly and very concerned patrons let us know our tire was flat. You God! These past several days have been superceded by You.

Thank You for the opportunity to take the time and enjoy the hospitality of long time friends in an area completely unfamiliar to us. Thank You for the decision to take a road less traveled intermingled with a path of least resistance. It was there that I recognized, “Oh! I really CAN set goals.”

They don’t have to be the long range 5, 10, 20 year ones I was tasked to complete in high school. No. I can opt to learn something as relatively simple as breathing in and out through my nose. Not something that seems too difficult, except when hiking up an unfamiliar trail to Mt. Whitney Portal.

Another goal? Right there with improving our communication skills, is learning to identify what I really want. I am so used to ‘taking what I get and liking it’, an enormous [an equally erroneous J] mandate from childhood, that I don’t often recognize when I’m being compelled to something I don’t want.

I’ve always been so geared toward peace keeping that it was until just recently that I was introduced to the idea of peace making. This is something YOU must be the absolute Leader of! I am nowhere near strong or wise enough to put this concept into action.

But I’ve seen YOU act. In just these past several days of practicing completely letting go of the way I thought things were supposed to be, we have been blessed by serendipitous experiences one right after another. Thank You Father.

Even in a time of deep frustration, a much-respected pastor was quoted. The instruction is to follow breathing in while thinking, saying or praying, “Heavenly Father” with exhaling and the words “breathe through me”. I think of the Holy Spirit being linked to breath, as well as of You having first breathed life into Adam. Yes. “Heavenly Father, breathe through me.”

It is time for me to give up my childish beliefs (1 Corinthians 13:11). Grow me up Dearest Father. I’ve encouraged people through the years to fully express themselves by speaking truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). It’s so past time for me to learn to do the very same. Teach me Daddy God. I love You so very much. Life in and through You is absolutely thrilling! Thank You. Amen.

(857 words ~ 9:35 a.m.)