attributes

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 (7:08 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Make me into the woman You would have me be. Loving. Forgiving. What are some of Your other attributes?

awkward

Monday, July 30, 2012 (7:36 a.m.)

Loving Lord God,

Thank You. Several awkward hours during the night when I could not fall asleep, I had You to think my thoughts with. I did not feel alone.

glorifying God

Sunday, July 29, 2012 (7:38 a.m.)

Glorious God,

I love You. Talk to me today about glorifying You.

(8:15 a.m.)

It’s something I desperately long to do, and do well.

(9:15 a.m.)

And again You see how I start and stop and start once more. Focus me Father that I will truly learn to glorify You.

This morning I again read of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:1-4:37). Of his accomplishments and his pride. Father God, thank You for this account of his finally coming to believe in and trust You as the source of his power (4:37).

(11:35 a.m.)

This last interruption was not one of distraction, but of praise and worship. Thank You Father for the opportunity to ‘attend’ church via the Internet. Thank You for a body of Believers that enables us to worship You at home when the decision is made to do not it in person on the actual church campus. Thank You Father that YOU are our reason for attending in whatever realm available to us.

Through the singing (♫Praise Adonai♫, ♫It Is Well With My Soul♫, …) and the teaching (John  20:19-31) I come away believing that the best way I can glorify You today is in trusting and believing You and Your Word.

Father God, there are so many areas of which I am uncertain. I doubt. I waver. I falter. I fail. I have yet to master ‘giving thanks in all things’ (1Thessalonians 5:18) or ‘rejoicing in You always’ (Philippians 4:4). But this one thing I know to be true, when it comes to trusting You, I do.

I don’t claim to ever understand nor always like some of the circumstances I encounter or their outcomes, but trusting You ‘to know the plan You have for me, a plan for good and not for evil, to give me a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11) is how I have come to depend on You. Believing that “all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans” (Romans 8:28) is another Truth in which I mightily believe.

Most Dear and Blessed Father God, as You continue Your precious work in me, I ask that You continue unfolding things in Your perfect and exact Way. For every single doubt I come across (whether in myself, others or situations) I so very humbly ask You to counter each with Your Truth. You alone art God! Deserving to be loved with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:29,30). How I pray that this in and of itself is glorifying to You O Lord.

I do love You. I trust You. And I believe. Thank You Blessed Father. ♫To God be the glory, great things He has done; So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And opened the life gate that all may go in. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He has done.♫ Such great things! Thank You Father. Amen.

(539 words ~ 12:17 p.m.)

judging others

Saturday, July 28, 2012 (9:17 a.m.)

Blessed, Awesome Father God,

Thank You. Thank You that You are the loving, just and forgiving God that You are. I am coming before You confessing something You already know.

Father, I judge others. Harshly. Often unknowingly. Sometimes unmercifully. And I don’t know how to stop. I will even put myself on the list. Perhaps very close to the top.

I am asking You to direct and guide me in Your Word as to what You would have me do with this.

Is this You speaking to me? In my Life Recovery Bible, I was turning from reading of The Final Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) to a section in Luke (6:37-45). I’m fully prepared to confess the harshness with which I have repeatedly found myself judging others and right under Luke 9:62 I read words I had penciled in sometime ago. “Looking back keeps you from going straight!”

I am confessing confusion to You Father. I know I judge myself with a seemingly impossible standard. I read Jesus’ words to a potential follower (Luke 9:61) who wanted to go home and first ask permission. “But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.’” (v. 62)

I read in this section, The Cost of Following Jesus, and once again I confess. I don’t know how. Father I see myself as grossly unfocused and undisciplined. I haven’t the slightest clue as to the commitment You would have me make to You.

The things I have attempted in the past (hence the confession of my judging of others) has usually been prompted by my desire to do things better than my elder predecessors. This has not yielded me any degree of satisfaction. Instead I am filled with the regret that comes from not knowing then what I am only learning now. Forgive me Father for the things I have not only thought but the foolish things I have said as well.

I love You so very much. I long to serve You well. You have a ton of work cut out for Yourself in turning me into the woman of Yours You originally created me to be. Get me completely out of Your Way, that Your transforming work would truly begin!

A brief section of theology in the Illustrated Bible Handbook entitled Judging Others begins with quotes from Luke, James and Paul. “Each says clearly that believers are not to take it on themselves to evaluate one another.” Father how I ask that You would set me free from such a critical mindset. This segment ends with a beautiful truth, “How wonderful it is to look at a brother or sister uncritically, freed by God to love him or her unstintingly, and so to communicate the amazing grace of our Lord.”

And just when I think You’re done teaching me for the moment, a TV like commercial rings out, “But wait. There’s more!”

Judging Others; (Luke) 6:37-45. “Relationships with others are to be free of judging, filled with forgiveness. The promise is that, as God’s people set a new pattern of life, others will begin to respond in similar ways (v.38). For this kind of life self-examination, not criticism of others is important (39-42). Actually, it’s never necessary for us to judge others. As time goes by, each life produces its own fruit: good fruit comes from those with good in their heart, bad from those who have evil stored within.”

Dearest, most beloved Father God, do what You must to produce the good fruit You would have my life yield. A bumper crop of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) would be so greatly appreciated. Come Holy Spirit have Your way in my life; in all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Do in and through and with me all that I am absolutely unable to do for myself. I love, trust and depend on You and Your will for my life. Change me. Thank You. Amen.

(687 words ~ 10:40 a.m.)

"Good morning"

Thursday, July 26, 2012 (7:48 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Again the words are “Good Morning”. This time in quotations. Yesterday’s search, without quotation marks, yielded many verses with both words but not together or in order.

weak start

Wednesday, July 25, 2012 (7:01 a.m.)

Good Morning, 

two words

Monday, July 23, 2012 (7:14 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Just those first two words and I am transported to the book of Nehemiah. “A man of prayer and unshakable commitment to God.” “The great rebuilder of Jerusalem”.

Father, how I thank You for this particular book written more than four hundred years before Your Son came to earth. This book that shares details of not only the rebuilding of the wall, but of the workers and the worship as well.

All because I recognized You as “Awesome God” this morning I get to read again of: The Importance of Boundaries, The Importance of Confrontation, The Danger of Discouragement, and The Power of Confession and Worship. Thank You Father.

Thank You for reminding me of the importance of coming before You. That’s exactly what Nehemiah tells us he did immediately upon hearing the discouraging news that the wall of Jerusalem was still torn down, and the gates burned.

“ ‘O Lord God,’ I cried out; ‘O great and awesome God who keeps His promises and is so loving and kind to those who love and obey Him! Hear my prayer!’ ” (Nehemiah 1:5) What a wonderful example, set by this man who was so deeply committed to You.

Thank You Father that these two words could take me so quickly to the heart of one who knew You and Your promises so well. Thank You that he used them in his prayer for help from You. “Oh, please remember what You told Moses! You said, ‘If you sin, I will scatter you among the nations: but if you return to me and obey my laws, even though you are exiled to the farthest corners of the universe, I will bring you back to Jerusalem. For Jerusalem is the place in which I have chosen to live’ ”(vs. 8-9).

Thank You for getting my attention this morning as soon as I uttered these first two words. Help me give You Your much deserved due for actually being the Awesome God that You are. I love You so very much Dearest Awesome God. Empower me to glorify You this day and enjoy You forever. It is truly to this “chief end” I aspire. Thank You Awesome God. I love You. Amen.

(377 words ~ 8:09 a.m.)

absolutely perfect

Sunday, July 22, 2012 (7:58 a.m.)

Loving Father,

Thank You! Once again Your timing is perfect. Absolutely perfect. I confess I didn’t understand the reason I would wake up singing a song from Singing in the Rain. Sure we watched it last week, but still I wondered.

I tried to shake it loose. Even turned it around to putting You in the role of Whom I would ♫dream of the whole night through♫ I was pretty satisfied with that idea, until just now when I saw the date.

My dad’s birthday. His favorite musical. Thank You Father for such an absolutely perfect reminder.

Three sections appeared in The Message when I searched ‘absolutely perfect’. It’s Your response to Israel’s Terrible Sin that most intrigues me this morning. I continue to be amazed every time I read details of Your glory and righteousness compared to the consequences Your people’s sins brought them.

Reading in Ezekiel 16 of Your perfect care of Jerusalem I see Your nurturing love and my own rebellious nature. Father God how I thank You that no matter the sin, You are just and fair. Thank You that the last verse of this chapter sums up Your love absolutely perfectly.

“ ‘Despite all you have done, I will be kind to you again; you will cover your mouth in silence and in shame when I forgive you all that you have done,’ says the Lord God” (v. 63).

Thank You Father God. Thank You for Your love. Your mercy. Your grace. And thank You for the absolutely perfect reminder of the daddy we all continue to love on this the anniversary of his birth and every other day of the year.

Thank You that as I continue humming ♫the whole day through♫ I will be remembering the love You’ve provided each of us in loving one another. Thank You Father. Thank You that YOU are absolutely perfect! I love You. Amen.

(323 words ~ 9:40 a.m.)

opportunities

Saturday, July 21, 2012 (7:09 a.m.)

Most Amazing, Blessed Father God,

Thank You. Thank You for opportunities. Opportunities to love others. To share. Serve. Trust. Believe.

Thank You Father that left to our own devices we often do far too little. But with the power of Your Holy Spirit we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). You are so good Dearest Father. Far too often I neglect Your Word. Yet every single time I come back and open It’s pages I am blessed. Blessed with opportunities to learn. Trust. Share. Believe.

This morning I’m reading in Paul’s letter to the Romans (10:18-21) and once again I am amazed. Every single time I think I have something new to share with You, Your Word reminds me that You have always known all there is about all of us.

Your chosen people of Israel had plenty of opportunities to listen and understand the God News about Your Son. Yet they refused. This did not surprise You. You already knew they would.

You didn’t want their (our) misdirected attempts of making themselves good enough to earn Your favor (vs. 2-3). You want the sacrificial gift of Your Son’s death and resurrection to be accepted. Believed. Trusted. Jesus did for us what we could never, ever do for ourselves. He made us right with You.

Of all the opportunities I have before me, loving and trusting You through Him is the absolute best by far. Thank You for this Precious Gift most blessed God and Father. Enable and empower me to use it well. I love You so much. Thank You. Amen.

(274 words ~ 8:17 a.m.)

quiet time

Thursday, July 19, 2012 (7:46 a.m.)

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome Father God,

Thank You! Thank You for time alone to spend with You. Just You. Just me. Together. Uninterrupted. Quiet. Alone. Thank You.

Thank You that when my thoughts get jumbled and run together there You are in the midst. As I began thinking of what to do with a few unscheduled hours YOU were my first “Yes!” Yes. Time with You is EXACTLY what I wanted. Thank You for this.

Thinking of You this past week, actual praying to You, is NOT the same as just coming away and being quiet with You.

Memories

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 (8:30 a.m. MDT)

Questa, New Mexico

Tia’s kitchen table

Awesome, Awesome God,

I thought I would come here thanking You for our appreciation of family. Right in the midst of that thought pattern came the biggest word of this trip. Memories. SO many memories!

Father God, this visit to past destinations has been rife with laughter, fondness, encouragement and love. So very much love.

We are currently at the top of the “Circle of Enchantment”. With each time we have come here through the years, I become more aware of the reasons for the name. In a state known as the Land of Enchantment, there is so much beauty to behold and absorb.

From getting lost in thought through the quiet of the night to the sights and sounds of the days waking back up we are making more memories. Asking question after question to the sole remaining matriarch of our family we learn more.

Discovering photos we’ve never seen before, working jigsaw puzzles one right after another and watching our much-loved aunt’s feelings transform from sad and lonely to optimistic is yet another memory in the making.

You are behind all of this Blessed Father. There are reminders of Your presence every where we turn in this welcoming home. Turning to First Thessalonians this morning I read of Paul’s concern for the faith of new Believers and then of his encouraging words to them. He listed You as our source of all HOPE, challenged them to live in humble anticipation of Jesus’ return and reminded them of the commitment needed to stand firm when living in this world becomes overwhelming with it’s limitations and problems.

Paul declared the Holy Spirit as the conduit of Your Power and called all to live life pleasing to You. He even left instructions (1Thessalonians 5:14-28) as to how to do this. You guided him to this and Father I am grateful. Thank You for his reminders and good advice as to how we are to live for You.

Thank You Father for the memories we brought here with us and for the new ones we will take home. 1Thessalonians 3:6, the verse that first brought me to all this sums it up beautifully. “But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.”

Again I say it’s all because of You Most Precious God and Father. For all these memories based on Your love and Truth I thank You. Continue stirring us to use them to Your glory. We love you. We thank You. And we are grateful. Amen.

(10:00 a.m.)

Loving "Partners"

Sunday, July 8, 2012 (8:30 a.m. MDT)

Albuquerque, NM

Good Morning Loving Lord,

Thank You for the love of our family. WOW! I had NO idea where in Your Word a statement as simple as that would take me.

Thank You for this current opportunity to explore Your Word. Knowing that simply searching “LOVE” would yield endless results, I suddenly remembered the lasting partnership four of us began so many decades ago.

Looking up the only verse (Ephesians 5:7) listed under “PARTNERS”, I was not at all partial to the warning I found.

“Therefore do not be partners with them.” While we were warned so many years ago of this very thing, I didn’t believe that’s what You would have me considering this morning. Reading all around it I immediately began smiling and nodding my head.

Going back and then back even further to the middle of chapters 3 and on to 5:20 I found such headings as A Christlike People, Living as a New Person and Living as a Child of the Light. I am so grateful to You Dearest Lord for the joy of living the greatness of Your love through the unique camaraderie of our partners. You are so very good Blessed Father and I am eternally grateful. Thank You Father. Bless You. Praise You. AMEN!

(223 words)

embrace

Saturday, July 7, 2012 (8:11 a.m. MDT)

Albuquerque, NM

Again Father,

Again I say, “Thank You!” Thank You for the ability to fully embrace the unexpected things of yesterday.

Beginning with the moment I noticed I had forgotten to change out of slippers back into sandals, I knew I had a choice. I could go back to the room, causing a delay for others, or I could embrace the awkwardness. Thank You for the intense beauty of our surroundings making it that much easier to adjust to awkward.

With every change in out plans, I asked You to help me embrace the unexpected and You did! With almost every turn there was something else to enjoy. Incredible beauty. Unfamiliar tastes and flavors. Unexpected and highly enjoyable surprises.

Today, as I again prepare to ask You to teach me to embrace and enjoy the unexpected, I also ask You to show me how to discern between the things You would have me embrace and those You would have me refrain from embracing (Ecclesiastes 3:5).

Father, it is Your wisdom I seek in all we experience. I think I get a clue. I get excited to think I’ve found the secret to our existence only to take it back to Your Word and be reminded that our thoughts and ways are NOT Yours (Isaiah 55:8).

Thank You Father that you know EVERY thing about us. Nothing we feel, are, think or do surprises You. You know exactly what to expect from us and You provided Your Son as our Way to be able to embrace You and Your Truth. Thank You Father. You are kind. All knowing. Forgiving. Some THE One I truly long to embrace. Thank You Father. I love You Amen.

(295 words ~ 9:59 a.m. MDT)

delightful

Friday, July 6, 2012 (1:45 p.m. MDT)

Albuquerque, NM

Awesome, Incredible, Delightfully Wonderful Father God,

THANK YOU! You have brought us safely to another destination. There may have been a ‘hiccup’ here or there, but all in all, so far we are learning to “expect the unexpected’.

With that said Blessed Father, may I take it one step further and ASK that I would come to “EMBRACE the unexpected”. Yes! What a freeing experience that would be.

Coming to Your Word, I read of “a delightful inheritance” I surely have (Psalm 16:6) and also of “a delightful land” (Malachi 3:12) Your chosen people failed to recognize.

depth

Thursday, July 5, 2012 (7:54 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

You are awesome. Wonderful. Generous. Forgiving. And I am so loved by You ‘that You gave Your only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16).

We know this verse. Many of us learned it as children. What do You want to teach me through it this morning? Remembering the King James Version teaching of my childhood, five distinct words stick out to me. Begotten. Whosoever. Believeth. Perish. Everlasting.

These are no longer used as readily as they once were. Yet I believe there is something of substance that You would have me take into this day. “Whosoever believeth”? While considering those two words the phrase “from everlasting to everlasting came to mind.

Time with You seems especially ‘deep’ this morning. Not the usual “Thank You. I love You. Amen.” I’m looking. Seeking, actually. But not yet finding. Keep my thoughts near You. Reveal what it is You would have me paying attention to this day.

As I prepare to leave this time alone with You, I ask that You would go before, beside, behind, beneath, above and within me. Completely cover me with Your presence, to the very depth of my core.

I DO love You. I DO thank You. And I am absolutely grateful to be so loved by You. Thank You Father. Thank You Son. Thank You Holy Spirit. Continue Your work in making me into the woman You have created me to be. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

independence

Wednesday, 4^th of July, 2012 (8:10 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

It’s Independence Day for the United States of America and I confess, I’m afraid for our country. We have all our patriotic songs about how greatly You’ve blessed us, but I don’t think we’re doing a good job in stewarding those blessings.

Your Word tells us in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” Father, I can’t even begin to tell You what we need as a nation. I take that back. I DO know! We need YOU! Front and center. Not pushed off to the sidelines. Not as an after thought.

The two verses I found in Your Word containing the word independence both sound another alarm for me. I think we, as a nation, have come to take our independence so much for granted that we won’t fully appreciate it until it is gone. How I ask You Blessed Father to wake us up from our complacency long before that happens.

Hosea 1:4 in The New Living Translation tells us, “And the Lord says, ‘Name the child Jezreel, for I am about to punish King Jehu’s dynasty to avenge the murders he committed at Jezreel. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence.”

The Message says, “[Trying Out Another Sin-Project] ‘What do you have against me, running off to assert your independence?’ God’s Decree. ‘I’ve wasted my time trying to train your children. They’ve paid no attention to me, ignored my discipline. And you’ve gotten rid of your God-messengers, treating them like dirt and sweeping them away” (Jeremiah 2:29-30).

We are not the first nation in Your history to disregard and discard Your teachings. Save us from the discipline to come should we choose to continue on this present course. You are such a good and all providing Father and God.

Let us TRULY remember that we are only ♫America the Beautiful♫ because of the grace YOU shed upon us. As families, friends, neighborhoods and communities come together to mark the birthday of this nation, make us ever aware that it is only because of You that we have the independence for which to celebrate. Let us honor YOU first and then this glorious nation You provided us.

I love You Father. I thank You. And I ask You to show me how You would have me make a difference in the way we live as independent Americans. Thank You. Amen.

(421 words ~ 9:16 a.m.)

fizzle

Tuesday, July 3, 2012 (3:45 p.m.)

Awesome God,

I’m beginning to fizzle. I started out strong. Thoughts were clear. Inspiration came readily.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012 (8:05 a.m.)

Then I came to You. Searched Your Word. Was buoyed and strengthened and able to finish the task at hand. Thank You God.

crazy!

Monday, July 2, 2012 (6:54 a.m.)

Wonderful, Marvelous, Most Amazing God,

Thank You. You are good. And I feel crazy! There are so many thoughts clamoring around in my head for attention. We have decisions to make and things to do. Yet I continue stalling and putting it all off.

(9:12 a.m.)

And somewhere right in the middle of singing about feeling crazy, a phone call interrupted it all.

Father God, I’m asking You to direct my thoughts and my energy this day. Separate the wheat from the chaff for me. Show me how to focus on the things of substance, not the ones that will blow away in the wind.

There are things that NEED to be done. Some that should and some that can absolutely wait ‘til later. At this point of my crazy feeling brain, I am unable to discern them.

I’m dealing with an extremely immature “so what” attitude. I’m looking to You to change it for me. This is where I’m at right now… EVERYTHING seems doable. I can jump right in and get started! Truth is, I’ll fizzle out and accomplish little. In YOU I can trust and depend. In YOU I have my strength. I don’t have to think or feel crazy.

And here is where I absolutely laugh out loud while saying again, “God is good. God is SO good!!”

Father, thank You. Thank You that with You I get to ramble and wonder and do a little ranting. I get to follow one verse (Galatians 3:1-4 MSG) to another (Luke 22:31-32 MSG), all the while wondering how it’s ever going to tie together.

Sitting here with it all jumbled in front of me I continue shaking my head. Only now I’m smiling while I do it. I started out talking to You about feeling a little crazy. I zoomed out of the house on a completely unexpected, immediate errand. Took care of a ‘need to be done’ and asked You in a sense to order my day (wheat and chaff).

With all that in place, the truth that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it” came to mind. Looking up and finding the verse to be Philippians 1:6 I started reading the devotion about Perseverance in The Life Recovery Bible. It tells how sometimes we might feel like giving up the struggle. We try only to fail. Taking steps forward and falling backward. There’s a sense of condemnation, followed by fear. “At times there are so many difficulties, so many issues to work through, so many patterns in our life that have to be changed that we begin to feel….” [wait for it J] “… like we are going crazy”!

Father God, THANK YOU! Thank You that as I continue reading, the last paragraph speaks loudly to me. “When we feel like we are going crazy and don’t think that we can handle life, God is there. He is determined not to give up on us. We can rely on His persistent love. God has promised to keep working on us until we are whole. There will still be crazy times, but with His help we can handle life, one day at a time.”

Thank You. Thank You for loving me. Which brings me all the way back to that song I was telling You about.

♫Crazy, I’m crazy for feeling so lonely. I’m crazy, crazy for feeling so blue. I knew You’d love me as long as You wanted♫ [which I KNOW is forever! J] And this is where I have to change the words because I KNOW You’d N-E-V-E-R ‘leave me for somebody new’!

♫Worry, why do I let myself worry? Wond’ring what in the world will I do? Crazy for thinking that my love could hold you♫ And that is entirely true, because I know for a fact that it’s YOUR love that holds me!

♫I’m crazy for trying and crazy for crying And I’m crazy for DOUBTING You♫ Father God, I trust and believe Your Word. It is to YOU that I look and ASK that You would accomplish through me this day exactly what YOU want. I love You so incredibly much and I thank You even more! Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Amen.

(718 words ~ 10:15 a.m.)