fruitful spirits

Thursday, October 31, 2013 (5:53 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

How I thank You. Order is taking place in our home. There is a routine of sorts. Friendship. Love. And a good degree of joy and peace. Thank You Father for I realize this comes only from You.

As I look to You and consider all You are doing in and for us, I would be acutely remiss not to acknowledge these changes as being a direct result of Your Holy Spirit's work in each of us. On this particular day that is becoming more and more prominent in our society, how extremely fitting that the Spirit I'm most aware of is Yours.

Turning to Galatians 5:22-23 first in Your Word and then in the Illustrated Bible Handbook, I am excited to read “the Spirit will produce fruit within us which stand in stark contrast to the dark products of the sinful nature.” Today's date seems to be representing these dark products more and more.

Thank You Father for the Truth of Your Word. The everlasting, unchanging Truth of Your Holy Word. Thank You that we are promised that “the fruit the Spirit produces in a person's life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Easy-To-Read Version).

Thank You that on this day where the focus can so often lead toward darker things, we are reminded of our opportunity to enjoy fruitful spirits.

The Message says it thusly, “But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

Thank You Father for growing in us our fruitful spirits. May they be especially evident this day. Use me to freely share You fruit with others. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(353 words ~ 6:57 a.m.)

hearts, hurts and hope

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 (10:14 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

Thank You!

Thank You for the opportunity of coming before You with our hearts, our hurts and our hopes. Our hope that is in You Lord.

And with that comes a song from my core!

♫My life is in You, Lord. My strength is in You, Lord. My hope is in You, Lord. In You, it's in You... I will praise You with all of my life. I will praise with all of my strength. With all of my life, With all of my strength, All of my hope is in You...♫

It IS, Father! It truly is. Thank You for yet another reminder of Your eternal goodness and grace. I love You so very much. And I long to serve You well. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(137 words ~ 11:03 a.m.)

another mess

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 (6:10 a.m.)

Good morning Blessed Father,

I made another mess the other day. An extremely goopy, “I don't even know what this is” kind of mess. I was tired. I had done too much. Pushed too hard. And then that. What even was it?

The glory here is... I didn't panic. I looked at it. Felt it. Even smelled it. And still had no idea. So I did something I rarely do. I left it alone and went to sleep.

Blessed Father God, how I thank You for the work You are doing to allow me that decision. The phrase, “When you don't know what to do don't do anything” came to mind. Followed immediately by the counter phrase, “When you don't know what to do, PRAY!” So I did.

Somewhere through the night I was reminded of a cleaning bar in the garage I might still have (thank You that I did). Try that. I did. And then hand washed the item. Thank You Father, it worked! There is nary a trace.

What I am most excited about is not the stain removal, though that IS a plus. I'm truly rejoicing in the lack of panic. YOU provided that calm in me.

It truly IS You at work here among us. The other night when the snide comment went south, we could very easily have gone even deeper into old patterns. Even though there was an air of civility, You wanted Truth and didn't let me fully rest until I gave it to You.

Thank You Father. Thank You that while things in this world don't always go as we would have them, YOU never change! You are our Standard. We get to come before You with the most mundane affairs. Beseeching, “Tell me what to do, O Lord, and make it plain because...” (Psalm 27:11).

You are HERE for us to call our hearts out to! The Life Recovery Bible comment for verses 11-14 reminds us that when temptations press in around us “we need more than ever to learn how God wants us to act in the midst of such troubles. He wants to become the stabilizing factor in our life. Apart from Him we have no power against the things that once put us in bondage. We must determine, one day at a time, to follow God, patiently and confidently waiting for Him to protect and lead us.”

It reads so simply. Yeah. Just do this. Of course. And then I take a look back up to the verses and another sense of calm settles in all around me.

Verses 13-14, “I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see His goodness to me here in the land of the living. Don't be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and He will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and He will help You.”

Blessed Father, just when I thought there was no more to add, there's this from the Illustrated Bible Handbook. “Psalm 27. A prayer of confidence in God, on whose person David's whole being is concentrated.”

Mm. Yes. Father. That IS how I want to live my life! With my whole being concentrated on You. Thank You for another mess in which to practice turning to and trusting You. Thank You Father.

Use me well this day I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

THANK YOU!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013 (9:05 a.m.)

Awesome God,

THANK YOU!

Thank You that thanking You is changing my attitude. I confess to feeling poor in spirit. My apple cart was upset and I lost my drive. I continued giving you lip service but my attitude stunk.

Practicing giving thanks in all things (1Thessalonians 5:18) was something I had to do, not something I wanted. But You, being the good God (Psalm 95:3) that You are, continued chiseling and reshaping my bitter heart.

Thank You that You keep giving me reminders that I am not in this alone. You are with me always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

While I can't truly change my heart or my attitude on my own, asking You to do what I can't [or too often, won't] allows me to once again see You at work.

Thank You, Father. THANK YOU! Thank You for doing Your faithful good work in me. Thank You that when I turn from the angry bitter things, I once again catch glimpses of Your goodness and Your grace.

Thank You that when I finally come to the end of all my own feeble attempts at being better not bitter, You allow me to once again hear the music in my soul.

♫I Surrender♫ [by Hillsong]. I DO ♫want to know You more♫ I AM ♫desperate for You♫

Father, I am so incredibly grateful. You took my bitter, sad and selfish heart and are changing it. I feel it. I know it. I see evidences of it. That is the ONLY way I am able to come to You right now with a truly thankful heart (Psalm 95:2).

Thank You Father. Use me well this day. Work in and through me to Your good and to Your glory. I love You. And I truly THANK YOU! Amen.

(310 words ~ 9:56 a.m.)

bitterness

Monday, October 28, 2013 (5:27 a.m.)

Good Morning Blessed Father,

It's early. And rather fall-like. I have nothing new to report. Well, except You saved us from ourselves again. Thank You for that.

We had a tremendously productive day around here yesterday. Time was used wisely. Decisions were made. More stuff gotten rid of. We truly were on top of our game. And then a snide comment went sideways.

Hmm. Thinking back about the evening, there was a disappointment that wasn't readily addressed. Just kind of glossed over. Thank You Father for bringing it back to my attention now.

Thank You for the work You continue doing in us. Thank You for the ability to practice better communication skills. To be our ages and barely learning them now is somewhat disheartening, yet “better late than never” right?

Is that even true? Hmm. Talk with me here this morning.

(6:24 a.m.)

Okay. Starting Over. I just recognized a degree of bitterness taking root. I'm asking You to pull it out Dearest Father. Yes. Pull it out and let us look at it together.

Father, how I thank You that I even get to bring negative things to You. Your Word (The Life Recovery Bible) even says so. The comment for Job 10:1-22 says that we are often taught that depression is a 'negative' emotion. That if we were to have sufficient faith, we wouldn't need to be depressed. “Job's account gives us an honest account of one man's overwhelming grief. When we feel depressed, it is healthy to explore and express the emotions locked up inside us – especially the 'negative' ones. By expressing them, we are released from their devastating effects.”

Thank You Father! Thank You that we get to be honest with You. Thank You that in directing our thoughts toward You subtle changes occur enabling 'positive' growth to take place. “A critical step in healing is to address our helpless cries to God. He does not despise our grief; He welcomes its expressions.”

Wow! How truly an awesome God You are. In bringing my desire to not let bitterness take hold I get a reminder of A Call to Listen to God.

Hebrews 12:14-15, “Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God's best blessings. Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.”

I don't want to hurt others Father. I don't want to hurt You either. Do Your work in me that I will instead truly “rejoice and be glad”. Let me practice not being mad, but glad about so many things You have brought into our lives.

In all that I have said to You this far I have 'heard' Charlie Brown's teacher saying, “Mwah, mwah, mwah...”

(7:59 a.m.)

And all that said to bring me over to Psalm 51. “O loving and kind God have mercy. Have pity upon me and take away my transgressions. Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again... Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow... Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires” (vs.1, 2, 7, 10).

The further I go here Dearest Father, the deeper I see other bitternesses as well. Accept my heartfelt song to You as I prepare to leave this time alone with You. ♫Change my heart, O God, Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God, May I be like You. You are the Potter, I am the clay; Mold me and make me, This is what I pray. Change my heart, O God, Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God, May I be like You♫

I love You Father. It IS like You I long to be. Forgive and remove the bitterness. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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

provoked

Sunday, October 27, 2013 (5:52 a.m.)

Most Amazing and Awesome Father God,

A trip outside just now released a deeply profound, “Wow!” from my soul. While I wasn't consciously thinking about the exceptional beauty of the moon and stars, I did find myself standing stock-still and enjoying them nonetheless.

You do that a lot. Provoke [stir up, stimulate, motivate, incite, spark, spur, rouse, inspire, encourage, help, promote, outdo, show] emotion in me when I least expect it. Thank You Father. Thank You for the ways You work in my life.

The majority of verses I found this morning using the word 'provoke' show it in regards to becoming angry. Thank You for the reminder I came across in Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds”.

Yes, Father! When it comes to provoking, let it be toward love and good deeds. Continue Your work in me to the end Dearest Dad. Thank You for such tremendously unexpected beauty in the early morning sky. Thank You for truly taking my breath away in the process.

Use me well this day in learning how best to help others show love and do good (Good News Translation). It is You I long to glorify and enjoy. Thank You for the beauty of a starry sky to clear my head and remind me of Your providence. I love You Father. Use me. Thank You. Amen.

(239 words ~ 7:31 a.m.)

deliciously delight-filled day

Saturday, October 26, 2013 (7:57 a.m.)

Awesome, Amazing, Wonderful Father God,

Thank You! Thank You for sleep. Deep dream-filled sleep. Dreams that made perfect sense at the time. Dreams that took drastic twists and turns. Dreams that allowed me to wake up feeling refreshed, renewed, regenerated. Father, thank You!

Thank You for a deliciously delight-filled day at Disneyland yesterday. Delicious in the things we experienced and enjoyed rather than the foods we actually ate.

Overcome with emotion as the Main Street Band began their mid street tune up, I was completely in tears as they were led toward the firehouse and train station by a drum major uniformed Mickey Mouse. The sights and sounds of “Disney Magic” truly transformed me away from all the cares (and clutter) of my small world!

Father, thank You for the opportunity to truly share such mass generated happiness with three special men of my life. Watching each react differently to new things we'd never done before was truly delightful! Delicious. And “Disney”. Not real. Generated. Made up.

All the things You are not. You give us joy. A promise of eternity, with You. Yours is not “The Happiest Place on Earth”. Yours is life after death. Love unending. Sacrifice. Service. A day with Mickey and friends in no way compares to Eternity with Jesus.

Thank You Father for all You are and all You do for us. You allowed us another day of great happiness. And You promise us eternal joy. Thank You. Thank You.  

God at work!

Friday, October 25, 2013 (5:47 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You for ALL the work You are doing around here in and through us. The happy thing is I can see Your hand in all this. The sad thing is superficially we have gone from bad to so much worse.

Cupboards have been opened. Skeletons are coming out of the closets. The mess. The shame. The secret. It's out here all around me. And there's one aspect of myself that has never felt freer.

Father, forgive me for wanting it all to magically go away. For the very most part I don't want to have to deal with any of it. But You are at work. Without a doubt. Unequivocally. Decisions are being made. Work is being done. By You first.

Talk with me this morning about the shame I often feel for not being like everyone else. Or about the fact that You truly did make me unusually unusual. I like that. “Fearfully and wonderfully made”.

Mm. Reading all of Psalm 139 I am comforted. Reminded that You are everywhere. Even (especially?) in the midst of this mess. I can't run away from You. Why would I want to?

Comments in The Life Recovery Bible remind me that You are not limited by time or space. “He works with us day and night to strengthen and encourage us.” How glorious is that?

Now the tears are forming. “The power of our dependencies is often rooted in our low self-esteem.” (Gee, do You think?) I'm truly not being flippant Father. The reality of Your love for each and every one of us never ceases to amaze me.

“These verses (139:13-18) reveal an exciting fact: each of us is an amazing creature – wonderfully made!” Father I get hopeful about that Truth every time I take long enough to consider its ramifications.

Words here describe how low self-esteem was taught to us. Believing the 'not good enough' judgment of others can definitely lead us “into any number of destructive methods for dealing with the pain.”

But the Good News is... we don't have to stay there! We can choose to focus on what Your Word says. “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb” (v. 13). YOU created me! “Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it” (14).

You are my Good News, Father. You are my hope. You keep speaking Your Truth into me. I get to read more and more of Your Word and tears start to fall again. Spending time with You, believing that I don't have to stay stuck in old patterns, standing firmly on Your promises to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) it's so much Father!

The tears aren't stopping and now the nose is running. There's so much hope to be found digging around in Your Word. The comment for Hebrews 13:1-6 says, “This section lists a series of practical commands for faithfulness in service to others, in the marriage relationship, and in attitudes toward possessions. This faithfulness is based on God's empowerment and protection.”

You are entirely in control Blessed Father. And Your Truth brings me perfectly back to Psalm 139. The Serenity Prayer devotional for this includes, “Saying we are God's 'workmanship' means that we are unique and beautiful masterpieces – works of divine poetry. Beauty and value are designed into our very fiber, by virtue of our Creator.”

I can't doubt this without insulting You. Keep up Your incredibly good and faithful work in me I pray. “One important step in our recovery is to allow God to remove self-hatred, helping us to value ourself for who we are. And this has been true since the time in our mother's womb, long before we could do anything to earn it! As we begin to see how unique and special we are – embraced and accepted by God Himself – our strides toward recovery should grow faster and longer.”

I trust You Father. You have given me every reason throughout the years to fully open my arms, heart, mind and soul to Your teachings. I close our time here together asking in line with David's words to You, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything You find in me that makes You sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24).

Yes Father. Search me, though this chaos, that I would truly come to see myself as You do. Holy. Blameless (Ephesians 1:4). Remove from me that which does not serve You well. I love You so very much Dearest Father. Thank You for loving me first (1 John 4:19). Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(817 words ~ 7:14 a.m.)

God our great Provider

Thursday, October 24, 2013 (7:06 a.m.)

Provider Father,

Thank You. Looking back at yesterday I see You providing more ways for me to change. “Right handed, left eye dominate”. Who knew I could shoot arrows left-handed? Oh, right. YOU did!

Father, truly You provide for our every need. Thank You. Searching “God our great Provider” just now yielded me another opportunity to read more about Elisha.

Hmm. Comforting. Humbling. Elisha as student of Elijah “witnessed many of the events in Elijah's life and learned much about God's power” (The Life Recovery Bible).

His (Elisha's) “ministry was primarily one of comfort, not confrontation.” He “did not get angry at God for directing his ministry to the common people... He accepted his mission and followed God in all he did... All work is important to God, and we need to do everything we can to bring honor to Him.”

Let me just say this right here, the husband just prayed with such an excitement for the goals we discussed yesterday that I thought my heart could truly explode! That is YOU at work here in our very lives. Perfectly Providing Father, YOU are here at work in each of us bringing us to a point of camaraderie that we have never known. Thank You Father. Praise You!

Okay. Back to Elisha and Your great provision. The Life Recovery Bible comment for 2 Kings 4:1-7 says, “People willing to pursue recovery can count on the fact that when they are 'at the end of their rope' God is holding them. He is the God of limitless resources, who can provide incredibly when we are in need. As was true with the widow and her sons, God sometimes waits to act until the last minute in order to stretch our faith. Then, when He comes through, our faith in His power is strengthened for the battles ahead.”

I confess to You Father, I was once terrified of the battles we've faced thus far. Personal ones. Health issues. Drastic change. While I still can't say I look forward to the battles that are sure to lie ahead, I do have faith in the Truth of Your victory from the ones we've already experienced on which to hold.

Father, thank You for Your Truth! Thank You for leading me back to learning more about Elisha. Thank You for the call to pay particular attention to verse 3:18a “for this is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord.”

Again the comment at the bottom of the page (3:16-20) soundly rings out the solidity of Your Truth. “God had a battle plan devised for Jehoram. Jehoram had only to admit he needed help; God was there to ensure the victory. God always has a plan to rescue us; He provides the resources and guidance we need. We just have to admit that we are helpless and turn to Him for help.”

That is EXACTLY what I am doing at this very moment. You know far better than we the disorder of this household. The accumulation of things is far greater than our need for them. You know precisely where You would have the excess go. Continue Your work in each of us to 'ensure our victory'.

Father, we love You so very much. We depend on Your guidance and Your provision. Thank You for loving us. For wanting us as Your people. Use us well this day that we would truly glorify and enjoy You. We love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

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

provision

Wednesday, October 23, 2013 (6:29 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Thank You! I asked. You provided.

You gave me the opportunity to part with something yesterday. A heart of dried flowers given to me by the husband many years ago. It was beyond dusty. Practically forgotten. Until an ill-placed elbow (mine) knocked it onto the floor.

Even there, in its scattered pile on the freshly vacuumed carpet, my first thought was how to save it. What could I possibly do to make it usable again?

Thank You for intervening on my behalf.

(see: Psalm 144)

4:44

Tuesday, October 22, 2013 (6:12 a.m.)

Most Blessed Father God,

Thank You. 4:44 was again an early time to wake up. Thank You for extra time to rest afterward. Thank You for any significance 4:44 might have on me today. Is there a Bible verse You want me to see?

Right now I'm reading and considering 2 Kings 4:44. Am I again jumping to conclusions? I'm learning that I am not very good at presuming. Instead I am here asking You to guide and direct me.

Yesterday we worked hard around here. Progress was made in many areas. And again I heard myself think my most often used phrased, “We might need this someday.”

Father, YOU know what You'd have me do with my seeming inability of getting rid of things. Holding one man's trash in my very hands had me wondering if it couldn't be used for something. I placed the brand new metal scraps in the recycling bin instead of the trash can with the hopes that that was a better use.

Thank You for making me aware that holding on to too much stuff is a definite problem for me. “I might need it someday” is my first response to most everything around here. Books. Paperwork. Memory makers. Somehow I think if I keep what we have I won't have to spend money on it in the future.

I am NOT being a good steward in this. Father I know this. Waking up at 4:44 with a fresh outlook came the song ♫God is Able, My God is Able♫ Looking up lyrics right now I came to Don Moen's site and again am singing ♫Give Thanks♫ and ♫God Will Make a Way♫

Father, these songs are both on cassette's I love. Who even has cassettes anymore? This is EXACTLY why I am here with You this morning. We have too much stuff! I'm the one who holds onto it more than anyone else. I am asking You for freedom from the hold (is it actually a LIE?) “We might use this someday” has on me.

Father, I love You. Looking up 4:44 says it can have to do with angels surrounding us. I don't have any idea how I feel about that. I guess confused would sum it up best. It's another aspect of life with You that I don't understand. So rather than go off in another direction, I will come back around to 2 Kings.

Your prophet Elisha told a man who had brought him a sack of fresh corn and twenty individual loaves of barley bread to use it to feed the young prophets (v. 42). “'What?' his servant exclaimed. 'Feed a hundred people with only this?' But Elisha repeated, 'Give it to the people so they can eat, for the Lord says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!'” (43).

As intriguing as all that sounds, it's verse 44 that hits it out of the park for me. “And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the Lord had promised.”

Father, I want to trust You like that. I want to use all this stuff to benefit others and trust You to take care of our needs in the process. Work in me that I will truly open my hands Father. To You. To others. To freedom. To life.

I love You Blessed Father. Use me well this day I pray. Thank You for Your love and Your presence. Do in and with and for and through me all that I am unable and/or unwilling to do myself. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(616 words ~ 7:32 a.m.)

Psalm 90:12

Monday, October 21, 2013 (6:50 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Thank You! Thank You for time together with You. Thank You that I get to come before You asking that You would enable and empower me to use this day well.

The Truth of Psalm 90:12 is presented variously in a collection of translations and paraphrases:

“Teach us to use wisely all the time we have” (Contemporary English Version).

“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts” (Holman Christian Standard Bible).

“Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should” (The Living Bible).

“Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!” (The Message).

“Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise” (New Century Version).

“So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely” (New English Translation).

“Teach us to number our days so that we may truly live and achieve wisdom” (The Voice).

I confess to You Father, I have not been using the precious time You have allotted me either wisely or well. I can be highly critical of myself and rather than reciting to You a laundry list of time wasters, let me instead ask You to guide and direct my choices this day.

There truly is much to do. Others are willing to help us. Let us put their available assistance to Your good use.

Blessed Father God, I love You. I thank You for stopping me from the habit of doing busy work just for the sake of being busy. Now I ask that You would train me in the routine of following You to Your ultimate good for the day.

Turning to Proverbs 22:6, (“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it”) my eyes fell to the penciled in bracket and exclamation point for verses 17-19.

Again I thank You for Your presence in my life. In this day. In each moment. “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.”

Blessed Father, thank You for getting and keeping my attention this morning. Thank You for another reminder of the importance of trusting You. The Life Recovery comment says, “it is wise to put our trust in God. He 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.”

Consider myself surrendered! Please show me exactly how best to use this day for Your good and Your glory. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

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

no-mad / g(l)ad-about

Sunday, October 20, 2013 (8:29 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy Father God,

Guide and direct me this morning I pray. There are lots of thoughts running through my head. Please settle them down to thanking and praising You.

Thank You right now for extra sleep. Sleep deep enough for me to be aware of dreaming. Thank You for the rest that generates.

(9:35 a.m.)

Father, I have spent an hour reading in Your Word. Thinking. Pondering. Being amazed by the work You do.

Last week You gave me a gift. I used it yesterday. It began as an attempt at being clever. Given the amount of traveling we do, I referred to myself as a 'nomad/gadabout'. Upon further contemplation I became aware and excited over the prospect of truly becoming 'NO-mad' and 'glad-about' various things in general.

Throughout this week I've given much thought and some practice to the sincere desire of not getting mad and instead being glad about most things that have come along. How I thank You for the quick reminder last evening just as I was in the very midst of becoming irritated.

Right as I was mentally building a case of discontent came the reminder that I am not to be mad, and I instead asked myself how I could be glad-about the incident instead. Father, this is further evidence of You continuing Your good work in me. Thank You!

Thank You that as I looked in Your Word this morning for a verse to substantiate this Truth, I came across Philippians 2:18. As I read Paul's words to his ministry supporters in Philippi, I again jumped to a wrong conclusion.

“You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!” Yes. Of course. Paul wanted his followers to be glad about something with him. Find out what that something was. Verse 17.

“Even if my lifeblood is to be poured out like wine as a sacrifice for your faith, I have great reason to celebrate with all of you.” Paul was ready to die for what You taught him. And that wasn't his end thought, he encouraged his followers to be glad about it with him.

Father, I so very humbly ask You to keep working Your Word into and throughout my being. The Life Recovery Bible comment tells me, “As we get to know God by reading the Bible and spending time with Him in prayer, He can begin to transform us from the inside out.”

You are doing exactly that! I recognized it again yesterday precisely as I remembered that I truly am to be 'no-mad' and instead 'g(l)ad-about'. Thank You for the various ways You continue working Your salvation into our lives.

A Theology in Brief in the Illustrated Bible Handbook presents “Salvation as revealed in the New Testament has past, present, and future aspects. We have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved. Salvation in each of these senses rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus and is ours through trust in Him.”

With this Truth as the very basis of my salvation, I HAVE to continue finding ways to be glad about the things that normally would have made me mad. Thank You for making this aspect of Your Truth crystal clear to me. Continue Your work in reminding me every single time I am likely to forget it.

Thank You for Your love, Your time, Your sacrifice and Your Truth. Help me use them well this day. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(590 words ~ 10:46 a.m.)

You, first

Saturday, October 19, 2013 (8:02 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

Thank You. There are things to do today. Places to go. People to see. Thank You for the importance of stopping by here with You, first.

Funny. Interesting. Exciting. I thought to look back at a past prayer and there was the same song I had just thought of.

♫You are the first, my last, my everything♫ You are! And I am so incredibly grateful.

Father, it is so easy for me to get sidetracked. How glad I am to have You remind me of the simplest things. You, first! Foremost. Often. Always.

Time spent with You is always time well spent. Distractions too often win out. Thank You for so freely forgiving my careless approach to You and our time together. Spelling it out like that is embarrassing!

Creator of the Universe? Or check my latest email? Yeow! What a no-brainer. Yet what is it I far too readily drift toward?

Thank You Father. Thank You for Your Word. Your Truth. Your love. Your grace. Your promises. Right now, this moment I am blessed by reading the first few verses of Revelation. There is such hope here.

“May you have grace and peace from God who is, and was, and is to come...” (v.4b). “and from Jesus Christ who faithfully reveals all truth to us. He is the first to rise from death, to die no more. He is far greater than any king in all the earth. All praise to Him who always loves us and who set us free from our sins by pouring out His lifeblood for us” (5).

I can't thank You enough. In and of myself I can do nothing worthwhile. Coming to You, first, I am reminded that all my hope is in You. And with that, comes the Truth from another song.

♫My life is in You, Lord. My strength is in You, Lord. My hope is in You, Lord. In You, it's in You♫ And how am I best reminded of this? By coming to You, first.

Thank You, Father. Thank You, Son. Thank You, Holy Spirit. Use me well this day, sharing Your loving Truth as I go. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(375 words ~ 8:55 a.m.)

conversation

Friday, October 18, 2013 (11:58 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

Thank You! Thank You that right in the midst of confessing to not feeling up to par about some things, I realized how long it has been since I last even attempted conversation with You. Guide me in my quest toward You now.

I am confessing to You right now Blessed Father, I feel sad. Really, deeply, profoundly sad. It's my brother's birthday. And for the most part he is alone. Self imposed loneliness or not, he no longer celebrates the day of his birth. Wanting so much to respect his wishes, I do everything I can to make him know how glad I am that he was born. Just short of actually saying, “Happy Birthday”. I bring this to You Blessed Father.

It all stems from our earthly father's heart attack twenty years ago. While we may refer to it as ill-timed, I recognize and accept that YOUR timing is not ours. Nor are Your ways (Isaiah 55:8). Thank You for Your perfection in all things having to do with us.

Thank You that You are all wise and just because we'd prefer different, You truly do know best! Thank You Father. Thank You that I get to turn to You. Thank You when I finally realize how long it's been since I've asked You into my day, I am able to come back and say, “Oh yeah. I forgot.” Thank You for not holding my carelessness where You are concerned against me.

Thank You that when I finally come to my senses (however long that takes) Your Word is still here, exactly as it has been for eons. Today I get to turn to 2Thessalonians 2:15-17 and be buoyed by Your Truth.

“So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus Himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.”

It's YOU that does these things for me. I can eat 'right', exercise, do all the healthy things I've been taught (or too often, not!) but it's ultimately the time I spend with You in sincere conversation that I come away blessed with a fresh heart.

Thank You Father. Thank You for reminding me of my absolute need to be here with You. Quietly set aside, seeking You. Your will. Your power.

Most Dear and Blessed Father. It's my brother's birthday. I love him. Help him know how much!

Thank You for reminders. Thank You for Truth. Thank You for all You've done to grow us to this point. How I ask You to continue Your work in each of us. And not let me bypass the opportunity to converse with You regularly.

I love You so very much Dearest Dad. Thank You for calling me ever so gently back to Your presence. Use me well this day I pray. I love You. I long to serve You. And I thank You. Deeply. Genuinely. Wholly. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(537 words ~ 12:42 p.m.)

firm foundation of faith

Monday, October 14, 2013 (8:10 a.m.)

Palm Springs, CA

Holy Father God,

Thank You! Thank You for family, food and fun. Thank You for friendship. Fellowship.

Father, I ask You to guide me in our time here together this morning. Looking in the concordance the words that begin with 'f'; I find faith, forgiveness, future. There are also: fear, foundation, freedom.

How very interesting that when our foundation is You, we have freedom from fear. Yes Father. Talk to me this morning about the firm foundation we have in You.

(12:43 p.m.)

That firm foundation of faith spoken of in Hebrews 11.

freely

Sunday, October 13, 2013 (6:42 a.m.)

Holy Father,

Good morning. Hello. How are You?

There's a switch. How often do I ever think to ask how You are? The assumption on my part is that You are God. Always the same. Never changing. Still wouldn't it be nice to be asked on occasion?

Hmm... Now I would like to think on all the things You are. And that has to be a list that never ends. Holy. Mighty. Loving. Kind. Slow to anger. Wise. King. Everlasting. Overflowing with grace. Father. God.

Will I pay attention to these Truths today? Or get sidetracked by other things? How I pray Dearest Father that You will be the target of my affections, being, thoughts and actions.

Much earlier I caught myself thinking of something I was going to have to do. Immediately I changed the word to get. There seems to be a freedom in getting to do something, rather than having to. I get to come out here and be with You. I get to take You with me into the day. I get to be Your child.

Words have a huge affect on me. I tend to take them quite literally. I've been known to take offense over the simplest misuse. Let me be keenly aware of the words YOU would have me use and hear this day. Show me the numerous things I get to do... and be and experience and think.

Filter my thoughts, actions, choices and affections through Your mighty, loving, unchanging grace. Father, I love You. I long to serve You as You desire to be served. To love You as You wish to be loved. To follow You as You want to be followed. And to obey You as You so rightly deserve to be obeyed.

Continue Your work in me Dearest Lord. Enable and empower me to share You freely with others. Freely. There's the word. The one I've been waiting for. The one that opened up a song that correlates perfectly with a matching Bible verse.

♫Freely, Freely♫ “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew10:8). You gave to us freely. Open my hands and my heart that I would give just as freely to You.

Thank You Father for Your love, for Your Son, Your forgiveness, Your grace. All I need I find in You. Continue Your work in me that I come to truly know You as “Enough”. Yes Father. You are absolutely “Enough” of every single thing I need. Thank You Father. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(427 words ~ 8:11 a.m.)

♫ Praise Him! Praise Him! ♫

 Friday, October 11, 2013 (6:16 a.m.)

Holy Father,

Thank You! Thank You that as I sit here reading and wondering ♫Praise Him! Praise Him!♫ started singing.

Saturday, October 12, 2013 (6:43 a.m.)

And with the singing came more reading. Again in Revelation. The more I read in Revelation, the more I want to understand the symbolism. The more I read to understand, the more confused I get.

That all being said, I ask You now to guide my heart, soul, mind and physicality. Keep me here with Your leading my body, mind and spirit. Let me glean from this powerful work that which You would have me take into this day.

The Life Recovery Bible's BOTTOM LINE lists the PURPOSE of this final book as having been written “To give hope to believers and warn them not to compromise their loyalty to God.”

Mm, Father, I want to live my life with hope in You and the blood shed by Your blessed Son. I long to come to You each day with uncompromised loyalty.

There is so very much I don't understand. The more I read, the more evident that becomes.

Oh but Father, how I believe that Jesus is ♫our blessed Redeemer♫. How I desire to ♫Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim! Hail Him! Hail Him... tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!♫

Father, there is so much written. So much to learn. So very much to live. Work in and through me that I would truly live this day to Your good and to Your glory.

I love You so very much and I am incredibly grateful to be able to sing of Your Son's wonderful love.

Thank You for the opportunities You have provided. Enable and empower me to use and share them well. Thank You, Father. I love You. Amen.

(310 words ~ 8:05 a.m.)

early

Wednesday, October 9, 2013 (5:14 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You. Thank You for reminding me of the importance of getting early sleep tonight. Getting up early right now will hopefully help in that direction.

Early.

(5:50 a.m.)

Let me confess to You right now, I'm still tired. I continue fighting the idea of lying back down. Thank You for holding my attention here in Your Word.

The more I read, the more I sing. The more I sing, the more places I find to look up and start reading again.

Case in point. “Early” led me to singing ♫Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee♫ which led to me looking up ♫Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty♫ which took me to Revelation 4:8.

Reading the eleven verses in chapter four, I was again reminded of the four Living Beings giving You glory and honor and thanks (v.9). Then of course I began singing ♫Let There Be Glory and Honor and Praises♫ And reading more about this profound book.

The Life Recovery Bible comment at the bottom of the page (for Revelation 4:8-11) says, “As we make God a daily focus in our life, choosing to offer Him our gratitude and praise, we will discover a new freedom from our problems and dependencies.” True. True!

As the comment continues, again I begin singing. “Our painful circumstances will fade away in the light of His glorious love and power.” ♫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.♫

Thank You that You knew how many directions this early morning time with You would take. Thank You for the decision to stay with You here through the tiredness. Thank You for the reminder (still at the bottom of the page) that You are “greater and more powerful than anything we face.”

The comment closes with “We can entrust our life to Him, take steps to follow His will, and then praise Him for the amazing transformation that will happen in our life.”

I'm witness to that transformation! How I thank and praise You for continuing to work in each of us. Father, it is Your love that keeps us practicing forgiveness. Your love that reminds me so very early in the morning that it is You who has my best interests at heart.

How I ask You to empower and embolden me live this day worthy of Your great and encompassing love. Continue teaching me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) and others as much as myself (v. 31).

Now that's an early morning lesson. Thank You for meeting me here. Keep me near You I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(470 words ~ 6:58 a.m.)

character

Sunday, October 6, 2013 (5:47 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You have been helping me learn to let go. Yesterday I heard myself use the phrase “character defect” in reference to myself. Will You talk with me further on this this morning?

First and foremost, I love You. I love that I get to come to You with everything. There is nothing about me that You don't already know. Thank You for loving me in spite of myself.

Thank You for the necessary changes that are being made around. Thank You for orchestrating the desire in our hearts, souls, minds and strength to make these changes in the first place.

(6:28 a.m.)

Father, I confess. I get so excited reading Your Word that my mind takes me to best (and sometimes worst) case scenarios. I read. I think. I hope. I plan...

Instead of all that right now, I'm asking for opportunity to sit quietly and enjoy Your company.

Yesterday, as we worked at communicating and goal setting, I became aware of the thought, “count it all as joy”. After first confessing to You that I honestly don't know how to do that, I searched the phrase on the internet. James 1:2-8 came up as the go to verse. This is definitely another Truth I long to practice.

You know my character Father. You know my tendency to hold on tightly to people, places and things. There are also some ideals in there as well. How I ask You Dearest Dad to do Your good work in me. Remove my shortcomings as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

Reading a Step 7 devotional for 1John 5:11-15, entitled Eyes of Love I am reminded of Your tremendous love for each and everyone of us. After quoting Ephesians 1:4, the writer here uses other words to reiterate, “God's primary goal is to make us holy – that is to form His character in us. Looking through the eyes of love, He already sees us as we will look when His work is done.”

For all the mistakes I make, all my shortcomings and defects of character, how I thank You blessed Father for seeing me through Your loving eyes. Keep working in me I pray. Teach me to more quickly and readily let go and count it all joy.

Do in and through, with and for me all the things I am unable to do myself. Thank You for loving me so much. Enable and empower me to live this one day for Your good and Your glory. Holding onto YOU! Form Your character in me. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(446 a.m. ~ 7:00 a.m.)

experiment

Saturday, October 5, 2013 (6:53 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You. I got to experiment yesterday.

Mm. Experiment. Yes. I made a conscious effort at making better food choices. I was far more aware of my thoughts and thus the words I used to express myself. I remembered to pray for instead of curse another.

Thank You Father. Thank You.

Right now let me just say, “Whoa!” I don't remember reading this (Hebrews 3:6) before. And in reading more about it, there is far more getting through to me this time.

In The Life Recovery Bible, the PURPOSE of the book of Hebrews is defined, “To demonstrate the wisdom of following Christ and the foolishness of looking elsewhere for salvation.” Amen!

Oh, here's another “Whoa!”

In reading about Hearing God's Voice (Hebrews 3:1-4:13) in the Illustrated Bible Handbook, we are told that here the writer of the book of Hebrews “explores the promise of present aid, one benefit of living daily in relationship with a living Jesus.” How horrible is it for me to confess that far to often I forget that Christ is our living Lord?

Reading back in TLRB, I see the unknown writer of Hebrews tell how “Jesus has far more glory than Moses” (3:3) and what a fine job Moses had done working in God's house, as a servant (v. 5).

Verse six is what stopped me again. “But Christ, God's faithful Son, is in complete charge of God's house. And we Christians are God's house – He lives in us! - if we keep up our courage firm to the end, and our joy and our trust in the Lord.”

Wow! We Christians are God's house. And He lives in us. Amazing how easily I forget basic Truth! Father, I am looking to You. Asking that this day I will remember the Contemporary English Version of this verse.

“But Christ is the Son in charge of God's people. And we are those people, if keep on being brave and don't lose hope.”

As I experiment with today's offings, I ask You to help me “keep on being brave”. I want very much to become one who doesn't lose hope. These are truly things I can't do on my own. Enable, empower, embolden me to live this day as You would have me. Joyfully. Productively. Trusting You through it all.

I love You, Father. Thank You for experiments! Amen.

(404 words ~ 8:19 a.m.)

comfort / "more better"

Friday, October 4, 2013 (7:39 a.m.)

Holy Father,

Thank You. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You

(3:05 p.m.)

My plan all those hours earlier was to thank You for Your comfort. I was even pursuing 1Corinthians 14:3 at that time.

Now I'm smiling at the shift that is taking place. Smiling hugely because my current plan was to come ask You for “more better”.

You have continued Your work in and through us around here, helping us want to do and be better. As I was just considering all You've done on our behalf, I thought the phrase “more better” appropriate because it is exactly what I want. For us to continue become “more better”.

Attempting to decide which avenue to take here, I'm taking them both! Looking over in 2Corinthians 1:3,4 I read the subtitle God Offers Comfort to All. What could possibly be “more better” than that?

“What a wonderful God we have – He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us.”

Reading further into the section, at another time...

"Risks vs. benefits"

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 (3:19 p.m.)

“Risks vs. benefits”

Thursday, October 3, 2013 (8-ish a.m.)

Fontana, CA

Awesome God,

Thank You for the good sense to bring these words to You yesterday. “Risks vs. benefits”, a medical phrase I learned over a month ago dealing with side effects.

Risks vs. benefits. We face decisions everyday that weigh the consequences between risks and benefits.

It's a huge risk to be honest. Choosing words wisely can reap huge benefits. And here is where I thank You again. Thank You for the presence of mind to lead with “Risks vs. benefits”.

Bringing my heart, soul, mind and strength to You helped to put disappointment into perspecetive. Hurt feelings were addressed. A pattern of adding insult to injury was abruptly nipped right where it began.

You directed our comings in and our goings out. When the risks of attempted communication far out weighed the benefits, we stopped where we were and started again later.

YOU were in charge of our hearts. As the thoughts I was thinking led me deeper toward despair, I checked in with the beloved spouse for accuracy. Blessed Father God, YOU continue leading us to be better. To treat one another kinder. To break long held patterns that have absolutely never served us well.

Father, I can never, ever thank You enough for the benefits You have so generously and graciously bestowed upon us. I confess to far too often refusing to take the risks that will ultimately lead us to Your benefits.

Thank You for providing me with Psalm 103:2 to ponder this morning. “Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things He does for me.” You are such a good and gracious Father.

Continue working in and through us that we will ultimately become the loving, joyful You-fearing people You created us to be.

Father, I love You.

10,000 reasons

Wednesday, October 2, 2013 (7:06 a.m.)

Awesome Holy God,

How I thank You Father. Thank You for love. Comfort. Safety. Joy. 10,000 Reasons. That's the song I started out singing yesterday. ♫10,000 reasons for my heart to find♫

We sing it in church. Thank You for reminding me to bless You with my soul, to worship Your holy name. ♫Sing like never before Oh my soul I worship Your holy name

♫The sun comes up. It's a new day dawning. It's time to sing Your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me Let me be singing when the evening comes♫

Mm, yes Father. “Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me... I worship Your holy name.” I confess, that's not often my first response. Too many times there is a curse. Or a question. Not usually a worship of Your holy name. Keep working in me Lord, I pray.

♫You're rich in love and You're slow to anger. Your name is great and Your heart is kind. For all Your goodness I will keep singing. 10,000 reasons for my heart to find♫

Oh, yes! Bless You Lord! Thank You for reminders to keep looking for those 10,000 reasons.

♫And on that day when my strength is failing The end draws near and my time has come Soon my soul will sing Your praise unending 10,000 years and then forever more♫

Father, I confess there are far more than 10,000 things I don't understand about this life and the next. Oh but how I thank You for all You do to bring us around to blessing and worshiping You.

♫Bless the Lord, Oh my soul. Worship His holy name. Sing like never before Oh my soul. I worship Your holy name♫

Thank You Father for such an honor. Such a privilege. And all those other 10,000 reasons. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(319 words ~ 7:56 a.m.)