another

Sunday, June 29, 2014 (10:04 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

I finished up one prayer only to be reminded of another. This one dealing with fear as well. I had a scary freeway experience yesterday.

Fear so deep that I forgot to pray. While I did remember to breathe, it was a little too shallow and quickly for much of a calming benefit.

We entered an onramp amongst more motorcycles than I could count. Ten miles of weaving, veering, revving, high speed photo-ops clearly took its toll on me. How sad I was when I realized some twenty miles later that I had forgotten to pray.

Thank You that when I did remember, You were right there with a soothing peace I could actually feel. There was even a sense of entering into a place of safety. Thank You for that blessed experience.

Thank You that even though we may repeatedly fall into the trap that fear so readily offers us; Your Word, Your Truth, Your very presence are each such a better choice for us to make.

Thank You that Your Word offers us the choice between life and death (Deuteronomy 30:19). Continue working in me that I would far more eagerly choose life. In You.

I love You Father. I thank You. And I ask You to use me well this day. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(229 words ~ 10:28 a.m.)

TRUTH!

Sunday, June 29, 2014 (9:41 a.m.)

Faithful, Loving Father,

Thank You! I had a scary dream. A minutely detailed, believed-it-to-be-real, horribly scary dream. Panic and tears were involved. As was Your Word. Even there, in the midst of the despair of it all, the Truth - YOUR Truth - was repeated more than once.

There was fear. Blame. Self-recrimination. All the negatives led the pack. But ever-so softly, underneath the core I was reminded, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6).

I confess. At the moment I recognized Your Truth, I still continued in fear. Oh, but the very moment I awoke what joy, relief and gratitude I experienced. Father how truly grateful I am to You for Your faithfulness.

Thank You that You don't even leave me alone in my sleep. Thank You that a sense of having felt so alarmed could again be squelched by the TRUTH of Your Word.

How very grateful I am. How absolutely, truly I thank You for taking such genuine tender care of me. I love You Dad and I thank You for soothing my rattled nerves with Your Truth. Let me use even this to Your good and to Your glory. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(221 words ~ 10:02 a.m.)

Truth supersedes

Saturday, June 28, 2014 (7:47 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Thank You that I have You and Your Word to come to when I seek Truth. Thank You that Your Truth supersedes my idea of fairness. Thank You that You are able to change my mind and heart when it comes to what I think.

(8:54 a.m.)

Try as hard as I may on my own not to get caught up in any delusion of wanting things to be fair, I confess to falling back into that trap often. Thank You that I have Your Word to cling to. Your Word provides the Truth we need to be able to trust, believe and hope.

With an unrelenting tendency I have toward continually wanting to make sense out of insanity how I thank You for Your reminders to lean heavily into You and Your Word instead. This morning I found Your Truth in the form of 2 Corinthians 4:18.

The Message offers a rendition that speaks both simply and powerfully. Beginning at verse 16, “So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes be without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.”

It IS to You and Your Truth that I cling! Your Truth that truly supersedes all thought, fear and circumstance. I love You Father. I thank You. And I ask You to use me to Your good and to Your glory this day. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(308 words ~ 9:22 a.m.)

how interesting

Friday, June 27, 2014 (7:11 a.m.)

“Wow!”

“Hmm...”

“What do I know about that?”

Blessed Father,

How interesting that I have never before considered what it would be like to have had Jesus as an older brother. Ack!

(7:51 a.m.)

What an exciting time I am having in Your Word this morning. Having originally come here to continue seeking out verses on friendship as I had done yesterday. What a surprise when I came across a recovery profile entitled James & Jude after being directed to James 4:4.

My mind is spinning as I consider being a younger sibling to One who was not only perfect, but "embarrassing" as well. Father, how I thank You for the honesty with which Your Word was written.

I have so many misconceptions. My thought pattern can so easily get caught up on the slightest hinge and take me off in wrong directions.

Thank You that Your Word is true (2 Timothy 3:16). “Indeed, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword...” (Hebrews 4:12).

Mm, Father. There is so very much to consider. So much to learn and apply. Mm, yes Father. Even here I turn to the teaching of Proverbs 22:17-19.

“Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings deep within yourself, always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today – yes, you – so you will trust in the Lord.”

Yes! My desire. That I will trust solely and completely in You. The Lord, who alone is our source of perfect love and truth. Try having that example set by an older sibling!

Thank You for such an interesting time spent with You this morning. Guide and direct my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) to Your good and to Your glory this day which You have made (Psalm 118:24a). This day in which I am to rejoice and be glad (v.24b).

Mm, yes God! Make it all so. In Your Son's most blessed name I pray, asking that I would love as You would have me love. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(366 words ~ 8:40 a.m.)

Believers

Wednesday, June 25, 2014 (8:35 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy Father God,

We love You. Collectively. As Believers.

(9:04 a.m.)

Hmm... “Believers”. Wow! I wasn't expecting one word to take me so deeply into Your Word. The Book of John, Chapter 17, “Jesus Prays for All Believers”. I didn't see this coming at all. Yet here we are.

Thank You Father. Thank You that before Jesus gave up His life for the benefit of all, He prayed not only for His disciples there with Him in the flesh but for those who would come to believe in Him because of them (John 17:20).

Thank You that I am one of those. The Life Recovery Bible's comment for this chapter tells us, “He makes God's will known to us and our heartfelt needs known to God. Jesus' words and deeds reveal God's mercy, justice, glory, truth, and His desire to establish a personal relationship with each of us.”

Oh how I thank You for Your Truth. Thank You for Jesus' willingness to do all You required of Him, on my behalf.

I am humbled. Awed. Grateful. Use me this day to Your good and to Your glory. I love You. And I ask Your guidance on those who are in need of it. Let us each come to know Your perfect joy. Your absolute best for us. Oh, how I love and thank You! Bless You. Praise You. Amen.

(237 words ~ 9:49 a.m.)

with others

Tuesday, June 24, 2014 (5:53 a.m.)

Blessed Father, Awesome God,

You bring people into our lives. You surprise us. You bless us and keep [protect] us. You smile [radiate with joy; make Your face shine] on us and are gracious [kind, merciful] to us. You watch over us and give us Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

These are huge thoughts. Awesome Truths. Blessings beyond compare. How I thank You for the gifts You provide for us. Gifts of friendships. Community. Camaraderie. The gift of sharing You with others. Mm. Yes.

Father, I ask You to teach me to share You more freely with others. More honestly. Openly. Willingly. The Life Recovery Bible comment for the verses above list You as “the source of all blessings, grace and peace in life.” It goes on to say, “only through a relationship with God can we hope to experience the fullness of life described here.”

Let me know You in ways that will ready me to share all You are and do with others. I love You Father. I thank You. And again I ask You to use me to Your good and to Your glory. Make me aware of Your presence in this day. How I thank You. I love You. Amen.

(206 words ~ 6:51 a.m.)

the basics

Monday, June 23, 2014 (6:37 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

I love You. Let's stick with the basics today, shall we?

(7:30 a.m.)

Oh, and I thought that would be so easy!

Yow-ouch! Not a lot of verses mention the basics as such, but the ones that do really bring it home. Hebrews 5:11-6:3 especially. Here I find A Call to Spiritual Growth. And again I cry out, “Yow-ouch!”

It's when I read Your Word and see myself that I often feel uncomfortable. Many times I am brought to eager excitement in being reminded of Your love. Your forgiveness. Your divine nature. Today it seems as though I am being whacked back to common sense.

Thank You Father that it's not all fun and games with You. There is a definite reality to Your expectations of us. Not that You would ever leave us alone in them.

Herein is where I ask Your steady guidance and accompaniment. While reading more in Hebrews 5 and 6 about the importance of spiritual maturity, I took a little side trip to Isaiah 28:7-13. The Life Recovery Bible presents this comment, “Judah's leaders refused to listen to Isaiah's message because it seemed they were being treated like babies (vs.9-10)”.

How often do I resemble Your people Father? By refusing to listen “they rejected God's saving rest.” Do I refuse to listen? Or do I still not have ears with which to hear Your voice?

Isaiah 28:13, “So the Lord will spell out His message for them again, repeating it over and over, a line at a time, in very simple words. Yet they will stumble over this straightforward message. They will be injured, trapped, and captured.”

We have choices. We can listen. Learn. Grow. Mature. Or we can refuse.

And here I turn to another basic in John 1:17. In so doing I read the Life Recovery comments for verses 1-18. “The same Power that created the universe is available to create a new life from our shattered hopes... Jesus Christ came to bring us God's unfailing love and forgiveness and to reveal God's faithfulness to us. God's forgiving grace says, 'I forgive you for your wrongs; I love and accept you freely for the person you are.' His faithfulness says, 'I will follow through on all I have promised.'”

These are the basics of which I began this hours ago. It's all You. Your love. Your power. Your strength. Your nature. How I ask You to work in me that I would choose to grow in You.

“Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right” (Hebrews 5:14). Grow me Father exactly as You wish.

I love You. I long to do Your will. It doesn't get more basic than that. Thank You for Your time. Use me well this day. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

unconditional love

Sunday, June 22, 2014 (6:49 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

How I thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your guidance. Thank You for Your Word to guide and encourage us.

Talk with me this morning Father about Your command to love You with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). It is my goal. My aspiration.

Father, You are good.

Right now there is a song trying to sing itself to me. I can't get it. ♫With all of my heart and all of my soul♫ The music and words build to a phrase that escapes me. If it's something You want me to pay attention to keep bringing it up to me. If not, please help me let it go.

I tend to chase things that might not be Your best. They seem like great ideas to start with. Please guide and direct my thinking. Our time together.

I woke up singing ♫Trust in the Lord with all Your heart And lean not on Your own understanding In all your ways acknowledge Him And He shall direct your path♫ in regards to a dear young woman who doesn't know You personally. She knows of You. Knows about You. But hasn't yet had the experience of trusting You at Your Word.

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He's the one who will keep you on track.”

Jesus, how I ask You to bless this dear one with Your presence. Stand at her door and knock (Revelation 3:20) until she hears You calling and opens the door, allowing You to go in and eat with her as friends.

It's Your love that is so desperately needed in our everyday life. Your unconditional love that enables us to love You, ourselves and others (John 13:34). Thank You for being the source of love that is rich and true. Genuine. Real. Love that is not earned, but freely given. Love that is unending. Unconditional.

Empower and embolden me to use that love as You intended. As a gift. To be freely shared. Work in me this day Father that I would learn to love as You wish. Without regard or reservation of who appears to deserve it. Change me Father. Make me wholly Yours. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(406 words ~ 8:04 a.m.)  

let go

Saturday, June 21, 2014 (6:28 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

It's the first day of Summer. The longest day of the year. A day that could be filled with joyous thoughts of You and all You provide. I am asking You to teach me to let go of any preconceived notions of all that may or may not take place today.

Let go. Surrender. Allow You to truly be Lord and God of my life.

The longest day of the year is a good day to start again. Thank You for winding me back to Your Word. Romans 8 particularly. The Spirit's Power; Life in the Spirit. Verse two, “For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.”

The Message says it this way, “The Solution Is Life on God's Terms Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air; freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.”

So here goes with my latest attempt at letting You truly be the God of my life. I struggle Father. There was unrealistic bar of excellence that was set, but rarely modeled, for me years ago. Although I recognize it as not being able to be met by me, I still find myself making the futile attempts toward it.

Thank You that even in confessing that I get to once again turn to Matthew 11:28-30 and shed the tears that too often stay locked inside. “Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.'”

Submission and Rest is the title of a devotion for Step 3 (“We made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God”) in The Life Recovery Bible. The final paragraph brings it all home for me.

“Taking on a yoke implies being united to another in order to work together. Those who are yoked together must go in the same direction; by doing so, their work is made considerably easier. When we finally decide to submit our life and our will to God's direction, our burdens will become manageable. When we let Him do the driving, we will 'find rest' for our soul. He knows the way and has the strength to turn us around and get us on the road toward recovery.”

Blessed Father God, I believe this to be true! I know You to be good. Merciful. Generous. Kind.

Thank You that I get to come to You confessing my own tendency to burden myself and others with unrealistic expectations. Yoke me securely to You today that I will truly follow Your lead. I absolutely desire to let go of my own plans and embrace Yours for me.

I love You Father. I thank You Jesus. I ask You Holy Spirit to do in and through me all that I am completely incapable of being, desiring, thinking and doing on my own. Truly have Your way with me. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(583 words ~ 8:02 a.m.)

a good work

Friday, June 20, 2014 (7:11 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

We have business to finish around here. Many things have been left undone. I inadvertently put You to a test just a while ago. I experimented with surrendering and reaped the benefits of truly letting go. I'd like to get better at this. I'm looking to You to teach me.

It's exciting to look to You again with eager anticipation. It's been far too long. Thank You Father for changing my heart. My soul. My mind. And yes Lord, even my strength! You are doing a work in me. A work that is real. A work that is good.

And with that? A song! Related to Philippians 1:6. Blessed Father God, how I do thank You for the very good work You do in us!

♫He who began a good work in you... Will be faithful to complete it♫

Throughout the Truth and praise sung here I am reminded that You are faithful. There will be struggles. Hope replaced with despair. The process long. Our songs lost in the night.

Thank You that I am not alone in my experience with life in this world. Thank You also for those who have come along to help us remember ♫You can be sure that the Lord Has His hand on you Safe and secure He will never abandon You. You are His treasure And He finds His pleasure in you♫

Great rhyme. Greater Truth!

I can't imagine me being Your treasure OR Your pleasure. But I am willing to believe it because Your Word says so! Psalm 139:17-18 present Your thoughts of me as being too numerous to count.

Although I absolutely don't understand or comprehend Your generosity and grace, thank You for the willingness to fully accept and appreciate them.

Thank You Father for loving me. Thank You for renewing my spirit. Thank You for refreshing my mind. And thank You especially for reminding me that all my strength is in You Lord.

Mmm, another song. A nice way to start the day.

♫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 You with all of my strength. With all of my life With all of my strength All of my hope is in You♫

Keep reminding me Blessed God. Do all You must to truly make me Your pleasure and Your treasure. I love You so very much. I want desperately to glorify and enjoy You. Forever! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(440 words ~ 9:54 a.m.)

willing to be willing

Thursday, June 19, 2014 (6:20 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You! Truly. I cannot thank You enough. Being willing to be willing yesterday afforded me interests and energy I haven't experienced in such a long while. I ask You to continue Your work in me again this day.

Becoming willing allowed me a lightness of spirit. Much was accomplished. A sense of genuine teamwork between the household's two principal players was reignited.

You provided me the courage it took to confess some long held blame and bitterness. The air is truly starting to clear. There is a sense of order. Hope. Why? I finally came back from my side-trip to Stupid!

So much is said in Your Word about being foolish. How I ask that You would keep me entirely away from foolishness today. I want to honor You. Glorify You. Enjoy You. Make it so blessed Father. Make me so.

Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(157 words ~ 6:52 a.m.)

willingness

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 (6:44 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! You're working in me. Sweetening my stinky spirit. Softening my stiffened heart. Helping me sing songs to You I've not been willing to sing. You are doing for me all I have not been able to do for myself. Thank You Father. Bless You. Praise You!

Thank You that Your Word never changes. My attitude does. And with it, my willingness. Thank You that Your love for me (1John 4:19) has absolutely nothing to do with my ability to love You as I want, yet am far too often unable.

You are so very good. So kind. I don't intend to take Your loving nature for granted but I know I do exactly that. Thank You for everything You do in bringing us around to Your way, no matter how far away we stray.

For the first time in oh so very long, I woke up singing this morning. Very gently. Almost unnoticeably. So quietly I practically missed them. Two separate songs. Both sung in church this past Sunday. The first was left over from having been dismissed by me yesterday. ♫Our God♫

I had only three words of the second song. Three words that were evidently all that I needed. “Shine Your light”. Oh yes Father. Thank You! You DID ♫Shine Your light and let the whole world see, we're singing for the glory of the risen King. Saviour, He can move the mountains My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save♫

Those initial three words buoyed me to consider all I have been unwilling to do on my own around here. And to start. A sink was scrubbed. Dishes done. A few things put away. How? You reminded me of the importance of me be willing. I must be honest. Open. Willing.

I confess to refusing to open myself up to You. Why? Fear! It reared its ugly head again. I started looking at all the things that are wrong instead of what it is right. I wanted to protect myself from disappointment.

It NEVER works! Try as I may, I am not able. YOU are!!!

Thank You for bringing me back to Your Word. One section in The Message speaks volumes to my opening heart right now.

Galatians 5:22-23, “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.”

None of these 'fruit of the Spirit' can I attain on my own. “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (NLT).

Stiffening my back and my heart will not allow the Spirit to produce good fruit in me. Closing myself off in fear and an attempt of self-preservation only yields more pain and loneliness.

Father, how grateful I am that even as I was going to consider more of this section (Freedom to Live Love Illustrated Bible Handbook) “Mighty to Save” started singing in me again.

♫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, and now I surrender... Saviour, He can move the mountains My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save♫

Yes. You are! Save me to Your good and Your glory this day. Do in and through me all those things I want, but as yet am unable to do and say and think and be on my own. You alone art worthy! You alone are able. I can't. You can. I will let You! Today. Right now. I am willing to let You be God of and in my life!

Thank You Father. Praise You. Bless You. Continue Your blessed work in turning me into the woman You alone created me to be. I love You and I long to serve You well! Thank You. I love You. Amen.   

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

likeness

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 (6:37 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You are good. You are holy. You are in charge. You are all the things we can never be. Yet we are made in Your likeness (Genesis 1:27).

Your best

Monday, June 16, 2014 (6:48 a.m.)

Holy Father,

Once again I ask You, forgive me please. I've been absent. Intentionally. I have a problem. I keep comparing. Harshly. Negatively. I absolutely do not feel worthy of Your kindnesses. Your mercies. Your blessings.

Yet, I continue in a hard-nosed stance. “Dukes” practically up at all times. Ready. Prepared. To fight at every possible windmill that comes my way.

This is not Your best for me. Hm. Your best. Yes. Please. Let's talk together about Your best. I've succeeded in making a pretty good mess about myself.

I've been feeling disappointed. Disillusioned. Disheartened. Down. And instead of bringing any of it to You, I've tried pretending it away. If I don't think about it, it won't really be as bad as I have built it up in my mind anyway.

Well, here I am pleading “June gloom”! Only it's not the weather. It's me. My attitude. My own disposition. All truth be told, I've not been satisfied. With myself. My circumstances. Oh, and here's the clear hard truth. Wait for it. Clear my throat. You.

How can I even say that? How can a person be so completely blessed and not be satisfied with all You have provided?

Because I have been horribly wasteful. I choose fear over faith more often than not and it saps my energies. I give up far more than I persevere. I continue attempting things in my own strength and power instead of leaning into and depending on [spelled here TRUSTING!] You for my every need.

You, Dearest Father, know my every flaw and foible (Psalm 139:1). And still You love me. Thank You.

Thank You for bringing me back to reading Your Word. Thank You for reminding me that I am created in Your image (Genesis 1:27). You delight in me (Psalm 149:4). For the life of me, today I can't see why. But I choose to believe You!

I choose to stand on Your Word. Your promises. I realize I am to trust You, NOT circumstances! I want to look to You instead of myself. Your best is so far greater than anything I could ever begin to imagine. How I ask You to guide my every shaky step toward Your path of holy righteousness.

I love You Father. I apologize for the blaming doubt with which I have been avoiding You. Thank You for ever welcoming us back when we answer Your call to repentance (Zephaniah 2:1-3).

I confess to You Blessed Father, I do not believe myself worthy of Your blessings. I ask You to work Your will in me that I would ultimately rise to the challenge of day to day life here. I no longer want to live a life of complacency. You have given me far too much for me to behave so lackadaisically.

I love You. I want that to be evident in every single thing I am, share, think and do this day. That can only happen by You working Your best in and with, by and for me. I invite You in (Revelation 3:20) to do exactly that.

Thank You for loving and guiding me. Do all You must that I will become all You want. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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

Mainstay

Tuesday, June 10, 2014 (6:44 a.m.)

Holy, Loving God,

Thank You for all You are. Thank You that You love each of us unconditionally. Whether we think we're deserving of such love or not, You love us. Wow! Thank You.

Thank You that even while my head and my heart have appeared attached to other interests, You are my mainstay. My central component. That on which everything else is built. My anchor. Foundation. Base.

Blessed Father, things are a bit off around here. There seems to be an air of infighting. Hidden conflict as to how to do things best. I have not been up to the task. Neither my heart nor my head have been in the game. It is always easiest for me to cave. To give up.

That can't be Your best for me. For us. We've yet to identify the problem. Much less work together to resolve it. It remains unspoken. Unnamed. But discord is present nonetheless.

I bring us to You Blessed Jesus. Our hearts. Our souls. Our minds. Our strength. Asking that You would take us just as we are ♫without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me♫ I love when You guide and direct my thinking.

Left on my own, I build wild case scenarios. Turning to You, coming into Your presence I am reminded that when we come to You, never will You reject us (John 6:37). How incredible I find that every single time I even begin to come in Your direction I get to follow You somewhere else.

♫On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand♫ How tremendously grateful I am that Your Word remains True. I can stay away. Refuse to come before You. Yet every single time I decide to turn to You, no matter how brief or interrupted, You invite me to come. Into Your very presence.

“Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light'” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Finally! A willingness to see a prayer to its end. With all the starts and stops I've encountered this past week, how I thank You for the privilege and opportunity to stay to 'find rest in Your gentle care' (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

A few days ago I was reminded that it is “'not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' saith the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). I confess to continuing to try to harness that power. Thank You for reminding me that You've got this!

And here I get to come full circle, back to where I was reading yesterday. Verse seven, “Obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you. You will rebuild the Temple, and as you put the last stone [cornerstone; mainstay] in place, the people will shout, 'Beautiful, beautiful!'”

I believe You to be my strength. How do I surrender enough to allow You to work Your Truth in and through, with and for me to the good of Your grace and Your glory? Get me out of Your way that Your will be done!

This I pray, asking wholeheartedly, let me know You as my Mainstay this day. I love You. I thank You. I need You. I trust You. I want You. Amen.

(590 words ~ 8:01 a.m.)

"You're good, Lord!"

Monday, June 9, 2014 (3:32 p.m.)

Hmmm...

Maybe THIS is the problem with my currently stinky attitude! Just look at the time. As well as the date of the last time I really sat down alone with You.

Hmmm...

Yeah, that could have a lot more to do with all the grumbling and growling taking place around here than anything else.

Forgive me Father. Forgive the snippy, snipey, snarky, irritable behavior going on in our home right now. It is absolutely not Your best for us. It is old patterns. Old behaviors. Worn out, useless words. Most of them being thought of and muttered by me.

Forgive me for taking a truly wonderful time away and turning it into a battleground of any kind. Truly Father, I absolutely don't know how the various unkindnesses could have been bypassed.

You keep speaking Truth into my heart. It isn't falling on deaf ears. And every single time I end up in tears. Thank You Father. Deep, cleansing tears!

(4:41 p.m.)

Let me just say, “You're good, Lord!” You are really good!

I've known this all along. But here I am again. Reading in the book of Zechariah. Specifically 4:6.

struggle

Thursday, June 5, 2014 (7:32 a.m.)

Friday, June 6, 2014 (7:01 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Awesome God,

Thank You. You provided us an opportunity to meet new people and experience different things.

(10:09 a.m.)

And I have struggled all week long!  

lead

Tuesday, June 3, 2014 (10:19 a.m.)

Donner Memorial State Park

Holy, Blessed, Loving Father God,

Thank You. Thank You for the blessings You provide for us every single day. New mercies that fall afresh every morning (Lamentations 3:23).

(4:03 p.m.)

Southeast side of Donner Lake

And we're back!

Thank You. It's been a fun-filled, action-packed day. A campsite breakfast of bacon and eggs. Complete with toast. Amazing. How do people think of such things?

There were a few walks and several bike rides taken. A monument looked at and respectfully considered. All the while I've had You at the forefront.

Forefront. Lead. Jeremiah 31. Promised hope. Water. What a delightful combination! “Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and not stumble...” (v.9).

Mention Your leadership beside water and I am there! The Life Recovery Bible has this comment to make, “God paints a joyful picture of recovery, with all the elements of repentance, sorrow, forgiveness, laughter, restoration, and hope. Once again God's people would follow His plan for them, and He would receive their worship and praise. We can experience this kind of restoration, too.”

That truly IS what is happening to me this very week. I sacrificed time alone with You repeatedly for the instant gratification of doing what I wanted (finish a novel). I rebelled against You, even as I saw the outcome. I repented and here we are. Together. At the water's edge. With You once again leading me in Your Word.

Thank You Father. Thank You that I get to decide to let You lead me. “We start the process by admitting our need for God's healing power in our life. God desires to rebuild His relationship with each of us, no matter how far we have strayed from Him. He delights in finding new ways to exhibit His love to those who belong to Him.”

Thank You for delighting in anything that has to do with me! What I ask You this moment is that You would teach me how to delay gratification. Keep working in me that I would truly come to honor and respect enough being enough.

I love You Father. I believe I can never get enough of You. Use me well I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(398 words ~ 4:52 p.m.)

  

reconnecting

Monday, June 2, 2014 (1:56 p.m.)

Donner Lake, CA

Most Holy and Awesome God,

Again I say, “Forgive me please!” A more penitent and contrite person I could not be. Thank You that we are allowed into Your presence the moment we are willing to reconnect with You. You didn't leave my side. I left Yours.

For days I haven't understood my sadness. I thought it the health concerns of friends and loved ones. Another option was the changes taking place in a place so dear to my heart. Nagging at the back of my heart was my continued refusal to let You in.

How ironic and wonderful that even in using those words right now, I am brought to Jesus' revelation to John on the island of Patmos. “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends” (Revelation 3:20).

It was the verse immediately prior that I was turning to find. “I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference” (v. 19). Thank You Jesus for Your precious, tender care of our very human hearts.

Thinking I could find blissful satisfaction in a day of self-indulgence did not yield me the joy I had anticipated. Sacrificing our time together was such a wrong decision. Thank You that it only took me two days to realize how far my soul had drifted from our regular meetings. Forgive me that it DID take me three to come back!

Thank You that I get to sit here, buoyed by peaceful surroundings. Nodding at various people. And asking even more wholeheartedly than last we spoke, that You will ready me for new and different experiences.

I love You Father. I thank You. And I ask You to use me well the remainder of this day. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(331 words ~ 2:50 p.m.)

new and different

Friday, May 30, 2014 (6:20 a.m.)

June Lake Loop, CA

Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You for beauty. Thank You for new and different experiences.