an overwhelming sense of calm

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 (7:13 a.m.)

Holy, Blessed Father God,

You are working mightily behind our scenes. Tasks are being accomplished. Attitudes are good. It's all You at work. And I am grateful! Guide me in our time together this morning. Where in Your Word would You have me learn this morning?

I got stung by a bee yesterday. It all seemed rather ordinary. Without glasses on I mistook it for a pebble and placed my hand right on it. My very calm first thought was about how much sharper the stone was than I had expected. The I felt more pain. Saw the stinger. Watched my finger swell and turn red.

Through it all was that overwhelming sense of calm. Following first aid training, I flicked the stinger off with a piece of hard plastic. Applied a cold compress using several pieces of ice. All was well and good for several hours.

And then? Return of the swelling. Pain. Stiffness. Discoloration. And now? A white dot. Signifying infection? A piece of the stinger still inside? And all of this with the overwhelming sense of calm.

Yep. That's You. At work. In us. Providing an overwhelming sense of calm right in the middle of things not going as expected. A very prominent reminder that things are going to BEE exactly what they are supposed to BEE.

You are in charge. One Bible verse that refers to this truth is found in the book of Joshua. A book written “to reveal the importance of trusting and obeying God in the difficulty process of achieving both physical and spiritual goals” (The Life Recovery Bible THE BOTTOM LINE PURPOSE:).

Taking a very playful liberty here, I smile as I quote Your words to Joshua (1:9), “I command you – BEE strong and courageous! Do not BEE afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Blessed Father God, how I thank You for Your presence. Your comfort. Your guidance. BEE with us this day as we go out to do Your will. In YOUR way! I love You and thank You. Amen.

(354 words ~ 8:27 a.m.)

be direct

Memorial Monday, May 25, 2015 (5:52 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Good morning. I have a cough. Very little voice. And quite a bit scheduled for the day. Rather than jump right into it all, I'm asking [seeking, knocking – Matthew 7:7] Your guidance here.

Mm, yes Father. I am looking right to You asking how best to proceed from here.

The Message tells us, “Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matthew 7:7-11).

Be direct. Hmm. I don't think I know how to do that. Ask for what I need? That entails figuring out what that is.

Father, I'm confessing to not wanting to be direct because I don't want to risk being disappointed. I also don't want to appear selfish. With all that's going on in the world, do I really want to bother you with a cough and very little voice?

Yes. But no. See? I waffle back and forth. The 'weirdness' I feel going on in my head and parts of my body dates back more than a week. There's a ton of self-recrimination going on here. Had I only eaten better, exercised more none of this would be happening...

So here I am, a product of my own mismanagement asking You to fix what I have not taken proper care of. How do I not bargain with You? Just come right out and say, “I don't feel good. Please make me better.”? When the truth really is I have felt better. I haven't made great choices and I think I'm only suffering the consequences of my own poor judgment.

What a can of worms I seem to have right here. That whole vicious cycle of 'I have not because I ask not' (James 4:2b-3) starts to come to light in chapter one. “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking” (James 1:5).

It's what follows that causes me to shrink back in self-recognition. “But when you ask Him, be sure you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do (James 1:6-8).

That's me right there. I want to feel better. But I don't ask You 'cause what if You tell me to do something I don't want to do? How indirect is that? So, getting my will out of Your way truly I am asking You to lead and guide me through this entire day.

Set my schedule to Yours. Provide exactly what is needed for success in the undertakings we have planned. Well oil the machine that will bring glory and honor to Your name. When all is said and done it is You I want to glorify and enjoy forever. Too often I forget that.

Yes, Father. Thank You for reminding me that our everyday plans here are not near as important as eternity with You. I love You. I want to honor You. Teach me. Guide me. Show me. How direct is that? 

The day is Yours. Use me in it as You wish. I Love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

 (640 words ~ 7:28 a.m.) 

acceptance

Sunday, May 24, 2015 (6:46 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

How I thank You for the opportunity of coming before You asking You to teach me more about acceptance. I love You. I appreciate Your willingness to work in, with, by, for and through each of us. You are good. Blessed. Holy.

Thank You that there is never a time that we are to hesitate coming to You. I don't have to love enough. Be enough. Know enough. Try enough. I just get to come. Asking to be taught.

This morning three different sections of Scripture are speaking to me. Psalm 19:11-14. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. And Matthew 11:28-30. I read each. Hoping. Delighting. Wanting to know You more.

The Message tells us, “God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries” (Psalm 19:10). Mm... I believe that!

“There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?” (vs.11-12a). How indeed?

“Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over Your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin” (12b-13). How blessed we are to be able to approach You with such honesty!

“These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar” (14). Thank You God that You ARE our Altar-Rock! Thank You for these words of the Psalmist.

The Life Recovery Bible comments, “Adhering to God's laws will produce wholeness in our life. Applying God's Truth revives our inner being and gives insight – even to the least of us – into how we should live. His Word is not a burden that robs us of the good things of life (Matthew 11:29-30). Instead, it transforms us and replaces our discouragement with joy.”

Blessed Father, how I thank You for the Truth I find in You Word! Encouraging Truth!

“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).

I trust that. Believe it. Hope it. Want it.

Mm, and now thoughts from the Preacher/Teacher (Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 The Message). “[Make the Most of What God Gives] After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live.”

And The Life Recovery Bible? “Here we see an alternative to materialism: Celebrate the beauty of God's gift of life and its simple pleasures. Being healthy and content with what we have are gifts from God... The celebration and enjoyment of life are extremely important. The process of recovery is often very painful. We need to take the time to enjoy life's simple pleasures to gain strength for the battles we face.”

Thank You Father, that we have You, Your Son, Your Word to turn to every single time we have need of acceptance. Whether it be accepting things we cannot change or being accepted for who and what and all we are.

Oh how I love and thank You. Work with us again this day. Making us into all You would have us be. We love You. We want You. And we thank You. So much. Amen.

(706 words ~ 7:50 a.m.)

re-

Saturday, May 23, 2015 (8:04 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy, Father God,

Thank You! Thank You for rest. And time. And ease. Thank You for opportunity to pause. Reflect. Renew. Replenish. Restore.

Hmm... re- “once more; afresh; anew”. Mm, Father. Thank You! There is a peace about me. A deeply rooted sense of calm that comes only from experience with You.

(10:49 a.m.)

How I thank You for 'Your peace which truly passes all understanding and guards our hearts and thoughts through Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:7). Thank You for the privilege of breathing deeply and wholly in Your presence.

As I examine the many translations of Your Word for Romans 12:2, I find the King James Version to be the one with which I am most familiar. “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

It is, however, the J.B. Phillips New Testament that speaks loudest to me right now. I confess to not regularly living as a sacrifice as pleaded by Paul in verse one. There are the rare occasions. But it's when Your peacefulness settles around me as it has this morning that my desire to serve You more obediently grows.

“We have seen God's mercy and wisdom: how shall we respond? 12 1-2 With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”

Oh Dearest Dad, from Paul's pen to Your eyes on my behalf! Intelligent worship. Living sacrifice. Consecrated. Acceptable. Re-moulded mind. True maturity.

I've said it before, Blessed Father, “Sign me up!” You, Your Son and His Holy Spirit are able to do with me all that I cannot.

Just look at how The Message transcribes Paul's words to the people of Ephesus. “God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Work away, I pray. Work away! Thank You in advance for all You are continuing to do on behalf of making me into the woman of Yours that You would have me be. I love You so incredibly much. And I am truly, joyfully, peacefully grateful. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(466 words ~ 11:19 a.m.)

loving God

Friday, May 22, 2015 (7:14 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

I love You. It's easy to say. But what does it mean? Hmm... I'm going to be completely honest here and tell You, I don't really know.

Thank You that I get to be that honest with You. Thank You that we don't have to hedge ourselves when coming before You.

Thank You that because You are all we are not, we are able to put our focus on You and wonder. That is exactly what I am prepared to do right now. Wonder what it is to truly love You.

Be with me in this quest. Guide my seeking and my finding (Matthew 7:7). Even as I look up the meanings of various words, I see You at the base of them. Wonder. Marvel. Be amazed. Be astonished. Stand in awe. Be dumbfounded. Gape. Goggle.

Really? Goggle? Yep! “Look with wide open eyes, typically in amazement or wonder”. And I do. When I consider what all You have done for us. How You have taken us so far from the people we used to be, to who we are becoming. What's not to love?

And that's what I keep coming back to. Wanting to love You more. Better. Freely. Obediently. First. Most. Hungrily. Insatiably. Yes Father. As easy as it is to say I love You, what does it really mean to put those words into action?

Show me this day. Teach me what loving You is really all about. Put my actions where my words are. I love You. Make it visible. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(269 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)

lost for words

Thursday, May 21, 2015 (6:41 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You for sparks of excitement. I've been aware of them for several days. Words like: awestruck, eager, agog have once again filled my vocabulary. This time however it has been celebrity oriented. With my own thoughts of You at the base.

Crowds of people. Standing. Staring. Following. Asking. Watching. Waiting. Taking liberties. All for chance sightings of big named superstars. Thank You that in the midst of it all, even as I stood tippy-toed to watch as well, none of it excited me as much as seeing our son.

It all happened so fast. One moment he was nowhere to be found. The next? Back row, center stage. And then, just as quick, gone from view. All the days of practice and preparation, completed in just over one minute. Thank You for the recording we have that allows me to follow his every on screen movement.

It's moments like these that I liken to the multitudes who crowded around Your Son. Desperate to hear His teachings. To follow His lead. Be healed by His touch. How I thank You that what is to come [His return] is so much more important than the filming of a popular morning TV show.

Just thinking of the event continues to bring tears to my eyes. How I thank You for showing me the difference between having been star-struck, which I was not, and being awestruck, which I clearly was. I stood open-mouthed. Amazed. Lost for words. And grateful. To You. Always to You Dearest Dad.

I get as caught up in the excitement of celebrating the anniversary of an iconic amusement park as the next person. But there again, at the very base of it, is always the wonder of what it will truly be like when we're all clambering to see Jesus.

That's the line I want to wait in! “When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet Him” (Mark 9:15 New Living Translation).

There are events in this life that leave me lost for words. It's YOU that I truly want to be excited, agog, awestruck about.

Work in me Father. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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

use me

Wednesday, May 20, 2015 (6:47 a.m.)

Holy God,

How I love You! Gratefully. Thankfully. Reservedly. Selfishly. So many different ways. And how am I called to love You? 'With all of my heart, soul, mind and strength' (Mark 12:30).

I confess to You. I don't! Some of them? Yes. Absolutely. All? Uh-uh. No. Not ever. Thank You that even in reviewing what Jesus referred to as “the most important commandment” (v. 29) I get to tell You how messed up my thinking is.

Following the footnotes for this section of Scripture back to Deuteronomy 6:4-5, I read about the charge of the Israelites to teach their children (v. 7). Blessed Father, I come before You having missed the lessons growing up.

Illustrated Bible Handbook ends its THEOLOGY IN BRIEF Education, OT with this Truth. “Living within a community of adults who love God, who live His Word, and who take time to share that Word with children, each new generation would come to know the Lord in a personal way.”

Because that is not descriptive of my experience, I honestly feel as though I have been attempting to make up my walk with You as I go along. The words flawed, imperfective, skewed keep coming to mind. How incredibly grateful I am to You for the ANTONYMS supplied for each. Flawless. Complete. Sound.

Those are words describing You. Thank You that regardless of all our mistakes, You remain perfect. Because of Your infinite love for each of us, we get to continuously come before You (John 6:37). Exactly as we are.

Teach me. Train me. Guide me. Lead me. Use me as only You can. I love You. And I thank You. Amen.

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

obey

Tuesday, May 19, 2015 (6:03 a.m.)

Holy God,

(6:46 a.m.)

I sit. Think. Wonder. Avoid. Yes. I am avoiding You. Mm, thank You that I even get to tell You that. As much as I want to praise and worship and adore You, I mope and withdraw and ignore instead.

Father, there is sadness. Deeply rooted. Always has been. Show me. Teach me. Train me. Shake me. Do all You must to lead me exactly where You want me to go.

Ugh! And here's that word again... obedience. Followed by protests and whines from my heart and soul.

Thank You for the privilege of stomping my foot before You. Claiming that You just don't understand. I've gotten disillusioned again. And in so doing, my hope has waned. I don't want to obey. Because the likelihood of things turning out as I plan is small.

If I hope, I'll be disappointed. Again. So just refuse. How dumb is that?

Father, thank You that I get to share my heart with You. I don't have to keep trying to hide my thoughts and dispiritedness from You. You know them all full well anyway.

For all these many years I have claimed the phrase, “I can't. God can. I'll let Him.” Just now I wondered if “I won't. God will...” might be more fitting.

There are so many things I am able to do, yet I refuse. Rather than be grateful, I grouse. Instead of praising, I condemn. These thoughts, words and (in)actions aren't always intentional. They seem so much more like a knee jerk reaction.

I'm telling You straight out. I don't want to obey. I'm tired of trying. Every time I think I'm on the right road, there it is, up ahead, another mistake just waiting to happen. I don't know how to truly handle disappointment.

I pretend. I refuse. I withdraw. Please, Father, change me right here where I am. Take my mustard seed of faith (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6) and use it to move my self-imposed mountain of unwillingness. Do in and with, by, for and through me all that I either can't or won't on my own.

Yes Father, make me willing. Eager. To obey. Uh! ♫Change my heart oh God, Make it ever true. Change my heart oh God, May I be like You. You are the Potter, I am the clay, Mold me and make me, This is what I pray♫

I do! I do pray that You will make me obedient to Your will, not my own. Make me ready, willing and able to obey You as I ought.

I love You. And I thank You. Praise You. Worship You. Adore You. Thank You for helping me smile and WANT... You! 

Use me as only You can. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

the power of powerlessness

Monday, May 18, 2015 (7:21 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

At this very moment my thoughts keep turning to growls and self-reproaches. I made a mistake the other night. Didn't correctly save a prayer I had written out to You. That, of course, doesn't mean that You don't still know what all my heart was saying.

Mm, it just speaks to how often and easily I find things to be upset about. Father, I want to live joyously. Lovingly. Kindly. Optimistically. It takes a lot of work. Work I'm still not prepared to do wholeheartedly.

Thank You that You are available to show and teach and love and forgive. Thank You that every single time I remember to turn to You, confessing my powerlessness, I find hope. Power. Strength. Sometimes it's just a drop. And others? A flood.

Thank You Father. You know our every need. You are fully aware of our flaws and imperfections. I don't have to be ashamed or embarrassed by them. I get to confess them all to You.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (Common English Bible).

f-a-i-t-h

Sunday, May 17, 2015 (6:18 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

Speak with me this morning about faith, would You please? You know, the f-orsaking a-ll I t-rust H-im I claim to have. That kind of faith that believes even when there seems to be a hint of doubt.

Father, You know that I love You. Love You with a trust and understanding that I often can't articulate. I believe at times because it seems so much easier than to doubt.

And aren't You just awesome? I'm asking and here's a hymn I don't know. Trials, failed plans, temptations, hurt feelings, all mentioned in ♫We Will Understand It Better By and By♫ How I thank You Faithful Father.

I get to wonder about all the many things that go on in my head and You are never daunted by my thoughts and questions. You stay ever fast. Firm. Faithful. Thank You.

Thank You that we have plans this morning. Plans that were originally my idea. Plans that I don't necessarily still want to follow through with. Plans that take me outside of my comfortable little cocoon.

I'm confessing to You right now that I have fallen right back into staying inside. Detaching. And isn't it just like You to hear me and to answer right here where I am!

Starting out this morning by searching the phrase “faith not seen is faith believed”, I went straight to Hebrew 11:1. Reading The Nature of Faith; 11:1-2,6 and The Evidence of Faith; 11:3-40 (Illustrated Bible Handbook) I followed down the page to Chapter 12:1-13. Discipline.

Here my eyes filled with tears as I read again of Your discipline always being loving (6). A family matter (7,8). Purposive (10). Effective (11).

Father, how I thank You for calling and guiding me to Your Word. Thank You for the needs I have that only You can fill. Thank You that the more I read in this section of Hebrews (now in chapter 10) the more hope stirs again to life inside me and the more tears fall from my eyes.

Only You can bring about this deeply seeded hope. There are so many times I clamp down. Putting the kibosh on any degree of getting my hopes up. You deserve much better than that. You called me here to time completely alone with You. I know that. I trust it. Believe it.

Now I am asking that Your Word, Your Truth, Your hope would be made manifest in me. Illustrated Bible Handbook tells me, “God's discipline calls for response. Rather than becoming listless or falling into paralyzed inactivity, we are to continue vigorously on, sure that the discipline will not disable us but bring healing.”

I believe that! I do. I trust You to do in and through, by, for and with me all the things I am absolutely unable to do on my own. That is why I have the courage to ask You to ready me this day. Bring about the fulfillment of Your Word.

Under A Call to Persevere (Hebrews 10:19-24) I read, “And so dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus... And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting Him... Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.”

Yes! Please! Teach me the fine art of encouraging others in Your love. Use me as You wish. Replace my fearfulness with faith. All faith. Hope. Trust. In You and all You want for us. I love You Dearest Dad. Help me live this day as though I believe that. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(650 words ~ 7:39 a.m.)

trusting God

Saturday, May 16, 2015 (7:25 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Good morning. I haven't looked outside yet. I have no idea what I'm missing by having the shades drawn. What a difference it makes to hear but not see the goings-on outdoors. Thank You for a completely unfamiliar way with which to approach You this morning.  

stability

Friday, May 15, 2015 (7:39 a.m.)

Holy Father,

It's beautiful outside. Varying shades and shapes of cloudiness. Mountaintops sticking through here and there. Truly beautiful.

Thank You Father. Thank You for the fluctuation we have in the weather. And the stability we experience in You.

(8:42 a.m.)

Mm. Thank You for the faint smile of contentment I have as I consider the stability we have in You. Reading Your Word, depending on Your promises. Thank You for the privilege of trusting and resting in the Truth of Your love for each of us.

Jeremiah 33:6 (The Voice) speaks of You lavishing the people of Judah with an “abundance of peace and stability.” Other versions use the words, “truth, security, reliability, faithfulness, safety”. Mm, thank You for the feelings of calm and hope that overtake me as I rest in You.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for the whole of this chapter [33:1-26 Promises of Peace and Prosperity] says, “When life seems like an unstable disaster, there is one thing we can count on: God is committed to us and to our recovery. He has promised to never abandon us. No matter how gray our life may be, no matter how dark the future seems, our loving and faithful God can heal us, restore our hope, and lead us toward recovery. As we trust Him with our disappointments, failures, sins, and confusions, we will find Him faithful to comfort, forgive, and guide us.”

That is my reality with You. Stretching here just a bit, I praise You and give You all the glory for the successful completion of another level of piano practice. After nearly four months of struggling, the very same day I brought it before You with requests to others for prayer on my behalf as well, the performance was completed in less than an hour.

While being keenly aware of the pounding and racing of my heart, You brought me success. Standing firmly on James' words (4:2c) to Your believers, I trusted that I had not because I asked not.

I confess to finding it all somewhat self-serving. So this I also give to You. Sift the wheat of my thinking from the chaff (Jeremiah 23:28). Keep only what is Truth. Grow me in Your goodness and Your grace. I love You. And I long to represent You well. Do all You must. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(401 words ~ 10:21 a.m.)

heart's desire

Thursday, May 14, 2015 (7:27 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Just over six hours ago You reminded me of how much I have not been relying on You. You're right, of course! I have absolutely slipped back to trying to do things on my own. With my understanding. In my strength. And based on fear.

This is not Your way. You work out of love. Not fear. Your understanding and strength, not mine. Speak to me of these things. I have Your Word at the ready. Show me all You want me to know. Please.

At one o'clock this morning I was recounting to You my heart's desire of learning to play the piano so much better than I do. This is not a passing fancy. It's a dream [goal, wish, hope, intention...] that has spanned every single decade of my life thus far. What to do?

I've tried. And wished. Struggled. Prayed. Cried. Practiced. Hurt. Quit. Come back. Tried more. And still? Frustration!

So. I bring it to You. My heart's desire. How perfectly appropriate that the Bible verses (Psalm 37:4-5) I am currently leaning into direct me straight to the CHILDREN'S HYMNS section of The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration.

Father, thank You! Thank You that You know my child-like heart. You know the deepest desires that lie within there. You are the One who is intimately involved in my wanting, my thinking, my being and my doing (Mark 12:30). It's You I long to glorify. So how?

How best do I ♫Commit Thy Way to the Lord, trust also in Him. Commit thy way unto the Lord, and He will bring it to pass♫? I confess, I truly don't know how best to continue.

I want. I try. I fail, more than I succeed. I try again. Impatience grows. And tears ultimately follow. Comments for Psalm 37 help encourage me to continue.

Illustrated Bible Handbook, “David exhorts patience and trust when pressures come. The theme 'wait for the Lord' is repeated, with warnings against hasty action.”

The Life Recovery Bible, “We need to do things that have lasting value – faithfully serving God and helping the people around us. God's formula for our success is that we develop a relationship with Him and determine to serve Him in everything we do. Then, in God's perfect timing, we will experience the true joy God promises and freedom from the guilt heaped upon us by others.”

And this includes learning to play the piano without pain? Both internally and externally? Am I taking liberties with Your Word that I ought, or ought not?

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you” (Psalm 37:4-5). Even musical improvement?

Father, how I ask You to hear my childhood's heart desire. I want to play the piano as easily as I breathe and swim.

(1:03 p.m.)

And now Dearest Dad, I have a request for our neighbors. Comfort their hurting hearts. A sudden, absolutely unexpected death of their much loved pet has us all mourning the loss of this endearing friend. No sense can be made of it by us. Bless and keep them Dear Father. He will be sorely missed.

Father, thank You that we have You to turn to with our every hearts' desires. Always. You are ever faithful in You attentiveness to our every need. We turn to You Dear God. Always to You.

Thank You. Guide and direct me the rest of this day. I love You. And long to serve You well. Thank You. Amen.

(602 words ~ 1:10 p.m.)

All the time, God is good

Wednesday, May 13, 2015 (6:26 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

There was much excitement in my thinking just earlier. Awakened several times by varying thoughts. Thank You Father that You were there guiding them.

I know I was excited. Agog actually. And now I confess, I no longer remember the thread of thinking I had going before me.

Father, thank You that nothing is lost to You. Thank You that I once again experienced the eager excitement of spending time alone with You. Father, You are good. All the time, You are good! Thank You for that.

Thank You that we get to come before You. “Sometimes mean”. Sometimes lost. Scared. Alone. It doesn't matter how we are. What matters most is all You are! Father, thank You.

Use me this day to remember and to remind others that all the time, You are good. You are good, all the time!

I am experiencing huge emotions this morning. One moment, fine. The next, tears. Thank You that with You there is “no variation” (James 1:17c – American Standard Version). “No variableness” (King James Version). “In whose character there is no change at all” (Common English Bible).

Thank You that I get to look to You knowing, trusting, believing that You are “always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing” (Contemporary English Version). “No change, nor shadow of alteration” (Douay-Rhelms 1899 American Edition).

The Easy-to-Read Version tells us “Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from Him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from these lights. He is always the same.”

Always the same. Good... all the time! Father, empower and enable me in Your goodness. Make me into the woman You would have me be. Strong enough to overcome a reality check made by those who know me best.

I love You Father. And I truly long to serve You well. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(337 words ~ 8:04 a.m.)

God's awesomeness

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 (6:48 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You. I get to explore Your awesomeness. And in so doing, I join in the song of victorious deliverance that Moses and the people of Israel sang to You after their escape through the Red Sea. The escape that “took a mighty miracle” from You “and an act of faithfulness” by them (The Life Recovery Bible comment for Exodus 15:1-21).

Blessed Father, how I thank You for never wavering. Always staying steady and true to all You are. Thank You that because of the Truth of Your Word, I get to continually be amazed by Your sheer awesomeness.

Mm, Father, You give us reminders. Opportunities. Moments. And so many translations! Father, thank You for the men and women who have come through the ages transcribing Your Word for the masses. Thank You for their faithful service to You in keeping It holy and True.

This morning it's the New International Version of Exodus 15:11 that speaks most clearly to me. You worked a miracle on behalf of the Israelites and they remembered to thank You in song and rejoicing.

“Who among the gods is like You, LORD? Who is like You – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

The answer is unequivocal. None! Not one is like You. No one as majestic. Holy. Awesome. Glorious. Wonder-working.

Praise You Father. Thank You. For Who You are and all You do. You alone are worthy of all our praises. Use me in that vein this day. Praising. Thanking. Loving as You alone would have me love.

I DO love You. Make it obvious in my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Empower and enable me to share You freely and well. Thank You for Your awesomeness. An image in which we were each made (Genesis 1:26). Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(314 words ~ 7:47 a.m.)

Growth will come!

Monday, May 11, 2015 (7:37 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

You've given me a brand new day. With new opportunities. I was planning on saying struggles, but we'll see where opportunity takes us instead.

Right straight to Your Word. Your Truth. Your goodness. Your grace. “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters” (Galatians 6:10).

Hmm, would You just go figure? Thank You Father. My delicate, sensitive, baby-like feelings got hurt again yesterday. By a three year old's opinion of me. “Mean”. Mean? Yeah. “But sometime's good”. Really?

Okay. Okay. Get me out of Your way again. Work me through this one as well. The phrase, “firm but fair” comes to mind. As does the stomp of my foot and the “but I don't want to be the mean one” whine.

Thank You that I get to come pour my heart out to You, all the while attempting to be playful with the pain.

(12:13 p.m.)

And here I have another opportunity to breathe deeply, sit serenely and practice gratitude. Hm... thank You Father. Thank You for the opportunity to swim. And share. To stretch. And smile.

Thank You for providing me the opportunity to turn further into Your Word. Galatians 6:9-10 and Colossians 4:5-6 primarily.

“Man's inner transformation is never accomplished suddenly. It involves growth [and there IS growth in the struggle!]. Thus the encouragement to not become 'weary in well doing' is important. A full experience of the blessings of life in Christ will come 'at the proper time.' Our task is to 'do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers,' and realize that growth will come” Illustrated Bible Handbook, Dealing with Growth; [Galatians] 6:9,10.

Growth will come! How grateful I am to truly believe that yes, indeed, growth will come! Thank You Father.

Yes. I may very well be liked by a three-year-old “because sometimes she is mean and sometimes she is good.” But because of Your Son's great sacrifice on my behalf I am ALWAYS loved ~ by You!

Thank You too for Paul's encouragement to the believers at Colosse. He wrote “to show us that Christ is the only real source of power in our life” (The Life Recovery Bible THE BOTTOM LINE PURPOSE).

In so doing I have the reminder to “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Your speech should always be gracious and sprinkled with insight so that you may know how to respond to every person” (Colossians 4:5-6 Common English Bible).

Yes Lord! Grow me as You know is best. Use me as only You are able. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(12:40 p.m.)

a Mommy's heart

Mother's Day Sunday, May 10, 2015 (6:56 a.m.)

Holiest God,

Thank You. You made me a mom. Long before You gave me children of our own, You provided me a Mommy's heart. Thank You.

I don't really know where to go from here. Mm. Mary. Yes. Our ultimate example of motherhood. The “blessed by God above all other women” (Luke 1:42b).

Blessed Father, how I thank You for this opportunity to reflect on Jesus' mother. A “young virgin named Mary” (v. 27). “Confused and disturbed” (29) while trying to make sense of what the angel Gabriel was telling her.

And fundamentally obedient as shown in verse 38. “Mary responded, 'I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever He wants. May everything you have said come true.'” Talk about trust!

Praise You Father for the example we have of a young woman believing, trusting. Willing to obey. My own mommy heart far too often gets in the way of Your best. Forgive my falterings.

The shepherds took the angels' announcement of Jesus' birth straight to Bethlehem. “They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph” (Luke 2:16) and “told everyone what had happened” (v. 17). “All who heard the shepherd's story were astonished” (18).

And here comes the prime “wait for it” moment... “but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often” (19). Oh, to have a Mommy's heart like Mary's!

The Life Recovery Bible comment tells us that “painful thoughts of a guilt-ridden past or uncertain future often intrude and disrupt the present and sometimes cause us to feel depressed.” Mary's example “shows us how thoughts about God can lift our spirits and give us the courage to take the next step.”

Thank You Father that she knew the importance of contemplating the things You were “doing and wanted to do in her life.” Because of the example of Mary's mommy heart we can find solace in “pondering the joy with the sorrow, the awesome with the awful, the gain with the pain” as You lead us “to emotional and spiritual healing.”

On this particular Mother's Day, Blessed Father, how I thank You for giving us Mary, Jesus, Your perfect love, the Holy Spirit. Empower and enable me to use them to Your good and to Your glory. I love You. I long to serve You. And I thank You for Your gift of this mommy's heart. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

the song of Moses

Saturday, May 9, 2015 (6:59 a.m.)

Solely, Holy God,

I love You. I'm looking for the verse that tells us that You alone art holy.

(7:35 a.m.)

And just like that I found Revelation 15:4. And the song of Moses. Thank You.

Thank You that I get to sit here and wonder at all the symbolism described in this book. Although my own understanding is highly limited, the hope I glean from the descriptions [crystal sea, victorious people; v.2] fills my heart and soul.

Turning to the hymn ♫I Will Sing the Wondrous Story♫ gives me another opportunity to consider all Jesus did on my behalf. “Left His home in glory” to find me, “the sheep that went astray”.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your perfection. Your holiness. Thank You for the song of Moses with which I get to join my voice, “Great and marvelous are Your actions, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations” (v. 3).

Use me today, to Your good and to Your glory. I love You. And I long to serve You well. Do all You must. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(198 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)

Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Friday, May 8, 2015 (7:23 a.m.)

♫Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,

        Stay right here with us, Filling us with Your love♫

For three days I've been considering what it would truly be like to have You control my life (Galatians 5:22 TLB). Too often my will gets in Your way. Many times I don't use resources and energies wisely.

While considering Your fruit yesterday, I came across a section in The Voice that continues speaking to me. “Paul has been preaching about the call of God to freedom, and so he now spells it out: we are done with the demands of the law; now we are free to live in the Spirit and to be truly right with God.”

Mm! What a thought that is! “Free to live in the Spirit and to be truly right with God.” I like the Truth of that.

The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is a subject I've long been drawn to. But always before it has been with me consciously wanting to be loving enough to make it happen.

The other evening it was just there! The simple Truth that You were not controlling my life. I was being fueled by frustration. Disappointment. Irritation. And it was coming across as anger.

Thank You Blessed Spirit for intervening on my behalf! You spoke loudly enough for me to hear and stop the direction I was headed. I was able to be immediately reeled back in and find solace in Your Word. Thank You.

Thank You that this morning I get to sing of the ♫sweet, sweet Spirit in this place♫ What pure joy it is to ♫know that it's the Spirit of the Lord♫!

And with this Truth I get to ask You to ♫Stay right here with us, filling us with Your love♫ Yes, please! Fill us with that unconditional love that enables us to be controlled by You. Mm. What will it be like to live in Your Spirit? I am excited to find out!

Thank You. Bless You. Praise You. Use me well this day I pray. Thank You. Amen.

(347 words ~ 9:35 a.m.) 

living in the Spirit

Thursday, May 7, 2015 (8:00 a.m.)

Most Dear and Blessed Holy God,

Thank You! I recognized something last evening. Right in the middle of getting upset, I saw that I was NOT being controlled by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22, TLB).

I saw it. Felt it. Realized it. And was grateful. So incredibly grateful.

Blessed Father God, continue doing Your work in me. Keep fining and refining me as only You can. I can't make the changes necessary to be the woman You would have me be. Only You can do that. In, through, by, for and with me.

As much as I thank You for everything You have already done on my behalf, I also thank You in advance for all You have left to do. I want to take a much easier, gentler approach to allowing You to work as only You are able. Get my will out of Your way. Align it to Yours.

Thank You for enabling me to hear Your Word replayed in my mind yesterday when I truly wanted to explode instead. Just the beginning of a paraphrase I couldn't quite remember, “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives...”

absolute security

Tuesday, May 5, 2015 (5:58 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Talk with me this morning about security, will You?

(7:50 a.m.)

May I just please say, “Thank You!”? Blessed Father, thank You for extra time to rest. Repose. Restore. And ruminate.

Mm, Holiest God. You know my heart. My needs. You are able to meet them all. Thank You. Thank You for leading me quite circuitously to Hebrews 6:19 and the solace You had for me to find there.

So many translations offering me much needed words of hope. Confidence. Security. Thank You Father. Praise You.

Going just a little bit aside to the meaning of a name, I truly feel as though I have been safely lifted high above my own set of circumstances. Thank You Father.

Safe. Out of danger. Sure. Confident in an idea. Stable. Secure. Trustworthy. Reliable. Self-assured. Confident. Without doubt. For sure. Surely.

These are the attributes I have in You. Thank You. Thank You that I get to: ask and You will provide, seek and then find, knock and have the door opened (Matthew 7:7).

Thank You that You love us so incredibly much. Hebrews 6, verses 18-20 presented with various word pictures of anchors and hope in Your promise and oath truly provide us “absolute security in the resurrected Christ, who is our High Priest and who connects us with the living God” (comment, The Life Recovery Bible).

Thank You Father that because You can't lie, “Our hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure. It goes all the way into the Most Holy Room behind the curtain” (Hebrews 6:19, New International Reader's Version).

The Message calls it “an unbreakable spiritual lifeline”. The Voice, “an anchor to steady our restless souls, a hope that leads us back behind the curtain to where God is).

Mm, absolute security at Your best! Thank You Father. Help me use it well this day. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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

God's overflow of love

Monday, May 4, 2015 (7:18 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

(8:36 a.m.)

Thank You for time. Time to sit. Reflect. Compare. Chat. Judge. “Waste”.

Mm, Father. I do not want to waste. Or compare. Nor judge. No. Shift my heart, mind, soul and being to the joy found in rejoicing.

I confess to having slipped deeper into the poisoning offense of comparing myself with others. Harshly. Negatively. Unmercifully.

That is not of You. You would not have me doing this. I've noticed it for quite some time now. All the while thinking I could just muscle through on my own. I can't!

I don't see myself as You might. I pick at the flaws. All the places I am not enough. How this one has achieved more. Done worthwhile things.

I want to not waste. I long to flourish and thrive. My desire is to see myself as You really do. I think myself instead. Think myself unworthy. You created me in Your image. How does that not translate to being enough for me?

You sent Your Son to His painfully, sacrificial death on my behalf. How is THAT not enough? Mm, enough. Sufficient.

YOU are sufficient! Your grace is sufficient! And in Your sufficiency, I am again breathing freely. Deeply. Soulfully. Thank You.

Thank You that in my scatteredness this morning I get to keep coming back to Your Word. Your Truth. Thank You that  my entire being relaxes and takes hope in You just as The Message encourages me to “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that” (Galatians 6:4-5).

I confess to not being and thinking and wanting and loving (Mark 12:30) as You would have me. I push on in my prayer that You would empower me to believe and trust You to do ALL in and through, by and for me that I absolutely cannot do on my own.

Paul continued in his message to the Galatians, “Don't be impressed with yourself [trust me, You know I am not!]. Don't compare yourself with others [Your work is definitely needed here!]. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Oh, how I implore Your help Blessed Father.

Reading under Dealing with Failures; [Galatians] 6:1-6, Illustrated Bible Handbook directed me to read more about unconditional love in John 13:33-34. Thank You that I have the choice of continuing to judge myself unmercifully or look to The One Who provides all mercy and grace.

Thank You that it is only in Him that we find the capacity to love as You would have us love. The Life Recovery Bible comment for [John] 13:34-35 tells us, “Our ability to love others (and ourselves) is based on the degree to which we have received God's love (most often through other people). When we try to love others without God's love, we try to give them what we don't have; we end up giving to others in hopes of receiving something in return. This kind of selfish gift never feels good to us or to the person we are trying to help. When we love one another out of the overflow of God's love, our witness and service can be effective toward recovery.”

Thank You Father. Thank You that there is no limit to the overflow of Your love. I can't match it. Manufacture it. Mimic it. Oh, but I can absolutely accept it.

Please, as I go out into this day, go before me. Above me. Beneath and beside me. Encompass me with Your overflow of love that I will flourish and thrive within it. I love You so much.

Thank You for hearing my heart even before I offer it up to You. Make something lovely of all I am in Your precious name. I love You. I thank You. I'm Yours! Amen.

(657 words ~ 10:08 a.m.)

God's greatness

Saturday, May 2, 2015 (6:51 a.m.)

Holy Father,

Thank You God. Thank You that I get to come before You. Thank You that even though things aren't working correctly we still get to come directly to You. We've had power outages. There's a problem with the phones. And the internet connection is affected as well.

All of these are minor inconveniences. Thank You that we are able to bring even things that annoy us to You. Thank You that You are bigger than our greatest concerns, yet not put off by our trifles. Mm. How great Thou truly art!

Mm, yes. I get to sit here. Comfortably. Turning from Bible, to concordance, to Hymnal and back again. All the while contemplating Your greatness. Thank You Father.

The Psalms speak much of Your greatness. Hymns are written of it. As I continue exploring them, I am again brought close to tears.

We get to reach out to You. We are repeatedly invited to come into Your presence. Thank You for Who You are and for all You do.

I confess, in all I'm reading this morning I'm told to live as You would have me live. And I don't. I fudge. Push envelopes. Hedge. Ignore Your best for me. Sidestep. Run the other way.

You are great. Glorious. Worthy of all praise. Create in me a new heart. Change my reckless, careless behaviors into You-honoring ones. I'm not making good choices. Struggling with what all matters. And what really doesn't.

I truly need Your greatness to settle in. Take root. Or do I have that backwards? Am I supposed to settle in and take root in Your greatness? Hmm... giant food for thought!

And here again is that word I keep turning to avoid. This time found in Colossians 2:6... obedience. Argh! I confess. There's such a huge part of me that wants to continue working to serve You on my own terms.

Thank You for reminding me once more that that is not the way life in You works! “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him [deep breath, heavy sigh!]. Let your roots grow down deep into Him and draw nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done” (Colossians 2:6-7).

Obey? Really? Yeah, I know. And this is where I truly and humbly ask You to do in, with, by, through and for me ALL that I am unable to accomplish here on my own. Correct my waywardness. Bring me back to where You would have me.

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about His law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3)

I don't currently fit that description. But I want to! The Life Recovery Bible comment tells why it's such a good idea to get onboard with Your Truth. “Turning our will over to God means turning away from the kind of people who draw us into temptation.”

It's rather pointless for me to throw in “Yeah, but, that's hard!” You already know what's really hard. So, here I am turning to You – again! Asking, seeking, knocking. Wanting desperately to be rooted in Your greatness that I would truly bear the good fruit You would have me bear.

I love You. I absolutely want to make God honoring choices. Make it so Blessed Father. Make it so. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(644 words ~ 9:10 a.m.)