presence/presents

 Wednesday, July 31, 2024 (6:15 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for Your presence. Presents. Gifts. Blessings. You work in wondrously mysterious ways. And I am grateful for who and all You are.

Thank You for the ways You lead and guide Your followers. Thank You that You love each of us more than we could ever begin to comprehend.

This morning I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your fine good work in purifying my thoughts, words and actions into those that are pleasing to You. You are SUCH ♪a Good Good Father♪ And I am absolutely thrilled, blessed and delighted to be ♪loved by You… You are perfect in all of Your ways♪

Thank You Father for being so good. Great, glorious, gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). Kind. Loving. Giving. And forgiving. 

Use me today. Exactly as You alone know is best. Glorifying and enjoying You. Sharing You freely with others. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You Lord. Praise You. Amen.

(167 words ~ 6:46 a.m.)

stop, look, listen

 Tuesday, July 30, 2024 (6:33 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You Lord. Sleep. Rest. Friendships. Songs. Words. Hope. You provide it all.

Thank You that I get to wake up singing to You. Hopeful for what the day may hold. Thank You Lord that You love us so much.

Found and read on the internet:

Proverbs 4:23-27; 10:19; 27:19

Habakkuk 2:1

Colossians 3:16-17

James 1:19

W.A.I.T. why am I talking?

Lord, reach down from heaven and give us listening hearts that fix their gaze upon You. We ask that the strings of our hearts would be tuned to respond to the faintest things that You would speak. Help us stop being pulled into the busyness that encompasses us, and instead wait for You to share Your heart. We choose this day to hear what You would say, and heed all that we hear. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening!

And then some!

 Monday, July 29, 2024 (7:55 a.m.)

Most Dear and Blessed Holy, Loving God,

Thank You! More sleep was provided. 6 hours. And then another 2 1/2. Complete with a remembered dream. With the essence of a very much loved one. Thank You Father. Thank You Son. Thank You Holy Spirit.

I sought Your guidance and leadership for my quest in the yard yesterday. You delivered. And then some!

You provided me music to feed my soul. And a few very special tears. Reminding me of the love and respect two of Your children chose to have for one another. Father God, how we thank You for those decisions to work through the really hard times to get to points of understanding and compromise.

You are indeed ♪A Good, Good Father It’s who You are… And I’m loved by You It’s who I am…♪ Thank You that You are all that You are.

Today I ask (Matthew 7:7) Paul’s Final Greetings to the church at Corinth would apply to me as well. 2 Corinthians 13:11-14. “Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with You.

“Greet each other with Christian love. All of God’s people here send you their greetings.

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Yes please Father. All of that. Do all You must to Your good and perfect end. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

 

our every need

 Sunday, July 28, 2024 (7:50 a.m.)

Blessed God,

How I thank You. You provide our every need (Philippians 4:19).

Oh most dear and blessed God, how grateful I am for Your reminders. Through smiles and songs. Scriptures and stories. YOU are our ever faithful Provider (Lamentations 3:22-23). Thank You that You are.

I want very much to work with You in the yard today. Overgrowth prevails. Not even knowing where to begin is an issue. This is why I bring it all to You first. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). Requesting guidance. Clarity. A plan. YOUR plan, not mine.

I love You, Lord. I need, trust and want You. Work in, with, by, through and for me that I serve and represent You well this day. The one You have made. Empower and enable me in being glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(156 words ~ 8:14 a.m.)

all mercy and grace

 Saturday, July 27, 2024 (5:32 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You again. Restful sleep. Pleasant thoughts. Joy. You. Thank You Father. Thank You. Thank You God.

It’s You working in and with and by and through and for me all these years that enables and empowers me to be grateful. Caring. Kind. Standing safe and secure in Your love for each of us.

Thank You for every smile that comes to me. Reminding me of Your goodness. Your grace. Your glorious greatness (Psalm 145:5-8).

I’m not sure I’ve read these verses in The Message before. Thank You for the various ways Your Word is presented to us. 

 

“Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking; I compose songs on Your wonder. Your marvelous doings are headline news; I could write a book full of the details of Your greatness. The fame of Your goodness spreads across the country; Your righteousness is on everyone’s lips. GOD is all mercy and grace - not quick to anger, is rich in love.”

Mm. Yes! All mercy and grace - not quick to anger. Rich in love. Definitely a worthy aspiration! Continue Your work in me I ask (Matthew 7:7). I love You. I need You. I trust You. I want You.

Do all You must that I will keep growing in You. Your mercy. And grace. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(224 words ~ 6:03 a.m.)

follow You

 Friday, July 26, 2024 (7:01 a.m.)

Holy God,

I’m looking to You. Lots of thoughts. Many options. Wanting Your lead. And the willingness to follow You.

Mm. Yes, Lord. I want to follow You.

Thank You for the smiles that keep coming. And the song as well.

♪Love Him, I love Him, I love Him And where He goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow I Will Follow Him Follow Him wherever He may go There isn’t an ocean too deep A mountain so high it can keep, keep me away Away from my love♪

Thank You Father for the desire to follow You! Thank You for the reminders we discover as we turn to and trust You.

It’s in You, by You, through You, with You, for You that we grow. In courage. Devotion. Contentment. Humility. Confidence. Obedience (Elizabeth George). Thank You Lord.

This morning I am feeling reflective. Reticent. Reluctant. I look to You to make me ready. Eager. Agog. In Your time. Not mine.

And here You are, providing my need for You. Micah 6:8. The Message. “But He’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously - take God seriously.”

Yes please Lord. I love, need, trust and want You. Work in, with, by, through and for me that I will TRULY ♪follow YOU wherever You may go♪ Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

ready, willing, able

 Thursday, July 25, 2024 (5:07 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You for words Dear Lord. And the power behind them. Teach me to use them wisely and well. Thank You Father for always being ready, willing and able to help us when we call out to You.

My timing was off the other day. Words didn’t come easily, wisely or well. Thank You Lord that in You we have opportunity to do better. Different. Over and over.

I’m asking, seeking, knocking (Matthew 7:7) Your presence here with me today. Use me exactly as You know is best. Provide my every need. Clarity in decision making. Kindness in my interactions.

(6:25 a.m.)

♪So I’ll Let My Words Be Few Jesus, I am so in love with You♪ Thank You Father for the ways You lead us and guide us. Pointing us in Your direction.

“Be brief and authentic. Genuine.” I just read those words in relation to Ecclesiastes 5:2. Taking it to The Message, my heart and face are smiling.

“God’s in Charge, Not You Watch your step when you enter God’s house. Enter to learn. That’s far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, Doing more harm than good. Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think He wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you - the less you speak, the better. Overwork makes for restless sleep. Overtalk shows you up as a fool” (vs. 1-3).

Here I ask You again to keep me learning. Making me ready, willing and able to follow You throughout the day. I look to You for the balance I require. I love, need, trust and want You, Lord.  Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(296 words ~ 7:33 a.m.)

and so very much more

 Wednesday, July 24, 2024 (6:46 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy, Loving Father God,

Thank You for who and all You are. Blessed. Holy. Loving. Father. God. And so very much more!

Lord, thank You for the love You have for us. The love You bring to us. Your love that surrounds us. And imbues [permeates, saturates, fills] us.

Father, thank You that we can come to You with ailing thoughts and You right them for us. An e-article [A Moment from De Sales] regarding the arrival of the Holy Spirit imbuing us with Your love has me smiling. Peacefully.

“The Holy Spirit comes as needed. When called, the Holy Spirit springs from within, and anyone can call on the Holy Spirit any time. The Spirit will arise from our hearts bringing God’s love to challenge loneliness, or to light the way to scatter darkness or to enflame our imagination, surfacing needed creativity.

“According to God’s plan, Jesus must leave. Jesus loves us too much to abandon us. Therefore, the Holy Spirit appears when beckoned. Remember, God the Father sent Jesus and Jesus sends the Holy Spirit. This is Gd’s eternal plan to beam His love over all creation, every day that we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28).

Thank You Blessed Father for doing all You must that we can live in, with, by, through and for You. Loving one another as Jesus commanded (John 13:34). ‘Our strong love for each other will prove to the world that we are Your disciples’ (35).

Bless, keep and use us as only You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. I love, need, trust and want You. Amen.

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

exemplifying

 Tuesday, July 23, 2024 (5:13 a.m.)

Holy God, 

Thank You.

(5:41 a.m.)

That seems to be what I’ve got for now. I pray it’s enough.

Do in, with, by, through and for me all that You know is best. I want to share You with others. Exemplifying You. Your goodness. Your grace.

Yes Lord. Use me as an example of the joy we find in living for You. Thank You. I love, need, trust and want You. Amen.

(83 words ~ 5:58 a.m.)

now

 Monday, July 22, 2024 (4:46 a.m.)

Thank You God. Again and again I thank You God.

Thank You for rest. Sleep. Friends. Nourishment. Knowledge. Learning. Practicing. You! Yes. Especially You.

Father, thank You for the things You have to teach us. All that You want us to know. Thank You for keeping me present. Right here. Right now.

Thank You Lord for the various readings and findings we receive when we turn to and search for You. Your will. Your way.

Last night was Ben Campbell Johnson’s understanding of the apostle Paul’s description of love. Blessed God how I thank You for making me aware of the importance of these verses (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ) all those years ago.

“… Love stays in difficult relationships with kindness. Love does not play ‘one-up-man-ship,’ nor does it react to those who do. Love is not rude or grasping or overly sensitive, nor does love search for imperfections and faults in others. Love celebrates what is real, not what is perverse or incomplete. Love is the most enduring quality of human existence. It keeps us keeping on; it trusts in God in every situation and expects God to act in all circumstances. Nothing can destroy love.”

How cool are You Dearest God!? Absolutely perfect in every way! Thank You.

Getting to wake up considering the importance of the word “now” thank You for leading me to 2 Corinthians 6:2. Looking again to The Heart of Paul Volume 1, I am excited to learn and know and practice more.

Reading up and back to chapter 5, verse 16. Under the heading The transforming message of reconciliation Ben tells of Paul’s urging, “From this time on, let us look at others not with our limited human insight. Although we perceived Christ humanly, let us no longer look at Him that way.”

We don’t have to remain stuck in our old ways of thinking and doing because Jesus’ life and death and resurrection changed everything for us. IF/when we are willing to accept Him for all He is and has done for us, we, ourselves, are forever changed as well.

Thank You God for Your ability of working all things together for good when we love You (Romans 8:28). Use me exactly as You know is best. I long to serve You well. As Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Jesus experienced “brokenness and emptiness so that our brokenness could be transformed into participation in the life of God” (21). The life YOU have planned for us!

Acting as God’s agents “Because then, we work together with God, we urge you not to receive God’s unconditional love uselessly. [Incidentally, God says, I have responded to you at the appropriate time; I have assisted you since the day you began to find wholeness.’ Be certain this is the time of response; today is the day for wholeness.]” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Thank You, Father. This IS the day of salvation! And I get to be reminded of it just because of the word “now.” I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must in making us whole. And wholly Yours. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(517 words ~ 6:02 a.m.)

More...

 Sunday, July 21, 2024 (5:47 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for more! More sleep. And rest. More reading. More singing. More songs. More gratitude. Especially the gratitude Lord.

Thank You Father for giving us so much more than we could ever hope or ask for. In fact, Your Word spells it out for us so clearly.

“Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope” (Ephesians 3:20). Thank You that You do Lord. Thank You that You ARE Lord!

Use me today exactly as You alone know is best. Do all You know is necessary that I will represent You well.

I love You Lord. I need You. I trust You. I want You. Thank You for all the blessings You provide. Make me all the more aware of them as they come. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(161 words ~ 6:45 a.m.)

ask and accept

 Saturday, July 20, 2024 (3:14 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Second sleep hasn’t happened yet. I’m looking to You. Asking (Matthew 7:7) for more.

Lord God, You know the thoughts of my mind and my heart. Far better than I. Work in, with, by, through and for me that I will come to accept Your leading, guidance and direction. Your will be done.

Yes Father. ♪Thy Will be done♪ I would like more sleep please. Thank You for who and all You are.

(4:51 a.m.)

Please? Just a little more sleep?

(5:32 a.m.)

Didn’t happen. So we’ll go with gratitude instead. Thank You Father for all the ways You provide for us.

You love us. So much that You gave Your one and only Son to save us. And as a result? “Everyone who believes in the Son will not die. Instead, they will live for ever” with YOU (John 3:16 EasyEnglish Bible).

How cool is that? And the wording of the very next verse in the same reading? Equally inspiring.

You didn’t send Your Son into the world because You wanted to punish people. No. You sent Your Son “to save the world from punishment” (17).

We have so much for which to be grateful. Thank You for reminding me. Again.

Be in, with, by, through and for me this day [which You have made]. Do all You must that I will TRULY “rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Father, I love You. I need You. I trust You. I want You. Thank You for loving each of us as only You are able. Use me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(278 words ~ 6:04 a.m.)