passing moments

 Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (5:23 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

It’s the last day of another year. Again I am amazed at how quickly time passes. Thank You that You are right here in the midst of each passing moment.

Father God, I want very much to be aware and appreciative of every moment I encounter. Moments of considering WHO and ALL You are.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

(6:09 a.m.)

♪Step Into Christmas…

…forever and ever♪

Those lyrics continue singing to me. Almost relentlessly. Thank You for the opportunity of changing just one word and possibly continue singing it well into another New Year.

♪Step into Scripture

Step into Scripture…♪

Yes! Forever and ever.

Father, I want to live as You would have me live. Rejoicing. Being glad (Psalm 124:18b). Giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Loving You, others and myself. With all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31).

Yes Father. I truly want to ♪Step Into Scripture…forever and ever♪ Without thinking, “Amen” automatically came to mind. Now I’m singing along with Randy Travis as I wonder what it would be like to actually love You with no starts and stops. 

Lord, continue teaching me. With every passing moment. To be Yours. In my thoughts. Words. And deeds (Colossians 3:17).

Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must in using me as You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You.

♪Forever and Ever, Amen♪

(250 words ~6:41 a.m.)

Incredible.

 Tuesday, December 30, 2025 (6:32 a.m.)

Wow. Incredible. Amazing. Wild… An early morning sky that resembles the ocean! Thank You Father. This is a definite “I’ve never seen THAT before” moment.

Thank You God for the things that make us get up and take notice. 

forever and ever

 ♪Step Into Christmas

Step Into Christmas…♪

Monday, December 29, 2025 (5:59 a.m.)

The title of the song keeps singing to me. Along with the line ♪Forever and ever♪

Looking up the lyrics just now I also find ♪Eat, drink and be merry, come along with me Step into Christmas, the admission’s free♪ I relate these lines immediately to Ecclesiastes 8:15.

Thank You Father for the opportunity of considering the Truth of Your love here as well. 

Romans 10:9-10

God's perfect love

 Sunday, December 28, 2025 (4:44 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for the smile I just experienced. After hours of moping and refusing to come here with You, this last look at the clock my attitude changed.

4:44 on the Fourth Day of Christmas. Thank You that something so simple could change so much within me.

(5:39 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the opportunity of sitting and reading other people’s opinions, thoughts and findings about 4:44. Thank You that many are beyond my comprehension.

Thank You for the repeated references to 1 John 4:18. A verse I very much want to understand more clearly. And apply more readily.

(6:13 a.m.)

♪I don’t want to be afraid♪

Peace Be Still has been singing in my head for several days. Perhaps 4:44 on the 4th day of Christmas is what it’s going to take for me to begin to understand the power and significance of 1 John 4:18.

Beginning at verse 17 in The Message I know I want to live as though I truly believe what is written.

“God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day - our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not fully formed in love.”

Yes!

(6:40 a.m.)

The Voice makes it even a bit more clear to me. “Love will never invoke fear. Perfect love expels fear, particularly the fear of punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been completed through love.”

Continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me Blessed God.

♪I don’t want to be afraid…♪

I love, need, trust and want You Dear Lord. Teach me to live as You would have me. Loved. Unafraid. Rejoicing and being glad (Psalm 118:24b). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(362 words ~ 6:48 a.m.)

first choice delayed

 Saturday, December 27, 2025 (5:28 a.m.)

Good morning God,

I’m feeling several degrees of sadness this morning. Is it related to the rainy day off I took yesterday? Or connected to post-holiday blues? Do I even need to know the reason?

Yeah. With that asked, what would YOU have me focus my attention on at this very moment?

Seeking Your Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). You above all else.

I’m asking (Matthew 7:7a) You to show me how to make You my first thing. Accept this present moment. Find the joy being offered to me. And the strength that Your Word promises.

Thank You Father. I don’t have to look any deeper or further than You. You ARE my first choice! (After all the other people, places and things I consider trying before remembering it is from YOU I get my strength and hope).

(6:20 a.m.)

Thank You for the work You are doing to get my heart, soul, mind and strength back on You where it so rightly belongs. Father, I love, need, trust and want You as Lord and love of my life.

Do all You must that I will readily remember to seek Your Kingdom first. Above all else. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(219 words ~ 6:25 a.m.)

abounding blessings

 Friday, December 26, 2025 (5:51 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You. Blessings abound. Yes. Truly. Thank You God

(7:19 p.m.)

A whole day spent in gratitude. Curiosity.  And much reflection. Thank You for time to sit. Think. Thank. And praise You. Thank You Lord. Amen.

(49 words ~ 7:22 p.m.)

really contemplating

 Thursday, December 25, 2025 (5:20 a.m.)

Merry Christmas Father.

Yes. Happy Birthday Jesus.

(5:45 a.m.)

Time spent searching the origins of these two phrases. Really contemplating what it is I am to be celebrating. And I find deeper reflections.

Thank You Father for taking me away from the superficiality with which I used to approach this season. Thank You for the privilege of looking past the curtain of consumer marketing taking place around us.

I want to use this season to “reflect on the miraculous” aspects of Mary and Joseph’s experience. I want to offer to others the same peace, love, joy and hope You have provided me these past four weeks.

Lord God, I thank You. I appreciate You. I want to adapt my thinking and actions to Your will and Your way. Let my heart be my gift to You this day of celebrating the birth of Your only begotten Son (John 3:16).

Use me exactly as You know is best. Loving You, others and myself. With all my heart soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). I love, need, trust and want You Dearest Lord. Thank You. Praise You.

Merry Christmas. Happy Birthday. Amen.

(201 words ~ 6:21 a.m.)

pondering blessings

 Wednesday, December 24, 2025 (5:34 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. Again! You’ve blessed me with peace. Warmth. Hope. Joy. Love. All of which I have been known to take for granted.

Thank You that You have so much more to teach me about each. I want to be a better learner.

Father God, how I thank You for the people, places and circumstances You have put in my path all these many years. So often I bypassed the opportunities I could have learned from them at the time.

Looking back I see a stream of things I missed. I want to learn from my mistakes Dear Lord.

I want to resemble Mary when she heard the shepherds tell about the angels (Luke 2:8-17). “All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often” (18-19).

I have tears as I read the various wordings used to describe Mary’s actions. She “committed these things to memory and considered them carefully.” Jesus’ own mother “kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.”

I’ve experienced occasions where I’ve stood [or sat] back. Taking it all in. Making mental notes to replay for myself later.

Father, continue Your work in teaching me to truly savor the blessings as they come. No matter their form.

“Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them.” I can be a very deep thinker. How I ask You to keep my thoughts on all You’ve given me. I want to use my brain space wisely. Pondering blessings.

Mm. The Message says, “Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.” Yes! Holding them dear and deep.  

I confess to the regrets I have over mistakes I’ve made. I want to learn to preserve the blessings. Not my failings. Or those of others.

You are teaching me Lord. Keep up Your fine good work of refining (Malachi 3:3) me into the woman You created me to be. Loving. Kind. 100% Yours.

Do all You must Dearest Lord. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You Praise You. Amen.

(362 words ~ 6:36 a.m.)

"Thank You."

 Tuesday, December 23, 2025 (5:44 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

When I can’t think of what else to say, “thank You” is always the best start. Thank You for teaching me that it really is just that simple.

There’s such a positive ring to the words. Depending, of course, on the sincerity and inflection with which they are spoken.

It never ceases to surprise me. Once the words come out of my mouth, my brain begins its shift to the endless supply of things for which I am truly thankful. Your love and faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23) being right there at the very top of the list. 

Father, I ask (Matthew 7:7a) You to set the tone for me today. A severe rain storm is predicted. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I will be as prepared for it as possible.

Thank You Lord, that You are my “go to Guy.” Always available. Ready, willing and able to lead, guide and direct as You alone know is best.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Use me in worshiping, adoring, glorifying and enjoying You. This is the day You have made, I want to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

my whole way of thinking

 Monday, December 22, 2025 (5:26 a.m.)

Holy God,

You have absolutely done it again! Surprised me in some of the best ways possible. Thank You Lord.

I started this Advent season fully expecting to hate it and everything it has come to represent. Commercialism. Greed. Stress. Unrealistic expectations. And You changed my whole way of thinking!

Father, thank You for the ways You have been working in, with, by, through and for me all these decades now. In ways I never saw coming.

It’s when I am most honest with You that You work in ways I least expect. I can’t even begin to thank You for all the changes You have brought into my being.

There’s a lightness to my spirit. Definitely directly related to the themes of this current season. Hope. Peace. Joy. Love.

I could never pretend nor try to achieve the sincerest gratitude I have to You for those who have come before me. You’ve done this all Dearest Dad. Thank You.

(10:32 a.m.)

Errands run. Stops made. Some more successful than others. And I’m still singing the song with which I awoke. Thank You for leading me straight to it. Elton John’s ♪Step Into Christmas♪

That’s exactly what You had me do this year. One step following the first. And then taking the next. Truly just one step at a time.

Thank You for this relaxed approach to all I used to complicate. This being still and knowing that You are God (Psalm 46:10a). I truly want to honor You (v. 10b).

(12:00 p.m.)

Thank You also for walking with me through these immediate emotions that seem to spring out of nowhere. Singing gaily one moment. Tears stinging my eyes the next.

Father, thank You for being so incredibly good. Present. Available. Able. Yes Lord. You are able!

“… to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever dare to ask or hope” (Ephesians 3:20).

Like keeping me smiling. Even laughing. Singing [another new to me song ♪Merry Christmas♪]. Standing firmly on Your Word. And staying my mind on Your Truth.

Father God, I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must that I “be glad and rejoice” (Psalm 118:24b) while glorifying and enjoying You. Forever!

Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. 

 (12:34 p.m.)

Oh! And…

Thank You for the result I found first thing this morning after searching about being most honest with You. I delight in reading, “He meets us in our truth, not our pretense, and responds with love, grace, and a desire for deeper intimacy.”

I thought that was excellent enough, until I continued reading…

“He already knows our hearts and thoughts, so our honesty is for our benefit and liberation, not His information.” Continue Your work in keeping me honest with You. Thank You Lord. Amen.

(477 words ~ 12:40 p.m.)