a spark of gratitude

 Friday, January 31, 2025 (7:22 a.m.)

Holy God,

This morning I will skip to the chase. Confessing to feeling sad. Out of sorts. Downcast. Withdrawn. Tired. Lonely. Oh! Who saw that one coming?

(7:32 a.m.)

And almost on the heels of confession comes a smile. Along with a spark of gratitude.

Mm, yes! Thank You Father. A spark is all it takes to get a fire growing and glowing.

Thank You God for the balance we find in You. That perfect area between too much and too little.

(7:45 a.m.)

Which leads me to confess the very little I’ve done around here recently. Just enough to appear okay. Way too much television. Coupled with jigsaw puzzle playing. Far too little taking care of business. And possibly even myself.

Thank You that I get to bring this all to You. Rather than grumble and grouse, expressing gratitude for the simplest things generates even greater gratefulness! Thank You God.

(7:55 a.m.)

Finally willing to bring You the two worldly songs I’ve been singing all morning, I ask (Matthew 7:7a) You to do with them what You will.

♪Love Is An Open Door♪ and ♪Defying Gravity♪ keep taking turns in my mind. As does the image of a teeter-totter. With all the highs and lows that accompany the fun of playing.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ll set my judgment aside and join You in whatever adventures today may hold. Yes!! Let’s do that!

Let us allow the Truth of Your Word to come alive. 

(8:05 a.m.)

Pause to watch the Moana ♪How Far It Goes♪ video. Father, You encourage me in so many ways! Just one spark of gratitude leads me to singing, smiling, standing firm and staying my mind on You. Thank You.

Paul praying for the Ephesians (3:14-21) provides me hope in Your “glorious, unlimited resources.” Here I join Paul in asking Christ to make His home in my heart as I trust Him. Allowing my roots to grow down into Your love and keep me strong.

Empower me to “experience the love of Christ which is too great to understand fully” (v.19a). Making me “complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from [You] God” (19b).

Revelation 3:8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my Word and did not deny me.”

Blessed, Holy Father God, thank You for taking my heart’s confession and turning it into another spark of gratitude. Use me exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

vulnerable and dependent on God

 Thursday, January 30, 2025 (4:54 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. You have provided me joy. Rest. Emotions.

Formed by Truth. Fueled by the Holy Spirit. Admit sins and trust God (Zephaniah).

Restored. Redeemed. Regenerated.

♪… so come find me… If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me One day I’ll know How Far I’ll Go♪

(6:29 a.m.)

Father, how truly I thank You for allowing me to learn. Teaching me to look more deeply into Your Word of Truth and promises.

Thank You for the restorative work You are so willing to do on our behalves. This morning I continue coming back to Zephaniah 3:17.

Thank You that I don’t have to try to make my thoughts and feelings make sense to You or myself. I get to just let them be exactly what they are. Some more fleeting than others.

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears [renew you with His love]. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Learning to trust and depend on You truly does afford me the rest promised by Jesus in Matthew (11:28-30). Thank You that His yoke IS easy and my burden light, when I am willing to be vulnerable and depend on You.

The Voice presents Zephaniah 3:17 with these words. “The Eternal your God is standing right here among you, and He is the champion who will rescue you. He will joyfully celebrate over you; He will rest in His love for you; He will joyfully sing because of you like a new husband.”

As I learn to live daily in my happily ever after, it all begins and ends in, with, by, through and for You. You definitely have Your work cut out for You in teaching me to trust and obey Your leadings.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must that I will live each moment vulnerably and dependent on You. Thank You. Praise You. Use me. Amen.

(359 words ~ 7:00 a.m.)

Living Happily Ever After

 Tuesday, January 28, 2025 (3:55 a.m.)

Nehemiah 8:10c “ …Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.” 

Greek version (see also Acts 2:28) “You have shown me the way of life, and You will fill me with the joy of Your presence.”

 

Psalm 37:4 “Take delight in the LORD, an He will give you your heart’s desire.”

Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

Matthew 5:48 The Message “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

John 10:10 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to given them a rich and satisfying life.”

John 15:1-17 Jesus, the True Vine “…This is my command: Love each other” (v. 17).

Philippians 4:11b-13 “ …for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ [the One], who gives me strength.”

Magic Kingdom “Happily Ever After” Fireworks

"Happily Ever After"

 Monday, January 27, 2025 (5:02 a.m.)

Anaheim, CA

Amazing, Awesome God,

Thank You! Praise You. Bless You. Keep You. All the accolades I could ever present to You.

Thank You for the songs [♪Firm Foundation (He Won’t)♪ ♪Take It Back♪] when I could only rest. Thank You for the sleep when it finally came. Thank You for the happily ever after I was able to experience yesterday.

Thank You for Your Word of Truth and promises! “The joy of the Lord is my strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10c). “Happy are those who mourn…”(Matthew 5:3-12 AMP…).

YOU have been my strength all these many months. Thank You that You have.

I saw a different celebration button yesterday. I knew immediately I’d rather have it than one announcing my birthday. “Happily Ever After” Yep! That’s me. And it’s been me all along.

The word I’ve been using when asked how I am has been “blessed.” Because I am. Profoundly. Immensely. Supremely. Oh! And grateful.

Yes Lord. I have a list of reasons I am grateful. And You top it!

It’s because of Your presence in, with, by, through and for me that I am able to sing, smile, stand firm and stay my mind on You. Thank You. Praise You.

When Your Truth, spelled out on my pin, was doubted by a grandson desperately missing his Papa, I had opportunity to stress to him the happiness I have in You. Thank You Father.

You have afforded me this opportunity of profound feelings. 50 years of celebrating a love that had such a tainted beginning. It is the precious blood of Your blessed Son that purified our whole existence.

Perfect? Far from it. Wealthy, delighted, blessed, enriched, satisfied, blissful, ecstatic, all the words used in The Passion Translation describing what it is to be toowayhon? Absolutely!

Father, I confess to You the guilt I have carried believing others think I am not sad enough. It is YOUR joy I am experiencing. That is/You are absolutely my strength!

We have one more day to spend together. Make it all that You would have it. Last night You gave me a protected balcony to watch fireworks in the pouring rain. There is no limit to all You have to offer us. Empower and enable each of us to readily accept the happily ever after You have in store.

We love, need, trust and want You most Blessed God. Use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

Worldwide English (New Testament) Matthew 5:3-12 “He [Jesus] said, “God makes happy those who know that they need Him. The kingdom of heaven is for them. God makes happy those who are sad. They will have comfort. God makes happy those who quietly trust Him and do not try to get their own way. The world will belong to them…” 

It is YOU who makes us happy! Thank You, God that You Do!

Matthew 5:12

Be glad and full of joy (New Life Version)

Celebrate (many translations)

Glad heart (Orthodox Jewish Bible)

Glad = full out (Wycliffe Bible)

See also: Isaiah 61:2; 66:10,13

serene serendipity

 Sunday, January 26, 2025 (5:26 a.m.)

Anaheim, CA

Holy God,

Thank You. I woke up singing ♪Gratitude♪ again. Followed shortly after with ♪Concrete and Clay♪

♪…That’s the way I always heard that it should be♪ Checking the lyrics just now means these aren’t quite correct, but the gist is there.

I just remembered thinking of the words serendipitous and serenity. Similar. Yet different at the same time.

(6:34 a.m.)

My very first memory of learning the word serendipity is building a homecoming float while a freshman in high school. A float which took sweepstakes I might add ;) Thank You God for happy memories. And happy surprises.

Like this Tiana themed hotel room. Each of the eight people involved in this celebratory stay have been equally thrilled by the serendipitousness [unexpected good fortune] we have found at almost every turn.

Father I ask (Matthew 7:7a) that You will keep my mood light. Cheery. Willing to be easily delighted. ♪…(That’s the way) Mm, that’s the way it’s meant to be♪ My love and I… in love eternally.

Reading the very beginning of Isaiah 29:14 in several different versions, I am extremely excited. Eager to tell. Truly agog. With You!

The smile on my face couldn’t be bigger. Nor the peace in my heart more serene. Father I absolutely can never thank You enough for loving us as You do (John 3:16).

Starting with The Message I’ll go further from there... “The Master [that’s YOU!] said: ‘These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it, I’m going to step in and shock them awake, astonish them, stand them on their ears. The wise ones who had it all figured out will be exposed as fools. The smart people who thought they knew everything will turn out to know nothing.’”

Lord, thank You that You just don’t give up on us!

The Voice “Therefore, I will do something extraordinary with this people. I will add wonder to wonders - Shut down the wisdom of their wise and hide what the discerning have figured out.”

Words like: marvel, great wondering and miracle, astonishing/marvelous work, shocking and amazing things,

♪Gratitude♪

Saturday, January 25, 2025 (5:43 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You! I got to sleep. And rest. And sleep some more. Thank You for the ease with which I found the song I woke singing.

♪Again and again singing Hallelujah♪ is actually ♪Gratitude♪ Of which I am filled this morning. Did I mention the sleep and rest You provided me?!

Thank You for the sense of purpose and humor You afforded me yesterday. One task leading directly to the next. The easiness that came with just following Your lead.

A delightful visit from a much loved former neighbor here helping her dad. And the repeated hugs that accompanied our brief time together.

The hatching of possible plans for celebrating my own birth. Thank You Father for the work and the love that has gone into these.

Yes! Thank You Father.

♪So I throw up my hands Praise You again and again ‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah Hallelujah And I know it’s not much But I’ve nothing else fit for a king Except for a heart singing hallelujah Hallelujah♪

Mm yes. Hallelujah! Praise You Lord!

This weekend has weather predictions we can’t control. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7a) You to take charge of all the plans. Keep them loose, not jumbled tightly. With that said, I ask the same of my emotions.

Let me be willing to feel them fully. Not judging nor working to suppress or control them. Yes Lord, empower and enable me to feel the feels. Freely.

♪Oh come on, my soul Oh, don’t you get shy on me Lift up your song ‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs Get up and praise the Lord♪

Exactly the plan! Get up and praise You Lord. Thank You Father. Use me as You know is best. Amen.

(302 words ~ 6:20 a.m.)

happy

 Friday, January 24, 2025 (5:51 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

I love You. Immensely. Freely. Wildly.

(6:24 a.m.)

And here I get to be blessed beyond belief. Searching “freely in love with God” I find Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:39 and a song.

Just because my first inclination was to express my love for You, I am quite appropriately singing a song from years past.

♪Wake up in the morning with the sunshine in your eyes And the smell of flowers blooming fills the air Your mind is filled with the thoughts of a certain SomeOne that You love Your life is filled with joy when He is there

♪Love Can Make You Happy if you find SomeOne who cares To give a life time to you and who has a love to share…♪

That’s YOU Dear Lord. You ARE love (1 John 4:8 and 16). Thank You that You are!

There is still so very much for me to learn about loving. You. Others. Myself. I look to You to teach me more of all You want me to know.

I ask (Matthew7:7a) that You would include me in the benefit and bounty of the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus. Strengthen me in my relationship with you and with others.

Paul praying, “that from His [the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth] glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (Ephesians 3:15-17).

Oh, but he wasn’t done! “And may you have the power to understand as all people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (vs.18-19).

Because You ARE love, I can interchange just one important word in the song and take You with me through it all. ♪God can make you happy…♪ This I truly believe!

Use me today. Exactly as You know is best. Loving as You would have me love. Freely. Immensely. Wildly. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(391 words ~ 6:54 a.m.)