practical practice

 Saturday, December 13, 2025 (5:26 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. 

I like it when I say what I mean. Especially something as simple as “Thank You.”

Once uttered, those two words have the ability of taking on a life all their own. The caveat? It has to be genuine.

Father, thank You for getting me here. Teaching me to offer You sincere and heartfelt appreciation.

You are Who has been shaping me all these years. I’m the one who has squirmed and thought entirely too much about things I can never possible control.

Thank You for every time You intervene on my behalf. Thank You too for all You are teaching me in the down times as well.

The slightest smile is right here on my face as I think of all You are and have done through the ages. From creation all the way to present day You have been faithful (Lamentations 3:22-23).

I confess to the countless [pointless] times I attempt control. Of my surroundings. Other people. My own emotions.

I seek balance through routine. When that doesn’t work, I waver. Falter. Look past, instead of TO You.

Thank You for what You are teaching me about being still and waiting (Psalm 37:7a; 46:10a). 

(7:12 a.m.)

And on that note, I went outside. Did some long overdue hand watering. Sang praise. Made some mistakes. Spoke frustration out to my surroundings. Laughed. Apologized to You. And thanked You again.

Father I still need a LOT of practice in this whole “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) way of living. Thank You for making it practical.

Live in, with, by, through and for me. I want to be the woman You created me to be. Unique. And wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14a). Do all You must.

I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(318 words ~ 7:21 a.m.)

Rejoice and be glad

 Friday, December 12, 2025 (7:26 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy, Loving Father God,

THANK YOU! 

You have provided me with a “want” I haven’t experienced for quite some time. An absolute desire to get up and get moving. Thank You Father. Praise You Lord.

I am here to ask (Matthew 7:7a) You to lead and guide me every single step and decision of this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). The one in which we are to rejoice and be glad (v.24b).

Yes! Rejoice and be glad! I confess to not having been [glad] for more than just a minute. I’ve stayed focus on things that bring me down. Rather than all that brings me joy.

Father, You have blessed me in far more ways than I can count. Forgive me for looking passed them.

I have decisions I have long been avoiding. Out of fear. Pure and simple. Afraid of making mistakes.

You did NOT give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, and love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Lord, I WANT to use them again.

Empower and embolden me in making wise choices today, Lord. Using time wisely.

I LOVE You! I WANT You. I NEED You. And I TRUST You. Do all You must in using me as You know is best. Focusing on what I am able to accomplish instead of all I can’t.

Thank You for blessing me with the Spirit who lives in me (1 John 4:4c) Dear Lord. I want to fully worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

Love others.

 Thursday, December 11, 2025 (6:14 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. I got to wake up thinking how grateful I am to be loved by You. As well as singing ♪Some gotta win, some gotta lose Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues♪

Try as I might the song just doesn’t completely go away. And then it’s back. If there’s something here You want me to learn I’m asking (Matthew 7:7a) to be receptive to Your teaching.

Yes Lord. I love You. And I’m amazed when I follow various ways of thinking back to Your Word.

(6:51 a.m.)

You definitely have me thinking! Still following the Good Time Charlie lead, I find a country artist by that name who’s written a song regarding the judgments of others. 

It was "inspired by real life experiences and challenging conversations" with people who have a problem with him leading worship on Sundays and singing in bars, wineries and venues outside the church. Father, thank You for the ways You get our focus back on You.

Taken from Luke 6:37, [Good Time] Charlie Mariscal wastes no time in singing Your Truth. ♪Jesus doesn’t have a problem, why do you?♪

(7:40 a.m.)

Father, thank You for another way of reminding me that we are to LOVE others, not judge them. Mm, yes. It took more than minute for me to get here. Teach me how to love better than I do.

I love, need, trust and want You, Lord. Do all You must in making me receptive to Your teaching. Use me as You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(274 words ~ 7:48 a.m.)

feeling the feels

 Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (5:14 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You.

I took the day yesterday. And waited. In my pajamas. All day. Not planning. Nor rushing. Just took the day. To be. And think. And feel.

Thank You Father.

I knew I didn’t want to pretend. Especially not with You. I chose to stay away. Rather than give You false platitudes. Thank You for allowing me to truly feel the feels.

There was sadness. And comparisons. Mopiness. Avoidance. Some smiles. A prayer with a friend. And eventually, a giant, completely unexpected, laugh out loud, belly laugh! Thank You God.

Thank You for the opportunity to trust You. Yes! I trusted You to love me as I experienced feelings that weren’t all lovely.

You allowed me to sit. With not as much judgment as I would have heaped on myself in the past. Thank You for teaching me the very fine art of being still and waiting (Psalm 37:7a).

♪Peace Be Still♪

(6:17 a.m.)

What a perfect song for You to bring to my mind and heart this second [peace] week of Advent Dear Lord. Thank You God!

Reading the Song Story behind the lyrics, I saw my experience with You yesterday represented. Trusting Your “promise of peace over fear, disappointment, insecurity and anxiety,” I watched as “the atmosphere of my mind and heart shifted.”

I experienced the power of praying Your Truth back to You last evening when called to pray and not knowing what to pray. I depended on the Truth of Romans 8:26, asking Your Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness.

I asked (Matthew 7:7a) the mighty power of Jesus’ name (Philippians 2:10) be used as protection and magnification (Psalm 34:3). Asserting Your goodness, Your grace, Your glorious greatness (Psalm 145:5-8) now leads me to singing another example of Your love.

♪Loves Me Like a Rock♪

Thank You Father for Your powerful love in our lives. Teach us to use it well. Do all You must that we will worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You forever. We love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

T.R.U.S.T.

 ♪Christmas….

Christmas…♪

Monday, December 8, 2025 (4:04 a.m.)

Holy God,

This isn’t what I expected at all! 

(4:12 a.m.)

Yes! I continued the search.

(5:09 a.m.)

And learned so much in the finding. Blessed God, thank You for the things You have to teach me in the most unexpected places.

An elusive [NOT illusive, nor allusive!] song. Difficult to track down. And all that I learned in the process.

Father, thank You for the tears that came so freely as the lyrics hit their chord in my heart. Here’s where my mind takes over. Practicing trusting You to know what’s best.

That’s what I learned faith to mean long ago. Forsaking All I Trust Him!

Thank You for teaching me to truly trust You Lord. In ALL things. The big. The small. And everything in between.

(5:37 a.m.)

Even with the word trust. Wondering about a possible acronym for it, I found references back to Your Word. Isaiah 55 (v.11) and Psalm 33:4.

(5:44 a.m.)

And now I’m making up my own!

Turn Repent Utilize Seek Thank

Your Word tells us to turn from and repent of our indifference (Revelation 3:19). Matthew 7:24 tells the importance of utilizing Jesus’ teachings. We are to seek Your Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). And give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Father, thank You for calling me out here to You so early this morning. So I could learn more of all You have for me. Use me exactly as You know is best

 I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You know is best in, with, by, through, and for me.

Now back to that song. And maybe some more cleansing tears. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

♪Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)♪

Darlene Love

(301 words ~ 6:00 a.m.)

God as Guide

 Sunday, December 7, 2025 (5:24 a.m.)

Incredibly Awesome Father God,

Thank You! I made it through Advent’s first week with far more hope than which I started. As we begin the second week [of peace] I am asking (Matthew 7:7a) that You will provide all that is necessary for me to learn what You have for me to take into the season.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You as my Guide. Thank You for all there is for You to show and teach me.

(1:03 p.m.)

Father, thank You for time to examine loss. Change. Grief. Hope. And peace. All in the book of Ruth.

Thank You for time to “attend” church via the internet. And partake of a makeshift communion [homemade apple cider and a piece of a pretzel].

Thank You for guiding me in thought, Word and deed. Christmas decorations being found and set up in different than usual places. A cake baked to take to a grieving family. A sense of genuine peace governing my every move.

Thank You Father for Your glory. Your grace. Your goodness. And Your greatness (Psalm 145:5-8). I want to honor You, Lord. Do all You must to that end.

I love, need, trust and want You as Lord of my life. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(229 words ~ 1:18 p.m.)

an action and a choice

 Saturday, December 6, 2025 (6:17 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. You are teaching me the hope there is in waiting.

(6:40 a.m.)

Thank You Lord for all You want to teach me this Advent season. This special time of year, set aside to prepare our hearts for the coming, or second coming, of Your precious Son.

I confess Blessed Father, each new day often blurs into the next. My attitude and demeanor are not always those of hopefulness. Thank You that You are teaching me the fine art of seeing hope as an action word. One of waiting and expecting.

(6:58  a.m.)

I didn’t expect to land at 1 Corinthians 13:13 this morning. Thank You that I have.

Reading about the hope there is in waiting, as well as the waiting involved in hoping, has me experiencing various degrees of eager excitement. A sense of being truly agog again. Excited and eager to tell of Your wonderful goodness. Your grace. Your greatness. And glorious splendor (Psalm 145:5-8).

Father, I ask You to use what I am learning to serve You well. Teach me to truly rejoice [be joyful!] while waiting and hoping for Jesus’ arrival.

I choose the actions required in the ‘faith, hope and love that will remain forever.’ Each of these choices building to the next. With love being the greatest [most important] of them all.

Yes Father. Teach me. Use me. Bless me. Keep me. Melt me. Mold me. Fill me with Your Spirit that I will hope and wait well. 

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

(277 words ~ 7:32 a.m.)