socks

 Friday, January 17, 2025 (4:19 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You. I like when my first waking thoughts are those of thankfulness. And praise.

Thanking You for socks seems so basic.

(6:49 a.m.)

I had NO idea an internet search using the words “socks and God” would take me in so many directions. Thank You Father. How glad I am to learn there are others who talk with You about socks.

(7:08 a.m.)

All these hours of wakefulness and I just now started singing. Thank You for a song Dear Lord.

♪… If I get down, You pick me up From the ground, You give me love That don’t give out, Giving no conditions You lift me Up + Up again… ♪

Socks and songs. They are more than enough for the day. YOU are more than enough everyday.

Lord, You bless us with warmth. Comfort. Safety. I want to utilize them to Your good and for Your glory. Do all You must that I would learn to give, share and care as You would have me.

Continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as You alone absolutely know is best. Thank You. Praise You.

(209 words ~ 7:36 a.m.)

no other God

 Thursday, January 16, 2025 (4:23 a.m.)

Only God,

Thank You.

zSo this is interesting. Either something is up with the computer this morning OR I’m making LOTS of mistakes already.

My intent was to refer to You as Holy. Looking up at the screen, “Only” works!

(6:01 a.m.)

Searching You as our only God took me straight to Isaiah 45 and learning about “Cyrus, the LORD’s Chosen One”

Holy [I got it right this time!] God, thank You for the opportunity of learning more about so many of the things I’ve never considered before. In my rush to find certain Truths in Your Word, I tend to hurry passed what’s right here in front of me.

Thank You for this time to sit and ponder at the ancient past. Your prophet Isaiah writing of Your call to Cyrus (Isaiah 45:4a) some 200 years before he was ever born. Much less king. And one who did not know You (v. 4b) at that!

Truly Father, my mind boggles at all there is that I do not know. Thank You that You ARE “the LORD; there is no other God” (45:5a). Thank You for the work You are doing in each of us.

I want very much to just be clay in Your hands today. Not arguing, disputing or questioning (Isaiah 45:9-12) Your plans for me. You ARE the Holy One of Israel and my Creator! There is no other God.

Father, thank You that I woke up singing [and smiling] again. ♪Take It All Back Take it all back I’m taking back what the enemy stole♪ has morphed into House of Miracles. 

♪This is a house of worship This is a place of praise Where every demon trembles Where we proclaim Your name This is a house of healing Our hearts are full of faith You have our full attention You have the final say So come alive in the name of Jesus Come alive in the name of Jesus This is a House of Miracles♪

Father God, You make these changes in us. In our hearts. Our souls. Our minds. Our strength. I want to follow where You lead me. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as only You know is best. You are the only God. There is no other God. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(397 words ~ 7:02 a.m.)

Continuity

 Wednesday, January 15, 2025 (6:15 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You for Your love. Your faithfulness. Your continuity.

(6:52 a.m.)

Considering Your continuity I am singing ♪Same God♪ Thank You that You ARE our same God! The very same God of Jacob. Moses. Mary. King David. 

Thank You Father that You are the same God of the apostles. Teaching Peter to show us how to live well in this shattered and hopeless world.

Thank You that we have such ready access to Your Word of Truth and promises. Reading here in 1 Peter 3:8-12. Encouraged to be of one mind. Sympathizing and loving one another.

Being tenderhearted. Keeping a humble attitude. Not repaying evil for evil. Not retaliating with insults when insulted. Paying back, instead, with a blessing.

All these eons later and we are still instructed to “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8). Yes please Father, I want to “Come and listen” (v.11a). To learn to fear You (11b) as is appropriate. With reverence. Not terror.

♪I love You Lord And I lift my voice To worship You Oh my soul rejoice Take joy my King in what You hear Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear♪

Yes Lord. Let the continuity of Your goodness trickle into my choices today. I want to glorify and enjoy You. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me to this end. I love, need, trust and want You dear Lord. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(279 words ~ 8:10 a.m.)

unfailing love and faithfulness

 Tuesday, January 14, 2025 (4:27 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

Thank You! I woke with a lightness. Joyful. Eager. Excited. Agog.

It’s been more than a minute since that’s happened. Thank You Father. Praise You Lord.

(4:58 a.m.)

How truly blessed I am! Toowayhon actually. Enriched. Happy. Delighted. Blissful. Content.

Having the time to explore what it means to be agog with You I find so many different avenues I could take. Thank You that while I want to take them all, I know I can’t possibly.

Thank You for narrowing my focus. What is it to be agog?

Showing a keen desire or enthusiasm

Having or showing eager anticipation

Marked by curiosity of fascination

Feeling surprise or astonishment

Watchful, especially for danger or disorder

In a state of high anticipation 

Those are the feelings with which I awoke. Eager. Excited. It honestly seems as though a veil of sadness and gloom has lifted. Thank You.

Thank You for sending me to John 1:14. Found here in the book written by John the apostle to all people everywhere. Showing us that by faith in Your Son Jesus we can experience true love, forgiveness and recovery. Amen to that!

Father, how I thank You for the privilege of being Yours. Having this opportunity to pour over Your Word of Truth and promises.

John’s translated words here in the New Living Translation. Followed by oh so many others.

“So the Word became human [flesh] and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness [grace and truth]. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

It is Your unfailing love and faithfulness that provide me the hope with which to greet each day. Thank You God. Praise You Father.

“Grace and Truth” seems to be the overall phrase used in most of the translations I’m reading. Digger deeper because of where I began, I am thrilled and smiling at some of the other words used.

Favor. Loving-kindness. Absolutely free of deception. God’s gracious love. Kindness. Loving forgiveness. Loving-favor. The perfect balance of grace and Truth. Mmm. The perfect balance. Thank You God.

I want to utilize Your perfect balance Dear Lord. Work. Play. Love. Care. Health. Awareness. Not doing too much. Not doing too little. Your perfect balance.

Another phrase presented in various ways is dwelt. Lived among. Tabernacled. Made His home. Took up residence. Made His dwelling. Chose to live alongside.

The wording of The Message allows me even more thought. “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”

Yes! Father. Son. Holy Spirit. Move in. Take up residence. Make Your dwelling in my heart. My soul. My mind. My strength.

I want to love You as I am called. Knowing You as the one and only LORD (Mark 12:29). Loving You with every aspect of my being (v. 30). And my neighbor as myself (31). Do all You must. In. With. By. Through. And for me. To Your good and perfect end.

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

(548 words ~ 6:19 a.m.)

thanksgiving and praise

 Monday, January 13, 2025 (6:00 a.m.)

Thank You Father.

The full moon is heartening. As are some of the remaining homes with Christmas lights still glowing in the early morning darkness.

Thank You for the medley of songs playing in my mind. As well as the jumble of emotions I have been experiencing this past week.

Blessed God, I come before You ♪with thanksgiving in my heart… enter[ing] Your courts with praise… say[Ing] “This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice for He has made me glad”♪

Father, thank You that You have made me glad. Overall. The fear satan would have derail me continues to rear its ugly head. Thank You that You would have me breathe in Your power of life itself instead.

I confess to getting caught in so many traps and snares of worry and doubt. Frozen in fear of mistake making. I look to You Dear Lord. Thank You for reminding me to ♪take back what the enemy stole♪

Thank You for the changes You are orchestrating in my life. I don’t have to be afraid. You are the LORD Most High. The great King of all the earth (Psalm 47:2). I get to clap my hands and shout to You with joyful praise (v. 1). Why would I consciously choose to be afraid?

Work in me today I ask (Matthew 7:7a). With, by, through and for me. That I will truly thank, praise, rejoice and be glad. Glorifying and enjoying You all along the way.

I love You Father. I need, trust and want You. Use me exactly as You know is best. Standing firmly in and staying my mind on Your glorious, power-filled Word of Truth and promises.

Lead, guide and direct me that I will follow You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

tears and all

 Sunday, January 13,2025 (5:27 a.m.)

Thank You Father.

I have tears forming. They come more often. Much more readily than before. Use them Lord. And me.

I want to embrace what You have for me. Tears and all.

(5:49 a.m.)

Thank You for seemingly using them to water my soul. With hope. Peace. Your presence.

Waking with the song ♪I’m Still Standing♪ my heart just leaped at the verse ♪… Lookin’ like a true survivor, feelin’ like a little kid♪ Yep! That’s me at the moment.

Thank You that I get to follow Your Truth. Into Your Word. Psalm 59:16-17. Attaching my trust with David’s. 

“But as for me, I will sing about Your power [♪I’m still standing… lookin’ like a true survivor, feeling’ like a little kid…♪].  Each morning I will sing with joy [♪I’m still standing…♪] about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress” (v.16)

Right here I confess to unfavorably comparing my own distress with that of others. Thank You that we have Your Word as a counter to our own attacks on ourselves.

Galatians 6:4-5. “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job will done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”

Thank You that You know all the condemning thoughts I entertain about myself. Thank You that by following Your lead, Your Truth counteracts my thinking.

Singing ♪There is therefore now no condemnation For those who are in Christ
Jesus♪ takes me to Romans 8:1. Life In the Spirit

Thank You for reminding me that ♪My Life Is In You, Lord My strength is in You, Lord My hope is in You, Lord In You, it’s in You I will praise You with all of my life I will praise You with all of my strength With all of my life With all of my strength All of my hope is in You♪

I truly cannot ever begin to thank You enough. I continue bringing You my tears and You use them to water my soul. 

Reading a sermon posted online entitled “I’m Still Standing” I get to follow You again into Your Word. Psalm 92:12-14. Thank You Father.

“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.’

Yes please Father. Use these tears that I will remain vital and green. Still standing. Flourishing. Producing fruit.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm” (Ephesians 6:13). Yes please!

(7:22 a.m.)

Reading further in the sermon I learn even more about Your design of a palm tree. Long-lived. Upright. Useful. Flexible. Able to bend to the ground for hours on end and bounce right back.

The palm roots grow wide and deep. They are stretched and strengthened, not weakened, by storms.

Thank You Father for the ways You speak to Your followers. Thank You that the benediction to this particular sermon is Romans 15:13. A verse very near and dear to my own heart.

Father God, empower me to stand firmly on it today. The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Rome. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”

Yes please! I want to serve and represent You well. Do all You must to make it so. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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