exploring rest

 Saturday, April 11, 2026 (5:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. I took an entire day to feel better from a “stomach bug” of some kind. Thank You for the privilege of resting.

(7:17 a.m.)

Thank You for this opportunity of exploring rest. With You.

(7:57 a.m.)

Through the joyful, celebratory, hopeful tears that are falling, I am smiling. Thank You Father God.

I get to explore rest. And find peace. In, with, by, through and for You. Your peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7). 

Just look at the verses that speak of what Your peace provides:

Psalm 23:3

Titus 3:5

John 14:27

Romans 15:13

2 Corinthians 13:11

Lord God, I can never thank You enough for all You provide. A truly invigorated spirit at this very moment leaves me practically speechless.

All the thoughts of thanks and praise get jumbled together. I am truly so excited and eager to tell [AGOG] that all I can do is sit and smile. Contentedly.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You as the cultivated tree You have grafted me into (Romans 11:24a). Let all of Your powerful nutrients flow into and out of my being exactly as You know is best.

Use me in representing You well. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(223 words ~ 8:23 a.m.)

 

glory of goodness

 Thursday, April 9, 2026 (5:43 a.m.)

♪Holy Spirit

You are welcome here

Come flood this place 

And fill the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord♪

Blessed God and Father,

Thank You for the way You turn my thoughts into songs. Which in turn often lead me back to Your Word. In this particular case, Exodus 33:18-19.

Looking to You. To Your glory. And Your goodness. I honestly don’t even know what it means. But a palpable peace comes over me. Yes. I am truly overcome by Your presence, Lord.

Thank You that it is Your love, Your mercy, Your grace that leads me to wanting to

♪… become more aware of Your presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness♪

Yes! Your presence, Lord.

There is a plan for the day. A social interaction with a loved one. Father, you well know the basis of this relationship. As with any other, I want it to be built on You.

Immediately cue the next song…

♪The Church’s One Foundation

Is Jesus Christ, her Lord

She is His new creation

By water and the Word♪

(1 Corinthians 3:11)

Suddenly a question poses itself. Can two people constitute a church?

One answer I find is “Yes, a church can be two people.” Instantly I realize I want to do church with those I encounter Lord.

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth to encourage them to resolve their problems and honor You. I want to live this way Dear Lord. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that the day will truly come that I mirror his words.

“Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11).

It is “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14) that empowers us in building anything of value. I want that power!

♪Holy Spirit

You ARE welcome here

Come flood this place

And fill the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord…

… Let us become more aware of Your presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness♪

Yes! I love, need, trust and want Your presence Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(435 words ~ 7:05 a.m.)

love that is far greater

 Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (5:37 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Thank You for the love You have provided for me through the years.

(5:49 a.m.)

Your love which is far greater than I can even begin to fathom.

(6:11 a.m.)

You bless us. And keep us. You make Your face shine upon us. You turn Your face toward us. You smile. And You give us Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

This is love! The love described by Jesus in John 15:13. That same love He modeled when He laid His own life down for us.

Father, thank You for the love that only You can provide. The love that is pure. Genuine. Too great to be understood (Ephesians 3:19).

I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to continue teaching me how best to share Your love with others. I’m witness to the grace You’ve been affording me.

You ARE able, through Your “mighty power at work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). You are so very good, great, glorious and gracious (Psalm 145:5-8).

I want desperately for Jesus to make His home in my heart (Ephesians 3:17a). With my roots growing down into Your love keeping me strong (17b). ‘Then I will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that come from You’ (v. 21).

Mm, yes Dearest Dad. Continue blessing and keeping me. Making Your face shine upon me. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as You alone know is best. Do all You must to Your perfect end. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(279 words ~ 6:40 a.m.)

beautiful morning

 Tuesday, April 7, 2026 (5:59 a.m.)

While reviewing my first moments just now, I suddenly realized they’re part of a song.

♪It’s A Beautiful Morning 

I think I’ll go outside for awhile

And just smile♪

That is exactly what I did!

with purpose and joy

Monday, April 6, 2026 (6:39 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You

 I woke hours ago. Thinking how one moment leads to the next. Followed by another. Until an hour, day, weeks, months, years, decades, an entire lifetime have been lived.

Father God, I am truly amazed by how quickly moments pass. So often without any thought or recognition.

I want to learn to live each moment You’ve allotted me with purpose. And joy. Hmm, yes. With purpose and joy.

Blessed Lord, this Lenten season has given me many opportunities to get to know myself a little bit better. To pay closer attention to my own particular quirks and peculiarities. Thank You for this Dearest Dad.

I can honestly say to You, I am learning to look back, at the present and toward whatever is ahead with a greater acceptance of myself than ever before. Thank You Father. This is truly a post Easter celebration.

I want to utilize each moment You have set for me. Learning to live, love and laugh with You on a moment by moment basis.

Searching what this might mean, I find instructions on living abundantly. Isn’t that what Jesus spoke of in His Good Shepherd analogy (John 10:10b)?

Because of various doubts and fears I have entertained throughout my lifetime, the thief has definitely been able to steal, kill and destroy (v. 10:10a) so much of the abundance Jesus came to give.

Thank You for another reminder to trust You. In all things. At all times. Every single moment.

I also read that I am to love without fear. Which for me also involves trusting. You! 

Loving You, others and myself with all aspects of myself [heart, soul, mind and strength] as recited by Jesus Himself (Mark 12:30-31) can only be achieved in, with, by, through and for the power of Your Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). I cannot will myself into obedience. Only into complete surrender. Allowing Your perfect love to remove all fear (1 John 4:18).

Remembering to laugh, especially in the most dire of circumstances, provides me another opportunity to practice Your Truth and promises! Thank You Father.

Proverbs 15:13 “A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 15:15 “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continued feast.”

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

Use the moments You have set for me that I will live the life You designed. Love each opportunity You provide. And laugh with the joy Jesus made possible.

I love, need, trust and want You dear Lord. Thank You for every, single moment You have planned. Praise You for Your goodness and Your grace. Do all You must. Amen.

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

exploring Easter

Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026 (5:18 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for the privilege of exploring Easter with You.

I’ve taken a much different approach this year. Observing, rather than participating. Thinking the season, far more than engaging in it. Remembering other years, while being curious about this one.

Thank You Father for making me the woman that I am. Interested. Wondering. Willing. 

(6:00 a.m.)

Father God, I am grateful for the ways You change me. My heart. My mind. My thoughts. My wants.

I just saw it written. “The Importance of Easter: A Celebration of Hope and Eternal Life” Yes! It is so true.

I confess to down playing the whole Lenten Season this year. Considering our traditions far more manmade than Biblical.

(6:29 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the curiosity and wonderment than teaches me to look at and to see circumstances in different lights.

(7:33 a.m.)

Thank You for this privilege of looking beyond the baskets, bunnies and colored eggs. Thank You for phrases such as: “victory of life over death”, “heart of our faith” and “where sorrow turns to joy and death gives way to life.”

(8:50 a.m.)

Additional exploring. More words: Forgiven. Restored. Act of love. Sacrifice. Substitute. Pierced. Crushed. Punished. Healed. Resurrected. Pause. Reflect. Respond. Draw near. Worship. Rejoice.

 

settled rest

 ♪God’s Not Done With You…♪

Saturday, April 4, 2026 (5:57 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for Your Truth.

(6:03 a.m.)

Yes Father!

Thank You for the privilege and opportunity of singing and searching Your Truth.

(6:45 a.m.)

You never cease in amazing me Lord. I come to You with one thought. In this particular case, the Truth that You are not done with me (Philippians 1:6). And it quickly morphs into the grace and peace the apostle Paul opens each of his letters.

Grace. And peace.

Not the peace the world knows as the absence of conflict. No! Peace, as in “settled rest.”

Grace and peace that come from You, our Father. And Christ, Your Son.

The grace and peace that multiply as we get to know and trust You all the more. That “settled rest” with which Paul closed his second letter to the Thessalonians believers.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Father God, You are teaching me. To love. And trust. Listen. Learn. Wait. Enjoy.

Some seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth the prophet Micah foretold Him as “a ruler of Israel” (Micah 5:2b) who “will stand to lead His flock with the LORD’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God” (v. 5:4a). Adding “And He will be the source of peace” (5:5a).

Holy God, it is only when I look to You, Your Word, Your Truth, Your promises that I am reminded and strengthened by all that You have done for us.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for Micah 5:1-5 tells us, “God uses ‘insignificant’ people and places to achieve great things. He can take our broken and useless life and turn it into a blessing to others if we let Him.”

VERY key words there! “IF we LET Him.” Yes! Yes. Oh, yes.

“This can begin as we share how God delivered us. As others hear how God has blessed us, they will experience hope that God can do the same for them. Out of hopeless situations, God can bring hope. Out of the confusion and chaos we have created, God can rebuild a world of peace.”

Yes Father. I can so easily create chaos, crisis and confusion. Thank You that Your antidote for it all is the grace and peace of Your blessed Son.

Use me in sharing Your settled rest with others. I love, need, trust and want You Dearest Lord. Thank You that You truly are not done with me. Praise You. Amen.

(448 words ~ 7:37 a.m.)