so very many reasons

 Sunday, March 22, 2026 (4:45 a.m.)

Thank You God.

I’ve been saying that quite a bit lately. Thank You for so very many reasons.

♪… it’s a new day dawning...♪

How perfect that this song would suddenly pop into my head. Yes! There are definitely

♪10,000 Reasons for my heart to find♪

Thank You for allowing me more sleep. Interrupted as it was. I continued asking (Matthew 7:7a) and it finally came. Thank You God.

Thank You for a hopeful report of a very sick newborn. Thank You for the diligence of her health care team. Thank Yo for the love and devotion of her family.

Speaking of love and devotion, I read yesterday about being under a banner of love. This is a phrase I’ve long heard and have yet to explore. I’d like to look into it with You now.

(5:29 a.m.)

Thank You Father for the privilege of reading Your Word. Looking into verses and sections that are still relatively new to me after all these years.

Thank You for the phrase “and his banner over me was love” (Song of Solomon 2:4b). Thank You that through the years I was able to experience being and feeling looked at and showered with love.

This seems to be another of Your gifts I quite possibly have taken for granted. Thank You for this opportunity to look back fondly and recall my beloved’s intent.

Beloved is the word that brought me to this book in the first place. It’s one I’ve rarely used throughout my life. I think that’s about to change.

I have reason to celebrate the many things he brought into my life. Thank You for allowing me the gift of truly feeling cherished. Treasured. Prized.

Do all You must that I will share Your love with others. I want to serve You well. Worshiping. Adoring. Glorifying. Enjoying. And representing You and the loving forgiveness Jesus brought into this world.

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

(345 words ~ 5:55 a.m.)

extenuating circumstances

 ♪I’m ‘bout to have a Good Day

No matter what they say♪

Saturday, March 21, 2026 (5:54 a.m.)

Lord God,

You’ve been singing and speaking to me for several hours. Thank You for Your presence and Your patience with me.

I confess to the wimpy whining I’ve been doing these past several weeks. It’s too cold. Too windy. Too hot. Too hard. Too many extenuating circumstances...

Yes Lord, I confess to absolutely being unlike the apostle Paul! He had learned to be content (Philippians 4:11). He had learned the secret of living in every situation (v. 12).

And that secret? Doing “everything through Christ, the One who gives me strength” (13).

Forgive me Father. I’ve been trying to muscle my way through all the events life in this world has been throwing my way.

I’ve fallen back into spending way too much time in my head. Stewing. Fretting. Trying desperately to accomplish things on my own. Or just giving up completely.

You have much more in store for me than this. More than I’ve been willing to trust and believe You able to accomplish in, with, by, through and for me.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Forgive me for forgetting and redoubling my efforts on my own! I want a deeper, more meaningful dependency on You. I love, I need, I trust, I want You as absolute Lord of my life.

You reminded me earlier 

♪…Greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world♪

As I read the lyrics now I am all the more grateful to You God.

♪Bring your tired

And bring your shame

Bring your guilt 

And bring your pain

Don’t you know that’s not your name

You will always be much more to Me♪

Thank You for directing me back to the Truth and promises found in Your Word. As guilty and ashamed as I tend to feel at any given moment, that is NOT Your best for me!

Thank You for leading me again to 2 Corinthians 12:9 and Galatians 6:4-5. Do all You must that I will stand firmly as I stay my mind on them.

‘Your grace IS all I need! Your power works best in weakness.’ I want so much to echo Paul’s words. “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

♪…greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world♪

As You continue Your transforming work (Romans 12:2) involving me, I ask (Matthew 7:7a) that You keep me far out of Your way. Do all You must that I will leave You to all that is necessary in changing me from the inside out.

I want to be empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16, 2 Timothy 1:7) to ‘pay careful attention to my own work, for then I will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and I won’t need to compare myself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct’ (Galatians 6:4-5).

This IS the day that You have made! I want VERY much to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

♪Bring your tired

And bring your shame

Bring your guilt 

And bring your pain…

‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed

When others say I’ll never be enough

And greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the word♪

I invite you in dear Lord. No longer stand at the door and knock. Come in and share a meal as friends (Revelation 3:20).

♪Into My Heart, into my heart,

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;

Come in today,

Come in to stay,

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus♪

Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(711 words ~ 7:17 a.m.)

willing student

 Friday, March 20, 2026 (4:39 a.m.)

Good morning Blessed God,

Psalm 19:14, 90:14, 143:8

Isaiah 50:4

(5:26 a.m.)

You have much to teach me. 

Psalm 92:12-15

“Ask questions rather than offer advice”

(6:02 a.m.)

My thoughts are all over the place this morning. Prayers for others. Tests being run on a tiny newborn. Job searches for another. Safe travels for a returning snow skier. Your healing hand and presence with them all.

Father, thank You for holding me together. So often I think/feel parts of myself slipping away. When I pause long enough to really look at circumstances I see Your loving wisdom and design in the details.

You have much to teach. And I? Even more to learn. Make me a willing student Dear Lord.

Even with the song I’ve been singing for hours.

♪Good Morning, good morning

We’ve talked the whole night through

Good morning, good morning

To YOU!♪

Yes! I get it now. You and I did talk throughout the night. And now as

♪Sun beams will soon smile through♪

I’m still singing

♪Good morning

Good morning

To You♪

Holy Father, God use me exactly as You know is best this day [which You have made (Psalm 118:24a)]. I truly want to ♪rejoice and be glad in it♪ (24b).

Do all You must that I will worship, adore, glorify, enjoy and represent You well. I love, need, trust and want You Dear Lord. Thank You. Bless You. Praise You. Amen.

(255 words ~ 6:24 a.m.)

being reconciled

 ♪This is the day…♪

Thursday, March 19, 2026 (5:21 a.m.)

Father,

Thank You for another new day. One in which to rejoice and be glad.

♪Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee…♪

John 14:9 10

Psalm 51:5

Romans 7:18

1 John 1:9

Colossians 2:13

John 6:63

Isaiah 1:18

1 Peter 5:18

Philippians 2:8

Being reconciled

True satisfaction

Promise of forgiveness

Seek to serve rather than to be served

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Romans 5:8-11

Colossians 1:20-22

(6:29 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God, thank You for this opportunity of sitting and reading about what it means to be reconciled [changed completely] by You. There is definitely a “new normal” taking place within me. I am choosing to believe that You know and will do all that is best.

Psalm 85

Father God, I love, need, trust and want You. I read Your Word. I trust. I hope. Empower and embolden me in hearing and obeying You.

You are good, great, gracious and glorious (Psalm 145:5-8). Do all You must that I will truly worship, adore, glorify, enjoy and represent You well. You know what You are doing. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(210 words ~ 6:50 a.m.)

out loud

 Wednesday, March 18, 2026 (5:22 a.m.)

♪I speak the name of Jesus over you…

…Come believe it

Come receive it…♪

(In Jesus Name)

♪I just wanna speak the name of Jesus♪

(I Speak Jesus)

Father God,

Thank You for reminding me of the importance of speaking out loud.

(6:45 a.m.)

I confess to You the exorbitant amount of time I spend inside my head. Thinking this. Pondering that. One wild idea after another.

Thank You for prompting me to speak my thoughts. Out loud. To You.

(6:59 a.m.)

Blessed God, thank You for inviting me in to yet another form of worship. Continue Your work in teaching me to honor You. Focusing my thoughts and speech on Your grace, Your Truth and Your kindness.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Use me exactly as You know is best. Worshiping, adoring, glorifying, enjoying and representing You well in all I am, think, say and do. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(167 words ~ 7:04 a.m.)