"beach morning"

 Saturday, May 16, 2026 (5:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for a lazy morning. Rather gloomy and overcast. Thank You for the interrupted sleep I had. Enough to produce a fairly spooky, detailed dream that I would much rather not remember. Except for the nurtured dragonfly.

(6:20 a.m.)

Taking quite awhile to look at the lifespan of dragonflies, my brother just drew my attention to the memories of waking up at the beach with our parents. Father, thank You that You allow us so many interests.

Circumstances and opportunities abound. Continue teaching me to use them well.

(6:42 a.m.)

Mm, yes please.

And would You just look at this! Searching “circumstances and opportunities” I find “challenges and growth.” Possibilities is the next word that comes up.

Taking the search one step further I add the words “with God.” Father, thank You for the privilege of bringing it all to You. Here I read, “difficult circumstances are often divine opportunities.”

Yes! Thank You for Your invitation to come as we are. To You. To the foot of the cross.

What an extraordinary opportunity it is to be loved by You. To take You at Your Word. To ‘trust Your promises and commands so completely that they become the anchor for our daily lives.’

An internet find says “living out this trust trust looks like: trusting over doubting, applying the Truth [not just reading it] and holding on to hope.” Father, do all You must in empowering me to do just this!

I’ve watched You changing me for decades. And here it is… spelled out in words I could never devise on my own.

“Watching God change us is an awe-inspiring, lifelong journey of spiritual transformation. It is the process where His grace works within us, gradually molding our character, renewing our minds, and aligning our everyday actions and desires with His heart.”

This overview from Saddleback Church goes even further in explaining my personal experience with You. Described as “both beautiful and deeply personal.” Listing this transformation as:

An Incremental Process: detailing a caterpillar’s step-by-step change into a butterfly; gradual, daily

Renewing the Mind: You changing us from the inside out

Experiencing His Presence: gaining an unexplained peace

Overcoming Through Surrender: requiring our yielding our plans to Yours. Opening our hearts to Your guidance.

Blessed Holy Father, how I thank You for speaking to me this morning. In ways I could never imagine. Do all You must that I spend this day [the one You have made (Psalm 118:24a)] rejoicing and being glad (v. 24b).

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

(446 words ~ 7:18 a.m.)

new things

 Friday, May 15, 2026 (5:53 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank you! You provided me with so many new things yesterday. A late afternoon car trip. Complete with safe travels, great music and affordable passage. Thank You Father.

Thank You for a new to me dining experience. Concluded in a timely manner. With my decision to let go of [toss out] a pricey burger I didn’t enjoy. It may not seem like much, yet it’s brand new behavior for me.

Thank You for time with loved ones Dear God. Time spent together that is easier than it used to be. Thank You for helping me learn to drop my guard. Be less critical. While becoming more willing to accept and enjoy all that is offered to me.

Thank You for the ease with which I found the lyrics [and song title] to the phrase I woke up singing. Not quite correctly I might add.

♪When I saw left the 99

You saw [the] one♪

Oh Your goodness God! I have chills! I just “got” it!!! I’m “the one” You saw! The one You see on a regular, daily basis!

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You God! Thank You for the grace we get to routinely see. Every time we pause long enough to look for it.

♪I See Grace 

Hallelujah I stand amazed

I’m staring at an empty grave…

And just like that all my past has been erased♪

Most holy Father God, thank You for Your grace that covers our sin. Your grace that allows us to come before You exactly as the flawed, yet fully forgiven, creatures that we are.

Father, as You continue teaching and providing me with the new things You know are best I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to enable me in utilizing the apostle Paul’s prayer for the Philippian believers.

In it he prayed that their love would flourish and that they would not only love much but well. He wanted them to learn to love appropriately. Knowing that they needed to use their head and test their feelings so that their love would be sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush (Philippians 1:9-10a). 

He wanted them to “live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God” (vs.10b-11).

Yes please Father. I still want to learn to love like that. That would be another brand new thing for me.

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

(441 words ~ 7:12 a.m.)

true blessings

 Thursday, May 14, 2026 (5:36 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! I woke up singing. ♪I Thank God… Hell lost another one, I am free Oh, I am free♪ How truly blessed are we?!

(6:02 a.m.)

Again You amaze me Lord!

Waking up so much earlier all I could confess to You was feeling tired. Weary. Worn. You supplied Your Truth in the song above. To where I am again smiling and feeling hopeful. Encouraged. Held and helped by You.

Searching “true blessings” with You, I was directed to a page describing the apostle Paul’s “faithful endurance” (2 Timothy 4:7). Here I was once more reminded of his obedient faith in You. Not an easy, piece of cake existence.

Father, thank You for the example Paul set in his unwavering commitment to You and sharing Your Good News with others. His faithfulness through all the challenges he faced continues to point our way to You. 

It is never in our own strength that we can accomplish what You have for us. Thank You that Paul knew to direct us to Your strength and mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

(6:26 a.m.)

Another section of Your Word has me beaming. Truly blessed by another promise of healing. Hebrews 12:12-13.

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”

Most blessed God, how I thank You for these true blessings You provide. Empower me in using them as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You Dearest God. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(289 words ~ 6:33 a.m.)

"Yes! Let's..."

 Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (5:42 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. For what? I’ve not yet decided.

Rest? Yes. Lots of that. Warmth. Comfort. Love. Peace. Joy. Mm. Yes. The fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23a).

Yes. Let’s go in that direction.

(5:54 a.m.)

Father, I want to learn to live freely. In, with, by, through and for Your Spirit. Quoting here from The Voice I catch another glimpse of how this is done.

“Paul has been preaching about the call of God to freedom, and so he spells it out: we are done with the demands of the law; now we are free to live in the Spirit and to be truly right with God. As free people, the Spirit gives us the characteristics of Jesus; we, too, can freely love in joy and peace. We can have patience along with kindness and faithfulness that can only come from the Father. We can reflect the goodness of God while being gentle in operating with self-control. For those who follow Him and live in the Spirit, these characteristics or fruits are a gift from God. As we grow in the faith, we find that we belong to God and can walk daily in the Spirit.”

Mm… “Grow in the faith… walk daily in the Spirit.” Yes! Let’s do this.

“The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this.”

Blessed Lord, my brain has been swirling with what’s next on things that must be done. Caregiving after a major surgery is a big responsibility. Thank You for supplying all that is necessary. Continue Your work in teaching me to stay connected to You. Growing in faith and walking daily in Your Spirit. 

You are my strength. And my Provider. Do all You must in using me again as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God.

Keep teaching me to accept challenges with Your “Yes! Let’s…” [can do] Spirit. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

"maoz"

 Tuesday, May 12, 2026 (6:15 a.m.)

Good morning Lord,

Thank You that Your joy is indeed my strength. Talk with me about that this morning, will You?

(6:28 a.m.)

And again You amaze me! Thank You Father.

Looking at Nehemiah 8:10 I learn more. The Hebrew word translated here as “strength” is “maoz.” Meaning “refuge, stronghold, fortress, place of protection.” Thank You that You ARE these things for me!

How perfectly timed is the reading of the Recovery Themes listed here in The Life Recovery Bible. Each of the four topics touching on some relational issues rather emotionally discussed just yesterday evening.

Father, thank You for knowing Your children so well! How I thank You for providing us healthy examples for: boundary setting, confrontation, encouragement, and confession, followed by worship.

Lord God, I want to continue learning the ways You would have us live. Lovingly. Honorably. Securely. In, with, by, through and for You.

Do all You must in using me exactly as only You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

One and only

 Monday, May 11, 2026 (7:08 a.m.)

Only God,

Either I am completely distracted, or auto correct incorrectly corrected the word Holy just now. As I went back to change it, I decided to let it stand. Only God seems quite fitting. Thank You for truly being our one and only God (Mark 12:29 The Living Bible).

Blessed Lord, my intended thankfulness for the absolutely ♪lovely day♪ I experienced yesterday is giving way to considering You as our one and only. In The Voice Jesus referred to You as the Eternal One to a questioning scribe. Stating that You are the only God.

Hmm… our Eternal One and only God. I want to sit with this, and You, a bit.

(7:43 a.m.)

The more I read of this exchange, again the more I am aware of just how little I know. Thank You Father for the privilege of coming before You with the desire to learn more from You. Our Eternal One and only God.

People plot and pounce all over others. Thank You that that is not Your way. Thank You for Your loving kindness. Your mercy and grace that teach us how to love and live as You would have us.

Do all You must in using me as You know is best Dearest Lord. Loving You, others and myself with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31). Knowing You as “the one and only LORD” (New Living Translation).

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

(264 words ~ 8:04 a.m.)

taking notes

 Sunday May 10, 2026 (5:43 a.m.)

So God,

Here I am in a different to me format. Taking “Notes” to You instead of bringing “Pages.”  There’s a pun right there. Being they are both applications. With the latter currently being updated.

Blessed Father, thank You for providing me with this workaround. I am often awed by the various ways You get our attention straight back to You, where it so rightly belongs.

I heard myself tell another yesterday, “Yes! This hurts! It really does. And it might for a really long time. It’s okay to cry. A lot. And in the end? God has something better for you. He really does. He always does!”

Father, thank You that with all confidence I believe this to be true. So many times in the past, I’ve had my mind set on certain things. Expecting particular outcomes. It’s actually becoming rather fun when I take my hands off and allow You to determine our next steps.

A vision of myself pedaling a bicycle and taking my hands off the handlebars just came to mind. Thank You God. The balance. Trust. Determination. Risk. And I was able to do it. Many times. On more than one occasion.

Your Word talks about becoming like little children (Matthew 18:3). The thought of the freedom we believed ourselves of having as a child makes even more sense. Use me as Your ambassador. One willing to truly let go. Allowing You to be the good, GOOD God that You are! 

Esther 4:14. Psalm 18:30-36, Exodus 14:14 each remind me of the perfect ways You have of working things out for us. Thank You God. Enable me to keep taking notes of Your goodness. Your greatness. Your gracious and glorious ways (Psalm 145:5-8).

I love, need, trust and want You as absolute God and Father of my life. Do all You must in preparing me to serve You and others. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(339 words ~ 7:19 a.m.)