peaceful quietness

 Saturday, September 5, 2026 (4:05 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You so very much. There’s such a peaceful quietness I enJOY with You. Thank You for inviting us to come to You. Just as we are.

♪… out of sadness…

… broken hearted…

… Lay[ing] down burdens…

… shame…

… hurt…

… heart…♪

(Come As You Are)

(4:31 a.m.)

The phrase “warts and all” just came to me. Changing one word, I am immensely grateful to be invited into Your presence “thoughts and all.” Thank You Father!

Because of Your perfect love (1 John 4:16-21) I don’t have to right myself before approaching You. Oh! This just got WAY deeper than I imagined!

Father, thank You for Your perfect love!  That love which enables us to trust You (v. 16a). Live in You (16b). And You in us (16c). And as we do, that love grows more perfect (17a).

Lord, I’ve read these verses before. This morning they’re having such an intense impact on me. One of those “Aha!” moments to be sure.

It’s Your love that keeps us unafraid on judgment day (v. 17b). Without fear (18). Helping us love one another because You loved us first (19).

Blessed Father, how I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your work in empowering us to love, rather than hate, those we see (1 John 4:20). Following Your command that we not only love You, but also each other (v. 21).

Yes! Holy God, continue Your impeccable work in, with, by, through and for us that we will come [there’s that word again!] to love as You would have us love. You with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). And others as ourselves (v. 31a).

Tall orders to be sure. But like everything else in this life, “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37 Common English Bible).

Let my responses to Your commands mirror Mary’s. “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me as you have said” (v. 38).

Mm, yes Father. Continue inviting me that I will keep coming to tell of Your greatness (Psalm 34:3a). Exalting Your name (v. 3b). Tasting and seeing that You are good (8a). Experiencing the joys found in taking refuge in You (8b).

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

(412 words ~ 5:18 a.m.)

learning and practicing

 Friday, September 4, 2026 (3:44 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

There is so very much to learn. And to practice. How I ask You to continue leading and guiding me as only You know is best.

(4:23 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the various people You have put in my life who help me learn Your Truth. Thank You for songs that sing of Your love and faithfulness.

My tendency through the years has been fearfully stiff-necked. How interesting to me that even this is a biblical term. Thank You Father that there is nothing I experience that You haven’t seen before.

How I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue making me pliable. Softening, while strengthening me. Shaping me.

(6:06 a.m.)

Thank You for leading me to Psalm 32. Particularly verses 8 and 9. Then over to the prayer of Moses, Psalm 90.

Mm, yes Lord. Once again I am reminded of the brevity of life (v. 12a). Oh, let me grow in wisdom (12b). Using this time You have afforded me (v.10) in glorifying and enJOYing You forever!

I love, need, trust and want You as absolute Guide of my life. Use me as You alone know is best. Loving You, others and myself with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(228 words ~ 6:15 a.m.)

equally important aspects

 Thursday, September 3, 2026 (3:19 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for sleep. And waking. More sleep. And even more waking. Mm, yes. Both equally important aspects.

(3:45 a.m.)

Thank You for this very early morning opportunity of being up and out. Exploring various predawn details in our yard.

Holy Father, I love who You are. And the principles on which You stand.

That being the case, I want and need to know what those principals are. Thank You that You are such a loving, willing Teacher.

You provide us lessons and ample time to practice them. Thank You that You do.

(4:01 a.m.)

Right here, let me exclaim the “Wow!” that’s bubbling up inside! Yes! WOW! Thank You Father God.

You never cease to amaze and confound me. I bring the simplest first thoughts of the day and You take me to the wildest areas. Places I never expect to go.

Thank You for these past decades of learning to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I confess. Like most every thing else I encounter in any given day, sometimes I succeed at this command better than at others.

♪They say sometimes you win some

Sometimes you lose some

And right now…♪

(Even If)

Right now, because of Your great love for every single one of us I am blessed by the hope we have in You. Thank You for the ways You have used MrecyMe’s music through the years to help center and guide me more deeply into Your Word.

♪They say it only takes a little faith

To move a mountain

Well, good thing

A little faith is all I have right now

But God, when You choose

To leave mountains unmovable

Oh, give me the strength

To be able to sing

“It is well with my soul”♪

Yes, Father! It is because of You and the faith, hope and trust we have in You that we are able to sing at all. Thank You, Lord.

The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Rome continues summing it up nicely for me. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Yes! Dearest Dad! Talk about equally important aspects!

Joy and peace. Confident hope and power. 

I turn in Your Word to the fruit that is ours [love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control] when we live by Your Spirit’s power (Galatians 5:22-23). Such equally important aspects. 

Also over to Paul’s directions as to where we are to “fix our thoughts. On what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. [We are to] Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

Father, again I ask You to continue Your work in me that I will be better able to follow Paul’s teachings. I want very much to learn to leave outcomes in Your fair and mighty hands (2 Timothy 4:14).

(5:33 a.m.)

Thank You for this extended opportunity to sit in Your presence. Reading in and of Your Word. Wanting desperately to absorb as much as possible.

I love, need, trust and want You Dear Lord. Do all You must that I continue learning and practicing what it is to be Yours. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(584 words ~ 5:37 a.m.)

 

much loved

 Wednesday, September 2, 2026 (4:59 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

It took until just now to remember it’s the day to celebrate the birth of a much loved one. Mm, Father. Thank You for the many things we have learned through these years. Many of them because of this fine young person.

Thank You God that You have so very much to teach us. Thank You for softening my edges. Making me more pliable. Willing, even eager, for more knowledge and understanding.

Thank You for the opportunities You provide for us to trust in You and not our own judgments. Mm, yes. Your provide. You make ways where there seems to be no way.

Thank You for directing me just now to the powerful Truth of the apostle Paul’s final letter. Sent to encourage Your faithful, yet discouraged, young minister Timothy. Thank You for their faithfulness. Their courage. Their examples.

Thank You Father for the love You have provided. Far before the beginning of time. Here again, I ask You to continue teaching me to live in, with, by, through and for Your love. Mm, yes Father. Yes!

We, like Timothy, are to remain faithful to the things we have been taught (2 Timothy 3:14). “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (16).

Mm, yes please. I absolutely want to learn and do what You know is right.

(5:46 a.m.)

Thank You for time to sit and be with You. Go before, behind, beside, below, above and within me that I am able to do and be all that You know is best.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me as You have planned. Loving. Caring. Praying. Glorifying and enJOYing You. Thank You. Praise You.

Happy Birthday to and thank You for our very much loved one! Amen.

(333 words ~ 5:50 a.m.)

♪Something Better♪

acute awareness

 Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (5:02 a.m.)

Rejoicingly cool weather. Thank You God! No longer unbearably hot and swampy. Who knew the difference a few degrees of temperature and percentages of relative humidity could make?

(5:20 a.m.)

Thank You God that this year, seemingly more than any other in the past, I appear to be acutely aware of the changing seasons. And the ways I am affected by them. Thank You Lord.

In searching these various thoughts I find others who have written quite a bit about them.

♪You give life, You are love

You bring light to the darkness

You give hope, You restore

Every heart that is broken

Great Are You Lord♪

Thank You Father for the ways You lead and guide our thoughts. Through Your Word of Truth and promises. And songs that sing of them.

♪All the earth will shout Your praise

Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing

Great are You, Lord♪

Thank You for making me acutely aware of the beauty of the skies these past many days. Unusually clear and bright contrasts of color. Reminding me regularly:

♪It’s Your breath in our lungs

So we pour out our praise to You only♪

Mm, yes! Father, it is to You I praise and sing of Your holiness.

(6:50 a.m.)

Choosing to look to and praise You, I become more aware of myself. My thoughts. And tendencies. Thank You Father.

I want You to use me as You alone know is best. Glorifying and enJOYing You forever.

Continue providing me with the glimpses of You, Your will and Your way I am discovering each day. I love, need, trust and want all that You are and do. Thank You for loving the world so much (John 3:16). Praise You Father. Amen.

(300 words ~ 6:58 a.m.)

riding the waves of emotions

 ♪It is well with my soul♪

(Make It Well)

Monday, August 31, 2026 (4:14 a.m.)

Most dear and blessed Holy God,

How I thank You Father. A full day of emotions, worship and rest. What a combination.

I confess to wanting to bypass the tears. It seemed every time I turned around there they were, falling again.

Thank You for reminding me to breathe. And ride ‘em like the waves that they were.

♪Goodbye yesterday

I’m living’ in the light of a new day♪

Thank You for the ways You change our hearts. Our minds. Our tunes.

(4:51 a.m.)

Mm, yes Father. You are teaching me to identify feelings. Not judge them. Providing me courage to address awkwardness as it comes.

I no longer feel as though I must, much less am qualified to, change circumstances. They are what they are. And they will be what they will be.

Thank You Dear Lord. Your Word is filled with hope and promises [see Isaiah 43:1-2 and Romans 15:13]. Thank You especially for the simplicity of Psalm 18:1.

“I love You, Lord. Your are my strength.” Oh! This just got so much better...

Talking about waves. And the feelings of being tossed about.

The Message says, “I love You, God - You make me strong. GOD is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God - the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout.”

That is very much how I felt yesterday. Waiting for the storm of my emotions to pass.

Thank You Father for Your goodness. Your mercy. Your grace. Your faithfulness. All that You are that allows me to wait on (Psalm 27:14; Isaiah 40:31) and trust in (Proverbs 3:5) You.

Thank You Father for blessing me and keeping me (Numbers 6:24). Making Your face shine upon me and being gracious to me (v. 25). Turning Your face toward me [and SMILING] and giving me peace (26).

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

(360 words ~ 5:23 a.m.)

♪There’s no one like You

None like You♪

(Our God)

Oh!

 ♪O, Lord O, Lord♪

Sunday, August 30, 2026 (4:20 a.m.)

Thank You for the amount of times I have already exclaimed “Oh!” this morning. 

Raccoons in the backyard. Waking much earlier than hoped. The sultry (67% relative humidity) feel to the already warm (77°) air upon opening the doors to outside. Noticing the still activated solar powered string of dragonfly lights our very dear neighbor strung just for my benefit. Even becoming aware of which day of the week it is.

These two letters carry quite a bit of weight Dear Lord. Expressing a range of emotions. Surprise. Disappointment. Joy. Awe. Wonder. Amazement. Concern.

I’ve noticed myself using this particular interjection quite often these days. Such a small word for expressing so many different emotions.

Thank You Dear Lord for the number of verses I find using it in Your Word. I’m choosing two at this moment. Just to get started. And expanding from there.

Psalm 105:1(-5). “Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory to His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He uttered”

Romans 11:33. “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways.”

Oh most blessed God, how truly I thank You for all You are and do. Thank You that I can use a word as simple as “Oh!” to express so very much.

Use me exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You as absolute Lord of my life. Do all You must Dear God. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(316 words ~ 5:28 a.m.)