better, better, best

 Sunday, May 31, 2026 (4:32 a.m.)

Good morning Lord. And thank You.

There was sleep. And rest. Dreams. And music.

(4:45 a.m.)

Thank You for circumstances that allow for gratitude. Questions. Wonders. Thoughts. Desires.

(5:10 a.m.)

Even discouraged disappointment.

Mm, yes. How often I thank You for all that is pleasing. Pushing aside that which is undesirable. Frustrating. Challenging.

(5:15 a.m.)

Blessed God, I didn’t see any of this coming when I woke up singing

♪… Your Way’s Better♪

It truly is, Lord!

♪… better, better, better♪

Father, I AM “thankful for the ways that You’ve blessed me.” It’s the next line that has me shaking my head when I hear or sing it

♪Everything You say making waves like a Jet Ski♪

I confess to thinking that it just seems silly. Did the writer only put it there because it kind of rhymes? Was it well thought out? Or an afterthought?

These are the kinds of things I’m grateful to be able to wonder.

(5:38 a.m.)

Thank You that as I bring all my random thoughts to You, You point me back to Your Word. Always.

This morning especially to the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus.

(5:56 a.m.)

Mm. Reading more of just how better Your way is, I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue shaping and forming me for Your use. Exactly as You alone know is best.

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

(256 words ~ 6:12 am.)

enJOYing laughter

Saturday, May 30, 2026 (5:05 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You for fun. Experiments. Experiences. Thoughts. Hopes. A day to do whatever I wanted. Even if that turned out being several catnaps on the couch.

(5:23 a.m.)

Thank You for the chuckle I just enjoyed. Beginning first as a smile. Mental music often does that for me.

Recalling the giggle I got at a cemetery yesterday has me contentedly smiling now. With flowers in hand, the decision to sing The Flintstone version of ♪Happy Anniversary♪ over two burial plots came on quite automatically.

(5:38 a.m.)

Truly I thank You for every smile Lord. Like the one I keep getting by changing the one word title I sang to You just the other day. Going from ♪Laughing♪ to ♪Napping♪ I wonder just what can’t I do with You?

(6:37 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the desire to go outside. Contemplating Your goodness (Psalm 145:7). Greatness (v. 6). Glory (5). And grace (8). All the while still grumbling over recurring challenges with the yard and pool.

Lord, it is so easy for me to get sidetracked looking at problems. Offering curses rather than praises. Thank You for reminding me to look to You in all things!

(6:50 a.m.)

Reading all of Psalm 4, here I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your mighty work in, with, by, through and for me. I want to live and love as You designed us. Wholeheartedly. Soulfully. Mindfully. And with all my strength (Mark 12:30-31). 

Do everything You must that I recognize, acknowledge and enJOY the blessings You provide. Especially when they come in the form of musical laughter.

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

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

watching the wind

 Friday, May 29, 2026 (5:10 a.m.)

Thank You God.

Seventy-eight years ago today, two teenagers and their two witnesses were told to “watch the wind…” as they drove over two hundred miles to their marriage destination. Thank You for their safety. Their commitment. Their willingness to keep trying.

A peacefulness settles around me as I consider the differences between their lives and my own. All they hoped to achieve. What they had to offer. To themselves. And one another.

Father God, I want to offer all I have, all I am, to You.

(5:46 a.m.)

You know Your best for each of us. Thank You for the opportunity to explore Your Word.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 speaks against the tendency of waiting for perfect conditions before taking action. Watching the wind and staring at clouds while depending on ideal weather and seeds will never get planted.

We are instead to do our work. Get on with life. Embrace uncertainty. Avoid procrastination. Take action. All the while offering ourselves to You in surrender of Your guidance.

Yes please Father.

I want to trust in You and do good (Psalm 37:3a). Delight in You (v. 4a). Commit everything I do to You (5a). Trusting You to help me (5b). In all things. At all times.

Let every bit of wind I watch today be done out of the deepest respect for two teenagers that truly did the very best they could to love one another and raise a family that would eventually come to love, need, trust and want You. Thank You for them and all they worked so hard to teach.

Use us as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(286 words ~ 6:14 a.m.)

laughing

 Thursday, May 28, 2026 (5:32 a.m.)

Blessed, Glorious, Awesome God,

Thank You Lord. I woke up singing again. Two completely different songs. First [♪I Believe♪] was very comforting. The second? [♪Oh, What a Night♪] Quite reminding.

Oh! Now I discover the year is off in the lyrics I’m singing. As well as the month.

(5:48 a.m.)

Thank You Lord for the giggles that are ensuing from my being able to learn to laugh at mistakes. Even when they come in the form of a song.

(6:30 a.m.)

Father, thank You for this time to sit with You. Contemplating memories. Watching a fully scripted 19 minute DisneyWorld  “Happily Ever After” firework video. And reading in Your Word about biblically laughing at my mistakes.

Psalm 103:13-14. “The LORD is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust.”

Father, thank You that You do not expect perfection from us. That is a burden we often place upon ourselves.

I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to continue teaching me the full measure of Your love for us (Ephesians 3:19). What joy You offer. Only to have us look off in other directions.

Teach me, Dearest Dad, to stand firmly on the absolute Truth of Your precious Word. Truly depending on ‘a cheerful heart being good medicine’ (Proverbs 17:22a). Accepting that ‘a broken spirit saps a person’s strength’ (22b).

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

(269 words ~ 6:48 a.m.)

wholeheartedly

 Wednesday, May 27, 2026 (5:43 a.m.)

Thank You Father.

You prove to me repeatedly how very much in need of You I am.

(5:57 a.m.)

It took all those minutes for me to form even that one thought. And again I say, “Thank You Father.”

Simply stated. Wholeheartedly meant.

There’s an absolute word for the day. Wholeheartedly - “with complete sincerity and commitment”

Teach me more about loving and living for You… wholeheartedly.

(6:10 a.m.)

Smiling broadly. Beaming actually! Reading Colossians 3. Living the New Life

Father God, how quickly I forget Your ways. Reinstituting my own habits. Most of which never worked well in the first place.

Thank You for again reminding me of the importance of turning and looking to You. Whatever it is that I say or do, it is to be “as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).

(6:47 a.m.)

Father, I confess to how easily my attention gets drawn away from You. From Your teachings. Your Truth.

And then? A word. A thought. A song. And the floodgates of Your loving presence open and wash over me.

Renewing my heart. My soul. My mind. My strength.

Father, thank You!

I read of emptiness. Countered only by our relationship with Jesus. The apostle Paul truly says it best…

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:12-13).

Thank You for the musical score You have provided me already this morning:

Who Am I

God Is On The Move

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here

The Power [glory] of Love

Thank You even more for the Truth and power of Your Living Word (Hebrews 4:12).

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts” (vs. 14-15a).

Oh yes please!

“For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (15b-17).

Yes Lord. I want to represent You well. Do all You must to this very end. I love, need, trust and want You. Wholeheartedly. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

for sure

 Tuesday, May 26, 2026 (4:27 a.m.)

Most Dear and Blessed God,

How I thank You Lord. I am counting my blessings for sure.

(4:40 a.m.)

Yes!

♪It’s like it was yesterday♪

Because it was!

Gut punched and completely caught off guard. Taking the word “Citi” to a bank site instead of a utility bill I found a completely unexpected charge.

First instinct? Accept it as probable. Second was to dispute it. Ask questions. Dig deeper.

Father, thank You that You provide us with so many options.

Deciding to inquire, I was hit with an onslaught of memories. Followed by emotions to match. Each one seemingly bigger than the last.

Two years ago, Dearest Lord, we had a party. Attended by family and friends. All here to celebrate the love of my life.

Taking time to look at pictures, I can now see what I was unable to recognize then. He was definitely ailing. And still happy!

How incredibly kind of You to provide me opportunity to be “done adulting” yesterday. Able to be honest with my hurting heart. Shed the tears that needed to fall. And to freely laugh out loud on occasion.

Thank You for waking me earlier with the immediate recognition that I AM 

♪… still Counting My Blessings 

For all that You’ve done in my life

The more that I look in the details

The more of Your goodness I find♪

Father, there is absolutely no doubt

♪… on this side of heaven

I know that I’ll run out of time

But I will keep counting my blessings

Knowing I can’t count that high♪

Thank You for Your goodness (Psalm 145:7). Your grace (v. 8). Your glorious splendor (5). “I will tell of Your greatness as long as I have breath.” (6b The Voice).

Seems like blessing counting for sure!

♪One, two, three 

Up to infinity

I’d run out of numbers 

Before I could thank You for everything

God, I’m still counting my blessings

For all that You’ve done in my life

The more that I look in the details

The more of Your goodness I find♪

Speaking [singing] of that goodness, Illustrated Bible Handbook describes this Psalm (145) as “Pure praise, offered to God for His many wonderful attributes and qualities.”

Thank You for calling me to remember Lord. I love, need, trust and want You. Continue Your work in preparing me to be used exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(412 words ~ 5:31 a.m.)

most perfect

 Monday, May 25, 2026 (5:29 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! 

(5:49 a.m.)

You provided me the most perfect song with which to fall asleep last night. So perfect I was sure it’s what we sing together this morning. Nope! Not. I can’t even remember what it was. Only that it was absolutely perfect at that moment.

Isn’t that just like You Lord? Absolutely perfect. At all times.

Take waking up this morning for an example. The chorus of ♪God Is On the Move♪ singing repeatedly in my mind.

♪God is on the move, on the move

Hallelujah

God is on the move

In many mighty ways

God is on the move, on the move

Hallelujah

God is on the move

On the move today♪

Father, how I thank You for the mighty ways in which You move.

(6:31 a.m.)

Reading Isaiah 43 just now, I continue to marvel at the ways You move. Making ways where there seems to be no way (vs. 16-20). How I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to keep me close and observant to Your most perfect provisions for us.

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

( 217 words ~ 6:36 a.m.)