choosing gratitude

 Sunday, November 8,  2026 (6:34 a.m.)

Holy God,

I heard a new to me phrase yesterday. “Do I want to be grumbly hateful or humbly grateful?” Thank You for this reminder Lord.

We get to choose our attitudes. Many are far easier than others. Thank You for the apostle Paul’s “plea for perspective” to the believers in Philippi.

His words of encouragement (Philippians 4:2-9) help us remember the joy we have in You. The Life Recovery Bible’s comment for verses 4-9 states the obvious quite plainly.

“True happiness can be found in every situation of life when we recognize that God is at work and always in control…”

Thank You God for Your hand in the radical change of travel plans this morning. A phone left in the car at the airport was quite reminiscent of a wallet left at home 34 years ago.

How perfect that today marks the 33rd anniversary of our much loved patriarch’s passing. All these years later and I can still imagine his playful delight in orchestrating another humorous “sketch” of events.

Thank You for this opportunity to remember and celebrate this man who truly did his best in raising his family to be generous, loving and kind. Flawed and imperfect as we all are, the blessings far outweigh the struggles and challenges.

Blessed Father God, keep our focus on You. Reminding us to “always be full of joy in the Lord” (v.4).

You are truly glorious (Psalm 145:5). Great (v.6). Good (7). And gracious (8). Use me as You know is best in choosing gratitude.

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

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

Resurrection Power

 Saturday, November 7, 2026 (5:08 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. There’s a song. 

♪…dead of night…♪

The melody and lyrics are eluding me. Kind of like the ball I keep looking for. It was here on the couch one day. And nowhere to be found the next.

Thank You that You are not like that. 

♪Da, da, da, da, da,

da, da, da, da, da♪

(6:00 a.m.)

More of the melody continues revealing itself. So far, none of the words.

Father, thank You for the twists and turns my brain takes. One minute I was planning on exploring Psalm 16:11 with You. The next? I’m struggling to identify this current earworm.

Thank You that in searching to learn more about elusiveness, I find phrases like spiritual maturity. Spiritual strength. Resurrection Power.

And just like that [Snap!] the song changes.

♪There Is Power in the name of Jesus

There is power, power in His name♪

Whatever purpose the still unidentified song served, thank You for reminding me of the life Jesus came to offer us (John 3:16). A life of freedom, not bondage to judgment (v. 17).

Thank You for pointing me again to the importance of living under the freedom of Your grace (Romans 6:14b).

Illustrated Bible Handbook tells us “We are to hear God’s promise of freedom, believe it, and act on it.” Yes please.

As the yet to be identified tune returns in my mind, here I’m switching gears again to Psalm 16:11. Both The Voice and International Children’s Bible have my attention.

Beginning at verse 10, “You will not abandon me to experience death and the grave or leave me to rot alone. Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment” (VOICE).

“You will teach me God’s way to live. Being with You will fill me with joy. At Your right hand I will find pleasure forever” (ICB).

Father, thank You. I do NOT know what today is going to look like in any way, shape or form. Thank You that YOU do!

Use me exactly as You know is best. Utilizing Your resurrection power every step of the way.

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

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

Yes! Let's!!

 Friday, November 6, 2026 (6:25 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. May we experiment today?

(6:41 a.m.)

Yes! Let’s!!

Let’s experiment with me believing Psalm 16:11 to be true for me. “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.”

♪From the rising to the setting sun

His love endures Forever

 By the grace of God we will carry on

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful

Forever God is strong

Forever God is with us

Forever♪

Father, I know that I trust this to be true. With my head and heart I rely on You to lead and empower me. I want to actually live as though You are doing something new in, with, by, through and for me.

Yes Lord. Let’s experiment with me thanking and praising You throughout the day. Looking to and for You in all I am, think, say and do.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me exactly as You know is best. Let’s get started, shall we? Yes! Let’s!! Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(193 words ~ 7:06 a.m.)

♪Alarm clock screaming

Bare feet hit the floor

It’s off to the races

Everybody out the door…

…Breathe, just breathe

Come and rest at My feet

And be, just be

Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to just breathe♪

Yes! Let’s!!

intense beauty

 Thursday, November 5, 2026 (5:20 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

I’ve been singing about You being on the move for hours now. Can we talk about that? And the smile it brings to my face as I consider it?

(6:17 a.m.)

Pardon the prolonged interruption. And THANK YOU for the intense beauty that has been taking place in the sky this past hour. 

Initially met with my own profound “WHOA!” The count is now up to four times I’ve gone out in attempts of capturing it with my phone’s camera.

Gorgeous, Father! Clouds. Color. Clarity. Absolutely breath taking, Lord. Thank You.

Yes! Thank You for the opportunity of sharing Your artwork via text with my equally appreciative brother. Both of us considering ourselves blessed by being loved by You.

Thank You for the musical soundtrack that met each “WHOA!” And “Wow!” that left my mouth.

♪God Is On the Move, on the move

Hallelujah

God is on the move

In many mighty ways

God is on the move…

…One the move today♪

Thank You that You are dear Lord. Use me as You know is best in pointing others to Your direction.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must that I worship, adore, glorify and enJOY You as You would have me.

You alone are holy (Revelation 15:4b). Worthy of our praise (Deuteronomy 10:21). Glorious (Psalm 145:5). Great (v. 6) Good (7). And gracious (8).

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

Thank You Father for such a glorious start to the day. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

big words and challenges

 Wednesday, November 4, 2026 (6:07 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for big words!

Nuance

Continuum

Propitiate

(6:15 a.m.)

And thank You for big challenges. You know? The ones that ultimately lead to great growth.

Yes Father. Thank You for big words and challenges. Both of which I question while at the same learn something new.

Lord God, I want desperately to be the woman You created me to be. Patient. Kind. Loving. Curious. I ask (Matthew 7:7) You again to continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me.

(6:52 a.m.)

Thank You for the opportunity of the hope we have in You through the prophet Isaiah (chapters 61 and 62). I confess to finding it increasingly difficult in continuing to put one faulty foot in front of the other. Wondering where exactly You are taking me.

Thank You that I can choose to believe that You really, truly do know what You are doing. Father, I want to follow Your lead. Wherever it is we are going.

(7:16 a.m.)

Use me. As only You know is best. Learning big words. And facing the challenges I’m sure to find along the way. 

I love, need, trust and want You as the absolute Lord of my life. Guide, direct, empower and embolden me in representing You well (Colossians 3:17). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(235 words ~ 7:25 a.m.)

fun, funner, funnest

 Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (5:09 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I woke up smiling awhile ago. Hopeful. Happy. With a touch of optimism. Thank You Lord.

Yes. Thank You.

You have a way about You. You truly do. Thank You that Billy Joel even sang [She’s Got a Way] of a woman that at one time checked all the boxes.

Thank You that all You are and do never change. You stay the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Father, I have come to using a certain “f” word quite regularly. While offensive to some, it is increasingly acceptable to many. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to change my uttering of it.

This is not something I can do on my own. Without realizing, it has become quite natural to me. Second nature almost. I suggest an alternative. 

Let’s change my language usage please. Instead of four letters, let’s shorten it to three. “FUN!” Yes! Shouted as loud and as long as necessary to capture my rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

I absolutely need You as my filter. Empowering me to fix my “thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think[ing] about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “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. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”

(6:30a.m.)

Yes please Father. Prepare and equip me to do Your good work.

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy [FUN!] of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever” (Psalm 16:11).

Quoting David, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from You” (v. 2). I want to use it all as You know is best. Having FUN [Fostering Usable Nonsense / forgetting useless nuisances] with You as I go.

Do all You must in making me playful again. Having the most fun, funner, funnest times ever. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(393 words ~ 6:41 a.m.)

inner strength

 Monday, November 2, 2026 (5:04 a.m.)

Holy God,

Again I thank You. For love. And change. Challenges. And all that You provide.

Father, I

(5:32 a.m.)

… want to embrace all that You have for me.

Searching about Your faithfulness, I was reminded of You as our Anchor. Looking further, I wondered if laughter can also be an anchor of sorts. Indeed it is.

Proverbs 17:22. The Voice. “A joy-filled heart is curative balm, but a broken spirit hurts all the way to the bone.”

Blessed God, thank You for steering my thoughts to Your Truth. Simple kindnesses that remind me to smile indeed bring joy to my heart.

(6:22 a.m)

And again I thank You.

You provide for my every need. Strength, courage, hope, love. Your Word of Truth and promises. Thank You for leading me to Your apostle Paul’s words to the believers in Ephesus.

He prayed for their spiritual growth (Ephesians 3:14-21). Asking ‘that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You would empower them with inner strength through Your Spirit’ (v.16).

Blessed Father, I confess to my inner strength feeling rocked and waning. Ebbing and only occasionally flowing. You know my needs. I trust You to provide for every single one.