pricked by God's love

 Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (4:18 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that we get to love You.

(4:37 a.m.)

Yes! The peace-filled pang I continue feeling in my heart and soul stem from my being pricked by Your love.

Here’s a new to me thought. I was pricked by a rose’s thorn just the other day. Blood was drawn to the wound. And quickly abated.

Thank You that Your love never diminishes. No.

(4:57 a.m.)

♪Your love never fails 

It never gives up

It never runs out on me♪

(One Thing Remains)

Thank You for all that is written in Your Word concerning Your great love for humankind. A love so real and pure I can’t even begin to grasp an understanding of it.

Thank You for the willingness to accept it as You have continuously offered and provided it. Free for the taking. No strings attached.

Father, I want to wear Your love well (Colossians 3:12-14). ‘Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in my heart. For as a member of one body I am called to live in peace. And always be thankful’ (v. 15).

Do all You must Blessed Father that I will live as a child of Your Light (Ephesians 4:17-32). Loving as the apostle John wrote in his first letter (1 John. Chapter 4. Verses 7-21).

I love, need trust and want You Dearest God. Thank You for pricking me with Your love. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(256 words ~ 5:25 a.m.)

never alone

 Tuesday, November 10, 2026 (5:13 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You that You are all that You are. Thank You for the love You have for each of us.

Thank You for Your presence in, with, by, through and for us. Thank You that we are never truly alone.

Yes! What power and joy there is in knowing that because of You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit we are never alone. Thank You Father. Praise You Lord.

anchored to the cross

 Monday, November 9, 2026 (5:10 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You!

I get to bring You my hurts. Fears. Concerns. As well as the wins. Joys. And successes.

Father, thank You that we are invited to leave it all at the foot of the cross.

♪There was Jesus♪ 

(6:07 a.m.)

♪Great Aunt Maurine said at a hundred and three

“Write scripture on your heart for when you need it

‘Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23

So just say it to yourself ’til you believe it”

And I’m feeling like I’m needing it right now♪

(Still Waters)

Thank You for the Truth [Your oath!] and promises we find in Your unchanging Word (Hebrews 6:16-18a). “These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie” (v. 18b).

Yes Father. It’s impossible for You to lie! 

I may try to hide my hurts and hopes from You. Too afraid or ashamed to be completely honest with the concerns I have for myself and others. Fear runs deep within me Lord. My counter to that? Avoid looking.

Forgive me Father. I want to offer others the hope that is only found in ‘fleeing to You for refuge’. Where “we can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us” (Hebrews 6:18c). 

“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary” (v. 19).

Lord God, it’s here I confess once again that I truly don’t know how to pray. Loved ones are suffering. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. Plagued by fear and anxiety. And I don’t have any words of comfort.

Thank You that “…the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will” (Romans 8:26-27).

Praise You that “…we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (v. 28).

Not having any idea what that purpose looks like in any given situation, I continue affirming You to be good (Psalm 145:7). Great (v. 6). Glorious (5). Gracious (8). Able ‘through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20).

Thank You that just one line of Your Truth opens the floodgates to so much hope! Do all You must dearest Lord. As we cling tightly to the anchor of Your cross. Changing us. Using us. Exactly as You alone know is best.

We are a hurting, hurting people. In desperate need of You.

Thank You for MercyMe singing to us of Your Best News Ever

♪The fight’s already been won♪

(Colossians 2:9-3:17)

Yes. Indeed. Because I honestly believe the Truth of Your Word, I am asking (Matthew 7:7) again for the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10) to be in, with, by, through and for me. Enabling and emboldening me in rejoicing and being glad (Psalm 118:24b). Not afraid.

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

(559 words ~ 7:10 a.m.)

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.)