varied titles

 Saturday, June 13, 2026 (4:55 a.m.)

Most Dear and Heavenly Father God,

That’s quite a greeting. Especially considering ever since awaking I’ve been singing:

♪… child of the one true King♪

(Hello, My Name Is)

Father, thank You for the varied titles with which we are able to address You.

(5:17 a.m.)

I confess to not giving much thought to Your various names before now. There are so many. Some similar. Yet wildly different. I find myself getting lost in their translations.

Thank You that even here You have something new to teach me.

(6:10 a.m.)

More new things [names!] than I could ever imagine! Father, truly I thank You.

As You open this door of Your names for me, I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to prepare me to receive all that You are offering.

I love You Lord. I need You. I trust and want to go deeper with You. Learning and utilizing the depth of meaning behind Your various names.

There is so very much more to learn. Make me teachable I ask. Use me exactly as You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(192 words ~ 6:16 a.m.)

hard lessons

 Friday, June 12, 2026 (2:09 a.m.)

Thank You God.

You are teaching me to truly thank You in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In every situation there is reason to be genuinely grateful for something. No matter what.

These can be hard lessons to master, Lord. Disagreements. Disappointments. Discouragements. And still we are to “live at peace with one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:13b).

I confess to the times I leave You out of the equation Dearest Dad. Thinking [and acting] as if it is I who needs to have all the answers. I do not. YOU do!

Thank You for Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises. Continue teaching us all that You would have us learn.

(3:05 a.m.)

In reading various translations, I realize how little I understand. Thank You for providing Your Holy Spirit to help us.

(6:04 a.m.)

After a safe roundtrip of helping with airport transportation for a much loved one, Father again I am thanking You for the lessons You are teaching us. Civility. Kindness. Respect. Love. Treating others the way we ourselves want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

Thank You that Your Word is rife with all we need to coexist with others in this world that You Yourself created. Do all You must that we will truly learn the hard lessons involved with putting Your Word into action.

Teach us to truly appreciate, get along with, warn, encourage, take care of and be patient with everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Do in, with, by, through and for each of us that which we can’t possibly accomplish on our own.

We love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Empower and enable us as only You alone can. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(293 words ~ 6:21 a.m.)

earworm

 ♪Hm, hm, hm, hm

Hm, hm, hm, hmm/hm

Hm, hm, hm, hm…♪

Thursday, June 11, 2026 (5:40 a.m.)

Holy God,

There’s a song. I believe it to have a one word title. I almost have it. And then it slips away.

I’ve searched what I thought the powerful one word [Surrender] might be. Nothing I can find.

I’m asking Your guidance and direction if it’s something You want me to continue pursuing. Otherwise please point my attention to where You would have it.

The lyrics might sing about shame. And being overburdened. The one word I believe to be the title has three syllables.

(5:58 a.m.)

Or maybe it’s a three word title? [shoulder shrug emoji]

I’ve got things to do today. Yet I’m still wondering if this earworm is from You. Perhaps for someone else’s benefit besides my own.

Intentionally switching it up I am singing out instead:

♪Holy Spirit You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory God is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence Lord♪

Father, I want to follow where You lead. Whether in thoughts, words, music and/or actions, And here came the song again.

Sharing my ideas for the day with my brother. Telling him I plan to take it as it comes. “Practicing rejoicing and being glad in it as God unfolds it.” The music started out softly and built to a startling crescendo.

(6:43 a.m.)

Taking time to “walk it off” and do others things, 

(7:21 a.m.)

The phone rang and I chose to take the call. More walking. Talking. And again? The song!

Deliberately choosing to sing out: 

♪Our God is an Awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power and love

Our God is an awesome God♪

I realized I was attempting to take my thoughts [song] captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). And wondering what it is You would have me learn through all of this elusive music in my mind.

I love You Father. I need, trust and want You to guide me in all that I am. My thoughts, words, actions. Even my singing. Use me exactly as You know is best. Be glorified. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(379 words ~ 7:41 a.m.)

 

Gates of Thanksgiving

 Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (5:43 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You!

I saw an ornate gate yesterday. It reminded me of the ones we spoke of earlier that morning. Yours. The ones we enter with thanksgiving in our hearts. Before going into Your courtyards with praise (Psalm 100:4).

(6:36 a.m.)

Father, thank You for again prompting me to explore Your gates of thanksgiving and Your courtyards of praise. A completely different approach to You than the one I had planned earlier.

Being open to Your leading has taken me from my intended thankfulness for a fun filled ice skating outing to further exploration of Your gates and courtyards. Thank You.

A very quick aside… that verse You provided me on a passing car’s back window was GREATLY appreciated! “God is within her, she will not fall” (Psalm 46:5a). I chose to claim it for myself as soon as I read it.

As well as the verse on the cross keychain I just “happened” to read upon exiting our vehicle. Joshua 1:9. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid.”

Father, You are doing such mighty works in the lives of my loved ones. How I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue making me aware of the awe and wonder You are forever doing behind the scenes of our very existence.

And with that, now I am singing.

♪Forever God is faithful

Forever God is strong

Forever God is with us

Forever♪

(7:42 a.m.)

Here I come back to where we started initially this morning. Psalm 100. The Message.

“Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.

He made us; we didn’t make Him.

We’re His people, His well-tended sheep.

“Enter with the password: ‘Thank You!’

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank Him. Worship Him.

“For GOD is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever.”

Yes! Father, thank You! I love, need, trust and want You to use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(338 words ~ 7:49 a.m.)

gates and courtyards

 Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (5:48 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Praise You. 

(5:57 a.m.)

Yes, indeed! Thank You. THANK YOU!

When all thoughts fail, start with “thank You.”

Those simple two words open gates. Into Your courtyards (Psalm 100:4).

Scrambling for something authentic to say to You, my thoughts branched out. First here. Then there. Covering a multitude of favorable circumstances and reasons for which to give You thanks.

It was turning in Your Word. Confirming the Psalm and verse that brought me the biggest smile. Because of verse one.

“Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth!” (Psalm 100:1). Yes! “Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy” (v. 2).

Mm. Yes, please. And “Thank You!”

“Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are His [or ‘and not we ourselves’]. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture” (3). How truly grateful I am Dearest Lord.

I confess to trying to will myself into thanking and praising You on my own. Knowing how blessed I am and wanting to show You the reverence You so righty deserve.

Thank You for taking me instead to Your gates. That I would enter with thanksgiving; and go into Your courts with praise. Truly giving You thanks, and praising Your name (v. 4).

“For the LORD is good” (5a). Your are! Your unfailing love continues forever, (5b) and Your faithfulness continues to each generation (5c).

Holy God, this is Truth I can only begin to comprehend. Thank You that its validity is in no way dependent on my understanding. Only on my acceptance.

Thank You. Thank You Father.

The Life Recovery Bible comment tells us, “We always have reason to rejoice: We live in God’s presence, under His continual care and we experience His love each day. Each time we come into His presence, our heart should be filled with gratitude and praise. God never stops showering us with His love; He always keeps His promise to help us when we call on Him.”

That’s what I’m doing right now. Calling on Your great love to empower and enable me in thinking, saying, doing and being all that You would have of and for me.

I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Do all You must that I truly come before You thanking and praising. Entering You gates with thanksgiving in my heart, and Your courtyards with praise for who and all You are. 

There is a hint of a picture in my mind of what this could look like. Thank You for the beauty and wonder of it all. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

easy access

 ♪All at once, everything is...♪

Monday, June 8, 2026 (4:47 a.m.)

Incredibly Awesome Father God,

Thank You for the ways You get our attention onto You. Where it so rightly belongs.

Thoughts. Songs. Reminders. Remembrances.

Thank You for time to sit and ponder. To truly consider ♪How Great Thou Art♪ (Psalm 86:10).

Thank You for the privilege of having easy access to Your Word.

(5:31 a.m.)

Mm, yes Lord. Such easy access.

I so often get lost. Lose sight of one thought [or song]. In deference to another.

Thank You that even here I choose to believe I am following You. Right back to 

 ♪…everything looks different

Now that I see YOU♪

(I See the Light)

Yes Father. Seeing You, our True Light, makes all the difference!

There are many plans for today. I have no certainty what the day will actually hold, but I do believe You hold it all. Right here in the palm of Your mighty hands.

Father, I am asking (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your work in melting, molding, filling and using me [♪Spirit of the Living God♪ (Galatians 5:16)] exactly as You alone know is best. 

Again I thank You for the easy access I have in finding one song [and matching Scripture verse] after another. Father it’s You I long to follow. Represent. Reflect. Do all You must that I truly come to glorify and enJOY You forever.

I love, need, trust and want You Blessed Lord. Use me exactly as You wish.

(6:17 a.m.)

♪Then sings my soul,

My Savior God to Thee

How Great Thou Art 

How great Thou art♪

Remind me of Your greatness and Your nearness as often as is necessary. Just like with this translation of Psalm 30:5 in The Voice.

“His wrath, you see, is fleeting, but His grace lasts a lifetime. The deepest pains may linger through the night, but joy greets the soul with the smile of morning.”

Mm, yes! I didn’t see it on the first reading. Oh but here it is. My precious husband’s favorite verses.

Numbers 6:24-26. His own version:

“May the LORD bless you and keep you 

May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you 

May He turn His face toward you [and SMILE!] and give you peace.”

Yes Dear Lord. Thank You for such easy access to Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises. Teach me to share them well. Thank You. Praise You. 

♪I Surrender All♪

(Romans 6:13)

Amen.

(405 words ~ 6:32 a.m.)