Words of love and promises

 Sunday, February 15, 2026 (5:00 a.m.)

Hi God,

Thank You. There was sleep. And hope. And words of love. Yes. Words of Your love. For each of us.

(5:13 a.m.)

Oh. And promises. Father, thank You for Your Word. Filled with love. And hope. And promises.

Isaiah 41:13. You speaking through Your prophet Isaiah to the sinful people of Judah. “I am holding you by your right hand - I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.’”

I like the sound of that. You willing to hold onto Your people. And help them. 

“See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for He allows us to be called His children, and we really are!” (1 John 3:1a). Thank You that we get to be Yours. With all the love that comes with this distinction.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Continue Your work in making me all that You would have me be. Loving. Kind. Joyful. Peaceful. Patient. Good. Gentle. Faithful. And strong in spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Do Your best in, with, by, through and for me to represent You well. I want to worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You forever. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(217 words ~ 5:46 a.m.)

first! Not last.

 Saturday, February 14, 2026 (6:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that You are so very good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). Thank You that “I love You, LORD; You are my strength” (Psalm 18:1).

(7:07 a.m.)

I confess to You the very biasé attitude with which I have been approaching the days You have provided me. Gone is an excited and eager outlook. Seemingly replaced by a sullen apathy.

Rather than bring the feelings of indifference and lack of interest directly to You, I’ve tried to disguise them. With that simple admission I find myself resembling Adam and Eve in their feeble attempt to hide their nakedness from You (Genesis 3:7-9).

Forgive me Father. You are ALWAYS where I need to come first! Not last.

The search I just launched yielded that same finding. Referencing Matthew 6:33 [“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…”], AI stresses trusting You as our primary source of wisdom and strength before trying to fix problems on our own.

How many times do I need to learn and relearn this lesson Dear Lord? Once in a great while I think I’ve got it. Only to be reminded, “Nope! Here we grow again.”

Thank You that Jeremy Camp gave us a song for times exactly like this.

♪Here I am Again 

Back in the same place I’ve been

So many times…

…Losing the battle

And thinking I’ll never win this fight…

…Fall after fall, prayer after prayer…

Here You are again

Forgiving, redeeming my heart again

Standing me up on my feet again

You show me Your mercy will never run out…

…I can breathe again

Knowing I’m loved, I feel free again

No matter how long I’ve been wandering

When I think I’ve gone too far

Here You are Again♪

Father God, thank You. Forgive me my selfish, self-centered ways. Do all You must in redeeming and revealing the woman You created me to be. Wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14a). Strong. Courageous. Unafraid and encouraged. With You (Joshua 1:9).

I can do none of this life stuff alone. I need You guiding and directing me every single step of the way.

I love, need, trust and want You as absolute Lord of my life. Use me as You know is best. Worshiping. Adoring. Glorifying and enjoying You forever. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(398 words ~ 7:40 a.m.)

the whole package

 Friday, February 13, 2026 (6:33 a.m.)

Holy God,

I’m here asking (Matthew 7:7). For Your healing. And Your presence. Your mercy. Your grace. Your joy. The whole package.

Psalm 63:3

2 Corinthians 3:18

Ephesian 1:4-6

We are made to praise the glory of Your grace

washed by the Word

 ♪I speak the name of Jesus over you♪

(In Jesus’ Name)

Thursday, February 12, 2026 (6:08 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You so much. You bless us. You keep us. You make Your face shine upon us and are gracious to us. You turn Your face toward us. You smile. And give us peace (Numbers 6:24-26). You even gave us a dry day yesterday. Thank You!

(6:22 a.m.)

Father, thank You again! Thinking of You smiling at us, I searched for examples. I was sent to Psalm 80. Verses 3, 7 and 19 especially. From there came a prayer poem by Bill Gaultiere of soulshepherding.

In “The Trinity Restore You” he speaks of three faces shining all around us so that we are saved. The Father loves us. With His face shining [smiling] down on us. The Son graces us. His faces shines right beside us. The Spirit lives in us. With His face shining inside us. The Trinity empowers us. Making their face shine through us.

Father, thank You for the ways You lead us to Your Truth. And healing. Following the prompt on “See the Smile of God” to “The Smile of Jesus is Everywhere. Do You See It?” I learn even more.

It’s here that I read about a smile being a powerful prayer. And that Your Word washes our minds of hurts from the past (Ephesians 5:26). 

The Voice says it this way, “He [Christ] did that [agreed to die on behalf of the church] to make us completely clean, as the people of God. It was like He washed us with water, as He brought God’s message [Word} to us.”

Father, You provided me the powerful Truth of this message over 32 years ago when You used verses 22-25 to save our marriage. I trusted You with the most precious thing in my life then [the tenuous relationship with my much loved husband] and I’m asking for the strength of Your mighty power (v. 6:10) to continue doing so now.

I know You to be good. Gracious. Glorious. And great (Psalm 145:5-8). Able to do ALL things (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37, Job 42:2, Ephesians 3:20). Do all You know is best for each of us.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me in representing You well. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(390 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)

invitations

 ♪Come to the table♪

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (4:12 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for Your invitations.

(4:31 a.m.)

As sure as I was about the song I thought I was singing, I was one word off. The tune I woke with is actually

♪O Come to the Altar♪

(4:54 a.m.)

Just a one word difference. Yet blessings to be found at each.

Jesus, thank You for Your calls for us to, “Come…” All who are weary (Matthew 11:28). Those who thirst (John 7:37).

(5:25 a.m.)

Father, I long to accept the invitations to “Come…” I confess to being one who much prefers not going. Do all You must in making me ready for whatever today’s rainy day adventure has in store for us.

I love You. I need You. I trust and want You.

I’m confessing ingratitude and disappointing dissatisfaction with Your choice of weather for us this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). In which I am to rejoice and be glad (24b). I’m asking (Matthew 7:7a) You to work in, with, by, through and for me in changing my attitude.

Here’s a smile. A bit of a lighter spirit. Even a tiny chuckle. Use me exactly as You know is best Dearest Dad. 

♪Are you hurting and broken within

Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin

Jesus is calling…

…O come to the altar

The Father’s arms are open wide…♪

Thank You for inviting me. Prepare me to receive all the hidden blessings You have for me this very rainy day. Praise You God. Amen.

(251 words ~ 5:41 a.m.)

A.G.O.G.

 ♪God, I’m still Counting My Blessings♪

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (5:01 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You that I would wake up singing about counting blessings.

(6:36 a.m.)

♪Here I am AGAIN…

…Here You are again

Forgiving, redeeming my heart again

Standing me up on my feet again

You show me Your mercy will never run out…

I can breathe again

Knowing I’m loved, I feel free again

No matter how long I’ve been wandering

When I think I’ve gone too far

Here You are again♪

The more of the lyrics I read, the bigger the smile on my face grows. Father, thank You that You love us so much that You are truly with us wherever we go.

Forgiving us. Redeeming us. Showing us Your mercy that never runs out. Bless You for all the ways You show Yourself to us.

(7:01 a.m.)

I’ve been thinking a lot about Your grace since the other day while working on the side yard. It was there I realized I needed to “get a grip” and first uttered the words, “I need another grip of grace.” 

Thank You for the depth of thought this simple phrase has taken me. Each time my mind starts wandering, plotting, replaying perceived slights or offenses, I’ve remembered to call out to You. “Father, I need another grip of grace.”

Who [besides You!] knew that my fondness of acronyms would play out so powerfully in my favor. A.G.O.G. Another Grip of Grace. Simply stated. Easy to remember. Profound in its meaning.

Grip being something to hold on to or a small traveling bag. Each meaning taking on its own twist. I can think of You gripping me. Me holding on to You. Or even packing Your grace in a grip [carryall] to take with me.

(7:36 a.m.)

Truly Father, there is an excitement growing inside me that is eager to tell [agog] of Your greatness. Your goodness. Your glory. And Your grace (Psalm 145:5-8).

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

(362 words ~ 7:42 a.m.)

love and let love

 Monday, February 9, 2026 (6:16 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy, Father God,

Thank You again!

There was sleep. And wakefulness. Rest. And YOU!

Thoughts of You. Words about You. Songs singing of You [♪Firm Foundation♪, ♪In Jesus’ Name♪]. Your power. Your Truth. Your love.

Mm, yes. Absolutely Your love.

I confess to losing sight of Your love. I know about it. I believe it. I trust it. Yet I don’t live it. I get disconnected from it. And attempt replicating it through my own strength, power and will. 

Thank You that Your way is better. Mm, yes. ♪Your Way’s Better♪

Father, I want to live Your way. Loving. Forgiving. Not angry and afraid.

Do all You must in empowering and enabling me to: “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you”  (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Dearest Dad, I truly want to love and let love. Do everything You must in ridding me of all fear and anger. Train me in Your very fine art of faith and forgiveness.

Continue Your work in transforming me into one who “is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future” (Proverbs 31:25). Use me exactly as You know is best.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You for all You do. Praise You for who You are. Hallelujah! Amen.

(243 words ~ 7:01 a.m.)