"Nope!"

 Thursday, May 7, 2026 (5:58 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for the slew of emotions I dealt with yesterday. Initially caught off-guard by them, there was a lot of laughter and joy by the end of the day.

Unable to locate a long held comic meant to be a birthday greeting from an already passed dad to his much loved daughter brought me to tears. As did reminders of the significance the date has held for us throughout the years.

Father, thank You that we can bring every misstep, misplaced item and mistake to You. Thank You that we don’t have to think in terms of loss, but rather gain. Thank You for reminding me of the power the simplicity of the word “Nope!” has for me.

Used yesterday when I started feeling lost and out of control. Thank You for the realization that “I was just having a ‘nope’ kind of day.” Thank You for the smile and freedom that immediately came to light as I considered circumstances as being as changeable as the tide.

While I can do nothing to affect the turning of tides, I can always choose to turn to You. Riding out every high or low there is to experience.

It truly is in You I place my trust. Your will. Your way. Your design. Your Master plan. I don’t have to know any of Your details in advance. I am to ‘say no [or in my case, “Nope!”] to the things I want, pick up my cross every day, and follow Jesus’ (Luke 9:23 GOD’S WORD Translation).

Continue Your work in me Precious Lord. Doing everything You know is necessary that I will come to love You, others and myself with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:3031).

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

(324 words ~ 7:08 a.m.)

 

sure and fearless

 Wednesday, May 6, 2026 (6:33 a.m.)

Father,

Thank You for time to sit. To think. Remember. Think some more. Thank. Praise. Smile. Tear up with emotion.

Thank You that it’s because of You we even have emotions.

(7:11 a.m.)

Thank You for providing us with such deep feelings. And I am feeling them deeply right now. Most of the night actually. Lots of fear. Of the unknown. And unpredictable.

(7:33 a.m.)

Thank You for Your Word that comforts and guides us. Thank You for various renditions that tell Your Truth using different words.

Thank You that we are able to come freely before You with our hurts. And hopes. Asking that You would use us exactly as You know is best.

Reading of You being our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1) I sit up a lot straighter. The smile is growing larger.

Daddy God, thank You. My heart is hurting this morning. So many things I cannot control. Thank You for Your loving Truth over all.

never alone

 Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (6:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your presence. And Your grace. And Your mercy. Thank You that in and with You we are never alone.

Greater

 ♪Greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world♪

Monday, May 4, 2026 (6:25 a.m.)

Father,

Thank You for the ways You sing into my heart. My soul. My mind. My strength. All the parts of who I am. The me You created me to be.

Thank You that You are good. Gracious. Glorious. Great (Psalm 145:5-8). Greater really! Greater than all. All our problems. Challenges. Victories. Even our seeming failures. You are truly greater.

Thank You for the easy find to the next song that started singing to me.

♪Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God, You are higher than any other

Our God is healer, awesome in power

Our God, our God♪

Thank You that truly

♪There’s no one like You

None like You♪

Thank You for those who sing to and of You. The ones who point others to You. And Your Word.

Thank You for the ways You make Yourself known. Use me as You know is best. Searching Your Word for Truth to share with others. Mm, yes. Continue Your work in teaching me to share!

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

(206 words ~ 6:59 a.m.)

turning regret into gratitude

 Sunday, May 3, 2026 (7:18 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for Who and All You are. Thank You for Your love. And Your patience. Thank You that You are good. And kind. Merciful. And gracious.

Thank You too for all the mistakes we make. I just read of this as being a spiritual practice. Relying on Your grace enables us to change. We learn to surrender our will. Release guilt. And trust You.

Mm, practices I want to continue. Long into this day’s night.

Father, I love You. I absolutely need You. And trust and want You as Lord over all my thoughts, words, hopes and actions.

Do all You must in transforming me into the woman You created me to be. Loving. Kind. Made in Your image. Use me as You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(143 words ~ 7:31 a.m.)

recovery rhythm

 Saturday, May 2, 2026 (6:33 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. And I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to help our recovering household find our new rhythm.

(7:00 a.m.)

Thank You for this time of quietness. To sit with You and explore Your Word. Jeremiah 29:11-13 and James 4:10 especially.

I’m looking to You Dear Lord. Set our pace. 

(7:19 a.m.)

More reading. And another reminder. “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30).

new-to-me

 Friday, May 1, 2026 (6:01 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

You’ve recently provided MANY new-to-me experiences, Lord. Starting with an ever building trust that You know what You’re doing.

Thank You for the willingness to meet new people. “Put myself out there.” Take risks. Weigh the benefits. Explore. Be open. Stand back. Observe. Be aware.

This past week I’ve been more willing to listen to what I can’t hear. Your still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12).

(6:39 a.m.)

Again You amaze me! Bringing my open heart before You, You fill it with Your Truth! Details in Your Word that I have missed through the years. Father, thank You that You are so incredibly patient with us.

Reading the introduction of 1 Kings I’m learning of people who trusted You. And those who disobeyed. You never giving up on them by doing ‘everything You could to draw them back into a healthy, vibrant relationship with Yourself’ (The Life Recovery Bible).

(7:04 a.m.)

Father God, the more I read the greater grows the realization of how very little I know of Your Word. Thank You that my trust in You is not reliant on my understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

You are so very good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). 

♪There’s no one like You

None like You…

… Our God is greater, our God is stronger

God, You are higher than any other♪

(7:17 a.m.)

Father, thank You for all You are doing in changing me into the woman You created me to be. Yours. Unafraid. Willing. Dependent on You. Interdependent with others.

Continue Your work in growing me Lord. I long to be led by Your still, small voice. Enable me to hear and follow You. Do all You must in using me exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(327 words ~ 7:23 a.m.)