beholding beauty

 Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (6:01 a.m.)

Thank You Father,

You keep teaching me to do hard things. I confess to rarely liking or appreciating them in the moment they’re taking place. But then…

I slow. I sit. Even stand and marvel.

Father, thank You for speaking deeply into my soul. Allowing me to behold beauty. Mm, yes! Thank You.

Thank You for drawing my attention to the budding roses. Looking past the spent ones. Continuing to walk slowly about the yard as the clouds colors changed from yellows to orange. Pinks were involved. And now white.

Mm, Father. I feel quite reflective this morning. My body quite possibly still reacting to potentially triggering foods eaten at lunch on Sunday.

How very odd, even frustrating, when things don’t function as we expect.

Here again, I thank You Lord.

Rather than fuss and moan, I truly am looking to You for the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

Reading further in this section, I am reminded of the importance of putting on all of Your armor (vs. 11-18). Not just some of it.

The Message reminds us to “take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials.” We’re to ‘put them to use so we’ll be able to stand up against everything the devil throws our way.’

Thank You for helping me remember “This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels” (12).

We are to “Be prepared.” I confess to dropping my guard in many areas. Thank You for drawing my attention back to the strength to which we have ready access in Your great power.

(7:41 a.m.)

Thank You that Your grace truly is enough [sufficient, all I need] (2 Corinthians 12:9a). Your power [strength] made perfect in weakness (9b).

Mm, yes. Thank You Father.

I want very much to behold Your beauty this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). Rejoicing and being glad in it (24b).

♪There Is Power

in the name of Jesus

There is power

Power in His name♪

Continue teaching me Your access code Dear Lord. I love, need, trust and want You as absolute God of my life. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(407 words ~ 7:53 a.m.)

a true spirit of wonder

 Monday, August 17, 2026 (5:16 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for clear thinking. And fun ideas.

Thank You for the opportunity to explore my thoughts.

(5:47 a.m.)

Yes, Father! Thank You for a true spirit of wonder!

Because of a huge tendency to criticize myself, I have been known to push wonderment aside in the search of certainty. Thank You for continuing to teach me the importance of wondering. With You.

(6:13 a.m.)

Thank You for the rhythm You are establishing in me.

(6:59 a.m.)

Yes Dad. A rhythm that encourages me to “slow, slow, quick, quick” on occasion. And to “linger longer” on others.

Thank You for the rhythm that allows me to sense the singing of another song. And to parse out the lyrics as they reveal themselves.

♪light… darkness

breath… lungs

pour out our praise

Great Are You Lord♪

Mm, yes! It IS “Your breath in our lungs” (Genesis 2:7). And we DO “pour out our praise to You only.” Thank You that we do.

Father, I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue growing my sense of wonder. Using it to truly glorify and enJOY You forever.

I love You. I need and want to live exactly as You have planned for me (Jeremiah 29:11). Trusting You. And not being afraid. Do all You must for my good and Your glory (Romans 8:28). 

In, with, by, through and for a true Spirit of awe and wonder. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(254 words ~ 7:15 a.m.)

"Yay, God!"

Sunday, August 16, 2026 (4:14 a.m.)

Holy God, 

Thank You for the privilege of waking, reading, tossing, turning, reading some more. Walking, reading again and actually going back to sleep. Yay, You! Thank You.

Thank You for the dad You provided me. The one who first taught me the simplicity of the phrase “Yay, God!”

Was he being irreverent in that particular moment? I still don’t know.

(5:19 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the opportunity to be curious. To wonder one thing, then follow another.

Thank You for the ways and things You have to teach us. Keeping it simple might very well be best for me.

Lord, You know well my penchant toward complicating things. Perhaps this is my affinity toward the above mentioned, “Yay, God!”

Simple.

(5:37 a.m.)

Again I’m thanking You for so many reasons! Taking the time to slice half of a giant apple, my thoughts take quite a few different turns.

Bringing them back to focus on You, once more I am delighted by the simplicity of saying, “Yay!”

Searching it, I find it “is a pure, joyful expression of praise and thanks. It turns a basic moment of gladness into a short, happy prayer.” How appropriate that I would notice myself smiling. Thank You God.

Thank You for a heart that sings to You.

I Love For All Seasons

Gratitude

Great Are You Lord

Do all You must to keep my focus on simply glorying and enJOYing You today. Throwing out a resounding “Yay, God!” as is appropriate. 

I love You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(267 words ~ 6:01 a.m.)

embracing exploration

 Saturday, August 15, 2026 (4:36 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You! There was a lot of sleep. Almost seven hours. That’s some kind of record.

Before that, safe fun was had with a two year old swim kid. “One tunnel. Two tunnel” as he repeatedly crawled through the handrails of the pool’s ladder.

Lord, I’m asking You to help me embrace exploration. Mm. Yes. Teach me Your very fine art of expecting [and appreciating!] the unexpected that each of our days brings.

Reading about these very thoughts, I immediately recognize the song that started singing in my mind. Thank You for how You work in getting our attention.

♪God Will Make a Way 

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my Guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day…♪

(Isaiah 43:19)

Oh! Just think of this. You as my Guide! Providing love and strength. Every day. Yes!

Thank You Lord. As I open another page for searching more, three ways You speak and move are listed. Thank You for the times I have been aware of You in Your Word, Your Spirit and Your Creation.

(5:30 a.m.)

As I prepare to go out and get started with the day, I ask You to go before, behind, beside, below, above and within me every single step I take. And even consider taking.

Father, I want to live today in, with, by, through and for You. Embracing every opportunity You have for me to explore. Teach me how to discern Your best. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Use me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(292 words ~ 5:34 a.m.)

 

"Listen!"

 Friday, August 14, 2026 (5:01 a.m.)

Good morning.

I’ve been saying it a lot already. In answer to the neighboring dogs’ woofs and yips. Father, thank You for the images that come to mind as to size and breeds.

Thank You for the smile that just came upon my face [and heart] as I finally gave You thanks. Rather than the moans and groans from much earlier.

Yes. Thank You for a desire to be thankful.

Thank You that in turning to Isaiah 6:5 [“Woe is me!”], the song from hours ago returned.

♪I don’t want to hear anymore, teach me to listen♪

(Different)

Romans 12:2

Oh yes Blessed God. How desperately I need and want to learn to listen. Especially to what is not being said!

I noticed it yesterday. Hesitancy in a young one. Father, how I ask You to replace MY agenda with Yours. Teach me to listen! To truly pay attention.

(6:02 a.m.)

Mm, yes Dearest Dad. I need strength for the day (Isaiah 40:29-31). I depend on You to provide Your faithful love (Lamentations 3:22). Your mercies (v. 23). Your grace and power that work best in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Yes! Because I believe You know the plans You have for me (Jeremiah 29:11a) are for good and not for evil (11b) to give me a future and a hope (11c) I learn to rest in and trust You.

Thank You that in these days when I pray, You will listen (v. 12). If I look for You wholeheartedly, I will find You (13). I am seeking You and Your kingdom first (Matthew 6:33).

I love, need, trust and want You Dear Lord. Teach me to listen! Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(294 words ~ 6:25 a.m.)

And this!

 Thursday, August 13, 2026  (3:49 a.m.)

Holy God,

There’s a song. I thought for sure it was going to be the easiest find. Surprise! It’s not!!

Rather than fuss and continue looking, I’m letting it go. Looking to You. Fully trusting and believing that You’ve got even this.

Not that the lyrics of a song are the most important part or start to my day. No. It’s not getting stuck on the small stuff that I want to practice. 

Yesterday my plans were completely changed. And I 

(4:11 a.m.)

Speaking of changed plans… what about that coffee mistake just now?

Thank You that the hissing I was hearing didn’t continue being ignored by me. Yes! Once I realized I had forgotten to put the carafe back into the machine I went running.

Here’s the best part Dear Lord. I laughed instead of cursing! Probably because the mess it was making was so easily contained. And cleaned up for a re-do.

Hm. Redo. Refresh. Restart. Begin again. Start over.

(4:28 a.m.)

And would You just look at this?!

(4:33 a.m.)

And this!

A computer glitch. Pages restored. And saved. Kind of like us, don’t You think?

(4:40 a.m.)

Father, my attention is all over the place. I look to You to corral my thoughts please. Because You already know them (Psalm 139:2b) I don’t need to make sense of it all (Proverbs 3:5b).

So let’s see if We [You and I] can bring this back around to some kind of order. Yes please.

Okay. First? The song. Thank You very much! Searching some random thought, I remembered a section of a phrase.

Because “but You did it anyway” didn't give me the result I was expecting, I thought I was wrong. Thank You for providing me with “99 You saw one”

Ta-Da! That’s what it took.

♪I’ve seen shame, the kind that comes from mistakes…

...When I left the ninety-nine, You saw the one…

...But You did it anyway♪

(I See Grace)

Oh Dearest God. There have already been so many mistakes this morning. Yet my heart feels stronger than it did yesterday.

Which takes us back to the plans that were completely changed. The essence of Proverbs 16:9 had immediately come to mind.

I confess to not having known what to do with myself at the time. “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”

I was fully aware of options. I could easily busy myself in other directions. Feeling sad and disappointed came fairly quickly. As did a tinge of anger.

Father, thank You for the decision to sit. Be still. Acknowledge that I had already done enough for the day. I could reach out to friends. I didn’t have to fill the extra time with DO-ing more. Thank You for the time You provided me to just BE instead.

Perhaps that’s why this morning’s earlier coffee snafu was met with laughter rather than curses?

Lord God, I thank You for the ways You work in our hearts, our souls, our minds and our strength. Teach me to truly love You, others and myself (Mark 12:30-31) as You would have me.

I want to continue seeing Your grace in all You would have me encounter this day (Psalm 118:24a). The one You have made. That I will truly rejoice and be glad in it (v.24b).

Do all You must Blessed God. I love, need, trust and want You.

♪Grace, grace, God’s grace

Grace that is greater than all my sin…

…And just like that, oh, my past has been erased…♪

I want to be strong in Your grace (2 Timothy 2:1) Dear Lord. Living in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to You (Titus 2:12b). Yes please. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(640 words ~ 5:52 a.m.)

deserved glory

 Wednesday, August 12, 2026 (3:21 a.m.)

Gloriously Awesome, Perfect Father God,

In all things and through all things You deserve the glory.

♪For from You are all things

And to You are all things

You deserve the glory♪

Thank You that You truly deserve the glory Dear Lord. Talk with me please about what this even means.

Mm… the beauty of Your character. Of Your holiness.

Lord, these are much deeper thoughts than that with which I earlier awoke.

Today is brain surgery day for a friend. Romans 15:13 was the verse I opened to first.

Ben Campbell Johnson’s paraphrase of the apostle Paul’s letters says, “May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and unite you through your trust in Him; and may your hope overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Father, thank You for being the good, gracious, glorious, great (Psalm 145:5-8) God that You are.

Having the privilege of turning in Your Word to David’s Song of Praise (1 Chronicles 16:7-36) I read of thanksgiving. Praise. Proclamations of Your greatness. Letting the whole world know what You have done.

Singing to You. Telling everyone of Your wonderful deeds. Exultation. Rejoicing. Searching for You, and Your strength. Continually seeking You.

Remembering the wonders You have performed. Your miracles.

Yes! Miracles.

(4:08 a.m.)

Blessed God, thank You for continuing to teach me the importance of looking for and recognizing the blessings You send our way. Many times packaged differently than we imagine.

Thank You for opportunities to sit. Listen. Share and explore thoughts.

Truly,

♪You are Worthy of It All, Jesus

For from You are all things

And to You are all things

You deserve the glory♪

(Romans 11:36)

You tell us repeatedly to “Fear not!” To “not worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what You need, and thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6).

And You follow Your Truth up with a promise. “Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (v. 7).

I was blessed by not only experiencing Your peace yesterday, but recognizing it in the moment for what it was. Yours!

Described in The Voice as “(a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding)” Thank You Father.

It is Your peace I pray for our friends. Your peace and all the blessings You have to provide for them. You deserve the glory!

Do all You must that we continue recognizing and serving You as You alone know is best. We love, need, trust and want You as absolute Lord of our lives. Use us. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(434 words ~ 4:40 a.m.)