identity, purpose and daily actions

 Wednesday, June 17, 2026 (5:49 a.m.)

Blessed God,

How truly I thank You. For changes. Discoveries. New thoughts. And most of all, Your love.

Yes Father. Thank You for loving the world so much that You sent Your Son here (John 3:16a). Not to judge it (v.17a), but to save it (17b). Through Him.

Thank You for knowing each and every single one of us (Psalm 139:1-16). Far better than we can ever know ourselves.

Thank You that You know the plans You have for us. Plans for good and not for evil. Plans to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

I confess to not having a clue what those plans are. Yet there is a curiosity. An excitement. A true belief that when we pray, You will listen (v. 12). When we look for You wholeheartedly, we will find You (13).

By seeking Your kingdom and righteousness first (Matthew 6:33a) You will provide all that is needed (33b). We don’t have to worry or be anxious about tomorrow (v.34a) because it will have its own troubles (34b). We don’t have to add to them (34c).

Lord God, You have known from the very beginning of time exactly how You would have our lives play out. Here I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your work in preparing me for the changes needing to be made.

I’m first to admit I can be resistant. Reluctant. Reticent. 

In, with, by, through and for You I am able to become eager. Excited. Willing. Ready and raring to go. Do all You must to this end.

There are changes that need to be made. Discoveries yet to be found. I want the courage it takes to embrace the process and sift my focus. Leaning on You and the Holy Spirit through it all.

You are able to empower me in shedding old habits. Renew my mind. And allow Your love to shape my identity, purpose and daily actions (AI Overview).

Do all You must Dear Lord. I want to live and love for You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(358 words ~ 6:32 a.m.)

embracing second sleep

•  Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (5:56 a.m.)

Glorious, Awesome, Wonderful, Loving, Perfect, Father God,

Thank You!

It’s taken almost an hour of reading about embracing second sleep for me to become as excited as I am at the moment. It really is the simplest things in life that bring me the most delight.

Earlier it was the smell of coffee that brought my first, “Thank You, God.” Followed almost immediately by the opportunity of helping our neighbor in regards to her not yet emptied trash carts.

Becoming excited about what has been written about You and our circadian rhythms opened the door to seeing today’s date written out numerically. 06/16/26. Thank You for the joy I find in the simplest things Lord.

Now, about this internal clock business…

You well know the issues I’ve had with continuous sleep throughout the decades. And my resistance to taking any sleep-inducing enhancers.

As I’m exploring what other’s have written in this regard I’m smiling bigger at the words, “God’s primary aim is… that we enjoy the richness of experience in our daily lives…” Yes! Father, I very much want to enjoy all the richness You provide. Very akin to glorifying and enjoying You forever!

I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to teach me to sleep as You would have me sleep. Soundly. Interrupted. Broken into parts. Do all You must that I will learn to embrace wakefulness as being a special gift from You.

(7:53 a.m.)

Wanting to get started with the day “with no particular place to go” I look to You for guidance. Direction. Strength. Power.

I want very much to serve and represent You well. 

Here I borrow King David’s words as my own. Psalm 119:57-64. The Message.

“Because You have satisfied me, GOD, I promise

to do everything You say.

I beg You from the bottom of my heart: smile,

be gracious to me just as You promised [Numbers 6:25].

When I took a long, careful look at Your ways,

I got my feet back on the trail You blazed.

I was up at once, didn’t drag my feet,

was quick to follow Your orders.

The wicked hemmed me in-there was no way out-

but not for a minute did I forget Your plan for me.

I get up in the middle of the night to thank You;

Your decisions are so right, so true-can’t wait til morning!

I’m a friend and companion of all who fear You, 

of those committed to living by Your rules.

Your love, GOD, fills the earth!

Train me to live by Your counsel.”

And if this counsel is that I learn to embrace second sleep with You, so be it! I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Do all You must that I learn and put into practice all You have for me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(485 words ~ 8:14 a.m.)

 

digging deeper

 Monday, June 15, 2026 (4:53 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You. For so very many things.

Coffee. Comfort. Challenges. Hope. Truth. Your Word. Your promises. Mm. Yes. Thank You that You do know what You are doing. You have a plan. And You know what it is.

(5:36 a.m.)

How blessed we are for the privilege of having ready access to Your Word.

Thinking I was going into its pages to study more of Your plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). I am more than a little surprised at the various directions I am headed instead.

First to James 1:2. Considering troubles as opportunities for joy. Being very glad when trials make us partners with Christ in His suffering (1 Peter 4:12).

Glancing at the surface of the verses, I know I want to dig deeper. We are to be earnest and disciplined in our prayers (v. 7). Continuing “to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins” (8).

In order for us to do this, we must learn what love really is. Again Your Word (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) helps in this regard.

Learning more about loving Your way, I am reminded of the importance of using discretion. Not taking offense. Forgiveness. Taking nothing personally.

These are tall orders Lord. Thank You that we are able to turn to Proverbs 19:11 and dig even deeper with You.

Insight. Good sense. Wisdom. Experience. Learning. Understanding. All of these teach us the power and love involved with being slow to anger and quick to forgive.

Continue Your work in growing me as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want Your presence in every avenue I encounter. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(301 words ~ 6:15 a.m.)

the truest home

 Sunday, June 14, 2026 (4:32 a.m.)

Thank You God.

I woke up singing again. This time with a tune, words and title I recognize. Trouble is, I’m not sure it’s what I want to be singing.

It’s interesting that I was all for it moments ago. Now that I’m examining the lyrics I’m uncertain.

♪… paradise… streets of gold…

Father’s house… many rooms…

… I’m Homesick For Heaven♪

Okay. I’m convinced. Let’s look at it further.

(4:56 a.m.)

Thank You for this opportunity to explore what is obscure to me. Thoughts of eternity in a truly unknown place.

Much is written. Many points of view. Imaginings. Wonders. Opinions. And even a planned church service detailing another’s understanding is scheduled for later this morning.

Father, thank You that we have You, Your Holy Spirit and Your Word to guide and inform us. Various translations. Many descriptive words. All leading to awe. And wonder.

There’s the tiniest glimpse of a feeble “Yes!” before more questions take it over. This present curiosity is far from the angst of my childhood which filled me with a dread of eternity. “Forever” and “never ending” always seemed much too long for my developing brain.

Thank You for continuing to grow the trust I have in You. For the faith described in Hebrews 11:1. Being “sure about the things we hope for…. in our minds about things we cannot even see” (EasyEnglish Bible).

Yep! Described in one article as the truest home, I know I want to experience Your streets of gold. Thanking You face to face. Seeing the ones I love. Running as fast as I can into Your arms. What could possibly be better?

The apostle Paul told the Philippians (3:20a) that “our citizenship [conversation, home, government, living, belonging] is in heaven.” Father, I want to well represent that colony (The Passion Translation). Clinging “tightly to our life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Yes! I can confidently sing ♪I’m Homesick For Heaven♪ Thank You Father. Praise You. Use me as Your representative of our truest home. Amen.

(345 words ~ 5:43 a.m.)

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.)