infamy

Sunday, December 6, 2009 (8:13 a.m.)

Buffalo Bill’s @ Primm Valley Casino Resorts - Primm, NV

Blessed God,

Good morning. Good Sunday morning. Sunday? Already? How can that be?

May I just say Lord, thirty minutes ago when I first started this time alone with You, little did I know that I would find my reason to celebrate in the book of Job.

Hallelujah God! Praise You. It was quite the round about way of getting here, but oh God, thank You.

Thank You for the praises of Your people. Praises in the midst of horrible, challenging ordeals. Lord, thank You for their examples. Examples of turning to You. Wondering, questioning, doubting, yet ultimately praising and celebrating Your goodness.

Thank You Lord. Thank You that we don’t have to understand. We don’t have to know what all is going on, or even why. Our job - not to be confused here with Job J - is to trust You and to praise You.

Oh, most blessed God. Today is the second Sunday of Advent

Monday, December 7, 2009 (6:59 a.m.)

ARGH! God ~

Always Revere God’s Holiness! (my acronym relating to Ephesians 4:29, “Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing.”) ARGH! Argh! argh…

Lord! I come before You with incomplete thoughts and unfinished business from yesterday. Miscommunications abound. And I almost forfeited my time here with You again. Thank You for ‘do-overs’. Thank You for another chance to improve.

Oh Most Holy God, I love You. This is the “date that will live in infamy.” Infamy. A word I had never looked up before just now.

Turning to YOUR Word, I find only one entry from all my translations. Isaiah 44 speaks of the foolishness of false idols and prophets. Verse 11 describes a man and his kind who “will be put to shame; craftsmen are nothing but men. Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and infamy.”

But You don’t leave us there Lord. You never leave us without hope. You provide for us. Your Word promises that. You take care of all of our needs. You ‘lead us to a fulfilling life of trust in You.’

Lord, I don’t claim to understand ANY of this! I start and stop so often. Too many times I think I don’t know up from down. But never do I come before You confessing my inadequacies that I don’t come away encouraged in some way.

Lord, I thank You for Your love for us. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for faith and hope and trust in You. Thank You that anything we can ever hope to be or do can only fully be accomplished through YOUR power and strength.

Lord, I am flawed. In so many ways I fall short of Your glory. Thank You for not counting be out and pushing me aside. Thank You for the opportunity to come before You again and again asking for whatever it is I need to continue my journey to You.

I love You so much, Lord. Please do with me this day all that You have in mind. Don’t allow me to get in Your way more than is absolutely necessary. I love You so much. Continue growing and maturing me at exactly the pace YOU have set for me. I love You so much Lord. I love You so much… Thank You. Amen.

(588 words ~ 7:52 a.m.)