Memorial Day

Memorial Day Monday, May 31, 2010 (7:32 a.m.)

♫Hallelujah Jesus,

♫… You are the Everlasting God Hallelujah Jesus… my Lord, beautiful You are♫ Blessed Lord, thank You for again allowing me the privilege of awakening with thoughts and a song of You. You are so ♫Wonderful, powerful Merciful, You are beautiful… Jesus is Your name♫

Truly Lord, I don’t even know how to begin thanking You for all that You are, all that You have done. Thank You for this day which has been set to remember those who have died in active military service. Again, I don’t even know how to do that.

Lord, thank You that we get to come before You inadequate, flawed, imperfect and You love us in spite of ourselves. And here, once again I find myself in the thirteenth chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. After fully describing the importance of love, what it is, as well as what it is not (vs. 1-7) he goes on to say in verse eight, “Love never fails!”

Wow Lord! What a thought is that! I may fail – but love does not. Thank You Lord. Thank You from the bottom of my heart. As I continue reading through the end of this chapter I am again amazed by the hope You continuously provide us. “Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten. We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn’t perfect will then disappear.”

Everything we work so hard for Lord will one day be gone. Even the engravings of the names of civil war soldiers erode from their headstones. Lord, how I ask that You would teach me to look ahead to the things that truly matter.

“When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see Him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us. For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.”

Teach me to love as You would have me love Lord. I absolutely want to be the woman You have designed for me to be. Let us use this day to remember those who gave their lives so that we might live with the freedoms You have provided. You are such a good and gracious God and I love You so very much. Thank You Lord. Amen.

(450 words ~ 8:54 a.m.)

Joseph

Sunday, May 30, 2010 (6:23 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Half an hour after starting this and I’m still doubting that You really want to speak to me about Joseph. For the second day in a row I’ve woken up singing ♫Joseph – Pharaoh’s number two Joseph – Egypt looks to You♫ [NEVER would I have guessed the title is Stone the Crows! J]

So I sit here wondering where You would have me look (Genesis 41 tells this part of his story) and what You would have me learn. Rather than continuing to just sit and stare, here I am saying right out loud, “I don’t get it Lord. I don’t understand.” And I guess when all the truth be told, I don’t HAVE to ‘get’ anything do I Lord? I don’t have to understand. I’m just supposed to obey. Okay. This is me obeying and following Your lead!

(9:12 a.m.)

And now, after waking up from my own dream, I am again reading more about Joseph. Lord, how I thank You for teaching me to follow You. Thank You that even when my first instinct is to doubt, Your patience prevails. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that in just this one part of Joseph’s story I get to become more acquainted with the historic authenticity of Your Word. Thank You that while reading the scripture itself and then related devotions and Bible Handbook articles about Joseph and life at his time, I am again aware of the thimbleful of knowledge and understanding that I actually have. To read and think loudly, “Wow! I didn’t know that” is such a reminder of how very much more I have to learn. Thank You Lord that You have given us such examples of boasting, overconfidence, jealousy and broken family relationships.

Oh but You didn’t just stop there. No. Joseph’s examples were also that of his personal relationship with You. His attitude of asking You, “What shall I do now?” rather than “Why me God?” Even if he was discouraged by his circumstances, he wasn’t derailed by them. He consistently lived his life according to Your principles and ultimately was rewarded. He was able to stay true to his convictions no matter the situation. Because of his high personal integrity and great spiritual sensitivity he was elevated from slavery to prime minister.

Wow Lord! Thank You for this opportunity to read again how You can turn what others meant for evil into something used for good. Thank You that You can and often do mold our weaknesses into strengths. Here in this particular story about Joseph I again get to take to heart that ‘our responses to the circumstances we face are more important than the actual circumstances themselves.’

Thank You Lord that You do indeed know what is best for me. Help me pay careful attention to Your leading, even when it comes in the form of a Broadway musical. ♫Joseph – Pharaoh’s number two Joseph – Egypt looks to You…♫

I love You so much Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(507 words ~ 9:49 a.m.)

mistakes

Saturday, May 29, 2010 (7:18 a.m.)

Marriage. Celebrate. Love. Death. God!

God. Yes. God. Our God. Dear God. Loving God. My God. Giving God. Oh Most Dear and Loving Father God, thank You for the love which calls me to You. Thank You that You are perfect and wonderful. Thank You that even though I’ve been known to attempt avoiding You at times, You win out. You are wonderful.

(8:27 a.m.)

♫Powerful. Jesus is Your name… Author of my life Friend of sinful man Holy, mighty God Ever Great I Am You’re so wonderful, powerful Jesus is Your name Hallelujah Jesus Hallelujah Jesus Hallelujah Jesus My Lord, beautiful You are♫

Lord, I can’t begin to thank You enough for calling me again and again into Your presence. My old pattern is to run far away from You whenever I feel like this. Sad. Guilty. Lonely. Sad. Did I mention sad? Disappointed. In myself. I have a self-imposed standard I have set that, granted, is impossible to reach. And every time I fall short, I use that as another reason to chastise myself.

Lord, thank You that You are so good. Thank You that Your Word is filled with examples of people who have made mistakes. Let’s see. Eve immediately comes to mind!

Glorious God and Father, You continue giving me glimpses of myself. In accordance to Your Word, You keep loving me.

Oh most good and glorious Lord. THANK YOU! Thank You that in the midst of knowing that I needed to come before You with my disappointment with myself, You are ever here reminding me of Your love and faithfulness. Only through pouring out my heart, as wretched as it can be at times, can I catch another glimpse of Your grace. Yes Lord. Yet another opportunity to truly be agog with You!

I had plans and expectations in and of myself. I put them there. I built on them. I didn’t ask You Your thoughts. I just assumed that if I thought them they must be from You. NOT!

Thank You Lord that You keep bringing me back every single time I stray. Forgive me for the mistakes I continue to make. The poor timing I choose. The people I hurt. The commitments I flake out on. I don’t do these things on purpose. I don’t even do them without thinking. But truly Lord, the expectations I have set for myself and my own ability are way too high. I don’t hold ANY one else to the standard I have internalized for me.

Lord, thank You! Thank You that I get to sit here with tears streaming down my cheeks knowing that You love me. Thank You that I get to feel as though I have once again ‘crashed and burned’ with all the mistakes I have made over the past few months and none of them keep out of Your love. Lamentations 3:23 called out to remind me that “Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.”

Thank You for leading me here and then three verses up. “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.” I truly thought I would be able to wholeheartedly celebrate this day when my parents were married 62 years ago. I didn’t know I was setting myself up for another unrealistic expectation!

But look at You God! Right here at verses 21 and 22, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction.” Oh yes Lord. Thank You!

Thank You that I get to join my voice with Jeremiah’s in verse 24 (through 26) “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!’ The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”

Thank You Lord that You came to save us. From our mistakes. From our pasts. From ourselves. I love You so very much. Thank You. Amen.

(686 words ~ 9:27 a.m.)

Living Hope

Friday, May 28, 2010 (7:14 a.m.)

♫Jesus,

♫You’re my firm foundation. I know I can stand secure. Jesus, You’re my firm foundation. I put my hope in Your Holy Word. I put my hope in Your Holy Word♫

Mm. Yes Lord. ♫I have a Living Hope. I have a future. God has a plan for me. Of this I’m sure, of this I’m sure♫ Lord God, thank You! Thank You that I get to wake up singing songs of hope and deliverance.

Thank You that You are good and holy. Thank You that You DO have a plan for each of us and it IS a plan for good and not for evil, a plan to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Mm. Hope. Yes. Hope.

Wow Lord. What does that even look like? Hope. A living hope. It’s Your Word. I put my hope in the truth of Your Word and I am blessed.

You know what it looks like? I know what it looks like! It looks like me scouring translations of Your Word for more than an hour trying to find the ‘perfect’ version of 1Peter 1:3 when in reality You would much rather have me bring to You the sideways conversation I had with a teenager just before his leaving for school.

Lord, I have NO doubt that You are good and worthy and kind. Lord, I ABSOLUTELY thank You for the presence of mind to choose my words carefully. Thank You for reminding me that there truly ARE ‘healthier choices’ that we can make in every single dealing of our lives. YOU are my Living Hope. You are my future!

Thank You Lord. Thank You that in turning to Peter’s first letter to the early Jewish Christians, I get to be reminded (v. 7) of how important all our trials are to testing our faith. Lord God, thank You!

Thank You that in the midst of situations I am finally learning to step back instead of rush in. Thank You that right in the middle of conflict I am practicing breathing deeply and asking You for guidance. These are new patterns for me and they are helping.

♫Your Word is faithful Mighty with power You will deliver me Of this I’m sure Of this I’m sure♫ and every single day I get to show up and live Your Word again. Thank You Lord. Thank You for being my Living Hope! I love You. Amen.

(273 words ~ 8: 29 a.m.)

pleasing

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 (7:23 a.m.)

Beloved Lord God,

How I thank You Lord for the love You have instilled in us. Thank You for bringing us back again and again every single time we start to stray from what it is Your love truly is meant to be. Patient, kind. Rejoicing with truth. Bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things. (1Corinthians 13:4-7) It’s a pretty tall order Lord. But then again, You showed the Apostle Paul firsthand that we ‘can do all things through YOU who gives us strength’ (Philippians 4:13).

Lord, how I thank You for another opportunity to sit here pondering what You would have me do today. Sure. I have a list of places to go and people to see. There are plenty of things to pick up around here and elsewhere. I could easily lose myself to checking off completed projects. Oh but Lord, I believe You want far more from me!

Ephesians 5:10 says simply, “and find out what pleases the Lord.” Yes Lord. More than anything else today, may I find out what pleases You and then do it! I love You so much and I long to be considered pleasing in Your sight. Mm. Yes Lord. Pleasing. Hebrews 13:21 “may He equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him. All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.” Yes Lord. Pleasing to You. Amen!

(257 words ~ 8:02 a.m.)

caring

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 (11:09 p.m.)

Blessed, Beloved Lord God,

I’m here right now because I love You and I want to be. Thank You Lord. Thank You that of all the things I could be doing right now, sitting here with You was the first and most natural decision.

Mm, Lord. I love You so much. I am so very grateful for all that You are and all that You do. Earlier today I saw myself as being careless with You. Then I thought You’d rather have me be careful. Awhile later I wondered if carefree would be more to Your liking. Now I find myself looking at the root of the word. Even adding an ‘ing’ at the end. As I prepare to go back to bed Lord, I ask that You would speak to me a little more clearly about what it is that You’d have me know about caring.

I love You Lord and I DO want desperately to be known as a woman who cares. Deeply and lovingly about the things that please You. Speak to me Lord. I love You. Amen.

(187 words ~ 11:36 p.m.)

time

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 (7:08 a.m.)

Good Morning Lord,

Again, my first thought is to ask You ‘How’s it going?’ What’s up with that Lord? I don’t remember such a careless, casual approach with You.

(8:47 a.m.)

Oh. I know! I’m feeling sad. And scared. And afraid. And grateful. Really, truly grateful! You allowed me the time I needed to come to You with a truly grateful heart. Thank You Lord. Thank You for time to consider all that’s going on around us and still be able to come here and say, “Thank You Lord!”

Oh most dear and loving God. Thank You that You want hearts that WANT to be with You! Thank You that I didn’t want to pretend this morning. Thank You for the time it took avoiding You to get me to the point where I couldn’t wait to once again pour out my heart to You.

Lord, You are so good. You give us so much. Help me to use all that You provide in a good and resourceful way. I do not want to be careless Lord. I love You too much to take You for granted. You are far too good and glorious for me to come before You with anything less than You deserve. You are worthy of so much more than I could ever hope to offer. Thank You for allowing me that extra time this morning to be able to get to that place of true worship within my heart.

There’s a lot going on for us these days. People visiting. Students graduating. Life throwing us unexpected curveballs. Thank You Lord, for letting me sit here long enough to be able to express concerns rather than offering up words of phony praise. Thank You for loving us so much that You wait for us to make up our minds that You truly ARE faithful to answer. NEVER will You leave us or forsake us!

And just like that! Two hours after sitting down here with You, Hebrews 13: 1-7 jumps off the page and into my heart! “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said (Deuteronomy 31:6) ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, (Psalm 118:6,7) ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”

Oh most dear and faithful God. Thank You for loving us so much that You would give me time to take with You this morning. First avoiding and then running headlong into You. You love us so much that it is practically incomprehensible! Thank You Lord. Help me use the time You have allowed us this day wisely. I love You so much. Amen!

(535 words ~ 9:17 a.m.)

citizenship

Monday, May 24, 2010 (7:55 a.m.)

Beloved Lord God,

Good morning. How’s it going? I’m guessing by that that I truly am at a loss for words. I could start with my usual thank You’s but I don’t want to sound stilted and fake. So where do we go from here?

How about yesterday in church when I cried at just watching Evan Wickham play the piano? Wow! Lord. What an incredible gift he has! Thank You [that was real, not forced J] for prompting me to go sit where I could see his talent very up close and personal. Thank You for Connor’s willingness to include me in his spot of worship. Thank You for the freedom to be able to get up and move around during that time.

Wow Lord. I love when the thanks and praises just come pouring out and I don’t have to search for them. And where did they begin this morning? From such a talented musician as Evan yesterday mentioning that the inspiration for his song “Heavenlies” was from having read in the book of Revelations that our citizenship is in Heaven. Our Heavenly citizenship is eternal. We are just visiting here. Our citizenship is with You, in Your Kingdom. Wow Lord! What an awesome realization!

Oh Most Dear and Holy God. How I thank You ~ deeply, sincerely, reverently ~ for the opportunity to look ahead to eternity with You. I confess to having no concept of what all that will possibly be like. But I thank You none-the-less!

Thank You for the apostle Paul’s words to the people of Philippi in this regard. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). I can’t even begin to fathom what this means Lord. The Living Bible says it this way, “But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ is; and we are looking forward to His return from there.”

Lord, I look to You this morning using Paul’s words. “Finally, my dear friends, be glad that you belong to the Lord.” (3:1) “But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (vs. 7, 8). “I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don’t feel I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.” (12-14)

Blessed Lord. At first I didn’t know how to begin this morning. Now I don’t know how to end. You are so good and glorious and gracious. I long to be deemed worthy of Your sacrifice for my citizenship with You in Heaven. I love You so very much Dearest Lord. Thank You for all You are and the great price You paid on my behalf. I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(544 words ~ 9:10 a.m.)

a cheerful giver

Saturday, May 22, 2010 (10:58 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

Thank You! Thank You that right smack in the middle of my irritation just now, I remembered You and all You have been teaching me here of late. “People are more important than things.” “for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7b) “Be angry

Sunday, May 23, 2010 (6:51 a.m.)

“but do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26 RSV) and I didn’t Lord! I recognized my frustration and I went straight to You with it. Oh most holy Lord, how I thank You for being here with us and in us.

Thank You for directing me to take that pent-up energy and put it to good use by swimming it out for thirty minutes. Thank You for reminding me every step of the way that I had choices and that You wanted me to choose the things that would lead to life and not death (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Wow! God! Never have I felt so secure in my choices! Never have I felt closer to You in recognizing what I was feeling right as I was feeling it. What an incredible way to deal with a situation! In Your Word. Based ON Your Word. Standing firm that NO games were being played. Just a matter of fact, take charge approach to a problem.

Wow God! Agog. Agog, agog! Thank You Lord. I AM so eager to tell of the great work You are doing in me. NEVER have I experienced such an immediate awareness of what was going on inside me. One minute I was seething (filled with intense but unexpressed anger) and the next I was here thanking You for teaching me a better way.

Oh Lord, how I ask that I take this GIANT lesson into today and use it for Your good and Your glory! Having taken the remainder of yesterday off for our scheduled time of rest and recreation, I am again ready to “hit the ground running”. In the past, I have usually burned out before noon, so I turn to You now asking Your guidance and pace. Wow Lord. What a concept! Come to You first. Thank You!

Thank You Lord. Thank You God. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(371 words ~ 7:27 a.m.)

♫O praise Him...♫

Thursday, May 20, 2010 (5:58 a.m.)

♫All creatures of our God and King,

♫Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia, Alleluia!♫ I didn’t get it Lord! I almost missed it.

Having Terry jokingly ask me late last night what the song for today would be so we could get a head start on our list making, I had no idea I would wake up once again singing ♫O praise Him♫ Lord, I confess to feeling a little reluctant to continue in that vein when I came out here. And once again You have blessed my soul bigger than I could ever imagine!

First of all, I never knew this hymn was written by Saint Francis of Assisi. Much less that it was first penned within a year of his death in 1226, but not published for almost four hundred years. Lord, there is always so very much that I don’t know about a multitude of things!

Thank You that I get to keep coming before You and having You show me things that I would never think to look at. ♫All creatures of our God and King♫ first known as ♫Cantico di fratre sole, Song of Brother Sun♫ touches all the bases of this man’s heart for each of Your creations.

Lord, I am awed by his love for You. Reading a short Wikipedia entry about his life, I am excited to learn of his transformation from a lover of pleasure and ‘all things French’ to a man devoted to sharing You with others. What a blessing it is to read of his incredible transformation after hearing a sermon based on Matthew 10:9. Here Jesus told His followers to go out and freely share all they had received (v.8) without taking with them any of the usual creature comforts, “extra clothes and shoes, or even a walking stick.” This man not only heard Your Word, Lord. He embraced and lived it! And I am truly inspired by his story.

There are so many more words to this particular hymn than I had previously been aware. All of them encouraging not only man but all of nature and the environment to seek and praise You.

There I was much earlier this morning thinking how boring our time together would be here this morning just because I was still singing yesterday’s song. NOTHING could be further from the truth. YOUR Truth!

It’s all covered here Lord. ♫Thou burning sun with golden beam Thou silver moon with softer gleam… Thou rushing wind that art so strong Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along… Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice! O praise Him! O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou flowing water, pure and clear, Make music for thy Lord to hear…Thou fire so masterful and bright, That givest man both warmth and light… Dear mother earth, who day by day Unfoldest blessings on our way, O praise Him… flowers, fruits, men of tender heart…♫ It’s all so much Lord!

I don’t have words to properly express myself, except that I am so incredibly grateful for all it is that You have provided us. Thank You for giving me this wonderful opportunity to take another blessed look at this glorious song. Thank You that I didn't miss it! I love You so much Dear Lord! ♫O praise Him…♫ Amen!

(572 words ~ 8:15 a.m.)

"A Christlike People"

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 (5:33 a.m.)

Lord,

♫Everyone needs compassion, love that’s never failing Let mercy fall on me♫ Mercy. Compassion. Love. Blessed Lord, these are powerful words. Words I long to incorporate into my very being.

Oh Most Dear and Blessed Lord, I sit here digging into Your Word wondering what You’d like to teach me today. There are New Testament letters and Old Testament prophets each vying for my attention. The desire of my heart and soul right now is to somehow have my mind expanded that I could take it all in at once.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians about living as ‘a new person’ (4:17-32) and ‘a child of the light’ (5:1-20). Lord, I keep reading and in The Bible Handbook I see all these verses encompassed under the title “A Christlike People”. Oh yes Lord! Make us into Your Christlike people!

Subtitles tell of “The New Self” (4:17-25), “The New Relationships” (4:25-5:2) and “The New Lifestyle” (5:3-20). Lord, it all reads so ‘doable’! Make it so Dear Lord. Turn us into a Christlike people!

Two side-notes concerning relationships send me back over to the Old Testament. Zechariah was told by You (8:16) “Here is your part: Tell the truth. Be fair. Live at peace with one another.” And when dealing with anger the psalmist explains, “Stand before the Lord in awe, and do not sin against Him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation. Put your trust in the Lord, and offer Him pleasing sacrifices.” (Psalm 4:4-5)

Eugene H. Peterson minced no words in his interpretation here in The Message, “Complain if you must, but don’t lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your hearts do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for His verdict.”

Oh that we will learn to be these people Lord. Patient. Kind. Loving. Merciful. Compassionate. As I sit trying to consider all that You are and everything that You do a different song comes to my mind and heart. Thank You God that my humming was enough to prompt Terry’s singing ♫Oh, praise Him Alleluia♫ the same words I had. One further look back at Sunday’s notes from church and I had the hymn. ♫All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing Oh, praise Him Alleluia♫

Oh yes Lord, let Your Christlike people sing! Let us love. Let us worship. Let us obey. All for the opportunity of truly being a Christlike people! ♫Oh praise Him Alleluia♫

Thank You Lord. Amen.

(423 words ~ 7:21 a.m.)

TOGETHER!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 (8:15 a.m.)

Amazing God and Father,

Thank You!

(9:13 a.m.)

There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that “Thank You” is anywhere near enough! But Lord. It’s what I’ve got! You, Yourself spoke through Paul to the Corinthians (2-9:7) considering giving. “Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes.” What I have to give You this day is all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength (Mark 12:30) all my thanks, all my praise, all I have is Yours Lord!

Why? Because You love us so much! You held nothing back when it came to rescuing, redeeming and resuscitating us. Thank You Father. Our Father which art in heaven Hallowed truly IS Your name!

Lord, thank You for the hope that readily comes to those who believe and trust in Your mighty goodness and grace. This morning officially marks another day of my truly being ‘AGOG With God’ once again. It’s been quite a journey. Lots of false starts and stops along the way. Bumps in the road that have seemed like boulders.

But You Lord have not left us once. Never have You forsaken or abandoned us. And even in the midst of the sadness and the pain of misunderstanding, Your Word has been a constant guiding factor. Thank You Lord. Bless You. Praise You!

So. Today. After all these days, weeks (months, years, decades) of fighting amongst ourselves, today another avenue of communication has finally opened up! TOGETHER we will move forward! Paul told the Philippians (2:2) “Then make me truly happy by loving each other and agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, working together with one heart and mind and purpose.” Yes Lord! TOGETHER!!!!

Again Eugene Peterson (The Message) has used his words concerning Your Word to speak even more plainly to my heart. Starting with verse one and continuing through verse four, “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care – then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

Yes Lord. How I ask that You will continue working in us that we will TRULY come to the place that we WILL ‘forget ourselves and lend a helping hand.’

Lord, I love You. I adore You. I worship You. I thank You. Praise You. Bless You. Thank You for showing us such mercy, grace and love. You are wonderful and we are blessed by association. Thank You so incredibly much for making me truly agog with You once again!

I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(517 words ~ 10:02 a.m.)

so very much

Monday, May 17, 2010 (7:08 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! Thank You that one minute I can be sitting here trying to remember the way things came to me upon awakening this morning and the next I have tears in my eyes because I know You love us so much. Thank You Lord. Thank You so very much.

Lord, You are so good. It’s You that reminded me of the need I have for order and structure. You brought the “First Things First” phrase back into my consciousness. You followed that almost immediately with the comforting strains of a song we sang in church yesterday.

And this is where the tears started to form. Lord, thank You for the truth found in Your Word. Thank You for the truth that leads others to write music and lyrics expressing Your powerful love. ♫Everyone needs compassion, love that’s never failing Let mercy fall on me Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Savior The hopes of nations Savior, He can move the mountains My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save Forever, Author of Salvation He rose and conquered the grave Jesus conquered the grave♫

Oh most dear and holy Lord, how incredible it is to know that we are loved by You so very much!

My mind keeps flitting from song to verse this morning. I woke up humming ♫Mighty to Save♫ I’m guessing because of having just sung it yesterday. But the truth of the lyrics speak straight to my heart ♫So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures Fill my life again I give my life to follow, everything I believe in Now I surrender♫ Mm. Surrender. Yes! Surrender: to You, to Your will, to Your way.

Pastor Greg encouraged us yesterday Lord to “Take A Stand” in You. How I ask that You would continue teaching and reminding me to do exactly that. I tend to step in excrements so easily. How much I prefer to think of standing firmly, proudly, readily in You. With You. For You.

Lord, thank You for loving us so very much. Ephesians 2:4 uses those very words. Rather than cutting straight to the chase there Lord, I begin up at verse one and continue through verse six. “Once you were under God’s curse, doomed forever for your sins. You went along with the crowd and were just like all the others, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air, who is at work right now in the hearts of those who are against the Lord. All of us used to be just as they are, our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into. We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God’s anger just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy; He loved us so very much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, He gave us back our lives again when He raised Christ from the dead – only by His undeserved favor have we ever been saved – and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with Him in the heavenly realms – all because of what Christ Jesus did.”

Beloved God, if You can love us with a love so rich and pure please help us love one another as You would have us love. I ask that You would structure and order this day that I would pay close attention to all that You have for me. I love You so very much and that is only possible because of Your “loving us first” (1John 4:19).

Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(641 words ~ 8:21 a.m.)

more about loving

Friday, May 14, 2010 (5:44 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

Lord

Sunday, May 16, 2010 (8:49 a.m.)

Yes, Lord. Three days I have come here before You asking that You would teach me more about loving as You would have me love. Late last night when the bulk of two entries were mistakenly ‘not saved’ I considered starting again from scratch. Early this morning I believed You still have plenty more to say to me concerning love.

So ♫Word of God speak Would You pour down like rain Washing my eyes to see Your majesty To be still and know That You’re in this place Please let me stay and rest In Your holiness Word of God speak♫

Mm, yes Lord. Turning to Your Word and having You speak to me within Your holy pages, across the millennium is paramount to my being. To have unrest and growing pains going on around here met with, “But the Bible says we are to…” is such a balm [fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe the skin]. We are in desperate need of Your healing and soothing Lord.

How fun it is for me to look at You and say (quite reverently actually) “Lord, You are da balm!!!” Thank You Lord! Thank You.

Lord, You ARE soothing our souls! You are helping us heal decades of incompatible communication. You are working overtime in teaching us what Your love truly looks like. We’ve been quite a bit off in our lack of granting one another a bushel of grace as needed.

Thank You that You are ever near and ready to remind us of all that You designed love to be. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1Corinthians 13:4-8a)

Lord, thank You for ever reminding me to look to You and Your Word for truth. Thank You that even in a song as simple as a number sung by Willy Wonka, I think of You singing to me, ♫Come with me And you’ll be In a world of Pure imagination Take a look And you’ll see Into your imagination We’ll begin With a spin Traveling in The world of MY Creation What we’ll see Will defy Explanation If you want to view paradise Simply look around and view it Anything you want to, do it Wanta change the world? There’s nothing To it There is no Life I know To compare with Pure imagination Living there You’ll be free If you truly wish to be♫

I hear this song and think of YOUR imagination in creating the galaxies, the world and Your true paradise. Let me love the way You desire so I will someday experience all You have to offer to those of us who truly seek You. I love You Lord and I desperately want to love You, myself and others better than I have. Thank You for coming to teach us exactly how. I love You. Amen.

(545 words ~ 9:37 a.m.)

pouring out my heart

Thursday, May 13, 2010 (10:17 a.m.)

♫God of Grace and God of Glory,

♫On Thy people pour Thy power♫ Oh most dear and holy Lord God, thank You! Thank You that of all the songs and thoughts I’ve had of and to You so far this morning, THIS is the hymn that just started singing itself to me the moment I sat down here.

All the mixed up feelings and emotions so far today [well, actually, way more than only today J!] are summed up for me here in the second verse ♫Lo! (used to draw attention to an interesting or amazing event) the hosts of evil round us Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways! From the fears that long have bound us, Free our hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, For the living of these days, For the living of these days.♫

Yes, most dear and blessed God! Free us. Free ME! I am bound Lord. Deeply, truly bound by the struggles of this world. I keep looking around. Trying to figure it all out. And that’s NOT what You would have me do. I need to come again and again to the foot of Your cross. Proclaiming Your goodness. Seeking Your mercy and grace.

Thank You Lord for rescuing me repeatedly from this pit I keep finding myself in. Thank You for bringing me right back to Your Word. Specifically Your Word concerning Joshua’s leadership.

And here again You toss me another song ♫Here I am, once again I pour out my heart For I know that You hear Every cry You are listening No matter what state my heart is in You are faithful to answer With words that are true and a hope that is real As I feel Your touch You bring a freedom To all that’s within In the safety of this place I’m longing to Pour out my heart To say that I love You Pour out my heart To say that I need You Pour out my heart to say that I’m thankful Pour out my heart To say that You’re wonderful. Lord, that You’re wonderful!♫

Beloved Lord. Thank You for taking the focus off of me and all the whines and cries my heart holds. Pouring out my heart earlier to this remarkable husband You provided me, helped some. Pouring it out again to You amazes me!

♫Every cry You are listening No matter what state my heart is in♫ And not only do You listen Lord, but ♫You are faithful to answer With words that are true And a hope that is real♫ Truly Lord. My Hope IS in You! How I ask that You continue working in me. Take out all that is there that is not pleasing to You. There are so many misconceptions I have. So many mistakes I’ve made. Too often I (albeit unknowingly!) take on too much. This life You have so graciously given me needs to be lived for Your good and Your glory and I confess Lord, I keep getting in the way!

My thoughts. My plans. My needs. The things I think I want… They all slow me down. I trip over it all constantly. I jump up. Start running. And time after time find myself wondering where the heck I am and how in the world I got there. Lord, I AM like the Israelites wandering around the desert for forty years!

How I ask You to continue Your work in me. Remove all that is not holy and replace it with the ability to trust and obey You in all You have for me. I confess to feeling fearful and giving in (up!) to circumstances of overwhelm. You are better than this in me. You are all that I am not. I turn to You. I look to You. Help me follow You. At Your pace. In Your direction. At all times. I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(665 words ~ 11:04 a.m.)

Micah 6:8

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (4:57 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

I confess I’d much rather be sleeping right now, but my brain won’t seem to stop thinking of things. Rather than continue tossing, turning and ruminating I thought I’d bring myself out here to You and ask the big question. Lord, God how do I accept myself exactly as I am? Warts and all.

I keep looking at the shouldas Lord. Shoulda said. Shoulda done. Shoulda been. What do You have for me instead?

Thank You Lord that You lead me away from the torment of my own self criticism to the Light and Truth and hope of Your Word! Thank You Lord that in the depths of the turmoil You are here. Ever faithful. Never changing. Holy. Loving. Perfect. All that we want to be.

Lord, I keep failing. I want desperately to do more. Be more. And even as I confess myself to You, I sense the words, “Be satisfied.” What would that even look like Lord? I’m so used to being critical. Of everything!

Mm. And even in this, my heart sings out to You asking ♫In my life Lord, be glorified. Be glorified. In my life Lord, be glorified today♫

Lord, You are so good. So holy. I am not. I am made in Your image (Genesis 1:26) so I have potential. Yes?

(7:03 a.m.)

Yes. I have potential! Thank You Lord! Thank You that I get to come before You. Fearful. Sad. Discouraged. I don’t have to pretend. I don’t have to make sense. I get to cry if I need to. I can bounce between the boundaries of joy and despair if necessary. And You understand. You know my heart. You take me on a personally guided tour through Your Word.

Starting with Micah 6:8 (“He has showed you, O Man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with Your God.”), stopping by to visit awhile in Ephesians and ending in Psalm 139:1-5.

Lord, I cannot possibly thank You enough for investing Your time and energy in me like this. Just as I am examining myself and confessing the thought that I do not ‘act justly’, I read a Serenity Prayer Devotional regarding Psalm 139.

“Perhaps we spend our energy and time trying to be what someone else wants us to be because we feel that who we are is not enough.” (BINGO!) “We may do all we can to separate from our inner being because we are so deeply ashamed of who we are. Self-hatred is a defect of character that needs to be removed… allow God to remove self-hatred, helping us to value ourself for who we are. We have been miraculously created, and are treasured by God… As we begin to see how unique and special we are – embraced and accepted by God Himself – our strides toward recovery should grow faster and longer.”

Embraced and accepted by God Himself? Lord, if You can embrace and accept me just as I am, will You please remove that unrealistic, self imposed bar I have set so incredibly high, so that I can truly embrace and accept myself?

I love You so much Dear Lord. I want to make You proud. But mostly I want “to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly” with You! Thank You Lord. Amen.

(569 words ~ 7:39 a.m.)

availeth much

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 (7:19 a.m.)

♫Hum, hum, hum-hum-hum…♫

There’s a song Lord. And I’ve been looking for it for quite some time now. All to no avail. Ah, but You know what? After just getting started with You right now, I know I’d rather be doing this than that. Thank You Lord. Thank You for turning my focus once again back to You, where I want it to be. Where it so rightly belongs!

Why am I so amazed right now? Just as I completely gave up the search, turned myself over to You and started looking for the verse that mentions, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b) there were a couple of the words to the song my heart was singing. ♫On the street where you live♫

Leave it to You God! Yes Lord! Why is it that I don’t just leave things to You in the first place! I am such a slow study! Mm. Thank You God!

Thank You that in releasing a struggle to You, I received both a needed verse for the day and the answer to the question I hadn’t even asked You. What is this song? And how did it come into my subconscious? As I played several versions via the internet, the second answer came quickly. We had just watched a Sunday Morning piece on Vic Damone where he sang that he had ♫often walked down this street before But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before♫

What a delightful way to start the day Lord! First waking again to the strains of ♫Hosanna♫ followed by a melody that brought me here and helped me realize that things just go so much easier when I release them to You.

And then the ‘coupe de grace’ [which is literally French for ‘stroke of grace’! Thank You very much! J] is the joy of turning in Your Word and finding the title to this section of James, “Be Patient, Kind and Prayerful”.

Lord, You love us so much. You have so many wonderful things to share with us. Too often I cut You off thinking I must or I should handle the simple stuff on my own and just not bother You. Thank You Lord that it is my understanding that You want us to bother You. With everything!

Thank You that as I turn the page in our huge Contemporary English Version Learning Bible, the very first words on the page are “If you are having trouble, you should pray. And if you are feeling good, you should sing praises.” (James 5:13) Eugene Peterson put it even more simply in The Message, “Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing.”

So sing I shall! These words directly to You! ♫I have often walked down this street before; But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before. All at once am I Several stories high. Knowing I’m on the street where YOU live!♫ And now Lord, if You don’t mind, I think I just might go dance with my husband!

Thank You Lord. I love You. ♫…People stop and stare. They don’t bother me. For there’s no where else on earth that I would rather be. Let the time go by, I won’t care if I Can be here on the street where You live!♫

(560 words ~ 8:36 a.m.)

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day Sunday, May 9, 2010 (7:00 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed Father God,

I know that next month it’ll be appropriate to tell You “Happy Father’s Day”, but what about today? I search Your Word and nowhere do I find a mention of You as Mother. You are, however, the One who created them.

Monday, May 10, 2010 (6:25 a.m.)

Thank You Father for the opportunity to ponder that question yesterday. Thank You for the resources with which to research it. Thank You for continuing to draw me back to You each time I have gotten side-tracked in order to avoid all that this day doesn’t represent to me.

Funny. Smile. Grateful. Thank You! I was just thinking of typing the words, “It’s just like any other day” when I remembered having just talked with You about ‘not just any ordinary day’ a few days ago. Thank You Lord. Thank You that I don’t have to limp around days trying to ignore them. Just because I don’t agree with what big business has done to corrupt and guilt the flavor and feel of the occasion, I can still be grateful to You for the honor and privilege of having had a mom who truly loved and wanted me.

Thank You Lord, for calling me back to You to the point that I could acknowledge many of the sour points that this day represents to me. Never do we (in this particular household) have a day that looks anything like the ones advertised as being the norm in the media. I confess to still seeing it as the anniversary of the day we came home from church after brunch to find we had been burglarized. Not exactly the day of hearts and flowers for me!

BUT! You ARE God and thusly You are good and as I continue sidling up to You in my feeble attempt to boycott this day that never seems to go the way I think it ought, I AM grateful (in some tiny degree) to the love that peeks through my negativity. Lord, You keep providing points of joy. Little oases of hope and peace. Tiny reminders that You alone are God and that we are to love You with all of our hearts and souls and minds and strength (Mark 12:29, 30).

Lord, thank You. As convoluted as my thoughts and feelings have been these past few days, YOU know my heart! Thank You that I get to keep bringing it to You. Confused. Imperfect. Longing to be deemed faithful in Your sight. I could put on a happy face. Say all the ‘right’ words and pretend that I meant them. But Lord, how much more I prefer knowing what a waste of Your time that would be.

For two days I have sat with my Bibles and study books open to Isaiah 66 trying to fully digest and understand Your words to this particular statesman and speaker. You spoke to Your prophet concerning truth, confrontation, hope, the importance of taking action. I confess to having more questions than answers and less understanding than when I began.

In response to all of my wondering, I still choose to just hold steady to the course of trusting You. Believing that all will be revealed to me in Your good time. Until then I will simply continue pondering the truth of Your Word, especially where Jerusalem is portrayed “like a mother” (Isaiah 66:8) and followed by Your promise in verse 13. “I will comfort you there (Jerusalem) like a mother comforting her child.”

While I may not have a clear understanding, I can continue trusting You to provide the hope, faith and love that You have promised will remain (1Corinthians 13:13). Thank You Lord that You will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Thank You that we get to trace every fear, concern, doubt or problem back to Your Holy Word for Your divine guidance. Thank You that You DO “comfort us as a mother comforts her child.” Thank You for loving us so much Lord. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(684 words ~ 9:22 a.m.)

♫Hosanna... ♫

Saturday, May 8, 2010 (10:35 a.m.)

♫Hosanna, Hosanna,

♫Come have Your way among us We welcome You here, Lord Jesus♫ Mm, Lord. Thank You! Thank You that You ARE ♫the God who saves us Worthy of all our praises♫

Mm. Yes! ♫Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You, we (I) turn to You Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You, we (I) long for You♫ Oh yes Lord. It’s true! A minute ago I was going to come before You grumbling, growling, grousing… ANY “gr” word, but grateful! But You kept singing ♫Hosanna♫ in my heart. Thank You that I chose listening to that rather than continuing in the negative vein I had found myself.

Lord, thank You for the truth found in Your Word. Thank You for the hope that is found when looking to You instead of things of this world.

Lord. I confess to thinking I could find the same peace and joy from reading a Christian love story as I do in coming to You first thing in the morning. NOT! The more determined I became in finishing the 300 page book about mother-daughter relationships, mistakes from the past, the need for healthy boundaries and forgiveness all around, the more distraught I became.

Thank You God that YOURS is the true love story! Your love for us, covering ALL our sins! Thank You Lord.

Thank You that I get to come before You with an attitude bordering on anger and resentment and You just keep providing song after song of love for You to my heart. Thank You that You can change my balled up fists of hurt and frustration into opened palms of praise and thanksgiving. That’s You Lord! At Your best! Thank You.

Thank You for stirring up all the slights, fears and settled dust of the past in order to remind me of how Eugene Patterson describes Your presentation of perfect love. 1John 4:17-18, “God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day – our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in love.” Lord, thank You for coming to fully form us in Your love.

Thank You that Yours is a love on which we can stand, lean, depend, rest. Yours is the perfect love of which we are to pattern our loving of others. Thank You for singing Your love into my heart. ♫Hosanna, hosanna… ♫

(468 words ~ 11:35 a.m.)

love

Friday, May 7, 2010 (6:56 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Good morning. I love You. What do You have for me to consider this morning? Once again I think it has to do with love. Love for You, love for our neighbors, love for ourselves. So tell me Lord. How DO we learn more about loving the way You would have us love?

Turning to Your Word is the first place I start. I must confess to being hugely surprised by the number of choices I have in the ‘subject index’, all under the heading “Love” “…for enemies, for neighbors, for others, as basic principle, Love for God, Love of God, and of course, (romantic)”. Oh and look over here. Right at the end of ‘as basic principle’ it says, “also see Obedience”.

Thank You Lord. Thank You that I get to come before You wondering. And You are not only ready, willing and so incredibly able to provide my every need, ♫You are faithful to answer With words that are true and a hope that is real♫

I’m reading in First John, about the reason it was written in the first place. To alert the early church of the false spiritual teachers that were out there. Lord, thank You! Thank You for loving us so much that You would ‘invite us to joy’ (chapter 1:1-4), describe how it is that we are to ‘walk in the light’ (1:5-2:29), ‘be honest with ourselves’ (1:5-2:2), ‘be loving’ (2:3-11) and ‘walk in love’ (3:1-4:19).

Lord, I look at a section in the introduction that I bracketed fifteen years ago. Again I pause to thank You for Your faithful servants of the past. John wrote this letter to help the readers answer the question, “Are we true believers?” How many of us still ask that question of ourselves to this very day?

My Life Recovery Bible says, “John told them that they could tell by looking at their actions: If they loved one another, that was evidence of God’s presence in their lives. But if they bickered and fought all the time, or were selfish and did not look out for one another, they were betraying that they, in fact, did NOT know God.”

As I continue scanning just the book’s intro, I’m drawn to the faint underlining from many years past, “Depending on God, treat others with respect and dignity, It takes humility and commitment to live at peace with others”.

Oh most dear and blessed Lord God, please, teach me more this day about love! I do love You so much. Thank You! Amen.

(430 words ~ 7:48 a.m.)

not just any ordinary day

Thursday, May 6, 2010 (7:06 a.m.)

On one hand Lord,

It seems like any ordinary day. On the other, it’s the National Day of Prayer AND our daughter’s birthday (all while she’s visiting our Nation’s capital) which makes it a very big day indeed!

Truly Lord, is any one particular day of more significance to You than any other? Is the day that is most pleasing to You referred to when You spoke to King Solomon after he finished building the temple? 2Chronicles 7:14, “then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.”

Mm, Lord. I just love the way You answer all my questions! By pushing me deeper into Your Word. The ‘official’ verse for the National Day of Prayer 2010 being from the prophet Nahum (1:7) “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him” brings me full circle back to every other day.

Because first and foremost, Your “loving-kindness begins afresh each day” (Lamentations 3:23). With that truly being the case, we come all the way back to Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

There is absolutely nothing ordinary about every single day You make dear Lord. Keep me ever mindful of this truth, I pray. You are such a good and gracious God. How I thank You for the opportunity and privilege to come before You every brand new day. I love You so very much. Help me use this unordinary day for Your good and Your glory Dearest Lord. I love You. Amen!

(294 words ~ 8:27 a.m.)

listening

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 (6:34 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

You rock! It’s taken me almost an hour to get serious and stay here with You in Your Word. I’ve wandered around the house and the internet and finally I’ve found what I was looking for all the time; You speaking to me through James.

Thank You Lord! Thank You that there are so many times I think I know what I am looking for, only to be reminded of how much better things work out when I come before You without my agenda. Thank You that even as I thought I wanted to ask You to make me a better listener, You knew You had a better thing in mind for me.

I am not to be “a hearer of the Word” only. I am to be a “doer” as well (James 1:23). Lord, thank You for this sappy little smile I have on my face as all the dots of the morning connect and I’m singing ♫Here I am once again, I pour out my heart For I know that You hear every cry You are listening No matter what state my heart is in You are faithful to answer With words that are true and a hope that is real As I feel Your touch You bring a freedom to all that’s within In the safety of this place♫

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 (6:47 a.m.)

And I’m back! (And still thankful.) Lord, You gave me such a day of fun, hard work and relaxation all at the same time yesterday. Why? Because I was listening!

How long has it been since I could hear You in the midst of yard work? When was the last time I got excited about the prospects of summer and swimming? Lord. Thank You!

Thank You for the satisfaction of filling trash can after trash can with yard waste. Thank You for the joy of digging in the dirt again and being ‘wowed’ by all Your handiwork. Thank You for deep seeded thoughts that came from the focus of sticking to the task at hand. AND Lord, thank You for the wherewithal to say, “When!” and be done for the day, even though there was just a seeming little bit more to go.

Lord, it’s been so long since I’ve felt that close to You in the yard. Thank You for the true sense of connectedness. Thank You too for the opportunity to take regular breaks to rest and spend time with my husband, listening (REALLY listening!) to what all he had been doing with the day.

Thank You Lord that there truly was a feeling of working together and getting along between the three of this household. Well, I guess it would be four if we counted You, wouldn’t it?

Reading again the first chapter of James, I find I am smiling once more. Verses two through four speak of being happy when our lives are full of difficulties and temptations, because our patience has a chance to grow into full bloom, making us ready for anything, “strong in character, full and complete.”

Oh yes Lord! It is when we stay connected to You that we can withstand all the world has to throw at us. Over at the end of the chapter (v. 19) it tells of the importance of listening much, speaking little and not becoming angry, “for anger doesn’t make us good, as God demands that we must be.” (v. 20)

Lord, as I prepare to leave this safe place of mini worship with You, I ask that I take the truth and the wisdom of Your Word with me throughout the day, truly being a doer of Your Word, not just a listener (v. 23). I love You so very much Dear Lord. Help me obey and glorify You more. Thank You. Amen.

(642 words ~ 7:47 a.m.)

anew

Saturday, May 1, 2010 (6:22 a.m.)

Newport Dunes Tent Site #3318

Anaheim First Christian Church Family Camp #4

Blessed Lord,

It’s a whole new month. Another brand new day. One more opportunity to say, “Good morning. I love You. Thank You.” Mm. Yes Lord. Thank You.

Thank You for reminding me late the other night of the importance of looking into my husband’s eyes when we are trying to understand one another. Thank You that yesterday morning I stopped trying to be understood and once again chose to trust and believe the best in him. What a difference a new attitude can make! Thank You Lord.

Monday, May 3, 2010 (8:13 a.m.)

Yes Lord. A new attitude. Anew: in a new or different, typically more positive, way; afresh. Oh yes Lord. Let it be so!

Psalm 78:7, “So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.” Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

Hope set anew. God’s masterpiece, created anew. Lord, does there really come a time when we live consistently as though we truly believe and trust these words? Overall I say yes! But what about those times when the doubts and frustrations of everyday living just seem to seep their way into our being, causing us to become bitter, NOT better?

Are those the times Peter was speaking of when he wrote his first letter to Jewish Christians suffering persecution for their faith? The Life Recovery Bible (TLB) tells that Peter’s purpose of this letter was “To show us how to live well in a shattered and hopeless world.” Amen, Lord!

1Peter 5:6-11, “If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in HIS (my emphasis!) good time He will lift you up. Let Him have ALL (again, my accentuation) worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. Be careful – watch out for attacks from satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart. Stand firm when he attacks. Trust the Lord; and remember that other Christians all around the world are going through these sufferings too. After you have suffered a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you His eternal glory. He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place, and make you stronger than ever. To HIM be all power over all things, forever and ever. Amen.”

Lord, it truly is my prayer that I would come to love and trust You with ALL my cares and worries. I want desperately to live as Your masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus. I DO set my hope anew on You. How I ask for the ability to live and breathe You as regularly and naturally as I do every single breath I take.

I love You so much Dear Lord. Thank You for the opportunity to begin each new day anew with You. I love You. Amen.

(535 words ~ 9:01 a.m.)