dependent

Thursday, June 30, 2011 (7:25 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

I love You so much. Thank You for the opportunity to be loved by You. To think of my life without You and all that You are and all that You do for each of us is beyond my comprehension. I think of the life I was living, who I was becoming before I finally confessed my need for You and I still shudder. Lord God, thank You for saving me from my own delusions of grandeur!

Once upon a time I really truly DID think I had all the answers. I just knew what was best for everybody and everything. I was so sure of myself and my own opinion that I never even waited to be asked before jumping right in and advising others on who and what and how to run their lives. Thanks for letting that all blow up in my face so spectacularly.

Left with messes of my own making I look to You still saying, “Thank You, Lord.” Without You, I would be on my own. Working myself up into a dither. To be able to look to You, knowing, believing, trusting that I am loved by the Master, Creator of the universe is hope I could have no other way. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that You love not only me but every single one of Your creations. You don’t play favorites. You are the perfect Parent. You know exactly what our needs are and precisely how to provide them. I confess to wanting more than my fair share. Too often I whine and complain to You about my perceived unfairness of certain situations. Thank You Lord that even in this I can turn back to You again confessing, “Oops! Please forgive me.”

Too many times I have gone off half-cocked. Not knowing what I thought I knew. There is so much peace and yes, even joy to be found in just laying myself bare before You. Thank You Lord for every single time I have jumped to wrong conclusions and You have forgiven me. Thank You for the absolutely dependent woman You are growing me into. Dependent Lord. Yes. Utterly, completely, absolutely dependent on You!

It took me quite a bit of looking. I didn’t find it in songs I was thinking of. Nor in the usual translations I use. But there in the Holman Christian Standard Bible Isaiah 26:3 says it perfectly for me, “You will keep in perfect peace the mind [that is] dependent [on You], for it is trusting in You.” That is ABSOLUTELY it in a nutshell.

Lord, I am nothing without You! On my own I create chaos. Crisis. Confusion. With You, in You, through You I have perfect peace. Things may not look the way I would want them, but every single time I surrender to Your will, to Your way I am flooded by Your perfect peace.

The only answer I have for anything is You! I don’t even know how to effectively share this truth with others. But I am trusting and asking that You would make me able. In ways that I cannot even begin to imagine, teach me how to share the glory and the strength that is found ONLY in being completely dependent on You.

Lord God, I love You so very much. And I am so grateful to be Your child. Your daughter. How I ask that it may come to be that I am considered by You a woman after Your own heart. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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

prayerfully

Monday, June 27, 2011 (12:37 p.m.)

Most Holy God,

You are working mightily, powerfully in our lives. You are good. You are holy. And we are thankful. Lord. I confess that I don’t know how to proceed. I don’t think I know how to prayer powerfully enough. Wholeheartedly yes. Powerfully? Not so much.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 (8:00 a.m.)

Even when I’m not expressing myself to You in written form, my heart still cries out to You. Turning in Your Word to learn more about prayer, I find myself again at Psalm 119. The Illustrated Bible Handbook describes it not only as the longest psalm, but tells that “The word of God, and its impact in the life of the believer, is the subject of this great work of poetry.” Oh to be able to LIVE this truth each and every moment of our lives!

I read here of the blessings and joy afforded to those who are obedient to Your instructions and Your laws. I confess that when I am reading them and my head and heart nod in agreement I absolutely know that Your way is the best way then invariably the next thing I know I have wandered off from You again.

Lord God, how I thank You for loving me in spite of myself. I get in the way of Your truth and light so often. I think I fully know and understand one tiny little aspect of what Your Word is saying to me then the very next thing I know I’m stumbling around in the dark again. Thank You for accepting me every single time I turn back around to You and Your will and Your way.

Lord, I am asking You to make me obedient in the ways that I have been unable to accomplish on my own. I DO let my feelings get in the way of my efforts. I fold too easily. I give up often. I long to learn to identify the things that are worth staying and fighting for. Teach me Lord to be the loving, courageous woman of Yours You originally deemed me to be.

I love You. I long to represent You well. I’m asking You to lead me in the spiritual battles I have longed attempted to ignore. Grow me Lord. In Your Word. In Your Will. In Your Way. Make me obedient. I confess; I am completely unable to pull it off in my own strength and power. I need You. I want You. I am asking You to do in and through me that which I am not able to do for myself. I am powerless to make myself righteous. I am unable to pray fervently and effectually (James 5:16) enough on my own. Even in finding this verse just now, I ended up looking at and being inspired again by Nehemiah’s commitment to You and his readiness to sit down, cry, go without eating and spend time in prayer to You for the good of others (Nehemiah 1:4). THAT’S the kind of pray-er I long to be dearest Lord. One who readily comes to You in the power of Your Holy Spirit.

Teach me Lord. Guide me. Direct me. Show me how to become the powerfully prayerful person You would have me be. Prayerfully I ask this in Your Son’s most holy name. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(564 words ~ 8:50 words)

fellowship/sonship

Saturday, June 25, 2011 (5:15 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

I come before You this morning requesting fellowship. I spent most of yesterday feeling cranky and out of sorts. I tried ignoring it. Giving into it. Just generally wishing it away. And now I bring myself to You confessing it.

I long to focus on the positive, not the negative. I ask You to help me see that which I am currently unable. One tiny little bit of unrest has led to almost 24 hours of grumbling. Lord, I am truly asking You to change that which I cannot.

You are good. You are able. I am not. You provide our every need. You do great things in, through and for us. I look to You. I’m asking You. I am in genuine need of the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit.

Sunday, June 26, 2011 (7:02 a.m.)

I asked. You answered. Thank You Lord. Thank You that after so much time spent indulging myself in grumpiness, the confession to and request of You resulted in two completely unexpected phone calls laced with the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit. You definitely ARE ♫the tie that binds♫!

Most Dear and Blessed Lord, I came here expecting to go in the direction of learning more about the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit and instead I’m getting a much needed lesson in ‘sonship’ (Galatians 3:26-4:7). Thank You Lord!

Thank You that in the mere mention of those two phone calls my heart didn’t skip a beat in starting the singing of ♫Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love♫ It IS Your love that binds us together. And just like that I am looking up the lyrics to ♫Bind us together, Lord Bind us together With cords that cannot be broken… Bind us together in Love♫

There is mention here of there being ♫only one God… only one King… only one Body That is why we sing♫ We are reminded that we are ♫Fit for the glory of God Purchased by His precious Blood Born with the right to be free♫ Why? Because in ♫Jesus the victory was won♫!

Lord, I cannot thank You enough. Two phone calls helped remind me ♫We are the family of God We are the promise divine We are God’s chosen desire We are the glorious new wine♫ YOU did all this for us Lord. You [hold on for yet another song J] ♫will make a way Where there seems to be no way♫ You work ♫in ways we cannot see♫ You are the One who ♫will make a way for me♫ And I am so very grateful Lord.

This particular song speaks of You being our guide, holding us closely to Your side ♫With love and strength for each new day He will make a way for me♫ And just what is the impetus for this love and strength? Fellowship. With You and Your blessed Holy Spirit. Fellowship with other Believers.

Lord God how I thank and praise You for not ever just leaving me in the muck of my own making. Because of this wholehearted request for fellowship I am reminded in the comments found in Galatians 3:15-29 that Your ‘relationship with us is not based on our keeping the law’ but on the promises You ‘made to Abraham to bless all humanity through Jesus Christ.’

It goes on to say that ‘none of us are capable of true and complete obedience’ and ‘despite our helplessness, though God desires to bless us, not curse us.’ Oh and Lord, it just keeps getting better! “His blessings come when we trust in His promises, not when we perform according to His perfect standards… Jesus has paid for our failures. When we admit them to God, He will set us free from their destructive power.”

And here comes the lesson on sonship. “When we entrust our life to God, in Jesus Christ, we become God’s children. What an amazing truth! We are given a place in God’s family, no matter our past mistakes; no matter how dysfunctional our family; no matter how deeply we’ve been hurt.” Lord God, You truly never cease to amaze me! Reminders of Your love and acceptance of me abound in the most unexpected places.

“As children of God, we can entrust our life to Him. He has a plan for each of us, and like any parent, He wants to help us succeed. Faith in Christ is all we need to enter into His privileged status. Each of us is important to God, and He is concerned enough to help us overcome our weaknesses and character flaws.” Thank You that You love me and want me to ask for fellowship with You and others who believe and trust in You.

You are good. You are every single thing we can ever need. Thank You for Your love and Your grace. Help me to use them well this day. I love You Lord. Amen.

(830 words ~ 8:18 a.m.)

strength

Thursday, June 23, 2011 (6:32 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Thank You! What a gift to wake up with, fresh ideas while singing ♫Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord…♫

Friday, June 24, 2011 (5:51 a.m.)

Awesome God,

It’s another new day and still the same song. Thank You Lord that You ARE ♫Our God… the everlasting God♫ I am excited to sing these words of You being ♫Our hope, our Strong Deliverer… the everlasting God♫ I read them in Your Word (Isaiah 40: 28-31) and I stop. I sit. I think. I wonder. And then continue.

Lord, You are amazing! You call us to You. ♫You do not faint You won’t grow weary You’re the defender of the weak♫ You make promises that You keep. You made them and I choose to believe them. Thank You Lord. Your Word is indeed from which I get my strength!

♫You’re the defender of the weak You comfort those in need You lift us up on wings like eagles♫ I’ve read these words for years Lord. I have gained strength from believing them. Too many times I have thought that it’s up to me to figure things out, to have all the answers. What a blessing it is instead to ♫wait upon the Lord♫ Thank You Father!

(8:51 a.m.)

Three hours later and the singing continues. Thank You Lord. Various Bible translations, the Illustrated Bible Handbook, even a little book simply titled Blessings keep reinforcing the Truth that our strength ultimately comes from You. What a blessing, and a gift. Thank You Lord.

Eleanor Roosevelt is given credit [on a page featuring a beautiful photo of tree covered mountainsides J] as saying, “I gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which I must stop and look fear in the face.”

Beloved Lord God, You have been teaching me all these years that the ONLY way I can ever confront fear is through You! Thank You Lord. Any strength I get to experience is a direct result of time spent with You. Thank You.

Thank You too Lord for the work You are doing in me as far as any perceived crisis is concerned. Again, in turning to You and attempting to trust all things to Your perfect care, I am asking that You would continue reminding me that all strength, all hope, all courage comes directly from our ultimate surrender to Your will and Your way in our lives. Right now I am coming to see ‘crisis’ as ‘circumstances resulting in supreme intimate surrender’. Or possibly even ‘courage results in supreme intimate surrender’.

The longer I walk with You Lord, the more time I spend with You, the more readily I realize that it is only when I come to the end of myself and my plans and hopes and dreams that Your strength does manifest itself in me.

Thank You Lord that we get to wait upon You (Isaiah 40:31). We are told to “Be still and know” that You are God (Psalm 46:10). It is in You that we have our hope (Psalm 39:7).

I currently have three different versions of the Bible in front of me. Each says the truth of Isaiah 40:31 in just a slightly different way. The Living Bible, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” The Contemporary English Version, “But those who trust the Lord will find new strength. They will be strong like eagles soaring upward on wings; they will walk and run without getting tired.” I try to imagine what that would be like Dear Lord. I confess I would love to experience that kind of strength!

The New International Version uses the word ‘hope’ instead of ‘wait upon’ and ‘trust’. Sign me up Lord! How desperately I long to wait upon, trust and hope in You. Thank You for defending the weak, comforting those in need and lifting ♫us up on wings like eagles♫ Thank You Lord that our strength absolutely comes from You. I love You so very much. Help me know You better that I would come to love You even more. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(720 words ~ 10:39 a.m.)

provision

Tuesday, June 21, 2011 (6:26 a.m.)

Praise You Lord,

There’s another song trying to sing in my mind. The tune is there, along with a few words.

Thank You that just as I was preparing to type out my desire for it in print right here, a brief hug led to the booklet I had it written in.

Thank You Lord. Even before a formal request could be made, here You are providing my every need.

PROVISION: ORIGIN – late Middle English (also in the sense [foresight]): via Old French from Latin provisio(n-) (see PROVIDE) - ORIGIN late Middle English (also in the sense [prepare to do, get ready] ): from Latin providere ‘foresee, attend to,’ from pro- ‘before’ + videre ‘to see.’

That’s YOU Lord! It’s Who You are. It’s what You do! You provide! You foresee, attend to, before we even know to ask. Thank You Lord.

♫I hear the Savior say Thy strength indeed is small Child of weakness watch and pray Find in me thine all in all♫

I was singing the chorus to this last night without even knowing what it was. ♫Jesus paid it all All to Him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow♫

Oh Dearest Lord, how I thank You. ♫Lord now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone Can change the lepers spots And melt this heart of stone♫ It’s only in You I must place all my hope and faith! It’s only because of You I get to sing ♫It’s washed away! All my sin! And all my shame! And when before the throne I stand in Him complete Jesus died my soul to save My lips shall still repeat Jesus paid it all…♫

Lord, as I consider the resounding truth of these words, it’s the addition of the next line that has truly brought me here. ♫Oh praise the One Who paid my debt And raised this life Up from the dead♫ Six times this truth is sung before concluding with the chorus ♫Jesus paid it all All to Him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow♫ Lord, You are so good and I love You so very much.

I just want to be with You. I don’t want to bother with anything else. I just want to stay here with You being nourished and fed. Thank You that You will change that in me as well. You didn’t design us just to take from You, but to give to others as well.

And just like that You speak to me again. Dr. Luke recorded (Luke 12: 29-32) that while speaking to a great crowd, You turned to Your disciples to warn them of their need [here in Eugene Peterson’s words] to Steep Yourself in God-Reality. “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things [what to eat or wear], but you know both God and how He works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be net. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.”

How can I do anything else right now but sing ♫Jesus paid it all All to Him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow♫ Lord, I love You. I long to live my life in and through You. Let’s start with this day. And again my wholehearted singing ♫Oh praise the One Who paid my debt And raised this life Up from the dead♫ Thank You Lord. Praise You. Guide and direct me this day I pray. Amen.

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

FATHER'S Day laughter

Sunday, June 19, 2011 (9:30ish a.m.)

Awesome God,

Happy Father’s Day! Interesting thing presented at church last night, YOU are our Father. I’ve known that for years. But somehow, as it was shared last night, there was a difference. A definite “WOW!” factor. Thank You Lord. Thank You for being my Dad!

Also gleaned from last night’s worship, the association of the words in ♫Everlasting God♫ with those found in Isaiah 40:28 on. “The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.” Now THAT’S the kind of example we need for Fatherhood!

Ephesians 6:4, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

You’ve been the perfect example all along Lord. We miss the mark. We yell. We scream. We make mistake after mistake. And You love us in spite of ourselves. How good are You?

I look to You as Father, Lord. I pretty much always have. It’s what comes most readily for me. Father. Good guy. Loving. Kind. Generous. Funny. See? My earthly dad was funny. Really funny! Loved to laugh and help others laugh as well.

I’ve often said You must have a really good sense of humor. Is this a safe assumption? Do you enjoy a good laugh Lord? I like to think so.

I’m again realizing that I have not been doing a whole lot of that lately. Smiling more readily? Yes. But giggling? Goofing? And downright guffawing? Not so much.

Thanks for reminding me Lord. As I take the time to consider my dad today and all the things he both positively and negatively instilled in me, let me remember to laugh! ♫Loud and long and clear! (he) love(d) to laugh It (kept) getting worse every year♫ Thank You Lord. Thank You SO much. I love You. Happy Father’s Day! Amen.

(340 words ~ 11:02 a.m)

Genesis

Saturday, June 18, 2011 (7:56 a.m.)

Precious, Blessed Lord,

Thank You for Your availability and Your presence. I had silent conversation with You throughout the night which enabled me to sleep restfully and much. Thank You Lord.

The priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24-26 and the word ‘relationship’ came up often. Not knowing which [or either J] of them You would most want me to pursue this morning, I’m turning right to You and asking. Lord God what would You like me to learn today?

Aren’t You just the best? Well, actually, You are! Genesis 31:45-55 and 33:1-11. Steps nine and ten of the 12 step programs. Personal Boundaries and Long-Awaited Healing. Speak to me God. Teach me what it is You what me to know.

First off, I’m choosing to trust You. ALWAYS a good place to start! Thank You Lord. Thank You for every single blip on my soul’s radar recently that has led me right straight into Your presence. Whether it’s sleepless nights, irritated voices, legitimate fears, what have You… I find myself running away into Your cleansing Light much more regularly and freely. Thank You Lord.

I continue to use the phrase ‘family in crisis’. I believe setting up firm, Godly ‘personal boundaries’ will ultimately lead to our ‘long-awaited healing’. Do it Lord! Do in and through each of us that which we have been incapable, up ‘til now, to do on our own!

Lord, thank You for bringing me back to Genesis: origin, source, root, beginning, start… What a great word. Thank You.

I start at Genesis 31, but each verse I read leads me backwards on the trail of the lies and deceptions of just this one family. I am once again supremely comforted in the fact that we are not the first of Your families that do not love one another the way You had originally planned. But as I take the verses forward, my hope in You, Your Will and Your Way solidifies. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that even as I consider this, I am reminded of The Preacher’s observation in Ecclesiastes 1:9. “There is nothing new under the sun.”

Your families began in crisis, from the moment satan first deceived Eve (Genesis 3). Thank You Lord that You did not leave us alone in our sin. You knew our weaknesses and frailties from the beginning and You planned our Way [Your Son] out of them. Thank You Lord.

Thank You for this time to be honest with You about my concerns regarding the lack of bonding and Godly love this particular family is currently functioning in. Keep working in and through us Blessed Lord. Build us into the obedient Godly people You would have us be. I love You so very much. And I thank You more than I can ever hope to express. Thank You Lord. Amen.

(478 words ~ 9:30 a.m.)

Be glorified!

Friday, June 17, 2011 (6:31 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

My mind keeps changing this morning. First I was going to say I love You and I need You. Then I thought instead I wanted to talk to You about ‘taking care of business’. The next thing I knew I was wanting to glorify You. And in considering that, the Gloria Patri came to mind. Even in the midst of singing ♫Glory be♫ to You, the words and tune ♫Be glorified♫ began.

So let’s start with I love You and I need You and go straight from there, shall we? You are so good Lord. You deserve to be glorified! Thanked, praised, worshiped, adored, honored, revered, applauded, exalted… Tall order Lord. Teach me will You?

No sooner asked then answered! Lord. You just never cease to amaze me! Thank You! Searching ‘be glorified’ I came upon 1Peter 1:19. In turning there in The Learning Bible, reminders of “HOPE” abound.

“Chosen, Protected and Saved” is one heading. As is “Living as God’s Holy People”. I was drawn here because of the wording in The Message. Verses 17-19, “Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this is no afterthought. Even though it has only lately – at the end of the ages – become public knowledge, God always knew He was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.”

This is where I smile, nod my head, get excited [AGOG! J] and find peace once again.

Lord God, You are so good. You love us. You remind us. You take such perfect care of us. And I am grateful Lord.

As I consider ways in which You could truly be glorified in my life this day, the extended [original] version of The Serenity Prayer once again comes to mind. As I prepare to pray it here Dearest Lord, I so very earnestly ask [while again singing] ♫In my life [heart, day…] Lord, be glorified, be glorified In my life Lord, be glorified today♫

Oh most dear and blessed Lord, I love You so incredibly much. With my whole heart [mind, soul and strength] I pray asking, “God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next.” Ah, yes Lord. Make it so. Be glorified! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(531 words ~ 8:35 a.m.)

GLAD!

Thursday, June 16, 2011 (7:09 a.m.)

Awesome, Amazing God,

You are good. And I am glad. How about that? Without even thinking about it, “I am glad.”

Thank You Lord. Here’s a smile. Along with so many verses and songs containing that one simple word. Glad. Right now I will go with ♫He has made me glad, He has made me glad, I will rejoice For He has made me glad, glad, glad…♫

Thank You Lord. In looking it up just now I see it referenced to Psalm 118:24. “This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today.” Now there’s a thought. Let’s celebrate and be glad today! Not tomorrow. Not forever. Just today. This tiny little increment in time. Yes. “Let’s celebrate and be glad today”!

Same song. Completely different verse. ♫I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart I will enter His courts with praise♫ Psalm 100:4, “Be thankful and praise the Lord as you enter His temple.” I may be a little short on the praise and thankfulness these days, but just look right here at the very next verse. It’s what I’ve been saying all week long. “The Lord is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.” (v. 5)

Most amazing Lord how I do thank You for Your presence in our lives. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Your mercy. Your grace. Your love. Thank You that because You truly ARE “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1) I get to continue singing ♫I will say this is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice for He has made me glad♫

Amazing Lord. You did this. Not only am I grateful. I am GLAD! Thank You Lord. Help me use this day wisely and well. In Your mighty power and strength. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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

Divine Pruning

Wednesday, June 15, 2011 (7:17 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

Thank You for Who You are and What You are and All You are. Every single time I start to think that I can’t deal with one more surprise, I am reminded that “I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Wow! Thanks Lord.

Just as I begin to think that I am disappearing through this whole refining process, I smile as I remember John the Baptist say, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). Again I say thank You Lord!

This is all new territory for me. All the things You have been preparing me for through the years. The cautions. The dangers. You just keep chiseling away at all the things I have believed and relied on all these years. Just as I was going to use the word ‘refining’ to describe what all these changes inside me feel like, the title ‘Divine Pruning’ (John 15:1-6) appeared in one of my readings.

I can tell You are working here Lord. My thoughts and prayers go much more readily in Your direction. I no longer believe it’s up to me to try to fix everything for everybody. Again I am in that place of wanting You to teach me. So many times I have jumped into action without asking You if that would be Your best for me or the situation.

People need to know they are loved. And safe. I’ve always thought it was up to me to give them that. Thank You Lord that You are once again showing me that, yes, that too is YOUR job. I am to keep pointing to You. YOU are the Great Protector! Not me.

Thank You Lord. Thank You for working to relieve me of responsibilities I have gathered along the way in my life. Responsibilities that weren’t necessarily mine to pick up in the first place.

Thank You for surrounding me with Your love. Your Word. I found myself saying out loud the other day that when I became a Follower of Yours I truly believed that I had signed myself securely into the ‘happily ever after’ group. I didn’t realize that the ‘after’ comes in our next life. Currently I consider myself in the ‘never left alone in the struggle’ category. And really, that’s a very good place to be. So again I say, thank You!

I clutch my dog-eared Women’s Devotional Bible and smile as I reread inspirations from the past. Judith C. Lechman had written an entry entitled “REALIZE”. She tells of the impossibility of living our Christian life with our own strength and goodness. It’s through YOUR strength that we know courage. And Your power that we know goodness. After we realize this, “surrender becomes our priority”.

I confess to initially disagreeing with her stating “we don’t want a fixed blissful union with Him [You! J], one that is filled with passivity.” I tend to think I’d like an easier approach. But she follows that right up with “Surrendering to Him means growth and progress. It is the freedom of moving forward with and through Him, so that each of our relationships and all of our work, worship, and play reflect what He wants of us.” To this I can only add, prune away Lord! Do what You have to do to give me the strength to be all that You would have me be.

I love You so very much. I ask Your protection, Your guidance, Your will, Your way, Your love, Your mercy, Your grace as I seek to become the woman of Yours You created me to be. Thank You for loving me and calling me Your own. I love You. Amen.

(620 words ~ 8:25 a.m.)

counting blessings

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 (6:56 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

I just remembered. Yesterday when I was thinking that I was absolutely at the end of my rope [and myself J], I started singing ♫I Surrender All♫ Just now I began thinking that through all this recent chaos, crisis and confusion I need to look for the blessings. The absolutes. The things that do not change. The things that last.

Like You! You never change. This past week I have found myself turning to You regularly. Automatically. Without really thinking about doing it. Every single time I started to get scared, You were Who I thought of.

No matter what the circumstances, “God is good” remains true. Following that with the common response, “All the time” I’ve been playing the phrase out in my mind back and forth all morning. “God is good.” “All the time.” “All the time,” “God is good.”

Thank You Lord. I found myself with the scary thought of being somewhere without ready access to Your Word. As many verses that I readily reference, it’s always with the help of the Internet, or a concordance. As long as I can flip to the book and chapter, I can usually find the verse I’m looking for. The idea of not having a copy of the Bible at my disposal is frightening. As hard as I have tried through the years to imprint verses in my mind and on my heart, I realize how far off the mark I have been. I can often think of a word or part of a phrase, but a verse in its entirety complete with its ‘address’ is far too often beyond me.

Thank You Lord for helping me remember that no matter what is going on around me, no matter how out of control I may feel at any given time, You are good. You don’t change. You want Your best for us always. You are good. All the time. All the time, You are good!

What a blessing. Bits and pieces of songs sing themselves enough to get my attention and the next thing I know I am singing myself. Just this morning I remembered ♫Count your many blessings, name them one by one; Count your many blessings, see what God hath done♫ It’s so true Dearest Lord. Even in the midst of storms, burdens and conflicts You are here with us. You ‘never leave us nor forsake us’ (Hebrews 13:5). You make promises that only You can keep.

Thank You Lord. These are blessings we can count on! I thought I was coming here to tell the story of our snowy up close and personal encounters with “baby geeses” and a mama bear and her cub this past week. There was so much beauty mixed in with sheer terror on occasions. So many blessings I was willing to cast aside and overlook.

Oh but Lord, it is the Truth and beauty of Your Word that is the biggest blessing of all!

Psalm 40:5 is the verse attached to Count Your Blessings. The comments following it in The Life Recovery Bible remind us that Your timing is worth waiting for. We are to look to You for help, trusting that You will rescue us from the destruction and despair of the things that hold us down. You will bring stability to our lives so we can again “move forward with confidence and joy”. What a thought Dearest Lord! A smile came to my face just by imagining once again feeling confident and joyful! Thank You Lord!

“O Lord my God, many and many a time You have done great miracles for us, and we are ever in Your thoughts. Who else can do such glorious things? No one else can be compared with You. There isn’t time to tell of all Your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 40:5). Amen to that!

My tendency is to get locked up in the fearful, scary things. Thank You that You came to release us to the thoughts of blessings and Your goodness. Thank You Lord. Help me live this day fully in Your light. Keep me entirely away from the dreadfully scary “what ifs” I keep imagining.

I love You Lord. I ask that You would help me live this day in the confidence and joy that counting my blessings from You allows. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

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

shortsighted

Sunday, June 12, 2011 (7:35 a.m.)

Most Loving Lord,

It’s a brand new day, with brand new possibilities. Let us use them well Blessed Lord.

You have provided us so much. As I was just adding the words ‘this past week’, I realized how shortsighted that was. “You have provided us so much” – P-E-R-I-O-D! Not only this past week, or year, or lifetime. You have provided us so much.

Lord God, how I thank You. Praise You. Worship and adore You. And yes Lord, I fully esteem and revere You! If there are things I am going to fear, let them be You and only You.

This morning I am reminded and again encouraged by a verse I read just yesterday. Proverbs 10:25, “Disaster strikes like a cyclone and the wicked are whirled away. But the good man has a strong anchor.” Thank You Lord that You truly ARE our Anchor! You are to Whom we are able to run and to hide when needs be. You steady us. Turn us. Right us. Change us. Thank You Lord.

I’ve prayed to You continuously this past week. Not in print this time, but in the secret recesses of my heart. I’ve asked You for strength and courage and time and forgiveness. You answered with beauty and gentle joy and endless opportunities. My shortsightedness prevents me from running on ahead waving to others Your banner of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). But in staying put, I grow stronger, more deeply rooted, ready to battle evil with Your Word.

You are good Lord. I’ve said it again and again this past week. You are our strength and our firm foundation. In You alone can we trust. Sure, we can be lulled into a sense of security. But Your Word reminds us to ever stay alert. Thank You Lord.

Thank You for again sending me to Peter’s second letter to believers everywhere. He wanted them [and us J] to watch out for false teachings AND to be faithful to You. A key verse here (2 Peter 1:3) spells this out for us, “For as you know Him better, He will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His glory and His own goodness with us!” Thank You Lord. Thank You!

Just yesterday Lord, on that 10 hour and 5 minute car ride home, I heard myself say out loud the words of my heart. “While I want us to ‘be alert’ and ‘aware’, I DON’T want to be ‘afraid’!” Lord. That was You! You at work. In and through me. Thank You Lord.

There are potential dangers surrounding us. Evil that could take us all down in a moment. Again I am turning to You.

Following the Greetings from Peter (2 Peter 1:1) in The Life Recovery Bible are two more encouraging titles: Steps toward Spiritual Growth (vs. 1-11) and Paying Attention to Scripture (12-21). Off to the side is a devotional aptly titled “Self-control”.

All of this treasure I have found here this morning because of verse nine. Leading up to it are the step by step by-products of living and growing in a life of faith. A comment at the bottom of the page reads thus, “The past is part of who we are, the future is securely in God’s hands, and today is filled with opportunity to grow in our understanding of love, forgiveness, truth and grace! As a parent ought to provide for a child, so God supplies all that we need, including the ability to rise above our circumstances and temptations.”

This is truly You at Your best Dearest Lord. At a time that we haven’t need You more, You supply our every need!

As I end our time right here together, preparing to go and worship You in public, I heartedly ask You Lord to encourage, empower and enable us in living Your Word. Let the truth of verse nine lead me this day. “But anyone who fails to go after these additions to faith (listed in verses 5-8) is blind indeed, or at least very shortsighted and has forgotten that God delivered him from the old life of sin so that now he can live a strong, good life for the Lord.”

How I thank You Lord. I praise You. And I ask in the words You gave to Moses for Aaron’s blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) that You would bless and protect us, that Your face would radiate with joy because of us, that You would be gracious to us, show us Your favor, and give us peace. It is in Your most precious name I pray. Amen.

(518 words ~ 9:12 a.m.)

forgiveness of sins

Monday, June 6, 2011 (7:35 a.m.)

Tahoe Sands Resort

Tahoe Vista, CA

Blessed Lord,

Thank You. I love You. Just hours ago it was snowing and I was drafting this prayer to You. Now it’s raining and the beauty of the white covering is slowly disappearing with each drop.

Thank You Lord that Your Word is permanent. True. Never changing. Thank You that in the midst of a fearful situation, turning to You and Your Word was an absolute must!

Where I had come to think of titling this post to You as “FEAR!”, “danger” or even “evil”, “forgiveness of sins” is truly what this is all about. While You are “faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1John1:9) we have to come before You confessing them.

Throughout the night of much better sleep than I had the night before, scripture verses kept coming to mind. Along with the names of people (and organizations) we might call upon to help at this particular time, Your Truth prefaced each one.

“The earnest [actually ‘effectual fervent’] prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). Yes Lord!

Because of the early morning snow, Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 1:18 came in to play! Thank You Lord. Thank You for the TRUTH of Romans 3:23, “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and the comfort of Lamentations 3:22-23. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Ah. Truth. Comfort. Safety. All found in You!

Thursday, June 9, 2011 (1:13 p.m.)

Shoreline Park at Donner Lake

So much later in the week Lord and here I am again feeling fearful. I keep trying to turn to You. I’m keenly aware of the beauty You have created. Ah, but the evil Lord. Oh – but You defeated death with Your resurrection! And such it is. Back and forth I go. FAITH and fear. But You know what Lord? I HAVE to choose FAITH! “Forsaking All I Trust Him” And I do Lord. I trust You with it all!

wonders

Friday, June 3, 2011 (6:03 a.m.)

Silver Lake Resort

Eastern Sierras, CA

Good God,

Awesome God. Blessed God. Wonderful God. ♫God of wonders beyond our galaxy... ♫

Ah yes. God of wonders! There’s a lake right across the street that yesterday we joked someone could windsurf on. Today, that very same lake looks just like glass. The tall grass, trees, and snowed patched mountains reflect near perfectly.

Such wonders Dearest Lord. How perfect that I am directed to Psalm 65 this morning, where King David honors You for Your rich provision in nature. The Holy Bible placed by The Gideons (The Revised Berkeley Version in Modern English) begins this psalm by declaring, “Silence is praise to Thee, O God, in Zion; and to Thee the vow shall be fulfilled” (v. 1).

How often, Dearest Lord, do I fall silent at Your wonders? So often I think there must be something inherently wrong with me that I can’t summon up the right words to declare Your majesty. Thank You for the new to me idea that “Silence is praise to Thee”.

I continue reading that You are the One who hears prayer, to Whom all men will come (2). “When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions (3). Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts! We are filled with the good things of Your holy temple (4).”

What a blessing for me this morning Lord. A spectacular view like this, with a psalm to match!

“You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, (v. 5) who formed the mountains by Your power, having armed Yourself with strength (6), who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring turmoil of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations (7).”

Verse eight is what brought me here, but I stayed for the duration! “Those living far away fear (stand in awe of, fully esteem and revere) Your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades You call forth songs of joy.”

Oh Most Blessed God, “You care for the land and water it; You enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so You ordained it (9). You drench its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its crops (10). You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance (11). The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness (12). The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing (13).”

The Life Recovery Bible tells of the joy found in Your presence. Oh Dearest Lord, how true that is! It also reminds us that You are “more than able to respond effectively to our needs for deliverance, because He is the same God who made the majestic mountains of this world. If He can control the rainfall and the waters of the earth, we can be sure He can take care of us.”

Amen Dearest Lord. Thank You for Your many wonders that become our blessings. I love You Lord. Help me use them well. Thank You. Amen.

(554 words ~ 7:17 a.m.)

Thank You!

Thursday, June 2, 2011 (9:30 a.m.)

Silver Lake Resort

Eastern Sierras, CA

Most Holy God,

Wow! What can I say? Snow. Wind. Forward-thinking husband. Thank You! Yes Lord. Thank You. Camping in a cabin. Who knew? YOU did! Thank You.

Thank You for beauty. Thank You for safety. Thank You for solidarity. For being of one mind. Oh Most Dear and Holy God thank You for the simplest things in life that bring out Your best in us.

Lord God, that is exactly what I ask of You this glorious morning. Your best. IN us! Whoa! Another concept.

Away from ‘land lines’ and ‘landmines’ of responsibilities. No television. No Internet. Simple things. Stay warm. Keep dry. Stop. Look. Listen. Pay attention to the things that truly matter. Things like: You. Your will. Your Way. Your best.

How does one learn to do that on a regular, consistent basis? It’s times like this. Moments to reflect. Taking the opportunity to TRULY ‘Be still and know that You are God’ (Psalm 46:10). Thank You Lord.

(11:23 a.m.)

And I’m back Lord, but only for a minute. Just to say once again, “Thank You!” Thank You for a time of eating healthier. Thinking more clearly. Desiring to ♫love You more dearly, follow You more nearly♫

THIS all from wanting to make an honest-to-You commitment to truly take care of myself. NOT other people. Lord. It’s been a l-o-n-g time coming! I’ve been a tough nut to crack. You have been VERY kind and patience with me. And again, I say, “THANK YOU!”

I’m going to take the time right now to eat some much healthier food because I am really, truly hungry for the first time in a very long time. Hence, the clearer thinking. Thank You Lord.

(12:53 p.m.)

Yum! And thank You. Filling my belly AND moving my muscles, a VERY good thing to do for myself.

Lord, I confess to not having willingly done this for such a long time. Thank You for not only the desire, but the follow through as well.

As I’ve searched Your Word this morning regarding ‘best’ I have come upon three extremely relevant verses.

Isaiah 48:17, “The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says, ‘I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who leads You in the way you should go.’” How have I continued arguing with You all this time? Lord. I KNOW You are true! I KNOW what You say is best!

I read the entire chapter and am supremely comforted. Lord. You are good. You are ♫Mighty, Mighty! ♫ You are MY ♫Brick House♫ and I love You so much! You give me hope. You know me through and through and You love me anyway. Oh Your promises dearest Lord. Thank You. Thank You so very much!

Moving on now to Philippians. To chapter one, verse ten. Paul wrote from prison to the church in Philippi with happiness for what Christ means to him and all the Philippians are doing for him. He prays, “that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (v. 9), so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ (10), filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God” (11).

You love us so much Dearest Lord. Of that, there is absolutely no doubt! How I ask You, Lord, to allow this present commitment to You, to the good of myself and others to take deeply seeded root. Nurture and grow me in the way You would have me grow Dearest Lord. Straight. Tall. Deeply rooted. In You!

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7) Oh yes Dearest Lord. Deeply rooted in YOU!

Now finally, over to 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God”

(3:15 p.m.)

Following that brief interruption of jumping up and putting on warm enough clothes to enjoy a walk by the lake and collect trash, I’m back with another heartfelt “Thank You!”

Thank You for the surprise of seeing the waterfall that looks like it is part of Rush Creek’s connection to Alger…

(3:35 p.m.)

Lord! At this rate I’ll never be done thanking You [maybe that’s the point, huh? J]. JUST as I was finishing one thought, “…Creek into Silver Lake.” (See paragraph above) and preparing to go on to thanking You for the weather appropriate for sitting in an Adirondack chair on the cabin’s deck. A thud on the ground just to my right revealed two galloping, then grazing deer.

Talk about “It’s all too much” Lord! SO many things for which to say, “Thank You!”

Once again I’ll return to Timothy (see several paragraphs above!). “… as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Oh let that be me Dearest Lord! Approved. Doing my best. Not ashamed. Correctly handling Your Word of Truth! Yes God. Please. Make it so!

The deck is getting shaded. And my body somewhat chilled. Thank You for this wonderful husband who prepared [as is his typical Boy Scout fashion J] ahead for this wonderfully warm cabin into which I get to go retreat.

Thank You Lord. Thank You Lord. Thank You Lord! I love You. I’m grateful. And I thank You. Amen.

(941 words ~ 3:58 p.m.)