"be glad"

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 (8:21 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

I’ve been thinking it, but I haven’t meant it yet. “I will be glad”. So far, I’ve felt tired and sore and even remiss. Since glad hasn’t happened on it’s own, I think I must ask for Your help.

In the past I may have just considered the circumstances and taken a pass. Today I am asking You to make me very aware of the things for which You would have me be glad.

(8:54 a.m.)

And once again, I ask and You answer! Thank You Father. Thank You for the willingness to come straight to You with my ungrateful attitude. Thank You that even though I thought I was supposed to be grateful for an ‘extra’ day this year, this month, it’s YOU for which I am truly grateful!

Psalm 64 in The Message starts out right where I was. “Listen and help, O God. I’m reduced to a whine And a whimper, obsessed with feelings of doomsday” (v.1). How did I come to this? By Biblegateway searching “be glad”.

The Bible Handbook lists this particular psalm as “a prayer for protection from conspiracy”. That is exactly what the negative thoughts I think do to me. “They shoot from ambush, shoot without warning, not caring who they hit. They keep fit doing calisthenics of evil purpose, They keep lists of the traps they’ve secretly set” (vs. 4, 5).

But look at this! THIS is where I find strength to meet the day. “The God of the Arrow shoots! They double up in pain, Fall flat on their faces in full view of the grinning crowd. Everyone sees it. God’s work is the talk of the town. Be glad, good people! Fly to God! Good-hearted people, make praise your habit” (7-10).

Right here, when I couldn’t praise You and be glad on my own, You did it for me. I confessed. You delivered. Now that’s something I can truly rejoice and be glad in! Thank You Father. Thank You for changing my mindset right here before my very eyes!

Thank You. I love You. And for just right now, because of Your love for me and this ‘extra’ day You have provided each of us, I WILL be glad! Thank You!

Help me love You well this day. It’s in Your Son’s most Holy name I pray, Amen.

(396 words ~ 9:19 a.m.)

last day

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 (7:24 a.m.)

Carlsbad, CA

Loving Father,

Thank You! It’s the last day of another phenomenal anniversary weekend. Thank You Blessed God for this husband that puts so much attention into detail. How he managed to pull a full day of rain and wind out of his hat I’ll never know. Seriously, Father… that was an incredibly nice touch on YOUR part. We truly enjoyed it and are grateful.

Thank You for the amount of time spent being glad in our surroundings and with each other’s company. As we prepare to leave this beautiful setting, I ask that we would take its essence with us. Serenity. Serendipity. Friendliness. Easy going. And beauty. Such incredible beauty Lord God!

From the brightly colored camellias to the campsites overlooking the ocean’s edge. We found beauty and joy almost everywhere we looked. Thank You.

Just as I was preparing to admit that this time together this morning is short, I turned to Your Word to see what results I would find concerning “last day”. Through the many that I found, it’s John 7:37-39 that has the bulk of my attention.

“On the last day, the climax of the holidays, Jesus shouted to the crowds, ‘If anyone is thirsty. Let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.’ (He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him; but the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet returned to His glory in heaven.)”

All of a sudden the idea of a last day takes on a whole new meaning. I’m such a sucker for rivers of living water. Yes Lord. Indeed. Let them flow freely from my heart.

You are the Living Water who satisfies our thirst (John 4:10). Putting our faith and trust in You, asking for a drink, You provide us Your Spirit. A commentary lists Your Holy Spirit as “an inexhaustible river of living water, welling up in us and flowing through us. The indwelling and eternal Holy Spirit goes with us wherever we go”.

What do You think Lord? A quick swim before we leave this place? Thank You for Your blessings to us. Thank You for Your love. Let us use them well. This day. And always!

Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(408 words ~ 8:10 a.m.)

singing a new song

Monday, February 27, 2012 (7:34 a.m.)

Awesome Father God,

Here it is hours after it first started. Somewhere before four, I remembered that again today “I will be glad”. With that thought I started humming ♫Oh My Darling Clementine♫

Blessed Father, it amazes me how easily one thought leads to another in the middle of the early morning hours. And as I set out now to either confirm or deny those thoughts, I find myself even more blessed than I had first anticipated.

So far I have found two verses that speak about singing You a new song. Psalm 96:1 and 144:9. In reading more about each, I am again reminded of Your mighty power to save. Thank You Father.

Thank You that as my mind wanders and goes off in its own directions, You corral it and bring it back to You. Even to the tune mentioned above.

♫Oh my Father, Oh my Father, Oh my Father Loving God, I was lost and then You found me Oh my Father, Loving God♫

But the fun part is that it didn’t stop there. No. Each time I woke up, there was more to it. ♫Oh my Savior, Oh my Savior, Oh my Savior Jesus Christ♫ And then finally, ♫Oh dear Spirit, Oh dear Spirit, Oh dear Spirit Holy Ghost♫

Thank You for this pre-dawn songfest. This opportunity to truly sing You a new song. This desire to once again be glad. In You!

Be with me this day I pray. With, in, by, around all aspects of this day. I love You so very much. And I long to bring glory to Your most holy name by wholeheartedly singing You a new song.

Thank You for the work You continue doing in me. Let me use it well. I love You. Amen.

(296 words ~ 8:39 a.m.)

35 years!

Anniversary Sunday, February 26, 2012 (7:45 a.m.)

Carlsbad, CA

Blessed, Awesome Father God,

Thirty-five years! I continue to be amazed. You did this for us Lord. A decision not taken lightly to begin with, commitments over the years to work through the rough spots and here we are… GLAD! Grateful, loving and devoted to You and to one another.

Thank You Father. You did this for us! We could never have done it without You. What we knew to be love thirty-five years ago is NOT what we are celebrating today. You have taught us so much about commitment, respect, submission… The really hard things that have helped us build this firm foundation. This firm foundation that 17 years ago You helped us realize must be made in and by and through You.

(1:28 p.m.)

It is You most blessed Father God who has brought us to this place. You who kept us listening to the songs and the Bible verses throughout the years that have helped us keep our commitment and vows to one another.

Thank You Father for the love, the trust, the faith and the hope that You have provided us. Thank You for this husband that took straight to heart my initial request that our anniversaries always be celebrated and made special in some way.

You’ve provided all this and more for us Blessed Lord and we are grateful. Truly, wonderfully and supremely grateful.

Let us use what You have been teaching us through the years for Your ultimate good. It is in Your Blessed Son’s name we pray. We love You Thank You. Amen.

(269 words ~ 1:53 p.m.)

new ways

Saturday, February 25, 2012 (6:08 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed Comforting Father God,

Thank You. Yesterday You helped me remember to be glad. I was ready to be mad. I thought about it. I considered it very carefully. And then I just let it go. Thank You Father. I CAN learn new ways. Better ways.

Take right now for instance. Looking up the two-word phrase “new ways” in various versions of the Bible, the only one I found that did not tell about new ways of getting into mischief and doing evil is the Easy-to-Read Version. The verse I best know as “Great is His faithfulness, His mercies begin afresh each morning” here is told just a bit differently.

Lamentations 3:23a, “Every morning He shows it [Your faithful love! J] in new ways!” I read just this little bit and am hungry for more. Going up to verse 20 “I remember well all my troubles, and I am very sad. (21) But then I think about this, and I have hope: (22) We are still alive because the Lord’s faithful love never ends.”

Blessed Father God, You are so amazing. My head and my heart both keep singing snippets of songs. First, this verse took me to ♫Great is Thy Faithfulness♫ In just now stating the obvious of You being so amazing, up started ♫Love so amazing♫ With only two searches I found myself smiling from ear to ear because it’s what we sang to You this past Sunday and I’ve had bookmarked on the bar ever since.

♫Jesus Messiah Name above all names Blessed Redeemer Emmanuel♫ You became sin so we could learn new ways. Your ways!

I am humbled and amazed by Your love. Your faithfulness. And I am grateful to be included as one of the sheep of Your pasture (Ezekiel 34:31). Thank You for working in me.

Continue Your work in me this day. This day that You have made. This day that I will be glad and rejoice in. Thank You for Your love, Your mercies, Your plan, Your sacrifice. What blessings they all are. Let me use them well this day. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

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

unadulterated

Friday, February 24, 2012 (7:31 a.m.)

Awesome, Incredible God,

Thank You for another reminder of my commitment that “I will be glad”. Thank You that while it wasn’t my first thought, it came along very shortly while awakening.

Thank You that I truly want to be grateful, loving and devoted. And that along with this desire came the tune of another song.

While immediately realizing that I would want to change the word ‘hopelessly’ to ‘hopefully’ I became gratefully aware that while we can change words and meanings to songs, YOUR Word stands true! Thank You Father God for every single thing that You have done throughout eternity to make Your Word unchangeable.

I’ve found four different verses (1Peter 1:25, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35, Psalm 33:4) that show the essence of my thoughts right now, but not necessarily the one I think I’m looking for. Is it Proverbs 30:5,6? “Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to Him for protection. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” I’m not sure that’s it.

What I do know this morning is that I am free to change the words to any tune I want. I can mix them up to match my mood and circumstances. Not so with Your Word! There is no changing allowed there. No adapting, altering or amending. It is unadulterated. Pure.

As I go about considering changing the entire essence of the song I woke up humming, Lord I thank You that Your love for each and every one of us is the exact antithesis of the word hopeless.

Lord God, I so very humbly ask You to work Your will in me this day that I would truly be grateful, loving and (hopefully!) devoted to You! I love You. This IS the day that You have made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it! Thank You. Amen.

(323 words ~ 8:38 a.m.)

glad

Thursday, February 23, 2012 (6:03 a.m.)

Gracious, Loving and Devoted Father God,

Thank You for the opportunities to wake up “glad” this morning. There were a couple of times that it wasn’t my first thought. Oh, but there were also those times that it was. Thank You Father!

As I set out this morning intending to “be glad”, I ask Dearest Father that You would make me so. I can make all the promises and determinations in the world, but it IS when I wait on and trust in Your providings that things seem to unfold far more effortlessly.

Thank You for this lesson on purposing to “be glad”. Starting in Psalm 21, I read a Psalm of David. In it he rejoices in You and Your strength. This is the type of person I long to become. One who readily recognizes and praises the works You do.

Through the director of music David tells of the many ways You provide for him. Thank You for his example, Blessed God.

A commentary for the first six verses of this particular Psalm says, “He [You! J] wants to give each of us a life that has eternal value and meaning. As we experience such blessings, we will begin to understand that true joy is an outgrowth of being in God’s presence.” As I prepare to leave here this morning I ask You to come with me into this day that You have made. Guide and direct my thoughts, words and actions.

Keep me mindful of verses six and seven of David's writings concerning You and himself. “You have given him blessings that will last forever. You have made him glad and joyful because You are with him. The king trusts in the Lord. The faithful love of the Most High God will keep the king secure.”

Dearest Father God, I confess that this is the time that I am finally coming to more fully understand the importance of living one day at a time, taking each experience as it comes. “THIS is the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Thank You for all Your gracious love and devotion. Thank You for the work You are doing in me to truly make me glad! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(384 words ~ 6:58 a.m.)

"LORD!"

Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2012 (6:58 a.m.)

Incredibly Amazing God of Glory,

THANK YOU! What a beautiful sky to wake up to this morning. Such beauty, that it truly set the tone for my attitude.

Just as I was beginning to remember my Lenten commitment to “Be glad” each day, I glanced out the tiny crack in our bedroom curtain. First word out of my mouth? “LORD!”

Now that’s the way to start a day! Thank You God for the blessings that abound around us. I confess that my attitude too often gets in the way of my being able to see them.

Thank You for the opportunity to share the Truth of Your Word with a struggling young mom late last night. Thank You Blessed Father for Your Truth. Thank You that Your Word IS Truth! And thank You especially that I wasn’t afraid to speak it in Your love.

Blessed Jesus, as I prepare to dash away [no, not like a reindeer! J] from here, thank You for reminding me of the glory of turning our eyes upon You. ♫Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace♫

Oh yes Blessed First Word of my day, thank You for the opportunity of choosing to look upon You. Remind me as often as necessary this day that You and Your Word are where we will find Truth and “faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Thank You Jesus for all You came to accomplish on our behalf. Let me use Your sacrifice well this day. I love You so incredibly much! It's in Your glorious, powerful name I pray. Amen.

(294 words ~ 7:38 a.m.)

"I will"

“Fat” Tuesday, February 21, 2012 (6:38 a.m.)

Beloved Father, Blessed Son, Comforting Holy Spirit,

Good morning. Hi. Hello. Yesterday I left here singing ♫He has made me glad! He has made me glad! I will rejoice for He has made me glad, glad, glad… ♫ And I thought about that all day long.

I thought of the intentionality [the fact of being deliberate or purposive] of the phrase “I will”. This morning I ask that You would teach me so much more about the power behind those two words.

There appears to be no end to the number of times these two words are used together in Your Word. Over a hundred in one version. Close to two thousand in another. Sometimes it’s You declaring what You will be doing. In other verses it’s the intentions of Your people.

Beloved, Blessed, Holy Three-In-One, I am asking [as we are told to do in Matthew 7:7 J] that You would teach, encourage, enable, empower me to become an intentionally glad person. For the next forty days, let my automatic response to You be, “I will”.

Psalm 92:4, “For You Lord have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.” ♫You have made me glad! You have made me glad! I will rejoice for You have made me glad♫

Thank You Blessed Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Keep me looking to each part of all You are for the power and the strength to become all that You have designed me to be. A glad woman who intentionally comes before You declaring, “I will”.

Oh for the joy of being Yours! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(283 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)

Psalm 100

Monday, February 20, 2012 (7:37 a.m.)

Blessed, Awesome Father God,

Thank You that I get to come before You feeling sad and grumpy. You accept me exactly as I am. I don’t have to clean myself off and look my best before coming into Your presence. Oh thank You God. Thank You.

Thank You that as I even considered the words ‘coming into the presence of God’ I was immediately directed to Psalm 100. There I felt a smile come over me. A true, not pretend smile. One that reminds me of Your love and faithfulness. Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit.

You provide me with joy. I don’t always appreciate it as it happens. Sometimes I have to look back and think “Oh yeah, that’s what that was.” But it’s there. In so many ways. In friends. Loved ones. Strangers. I just need to look. Truly seek that I will find!

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) for this year. The day before the beginning of Lent. Five years ago on Ash Wednesday, my brother shared with me the deepest grief that any parent can ever experience. The death of his son. Father God, as this very sad anniversary approaches, I ask You to hold him in the very palm of Your hand. Bless him and keep him, turn Your face upon him and give him Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

He and I have forged a relationship with one another that is absolutely built on Your love for each of us. How grateful I am to You for this. We have a whole new level of conversation, admiration and respect that comes only because of You.

Thank You Father. Thank You that even though my exterior demeanor of the morning was set to ‘go through the motions’, You tapped the deepest interior of my heart. You reminded me to “Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth! Obey Him gladly; come before Him, singing with joy. Try to realize what this means – the Lord is God! He made us – we are His people, the sheep of pasture” (Psalm 100:1-3).

While there is still great resistance to the wants (or lack thereof) of my flesh, the next two verses (4-5) cause my feet to tap and my face to smile. “Go through His open gates with great thanksgiving; enter His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and His faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.”

Most Dear and Blessed Father God, I am asking You right now to make this Psalm and the song that I know to have come from it my Lenten sacrifice to You. Remind me of the importance of coming before You with thanksgiving and praise each and every day.

Empower and enable me to come before You each day wholeheartedly singing ♫I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise. I will say, “This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad! He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad…♫

Ah yes, most dear and blessed Father God, make this the song of my heart for these next six weeks as we prepare our hearts and minds to fully celebrate Your Beloved Son's victory over death.

Thank You for adjusting my negative attitude this morning. May I please use this day to bring glory and honor to Your most Holy name. I love You so incredibly much. Thank You. Amen.

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

"life of love"

Sunday, February 19, 2012 (7:31 a.m.)

Most Blessed God and Father,

Thank You. Thank You for the friend that would call to make sure I am doing okay. Thank You for the love that You develop between Your children that would instill that kind of concern for one another.

Hmm. Love between Your children. There’s a thought that needs some considering. What does love between Your children look like? Will You show me please?

I really can’t say if I know anyone that would truly lay their life down for their friend (John 15:13). I’d like to say that I would. But I have to be perfectly honest with You Father, [since You know my heart anyway J] that’s a pretty tall order. Knowing myself as well as I do, I fall real far short of such sacrifice.

Continuing reading and attempting to digest Your Word here, a phrase jumps off the page and I find it five different times in The Message. Psalm 119:153-160, 1 Corinthians 14:1-3, Ephesians 5:1-2, Colossians 3:12-14 and 1 John 4:17-18 each mention “life of love”.

While You prepare and grow in me the ability to someday willingly lay down my life for a friend, I ask You Dearest Father to steep me in this “life of love” that truly is most appealing. ‘Dressed in the wardrobe that You’ve picked out for me (listed here in Colossians): compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline, even temper, content with second place, quick to forgive…’(3:12-13) “And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”(14) Yes Lord Jesus. So be it!

I love You so much. Let others see You in me I pray. Thank You. Amen.

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

waiting

Thursday, February 16, 2012 (12:15 p.m.)

Anaheim, CA

Blessed Father God,

Here I am. Waiting. Waiting to get started. Waiting for the baby to wake up. Waiting to see what we do next. Teach me Blessed Father what You have for me to learn today in waiting.

Sunday, February 19, 2012 (6:46 a.m.)

And wait I did. And played and danced and thought and wondered and wished and contemplated and finally here I am back with You. Praying.

Thank You Father that You’re ability to wait far supercedes every effort we could ever hope to conjure. You wait for us to come to You. “Behold!” (Revelation 3:20) You stand at the door and knock. You don’t just barge right in. You wait. “If anyone hears me calling him and opens up the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.”

Would You just look at the smile on my face? Full-blown! Wide. Ear to ear… The other day when I started this I was reading in Psalms (27:11,14). As I read Your Word and thought about it, I considered the truth of the comment below it.

“We must determine, one day at a time, to follow God, patiently and confidently waiting for Him to protect and lead us.” So true.

Just now I wondered how I could take the giant leap from us waiting for You to You waiting for us. What was I doing here in Revelations 3 when I thought for sure I was supposed to be over in Psalms?

Here again I read Your letter to the lukewarm church of Laodicea and am reminded that You are ‘the One who stands firm’ (v. 14).

Under the title of Love, I read another devotional about this section of Scripture, as well as John 13:34 and 1 John 4:7-8. Still I wonder what all this has to do with waiting. Until…

The last paragraph sums it up again. “Jesus is waiting for us to open up and receive His love… Love is waiting. We receive it when we open up to the love God offers us.”

Wow! Father God, this was indeed a lesson worth waiting for. Let me use it well. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(375 words ~ 7:25 a.m.)

"rejoice and be glad"

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 (7:13 a.m.)

Most Holy Father God,

This is the day that You have made. I want to remember that. It’s fairly easy for me to sing the little ditty that goes along with Psalm 118:24. ♫This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it♫ but the truth of the matter is Dearest God, my feelings don’t always match my words.

I might very well believe wholeheartedly the words that I sing, but that never means that I can orchestrate my feelings to match them. That’s where I must rely on You! I have to confess to You how very much I want to rejoice and be glad. You provide us such blessings. Blessings that I don’t always recognize.

Beloved Father God, in this very brief time that I have with You right now I truly do ask You to not only remind me of the blessings You provide but that You would teach me how to rejoice and be glad in every single one. Some of them are much easier than others. Keep my focus on You. The Master and Creator of this day. The faint smile that is gracing my face right now is because of You. Let me use it and any that follow as an ever-present reminder to “rejoice and be glad”.

I love You so much Dearest Lord God. I need You. I want You. And I thank You. Amen.

(246 words ~ 7:35 a.m.)

celebrate love

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 (7:47 a.m.)

Awesome God,

It’s Valentine’s Day. A day that has evolved into one where we celebrate love. This thought takes me to Zephaniah 3:14-17 in the Contemporary English Version of Your Word.

“Everyone in Jerusalem and Judah, celebrate and shout with all your heart! Zion, your punishment is over. The Lord has forced your enemies to turn and retreat. Your Lord is King of Israel and stands at your side; you don’t have to worry about any more troubles. Jerusalem, the time is coming, when it will be said to you: ‘Don’t be discouraged or grow weak from fear! The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and He will refresh your life with His love.’”

Dearest God, Your people of Judah had made mistakes. Become complacent, proud and arrogant. They worshiped idols and lived self-centered lives. This description seems as apt today as it was over 2500 years ago.

The hope here is that Your people and their king (Josiah) not only listened to Your warning spoken through the prophet Zephaniah, they responded and experienced revival and recovery as well.

Beloved Father God, it is Your love for each and every one of us that I wish to celebrate this day. Thank You for yet another opportunity to come before You to learn more and to celebrate love. Your love. Thank You. Amen.

"TALK"

Monday, February 13, 2012 (7:10 a.m.)

Most Awesome Holy God,

I read something yesterday. It was a prop in a play. It read vertically, in big letters, “TALK”. Horizontally it spelled out Try A Little Kindness. I want to remember this Blessed Father. Too often we YELL! Teach us not only to talk, but to listen as well.

Psalm 92

Sunday, February 12, 2012 (6:32 a.m.)

Gloriously Awesome God,

It’s gray, cloudy and a little cool outside. Gray. Cloudy. Cool. And beautiful! There’s something striking in the air. It could be the after the rain affect. Or maybe it’s just the freshness of a brand new day. Either way, I am grateful.

How perfect to find Psalm 92 right now. (A psalm and song for the Sabbath.) “It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing Your praises, Lord Most High! It is wonderful each morning to tell about Your love and at night to announce how faithful You are.” It’s true Lord. It IS wonderful!

“I enjoy praising Your name to the music of harps, because everything You do makes me happy, and I sing joyful songs.” While this is not always the case for me, its truth does prepare me for verses five and six. “You do great things, Lord. Your thoughts are too deep for an ignorant fool to understand.” True. How very true.

The rest of the psalm goes on to tell of Your glorious rule and wonderful provision. How very grateful I am Dearest Father.

Use me this day, as You desire. Let others see You in me. Keep me grateful. Singing Your praises. Telling of Your love and faithfulness. Yes Lord. Grateful. Praises. Your love. And faithfulness. Mm. So be it! I love You. Amen.

(231 words ~ 7:22 a.m.)

living and breathing

Saturday, February 11, 2012 (7:18 a.m.)

Living, Breathing Father God,

I’ve been thinking of my breathing for much of the morning. A comment was made the other night about a much-loved couple that lived Your love as though they were just breathing it in and out all their lives.

Blessed Father, thank You that just as I was about to say that I don’t even know what that would look like, You reminded me again that You provided this one particular couple to show us. What I don’t know is what that would BE like! Trust in You and Your Word without having to think about it? On a regular, automatic basis? Yes Father. Sign me up for that kind of devotion to You, Your will and Your way.

Beloved Father God, I search Your Word this morning. Seeking the verses You’d most like me to carry throughout this day. Verses that will remind me that You are absolutely in charge of every aspect of my being. Thank You Father that You love each of us so much.

Of the five results I found in The Message containing the words “living” and “breathing”, it’s Haggai 2:4-5 and Romans 8:5-8 that have my attention right now. There is Truth here I want to grasp.

You spoke words of encouragement to the people of Jerusalem through Haggai. “Get to work… I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back.” Father, I confess. I don’t know how to live boldly in and through You. Oh, but I desperately want to!

Reading about Paul’s letter to the Romans in its introduction, I find these words after the detailing of the four major points of his letter. “… but it’s really a letter about how to live.” Father God, thank You that You love each of us so very much that You would provide such direction for us.

Paul’s words to the Romans (8:5), by way of Eugene Peterson tell us, “Those who think they can do it [keep the law code] on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them – living and breathing God!”

Mm. Living and breathing God! Your Spirit living in me. Father, I long to live my life as though I believe this to be true.

Paul continued (vs. 6-8) “Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends us thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what He is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.”

Living, Breathing Father God, I want to know You well enough that I would never think of ignoring You! Teach me to pay attention to You. Lead me “out into the open, into spacious, free life.” Mm. Living and breathing God, living in me. Yes Lord, as I live and breathe, let me live and breathe You!

I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(546 words ~ 9:31 a.m.)

unexpected

Thursday, February 9, 2012 (6:21 a.m.)

Surprise!

What an unexpected way to start the day. Janitorial duties before six a.m. Thank You God for the tools with which to bring things back around to functioning properly.

That says a mouthful of Truth doesn’t it? Tools used well for proper function. I think immediately of Your Word as a tool. Do I use it properly?

Father God, how I thank You for equipping us. You provided us Your Word to direct and guide us. You remind us throughout of the importance of being prepared.

Reading Revelation 3:3, I am told once again to, “Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.”

Blessed Lord Jesus, keep me awake and aware this day. Prepare me to expect the unexpected in sharing Your love. Be my strength and wisdom in making choices and decisions. Comfort and guide me in the way You would have me go and the things You would have me share. I love You. Thank You for unexpected surprises. Amen.

(197 words ~ 7:32 a.m.)

jaw dropping beauty

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 (6:25 a.m.)

Amazingly, Incredible God,

As far as I can remember, this was a first! I spent the first quarter hour of my day looking west instead of east! I’m pretty sure my first audible word was “WOW!” And I know for a fact that my jaw dropped as I stood stalk still, with mouth agape, taking in the wonder of a full moon still bright in the sky at six o’clock in the morning.

Father God, I am truly speechless. Such jaw dropping beauty! Thank You that it just all came together for me. Right as I was getting out of bed, my first foot had barely reached the floor and I had started singing ♫I’m so unworthy, but still You love me♫

I was so content and excited to come sing that to You. In looking up the lyrics just now I find the line right above what I was singing was what I was experiencing this morning as I hurried from front yard to backyard and back again to the original window of my first sighting. ♫We’re singin’ "You are holy, great and mighty The moon and the stars declare who You are"♫

Father, this song never fails to bring me to tears. This morning however I am just in awe of the beauty You provide for us. As I continue singing the words to the song ♫All glory, honor, power is Yours forever, Amen♫ I ask that You would remind me often throughout this day of Your ability to stop me dead in my tracks with Your jaw dropping beauty. What an unexpected, delightful gift!

And more than that Blessed Lord remind me well of the very last line of this awe-inspiring song ♫Forever my heart will sing of how great You are♫

I love You so very much. Thank You for such a gift with which to start the day. Let me use it well. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(330 words ~ 7:08 a.m.)

time

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 (6:36 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

Thank You Father. I woke up this morning thinking about time. Time to get up. Time to look outside. Time to become intentional. Time to praise You. And that’s when the singing started.

♫Don’t you know it’s time to praise the Lord? In the sanctuary of His Holy Spirit. So set your mind on Him, And let your praise, And the glory of the Lord will fill this place. Praise the Lord…♫

Hmm. Yes. Praise You Lord! Oh but here’s something I’ve sung and not paid attention to before now. ♫He lives within the praises of His people♫ So am I right in thinking that when I feel disconnected from You, if I praise You, You will be here?

♫He loves to hear us call upon His name. So set your mind on Him, And let your praise begin, And the glory of the Lord will fill this place♫

Blessed Jesus, I have been singing this particular song for more than a quarter of a century. How incredible to have it come to a brand new understanding for me this morning.

Thank You Jesus that as I read Your Word, chords of hopeful wonder strike deep within me. Reading in The Living Bible, 1 Kings 8, verses 10 and 11, “Look! As the priests are returning from the inner sanctuary, a bright cloud fills the Temple! The priests have to go outside because the glory of the Lord is filling the entire building!” I am awestruck by the picture it paints in my mind.

As I look over to the Contemporary English Version, my imagination adds to the wonder of it all. “Suddenly a cloud filled the temple as the priests were leaving the most holy place. The LORD’s glory was in the cloud, and the light from it was so bright that the priests could not stay inside to do their work.”

As I continue to consider the Truth of 1 Corinthians 6:19 “You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own.” I wonder what it will be like to have the ♫glory of the Lord fill this place♫ I believe it’s time to find out.

Blessed Father, as I call upon Your name repeatedly this day, how I ask that You would make me gratefully aware of Your presence. Thank You for Your love, Your glory and Your time. Empower me to use them wisely and well. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(436 words ~ 7:57 a.m.)

Your love

Monday, February 6, 2012 (6:17 a.m.)

Harsh, Hateful, Hurtful,

That only begins to describe how far ‘south’ things went for us yesterday. What started out loving and delightful turned ugly, cruel and mean-spirited in a matter of moments.

To say we didn’t see it coming is an understatement! And it’s just right here and now that I realize I never gave one thought of coming to You with all of it. I was much too busy and intent on giving satan that angry kind of foothold we are so wisely warned about in Ephesians 4:26-27.

I had plenty of opportunities to practice forgiveness and hand-holding. Instead I purposefully chose thoughts of vengefulness and grudge-holding.

Forgive me Blessed Father. Even when I prayed with a young mom on the phone late last night, it never occurred to me to offer all this gunk up to You.

Yesterday I asked You to change my tune. Today I’m asking for changed tones. We spoke disdainfully to one another. There were no signs that there had ever been an ounce of love or respect between us. The four letter words I muttered throughout the day had absolutely nothing to do with Your love.

Would You just look at that? Two of the best four letter words in the world! YOUR LOVE!

Almost immediately I started humming a song from more than fifty years ago. Even in looking up the very few words involved in the lyrics I have to confess that I can’t sing them wholeheartedly to You right now. Cold-heartedly maybe.

♫For Your love, oh, I would do anything. I would do anything, fo-o-or Your love♫ Anything except forgive that is.

Father, I am confessing that I am sitting here holding on to my ‘right’ to be angry. Did you hear what he said? The tone? The harsh, hurtful words? Of course You did. Why am I being so stubborn? So resistant to Your Love?

Thank You Father for giving each of us access to Your love. Thank You that it’s a much bigger undertaking than it seems. Hearts. Flowers. Good times. No. It’s sacrifice. Obedience. Thinking more about others than ourselves.

Thank You for reminding me. Your love. Best four letter words around. Make me worthy of them. Of You. Of Your love!

Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit. Be with me. In me. Through me. Before me. After me. Above and below me, all around as I go with the intent of setting this right. In Your name [another very good four letter word! J] I pray. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(437 words ~ 6:59 a.m.)

changed tune

Sunday, February 5, 2012 (6:16 a.m.)

“Oh no.

“Not yet. Too early.” This is NOT the way to greet the Creator of the universe! Work in me here Dearest Lord. Change my tune I pray.

(7:07 a.m.)

And change it You did! Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit.

One minute I’m grumbling. The next, I was unable to find a certain book I sought. Instead You blessed me with gentle stretches of my back. A walk outside to retrieve the newspaper yielded a beautiful orange and a reminder of all the rose pruning that took place here yesterday.

Thank You Perfect Three-In-One for changing my tune of grumbles and growls to those of thanksgiving and praise.

Holy Trio, how I thank You for the way You keep teaching the husband and I how to work together. After more than 38 years together, there is still so very much for us to learn about ourselves and each other. Thank You that through our love for You, we continue deepening our resolve and commitment to one another.

It’s You Lord. It’s all You that has enabled us to work through all the rough patches along the way. It’s You who reminds us that “Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim” (Proverbs 15:4).

You changed my tune this morning Blessed Father, Lord and Spirit of All. Now I ask for the courage and the strength to live this day as You would have me.

I love You. I thank You. And I long to serve You well. Thank You. Amen.

(262 words ~ 7:31 a.m.)

YOUR Way!

Saturday, February 4, 2012 (6:44 a.m.)

♫Beautiful…♫

I didn’t start singing until I began tapping the keys and this was the word that came out. Prior to that I thought You were going to be teaching me about ‘worth’. As in, “This [the beauty of the morning sky J] was definitely worth getting up for.”

YOUR Way Father God. Borrowing a jingle from a popular burger place, I am asking that today we have things YOUR Way!

So, here I am. Willing to follow Your Way Blessed Father and God. Where do we begin?

(7:45 a.m.)

I started at Mark 8:22-26, where I was directed because of the song ♫Beautiful♫ From there I went seeking the ‘pearl of great worth’ and found Matthew 13:45-46. Here I read about “the kingdom of heaven” being “like a merchant looking for fine pearls.”

From a teaching almost three years ago, I have penciled in above “the kingdom of heaven” the words “rule of God in man’s heart”. Blessed Father, I absolutely want You ruling my heart!

Finally I came to John 14. On my way to verse six where Jesus told Thomas, “I am the Way, yes, and the Truth and the Life.” I stopped at verse one. “Let not your hearts be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me.”

Over fifteen years ago I marked the comment at the bottom of the page pertaining to verses 1-4. “We receive lasting comfort by putting our trust in God. Sometimes God gives us immediate deliverance from a painful situation. More often than not, however, He walks with us as we struggle with problems that just won’t seem to let go. Our pain may be a direct consequence of the mistakes we have made in the past; it may be the result of someone else’s failure. God allows us to experience such trying circumstances to build our character and strengthen our faith. When we place our trust in Jesus, we receive His peace in this life and the promise of an eternal home with Him in the next.”

Yep. YOUR Way! And that advertising jingle? May I actually convert it in my approach to living each day for You, THE King. ♫Special orders don’t upset us, All we ask is that You let us serve You YOUR Way♫

I love You Jesus. Thank You for a pretty playful time together that was DEFINITELY worth getting up for! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(410 words ~ 8:19 a.m.)

Your presence

Thursday, February 2, 2012 (6:01 a.m.)

Anaheim, CA

Blessed Father,

One day up. One day down. Funny [odd, strange, unexpected] how pain changes everything.

Let me go back to thankful mode. You gave me a delightful day yesterday. I had fun. Was encouraged. Things went “right” for what seemed like the first time in a really long time. Thank You Father.

Thank You for ideas that turned into actions with much more than satisfying results. Thank You for several instances of truly being IN the moment. I don’t do that a lot.

Very often I think ahead. Or remember back. Kind of like now, thinking of yesterday. That’s because it was so unusual for me. Plans were made. Decisions executed. And all with such pleasing outcomes. Thank You that I was so aware of Your presence in it all.

Mm. Your presence.

Friday, February 3, 2012 (5:35 a.m.)

Mm. Yes Father. Your presence! It’s Your presence I sense in all of this new, uncharted territory of persistent pain. It’s Your presence I turn to. Your presence I rely on.

Awake now for over three hours, we’ve had time to sing. Thank You for the Truth I find in the songs of this morning. ♫This is the day… that the Lord hath made… I will rejoice and be glad in it♫

Thank You Father. I like when You remind me that the choice is mine. I can grumble, moan and complain OR I can rejoice and be glad.

Thank You that You followed this Truth up with a far more playful song. One that I didn’t realize speaks Your Truth as well. It even starts out with the call to ♫Gather ‘round me Every body, Gather ‘round me While I preach some, Feel a sermon comin’ on me. The topic will be sin And that’s what I’m agin♫

I don’t think I’ve ever looked past the chorus before. ♫If you wanna Hear my story, Then settle back And just sit tight While I start reviewin’ The attitude of doin’ right♫ Yes Father, there is definitely attitude involved.

♫You’ve to ac-cen-tu-ate the positive, E-lim-mi-nate the negative, Latch on to the affirmative And don’t mess with Mister In-between♫

That’s the part I’ve always known. And with the risk of sounding like many of the commercials of today, “But wait! There’s more!”

♫You’ve got to spread joy, Up to the maximum, Bring gloom down to the minimum, Have faith, Or pandemonium’s Li’ble to walk upon the scene♫

How have I missed all this through the years? And then it continues with Biblical references I never knew were there.

♫To illustrate my last remark, Jonah in the whale, Noah in the Ark, What did they do Just when everything looked dark? “Man” they said, “We better Ac-cen-tu-ate the positive…♫

Father thank You that Your presence surrounds us. Keeping us safe and protected. Which even brings me to our final song of the pre-dawn morning. ♫You are my Hiding Place! You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance, whenever I am afraid I will trust in You… I will trust in You, let the weak say, "I am strong in the strength of the Lord"… I will trust in You♫

Along with the Truth of this song, comes the Truth of Your Word (Psalm 32:7) as well.

And as if all of this weren’t enough to ♫bring a tear of joy to my eyes♫ [wait - that’s a whole ‘nother song! J] Psalm 31:19-20 brings it completely back to Your presence!

“Oh, how great is Your goodness to those who publicly declare that You will rescue them. For You have stored up great blessings for those who trust and reverence You. Hide Your loved ones in the shelter of Your presence, safe beneath Your hand, safe from all conspiring men.”

Your presence Father! The Life Recovery comment to these verses tells of the importance of “actively sharing the joy of our deliverance”. It also says, “Our blessings from God increase when we share with others the good news about His help.” And it ends with, “God can protect us from harm if we allow Him to take control of our life. In our distress we may wrongly assume that we are alone, yet God is always there, answering our cry for help.”

Thank You for Your presence, Blessed Father. Let me use it wisely. I love You. Amen.

(732 words ~ 6:50 a.m.)

Hallelujah!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 (12:24 p.m.)

Thank You Jesus!

I have had THE most amazing morning! You graced me with the TRUTH of Zechariah 4:10 which has given me MORE than just a little bit of slack to cut for myself.

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand."

WHOSE hand? NOT mine!!!!!!!!!!! I have continued to set myself up for failure for SO long, by trying to meet my own expectations. I'm gonna hurt (or not) for however long God allows.

Am I supposed to despise my small beginnings? NO! Why? "... for the Lord rejoices to see the work BEGIN" Finish? No! BEGIN!

Sweetest, dearest Friend Jesus, THANK YOU for walking this long, lonesome path with me. You have encouraged me with Your Truth all along the way. Truly, I cannot thank You enough!

It has seemed so very long since I have been THIS “AGOG (excited and eager to tell) with God”. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

I love You SO much! Amen.

(181 words ~ 12:31 p.m.)

small beginnings

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 (6:01 a.m.)

Hallelujah Jesus!

Thank You. Bless You. Praise You. Predawn thoughts are confirmed here in Your Word. And I am grateful Blessed Jesus.

I have asked You to work in my life all these years. And now that You have been, as You have all along, I have done little more than complain about the pain of Your work.

As I began stirring this morning, thinking of ways to do different things, I remembered words I have shared often with friends who are undertaking difficult tasks. These are words that are true and filled with hope.

Beloved Jesus, thank You for reminding me that You truly ARE working deep inside of me. Truly changing me from the inside out!

I sit here and read. I smile and nod. I believe Your Word to be Truth. I trust that Your plan for my life is good. And again I am grateful. AGOG. Another gift of gratitude, thank You Jesus.

I look outside my window and am presented with another glimpse of glory. Such beauty keeps unfolding. Colors are being added to the sky one at a time. The intensity ratcheted up with each click of the clock. Glorious. Beautiful. Magnificent. And again I am filled with gratefulness. Thank You Jesus.

I would like to stamp your call to me this morning somewhere that I would see it every single time I start to get discouraged. In turning to Zechariah 4:10, where the verse is spelled out, I read about the disappointment Your people faced at the task of rebuilding Your temple.

Is that not what I am attempting to do myself? Rebuild this body that is the temple of Your Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 6:19). The very same one I have neglected and ignored all these years?

Thank You Jesus. The Life Recovery Bible describes the book of Zechariah as “an account of rebuilding and recovery.” Your Word is a gold mine Blessed Lord Jesus. One Truth leading to another.

Just as it did this morning as I recognized the words that led me here in the first place. “Do not despise these small beginnings”. It was only after I got here that I saw more to this verse “for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

I couldn’t help but notice Most Blessed One, it does NOT say anything about that plumb line being in my own hand. Thank You for the reminder that this rebuilding of my body is going to take time and I am not to despise any aspect of it.

I love You Blessed Jesus. I long to follow Your plan for my recovery. The one that gives me a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). I’ve already given You full authority in my life. Your Father, the Gardner has the power to ‘lop off every branch that doesn’t produce and to prune those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops’ (John 15:2).

Fruit doesn’t happen overnight. And neither does the rebuilding of Your temple. Thank You for Your ever present patience in reminding me that I am not to despise these small beginnings! Yet another way of telling me to stop being so hard on myself. Thank You Jesus. Help me learn this in my very core.

I love You Jesus. Continue Your rebuilding in me. I pray in Your name. Amen.

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