Again Lord

Friday, March 30, 2012 (7:55 a.m.)

Again Lord,

Again I woke up singing ♫Glorious♫ Again I followed the tune to finding the lyrics. But this time I took the word ‘glorious’ to Your Word and found hundreds of verses that include it.

I’m stopping right here in Exodus 15. Under the subtitle Songs to the Lord, I read the words of a song that Moses and the people of Israel sang to You after passing safely through the Red Sea. I read this section. Then I read about this section. And I am never ceased to be amazed at how much I resemble ‘the reaction of Israel’.

The Illustrated Bible Handbook tells how the theme of Your people “is repeated over and over in the next four chapters. Although God acts to provide for His people, in each emergency they grow less grateful and more rebellious.”

They were right there. They SAW Your miracles! And yet they griped. Complained. Demanded.

Thank You Father for Your patience with Your people of old. As well as Your people now. How much we resemble singing and rejoicing one minute only to become fretful and faithless the next.

Thank You that we have these examples of flawed people to look back on. I find myself shaking my head, wondering how they could so easily slip back into reacting to crises as they did before. And then I see myself.

Reading ahead into chapter 16, I glance at the bottom of the page of The Life Recovery Bible. “Again, the Israelites failed to believe that God would meet their needs. They lacked faith in God’s power and still didn’t understand their privileges as God’s people.”

Again Lord, I thank You for not just giving up on them. On us. And right there, I turn back to Your Holy Word and my eyes fall smack on verse six. “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power; It dashes the enemy to pieces.”

Then I move over to the verse (11) that brought me here in the first place. “Who else is like the Lord among the gods? Who is glorious in holiness like Him? Who is so awesome in splendor, A wonder working God?”

You guide us. Protect us. Provide for us. And all too often we turn on You. But because of Your glorious holiness, You forgive us. Cleanse us and call us to begin again. Again Lord, thank You that ♫You are glorious♫ Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(416 words ~ 8:45 a.m.)

♫ Glorious ♫

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 (9:51 a.m.)

Glorious God,

It’s the third day in a row that I’ve woken to the same song. Thank You for the uninterrupted time to bring it here to You right now.

It took more time and searches than I had anticipated, but in all of ten minutes I have the words right here in front of me. I remember taking communion to the strains of it on Sunday. And I sit here in satisfied wonder now.

Leaving the house before seven this morning I looked at the clarity of the air surrounding us and again began singing ♫Glorious glorious Lord, You are glorious♫ And it’s so true. Lord, You ARE glorious!

There are reminders of Your glory all around us. Shapes. Colors. Beauty. Majesty. Snow covered mountains. Spring flowers. Bright blue skies. Truly glorious!

As we move ever closer toward Passion Week, this worship song takes on even more meaning. ♫Look inside the mystery, See the empty cross, See the risen Savior, Victorious and strong, No one else above Him, None as strong to save, He alone has conquered, The power of the grave♫

How blessed are we to have You make such a spectacularly generous sacrifice. ♫Glorious my eyes have seen, The glory of the Lord. Glorious He stands above, The rulers of the earth♫ I sing these words and I am awed [not odd J ] by Your gift of eternal life.

♫Look beyond the tombstone, See the living God, See the resurrected, Ruler of my heart♫ It’s only been these past several years that I am coming to realize how infinitely glorious You are! The One and Only, TRUE Ruler of my heart!

♫No one else above, None to match His worth, The hope of His returning, Fills the universe♫ Hope of Your return. What a glorious thought.

♫Glorious glorious Lord, You are glorious♫ Thank You for the blessings that come upon this realization. ♫Oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh You are glorious♫ Thank You for all You are. All You came to do. I love You. ♫Oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh You are glorious♫ Thank You. Amen.

(346 words ~ 10:46 a.m.)

fun / Andy

Friday, March 23, 2012 (8:05 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Sunday, March 25, 2012 (8:58 a.m.)

Time DOES get away from us, doesn’t it? Funny thing though, I still remember where I was going with this the other morning. And interestingly enough, the thoughts I’ve had so far today tie right in.

Friday morning I was searching Your Word looking at all the ways ‘fun’ was mentioned. Mostly it was as part of another word, such as: function or funeral. On a couple of occasions it was in reference to being ‘made fun of’. I was [still am J] thinking more along the lines of just having fun with You.

And that’s exactly where I began again this morning! A dear friend, with a great voice, called with her ‘song for my day’ that we started just last Saturday. Similar to playing “Name That Tune” I knew where we were going after the first few words.

Immediately I was caught up thinking of the story of a little boy who knew Your name to be “Andy”. How fun is that! When asked by his Sunday School teacher if anyone in the class knew Your name, he sang the chorus of this favored hymn to justify his answer.

Blessed Father God, as Mary Magdalene (John 20:1) had ♫come to the garden alone, while the dew was still on the roses♫ she absolutely knew You well enough to have been on a first name basis with You. Much like the little boy in the story as he heard the song sung ♫"Andy" walks with me, “Andy” talks with me, “Andy” tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known! ♫

That’s EXACTLY the kind of relationship I want to have with You! Intimate. Fun. A first name basis. Thank You that this is what You want for us as well. Why else would You have “written”, “inscribed”, “tattooed”, “drawn”, “marked”, “engraved” me and my name on Your hands (Isaiah 49:16)?

See there? Just as I thought we were done playing “Name That Tune” another song immediately shot to mind. ♫Daddy’s Hands♫. Not a hymn, but absolutely appropriate.

Thank You Father. Daddy. Andy. Thank You for the freedom to consider You as Someone with Whom I desperately want to have fun! Thank You for Your love and joy. Your peace and patience. Your kindness and goodness. Your faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Thank You for all You are and all You have for us to be. Thank You for intimacy and fun. I love You. Amen.

(431 words ~ 10:10 a.m.)

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Thursday, March 22, 2012 (8:08 a.m.)

Palm Desert, CA

Awesome God,

Thank You for love and laughter. Thank You for life and all You designed it to be.

Yesterday I spent much of the morning reading in Jeremiah. Every time I do, I come away amazed.

I am nowhere near a person of his caliber. This side of heaven I don’t think I ever will be. He spoke out for You and was faithful to You despite the horrendous opposition he faced. That is a faithfulness I can only pray to some day be prepared to experience.

And even in making that statement, I confess that I don’t ever really want to be put to the tests of Jeremiah. I confess Blessed Jesus that I like the promises. I lean toward them.

While I will read verses such as Jeremiah 17:5-6, it’s only because I want to get on to verses 7-8. Lord God, thank You for teaching me again and again through the years that we must take the bad along with the good. There are lessons for us to learn continuously. Thank You for being such a patient Teacher!

Jeremiah was willing to speak Your Truth to Your wayward people even when he faced painful persecution. Thank You for his example. His willingness to speak Your Truth gives us hope.

“The Lord says: Cursed is the man who puts his trust in mortal man and turns his heart away from God. He is like a stunted shrub in the desert, with no hope for the future; he lives on the salt-encrusted plains in the barren wilderness; good times pass him by forever.” If this is all there was to look forward to, I would be first in line to give up.

Thank You Blessed Lord that even though I must confess to being all too inclined in that direction, it is Your promises of hope in You that help me stand firmer than I ever could on my own.

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence. He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water – a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by long months of drought. Its leaves stay green, and it goes on producing all its luscious fruit.”

Father God, I confess to all too readily embracing the promises without the warnings. Change this in me as well I ask. As I continue to grow and mature in You, keep me ever mindful of the totality of Your Truth. NOT just the parts that are easier and most pleasing to my soul.

I love You Father. I love You Son. I love You Holy Spirit. Be with me this day, crafting me into the woman You would have me be. Thank You. Amen.

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

blessings and love

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 (8:06 a.m.)

Palm Desert, CA

Blessed, Loving God and Father,

Thank You for blessing and loving us. Thank You for people You put into our lives to help us and comfort us.

Thank You for the plans You have for us. “They are plans for good and not for evil,” to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). I have quoted this verse for years. I believe the Truth of it.

I don’t use it casually. I don’t expect things to turn out ‘my’ way, or as I would hope. I do however trust You to always know what You are doing and have our very best interests at heart. Especially when we don’t have a clue what that looks like!

Thank You Father for the kind of faith and hope that comes from trusting You to love and to bless us.

"But joy comes in the morning."

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 (7:05 a.m.)

Awesome, Incredible, Enjoyable, Wonderful Father God,

Thank You! I get to love You just because You are good and grand and wonderful and all the other positive adjectives in the world. Because You are all these things I was able to sleep last night.

I went to bed with my head spinning. I remembered times throughout the years that I thought of potential disasters all night long. Last night, right when I caught myself going down a long, lonesome road of things that might [or might NOT J] ever happen the words “But joy comes in the morning” came to mind and I was settled.

Right then and there. Exactly as I was. Without a single change to any circumstance. I simply remembered Your Truth, trusted You and slept. Soundly. Restfully. Peacefully. Renewably.

Thank You Jesus that You came to give us life, “to the full” (John 10:10). As I awoke this morning thinking of another glimpse of gladness that You provided me yesterday, I was truly grateful and excited for the opportunity to come be here with You this morning. Just You and me with Your Word. Thank You for this gift that I so very often take for granted.

It was the very last section of Psalm 30:5 in the New King James Version that put me so soundly to sleep last night. Reading the entire verse in the Easy-to-Read Version just now, I have even more reason to smile. “His anger lasts for a little while, but then His kindness brings life. The night may be filled with tears, but in the morning we can sing for joy!”

And that is precisely my plan. To sing for joy for the abundant life You came to bring to each of us. Thank You Father for Your plan. Thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice. Thank Holy Spirit for Your continued presence and comfort.

Thank You that Your joy truly does come in the morning and that I am in a place to believe, appreciate and be glad in it. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(348 words ~ 7:43 a.m.)

willingly

Monday, March 19, 2012 (6:07 p.m.)

Blessed Jesus,

Thank You for coming. Thank You for living. Thank You for loving. Thank You for teaching and suffering and dying and rising again. Thank You for every single thing that You willingly went through on our behalf.

Blessed, Beloved Jesus, it is You Who teaches us to trust, have faith, be glad. Thank You for Your willingness. I am asking You to make me willing as well.

Things don’t go ‘my’ way. I feel sad. Withdraw. Build a case for myself. How much better for me to follow King David’s example. “It was my desire to build a temple in which the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord could rest – a place for our God to live in” (1Chronicles 28:2b). HIS desire!

“I have now collected everything that is necessary for the building, but God has told me, ‘You are not to build my temple, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’” (1Chronicles 28:2c-3). I can’t help but notice here, that he didn’t pitch a fit. Didn’t walk off in disgust. Or hold his breath ‘til he passed out.

No. He willingly obeyed. The Illustrated Bible Handbook says, “David will not be allowed to build the edifice he plans. But his last days are happily filled with its details, and in gathering the resources to create a structure which will honor the Lord.” He thanked You and praised You.

He acknowledged that all that the people had willingly given to the building project had actually come from You. “I know, my God, that You test men to see if they are good; for You enjoy good men. I have done this with good motives, and I have watched Your people offer their gifts willingly and joyfully. O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel! Make Your people always want to obey You, and see to it that their love for You never changes” (1Chronicles 29:17-18).

THAT’S how I want to respond You Most Blessed Lord and Savior! Willingly. Trustingly. Gratefully, lovingly and devotedly! Thank You Jesus for changing my sadness into gladness and my fear into faith. Thank You for coming. Living. Loving. So that we could come to live and love You. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(383 words ~ 7:08 p.m.)

And...

Sunday, March 18, 2012 (7:36 a.m.)

Blessed Lord Jesus,

Thank You for coming to save us. We make so many mistakes. Big ones. Little ones. Ones that are hardly noticeable and those that just can’t be missed.

(8:09 a.m.)

I confess to my mind spinning uncontrollably right now. I read one section of Scripture that has me sitting upright and nodding my head vigorously. I begin to get a grasp and then my eyes fall on another section and the process starts again.

Right now what I am sure of is that You, Jesus, are good. “All the time.” I read Your Word. And I am reminded that You ARE the Word.

Monday, March 19, 2012 (5:40 p.m.)

And then I got all side tracked. And just plain dumb! I left here to go to church thinking I’d catch up with You later. We both know how that NEVER works out well.

And then I couldn’t find my joy. I didn’t want to come back here without it. I promised You that I would remember to be glad every day this Lenten Season and today I just couldn’t pull it off. I didn’t want to come here until I could do it without crying, but the truth is maybe that’s exactly when I should be here.

I can’t always be glad on my own! I need You to help me. And even if I am crying, I can still be glad. I don’t have to feel glad to BE it. I AM glad! Glad to have You. Glad to be Yours. Glad to be able to cry and say I love You in the same breath.

So as the tears fall, as my heart chooses faith over fear, I choose to come to You ♫Just as I am Without one plea But that Your blood was shed for me♫ Jesus thank You for every single thing You have done to bring us to the place that all we have to do is love You and want You and trust You. You are so incredibly good. And for that alone, I am glad! Thank You Jesus. I love You. Amen.

exclamation

Saturday, March 17, 2012 (7:37 a.m.)

Gasp. Appreciate. Gasp again. Exclaim.

Such beauty. Wide-eyed wonder. Sheer enjoyment. These are just a few of my first thoughts on this most gloriously beautiful morning.

Blessed Father, Son and Spirit, thank You! Thank You for such amazing beauty. There’s clarity and depth. The mountains that are several miles away look as though I could reach out and touch them. There’s enough break in the storm clouds to see streams of sunlight resembling “the fingers of God”.

(9:44 a.m.)

The sprinkles have started and the praise continues. Thank You Blessed One. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for friendships. Thank You for joy. And problems.

Thank You for the one verse in all the versions I searched that mentions ‘exclamation’. Paul is writing to the Philippian believers who helped support his ministry. It helps remind me of the various calls to joy that are found in this letter.

Right under The Message Bible’s promise of “A Love That Will Grow” is verse three in the first chapter of Philippians. “Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart.”

Wouldn’t I love for every single one of my exclamations to be a trigger for thankful prayer to You Most High? Won’t You work on that in me? I love You so very much. And I thank You for this time together to explore the joy found in an exclamation of awe and wonder.

Thank You Father. Thank You Son. Thank You Holy Spirit. Amen.

(274 words ~ 1:52 p.m.)

more gladness

Friday, March 16, 2012 (8:12 a.m.)

Oh how I thank and praise You!

Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Yes. All Three In One, thank You. You keep teaching me more about gladness.

Looking again at the two sections of Scripture from yesterday, I am reminded of the many things that went well during the day. Blessed conversations with friends and loved ones. Exercise goals that were met. An overall sense of gladness at nearly every turn. YOU are behind all of this!

The promises of joy that Your Word speaks of keep me coming back again and again. Thank You Father. Thank You Son. Thank You Blessed Holy Spirit.

I heard a phrase yesterday that speaks directly to the core of our home right now. “Let my mess become my message.” MY plan for yesterday was to set my sights on all that needs to be put away and ‘git-r-done’. That didn’t happen! What did take place was so much better.

Lives were shared. Truth was spoken in love. Sadness expressed. And gladness was expected. This is relatively new for me Most Blessed Being. I’m the one who is usually so darned hard on myself. Other people see it [and comment on it freely]. I don’t. I just normally judge myself harshly and move on.

Today I look at the same mess, with the same hope. THIS will be the day that I make progress. And herein is the crux of the matter. Once again I am reminded that we are looking for progress NOT perfection. Thank You God. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Promised Comforter.

As we prepare to begin making progress on this day I look to You and the promises You’ve made in Your Holy Word. Promises of Streams in the Desert (Isaiah 35) and “The Holy Highway” (v.8) where Your people “will go home along that road to Zion, singing the songs of everlasting joy. For them all sorrow and all sighing will be gone forever; only joy and gladness will be there” (v.10).

And why is that? Because of the joy that is promised us in John 16, verse 22. “You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and then you will rejoice; and no one can rob you of that joy.” The Message says it even more simply. “You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.”

I trust You! I believe You! And that in and of itself results in more gladness. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(341 words ~ 8:51 a.m.)

gladness (revisited)

Thursday, March 15, 2012 (7:13 a.m.)

Blessed Jesus,

You are so good. I love You very much. You have made me glad and I am so grateful. Thank You for this lesson in gladness You are teaching me.

(8:12 a.m.)

‘Gladness’. It seemed easy enough. We’d just sit and talk a little bit about ALL the ways You make me glad. Talk about peeling an onion! One layer at a time.

Jesus, thank You that You truly DO make me glad! I’ve spent an hour revisiting past AGOG’s and the various other times I have come to You with gladness. Two sections in The Message give me GREAT reason to be glad.

Isaiah 35:8-10 and John 16:19-20 are both based on Your promises of good things to come. Renewal and redemption resulting in joy. Wow! What a reason to hope.

(1:51 p.m.)

I am back, Blessed Lord! Thank You for the joy and gladness that have surrounded me this day. A few things have been accomplished. Not NEAR the amount I had hoped.

Friday, March 16, 2012 (7:59 a.m.)

And here we have proven, once again, that the start and stop approach to our time together just doesn’t work well.

eleven minute prayer

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 (7:45 a.m.)

Awesome God and Father,

I just love it when You surprise me to get my attention! Sometimes it’s the most beautiful colors in the skies. Others, like this morning, it’s me being completely on the wrong page of Scripture and You making it right.

I was looking for Psalm 16:9 and not realizing I was reading in Psalm 19. When I got to verse fourteen I even said, “I don’t remember reading this yesterday.” That’s when it hit me! Wrong chapter. But not necessarily! It wasn’t what I was looking for, but it sure holds true to what I want.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Oh yes Dearest Lord God. All day. This is what I ask. Yes. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(149 words ~ 7:56 a.m.)

delightful

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 (6:53 a.m.)

Awesome, Glorious God and Father,

You gave me a delightful day yesterday. Truly delightful! I prayed very simply, asking You to teach me to number my days (Psalm 90:12) and step by step the day progressed delightfully.

Thank You Father. Today is another opportunity for joy. Delight. Gladness. Help me look to You often in this regard.

Right now I am torn between two Psalms. Each contains the word ‘delightful’. 147:1, “Hallelujah! Yes, praise the Lord! How good it is to sing His praises! How delightful, and right!” Amen to this!

Oh but right now in reading the Contemporary English Version of Psalm 16:5-6, I realize this is it for me today! “You, LORD, are all I want! You are my choice, and You keep me safe. You make my life pleasant, [NIV says, ‘delightful’] and my future is bright.”

It is when I look to You that I remember the blessings You hold for us. The Bible Handbook speaks of Psalm 16 thusly, “This beautiful psalm expresses satisfaction with personal relationship to God. God alone is the source of all good (1-4), the One who assigns our place in life (5-6), and the One who guides us by His presence (7-8).”

As I “praise You, LORD, for being my guide. Even in the darkest night, Your teachings fill my mind” (v.7) I ask that “I will always look to You, as You stand beside me and protect me from my fear” (v.8). Have this become my true nature Most Delightful Father God.

Reading again in the NIV, I am delighted to find the first part of verse nine presenting the key word of this Lenten season for me. “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices.” Ah yes Lord. As You continue teaching me to be glad and rejoice, let me also be ever aware of the delightful ways in which You show Yourself.

I love You so very much and I am truly glad and grateful. Thank You Father. Amen.

Psalm 90:10-12

Monday, March 12, 2012 (8:01 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed, Wonderful God,

I love You! I love spending time with You. I love thinking on You. Depending on You. Coming to You. Thank You for this privilege. This honor.

Father, this morning I ask that You would make Psalm 90:12 come absolutely alive in my life. “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.”

Oh yes Blessed Father! Yes! That! The Life Recovery Bible comment at the bottom of the page encompasses verses ten and eleven as well. “Seventy years are given us! And some may even live to eighty. But even the best of these years are emptiness and pain; soon they disappear, and are gone. Who can realize the terrors of Your anger? Which of us can fear You as he should?”

That is exactly why we need to know how to number the days You have allotted us! “Remembering that life is short and often filled with sorrow, we should ask how God wants us to spend our days and concentrate on making our life count for something. We have wasted enough time creating our own problems, We should focus now on making positive changes in our life so we will be able to accomplish things for God.”

Yes! Please. Thank You. Amen.

(226 words ~ 8:13 a.m.)

unexpected joy

Sunday, March 11, 2012 (8:15 a.m.)

Awesome, Amazing, Wonderful God,

You provide such joy in the most unexpected places. Thank You Father. People I don’t even know express their love for You over the Internet and I am drawn into learning more about them and their lives.

Watching from afar as they share their stories of faith and Your provisions for them I am awed. Awed and grateful.

(8:53 a.m.)

And right there I took a side trip to my own blog to look back at the last time I connected being awed, with feeling “odd”. Thank You that I get to have so much fun with You as I get more and more comfortable just being me in my own skin.

Thank You Jesus that You came to save us from ourselves. Yes. Titus 3:3-8a in The Message says its very well. “It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, He saved us from all that. It was all His doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with Him and given us back our lives. And there’s more to come – an eternity of life! You can count on this.”

Father as I read and pray and think on these things, I thought to ask You to allow me to experience more unexpected joy. How much more I prefer asking You to allow me to BE an unexpected joy to others. Ah, yes Lord. Whether I am awed or odd, let me also be someone’s unexpected joy. Mm. Yes. I love You. Thank You for all You do in making us who we are. Thank You. Amen.

(343 words ~ 9:21 a.m.)

provision (again)

Saturday, March 10, 2012 (6:21 a.m.)

Wonderfully Awesome, Incredible God,

Thank You for the God You are. Thank You that You know our every need. Thank You for Your every provision.

(7:16 a.m.)

Take just now for instance. I thought I was so incredibly clever for equating “pro” with ‘before’ and “vision” with ‘to see’. Yes. Clever. Until I inserted “provision” in the search bubble of the blog. NOT my first rodeo with this word!

Thank You Lord that even with all the thoughts rattling around inside, You provided glimpses into the past few years and my thinking [as well as major events] along the way.

Thank You Father that You are so very good at providing our every need. The Hebrews experienced it every day in the desert. Joseph lived it throughout his lifetime. You don’t change. You provide. It’s what You do. And I thank You and am glad for it.

Guide me Dearest God to the verse [or verses J] that You would most have me reflect upon this day. Matthew 6:30-33 in The Message it is!

I sit here smiling and shaking my head ever AGOG [from Old French en gogues, from en ‘in’ + the plural of gogue ‘fun.’] with how much You amaze me.

The thoughts I have one day [or most of a sleepless night] spelled out for me in Your Word the very next morning. YOUR morning where Your mercies fall afresh everyday (Lamentations 3:22-24).

Most Blessed Father God, how I thank You that through the Truth of Your Word and the revisiting of the Serenity Prayer I am again reminded of Your wonderfully perfect provision!

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers – most of which are never even seen – don’t you think He’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do His best for you? [here’s another smile and shake of my head in the sheer anticipation of such provision! J] What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.” Hmm, there’s a thought!

“People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works.” Well, yeah, kinda…

“Steep your life in God-reality, [now THAT’s worth doing!!] God-initiative, God provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

Father, bless You. THANK YOU! In taking the time to again look up the word AGOG in an actual dictionary I read even more descriptive words. “[… gogue, joke, joyfulness] in a state of eager anticipation, excitement, or interest.” I had come to think of it as ‘eager to tell’. How awesome to think of myself as being “in joyfulness” [or joke J] with You. Thank You. Thank You. THANK YOU!

I DO get so very excited when I read Your Truth. The Bible Handbook says this about this section of Matthew, “God, a loving Father, meets the daily needs of His children. Freed from the need to constantly worry about the material, Jesus followers can put God first and live each day for Him.” Mm, yes Lord! Let me live THIS day for You. This day You have provided for which I am to rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118:24).

The serenity prayer devotional for this section of Matthew reminds me that, “It is easy to slip back into worrying about tomorrow, dwelling on ‘what ifs’ and ‘if onlys’. Each day brings with it a host of things we cannot change.” Father I confess to falling right straight back into this trap.

Thank You that because of Your perfect provision I get “to ask at every turn in life, ‘Am I accepting this present moment, or am I pretending – trying to escape into the past or the future?’” I get to “choose to find joy, strength, and sanity” by ACCEPTING today’s realities.

Yes Father, God help me choose to accept Your provision for today’s reality. I love You. I want to be truly AGOG with all You provide. Thank You. Amen.

(690 words ~ 10:35 a.m.)

Philippians 4:4-9

Friday, March 9, 2012 (7:57 a.m.)

Amazingly, Incredible, Wonderful Father God,

You are so good. So kind. So very attentive to our every need. You are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Truly Father, I want to be like You!

You reminded me again of the importance of ‘being anxious for nothing’. Through the years I’ve quoted Philippians 4:6 from The Living Bible paraphrase of Your Word. “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.”

What a truly perfect concept Father! Not to worry. Pray instead. Tell God what is needed. Thank Him for His answers. Simple. Concise. True. Hmm. Heaven!

Father, You never cease to expand my mind! It seems that every single time I open Your Word to one verse, several more rush off Its pages to be paid attention to.

Where I had originally come here to explore this one verse in several different versions, it seems now that I am looking at several verses in this one account. The Life Recovery Bible. My “go to” version.

Starting up at verse four. “Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, rejoice!” Yes Lord. Make it so in my life!

Verse five, “Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon.” Ah. Yes Lord God. Please!

We’ve looked at verse six already, but it doesn’t just stand alone. Verse seven picks right up with a promise for it. “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” How’s that for learning to relax?

Paul continues speaking wisdom and truth to the people of Philippi. Verse eight, “And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.” Oh yes Dearest God! It’s like it’s all brand new to me again. It’s so true. Your recipe for worry-free living!

This section closes with verse nine. “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.” What a promise. Such a reason to hope!

Father God, be with and in every single thing I think, say and do this day. Bring me ever closer to loving You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength and loving my neighbor as myself (Mark12:30-31). I love You so darned much. Empower and enable me to not only love much but well (Philippians 1:9).

You are such an incredibly wonderful God and I am truly grateful to be AGOG with You! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

Relax!

Thursday, March 8, 2012 (9:14 a.m.)

Most Blessed and Amazing Father God,

You never cease to amaze me! Thank You for that. There is beauty all around me.

Friday, March 9, 2012 (7:05 a.m.)

And the amazement and beauty continues. Father, thank You that yesterday I awoke several times with the call to “Relax!” It was a word I had heard the day before in relation to my muscles.

Today, again, I am thanking You Father. You provide us such opportunity. As I explored that simple phrase in Your Word, I came to Psalm 116:7 in the Easy-to-Read Version. “My soul, relax! The Lord is caring for you.” What a profound truth! Filled with hope.

Verses one and two open this particular psalm with such an awesome fact. “I love the Lord because He hears my prayers and answers them. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe!”

I spent the bulk of yesterday practicing relaxing my muscles. I took turns between exploring this psalm in various translations and reviewing dance steps I’m currently learning. Often reminding myself to “Relax!”

Father God, thank You. Thank You that because of Your provision I was able to take a day and just ‘be’. As I read Psalm 116 in its entirety several different ways, I kept coming away with the awareness of the amount of “I will” statements that are in it.

As I recognized by own inability to live up to most of them, I celebrated the reminder of my prior commitment to acknowledge each and every day of this Lenten season with another ‘I will’ truth. “I will be glad.” And I was.

And I continue to be. Thank You Father. Thank You for Your Truth. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your help and Your reminders. And for just a little bit of a laugh from something I had never paid attention to before.

I grew up hearing the statement that, “God takes care of drunks and idiots.” I often wondered where it came from. I confess to giggling yesterday as I considered it as a user-friendly form of the first part of verse six. “The Lord protects the simple and the childlike”.

Father God, thank You that I believe You encourage us to enjoy spending time with You and in Your Word. Thank You that in waking this morning I equated Your call to help me learn to relax to Philippians 4:6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Blessed Father, truly, can we explore this verse more? Be with me as we do. I love You so very much. And I thank You. Help me as I heed Your call on my life. Amen.

(469 words ~ 7:43 a.m.)

a deeper level of healing

Wednesday, March 7, 2012 (6:06 a.m.)

Wonderfully Blessed Father God,

Thank You. For hours the waking thought has been the same. “A deeper level of healing”.

(6:46 a.m.)

And in spending the past forty minutes reading about it on the Internet I am asking You to guide me in Your Word. More specifically, speak to me concerning Paul’s letter to Your believers in Ephesus.

In one version I see a devotional page concerning Ephesians 1:3-23 entitled Resurrection Power. Blessed Father, I have been familiar with this section of Scripture for years. This morning, verses 17-20 are again sparking my heart.

The Contemporary English Version says, “I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you His Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people. I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let Him sit at His right side in heaven.”

The power to raise the dead seems like an incredibly deeper level of healing to me! And I want desperately to experience that kind of healing. Not just in my physical being though. Father God, how I ask You to continue Your deeper level of healing in my heart, mind and soul. You are such an incredibly good God and I am so very grateful for all You are and do.

As I prepare to close this time with You here this morning I ask that I would emulate Paul’s closing words in chapter six, verse ten. “To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in His great power.”

Yes Lord. Make Your power my deeper level of healing. I love You so much. Thank You. Amen.

(355 words ~ 7:41 a.m.)

All because of You!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012 (7:12 a.m.)

Wonderfully Awesome, Incredible God,

How I thank You for thinking ahead to provide our every need. You are so good and I am so glad to be counted as one of Your kids. Sheep. Followers.

I got to have a delightful day yesterday. All because of You! The views were picture perfect. The weather wonderfully conducive to vigorous yard work. My energy level was high. And the husband and I once again played to each other’s strengths. ALL of this was brought about by You.

Through the years You have taught us what works between us and what doesn’t. Far too often we have tried to change the other into working in ways that made sense to ourselves but drove the other bonkers. You’ve changed us so very much Most Blessed Lord God. And we are so incredibly grateful to You.

Thank You for the hummingbird that came so close to my shoulder that I could hear it. Thank You for the Bible verse that came to mind, asking You to “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Thank You for leading me this morning to verses 23 and 24 of Psalm 139. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes You sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Thank You that just now the phrase ♫When it’s all about You♫ sang itself to me. Thank You that the lyrics to ♫The Heart of Worship♫ were a fairly easy find. Thank You Jesus that You are so much a part of my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength. Please empower me to love You as You so rightly deserve and desire to be loved. With ALL of our hearts, minds, souls and strength (Mark 12:30).

Thank You for blessing us so richly. Everything we are is truly all because of You! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

mature, authentic love

Monday, March 5, 2012 (7:43 a.m.)

Amazing, Astounding, Incredibly Awesome God,

Thank You. Thank You that I get to come to You with every single aspect of my being just as it is. You don’t want only the cleaned up, censored version of all I am. No. You are willing to take the imperfections along with all that I try to be.

I read the words “mature, authentic love” just moments ago and it wasn’t until I started this to You just now that I realized that that is YOU! You are mature, authentic love in its base, most pure form.

Father God, this is not something I can ever hope to manufacture on my own. Yesterday when I spoke of my desire to love as You would have me love, I thought of the word ‘authentic’ but used the word ‘real’ instead. Today I look to You, asking that You would make my love for You, others and myself mature. Authentic. Genuine. True. As far from fake as the east is from the west.

Do in, through and for me all the things I am not able to do myself. I love You Most Blessed Lord. I need You. I trust You. And I thank You. Amen.

REAL love

Sunday, March 4, 2012 (8:09 a.m.)

Absolute Loving Lord God,

I’m here asking You to teach and enable me to love as You would have me love. REAL love. Not pretend, act as if, should kind of love. No. Authentic. Real. YOUR kind of love.

I don’t do this Father. I used to think I did. But as I continue attempting to avoid ‘taking a fearless moral inventory’ I keep becoming more and more convicted that this is exactly what You would have me do.

This I can already tell is not going to be easy. I feel as though I must go all the way back to kindergarten to relearn what I have distorted. So often I have heard people warn others to be careful what they pray for, because they might just get it. I sense You changing me even as I sit here.

I confess fear to You right now. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of the mistakes I’ve already made and the long-term ramifications that I have refused to address because of them. Fear of a genuine Pandora’s box being opened and never able to be closed again.

I believe beyond all certainty that ‘You do not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ (2Timothy 1:7). I also know that I don’t even begin to utilize the power of Your love as I ought.

Father, how I ask You to look past my ramblings, deep into the heart of all You want of and for me. My own refusal and resistance to submit to Your call for me to love borders on plain disobedience.

There have been occasions where I have felt led, followed unswervingly and come out sure of having done the right thing. This is not one of those times. There are too many variables. Too much left to chance. Too much potential of making a bigger mess out of things than ever before.

This I am going to leave with You Blessed Father. I am truly willing to go where You lead. I just need to know that it is You doing the leading. If there are truly amends I need to make to people, I am asking that You would provide exactly the circumstances You know are necessary.

1John 3:18 is hammering me in every version I’ve checked so far this morning. The Living Bible, “Little children, let us stop saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.”

The Cotton Patch Gospel, “My little ones, let’s not talk about love. Let’s not sing about love. Let’s put love into action and make it real.” And then there’s The Message (vs. 18-20) where I began this search.

“[When We Practice Real Love] My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more than we do ourselves.”

None of this would be complete without Kenny Loggins singing his chorus concerning divorce in my head. ♫I did it for you, and the boys, Because love should teach you joy, And not the imitation, That your mama and daddy tried to show you. I did it for you and for me, And because I still believe, There’s only one thing, That you can never give up, Never compromise on, And that’s the real thing you need in love♫

I want to love as YOU would have me love, Most Loving Father. Teach and enable to practice Your REAL love. I pray this in Your Son Jesus’ most holy name. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(640 words ~ 9:13 a.m.)

indifference

Saturday, March 3, 2012 (7:46 a.m.)

Most Amazing and Holy God,

Thank You that You are so good. Thank You that I can think and think and think some more, when in reality You’d much rather have me thank and thank and thank YOU. Help me do exactly that Most Loving God.

Thank You that You love me. As I awoke earlier thinking of feelings of indifference, I confess to being double minded this morning.

On the one hand, I continue coming back to thinking of the many things toward which I feel completely indifferent. On the other, I keep trying to manufacture the faith, hope and love with which to battle this indifference. It’s not working. I have yet to be able to think myself into caring.

Forgive me Father. For the longest time I have honestly believed that I wasn’t hurting anybody [except maybe myself L] by not caring about this, that or someone else. Not true.

With all the thoughts I’ve thought and songs I’ve sung [♫Yes, Jesus Loves Me♫ and ♫Jesus Loves Even Me♫] so far this morning, I have yet to be able to break free of my indifference. It seems to be holding me hostage.

Your Word tells me in Revelation 3:19, that You ‘continually discipline and punish everyone You love; so You must punish me unless I turn from my indifference and become enthusiastic about the things of God.’

Most Incredibly Loving Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I truly feel frozen in a state of not caring. It’s not on purpose. I didn’t set out to end up here. It was all so unthinkably subtle.

I started out not caring about one person, place or thing that inevitably led to another. And then to another. Before I knew it, the pattern had firmly established itself. Most Dear and Precious Father God, I desperately need Your help.

The other day Dearest Lord Jesus, I could NOT relax my left arm. There was no pain involved. It all stemmed from fear. The idea that it was sure to hurt kept me from being able to just give in to the attempted movement of it. That deeply internal guard I have put up to protect myself from perceived pain has truly frozen many things about me.

I feel trapped Blessed Three-In-One. I realize You are my only way out. Your will. Your way!

Turning to Mark 12:29-31 I review Your command that we are to “‘Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love Him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.’ The second [of the most important commandments] is: ‘You must love others as much as yourself.’ No other commandments are greater than these.”

Here I fully confess to You that I have truly been “going through the motions”, “acting as if”, wanting desperately to feel something I don’t. Forgive me I pray.

Reading the comment at the bottom of The Life Recovery Bible page, it says that like the Sadducees, our “book learning, even Scripture memory is not enough to keep us from sin or help us recover from our dependencies. We must know the living God personally and accept the help He offers as our Higher Power.”

Dearest, Most Blessed Father God, how I ask You to free me from this indifference. Help me care. Especially for all those people, places and things that I have both purposefully and unconsciously been pushing aside.

I love You Father. I love You Jesus. I love You Holy Spirit. I need You to each work in me that I would truly come to love others as myself. Perhaps that’s where I could begin? Please help me love myself. Enough to truly care again. Please. Thank You. Amen.

(634 words ~ 9:24 a.m.)

♫Song in My Heart♫

Friday, March 2, 2012 (7:30 a.m.)

Incredibly Awesome Father God,

Thank You! I wasn’t even fully awake when I realized there was a song in my head.

(8:11 a.m.)

And for over a half hour I’ve been unsuccessfully searching for the song we sing in church ♫Song in My Heart♫ What’s up with this Dad? I thought for sure it was going to be such an easy find. A real ‘no-brainer’ if You will. NOT!

Thank You Father for reminding me that things aren’t always going to be what they appear. If there is one thing I’m learning from this walk with You, it’s the fact that YOU are in charge and I need to not get ahead of myself.

So whether I’m singing songs of rejoicing or finding strength in You, it’s all about You, Jesus. And see? Even that is another song!

So rather than spend a whole lot more time searching and not finding the lyrics I’m scrambling together in my mind, I’m going to go instead with the words of Psalm 100 from The Message.

“A Thanksgiving Psalm On your feet now – applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence. Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD. He made us; we didn’t make Him. We’re His people, His well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: ‘Thank You!’ Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him.”

Mm. Yes! Thank You! Worship You. Praise You. Just like I was doing before even being fully awake.

Thank You Lord. I love You. Help me love You well this day. Amen.

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

synonymous

Thursday, March 1, 2012 (7:12 a.m.)

Awesome Father,

Glad. Happy. Joy. Laughter. These are just a few of the words that have come to mind so far this morning. Thank You.

I thought I was going to have to think long and hard before being able to be glad. Not so. I am glad in You.

Goodsearching “be glad in Christ” brought me a treasure trove of delight. Oh look. Another synonym of what I am to be.

Blessed Father God, in looking around and reading in Your Word the confirmations keep coming. While I don’t necessarily always feel glad, truly I am.

Today [as always J] I am blessed by the studying of Your Word. Reading Psalm 32 in various translations, I find the same sentiment expressed in a number of ways. And in doing this, I find myself pleased.

There are so many different ways to express the same truth. The Bible Handbook describes Psalm 32 as, “Confession of sin, and God’s subsequent forgiveness, brings joy.” Work in me in this department I pray. I confess right now that I’m never quite sure what all needs to be confessed. Not only to You, but to others as well.

Father God, I love You. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to spend time with You. I truly desire to be the woman You created me to be. One who is truly glad in You (v.11).

Blessed. Happy. Fortunate. Joyful. Each word synonymous with what You command of us.

From the first verse of Psalm 32 to the last, it is spelled out what we are to do and to be. “How happy he is whose wrong-doing is forgiven, and whose sin is covered!” “Be glad in the Lord and be full of joy, you who are right with God! Sing for joy all you who are pure in heart!”

Blessed Jesus, only You can make my heart pure. Only You can forgive my wrong-doings and cover my sins. Point them out to me that I would confess them to You and be forgiven. You are so good and I am so eager to be blessed. Happy. Fortunate. Joyful. Glad. Yes. Glad in You and full of joy.

Thank You for Your grace, love and dedication to each of us. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(390 words ~ 8:31 a.m.)