good choices

Monday, September 30, 2013 (6:41 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

I am asking You to keep me focused here with You for longer than just a minute. You know my heart. My soul. My mind. My strength. You know every single thought and distraction that comes my way. I long to use them all to Your good and Your glory.

Hours upon hours have been wasted by me recently. I haven't made good use of the time You have so generously provided me. Help me make good choices Father.

Good choices. Better use of time. I'm looking to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking. Hoping. Praying. Wanting. Confessing → fear. And hiding. Yes hiding.

And with that I'm singing ♫You Are My Hiding Place♫ and reading Psalm 32:7. And then verse 11. And now there are tears. Because I just don't know what to do Blessed God.

You are good. You are holy. I am not. I doubt. I wonder. I fall short of Your glory (Romans 3:23) just like everyone else. But I'm hard on myself about it. Thank You Father that I have Your Word to read and to trust.

Thank You that You so love each and every one of us (John 3:16). I confess to You most Blessed Father, I don't understand a lot of things. And I am grieved and deeply sadden by many of life's circumstances. Through the years I have hoped, prayed, begged, pleaded for various situations to be different than they are.

You know best. I believe that. Yet so often I hang my head, saddened by the sadness of others. Teach me to truly rejoice Dearest Father. Provide all I need to make good choices this day. Help me choose faith over fear. Love over indifference. Acceptance over expectations. And risk over self preservation.

Father, empower and embolden me to speak up for You this day. Do in and with and through and for me all that is necessary to make the good choices that would lead others straight to the foot of Jesus' cross. Fuel me to share Your Word honestly, openly and willingly this day.

Left to myself I will continue shrinking back and hiding in fear of the what ifs, what abouts and other unknowns. I love You Father. I ask that be made obvious through good choices I will make.

Thank You for Your time. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your plan. Help me use them well in making good choices. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(417 words ~ 8:16 a.m.)

♫ One thing remains ♫

Sunday, September 29, 2013 (7:23 a.m.)

Don't know how to start. Want to be honest. Want to love You. Praise You. Worship and adore You.

Father God,

Yes. That's it. Always. Father God. Things change. People change. Seasons change. You never change. Thank You.

Father, thank You that I get to come before You feeling less than. Unworthy.

And I get to be reminded through song and Scripture that ♫Your love never fails It never gives up It never runs out on me♫ (1Corinthians 13:7, 8a).

May I just say, “Wow!” And thank You! Thank You for reenforcing Your Truth in a myriad of ways this morning. Looking. Searching. Reading. Remembering. Refocusing. Father God, thank You.

unsettled

Saturday, September 28, 2013 (8:25 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

Guide me today Dearest Dad. I'm already feeling

(1:03 p.m.)

And that's as far as I got with that thought.

I looked up: whelmed. Then, overwhelmed. Made a two hour phone call and came back here still wondering what is a word to describe these feelings I'm experiencing. Wobbly. Indecisive. Unsettled.

1Thessalonians 3:3, 2Thessalonians 2:2

privilege

Friday, September 27, 2013 (8:11 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You! You guided me through an indecision I just had. I was stalled. Couldn't make up my mind. I started. Stopped. Thought. Wondered. And finally just came right out and asked a friend what was her preference.

Thank You Father. Thank You for the easy access of immediate communication with others. Thank You Father for the immediacy of modern day technology. I confess, I don't always use it well. There are so many directions I can go at once. Keep me here Father. With You.

What an honor. A privilege. Mm. Yes. A privilege.

Father, thank You for the privilege of taking even this word back into Your Word. Thank You for the unexpected direction it leads me.

Where? 2 Corinthians 8:4. A Call to Generous Giving, Giving Encouraged, Generosity Encouraged. Father, I want so much to experience the privilege of truly being a generous giver. And isn't it exciting for me that this was exactly what I was asking of the friend mentioned above.

Work in and through me Dearest Father to accomplish Your call to “the privilege of contributing to the needs of other brothers” (Illustrated Bible Handbook). Yes, Father. Privilege. Use me well in giving generously. I love You. I want to represent You well. Lead me. Guide and direct me to this end.

I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(234 words ~ 9:14 a.m.)

instead

Thursday, September 26, 2013 (6:06 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Good morning. It looks like it might turn pretty outside. I'm inside instead. Nope. Scratch that. I went out to take a better look.

So this would be exactly what I long to talk with You about this morning. The decisions I make. Too often I think I know what I want. I work towards getting what it is I think I want, only to find that it's not necessarily the case.

(6:32 a.m.)

It's cold and cloudy and gray out there. Yet I kept going out to get a better look. Much more than a gentle breeze kicks up reminding me of the high wind advisory we had yesterday. All this talk about the weather and I wonder, where would You most like me to explore in Your Word this day?

(6:59 a.m.)

My attention span isn't holding. There was color in the sky so I went out for a better look. Father, what do You want for me to pay close attention to today?

(7:42 a.m.)

The word for the day appears to be 'instead'. You have allowed me to follow it to eight different scriptures. Each using it in comparison to something else: “trouble instead of help” (2Chronicles 28:20), “instruction instead of silver” (Proverbs 8:10)...

It's Isaiah 61 that has taken me deeper and deeper into Your Word. I've followed it over to Jesus speaking in Luke (4:16-30). And to A Call to Spiritual Growth (Hebrews 5:12-6:12). Father God, there is so much to learn. So very much to practice. And all to Your ultimate goodness and glory.

“To all who mourn in Israel He [You, Father] will give: beauty for ashes; joy instead mourning; praise instead of heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for His own glory” (Isaiah 6:3). There's mention of rebuilding and repair. Revival and riches. “Instead of shame and dishonor, you shall have a double portion of prosperity and everlasting joy” (v.7).

Father, it is to You I look this morning. The sky was beautiful in many different ways. But the view is constantly changing. Your Word never fails to provide Truth. Hope. Thank You that when I feel distracted, even disappointed in my own lack of good decision making skills, I get to come before You exactly as I am.

Thank You Father that I truly prefer focusing on You instead of my own faults and failings. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the Holy Spirit. Use them in guiding me toward better decision making this day. I love You so very much. And I am extremely grateful for this time together. Empower and embolden me to use it well this day. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(462 words ~ 8:28 a.m.)

"I love You"

Saturday, September 21, 2013 (7:27 a.m.)

Most Holy Father God,

I love You.

You brought us all safely home from another trip. You blessed us with family and fun, laughter and rest. Much planning and anticipation went into the making of the trip. Now what? It's almost autumn. The weather is changing. And I find myself once again at loose ends.

Yesterday I had planned to come talk with You about how easily I make similar observations as others, yet come up with such different conclusions. What direction do we take this morning Dearest Lord? Loose ends? Observations and conclusions? Lead me, Father. Guide me.

Let's go back to “I love You”. When my thoughts take me too far away from You, I get so easily distracted.

snippet

Wednesday, September 25, 2013 (6:32 a.m.)

Holy Father,

Here I am. Trying again. I've been starting and stopping here with You all week. Thank You for another opportunity to come into Your presence.

Thank You for Your Word in which to find Your Truth. Thank You for the word 'snippet' that popped into my head just before getting out of bed. I had been thinking of how short our times together in the morning had been this past week.

I was considering the starts and stops of praying I have been doing lately. Bringing the word 'snippet' to Your Word, I read Jesus use it to the Pharisees. He was referencing a “snippet of Scripture” (The Voice Matthew 12:7) recorded in Hosea.

Following the reference in The Life Recovery Bible, I read Hosea 6:6. “I don't want your sacrifices – I want your love; I don't want your offerings – I want you to know me.” Truly Father, that is exactly why I come before You in the mornings. Because I love You and I want to know You better.

Thank You Father. Reading the comment at the bottom of the page, I am again reminded, “The way we treat people gives us a good idea of how committed we are to God.” It isn't the religious worship activities You are most concerned with, it's our hearts.

“Acting kindly toward others and forgiving those who have hurt us not only proves that we are growing spiritually; it also helps us grow even more.”

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus to teach us first hand the importance of Your loving forgiveness. Thank You for using whatever snippets of time I have to devote only to You in reminding me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love others as myself (Mark 12:30-31).

You are so very good. So generous. Merciful. Kind. Taking a cue from the Disney song that just popped into my head, ♫I wanna be like You-ou-ou♫ Thank You Father. Thank You for giving me the desire to want to be like You!

Use me and that desire well this day. Empower and embolden me to share what time, talent and treasure I have on Your behalf. A snippet here. A snippet there. Make them count for You. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(394 words ~ 7:29 a.m.)

'somebody else'

Tuesday, September 24, 2013 (6:40 a.m.)

Awesome, Awesome God,

Yesterday You let me wake up with the word “altruism”. To the best of my understanding, it refers to caring more about others than ourselves. The Italian root altrui means 'somebody else'. That's something I'd like to practice doing better.

Reading in Your Word, Philippians 2 has my attention right now.

Giving Up Control

Sunday, September 22, 2013 (8:04 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. I love You. I said that to You yesterday and was aware of love in the most interesting places. Most often in other people's writings. One in particular stood out. “Love sees with the heart, transforming the plain and simple into something indescribably beautiful” (A Fruitful Life). I found myself especially mindful of looking for You in the simplest situations. Thank You Father.

This morning I'm aware of the change into another season. Yesterday we bid adieu to summer and today we greet autumn. Thank You Father for change. I'm not going to pretend that it's ever easy for me. It is not. However... having You lead the change is way more than doable. Once in awhile it's downright exciting.

(9:04 a.m.)

That having been said, here I sit. Smiling. A big, honest grin. Why?

Giving Up Control (BIBLE READING: Jeremiah 18:1-6). I came here following words 

ideal

Thursday, September 19, 2013 (9:04 a.m.)

Las Vegas, NV

Holy Father God,

Thank You! I am so glad to practice saying, “You were right” to another. ESPECIALLY after having become so quickly miffed over such a simple thing.

We experimented with where it was best for a cold catching toddler to spend his night. My plan was not readily embraced. After working really hard to fend off the stubborn bitterness that usually accompanies not getting my way, I truly rejoiced at hearing myself think, “I'm so glad he was right!”

Blessed Father God, it is YOU that enables this change of behavior on my part. YOU who allows me to accept circumstances for what they are. Many times less than ideal.

(3:31 p.m.)

How thrilled and excited I am Dearest Father to read the following words in The Voice as they describe a section from Song of Solomon (8:1-3). Regarding the depiction of the marriage relationship read here “Song of Songs gives a glimpse of what marriage might have looked like prior to the first sin in Eden. God designed the relationship between husband and wife to be one of love, passion, and pleasure. This should be the ideal all couples strive for in their marriages as they work together to avoid sin in their lives.”

You provided that opportunity (to avoid sin in my life) last night when instead of holding on to a grudge, I released it, honored my husband's decision and got a fairly decent good night's sleep.

Thank You for working so faithfully in and through us Dearest Father. Keep up Your perfectly ideal, very good work on our behalf. We love You so very much and are eternally grateful for Your gracious goodness. Empower us to use it well. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(306 words ~ 5:37 p.m.)

family

Wednesday, September 18, 2013 (7:14 a.m.)

Glorious Awesome Righteous God,

Today we are taking a trip. A family trip. A family trip filled with variables and maybes and mights and coulds and I'm asking you to lead and guide us every step of the way.

There's been excitement and planning and fun purchases in preparation for this quick family getaway. Family. Now there's a word we could explore for days on end. And Your Word has MUCH to say about it. Guide me this morning Dearest Father, in the direction YOU would have me go with this.

You blessed me again yesterday by providing words with which to express a sadness deep within myself. And also to ask for something I was sure I wanted. Rearranging time commitments led to a sincere satisfaction at the end of the day. Thank You Father.

It often seems strange to bring to You what I prejudge as piddling little things. Yet it's when I do that I experience the greatest joys and freedoms. Here again is my reasoning for bringing this upcoming family trip before You at this time.

Truly Father, I am asking You to not only come along with us; but go before, beside, beneath and above us. Encircle, encompass, enclose us with Your love. Your love which “is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude” (1Corinthians 13:4).

Your love which “does not demand its own way... is not irritable or touchy... does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong” (v.5).

That perfect love of Yours that “is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out” (6). That love which causes us to 'be loyal to someone no matter the cost... always believing in him, always expecting the best of him and always standing our ground in defending him' (7).

Father, YOU know what You had in mind when You created that very first family. They fell very short of Your ideal. Work in and through, by and for us this trip. Refining and redefining us into everything You would have us be.

Let us come to love, accept, encourage and believe in one another to the point that we really, truly represent You well in not only our dealings with one another but with others along the way.

We love You Father. And we asking Your protective, nurturing and nourishing blessings be upon us as we go out and come back.

We love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(429 words ~ 8:34 a.m.)

♫ Mr. Sunshine ♫

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 (6:49 a.m.)

Good Morning Blessed Father,

The actual song I came singing down the hallway called You Mister Sunshine. Looking up the lyrics, they at first seem rather banal. As the melody continues haunting me I tweak the words just enough to fit.

♫Good morning Mister Sunshine, You brighten up my day. Come sit beside me as I pray. I seek You every morning Outside my selfish thoughts Your music makes me nonchalant♫

Father, how I thank You for gripping me right off the bat this morning. The sky itself seemed quite ordinary so I sat steeped in Your Word instead. What an unexpected blessing!

Following the word 'sunshine' to Ecclesiastes 11:7-8 in The Message I sit here basking in the reminder of the Preacher/Teacher. I take to heart his observation of “Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine! Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted. Take delight in each light-filled hour, Remembering that there will also be many dark days And that most of what comes your way is smoke.”

Blessed Father God, this morning I say to You, “Hallelujah!” Many things fell into place yesterday after I took the time to be honest with You. Thank You Father. Thank You for leading and guiding us. Thank You for the strength and energy You provide.

I am asking for that energy again today. Empower me to the things You would have me put first this day. Enable me to use wisely Your 'sweet light of day'. Do in, through, with and for me all that must be done so I will 'enjoy the parts of life that make sense and entrust the rest to Your care' (The Life Recovery Bible).

Thank You Father for filling me this morning with a song that initially didn't make much sense to me. Thank You for reminding me of “the futility of seeking happiness and fulfillment apart from God” (Life Is to Be Enjoyed Responsibly - TLRB).

Even that Truth fits nicely with the adjusted lyrics to this morning's song. ♫Lonely days, lonely nights, where would I be without my Savior?♫

Thank You Father. Provide what is needed that I will do all You wish. I love You. Amen.

(386 words ~ 8:05 a.m.)

"so glad"

Sunday, September 15, 2013 (8:19 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

I love You. I am so glad to be loved by You.

Monday, September 16, 2013 (7:35 a.m.)

I sat a lot yesterday. And did very little. This morning I'm asking that I would be obedient to Your leading. Where do I go from here?

Experiment with opening my heart to You. I've been holding on to fear and deep concern for loved ones. It never serves me well. I see what I believe to be the writing on the wall for them and I pull back for fear of the aftermath. THAT is not trusting You!

Forgive me Father. I pray. I want to see the results I want to see. And when I don't, I falter. Give up. Stop caring. No. Scratch that. What I do is pretend. I pretend to be okay when I am not.

Father, You know my heart. You know the depths to which I feel the pain of others. I confess I don't know how to love as You would have me love. I love more as a character than as a reality. I admit. I want the 'happily ever after' without the pain and drama of real life.

Most Blessed Father God, I AM so glad to be loved by You! You ARE what is good and right in our lives. All the imbalance of life I seek to avoid in one way or another doesn't right itself through my pretense. Tear away this sham of avoidance with which I have attempted approaching You.

Hear my tearful/fearful heart as I cry out to You on behalf of the marriages, children and loneliness of loved ones. Truly Father, it breaks not only my heart, but my spirit as well when I consider all You have for each of us and we are desperately missing in our everyday lives.

Help us Father. Help us to not only know You to be a good and faithful God, but to believe and trust and live as though the lives You have for each of us is filled with Your love. Your perfect love that takes away fear (1John 4:18).

Work in each of us to live our moment to moment lives as though we really, truly ARE “so glad” to be loved by You! So glad to truly, “Say thank You to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind” (Psalm 107:1).

(8:48 a.m.)

I heard it, Father! I just said, “I'm so glad” in regards to events that took place yesterday.

I AM so glad! So glad to be honest with You. So glad to care so deeply about others. So glad to have Your Word in which to turn. So glad to have been led in The Message yesterday to Psalm 107:23-32.

So glad to have read of sailors setting sail in big ships (v. 23) and seeing You in action (24). You called to the wind and waves towered (25). Ships were tossed and sunk to the depths while the sailors cringed in terror (26).

The Message, speaking as though to the sailors themselves, “your hearts were stuck in your throats. You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk, you didn't know which end was up. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; He got you out in the nick of time. He quieted the wind down to a whisper, put a muzzle on all the big waves. And you were so glad when the storm died down, and He led you safely back to harbor.”

So often that is how I feel Blessed Lord. A roller coaster of emotions and then safely back to harbor. “So thank God for His marvelous love, for His miracle mercy to the children He loves. Lift high your praises when the people assemble, shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!” (Psalm 107:31-32)

Oh most blessed Father, make it so that I would truly come more regularly and automatically to that point of praise and thanksgiving. Thank You Father for Your marvelous love! Hallelujah for Your mercies!

Thank You for truly reminding me that ♫My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness♫ that ♫In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.♫

Thank You for turning my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength (Mark 12:30) back to Your profound love and mercy. Work in us Dearest Father. Continue chipping away at all the hardness that surrounds our essence, keeping us from truly being "so glad"!

I love You Father. I long to serve You well this day. Empower and enable me to love and be and think and do exactly as You would have me. It is in Your precious Son's name that I ask all this. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(857 words ~ 9:33 a.m.)  

"Be still and know"

 Saturday, September 14, 2013 (6:54 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You! You are good. Holy. Awesome. And I am TRULY thankful! You provide us with the hope we need to face every day.

As I sit here, seeking You, perhaps I need to take a moment and be still. Instead of trying to give words to all I am thinking and feeling, let me truly “be still and know” (Psalm 46:10a) that You are God.

(7:54 a.m.)

An entire hour later and I have yet to even tap the surface of all I want to say to You. There is thankfulness deep in my heart that wants to come out. Contentment. Joy so quiet it might never be discerned as such.

Father, You know my heart. My needs. My desires.

"reflect the glory of the Lord"

Friday, September 13, 2013 (8:36 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy, Loving God,

Thank You! You are good. You are kind. You are loving. Faithful. Generous. Such positive, encouraging descriptions of a positive, encouraging God.

How do I best reflect You this day?

(9:17 a.m.)

Here again, I must say that You amaze me! I ask a question. And You lead me right to an answer. A New Plan for Salvation (2Corinthians 3:7-18) in The Life Recovery Bible.

The Illustrated Bible Handbook describes this section as contrasting “the glory of the old and the new covenant.” It tells of Moses returning from Mount Sinai, his face shining with glory from his encounter with You. But that glory faded and he “hid his face with a veil to mask that deterioration from his people.”

Here's where the Truth of Your Word hits home in my life: “Paul says that Christians, 'not like Moses,' can remove the veils that hide us from other. We do so because we know that God's Spirit is at work within us” (IBH).

Your Word tells us that the veil is taken away “whenever anyone turns to the Lord from his sins” (2Cor. 3:16). “The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where He is there is freedom [from trying to be saved by keeping the laws of God]” (v. 17).

All this said to preface the answer to the question I originally asked of You, “How do I best reflect You this day?” Second Corinthians 3:18, “But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.”

The Life Recovery Bible comment tells me “the glory of the New Covenant is a transformation from the inside out. This glory shines through the lives of all who trust Jesus Christ and pursue true recovery in the power of the Holy Spirit. The further we progress in our relationship with God, the more visible God's glory becomes in our life.”

Continue Your work in me Dearest Father, making me more and more like You that I would truly become a mirror and “brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.” I love You Father. I thank You. Amen.

(385 words ~ 11:44 a.m.)

"at odds"

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 (8:44 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

It sure doesn't take much around here to put us at odds with one another.

“At odds”. An interesting phrase. One even mentioned in a few translations of Your Holy Word. “In conflict”.

Today's date reads 9/11/13. A rather interesting date to be “at odds”.

Father. Thank You that I get to come before You even [or is that especially?] when I am feeling “at odds”. And right there, a different description comes to mind. “Out of sorts”.

(10:00 a.m.)

How excited I am to find even these descriptions in Your Word.

Thursday, September 12, 2013 (6:15 a.m.)

Ah yes, Most Holy God,

Thank You that Your Word even addresses being out of sorts. The helpfulness for that yesterday was inviting people in to pray on our behalf. Cues had been misread. Surprised looks and uneven tones were interpreted as surly.

Thank You Father that in realizing we were out of sorts, we both admitted to doing things that were out of character for who You have us becoming. We confessed jumping to wrong conclusions, taking offenses, building walls, shutting down AND out!

Father, thank You that You have SUCH a better plan for us. A plan that includes love and joy. Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23a). Thank You that in Your perfect wisdom You knew we could never follow Your command to love others as ourselves (Mark 12:31) on our own.

Not only did You give us a complete list of what Your love truly is [as well as all it is not] (1Corinthians 13:4-7) You sent us the Holy Spirit (John 14:26) to teach us all things. Bless You Father. Praise You. Thank You.

You intervened on our behalf yesterday. You stopped our insanity in its tracks. Thank You!

It is to You I turn this day. Asking that You would bless me with the energy, direction and commitment to getting done whatever it is You have for me to do this day. I love You and I long to serve You well. Empower and enable me to do precisely that. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(361 words ~ 7:10 a.m.)

rejoicing

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 (6:01 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

I come to You rejoicing. The song that came immediately to mind upon awakening was a word spoken by a two year old yesterday. He pointed at the word spelled out on a card and remembered someone having read it to him before. “Rejoice!”

♫Rejoice! Rejoice! And again I say, “Rejoice!”♫ Your Word commands us to “Rejoice” and this morning in particular I take Your direction deeply, sincerely to heart.

Father God, sometimes rejoicing is harder than other. A thesaurus lists it as a verb meaning: “be joyful, be happy, be pleased, be glad, be delighted...” The antonym shown is 'mourn'. I can't help but think that much of America is mourning again this date in history.

How I ask You most blessed Father, teach us to rejoice in You always! Paul wrote to the Ephesians (5:20) and Thessalonians (1Th5:18) telling them to 'always give thanks for everything' and 'no matter what happens, always be thankful'. That can be an especially tall order, Dearest Dad.

It is the power and strength of You, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit which I turn Dearest God. Your Word reminds us whence our courage comes. The Life Recovery Bible tells us, in commenting on 1Peter 4:12-13, that “we should not only expect to experience trials, but we should rejoice in them.”

“Dear friends, don't be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you. Instead, be really glad [rejoice!] - because these trials will make you partners with Christ in suffering, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory in that coming day when it will be displayed.”

Thank You for this reminder of being “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2Corinthians 6:10a). The Living Bible says it this way, “Our hearts ache, but at the same time we have the joy of the Lord.”

Blessed Father God, thank You for bringing me to You rejoicing this morning. Remind me of the joy we have in You throughout this day. Empower and enable me to share it with others freely and without hesitation. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

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

tarrying

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 (7:49 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Guide me today. Here in our time together. With the people, places and things I encounter. I have things to do and choices to make. Much like any other day. Except this time I'm asking for Your guidance in advance.

Father, I love You. I want to please You. To make You glad that I'm Your kid. I believe the only way to do any of this is by being with You. Thank You Father that no sooner was I completing that thought and I was turning in the hymnal.

Under the heading WALKING WITH GOD I am excited to sing ♫I come to the garden alone...♫ Blessed Father, what a gift it is to truly believe that Your Son ♫walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known♫

Thank You that there is true joy to be found in tarrying with You. Yes Father, let me tarry with You this day! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

ANTS!

Monday, September 9, 2013 (6:53 a.m.)

Absolute, Amazing Father God,

Never before now had I thought to bring to you a problem that has plagued us all summer long. ANTS! Everywhere we look. Unexpected. Out of control. It doesn't seem like the biggest problem in the world, yet they are exasperating.

We've tried ignoring them. Spraying them. Talking to other people and taking non-too-committed actions against them. Finally I bring the problem to You Dearest Lord.

Sad isn't it? Instead of coming to You first with everything, we exhaust our efforts before coming to our senses and bringing every single situation to You.

Your Word even mentions ants. In a positive light. As an example of hard workers. One of the four things Proverbs 30: 24-28 lists as being “small but unusually wise”. The Voice puts verse 25 thusly, “While ants are hardly a strong species, they work constantly to store up food during the summer”.

I confess to You Father, I don't know the first thing to do to stop them. Following one track of them only led to finding numerous more. The early morning outing to watch the colors of Your glorious sky unfold was completely interrupted by discovering more of what I didn't know was out there.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Father God, there are SO many things I don't understand. Things I don't address. Things I forget to bring to You immediately. Thank You Father. Thank You that I get to bring every single issue of my life to You. Even ants.

Thank You for loving me Father. Thank You for leading and guiding me. I ask You to chart and direct my course this day. Empower and enable me to walk where and as You wish. Make me an excellent ambassador for You. A good and faithful servant.

I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

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

perfectly safe

Saturday, September 7, 2013 (7:24 a.m.)

Loving, Protective Father God,

THANK YOU!

You protected us yesterday. On a busy freeway. The husband knew exactly what to do when the clutch pedal stuck to the floor. And he did it perfectly.

All the while I prayed Your protection over us. You kept us safe Father. Perfectly.

Sunday, September 8, 2013 (6:57 a.m.)

For two days I've been singing praises for the man who acted quickly and accurately. Father, forgive me for not announcing to all how YOU kept us perfectly safe.

The moment I knew something was wrong with our travel, I started praying. At first it was only Your name. “Father.” Dear Father. God. Oh God. Dear God. Then I became more precise. Asking for travel mercies. Your hedge of protection to surround us.

Father, thank You. I was afraid. And in the midst of the fear I called upon Your holy name. No verses came readily to mind at the time, but I knew You were with us. Not remembering them then, verses two and four of Psalm 91 sum up quite perfectly Your presence with us:

“Say this: 'God, You're my refuge. I trust in You and I'm safe!'... His outstretched arms protect you – under them you're perfectly safe; His arms fend off all harm.”

I didn't use those exact words. Romans 8:26 (The Voice) is an excellent example of Your Truth for us that day. “A similar thing ['waiting expectantly for things we have never seen, hoping with true perseverance and eager anticipation' (v.25)] happens when we pray. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for words.”

Father, thank You! Thank You for Your protection. Your perfect protection presented to me by a two year old just moments ago. Reading to him the verse accompanying the cross and angel on the door of the room in which he sleeps. “The Lord will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Psalm 91:11).

You kept us perfectly safe. And I am absolutely grateful. Empower and enable me to use Your perfection to Your good and Your glory this day. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(383 words ~ 8:43 a.m.)

from the mess to The Message

Friday, September 6, 2013 (5:56 a.m.)

Most Blessed Father God,

I come to You this morning with many pleas. I made a mess yesterday. Not just any mess. A giant, great big, takes-up-every-room-of-the-house-plus-the-garage kind of mess.

So here I am with many pleas. And now tears to boot! Feeling like a failure 'cause I can't even manage a household. The Proverbs 31 woman I am not!

(6:28 a.m.)

Thank You Father!

With the beauty of the sky and a hug from the husband, You changed not only my tune but my focus as well. My thoughts went from the mess back to The Message. Your Message of love and forgiveness.

Now the tears aren't falling outwardly. They are deep inside cleansing every doubt, fear and negative judgment I have placed on myself. Okay, now they're forming and falling again from my eyes as well.

Father, I make messes. I don't mean to. I like to think of myself as structured. Orderly. Disciplined. Thank You that YOU are Truth! I get to come to You ♫just as I am♫ sometimes with many pleas and You change them back to being about You.

You remind us of ♫What A Friend We Have In Jesus♫ and then the beauty of Your early morning sky has me singing aloud ♫Let There Be Glory and Honor and Praises♫. Father, thank You for allowing me to be so honest with You.

Thank You for doing in me that which I could not do myself. You changed my attitude from focusing on the mess I had made back to The Message of Your Son's great love for each of us.

♫Let there be glory and honor and praises. Glory and honor to Jesus. Glory and honor, glory and honor to Him♫

From the hymnal to Your Word, I get to read Psalm 29. “Here is a psalm of pure praise, exalting in God's power over nature.” (Illustrated Bible Handbook). I read the entire psalm and envision the pictures it paints. But it's verse 11 that buoys me most, “He will give His people strength. He will bless them with peace.”

Verse 10 speaks of the control You have over all creation. And The Life Recovery Bible comment reminds that “even though His power is greater than any words can describe, He knows and loves each of us. As we realize how powerless we are over the problems we face [in this particular case, read: 'the messes I make'] the truth ['The Message'] about God's power, along with His personal concern for us, should make us more confident and willing to turn our life and our will over to Him. He is the only One able and willing to help us.”

Father God, this reminds me of the Bible verse (Zechariah 4:6) and the chorus of the song I was singing in the midst of the mess yesterday. ♫It's not by might, nor by power, But by my Spirit... Saith the Lord♫ I trust Your Truth Blessed Father. I trust Your power. I trust Your Word.

Here again I turn to another comment (Zechariah 4:6-14) in The Life Recovery Bible. “We often become discouraged as we face the massive task of our own recovery, especially when we experience regular opposition from people, emotions and temptations. But when we recognize our own powerlessness, we are able to allow God to step in. His power is more than sufficient for the task of our recovery.”

It's YOUR power on which I must rely. YOUR power which has taken me from this mess to Your Message. Your power which reminds me of the Truth of verse 10a, “Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the Lord rejoice to see the work begin”. Let Your eyes rejoice with my efforts this day Dearest Father.

Work in and through, with and for me this day Dearest Dad. These are absolutely decisions I cannot make for myself. I trust that not only can You do this, but You will!

Thank You for taking me from the mess to The Message. Empower and enable me to use Your glory well this day. I love You, Dearest Father. ♫Let there be glory and honor and praise...♫ Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(706 words ~ 7:35 a.m.) 

"they sang"

Thursday, September 5, 2013 (6:21 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Good morning. Hello. Greetings. Hi.

Where the heck am I even going with this this morning? Maybe just clearing my head. Wanting truly to come to You with thanksgiving and praise. Yes Father. Show me this morning how to be

(7:16 a.m.)

The word I was looking for was “authentic”.

Yes Father. Hallelujah! I want to be authentic. With You. With others. With myself.

I didn't want to come to You with a pre-ordered list of phrases meant to stir You into action on my behalf. I want always to be 'real' with You. Authentic. Genuine.

Thank You for this privilege. Thank You for allowing me to struggle with praise. Thank You for reminding me always to turn to You. Even if that means getting up and doing something different. [In this particular case, a load of laundry and some much needed floor sweeping]

With help from a hymn I do not know and in the midst of helpful distraction, I came back to a point of praise. Thanksgiving.

♫In Thanksgiving, Let Us Praise Him ~ From the first bright light of morning To the last warm glow of dusk; Every breath we take is sacred, For it is God's gift to us. In thanksgiving, let us praise Him; In thanksgiving, let us sing Songs of praise and adoration To our gracious Lord and King.♫

Too often I forget Dearest Father. I get up and try to manufacture praise and thanksgiving. I attempt to follow some formulaic set of principles, only to fall short.

It is ♫In the season of our plenty, In the season of our need; We will find His grace sufficient, We will find His love complete. In thanksgiving, let us praise Him... Safe within His hand that guides us, Hidden in His healing wings; Day by day His love provides us Every good and perfect thing.♫

This is NOT something that comes just from quoting and reciting. I must believe. Embrace. Search. Seek. Find. Follow. You.

Mm, yes. Find and follow You! Thank You Father.

Thank You for the heartfelt [authentic] desire to follow You. Right into Your Word. The book of Ezra recorded how Your people rebuilt their lives and nation [as well as Your Temple] upon their return from exile in Babylon.

After building an altar for sacrifices (Ezra 3:3), the work of rebuilding Your Temple began (v.8). Upon laying the foundation (10) the priests and Levites “took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel.

“With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: 'He is good; His love to Israel endures forever.' And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid” (v.11).

(10:39 a.m.)

Most Blessed and Holy Father God, You continue building on the foundation You laid in my heart. Too often I run on ahead of Your plans, constructing destructive idol worships of my own. How I ask You to slow me down to Your stride, that I would sing of Your goodness and Your enduring love forever.

I love You Father. And I thank You. Amen.

(532 words ~ 2:35 a.m.)

"hope does not disappoint us"

Tuesday, September 3, 2013 (6:06 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

I'm outside. Waiting. Anticipating. Expecting. The sky has every element it needs for greatness. Clouds. Clarity. And just a hint of color.

(6:12 a.m.)

Yep! Here it comes. Beautiful! Spectacular. Everything for which I had hoped. Thank You Father.

(6:22 a.m.)

And JUST when I thought it was over, with nothing left to see, “WOW!”

Where did THAT come from? Intensity! Brightness. Crispness to the east. Soft, muted swirls to the south. Far less color. Equally beautiful in its own right.

What a gift Father! Such an opportunity to keep looking just when I thought I'd seen it all. Thank You for calling me to this. You do NOT disappoint!

(6:49 a.m.)

Now there is definitely a thought! YOU do not disappoint!

People, circumstances, situations may or may not disappoint us. You don't!

(7:48 a.m.)

Almost an hour later and I'm still trying to put this together.

Father, what nuggets of Truth do You have for me this morning? In reading Romans 5:5 in Your Word I am reminded that “hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

A health tip I read the other morning is a quote by Jim Roth. “The walls we build around us to keep out the sadness also keep out the joy.” I confess to often having built those same walls to keep out disappointment.

Thank You for again reminding me that it is in YOU that we have hope. Hope that does not disappoint us!

Empower and enable me to use Your hope well this day. I love You. I long to be Your good and faithful servant. Thank You, Father. I love You. Amen.

(295 words ~ 8:09 a.m.)

envelop

Labor Day Monday, September 2, 2013 (7:32 a.m.)

Amazing God and Father,

Thank You for the love with which You envelop us. Love which takes us from one set of circumstances straight into another.

Wow! May I just say, I didn't see this coming at all!

I honestly thought I was coming out here to talk with You about the phrase that ran through my mind much of the night. A phrase I'm not that familiar with. One I had to look up just to make sure I had it right. “Tempest in a teapot”. Maybe we're going to save that for another day?

So... back to being enveloped by Your love.

(8:41 a.m.)

Searching Your Word, I haven't found a verse where Your love envelops us. Instead, in The Voice, I read of a cloud that enveloped the Tabernacle and Your glory that filled it (Exodus 40:35).

Psalm 32:7 is mentioned with You as David's hiding place, keeping him out of trouble, enveloping him with songs that reminded him that he was free.

Isaiah (50:10) encouraged those who were listening to acknowledge You, “the Eternal One as God”. Taking seriously the Truth that “If you are enveloped in darkness with no light to see, take confidence in the name of the Eternal One; rely on your God.”

Even Obadiah had cause to mention the word envelop. In this instance (1:10) it was in reference to the shame that followed Edom's violent history with Judah.

Matthew (17:5) and Luke (9:34) both tell of the bright cloud that enveloped Jesus, Moses and Elijah as Peter, James and John looked on while “Voice from the Cloud: This is My beloved Son. With Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”

John 1:14 tells of Jesus, The Voice, taking on flesh, becoming human and choosing to live alongside mankind. John reiterates having seen Him, “enveloped in undeniable splendor – the one true Son of the Father – evidenced in the perfect balance of grace and truth.”

In 1Corinthians 10, Paul reminded his listeners of their ancestors having been “once safeguarded under a miraculous cloud in the wilderness and brought safely through the sea” (v.1). “Enveloped in water by cloud and sea, they were, you might say, ritually cleansed into Moses through baptism” (v.2).

While all of these verses are well and good, it is Paul's words to Your believers of Colossae to which I cling most strongly. Colossians 1:2, “to you, dear holy and faithful brothers and sisters in the family of the Anointed who live in Colossae. May grace and peace from God our Father [and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One] envelop you.”

Yes, Father. If I can't find a verse substantiating Your love enveloping me, I will hold tightly to Your grace and peace.

Thank You for so much time together with You this morning. Empower and enable me to use it well this day. I love You and I long to serve You. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(501 words ~ 10:01 a.m.)

"ascribe to the Lord"

Sunday, September 1, 2013 (6:30 a.m.)

♫Thank You, Lord...♫

I've been singing that for quite some time already this morning. Then I remembered it to have been a line from ♫Mighty To Save♫ which we sang in church last night.

Twenty minutes spent out in the front yard watching the clouds in the sky change from one color to another also yielded two “Oh, Jesus!”s and a refrain from ♫Majesty♫. Also sung last night.

Now I'm back to thanking You Lord. And just like that [snap] back again to singing ♫Majesty♫. Father, You are amazing. And I am truly thankful.

Reading in 1Chronicles 16 (David Sings Praises to God) I am again blown away by all I find. I came here because of verse 27. “Majesty and honor march before Him. Strength and gladness walk beside Him.” Verse 23 is why I stayed. “Sing to the Lord, O earth, Declare each day that He is the one who saves!” Yet it is verse 29 that has me most excited.

I slowed my reading in verse 28. “O people of all nations of the earth, Ascribe great strength and glory to His name!” Then came the piece de resistance. Verse 29; listed here in various translations:

“Yes, ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name! Bring an offering and come before Him; Worship the Lord when clothed with holiness!” (TLB)

“Give to the LORD...” (CEB)

“He is wonderful! Praise Him...” (CEV)

“Shout Bravo! to GOD...” (MSG)

“Credit Him with the glory worthy of His magnificent name; gather your sacrifice and present it before Him. Bow down to the Eternal, adorned in holiness.” (VOICE)

Blessed Father, how I thank You for the various ways the same thing can be said. Each offering its own flavor to the same Truth. Ascribe. Give. Credit. Shout Bravo!

Yes. Bravo, God! What a glorious, majestic, awesome morning You have provided thus far. Empower and enable me to use it to Your good; “ascribing to You the glory due Your name.”

I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

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