wait / trust / hope

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 (6:51 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You. I get to read. And sing. And hope. Thank You.

Thank You God that I get to breathe deeply and rest in Your Word. Thank You that You are good. Thank You that You never change.

Thank You that I speak of Your Truth and music fills my soul. ♫You stay the same through the ages Your love never changes... Your love never fails♫

Thank You Father that we have such ready access to finding songs when they sing to us. Your Truth when it speaks to us. Thank You that Your Word is full of living power (Hebrews 4:12).

This morning I come before You asking that You will lead and guide me in living this day in Your power and abundance. I look to Your Word, standing on Your Truth.

Isaiah 40:31 tells us that when we wait upon / for You; trust and hope in You we will find new strength. And here again I smile. Find new strength.

Let that be the play loop I get caught in this day. Wait/trust/hope, find new strength, smile, wait/trust/hope...

I love You Father. Use me as You wish. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(204 words ~ 8:56 a.m.)

Your daughters

Tuesday, August 30, 2016 (6:33 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! Yesterday I asked You about the miracle. And here I am. Bounded out of bed with hope and a little bit of reserved joy. Thank You.

You answered prayers I didn't even know had been asked. You were here with us. Urging us along as we took care of neglected business. You allowed conversations to take place. And underneath it all was a feeling of hopefulness.

Jesus, I don't even know how to thank You properly for the ease with which potential problems were addressed, accessed and acted upon. Thank You for Your presence among us.

That is exactly why I am here again this morning. Requesting Your presence be among us.

You provided me much needed sleep last night. Not the usual thinking, tossing and turning to which I had become prone. No. Sleep. Actual restful sleep. Thank You. Oh, yes. Thank You!

Sweet, sweet Jesus, a dear friend and I came together in complete agreement (Matthew 18:19) yesterday. We want desperately to live as Your daughters. We recognize that as much as we believe You to be the good and holy God that You are, we don't know what it is to truly live unshackled by the worries of this world.

We claim promises. We get close. And we stop short. We suffer from what her husband so rightly described as “poor man's mindset”. We know what it is to scrimp. Save. Settle for less than all we want.

And what we really truly want is to live as Your daughters. No longer slaves to fear! You know exactly what that looks like for each of us. We do not. But we want to!

And that is why again we ask Your presence in our day.

(7:38 a.m.)

Yes. Your presence. Your daughters.

So, as a daughter to her Father, I am asking for Your help. There is an amends I believe You would have me make. At first I thought a phone call. A potential coffee date. A letter. I'm uncertain which approach YOU would have me take. Guide me on Your perfect path here I pray.

I love You. I seek Your presence. Let me glimpse Your guidance again this day. I absolutely want to live as Your daughter. And ALL that entails! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

hope and joy

Monday, August 29, 2016 (7:39 a.m.)

Blessed Jesus,

I love You. Thank You that that is true. I'm gonna admit, I keep waiting for the miracle. The day I bound out of bed so full of hope and joy. Still isn't happening.

Each day is much the same as the last. Thinking thoughts of despair. Singing songs of hope and joy. Smiling because I do believe what I read and sing.

And here's the deep breath. The reading of Your Truth. The hope. A sense of joy. Romans 15. Your Word promises. I hope. Then doubt. Hope some more. And then feel as though I'm swirling. Sinking. Trying. Treading.

ARGH! Jesus. There is a profound cynicism that follows every smile and deep breath I take. I started out the day by singing, ♫I'm no longer a slave to fear I am a child of God♫ As I continued singing the Truth of the surrounding lines, I actually heard myself counter with, “Yeah. Right. When?”

Is there something inherently wrong with me that instead of building each new day on the Truths learned the day before I insist on arguing. Complaining. Balling my fists and stamping my feet at You?

You have to know how badly I want to live as Your promises say I will. In the very short readings I've done this morning I can no longer find where I read about “waiting patiently for God”. My patient waiting continues being challenged.

Rather than continue searching that statement, I'm asking You to instead fill me with a deeper understanding of verse 13 in Romans chapter 15.

The Voice says, “I pray that God, the source of all hope, will infuse your lives with an abundance of joy and peace in the midst of your faith so that your hope will overflow through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

And The Message, “Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim with hope!”

Yes. Please. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(355 words ~ 8:30 a.m.)

His Cross

Sunday, August 28, 2016 (7:46 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

I am here. Feeling cross. Thank You that that is the word that came out. I was thinking grouchy. Grumpy. Irritated. But cross is what came out. Thank You.

Thank You because it reminded me of THE Cross! And all of my momentary grumps and crotchetiness can not for one second take away the power of Your Cross.

(9:32 a.m.)

Wow! May I just say again, “THANK YOU!”

Yes. Thank You for speaking to me in so very many ways already this morning. First of all, I was feeling sad. Sullen, really. We missed a window of opportunity to speak with our son. Their are frustrations in our yards. Some more minor than others.

But then I turned to You. To Your Word. Your Truth. And worshiped online with a community of believers. My spirit was once more stirred as I searched for a hymn containing the words “survey, wondrous, cross”.

Yes thank You Father. There's an entire section of hymns under the subheading “THE REDEEMER: HIS CROSS”. The more of the hymns I read the quicker my heart beats and the more my mind scrambles to grasp all that is being said.

Let me confess how easily overwhelmed I feel when it comes to trying to understand the Truth that is found in Your Cross. It's so far beyond my comprehension. And I thank You that there is power and love that I can't even begin to fathom.

Thank You for the Truth that is spoken through hymns of old as well as modern day worship songs. First being one we have recently been singing quite regularly.

♫No Longer Slaves♫ has a line that just spoke itself quite differently to me. All these weeks I've been singing ♫I'm no longer a slave to fear♫ and wondering what there would be about me of which others would be afraid.

This morning the phrase leapt off the screen at me! I'm no longer a slave [OF] fear! Fear does not own me! I don't have to live my life [day, moment] in fear. Thank You Jesus!

And why? Because of Your Cross!

Thank You, thank You Jesus. The second line of ♫In the Cross of Christ I Glory♫ sings, “When the woes of life o'ertake me, Hopes deceive, and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me: Lo! It glows with peace and joy.”

Continue Your work in planting my hopes firmly in the power of Your Cross. I love You. I want to serve and represent You well this day. Teach me Lord. Do all You must. I love You. I trust You. I thank You. Amen.

(447 words ~ 10:14 a.m.)

absolute

Saturday, August 27, 2016 (7:40 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

Guide me in Your Word this morning, would You please? There's Truth. Encouragement. Warnings. Promises. History. Where would You have me? What would You have me take with me into this day?

Your absoluteness.

staying present

Friday, August 26, 2016 (11:09 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You! You let me sleep. Later and so much better than in such a long time. Thank You Father. Thank You. Praise You. Bless You.

Yes. It's all You.

There was another time of sleeplessness and again I remembered “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You” (Isaiah 26:3). I tried praying. Deep breathing. Thinking. Enumerating. And then I remembered to stay present!

My thoughts started to wander and I brought them back to the sounds I was hearing. The ceiling fan. Gentle snoring. Then I realized I was repeatedly chastising myself for the many mistakes I had made during the day.

With that, I considered what I was feeling. Physically. The smoothness of the sheets. The very next thing I knew HOURS had gone by. I had actually dreamt. Dreams I could remember. Oh how I praised [and am still praising] You!

Thank You God. Keep working in me, as only You can. Continue teaching me to “Trust in the LORD forever, for in GOD the LORD we have an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:4 Modern English Version). Yes. You. Our Everlasting Rock.

Use me this day. Exactly as You wish. I love You. I thank You. And I long to serve You. In the ways that You know are best. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(230 words ~ 11:45 a.m.)

agendas

Thursday, August 25, 2016 (7:12 a.m.)

Holy, Loving God,

Thank You! Thank You that I got up grumbling to myself about lack of sleep. And little energy. Thank You that I internally fussed and moped because I had once again changed my mind about what to do this morning.

Thank You that all the while this was going on inside of me I kept making baby steps of progress. Made coffee [oh thank You God for coffee!]. And breakfast. Did last night's dishes. And decided to stop here for time with You rather than continue with my own agenda.

Yes Blessed, Holy Father God, talk with me this morning about my own agendas. I had what I believed to be a very workable plan. Walk the dog. Do the laundry. Pull weeds. Clear stuff.

Thank You Father that You want more from me than what I can do. Thank You that You want all of my heart and my soul. All of my mind and my strength (Mark 12:30). Thank You that it is when I come to You exactly as I am that I catch glimpses of You.

There are times a song enters my consciousness. When I notice I am smiling for no apparent reason. Or I find myself intentionally standing up just a little bit straighter. I recognize these as my cues to pay attention. To stay my mind on You.

Yes, blessed Father. Of all the agendas I can possibly cook up for myself, it's when I sing, smile, stay and stretch that I remember that it is You to Whom I am to come. Rejoicing!

Illustrated Bible Handbook explains a little bit of what I just read in The Message. Seventy-two missionaries had returned very excited about the healing powers they had experienced. “But Jesus tells them to rejoice in their relationship with God (Luke 10:20).”

Yes. I had my own agenda this morning. And I was already berating myself for my unwillingness to stick with it. Thank You for stopping me in my tracks and reminding me from Whom the power for me to do anything truly comes. You!

Luke 10:20 The Message, “All the same, the great triumph is not your authority over evil, but in God's authority [there's that smile again!] over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you – that's the agenda for rejoicing.” Um. Yes!

And yes some more! Your authority. Your presence. Your power. How 'bout we do some laundry and take the dog for a walk? Thanks God. I love You so much! Amen.

(432 words ~ 7:46 a.m.)

Ready!

Monday, August 22, 2016 (7:46 a.m.)

Tuesday, August 23, 2016 (6:22 a.m.)

“He is kept in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.”

This is the Truth that has kept me company these past several hours of sleeplessness. Thank You Father. Thank You that it is to You I long to turn.

(9:13 a.m.)

“Thank and praise today. Fear and dread tomorrow.” It's a quote I just read in an e-article (http://www.gracegems.org/Miller/in_perfect_peace.htm) about perfect peace.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016 (3:13 pm.)

And as it turns out, it wasn't a quote at all. It was my own limited understanding of what I was reading.

Blessed, Holy Father God,

Here I am. Finally ready to continue thanking and praising You for all You are and all You do on our behalf. I confess to You Dearest Dad, it's been a long haul. Yet so incredibly beneficial to my heart as well as my soul.

Getting to sit surrounded by Your Word. Truly just being still and knowing that You are God (Psalm 46:10). Reflecting on Your goodness and Your grace. Bless You Father. Thank You. Praise You.

My thinking was messy. I honestly felt trapped in an unending loop of hope, despair, hope...

But I kept reading. Hoping. Risking. Believing. And here I am. Ready! Ready to accept that all You say is true. Ready to believe that in You I am enough. I do not have to try and prove myself to You or anyone else. You love me exactly as I am.

“O LORD, You have examined my heart and know everything about me... You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD... You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it... How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable!” (Psalm 139:1, 3, 13-14, 17)

You know all this and still You love me. So here I come before You asking that You would teach me to love You, myself and others as You would have me love (Mark 12:30). With all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.

I long to sing Your praises no matter the circumstances. I want to smile in the face of adversity. You have the power of providing me peace, perfect peace, when my mind is stayed on Thee (Isaiah 26:3). Stretch my faith Blessed God.

Here I again confess my reluctance in telling You I'm ready to be stretched because what if You take me at my word and stretch me in ways that I do not want to be stretched. But that's just the fear talking. I plan to be afraid tomorrow. Not today. Until You prove Yourself untrustworthy I am ready to take You at Your Word!

You keep working in me Father. Continue speaking Your Truth to me in the most unusual settings. Like the middle of early morning sleeplessness.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Isaiah 26:3) I love You SO very much and I am eternally grateful to You for Your blessing and keeping of me (Numbers 6:24-26).

And here come the tears. I know me Lord. Oh, but You know me even better. I will waffle. I will waver. And The Message speaks even of this.

Just as I think I'm going in one direction, BAM, there's more to consider. Holy God, by reading the words, “At that time” (Isaiah 26:1) I read up the page to see of what time Your prophet was speaking. He had told of the devastation You would bring to the earth (Chapter 24). Followed by the judgment and salvation (25).

Chapter 26 begins with a song of praise to You and my head is still considering the devastation of the war torn streets we see on the news each day. We have choices each and every moment of where we will place our thoughts.

The Apostle Paul urged the believers in Philippi to fix their thoughts “on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

Remind me Father. Every single time I start to fret. Stew. Become overwhelmed with foreboding. I am Yours. You are good. You've got this. I can be scared tomorrow if I must but for now I am ready to believe You at Your Word.

Thanks Dad. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(772 words ~ 4:40 p.m.)

accepting

Sunday, August 21, 2016 (6:16 a.m.)

Most Awesome God,

It's the deep breathing and the sighs that most often relax my thinking to a point of peace. Thank You for that. Thank You for new ways of looking at long standing patterns. Thank You that You are so incredibly good. And offer us every single good thing You provide.

(7:03 a.m.)

Just like now...

All these Bible verses and commentators about Your goodness lead me to again fall victim to thoughts of my own wretchedness. I read of Your profound goodness and grace considering all the places I fail and absolutely do not measure up to Your standard.

I confess to You my tendency to negative thinking. The more I read the more conflicted I feel. There is hope. So very much hope found in Your Word. And then there is me. Not at all what I believe You calling me to feel, be, think and do.

(9:51 a.m.)

I know You to be good. Kind. Loving. Forgiving.

And here I sit hesitating. Refusing? Balking.

And the antonym – accepting!

Hmm. Thank You Father. I ask You to work with me this day. In me. Through me. By more. For me.

I confess my doubt to You. You promise us freedom. Power. Your Holy Spirit. Your Son. Eternity. I long to take You at Your Word. I want to accept Your kind offer. Fully. Wholeheartedly! Do all You must to align my thinking to Your Truth.

I believe You to be all You claim to be. So why do I waver? What keeps me from standing firm and accepting all You so patiently and abundantly have to give? You know what I need. I trust You to supply it.

I love You. I need You. I want You. And I thank You. Praise Your Holy name. Thank You. Amen.

(308 words ~ 10:21 a.m.)

YOU!

Saturday, August 20, 2016 (7:30 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You for rest. And hope. And love. And peace. And YOU! Yes! Thank You for You!

You bless us. Repeatedly. Abundantly. And I am truly grateful. Father, thank You that when I come before You with thanks and praise You shift my thinking.

One minute I might be bemoaning my own inadequacies and the next I am reading Paul's letter to several churches in southern Galatia. Thank You Father

mainstay

Friday, August 19, 2016 (7:31 a.m.)

Holy God,

The word with which I went back to sleep much earlier this morning was mainstay. Looking it up just now I find like words. Central. Linchpin. Cornerstone. Bulwark. Chief support. Backbone. Anchor. Foundation.

Blessed Father, thank You. One word here [bulwark] led to a song singing within. ♫A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing♫ And You are! Thank You Father.

Thank You for the verse of Scripture that accompanies this favored hymn. Psalm 46:7. “The LORD Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

For several days my thoughts have centered on the fact that Your Spirit is here with us. Thank You for yet another reminder of this Truth.

The Life Recovery Bible comment says, “46:7-11 God, the commander of the heavenly armies, is here among us. If we put our life in His hands, we can rest, confident that He will protect us. He knows our weaknesses and can strengthen us in the needed areas, helping us to overcome the attacks we face each day. Our enemies may be strong, but God is more powerful than anything that might assail us.”

You are “our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (v. 1). Thank You that You remind us of Your power even through the use of one simple word. Mainstay. You are my mainstay! Amplified Bible uses these words, “A very present and well-proved help in trouble.”

I called upon You the other evening when frustration and inconvenience led me to behaving quite deplorably. Things weren't going my way and I slipped right back into a long held pattern of behavior. You reminded me that I am Your daughter.

And with that said, I just added “and You are raising me better than that”! Thank You Father. Thank You for the constant reminders we have of Your unflinching, unfailing love for us. Continue Your work in making me fully aware of the who I am in You.

I love You so very much. And I truly long to serve You well. Thank You Father. Lead and guide that I would follow You closely this day. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(373 words ~ 8:41 a.m.)

great and awesome God

Wednesday, August 17, 2016 (6:30 a.m.)

Awesome God,

(7:11 a.m.)

Mm. Yes. Awesome, awesome God.

Thank You Father that You are indeed awesome. My attention continues to shift to the devastating news of horrific flooding in the south and rampant fires here in the west. Horrifying. Horrific. Tragic.

Blessed, blessed God. Thank You that we have the privilege of coming to You. Thank You that we have Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

As I search Your Word, I continue being amazed at how readily You offer hope in every situation. Blessed, Holy, Amazing Father God, thank You that You are our God.

(9:39 a.m.)

I continue alternating between two sections of Scripture. Deuteronomy 7:21 and Nehemiah 1:5. Both refer to You as a/the great and awesome God. THAT is exactly what I long to take away with me this morning. The Truth that You ARE the great and awesome God. No circumstance changes that.

We are powerless to change the weather and the devastation that comes with it. With You, the LORD our God with us, we have the hope needed to sustain us. Great and awesome God, it is to You we pray this morning. You know Your will and Your plan. Bring us ever closer to Your way.

God teaches us

Monday, August 15, 2016 (8:07 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Father, how we love You. We know our blessings flow from You. Thank You for teaching us.

Isaiah 28:26

The Spirit of the Lord

Sunday, August 14, 2016 (6:14 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You

(7:09 a.m.)

Wow! Really. Thank You!

2 Corinthians 3:17. Worldwide English (New Testament), “Now the Lord is the Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, people are set free.” Mm. Yes. Set free.

Thank You Father. Thank You that our freedom truly is found in You!

Illustrated Bible Handbook tells of this section of Scripture (vs. 7-18), “Paul says that Christians, 'not like Moses,' can remove the veils that hide us from others. We do so because we know that God's Spirit is at work within us, and 'we are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing splendor, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit' (18).”

I read these Truths and once again become excited. Agog. With You!

You know us. Every single thing there is to know. And still You love us.

“The point is that transparency, an honest sharing of our lives with others, is the best way to 'reflect the Lord's glory' (18).” Wow! Yes!

“Others will not see Jesus in our facades of perfection. It is the process of transformation that witnesses to the Lord.” What joy there is to consider You being glorified through my imperfections.

Oh most dear and holy God, come be the most important part of our day. You, I long to glorify. It is Your Spirit I invite into our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Into our home and into our neighborhood. Teach us to rely on and fully utilize Your presence within us.

Completely encompass us with Your Spirit that we would truly be transformed into Your likeness. I love You. And I ask to serve You well this day. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

Your Spirit

Saturday, August 13, 2016 (6:32 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Mm. Yes. Let me start with adoration and thanksgiving. Holy, holy God. Thank You that You alone are holy. Thank You that I have been invited in to pray for the benefit of a neighbor's marriage.

Holy God, I take such an invitation very seriously and I confess to not being a powerful prayer warrior. This is where I look again to You, Your Son and Your Spirit.

Yes Father. Your Spirit.

Thank You for Your Word most Holy God. Thank You that we are able to turn to It and learn all You have for us. Thank You that here I get to turn to Isaiah 11:2 and discover more ways of referring to Your Spirit.

“The Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”

Yes. Yes. Yes! Holy, Holy God we are in such need of Your Spirit. Your Truth. Your promises come to pass.

Our hope is in You Blessed God. You. Your Son. Your Spirit.

The Life Recovery Bible's comment for 11:11-16 states clearly, “God's power to restore dysfunctional families is great. The family of Israel had fallen. Many had been scattered among the nations in the Dispersion. The nations of Israel and Judah were locked in destructive patterns of jealousy. Out of the mess, God promised to bring restoration and unity. He can do the same for us. If our family is broken because of abuse, addiction, jealousy, etc., God can unify and heal it. First we must begin the recovery process with open communication and complete trust in God.”

Oh yes, Blessed God! You know Your absolute best for each and every single one of us. It is to You I look. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). You alone are good. And worthy to be praised. Do all You must that Your blessings would be made evident.

We love You Blessed One. Thank You. Amen.

(339 words ~ 7:45 a.m.)

practice trusting

Friday, August 12, 2016 (6:48 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. Hello. Hi. It's been awhile. I truly don't know what to say. How about “thank You”? Yeah. Let's start there.

(7:31 a.m.)

Mm. Getting started... It just doesn't seem to be happening.

Okay. Trying again. Hi. Thank You. I get to read Your Word and get those warm, fuzzy feelings. Yet You are so much more than just a warm, fuzzy God. You are good. You are holy. You know Your plans for us. And I get to practice trusting that.

Yes. I get to keep practicing trusting You to be all You say You are. Thank You. Yes. Thank You Father for never leaving nor abandoning us.

The smile on my face is genuine. The peace in my heart is equal to the joy in my soul. Why? Because of the time we have spent together this morning pouring over Your Word. All Old Testament warnings and promises.

Disobedient people having witnessed incredible miracles, still bent on their own understanding. And doing things their own way. Father, I relate so much to disbelief and discouragement. I compare apples and oranges all the time.

Thank You that You do not leave us alone in our thinking of things. Your Word calls us to obedience. And trust!

People are unruly (Numbers 14:39-40). Walls fall into disrepair (Nehemiah 2:17-18). Yet Your promises of hope turn our sadnesses to joy (Jeremiah 31). Thank You Father.

Thank You that our hope is found in You. Your Word. Your promises. And here in The Life Recovery Bible's comment for Jeremiah 31:3, “The Israelites were on the verge of entering the Promised Land. They needed a fresh reminder of God's strength and a promise of victory.”

Father, how very often I need these reminders!

“Some may have been putting their confidence in Joshua. Others may have been depending on the strength of their armies. But no matter how strong we or our leaders might be, victory comes from God alone.”

Yes. Yes. And yes!

“Some enemies are too great for us. Our personal resources or support groups, though helpful, will never be adequate to gain victory over our dependencies. We must learn to trust God alone, for He is greater than any of the enemies we might face.”

Learn to trust God alone. Yes! I must continue to practice trusting You. How grateful I am for Your reminders. Thank You that You are indeed greater than all of the enemies we might ever face.

Mm yes! Thank You Father. Use me this day. Exactly as You wish. I love You. I long to serve You. And to represent You well. Thank You for the privilege of being Yours. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(460 words ~ 9:03 a.m.)

great and mighty

Monday, August 8, 2016 (6:14 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You for music! Thank You for the snippets of songs that sing themselves to me often. Yesterday it was one line from Cannons. This morning? A phrase from Oceans.

Blessed God, thank You for the opportunity of finding these words and singing them out to You. ♫You call me out upon the waters The great unknown where feet may fail And there I find You in the mystery In oceans deep My faith will stand♫

This is powerful stuff for my wavering heart. So very often I am swayed this way or that by my own distorted thinking. Just like yesterday, with thoughts of my own unworthiness. You reminded me quite readily that ♫I'm so unworthy but still You love me♫

Wow! Thank You Father. Thank You that as I turn to these songs to worship Your holiness I am reminded that ♫You are holy Great and mighty♫

Thank You that as I am able to sit here thinking and singing of Your greatness I get to read of it as well. And Your promises. Isaiah 12. Songs of Praise for Salvation.

Praise You Father. Praise Your holiness. Praise Your plans. Praise You for the joy that comes when we believe “great and mighty is the Holy One of Israel, who lives among you” (Isaiah 12:6).

Thank You for singing mightily to my heart this morning Blessed God. Use me to Your good and to Your glory. I love You and I long to serve You. Well. Do all You must. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(267 words ~ 7:16 a.m.)

thankful

Sunday, August 7, 2016 (6:35 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You that You take me anyway I come to You.

(7:21 a.m.)

Thank You that You don't leave me that way!

Oh Blessed, Blessed Jesus I feel so unworthy. Unloving. Unkind.

(7:55 a.m.)

Thank You that there is so much written about exactly this.

blundering

Saturday, August 6, 2016 (6:43 a.m.)

Holy, Blessed God,

Thank You that I get to be here with You this morning. Thank You for the rest that finally came after what seemed such a long and sleepless night.

I'm confessing to You right now that my mind isn't completely here. Instead I am rethinking mistakes in my judgment these past few days. Looking at the word mistake, I thank You for the definition of the word blunder:

“a careless, stupid, or blatant mistake involving behavior or judgment; it suggests awkwardness or ignorance on the part of the person who makes it”

That would be me these past few days. A degree of arrogance even comes into play. Father God, I feel shame. A great deal of regret. And remorse.

Psalm 69:5 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition) describes my thinking at this very moment. “O God, You know my folly and blundering; my sins and my guilt are not hidden from You.”

The Life Recovery Bible has a comment that fits me as well. “69:5-8 David knew how important it was to recognize his sins and to admit them to God. This is an essential step toward recovery in our own life. We must accept responsibility for what we have done in the past. Then, like David, we should turn to God for forgiveness and restoration.”

Thank You Father for the opportunity of turning to You. Thank You that You are all knowing and forgiving. Take the parts of my character (folly and blundering) that are not serving You well and replace them with carefulness and correctness.

I have the privilege of helping to make or break a person's attitude toward their water experiences. I have lost sight AGAIN of the primary goal. Teaching them to be safe and have fun in and near the water. Actual swimming will come later. In it's own time.

Get me out of Your way Dearest God. It's not MY will, but THY will that is to be done. I am absolutely desperate in my plea that You would replace every blundering error I am prone to make this day with Your divine wisdom.

I am in need Dear Lord. Absolute, desperate need of YOUR wisdom! Rid me of my self and all I think I know. Replace it with Your love. Your power. Your grace.

Holy God, I love You. I long to serve You. And I genuinely want to do it well. Teach me please. Work in, with, by, through and for me I pray. Forgive my arrogance. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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

cheerful

Friday, August 5, 2016 (7:17 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You!

I'd been adding to a list of negative words for much of this morning until I thought of the word cheerful. Much like the A.A. Milne Eeyore character I approached Your Word with gloomy pessimism.

Blessed Father, thank You for honestly turning my frown upside down and replacing it with smile after smile. All because of Your Truth.

“Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up” (Proverbs 12:25).

“A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day” (Proverbs 15:15).

“A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song” (Proverbs 15:15).

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired” (Proverbs 17:22).

Here I say it again, thank You!

I made some poor judgment calls yesterday. A battle of wills (and won'ts) took place. Tears were shed. And similar past poor judgment calls immediately came to mind. Father, forgive me.

It's very easy for me to fall hard into the trap of self denigration. Thank You that You provide me with the antidote.

I have another opportunity to make better judgments. Get me out of Your way that I would follow Your lead rather than my own.

Provide all that is needed to change my disposition to one that is cheerful and You glorifying. I love You Father. Thank You for all You've done. All that that You do. And all that You will be doing. I look forward to cheerfulness. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

sitting here

Thursday, August 4, 2016 (6:27 a.m.)

Mm, Holy God,

Thank You for every single smile. Thanks for every flicker of hope. Thank You that You are so incredibly good. And kind. Merciful. And just.

Father God, I confess to not fully understanding most of what I claim You to be. You are merciful and just. And what exactly does that mean? I know what I hope it means. That I am completely forgiven in Your sight.

I am blessed to sit here and read Your Word. I am grateful for having ready access to It and all Your promises therein.

Thank You Father for the privilege of sitting here reading Your Invitation to the Thirsty (Isaiah 55). I read. Think. Contemplate. Consider. Wonder. Hope. Desire. All because of what You offer.

Illustrated Bible Handbook says of this chapter, “Now all are invited to come to the Lord, to experience fully and freely the complete satisfaction He provides (1-2).” Wow! Thank You.

As I sit here, wanting so much to absorb all the Truth and hope You have for me this morning, it's still verse 11 that has my rapt attention. Blessed Father, I absolutely do not want to try to bend or twist Your Words to my own understanding.

So I sit here wanting to “Be still and know that [YOU are] God” (Psalm 46:10). Contemporary English Version tells us, “Our God says, 'Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me.'” Then I get to wonder, what would it be like to have all nations honor You?

Oh, holy God, how I truly thank You for this opportunity of sitting here and wondering. Go with me out into this day. I long to see You glorified. It feels like such a challenge to simply trust and believe You to be and do all You promise. Trusting and obeying is what I ask the power to do.

Thank You Father for the privilege of reading Your Word in so very many different translations. New King James Version reads, “So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

The Message takes us up a few verses to remind us that You don't think the way we think. Nor do we work the way You work. It's Your decree that “as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them.”

I consider this an invitation to trust and believe You at Your Word. Father how I ask that You would keep working in, with, by, through and for me that I would grow in trusting and believing You to be the good and glorious God that You truly are. I love You Father. I thank You . And I praise You. Do all You must. Thank You. Amen.

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

idioms

Wednesday, August 3, 2016 (6:31 a.m.)

Holy God,

Forgive me I pray. I am not been behaving kindly. Love, joy, peace and patience are not my current go-to choices. No. I am presently nursing a grudge and planning my defense against my own severely childish doings.

♫I Surrender All♫ was the hymn I woke up considering. I found it immediately. Under the topical index, “COMMITMENT AND CONSECRATION”. Ouch! Yet another reminder of just how “off” my behavior is.

Is that enough to make me “pull in my horns” as my mom used to say? Nope. Not yet. I still have other “bones to pick” and “axes to grind”.

I confess to not representing You well at all this morning. My tail end is definitely showing. And not in a good way.

I absolutely know that I have choices here. And I admit to not making You honoring ones. Change me I pray O Lord.

Oh... You're good!

Such a giant smile! Such a huge “Gotcha!” as my dear daddy would say!

The referenced verse for ♫I Surrender All♫ is Romans 6:13. Reading simply, “Offer yourselves to God.” didn't have near the effect as digging more deeply into the surrounding verses and commentaries.

The Life Recovery Bible's comment for 6:12-14, “As we recover from our addiction or compulsive behaviors, we may become very discouraged because the old desires still tempt us.” Uh. Hello!

Thank You God that You alone are good! (Mark 10:18) Thank You that nothing [not even my own horrendously bad behavior] can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:31-39). Thank You that You continue speaking to us (Romans 1:19-21; Psalm 19:1-4).

Here I am, called to a New Live Lived by Faith; (Romans) 6:11-14 Illustrated Bible Handbook. Reading, “And we are to not let sin rule but rather offer yourselves to God to do his will (12-13).” And I say again, “Yes. Yes! Profoundly yes.”

Continuing, I read, “The way to freedom is thus clear. We are to hear God's promise of freedom, believe it, and act on it.”

Oh God please. Have Your way in my heart. In my choices. In my actions. Words. Thoughts. Deeds!

Oh, and the promises just keep coming. This again from The Life Recovery Bible comment mentioned above. “Though we cannot overcome our sinful nature alone, we can ask God to help us. As God helps us clear the destructive patterns from our life, we can replace them with healthy patterns and desires. As we are transformed with God's help, we will overcome the powerful temptations in our life.”

You know? Temptations like nursing a grudge. Grinding an ax. Picking at bones. Here I humbly, reverently and respectfully ask You to work hardily in removing my most glaring defects of character. And the extremely subtle ones as well.

With all that said, I do sincerely thank You for the work You've already done in me. Singing wholeheartedly ♫All to Jesus I surrender... Fill me with Thy love and power... All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all♫

Forgive me my transgressions. Bless me and keep me in Your loving peace (Numbers 6:24-26). I love You Father. Thank You for loving me. Empower me to share Your love well with others. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

Worthy!

Monday, August 1, 2016 (7:24 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

Mm. How blessed am I to call You holy and immediately have a song start singing within my being.

Blessed Father, thank You for leading me straight to the worship song in question even though I didn't have the key word. Worthy!

“This Is Amazing Grace”, by Phil Wickham. ♫Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave... Worthy, worthy, worthy♫

Worthy. Yes. Talk with me this morning about Your worthiness.

And just like that another song!

Reading the beginning of Psalm 111, “Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart” and I started humming what turns out to be HE IS GOOD (Dedication of Solomon's Temple) from Psalty's Kids Praise 7.

♫I will sing to the Lord With all my heart, I will bless Him The rest of my days. I will dwell in the house of the Lord, My God, And forever I'll sing out His praise♫

Wow! Father, how I thank You.

I confess to You the way my mind and heart work. I KNOW You to be good and just and faithful. Yet little hiccups in my scheduling and plans tend to bring far more grumbles and growls to my soul than grins and gratitude.

And here I get to sit. Breathing deeply. Letting Your Truth settle in around me. Smiling. Singing. Reading Your holy Word.

Psalm 111:9 (The Message). “He paid the ransom for His people [♫Worthy is the Lamb who was slain♫], He ordered His Covenant kept forever. He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.”

Mm, yes. Worthy!

Only God and Father, The Life Recovery Bible teaches three elements of this psalm as the groundwork to “walking in wisdom, a process we grow into... reverence for God, listening to His instructions, and following them.”

Yes Father, continue Your work in me that I would truly follow Your instructions. I love You and I long to live the life YOU would have me live.

You've already done all that is necessary. Keep working in me I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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