unchangeable

Thursday, August 31, 2017 (11:55 a.m.)

Holy God,

It’s such an ever changing morning. And again I thank You that You are not! You stay the same. In the good times and the bad. You are unchangeable.

Thank You Father.

(2:36 p.m.)

And the weather changes just keep coming. Father, I am here asking Your blessings on the multitude of people being extremely severely impacted by storms.

Father, You are so incredibly good. Holy. Ideal. Do all You know is necessary for Your perfect will to be realized. Your unchangeable perfect will.

I love You Father. Be here. Be there. Do all You must. All, that only YOU are able. Thank You. Amen.

(113 words ~ 2:49 p.m.)

basics

Thursday, August 31, 2017 (6:09 a.m.)

Most Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You that You are blessed and holy. Thank You that we have You to turn to. In times of joy as well as fear and sorrow.

Thank You God that You do not change. You are always the same. Good. Faithful. Loving. Forgiving. 

Thank You for the privilege of reading of Your attributes.

(7:55 a.m.)

Incredible God,

What a shock! Rain. Lightning. Thunder. No electricity. Memories. Limited outside communication. And Your Word.

(8:41 a.m.)

Yes Father,

Thank You for Your Word. And clean water. For drinking. And washing.

Blessed God, there are SO many things I take for granted. When it comes to having only our basic needs met again I give You thanks and praise.

♪Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray…♪

I woke up singing it again. I started searching it on the internet right before the power went out. I got just a taste. Just enough.

Mm, yes Father. You always provide us with the basics! Thank You. Praise You. Bless You.

(9:21 a.m.)

Yes Father, thank and praise You indeed!

Reading in Jude this morning, verse 20 starts the chorus singing again. ♪Every time I feel the Spirit…♪

Proverbs 16:1-3 reminds me of the importance of sharing all our plans with You. And even more importantly ~ being attuned to Your plans for us!

Thank You Father! Thank You for the music [♪Every time I feel the Spirit…♪] that continues to bring my thinking back around to You. There is a genuine excitement, an absolute thrill bubbling up in me.

A hand printed reminder to keep our eyes on Jesus and not our circumstances (Hebrews 12:1-3) honestly just fell out of a Bible onto the floor. Work in me this day Father. Exactly as You wish.

I love You. Praise You. Amen.

(323 words ~ 9:39 a.m.)

Hmm

Tuesday, August 29, 2017 (7:31 a.m.)

Holy God,

Hi. And thank You.

Hmm. This morning I am “expressing reflection or hesitation”. Yesterday was the exclamation, “Mm” ~ used to express contentment, pleasure, agreement or approval.

I never got back to You as I had planned in offering the praise and thanksgiving for all the things that were falling into place. Attitudes had been agreeable. And when they weren’t, they were quickly adjusted. Thank You.

Today, in our never ending saga of “it’s always something” I sit here fairly stunned. One moment we were experiencing the order of a sorting job finally well done. And the next we have a shattered glass patio table for seemingly no apparent reason.

Blessed, Holy God, I realize it to be a relatively easy fix. And I truly am grateful for Your presence in righting my dazed and confused thinking so much earlier this morning. Thank You for the resources we have at our disposal.

Right this moment I am feeling spiritually torn between the desire to just sit here quietly with You. Being still and knowing Your are God (Psalm 46:10). All the while my mind is wanting to get up and get going on the latest clean up task at hand.

I tried the “I’ll get back with You later” approach with our time together yesterday. To no avail.

Here I am asking You to temper the desire I have to go take care of the business at hand before the unusually high heat hits again for the day. Hmm, yes Father, neutralize and counterbalance my thinking on what is the top priority of this day.

(8:46 a.m.)

Blessed Lord, I LOVE when it seems as though I am hearing directly from You. The devotion for today’s date in Jesus Calling begins with these words, “Demonstrate your trust in me by sitting quietly in My Presence. Put aside all that is waiting to be done, and refuse to worry about anything. ”

Oh yes, Father. Yes!

“This sacred time together strengthens you and prepares you to face whatever the day will bring.” Like how to best clean up glass dust on a highly barefooted trafficked patio area. Forgive my thinking Father. I went straight to the internet instead of to You.

Proverbs 16:3 reminds me again of what I so often forget. “Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed” (New Living Translation).

The Voice tells it this way, “Whatever you do, do it as service to Him, and He will guarantee your success.” Yes please Father.

My plan for today had been to hide from the heat in the house most of the day, doing laundry. That no longer seems to be the case. In this particular instance I am asking You to supply every single thing I need to do to help protect the little bare feet that are scheduled to visit our yard.

I love You Father. Thank You for reminding me of the importance of putting You first and foremost in our day.

Now… what about that glass?

I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(521 words ~ 9:25 a.m.)

Mm...

Monday, August 28, 2017 (7:35 a.m.)

Mm, Blessed God,

Mm. Yes. 

Holy God, there are so very many reasons for me to be grateful. Yesterday I was functioning on three hours of sleep. Through it all, I experienced such a sense of calm. An absolute feeling of inspiration. Thank You.

Yes, Father, thank You.

a cheerful heart

Saturday, August 26, 2017 (7:12 a.m.)

Oh Your goodness God,

Thank You that even in the midst of grumpiness this morning I get to look to You asking for cheeriness instead. Yes please. A cheerful heart is what I seek.

Oh yes Holy God! Thank You that Your Word has so very much to say about being of good cheer. A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22). It brings a smile to your face (Proverbs 15:13). And fills the day with song (v. 15).

And now I’m reading of the True Interdependence and Sincere Love described in Romans 12:3-8 and 9-21. Paying particular attention to verses 11 and 12 in The Message.

“Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.”

Mm, yes Father. I tend to quit in hard times. Empower me in praying all the harder. Making me cheerfully expectant rather than grumpily dreading.

Oh Blessed Father, Your Word is rife with hope and Truth. Tap that vein in me! I absolutely long to have Your love rule my attitude and my actions. Yes. Yes. Holy God. “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Yes, Father I am asking You to provide me with a cheerful heart. I love You. And I desperately need Your perfect love (1 John 4:18) to do all in, with, by, through and for me that I am unable to do on my own.

This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(273 words ~ 8:59 a.m.)

Key Component

Friday, August 25, 2017 (7:06 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. My body is feeling achy. Tired. Sleep deprived. And still I thank and praise You. There was sleep deep enough for me to remember some dreams. And YOU were the key component in the first one.

Hmm. Key Component. Yep that’s You alright!

Odd dreams. One with me realizing I was telling an out-and-out lie, while trying desperately to conceal the truth. In the midst ♪Unstoppable God♪ seemed to be playing in the background. Reminding me to confess. Fear of being found out kept me silent. Wanting to save face, the lie continued.

My immediate first words to having been awaken by the dog for a potty break were, “Thank You God. Thank You God. Thank You God.”

And again, right here. Right now. Thank You God that You are the Key Component to righting our thinking. The Key Component to our plans. To our hopes. To our dreams. Yes, even in this sense of the phrase, “our dreams”.

Father how I ask You to guide our usage of this day. We have ideas of what we would accomplish. Be at the very center of it all. Yes Father, be our Key Component in living this day as You would have us.

We love You. We long to serve You. We look to You for guidance as well as in praise and thanksgiving. Thanks Dad. I love You. Amen.

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

aware

Thursday, August 24, 2017 (6:31 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for sleep. Deep, restorative, dream-filled sleep. Yes Father. Thank You for another thing I have so often taken for granted.

I do that don’t I Lord? Take things for granted. Even the phrase itself. Thank You for the opportunity to also explore this Father.

take for granted, to accept without question or objection; assume; to use, accept, or treat in a careless or indifferent manner; to give little attention to or to underestimate the value of; to fail to appreciate

Oh my dear Lord, so very many things come rushing to mind! The myriad of things I haven’t noticed until they were gone.

Praise You Father for keeping us mindful. Mm, yes! Holy God please keep me aware of the things YOU want me paying attention to.

There is a flicker of excitement starting inside me right now. One word leading to another. The awareness just now of another word being completely changed just by one letter. Assume becomes assure because of one little alphabetical character.

Thank You for reminding me once again that we are assured in You. This in turn sets the music in my soul to singing; hence the hope of joy bubbling up inside me.

♪My Life in You, Lord My strength is in You, Lord My hope is in You, Lord In You, it’s in You…♪

Oh most dear and precious God, I truly have no idea what this day has in store. Let me be fully assured that You are truly in command of it all. 

Even here, while searching a certain phrase I am unable to remember comes the hymn ♪All the Way My Savior Leads Me♪ Along with this comes Psalm 48:14, “This God is our God forever and ever. He will lead us from now to the end of time!” (Easy-to-Read Version).

Mm, yes Blessed Father. Be my focus this day. Let me be fully aware of Your leading. Guide me exactly along the path You have for me. Aware not only of the pitfalls, but the blessings as well. Like a good night’s sleep.

Mm, yes. Thank You God. I love You Amen.

(375 words ~ 7:39 a.m.)

P. S. The elusive phrase from above just hit me. Words to this effect, “While I may not know what tomorrow holds, I know WHO holds today!” Thank You Father.

all You are

Wednesday, August 23, 2017 (6:25 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You that You are good. Thank You that You are holy. Thank You that You love us. Thank You that You are faithful. 

Oh, most blessed God, thank You that the list of all You are is endless. Yes, You are the beginning and the end. And everything in between.

Thank You Father. My first instinct is rarely praise. Most often I tend to fret. Stew. Ruminate. Oh, but every time I remember to look to You it seems as though the floodgates of praise are opened. Thank You Father. Praise You.

This morning as I even begin to explore the idea of all You are another song couples with my thinking. ♪Lord, You are more precious than silver; Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, And nothing I desire compares with You♪

Mm, yes, Father. I began reading Psalm 145 after searching all You are. While doing so, I started singing the song above. Turning to Proverbs 8:1-11, I sit here in awe and wonder asking that You would keep me strongly connected with You this day.

I make mistakes. My emotions get in the way. I feel insecure and often less than. But every time I turn the focus to You and all You are I am buoyed.

Thank You Father. You provide our every single need. Let Your Truth and Your promises truly be enough. 

Yes Father! Just as I cry this out to You more music is exploding within me. ♪Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down, Let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker♪ (Psalm 95:6).

And just as quickly as that began, right in the midst ♪You are good, You are good, When there’s nothing good in me You are love, You are love On display for all to see… Nothing compares to Your embrace Light of the world forever reign♪

Mm, yes Father. I can only scratch the surface of all You are. And as I do I ask You to continue reminding me that ♪Nothing compares to Your embrace Light of the world Forever Reign♪

Mm, yes please Father. Forever reign in my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength. I love You. I long to serve You. And I thank You. Amen.

(397 words ~ 7:44 a.m.)

In Christ Alone

Tuesday, August 22, 2017 (9:07 a.m.)

And I’m back!

Almost immediately.

Father, You know my heart. Challenges. Struggles. Insecurities. You know the doubts that plague me. Constantly. The comparisons.

Yes Father, I confess to You the intense, unending, negative comparisons I continue doing on myself. When it comes to judging oneself harshly, I am looking to You. Actively seeking Your power in changing my seemingly natural tendencies.

Your Word, as always, continues giving me direction. Your call for me to explore Galatians 6:4 is interrupted only by my plea that You would truly work in me here Dearest Lord. In my own strength and determination, I fail. Miserably.

Please, do all You wish in, with, by, through and for me. Provide all that is needed that I would truly come to the place that I absolutely “depend on Christ alone for salvation and daily strength” (Galatians THE BOTTOM LINE The Life Recovery Bible).

And here the music begins again. This time ♪In Christ Alone♪ Mm, yes Blessed Father let me truly come to stand in the love and power of Christ alone. On my own, with my own devices I will continue failing.

The Message urges us to, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life” (Galatians 6:4).

I confess to continue seeing myself as a wretched, horrible person. My thoughts [and comparisons] are anything but You glorifying.

New Living Translation tells us, “Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.”

I can’t do this on my own Blessed God! YOU can do it all!! I look to You to do ALL for me that I cannot do for myself. I desperately want to love You, myself and others (Mark 12:30-31) as You command. 

Change me Lord. Do all You must. I love You. And I am thanking You in advance for all that is to come.

Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(383 words ~ 10:00)

unstoppable God

Tuesday, August 22, 2017 (6:05 a.m.)

Unstoppable God,

Mm, yes! Unstoppable God indeed!

Holy Father, thank You. You gave this nation such an incredible gift yesterday.

For us it was a completely unplanned breakfast out that led to such a sense of camaraderie. Complete strangers sharing the excitement [and special glasses] of a very rare solar eclipse. Thank You Father. Thank You.

As I sit here reflecting on our own personal experience yesterday I am delighted to be reminded of Your orchestration of it all. Romans 11:36 points my thinking to You. Along with more unexpected tears.

Thank You Father. Praise You! The Living Bible, “For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory. To Him be glory evermore.” Oh yes! Praise You Father!

All the while I am reading and tapping out these words, the gentle musical strains continue. ♪Unstoppable God Let Your glory go on and on Impossible things In Your name they shall be done♪ Mm, yes!

The Life Recovery Bible comment for verses 33-36 (Romans 11) express, “After sketching out the broad contours of God’s plan for us, Paul could only worship God’s majesty. God’s plan, wisdom, knowledge, and ways are all so far beyond ours that we have only one option: to humbly give Him the praise He deserves!”

I like to think we did that yesterday Father. For over 90 minutes, the nation stopped to watch. We were wowed. Stunned. Amazed. Many pointing to You as the Master of it all.

Ending TLRB comment, the joint authors remind us, “For those of us who recognize how limited and helpless we are, the fact that God’s power and wisdom are great can be an encouragement, especially since He loves us and wants to help us.” Oh yes Father!

And we have this paragraph from Illustrated Bible Handbook, “A Doxology of Praise; 11:33-36. Paul concludes this section with a doxology that links the words of Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:11. God’s plan is great and complex. Its very complexity shows us the depth of the riches of His wisdom and knowledge.”

Scientists around the world work tirelessly to learn more of what You created. Countless dollars are spent in research. Holy God how I ask that You be given Your due. Let us truly turn to You in worship and adoration!

♪Nothing shall be impossible Your kingdom reigns unstoppable We’ll shout Your praise forevermore Jesus our God unstoppable… Unstoppable God Let Your glory go on and on Impossible things In Your name they shall be done♪

Oh yes Blessed Father. Jesus our God unstoppable! Yes. Let Your glory go on and on. We love You. Empower and embolden us in living this day as You would have us. Thank You. We love You. Amen.

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

Forever Reign

Monday, August 21, 2017 (6:32 a.m.)

Wonderfully, Perfect God,

Thank You. Thank You for such a perfect song with which to awaken. The only line I had was ♪I’m running to Your arms♪. That was enough however to match with the teardrops I’d drawn yesterday while singing ♪Forever Reign♪ Thank You God.

Hmm, yes. Thank You Father. Thank You for the work You do in us. Thank You that we get to sing [and cry] out to You. ♪Oh, I’m running to Your arms I’m running to Your arms♪ Thank You that in doing so I find myself once again in Revelation 22.

I look to Your Word for hope Blessed Father. For Truth. This last chapter offers me both. The New Jerusalem. Jesus is coming. Mm, yes. “Amen! Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).

♪My heart will sing No other name Jesus, Jesus… Oh I’m running to Your arms… Nothing compares to Your embrace Light of the world forever reign♪

Mm, yes. Come Lord Jesus. Come into this day. Come into this prayer. Come into our hearts. Come into our lives. Our very existence. Mm, yes!

This praise and worship song proclaims ♪You are good, You are good When there’s nothing good in me You are love, You are love On display for all to see You are light, You are light When the darkness closes in You are hope, Your are hope You have covered all my sin♪

Thank You for songs that sing Your Truth into our very being.

♪You are peace, Your are peace When my fear is crippling You are true, You are true Even in my wandering You are joy, You are joy You’re the reason that I sing You are life, You are life In You death has lost its sting♪

On this day of total solar eclipse, thank You that YOUR light is never overshadowed. Light of the world Forever reign

Thank You Father. Use this day of natural phenomena to the good of Your Kingdom, Lord. We love You. ♪Let the riches of Your love always be enough♪ for ♪NOTHING compares to Your embrace♪

Mm, yes Dearest Lord. Yes! Amen.

(361 words ~ 8:22 a.m.)

how cool is He?!

Sunday, August 20, 2017 (6:29 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! There was much activity in my dreams last night. What I remember more than anything was the distinct call to, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Wow! How cool was that?

Even cooler still was coming out here just now to find that I was once again singing ♪Great Is Thy Faithfulness♪ Blessed Father God, how I thank You for the ways You work in us. Often without our even noticing.

Thank You that as much of our nation is preparing to be wowed tomorrow by the Great American Eclipse of 2017, I am singing words that bring it to mind. ♪Summer and winter and spring time and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love♪

Holy God, I anticipate much of the nation joining together in saying, “Wow! How cool was that?” Mm, yes Father. With all of the hype and watch parties leading up to some two minutes and forty seconds of totality, what would it be like to have all this attention focused on You?

As this nation is currently in such a state of political and social unrest, how I pray the third verse of this hymn to You. ♪Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow - Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside♪

Oh yes Blessed Father! ♪Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me♪

Mm, yes, Holy God. Great is Thy faithfulness! Let us truly “be still and know” that You are indeed God. The Commander of the heavenly armies. Right here in our midst.

As the people of this nation are banding together to witness this natural phenomenon, how I pray we would come to witness much more than that. Let it be YOU Who is exalted, praised and honored tomorrow.

The Message uses these words for Psalm 46:10, “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” Mm. Yes! Father, great is Your faithfulness.

Rather than asking, “how cool was that?” let us each whole heartedly declare, “How cool is HE?!” Oh Lord. Yes Lord. Please Lord. How cool are You! Thank You. I love You. Use me well this day. Thank You. Amen.

(434 words ~ 7:37 a.m.)

Your breath

Saturday, August 19, 2017 (6:14 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! Sleep was better than usual. And I got to wake-up singing a song I was able to find quite easily. Searching ♪You’re the breath in our lungs♪ it turns out to be ♪Great Are You Lord♪

Oh, yes! Great are You Lord! Thank You.

♪You give life You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope You restore Every heart that is broken And great are You Lord It’s Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It’s Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to You only♪

Yes Father! It’s Your breath in our lungs. You put it there. Originally (Genesis 2:7). For Your good and Your glory. Let me use it well this day.

I love You. Be glorified in the choices I make Lord. ♪And all the earth will shout Your praise Our hearts will cry These bones will sing Great are You Lord♪

Yes, let me use Your breath as You intended when You first gave it to me. Thanking You. Praising You. Amen.

(196 words ~ 6:52 a.m.)

Ah Lord God

Friday, August 18, 2017 (8:32 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You that while sleep was interrupted, music sang out to my soul. ♪Nothing is too difficult for Thee♪ Yes! Nothing IS too difficult for You, Dear Lord!

Thank You Father for the easy access I had in finding the lyrics to ♪Ah Lord God♪ Yes Father, thank You! I didn’t know the title, just the refrain. And up it came!

♪Ah Lord God, Thou has made the heavens And the earth by Thy great power; Ah Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens And the earth by Thine outstretched arm♪

For the first time I discover these are actual words prayed to You by Jeremiah (32:17). “Ah Lord GOD! Truly, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for You” (Modern English Version).

Oh my yes! Whether it is something as minor as my own lack of sleep, compared to the violence and hatred going on in this world ♪Nothing is too difficult for Thee, Nothing is too difficult for Thee; O, great and mighty God, Great in power and mighty in deed, Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, Nothing is too difficult for Thee♪

Yes. Yes. Absolutely YES! Nothing is too difficult for Thee! Thank You Father. How I ask You to come into this present unrest. Bring us into Your presence, where we find Your “glory and honor; strength and gladness” (1 Chronicles 16:27).

Oh, how we love You Lord. Work in us that we would truly come to depend on You; Your great power and outstretched hand. Mm, yes!

♪Nothing is too difficult for Thee!♪

I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

291 words ~ 10:37 a.m.)

assured

Thursday, August 17, 2017 (8:01 a.m.)

So God,

Hi. I have time to spare today. The swim season is winding down and I am a little bit at loose ends. There is SO very much needed to be done around here. And now, there is actually time with which to do it.

The question is, where to start?

(11:37 a.m.)

I have a problem prioritizing. You know that. This is nothing new. Oh, but I think sitting here talking about it with You; honestly, openly and willingly just might be.

Holy Father God, thank You for time this morning to sit and converse. With You, friends and family alike. Thank You for the desire to want to work at getting things back on track around here.

Thank You for the genuine, tender love that You have for each and every single one of us. Father, how I ask You to teach me in using that love well. To Your good and to Your glory.

As the summer months are running down and the outdoor swim season is coming to a close, show me most clearly what You would have me do with the unscheduled time I will have available.

(12:24 p.m.)

As our time together continues, my thoughts keep evolving. One idea leads to the next goal. So much to do. With seemingly little time. Let me choose to ♪Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you Alllelu, alleluia♪

Mm yes Lord!

As I consider the things that scare me [making mistakes, being wrong]. Those of which I am often afraid. I sought an antonym for startle and found put at ease. Looking deeper, I came across assured. As in ♪Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!♪

Yes, Father. I DO find myself at loose ends. With much time and even more tasks with which to fill it. And again I am assured that I am so loved (John 3:16). I am blessed (Matthew 5:3-10). Oh, thank You Father.

enough

Wednesday, August 16, 2017 (7:11 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

“It works. Enough.” I just heard myself say these words and I’m still smiling. For a person who is excruciatingly hard on herself, anything working enough is such a foreign concept to my way of thinking. Thank You Father.

Thank You that You know us so well. Our thoughts. Our hopes. Our past. Our present. Our future. All that we are. All that we want to be. 

Blessed Holy God, I look to You. Oh, how I look to You. And to Your Word. Yes, Father. Thank You that we have Your Word of which to turn.

This morning as I consider the word enough, I am reminded that ♪Your grace is enough for me♪ (Chris Tomlin). Oh thank and praise You God.

Reading the lyrics to this praise song, I begin singing a different hymn. ♪Great Is Thy Faithfulness♪. So much is going on in my mind right now.

Your grace. Lovingkindness. Mercy. Faithfulness. Is enough. Sufficient. Mm. Yes. Thank You.

Your Word tells us that Your kindness and strength was enough for the apostle Paul in his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9 Worldwide English). The poem Great is Thy Faithfulness set to music sings of ♪Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside!♪

Seems like more than enough for me Lord! Yes, please Father. Let Your power be made strong in my weakness. You know there is plenty to go around! Enough. Far more than enough.

Thank You Father. Use me exactly as You wish this day. I love You. I long to serve and represent You well. I need You. I want You. I love You. And I thank You. Oh, how I thank You. Amen.

(287 words ~ 10:25 a.m.)

unexpected kindnesses

Tuesday, August 15, 2017 (7:01 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You bless us. Repeatedly. With surprises to us. Unexpected kindnesses. Mm, yes. Thank You Father.

Yes, Father! Thank You. I get to turn to Your Word. Turn in Your Word. Read Truth written so very long ago that still pertains today.

Truth. Eternal, everlasting Truth. Thank You Father.

Thank You that just by searching the word kindnesses I got to read Psalm 103 (verse 2). Illustrated Bible Handbook states, “Praise is offered to God for the gracious way He relates to David, and for God’s great love for all who fear [fully esteem and revere] Him.”

Yes! The Message says, “My whole being, praise the Lord. Do not forget all His kindnesses.” Oh, praise You Father.

Phrases found in a Theology in Brief titled Faith and Feelings in Illustrated Bible Handbook describes me well. Filled with emotion. Both negative and positive feelings. Human frailty. All the Truth found in Your Word [emphasizing Psalms 73, 77 and 116] is summed up with the following reality.

“We are never to judge the strength or validity of our faith by our feelings. Instead we are to let God shape our feelings as we relate to Him. We cannot completely change our own feelings simply by willing them to be different.”

Oh yes, Blessed Father. Yes!

Continuing, “But as we focus on who God is, and the meaning of our relationship with Him, God will graciously work in our emotional life as well as in our understanding, and shape us to His image.”

I am learning to look to and call on You. You are teaching me that it is YOU who quells the chaos in my heart, soul, mind and strength. Yes Father. “Praise the LORD, I tell myself, and never forget the good things [unexpected kindnesses] He does for me” (Psalm 103:2 New Living Translation).

Oh yes Blessed Father. Continue Your fine, good work in each of us. Molding and making us into the people You would have us be. Fully Yours. Completely grateful. I love You Lord. ThankYou. Use us. Amen.

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

quelling the chaos

Monday, August 14, 2017 (7:15 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Mm, yes. Blessed, holy God. Thank You that I get to look to You. Calling You blessed. And holy. I confess to feeling fussy. Testy. Out of sorts.

Oh but look, a word that means the opposite of these feelings is easygoing. Yes, please. Sign me up to be “free from tension and anxiety”. Mm. Yes. Please. God.

I just used the phrase “loose thoughts” in describing myself to a much loved one. Blessed God, I am looking to You. Asking You to order my thinking. To Your good. And to Your glory.

Fearful thoughts take me in one direction. A tiny bit of singing starts to quell the churning of my soul. Yes. Father! Singing out to You quells my soul. Thank You!

Yes, yes please. Blessed, holy God quell my soul. 

Allow me some perspective will You please? I have resumed seeing situations in terms of all or nothing. I am either doing everything completely right or I am completely wrong. No middle ground whatsoever. This is not Truth. Not Your Truth!

I continue playing mistakes over and over in my mind. Errors in judgment that have caused various people to become afraid. Scared to the point of tears. More than once. Forgive my 

bravado Father. Humble my heart. Please give me insight. To help.

Job’s friends believed they were right in the things they thought and said to him about his problems (Job 26:12, The Voice).

struggle

Sunday, August 13, 2017 (7:15 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You are so good. And Your love endures forever. Thank You that I get to search one thought (You are good) and find that Truth supported in Your Word.

I’m confessing to You right now the conflict that persists in my mind. I know You are good. Kind. Loving. And still I struggle as my thoughts go counter to Your teachings.

no surprises

Saturday, August 12, 2017 (6:34 a.m.)

Holy God,

Surprise! To me. Nothing surprises You!

During the night and early morning I continued singing ♪Hee-nay ma tov (Behold how good)♪ All the while expecting to be singing it right now. For whatever reason You know is necessary it changed.

Now the song is ♪Every time I feel the Spirit Moving in my heart I will pray♪ Yes! ♪Every time I feel the Spirit Moving in my heart I will pray♪ Father thank You!

Thank You for speaking [and singing] Your Truth into my heart! Looking at all of the versions to this Spiritual, it’s a third verse that is ringing true.

♪Down in the valley, when I feel weak It’s when the devil, usually speaks Because he’s crafty, and full of lies I need the Spirit to keep me wise♪ Yes, Lord, satan is full of lies!

Thank You that You are bigger. Stronger. Mightier. Greater. Yes, Father! 1 John 3:20 Worldwide English tells us, “Even if our hearts think we are wrong, God is greater than our hearts and He knows everything.”

Thank You that You do know everything. Nothing surprises You. What a glorious God You are!

Be in and with me this day. I long to live it as You wish. I love You and desire to enjoy and glorify You exactly as You intend.

Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(237 words ~ 8:00 a.m.)

"in unity"

Friday, August 11, 2017 (9:08 a.m.)

Holy Loving God,

I said it to myself yesterday, “I want ♪Hinei [hee-nay] Ma Tov (Behold How Good)♪ to be my ‘fight song’!” Blessed, Holy God I keep feeling under attack. From sources. Situations… satan.

It happened again this morning. Yet another in the series of “it’s always something”. One set of circumstances led to seemingly little direction and very curt responses.

Thank You Father that Your Word (Psalm 133:1) rang out continuously in my heart, soul and mind! ♪Behold how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together… In unity, to dwell in unity Lalalalalalalalalalala. In unity, to dwell in unity…♪

I sang it out during the night. Again upon awakening. And once more when the rubber started meeting the road around here. Challenges, Father. We keep coming up against challenges. Some much more minor than others.

Thank You that You remind us that we are not one another’s enemy. We are a team. We work so much better “in unity”.

Father God, how I ask You to keep working in and with us. You are our God and we are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture (Psalm 95:7; 100:3). How I ask You to do all You must to unite us. ♪In unity, to dwell in unity Lalalalalalalalalalala♪

Mm, yes Father. Truth. Found in Your Word. Empower and embolden us to living as though we believe and trust You to be the Good Shepherd You are.

Thank You for reminding me again of our Pastor’s words when it comes to us being Your sheep. “It’s important to remember, sheep are dumb!” That helps me smile again. Thank You Father.

Speaking of smiling, all of Psalm 100 is reason to rejoice. Thank You Father. Praise You. Bless You. Worship, honor, glorify, fully esteem and revere You. Yes! Let me be reminded to always revere God’s holiness [ARGH!]. Yes! Praise You Father. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(334 words ~ 10:02 a.m.)

songs of deliverance

Thursday, August 10, 2017 (6:08 a.m.)

Holy God,

I am here this morning asking for Your blessings. Large and small.

Maybe strike that. Perhaps what I am really seeking is to be more keenly aware of the blessings You already continuously provide us. Yes. That’s it.

I get to wake up in the morning with songs in my heart. Songs I believe You place there. Mm, yes. ♪Songs… of deliverance♪

Thank You Father. Thank You that I have such ready, easy access to songs. Your Word is filled with them. Truth that others have put to music and sung on Your behalf.

Mm, blessed Father I don’t even know where to begin in thanking and giving You praise! How about this morning? Just now.

The first song started with yesterday’s reminder (Psalm 133:1) ♪Behold how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together… In unity, to dwell in unity♪ From that stemmed various songs in The Hymnal that begin with “Be”.

Every thank and praise I start to offer You just plain falls short. There are so many offshoots that branch off into deeper thoughts of their own. One song leads to another. One thought takes off into many. Thank You Father that I get to look to You to wrangle them all back in to something cohesive.

Thank You that You are not a God of disorder, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33a). Thank You that we get to call out to You. Sing out to You to order our thinking. Our unsettled hearts and souls.

Thank You that You are indeed our hiding place! The current day song sings of what David penned all those years ago (Psalm 32:7). ♪You are my hiding place, You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance; Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You… Let the weak say, “I am strong in the strength of the Lord!”♪

Oh, yes, Father! I cry out to You. I sing out to You. And You settle my being. With songs of deliverance. Bless You. Praise You. Thank You! I love You. Use me as You wish this day. Fully. Freely. According to Your best. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

good and pleasant

Wednesday, August 9, 2017 (7:34 a.m.)

Holy, Loving God,

Thank You! Thank You that You love us so much (John 3:16). I confess to thoughts and feelings that do NOT represent Your love. And then You bring me back. With the words of “a song of David for those journeying to worship” (Psalm 133:1).

Father God, I confess to having such a bad attitude. And extremely negative thoughts concerning loved ones. It’s like a knee-jerk reaction. Almost anything is said and I seem to automatically choose to take offense. Thinking the absolute worst. Complete with mean and snarky internal rumblings.

Forgive me Lord!

Thank You that even though the battle rages on in my mind, Your Word rings true! Truly singing to my heart, soul and mind through the words of a song on a favored Psalty the Singing Songbook (#7) cassette.

♪Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together In unity, to dwell in unity♪ Yes please, Father. Work in me that I would truly come to dwell in unity!

Thank You for reminding me of the Truth found in Your Word. Philippians 1:9 in The Message spoke loudly to me decades ago. Healing a nearly lifelong frayed relationship.

The apostle Paul wrote, “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.” Mm, yes please!

He went on encouraging them to “Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.”

Oh yes Father, please! I honestly do want Jesus to be proud of who I am, how I feel, what I think and all I do. Yes please. Teach me to truly love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). AND my neighbor as myself (v. 31).

Yes. Yes. Yes. Do all You must that I would truly love appropriately. Good and pleasant. In unity. With you. And others. Yes Father. Thank You. I love You! Amen.

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

blessings flow

Sunday, August 6, 2017 (6:49 a.m.)

Mm, Most Blessed God,

Thank You! I got to wake up thinking about blessings flowing from You. Yes! They don’t get clogged. Or stuck. They flow.

I’m not exactly sure where this Truth will take me this morning. Already to the Doxology I’ve sung for as long as I can remember. And to “a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” (Revelation 22:1).

Mm, most Holy God. Blessings flow from You. Thank You.

Continuing with this depiction of Your healing power and the crystal river flowing from Your throne, “coursing down the center of main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations” (v. 2).

Yes! Blessings flow. Empower us to use them to Your good and to Your glory. We are Yours and we long to live this day as You would have us. Sharing the blessings that flow freely from Your throne.

I love You Father. Use us as only You know is best. Thank You for flowing blessings. Amen.

(209 words ~ 7:51 a.m.)

Proverbs 18

Saturday, August 5, 2017 (6:30 a.m.)

Holy God,

I’m asking something I’ve asked of You before. I want to be a better listener.

I don’t think I could smile any bigger right now. While at the very same time have my head hanging in shame. Truly.

Proverbs 18:15 in The Message sums it all up quite clearly. “Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.” Ouch! Yet so true.

Work with me here Father. Far too many times of late I have been both stupid and rude. Interrupting. Cutting others off. Ill-mannered. Impolite. Not at all who or how I want to be.

Reading all of Proverbs 18 I see myself in many of the verses. And again I say, “Ouch!” To the point of tears in my eyes. With a saddened heart and soul.

Blessed Father God, I love You so very much. I read Your Word and am so deeply convicted of the error of my ways. I recognize and confess to You the impulsivity that has plagued me for so many years.

Holy God, I honestly do not want to be stupid. Nor rude. Work in me as only You can. Growing me into the woman You would have me be. Virtuous and capable (Proverbs 31:10). Yes Father please.

My prayer to You this morning. I want to listen. And hear! I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(236 words ~ 8:03 a.m.)

patience

Friday, August 4, 2017 (6:51 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that You are such a good God. Thank You for Your patience with me.

Yesterday I noticed the words that automatically came out of my mouth when things didn’t go my way. Forgive me Father. I truly long to bless, not curse.

Therein lies my thanks for Your patience. You work with me tirelessly. Thank You Father.

This morning I turn to Psalm 86:15 in the Easy-to-Read version of Your Word. “My Lord, You are a kind and merciful God. You are patient, loyal, and full of love.”

Mm, how blessed we are to be loved by You. Thank You.

Reading up to verse 11, I find the prayer of my heart this morning. “LORD, teach me Your ways, and I will live and obey Your truths. Help me make worshiping Your name the most important thing in my life.”

Yes please, Father. Yes.

Things are not always going to go the way I want. Empower and enable me to greet irritants as opportunities to praise, not swear. I love You Father. Let that be readily obvious.

Thank You for blessing us. Keeping us. Shining Your face on us. Being gracious to us. Showing us Your favor, and giving us Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26). Equip us in using every single blessing [as well as disruption] to Your good and to Your glory.

We love You Father. Thank You for loving us first. And best. Yes! Thank You. Amen.

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

settled

Thursday, August 3, 2017 (6:18 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! Thank You that You love us so much. Thank You that when our minds settle on You, we find Your peace.

Mm, yes Father. Your peace that passes understanding. Down in our hearts (Philippians 4:7).

How I thank You Father. Three hours ago sleep began evading me once again. Thoughts began to churn. Then I remembered. And sang to You.

♫Trust in the Lord. With all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He will direct your path♫ (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Oh yes, Blessed God! How I thank You for the ways You guide our hearts and our minds. Because of Who and ALL You are we get to have peace in such an unsettled world.

The apostle Paul wrote to the people of Colosse to “show us that Christ is the only real source of power in our life” (The Life Recovery Bible THE BOTTOM LINE). He wanted them [and us] to be reminded of where our focus should be. On Christ!

“Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Mm. Yes! Indeed!!

Illustrated Bible Handbook refers to this chapter as Christ, The Pattern for a Fulfilling Life. Section 3:1-4, “One Focus Only”. Oh thank You Father.

The Life Recovery Bible devotion for Self-Protection ends by clearly stating, “The idea of God guarding us from the evil we face in life is comforting. God’s peace is promised only if we routinely turn every worry and need over to Him and develop a grateful attitude. When we turn our worries over to God’s care, we will discover His protection and experience the inner peace that passes all understanding.”

Thank You Father. Thank You for settling me. Again. And again. And again!

Empower and embolden me to use this day to the good of Your glory. Wisely and well. I love You so very much. Let that be what others see in me. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(354 words ~ 7:50 a.m.)

Holy, holy, holy!

Wednesday, August 2, 2017 (7:21 a.m.)

Holy God,

Mm, yes, Holy, Holy God.

Thank You! Even when I can think of nothing worthwhile to say, my heart and soul sing out to You.

♫Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.♫

Mm, yes Holy God. How our hearts and souls and minds and strength do rise to You! Thank You that we get to sit here in the comfort of our own home while unique to us weather takes place outside.

all blessings

Tuesday, August 1, 2017 (6:52 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. Rain. Lightning. Thunder. Weather. Humidity. And a trip planned for a water park. Yes Father, praise You.

I sang the words five hours ago when sleep evaded me. ♫Praise God from Whom all blessings flow♫ I stopped right there. Considering the words, “all blessings”.

Mm, Father. As we prepare to leave for a fairly new to us experience I am asking that You would make us keenly aware of all the blessings You have for us this day.

We love You. We long to serve You. And we ask You to guide and direct us in doing just that. Empower and embolden us in actually living Your Word, representing You well to a desperately hurting world.

Mm, yes Father. Praise You from Whom all blessings flow. Contemporary English Version for Ephesians 1:3 reads, “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven!”

Yes please. Remind us long and often this day to give You all the praise and all the glory You so rightly deserve.

Thank You for blessing and keeping us. We love You. We thank You. And oh, how we praise You. Thank You. Amen.

(211 words ~ 7:21 a.m.)