sing to the Lord

Thursday, September 28, 2017 (5:35 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. I got to wake up singing to You this morning. Yes, thank You Father.

♪There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working pow’r In the blood of the Lamb. There is pow’r… In the precious blood of the Lamb♪

Mm, yes Jesus. Thank You. Thank You that You are our Lamb. And thank You for the way one song leads to another when I thank and praise You.

I start by reading the words to this hymn, found under the subject title THE REDEEMER: HIS BLOOD. Just pages over, under THE REDEEMER: HIS GRACE, LOVE AND MERCY I find a song that is brand new to me.

♪Jesus, my Jesus, Your love means so much to me. Jesus, my Jesus, Your love is all that I need♪ Mm, how true are these words!

Then starts a song I learned decades ago ♪Cantad al Señor, un cantico nuevo, Oh, Sing to the Lord, oh sing God a new song♪ And the search in Your Word continues…

First, Revelation 12:11, “And they [the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ] have defeated him [the accuser] because of the blood of the Lamb”.

Next comes Ephesians 5:2. “Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins”. Oh, Jesus. Yes!

Other translations say: “Walk in love”, “Live in love”, “Live lovingly”, “Be full of love for others”, “Learn a life of love”, “Conduct yourselves in love”. Yes Jesus! Yes that I would.

And how can I? ♪There is pow’r, pow’r wonder working pow’r In the precious blood of the Lamb♪

Holy God, throughout Your Word are calls to sing to You (Psalm 96:2, 98:4-5; Zephaniah 3:14-17). To sing You a new song (Psalm 40:3, 96:1, 98:1). Let my praise to You be authentic. New. Fresh. Based on Your promises.

Blessed Father, my mind truly swims with excitement as I once again hear music in my soul. One thought striking up the chords to another song. Some newer to me than others.

Guide me in our walk together this day. Keep me from the pitfalls of despair to which I am so often prone. I love You. I want to serve You as You wish to be served. Readily. Willingly. Obediently. Make it so Most Blessed God. Make it so.

Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

full of joy

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 (6:41 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I love You. I am still resisting change. Sitting. Refusing. And now smiling. Just a bit.

I think I know what’s going on. Fear. Again. I’m attempting to protect myself from pain. I don’t want to get my hopes up. Thinking somehow that will keep me from being disappointed.

Work in and with me this day that I would come to accept and welcome all You have for us. Yield to, submit to. Yes Father, do all You must that I would completely surrender to You. And trust Your will. Your Way.

I can’t protect myself from the pain of watching others suffer. I know You to be good. Kind. All knowing. I confess to withdrawing in attempts to hide from sadness.

This is NOT the way to rejoicing in You always (Philippians 4:4). Mm, yes Father. Your Word is filled with Truth and direction for each of us. At the end of the day, everyday, I truly long to be joyful. 

Mm, yes Father. Joyful. Full of joy. Wiling to take the risk… of hope. In You. Yes Father, I’m asking You to enable and empower me to trust, to hope, to be full of joy. Always.

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

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

the Flood

Tuesday, September 26, 2017 (7:23 a.m.)

Holy God,

You are so good. And we have so much concern in the world today. Father, thank You that You are in charge of it all.

It is so very easy for us to lose sight of Your presence. Thank You that Your Word brings us back to Your eternal plan for mankind.

Holiest God, I have no idea what the details of Your plan look like. How I thank You that You do.  You know exactly what You are doing. Nothing surprises You.

Thank You that we are called to look to You. Trust You. Obey You.

Reading of the Flood in Genesis (chapters 6-9) again I waver somewhere between excitement and dread. Father, it’s all so repetitious. Fellowship with You. Obedience. Wandering. Repentance. Fellowship…

I move from learning more of the Flood over to hoping in Psalm 33. “As far as God was concerned, the Earth had become a sewer; there was violence everywhere. God took one look and saw how bad it was, everyone corrupt and corrupting - life itself corrupt to the core” (Genesis 6:11-12, The Message).

“For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust…The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From His throne He observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so He understands everything they do… Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory - for all its strength, it cannot save you” (Psalm 33: 4; 13-15; 17).

Father, I read. I hope. I question. I fear. And I cling to the Truth that “the LORD watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine” (v. 18).

Most Holy God, how I ask You that we as the people of Your human race would truly come to “depend on the LORD alone to save us” (v. 20a). Fully believing that ‘only You can help us, protecting us like a shield’ (20b).

Unite Your people in living as You would have us live. “In Him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in His holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone” (21-22).

Yes Father. Lead us in loving and obeying You as we ought. Please. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(405 words ~ 9:44 a.m.)

Proverbs 9

Monday, September 25, 2017 (6:22 a.m.)

Most Blessed, Holy God,

Forgive me. I keep holding back from you. And I don’t know why. Forgive me. Yes, Father, forgive me.

You bless us. Profoundly. This I know to be true. Yet there is still a resistance on my part. An unwillingness to completely trust. And again I ask You, forgive me please.

Holy God, I love You. I do. Talk with me this morning, won’t You? Mm, yes. Guide me in Your Word that I would know You better.

(7:41 a.m.)

And here I am again in Proverbs 9. Mm. Wisdom versus folly. Mm, yes Father. How I ask You guide me. Teach me. Empower me to ‘leave my foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to become wise’ (v. 6 New Living Translation).

Oh yes Blessed God. “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding” (v. 10). There is no part of me that claims to grasp the meaning of this. Yet my heart is beating wildly and I am sitting up much straighter.

Again, I say, “Forgive me Father”. Forgive my FEAR! It’s what has kept me from hoping. Taking action. Doing.

Two prominent doubters of the Bible come to mind. The father described in Mark 9:17-24 and Thomas (John 20:24-29). They were honest with Jesus. They both verbalized their doubt.

Do I doubt Father? Is unwillingness to hope, trust, believe, take action the same as doubt? I don’t know. Oh, but I do know that if I am going to fear anything I want it to be YOU!

“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment” (Proverbs 9:10 New Living Translation). Dearest Father, I look to You. Asking that You would prompt me to take action. Free me from my fear of failure.

I read earlier that “fear is easy, hope is excruciating.”

[thebrackbills.com/2015/04/23/forgive-my-unbelief/]

This from a mom dealing with the terminal illness of her only child. She went on to describe her fear as a defense mechanism. Comfortable. Expected. “The rational response”. Acknowledging that “hope is hard”. Vulnerable. “Irrational in a situation like this”.

I confess to using fear as my excuse not to try. Not to do. It’s easier to sit. Forgive me. Change me. Empower me to ‘leave behind my foolishness and begin to live; learn how to be wise’ (v. 6 The Living Bible).

I love You Father. Teach me to be wise. Free me from the fearfulness that keeps me frozen. Yes Father, free me to LIVE as You would have me live. I love You. Thank You. Amen!

(464 words ~ 8:49 a.m.)

Lady Wisdom

Saturday, September 23, 2017 (11:27 a.m.)

Holy God,

I confess to having some difficulty re-entering life at home. We experienced so much beauty on our short trip away that many of my thoughts are still there.

I look around and there is so very much wanting our attention. So what do I do? Sit on the couch. And watch more television.

Forgive me Father. You come first. You really do. But can anyone tell? I think not.

Thank You for the privilege of bringing confusion to You. Mm, yes. Thank You Father.

Searching the word confusion, I read of Lady Wisdom’s dinner party in The Message. Proverbs 9:1-7, “Lady Wisdom has built and furnished her home… The banquet meal is ready to be served… Having dismissed her serving maids, Lady Wisdom goes to town, stands in a prominent place, and invites everyone within sound of her voice: ‘Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me!… Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life of meaning.”

Mm, yes. Father. I long to walk up the street to a life with meaning!

such amazing beauty

Friday, September 22, 2017 (7:55 a.m.)

Holy God,

It’s been days since I’ve sat down here with You. I confess to avoiding putting thoughts and feelings into words.

Hmmm… what’s up with that I wonder?

My Bible was out every day. Not just out, but read. Earnestly. One word subjects searched. Water. Stars. With so very much emotion.

Blessed Father, we were in such a beautiful, unfamiliar setting to us. Twin Lakes of the Mammoth Lakes Basin. Beauty, contentment, peacefulness. Did I mention such beauty? Amazing!

(9:19 a.m.)

To be honest, Holy God, I went up to the Eastern Sierras searching for signs of fall. You know… the whole change of colors aspect. While I did see some hints of orange, they weren't the vibrant reds and even purples I was hoping for deep within.

Oh, but… the stars and the fish and the snow all but made up for it! Lord, You just blessed us repeatedly with the amazing beauty of Your creation. There is no way for me to thank You enough for the opportunities You have allowed us.

There are so many traumatic things going on in the world around us that I feel foolish being completely lost in such amazing beauty.

weather

Monday, September 18, 2017 (6:43 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Truly, Father. Thank You for the work You have done in my heart regarding the weather. It seems like such a frivolous approach to take with You. Yet I am earnest in my thankfulness.

Just weeks ago I was bemoaning the stormy skies and the changes the weather made to my plans. Today I am here thanking You for that very same weather. In hindsight I have come to  see it all as a very good thing for me.

Silly as it seems to me to be going on again with You regarding the weather, I find much said about it in Your Word. Looking at many of my past prayers to You, I’m surprised with how often I’ve brought it up. Especially in this past month.

Reading Psalm 135 in The Message, how I thank You for the praises the psalmist had for You. Illustrated Bible Handbook describes this psalm as one that shows “the greatness of God, and His superiority to all idols [as] shown by His mighty acts in history.”

The Life Recovery Bible’s comment for verses 1-13 states, “Knowing that God has chosen us as His own should give us the confidence to call on Him when we are in trouble. All through the Old Testament we see evidence of God working to save people.”

How I do love seeing evidence of Your work, Father!

Continuing, “Because God is all-powerful and ‘does whatever pleases Him’ throughout the earth, He can help us when we call on Him. In His greatness, no problem is too great for Him to solve.”

Oh most Blessed God, how truly grateful we are that You are so merciful. Powerful. All knowing.

The Message (Psalm 135:5-7), “I, too, give witness to the greatness of GOD, our Lord, high above other gods. He does just as He pleases - however, wherever, whenever. He makes the weather - clouds and thunder, lightning and rain, wind pouring out of the north.”

Yes, most Holy God. Keep me aware of Your greatness. Remind me often that I truly am grateful for all You are and all You do.

Thank You again for changes in the weather that help me transition to what comes next. You know Your plan for us. Align us to it I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(400 words ~ 7:58 a.m.)

a slow approach

Sunday, September 17, 2017 (8:29 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You!

It’s taken me awhile to get here. Oh, but God, how I thank You for such a slow approach. Mm, yes. A slow approach to appreciating You. And Your Word. And all You have to offer.

Oh, yes!

I took the time to reread the verses (Luke 6:37-38 The Message) I quoted here yesterday. Jesus spoke to His followers about the importance of our relationships with others being “free of judging, filled with forgiveness” (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

Mm. Truly Father, I long to live my days “free of judging, filled with forgiveness.” Oh yes Lord. Empower me this day to obey Your teachings, not just nod my head in agreement.

The more I read of this section, the more deeply I breathe. Slowly. Contemplative. Oh yes Jesus, teach me to take a slow approach to encouraging others. Forgiving. Giving. Loving. I want desperately to be all You have for me to be.

Illustrated Bible Handbook; Judging Others, “We only owe others one debt, the Bible teaches: ‘the continuing debt to love one another’ (Romans 13:8). We do not owe it to others to stand in judgment over them - only to stand with them as members of a loving, supportive community in which each can grow to know God better.”

I read these thoughts. Breathe deeper. And imagine what it would be like to live nonjudgmentally of others. Oh Dear God, make it so!

“How wonderful it is to be able to look at a brother or sister uncritically, freed by God to love him or her unstintingly, and so to communicate the amazing grace of our Lord.”

Mm, yes. Please.

Thank You for this slow approach to this morning. Guide me in it throughout the day. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(308 words ~ 9:20 a.m.)

BONUS

Saturday, September 16, 2017 (7:53 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You! You have blessed us so incredibly much. We get to have fun. Try new things. Make mistakes. Get a few owies. Bumps. Bruises. Hurt feelings. And huge hugs.

The word that came to mind at a water park the other day was, “BONUS”. Yes Father. Every opportunity we experienced that time away from home was indeed such an incredible bonus.

I was witness to one young mother thoroughly enjoying her son’s time in a wave pool. SO many giggles on her part seemed to encourage him in continuing his own fun and frolic. Thank You Father. Thank You for bonus moments.

Mm, yes, Father. Even now. I am having some bonus moments with the grandchildren. Some unexpected free hours to spend with them. And especially, the bonus time here with You.

Yes, Holy Father. Thank You for time I had not planned to have. Let me use it wisely and well Blessed God.

Reading in Your Word right now my heart seems to smile its agreeance. Luke 6:37-38 (The Message), “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults - unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back - given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

fully expecting

Wednesday, September 13, 2017 (6:45 a.m.)

Thank You Most Holy God,

Yes. Thank You!

Yesterday, as the day was unfolding and falling nicely into place, dark clouds once again came rolling in. The biggest difference from other afternoons with the same weather pattern? I turned immediately to You.

Yes Father. Rather than curse my bad luck, I remembered to turn to You. Thank You for the Truth of John 16:33.

Holy God, I realize rain clouds do not constitute great suffering. They represented something I couldn’t control.

Thank You that although I had made my own plans fully expecting them to all go my way You reminded me that You are completely in charge of it all. And I accepted it right there in the moment.

I remembered that according to Jesus’ words to His disciples (John 16:33) I could trust You to settle my heart. “…trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world” (The Message).

Mm, yes Father. I anticipated with an alternative. Keep working in me Lord. Retrain me that I would truly believe and trust Your guidance and direction.

I love You so incredibly much. Be in, with, by, through and for me I pray. That I would truly live this day as You wish. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

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

Your embrace

Tuesday, September 12, 2017 (7:17 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

How I look to You. A praise song was singing to me earlier. It’s since been replaced with ♪You are good, You are good When there’s nothing good in me… Nothing compares to Your embrace Light of the world FOREVER REIGN♪

Oh, how I thank You for Your presence Father. Mm, yes. Your embrace.

I sit here. Your Word right at hand. Breathing deeply. Hoping. Holding on to Your promises. Thank You Father. Praise You.

♪Oh, I’m running to Your arms I’m running to Your arms The riches of Your love Will always be enough Nothing compares to Your embrace Light of the world FOREVER REIGN♪

Mm, yes. Thank You Father. Yesterday You reminded me that “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9). A very important Truth I had again forgotten. I am free to make all the plans I want. The key is accepting the direction You want me to go.

I forget that. A lot! When I finally remember and settle in to Your embrace, I am soothed. Comforted. Blessed. So supremely blessed.

Oh thank You Father. Thank You.

(10:20 a.m.)

Father, I am back just to ask You to keep me in Your will today.

The minor struggles and frustrations I have encountered because of the recent weather are exactly that. MINOR!

Plans have been altered. Disappointment has crept in. Thank You for blowing it all away yesterday with the reminder of me writing it all in pencil. While giving You full rein [REIGN] to do with my plans as You wish.

Yes, Father. Keep me in Your will and in Your way today. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I would truly live [and love] as You would have me.

Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(318 words ~ 10:31 a.m.)

absolutely necessary

Monday, September 11, 2017 (6:42 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. Mm. Yes. Thank You Father. It’s not always what I feel like saying. Oh, but it’s necessary. So absolutely necessary.

Your Word tells us to “Thank God no matter what happens” (1 Thessalonians 5:18a). That’s The Message’s version of “In every thing give thanks”.

I confess to You Blessed God, this is rarely my first response. I tend to moan. And groan. I curse much more readily than I appreciate.

Here I ask You to do Your mighty work in me. I am inclined to good intentions. And very little follow through. In almost any given situation, “I’d rather not” is my go to phrase. You can change that. I know You can.

I’ve watched You. In different times and varying circumstances I’ve experienced the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) that Your Word promises. And whence does it come? Paul’s words just verses above.

“Always be full of joy in the Lord, I say it again - rejoice!” (v. 4). Followed closely by “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done” (6).

I do Father. Truly I do. I am aware of Your blessing and keeping of us (Numbers 6:24). You smile and are gracious to us (v. 25). You show us Your favor and give us Your peace (26). Thank You for reminding me of the importance of giving thanks.

This morning I woke up determined to sing out ♪Jesus I trust in You♪ at every turn that didn’t appear to go my way. Right now I can’t even find more words to this song. Maybe these are all I need?

Yes. Jesus I DO trust in You! Even as I was beginning to search lyrics for this ♪Give Thanks with a grateful heart♪ started singing within as well. Trust You and give thanks. Yes. Let that be my mantra for the day!

It is the anniversary of a national catastrophe, coupled with weather related devastation throughout the world. Trust You. And give thanks.

♪Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, “Rejoice!”♪ The Truth of Your Word is represented in so many songs this morning. Let it be that I would truly come to live the Way You would have me live.

In You. With You. By You. Through You. For You. Trusting You. And giving You thanks. Yes. It is so absolutely necessary. I love You Father. Thank You for Your blessings. Thank You for Your promises.

Right my thinking. Empower and embolden me in knowing and doing Your will. Change this heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26) that seems to appear in me at any given turn.

I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You Blessed God, “make it so”. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

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

healthy and balanced ~ 9/4/17

Labor Day Monday, September 4, 2017 (6:18 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You Father. I came across the words “healthy and balanced” yesterday. Mm, yes. Healthy and balanced.

Even the idea of these two words together causes me to smile. Healthy. Balanced. It’s what I sought with our pool water. Moreover, I realized again it is how I long to live my days. Healthy and balanced.

Once more reading the comment from yesterday (Exodus 24:9-11) I confess to struggling right now.

(8:14 a.m.)

Father, I don’t want to continue blowing smoke at You. Trying to think the right thoughts. Say the right things. Feel the right feelings. No. Instead I long to be honest with You right now. Open. Willing. Yes. Please.

I keep wavering between hope and despair. Truly I want to lean into You. The hope that comes from trusting and believing You. Your Word. Your promises.

I start to get excited. There’s a hint of a smile. And then crash! Fearful, negative thoughts start to creep in. So…

Deep breath. Your Word. And these thoughts [The Life Recovery Bible comment for Exodus 24:9-11]. “One glimpse of God in His glory will heal both our pride and our self-deprecation, giving us a healthy and balanced self-assessment.”

A deeper breath. And even bigger smile. Turning to the very last page and comment of my go-to Bible. Revelation 22:20-21 begins, “It is unhealthy to harbor unrealistic dreams about a future that will never come about. But it is very healthy for us to anchor our new life and recovery in the certainty of Christ’s return.”

Oh yes Father. “By trusting Christ with our future, we can better deal with our past and live a more productive present.” This is where healthy balance lies. In You. Your Truth. Your promises.

Let me live this day as though I truly do believe and trust You. I love You. I want to honor and glorify You. Work in, with, by, through and for me to that end Blessed God. To Your good and glorious end!

Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

ever

Sunday, September 10, 2017 (7:09 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

We love You. We trust You. We need You. We want You. Thank You that You are ever present. Ever available. Ever. Always.

Mm, yes Father. You are ever. For ever. Psalm 48:14 states it clearly. Reading the various translations I have a bit of a smile, accompanying a deep sense of contentment. Thank You Father.

Thank You for the Truth and hope that Your Word proclaims to us. King James Version tells us, “For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death.”

The Living Bible says, “For this great God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide until we die.” Other versions announce, “… He will be our guide for ever”; “… till the end”; “… from now on”.

Names of God Bible puts it even more encouragingly to me. “This Elohim is our Elohim forever and ever. He will lead us beyond death.” Mm. Yes, Father! Not just “until we die”. But beyond. Thank You Father. Praise You! 

waiting to see

Saturday, September 9, 2017 (6:58 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You! I think it doesn’t look like it outwardly. Oh, but I do.

And I trust You. Again, not so evident to the naked eye. Oh yes, but trust is there. 

Thank You. Thank You for an innate willingness to wait and see what’s going to happen next. Yes Father. I seem to be great at waiting.

Or is it procrastinating? I have serious trouble distinguishing one from the other.

Here is where I look to You. Expecting You to do in, with, by, through and for me all the things I absolutely cannot on my own.

Left to myself Father, I can’t care. Traumatic weather conditions throughout the world are terrifying. Yet I whine and carry on because of stormy skies that might interrupt my plans.

Forgive me Father. Forgive my short-sightedness. You are good. You are holy. You know exactly what You are doing. Forgive my self serving nature.

I confess to You Blessed God, I want what I think I want. And I want it yesterday. Do all You must in empowering me to want what You know is best for us.

Yes, Blessed Holy Father God. You know what is best. Nothing changes that. Align me with Your will. Make me able to trust You in all You know is best.

This morning I am reading in Ruth. Her faithfulness to her mother-in-law is beyond anything I have ever experienced. “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16).

Holy God, that is incredible trust. And faith. The kind of trust and faith I want to live each and every day.

I said it at the beginning, I love You. Reading the overview of this book in The Life Recovery Bible, my heart truly leaps with hope.

“Together Ruth and Naomi trusted God to help them, and God came through in His own time.” These women had desperate needs and You met them. They trusted You and they found security, love and joy.

“We have all experienced some kind of loss. There are times when we might feel as if the future is hopeless, even after we have given it over to God. As we grieve, we may feel abandoned and bitter toward God and the people around us. But we can rest in the fact that God is still with us - even when our emotions scream the opposite message - and that He is working on our behalf behind the scenes.”

Naomi’s faith in You is exhibited by her words to Ruth (3:18). “Now you must wait, daughter. We must wait and see what happens. Be at peace. That man [Boaz] will not rest today until this is resolved.”

Even as I sit here praying, I am reminded of the father of the demon-possessed boy (Mark 9:14-29). Holy God, this father “acknowledged both belief and doubt.” I resemble this statement Dearest Dad.

I am one who absolutely knows You to be good. Holy. Able. And at the very same time I wonder what Your best will look like for us. Here I echo this father’s words, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 English Standard Version).

Mm, yes Blessed God. I believe. Help my unbelief! I love You. I thank You. And I ask You to do all You must in enabling me to follow Your every lead. I love You. Do all You must I pray. Thank You. Amen.

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

Blessed Father

Friday, September 8, 2017 (6:14 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. You are so very good. The news in the world is not. I confess to the struggle of keeping our faith and hope in You.

It’s so easy to lose sight of all the good You do. All the good You are. Thank You that You do not change.

My mind is all over the place this morning. Scattered. Going quickly from one thought to another.

Still I look to You. Your Word. Your promises.

Blessed, Holy, Father God, the one solid Truth we have on which to stand and hope is Your great love for each and every single one of us (John 3:16). I admit to wanting different than what I have. To who I am.

I struggle with self doubt. Not being enough. Not doing enough. Then I look to You. And the peace that washes over me as I sit in Your presence.

None of all the devastation going on in the world gets passed You unnoticed. Not the meanness. Nor the good.

Your Word tells us repeatedly of Your love. Your Truth. The hope we have in You.

I read in Psalms and everyday songs start singing to me. Music I don’t even know. A country western artist (Wade Hayes) singing ♪You Were, You Are, You’ll Always Be♪. Words I attribute to You Blessed Father.

I have places to go right now. Appointments to keep. Things to take of. Go with us. Before us; behind, beside, above, beneath. Completely surround us with Your presence Blessed Father.

It truly is a big and scary world out there. Left to ourselves we will be devoured (1 Peter 5:8). But with You? All things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Thank You Blessed Father. We love You. Keep us in You we pray. Amen.

(307 words ~ 7:18 a.m.)

provision and deliverance

Thursday, September 7, 2017 (6:33 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You for Your PROVISION AND DELIVERANCE. Thank You for changing my focus. Thank You that as much as I know I want to be grateful, it is rarely my first response.

I confess to You Blessed God. Grumbling comes easy to me. As do growling. Grousing. And grudge holding. Praise and thanksgiving? I have to work at them.

Thank You that You do not give up on us. Your Word tells us often and repeatedly to love. You. Others. Ourselves. Simple enough when all seems right with the world.

Oh, but let the storm clouds come in. Or now, with even the threat of them, and I become surly. Sulky. Bitter.

Thank You Father that You do not leave us alone to our own devices. You set up a better system long ago.

(7:01 a.m.)

Up, down. Start, stop. Grumble… Grin? No. I refuse to grin.

(7:53 a.m.)

And just like that it all begins again.

Father, I truly AM grateful! You bless us profoundly. Of this I am absolutely aware. And appreciative.

Thank You for leading me to start singing ♪It Is Well With My Soul♪. It is. I know it is. Along with the hymn itself is the verse associated to it. Psalm 55:18.

Reading the verse, I start humming something else. What is it? How will I put it together? Oh, there it is. In the chorus. ♪Great Is Thy Faithfulness♪ Lamentations 3:22-23.

As I continue reading and singing, there are several hints to me smiling. I attempt to refuse and stay out of sorts. Thank You that You will have none of this for me.

Thank You for a phone call that got me up and started with putting our home back into order. Thank You for the difference that doing just this one thing makes. Yes Father. Thank You.

I confess to feeling peevish. It is absolutely not my best look. Refusing to care about simple, everyday tasks and other people is a complete defense mechanism that no longer serves me well.

I continue looking to You for a healthy balance to my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength. I push. I pull. I struggle. I stop.

(8:19 a.m.)

And then I start again.

♪Give Thanks♪ is singing to me now. And I do, Father. Truly I do.

I thank You for Your love. Your ceaseless, unending love. Your love that covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). 

You call us to live for You. In You. By, with and through You. Make it happen for me this day. Empower and enable me to actually BE the woman You [and I] want me to be. Not the one I continue trying to be.

Grateful. Thankful. Loving. Kind. Peaceful. Patient. Good. Joyful. Gentle. Faithful. Self-controlled (Galatians 5:22-23). Mm… yes Father. An extremely tall bill. One I absolutely cannot fill on my own.

♪Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. Your glory God is what our hearts long for, To be overcome by Your presence, Lord♪

Mm… yes please. Do all You must. All of which I am completely unable on my own. Let me love as You would have me love. Freely. Without reservation, or hesitation.

♪Freely, Freely I have received♪ Make it so I will freely give (Matthew 10:8b). Yes, Lord. Yes. Make it so.

I love You. And I thank You Blessed God. Do all You must. Thank You. Amen.

(604 ~ 8:34 a.m.)

a right spirit

Tuesday, September 5, 2017 (7:28 a.m.)

Fussy. Cranky. Out of sorts. These are very accurate descriptions of myself recently. And I honestly don’t know how to change it Father.

Thank You that You do! Thank You that we get to bring every single aspect of our being to You. ♪Change My Heart, O God♪ started singing within me. Thank You for the accompanying Bible verse.

Psalm 51:10. David’s psalm of repentance. “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me (World English Bible).

Mm, yes Father! So many different ways of asking You to renew my spirit! Such a variety of word pictures come to mind.

The Voice, “…restore within me a sense of being brand new.”

Tree of Life Version, “Let me hear joy and gladness, so the bones You crushed may rejoice.”

Skipping down to verse 17, I confess to being a fair weather rejoicer. When all is as I would have it, the “Hallelujah”s and “Thank You, Jesus”s come readily and easily. Let the storm clouds roll in and watch me grumble.

“The sacrifice You want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise” (v. 17). How embarrassed I am to admit to having my spirit broken by drastic changes in the weather.

Rather than continuing to chide and chastise myself unmercifully, it is indeed to You I keep looking. Asking Your forgiveness. Seeking Your guidance. Knocking on Your door of goodness and grace. Mm, yes Father. It is You I long to glorify and enjoy.

The Message presents Your Truth in such descriptive words. I read David’s Psalm (51) to You and am uplifted “Soak me in Your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life

clear view

Sunday, September 3, 2017 (7:07 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Truly. Fully. Thank You!

I came out here feeling discouraged. There’s another setback. The list of “it’s always something” continues getting longer. And I don’t always remember to bring it to You… first!

Yes Father. Forgive my tendency to plow through. Straight on ’til morning. With little attention paid to You beforehand.

(10:04 a.m.)

And I’m back.

Still trying to figure out how to clear the water of our pool. Clarity. I’m seeking clarity. Is this some kind of metaphor?

Mm, most Holy God. I love You so much. I keep turning to Your Word. Looking up verses regarding “clear water”, “clearness”, “clarity” and now “clear view”. Mm, yes Father.

How I truly seek a clear view. Not just of the cloudy water in our swimming pool.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for Exodus 24:9-11 begins by affirming, “One of the best ways for us to see ourself as we actually are is to gain a clear view of God and His glory.” How very true is this?

Does my own murky thinking obscure the awesomeness of Your glory. Am I not able to see the forest for the trees? Can’t see the bottom for the water?

Guide me blessed God. Show me what You want me to see. Teach me what You want me to know.

antonyms and acrostics

Saturday, September 2, 2017 (12:09 p.m.)

Escondido, CA

Holy God,

ARGH! How quickly things change. One minute peace, the next? Calamity!

A misplaced item tips just enough to break a bottle. The next thing I know I feel juvenile all over again. 

Tears in my eyes right now affirm how deeply seated these feelings of failure and clumsiness run. Throughout childhood. All the way to present day.

How I thank You Father for antonyms. And acrostics. “ARGH!” Reminds me to “Always Revere God’s Holiness!” Even [or is that especially?] when I am feeling humbled. Humiliated. Ashamed. Embarrassed. Vulnerable.

Thank You Father. In my powerlessness just now I thought to come to You. I cannot control these feelings of worthlessness. Ah, but YOU can! Thank You Father. Praise You.

The antonym for calamity? Godsend! Boon, blessing, bonus, benefit, advantage, help, aid, asset; stroke of luck, windfall, manna, (from heaven).

I don’t know what stroke of luck a broken bottle [of wine, no less] could possibly be yet I am offering You my now nervous stomach trusting Your blessing in it all. Do whatever is necessary in helping me become the confident, God-created-in-Your-image woman You would have me know and believe myself to be.

I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(213 words ~ 12:34 p.m.)

incredibly good and awesome

Saturday, September 2, 2017 (8:41 a.m.)

Escondido, CA

Incredibly Awesome God,

Thank You for how good You are. Incredibly good and awesome. Mm, yes Father. Incredibly good and awesome.

I honestly don’t even know where to start with You this morning. Thank and praise always. Yes. “In all things give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ).

(9:33a.m.)

Yes, Father. The longer I sit here, the more distracted I get. Then I take that one deep, cleansing breath that brings my thinking back to You. All You are. All You do. And once again I am thankful. So incredibly thankful.

Thank You Father. Thank You for the good You have brought into my life. Sitting in a place that is unfamiliar to me, I am at peace. A sense of deeply-seated love. That kind of love that leads to the true peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7), ♫down in my heart♫.

Why? Because of You. And Your tremendous love for each and every single one of us. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that none should perish, but have ♫everlasting life♫”.

Holy God, how I thank You for the way You intersperse Your Word with music containing Your Scriptures in my subconsciousness. Without attempting to be aware of certain thoughts or ideas, Your Truth leads. Thank You for the eagerness I have to follow.

Jesus, I love You. Thank You for the privileges and blessings You have allowed me in this life. You came. You suffered. You died. And You came again. So all would not perish but have ♫everlasting life♫. There it is again.

There is currently a phrase that uses the word stupid to describe an incredibly good thing. There is no way I would ever want to refer to You as stupid. While at the very same time, that is exactly what I am experiencing. A stupidly good morning.

There truly is no intelligence involved here right now. I am genuinely enjoying being alone with You. My thoughts going to the happiest memories. Hope and joy leading the pack. Again, because of You. Your love. Your plan. Your grace. Your incredible goodness. And awesomeness.

Blessed God, use me this day. Exactly as You wish. Be in, with, by, through and for me in every single encounter I have. Let it be that You are magnified and glorified in some absolutely unexpected ways.

Thank You for blessing me and keeping me in Your glorious presence. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(429 words ~ 10:15 a.m.)

healthy guilt

Friday, September 1, 2017 (7:32 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You for so very many things. Electricity. Some sleep. Some more sleep. Rest. Air conditioning. Creature comforts.

And right here in the middle of thanking You for the things that help ease our existence I’m feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt. Other people are hurting. And still other people are helping. While I am not.

Talk with me this morning about guilt. I confess to not knowing what is true guilt and what is false. Mm, yes Father. Talk to me.

Reading an e-article concerning healthy guilt versus hurtful guilt, I feel a smile coming on. There’s a sense of power coursing through me. A legitimate, “Aha!” as I once again read of satan as being the accuser (Revelation 12:10).

Thank You Father. Yes! I admit to feeling much like a ping pong ball right now. Excitement over the Truth and promises of Your Word one moment. Followed almost immediately by the intense self persecution of a “Yeah, but what about…?” mindset.

Healthy [true] guilt smack up against harmful [false] guilt. The Holy Spirit and Your grace versus the father of lies (John 8:44) and condemnation. Mm, and here it is! “There is therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Yes. Yes. Yes Father, please. Equip me to live this day in the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

I love You so very much. Let it be obvious in my thoughts, words and deeds. Be glorified, Blessed God. Yes. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(269 words ~ 9:40 a.m.)