and SO much more

Monday, October 30, 2017 (7:26 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You that You are good. You are holy. You are God. Thank You that because You are all these things (and SO much more) I get to relax and trust and hope... and SO much more!

Thank You God. Yes. Thank You.

Thank You that You have designed us to need and to want You. Thank You that in acknowledging this need I get to come again to 2 Peter 1:3. “As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive glory and goodness!”

Oh, thank You Jesus! Thank You for coming to bring us glory and goodness. Life and Truth (John 10:10; 18:37). And so much more. Thank You for inviting us to come unto You (Matthew 11:28).

Yes. Hallelujah for Jesus' coming. And loving. And teaching. And dying. And coming again. Thank You Jesus for the hope You would have us receive from trusting You.

There is hope I am feeling for the first time in quite a while. Hope that I am so excited [AGOG] about. Thank You Jesus.

The simplicity of saying “Thank You” opens the door for Truth. Faith. Hope. Love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Thank You!

A comment for 2 Peter 1:3-4 in The Life Recovery Bible tells us, “One of the most comforting by-products of faith is the simple awareness that we possess everything we need to live a full and meaningful life. How do we experience this provision? By participating in God’s nature through faith and by growing through practice into all that He has designed us to be.”

How I thank You that providing for our every single need. Thank You for instilling in us the desire to seek and follow You.

“The past is part of who we are, the future is securely in God’s hands, and today is filled with opportunities to grow in our understanding of love, forgiveness, truth, and grace! Just as parents provide for their children’s needs, so God supplies all that we need, including the ability to rise above our circumstances and temptations” (TLRB).

Love. Forgiveness. Truth. Grace. How wonderful to come again to Your Word. Trusting You to teach me so much more.

Thank You, Father. Thank You, Son. Thank You, Holy Spirit. Work in, with, by, through and for me this day exactly as You wish. I love You. And I thank You. Amen.

(412 words ~ 9:08 a.m.)

"God is love"

Thursday, October 26, 2017 (6:16 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

Thank You for Your patience. Even as I started to consider You as patient, I wondered if that was just my own opinion. Immediately that thought was countered with “God is love”. And then I wondered…

If God truly is love, does each of the descriptions of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 aptly apply? I choose to believe yes they do. You are patient. Kind.

Oh, but here I stumble in my own thinking. “Love is not jealous” causes me to search Exodus 20:5, “for I, the LORD thy God, am a jealous God”.

And here I revert right back to asking You to teach me to ♪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).

Thank You Father that You make it possible for us to trust You. To love You. To want You.

I’m confessing to avoiding spending time alone with You these last many days. Not feeling good takes its toll on me. Referring to myself as a big baby comes easily for me. But much earlier this morning You helped me spread out a time line that is helping me see so many things  much more clearly.

Thank You Father. Truly. Thank You.

Thank You for helping me look at the past ten years and seeing pain I hadn’t fully acknowledged before. Thank You for the tears that want to spill out. Thank You for the love that has held us all together. Which circles right back around to, “God is love”.

Mm, yes Father. Let me hold on to this magnificent Truth this day. You are indeed love. That is where I long to focus. Let me live [and cough] in and through You. Be here in all that we are and all that we do.

I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You to empower and embolden me to Your righteous and glorious end. Yes. Thank You for Your patience. Thank You that You are love.

Thank You. I Love You. Amen.

(368 words ~ 7:32 a.m.)

"with God's help"

Monday, October 23, 2017 (6:40 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You for whatever is going on in my body.

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica to encourage them to continue trusting You. Yes Father. That is my desire. There is so much Truth and hope to be found here in Your Word. Thank You!

As I read his closing to this valuable letter (1 Thessalonians 5:14-28) I find myself going back and forth between his good advice and my own inability to follow it. And then I read the important words from the comment in The Life Recovery Bible. “If we follow these instruction with God’s help…”

Yes Father. The only way I am able to “give thanks in all things” (v.18) is with Your help. Can I “always be joyful” (v. 16)? “With God’s help”. Will I “keep on praying” (v. 17)? “With God’s help”!

♪Yes, Lord, Yes To Your will and Your way Yes, Lord , yes I will trust You and obey When Your Spirit speaks to me With my whole heart I’ll agree And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes♪ With Your help I will recognize Your Spirit’s voice.

You know the plans You have for me (Jeremiah 29:11). They are for good and not for evil. To give me a future and hope. How do I continue trusting and believing this? With Your help!

I am here thanking You Father. Guide and direct me to Your good and to Your glory. I love You. I long to serve You. And I look to You for Your blessed help. Thank You Father. Be with me this day I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(300 words ~ 7:38 a.m.)

intrinsic qualities

Sunday, October 22, 2017 (7:57 a.m.)

Blessed God,

How I thank You for Your love. And Your presence. And Your goodness. And Your grace. The list could continue ad infinitum. There really is no end to Your intrinsic qualities. One descriptive attribute just naturally leads to the next.

Thank You Father. Thank You that You are all these things. And so much more.

special favor

Saturday, October 21, 2017 (8:29 a.m.)

Escondido, CA

Holy God,

Thank You! We got to take another trip. Reconnect with an offspring. Explore new to all of us locations. Learn a lot about farm animals. Even fire a corn cannon. Yes Father, thank You.

As we take a lazy approach to whatever this day holds for us, Blessed God, I am asking special favor from You. Yes Father, it has taken me five days to stop long enough to ask You to do in, by, through and for me ALL that I cannot do on my own.

Dearest God, my body hurts. I don’t know if it’s from a long ago pull I experienced with my left arm. Or the extended yard work I did on Monday. Again, I say to You, my body hurts!

How I thank You for reminding me to come to You. Even the words ‘special favor’ took me straight into Your Word. Joshua 15:19 “Acsah answered, ‘I would like a special favor’.”

Going one verse up (18) to see what and who she was answering, I am excited to read, “… Acsah went to her father.” These five words immediately reminded me of the Truth of a different phrase. “You have not because You ask not.”

Searching Your Word I find where Joshua (10:12-14) spoke to You and the “sun stopped in its tracks in mid sky; just sat there all day. There’s never been a day like that before or since - GOD took orders from a human voice!”

Holy God, I absolutely am not ordering. I am asking. Seeking. Knocking. The Message tells us, “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need” (Matthew 7:7).

What do I need? YOU! What do I seek? Pain relief. Yes Father, I am coming to You asking for Your guidance in what must be done to heal my body.

I love You. I long to serve You. With a body that doesn’t scare me because of the pain. Guide me as only You can. Thank You, in advance. Amen.

(353 words ~ 9:42 a.m.)

into action

Thursday, October 19, 2017 (6:24 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You’ve helped me take action already this morning. Rather than shelve certain projects for later, I’ve made some decisions. And put others into action.

Yes, Father. Thank You.

Looking to You. Depending on You. Trusting in You, I am here thanking You. And asking that You would continue Your fine, good work with me.

The practice of putting thoughts into action is relatively new to me. I tend to wait. Process. Consider. Mull over. And oftentimes talk myself right out of many opportunities. Thank You for working to change that in me.

Father, You alone are good. You are Who I long to please. How I ask You to keep me walking the path You would have me take.

David thanked You because “You went into action” on his behalf (Psalm 52:9a The Message). Here I look into his words and echo them as my own. He spoke of people who “who didn’t make God their refuge. Instead, they trusted in their own wealth. They sought refuge in it - to their own destruction!” (v.7).

In verses eight and nine the Common English Bible continues presenting David’s experience with You. “But I am like a green olive tree in God’s house; I trust in God’s faithful love forever and always. I will give thanks to You, God, forever, because You acted. In the presence of Your faithful people, I will hope in Your name because It’s so good.”

Mm, yes, Your name IS so good! How I ask You to bless me and keep me in Your name this day. Work in, with, by, through and for me that I would continue with the action You have set forth.

I love You. I long to serve You. To fully esteem and revere You. Yes Father. Continue prompting me into action to Your good and to Your glory. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

singing praise

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 (6:25 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You that I get to come here before You singing Your praise.

I didn’t plan on it. I was going to thank You for being great. Good. You know like our mealtime prayers from childhood.

Mm, yes Father. Thank You that we get to remember those times. Automatically thinking of You as great.

“God is great” led me to Psalm 145. Illustrated Bible Handbook lists it as “Pure praise, offered to God for His many wonderful attributes and qualities.”

Pure praise. Hmm. Praise. I didn’t even know I was doing it until I heard it in my mind ♪Sing praise, sing praise♪ I couldn’t remember more words, but I immediately knew the melody.

Thank You Father. Thank You for people like Chris Tomlin who can work on a song for four years with the sole purpose being to glorify You. Mm. Yes. Singing praise and glorifying You.

♪Forever God is faithful Forever God is strong Forever God is with us Forever♪

How grateful I am to You Blessed God that even as I turn again to Psalm 145 the praise song began immediately. While reading, “I will praise You, my God and King, and bless Your name forever and ever” (v. 1) my heart was humming.

Checking back with the song my soul sang out ♪Give thanks to the Lord our God and King His love endures forever For He is good, He is above all things His love endures forever♪

Thank You. Yes. Thank You. Thank You for psalms of old that sing of Your greatness. Yes, Holy God. “Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! His greatness is beyond discovery!” (v.3).

Keep our focus on You this day I pray. Your greatness. Our need to sing Your praises. How we love and thank You. Use us to Your good and to Your glory. Thank You. Amen.

(325 words ~ 7:34 a.m.)

propelled

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 (7:56 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You propel me forward. Left on my own, to myself, I flounder. Resting in and trusting You, I truly am free.

Free to decide. Take action. Choose. Yes Father. Because of Your presence I am feeling empowered. Free to make mistakes. To “fail big”. To risk.

Hmm… go figure. All these years of living afraid. Scared of being embarrassed. And when I confess it to You? You propel me forward. Thank You.

Thank You that in considering myself propelled, I am led to Hebrews 1:3. “He (the Son) is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).

Mm, yes Father. The Life Recovery Bible comment for this verse begins, “There is a vast difference between the divine infinite Being (God) and limited human beings.” Yes! You are all powerful. Thank You.

“The only way a person can come to understand something of God’s glory and power is to get to know Jesus Christ by faith.” Yes! “Christ is simultaneously both an incredibly powerful expression of God’s person and the One who lovingly entered sinful human existence to redeem and renew needy souls.”

And then the begin finish… “When we acknowledge how powerless we are to save ourself, we can then come to the only power who can accomplish what we cannot - God in Jesus Christ.” YES! I can do NOTHING of value on my own. Oh, but in You…

Thank You God. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit. I am here asking for Your power once again. Seeking to be propelled into action. Knocking on Your door of opportunity to do good and be obedient to You and Your Word.

The Worldwide English (New Testament) says of Jesus, “He shines as bright as God. He is like God Himself. He holds up the world by the power of His Word. He made people clean from their wrong ways. Then He sat down beside God in heaven.” It is to You and Your power I turn this morning. Thanking You. Praising You. Loving You.

Propel me this day I pray. Amen.

(422 words ~ 9:01 a.m.)

Pride.

Monday, October 16, 2017 (6:28 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I made a mistake. And I’m trying to justify it by passing the blame onto someone else. Forgive me, Father. Perhaps I do this more often than I would like to admit.

Wow! How’s that for honest? Let’s step right in to You helping me grow through this current experience shall we.

“I was wrong.” That is not my favorite saying. “I made a mistake.” That comes out much easier. Mm, Father, take me deeper in exposing my desire to save face. Pride. Hmm…

(8:07 a.m.)

And now here I am reading of Joseph in Matthew 1:19. The Voice, “Joseph, because he was kind and upstanding and honorable, wanted to spare Mary shame. He did not wish to cause her more embarrassment than necessary.”

In my way of thinking, he wanted to help her save face Thank You Father. Thank You for his example. Thank You for his trust and faith in You.

The Life Recovery Bible’s overview of this book says, “Because Joseph believed God, his perspective changed. Mary and Joseph’s mutual commitment to and trust in God served as the foundation upon which their trust in each other could be reestablished.”

Holy God, how I thank You for taking a heartfelt confession of pride and directing me to deeper Truth. I love You Father. I ask You to guide the conversation I am going to be having concerning another mistake I’ve made.

Thank You for Your Truth. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the love You have for each and every single one of us. Guide and direct my choices and actions this day. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(289 words ~ 8:20 a.m.)

uniquely and supremely blessed

Sunday, October 15, 2017 (9:38 a.m.)

Holy God,

We are blessed. Because of Your great love for each and every one of us, we are uniquely and supremely blessed. Thank You Father. Thank You God. Thank You Jesus for the love with which You came (1 John 4:9-10).

The concept of Your love is so much bigger than my mind can even begin to fathom. Thank You that Your blessings do not depend on our own understanding of them.

Looking to and through Your Word I am brought again to consider Micah’s warning to Your people. The Life Recovery Bible’s overview of this book tells us, “Centuries before [Micah’s days] God had agreed to uniquely bless the people of Israel because of their faithfulness. The people had agreed to follow God’s will, but had never lived up to their promise.”

Oh most Blessed God, thank You that You love us so much. You could have so easily just let us all slip through the cracks of our own making. But instead You sent Jesus to do all that we are unable to do by and for ourselves.

Even Micah’s proclamation of what You require of us is impossible apart from You. Chapter 6; verse 8, “The Lord has told you what is good. He has told you what He wants from you: Do what is right to other people. Love being kind to others. And live humbly, trusting your God” (International Children's Bible).

Left to myself I can’t do any of it. But with You? Yes! Bless me. Keep me (Numbers 6:24). So that I will in turn bless and take good care of others. Yes Father. Continue Your fine, good work that we will become the people You would have us be. Uniquely and supremely blessed.

Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(302 words ~ 11:08 a.m.)

looking to God

Friday, October 13, 2017 (7:53 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I’m looking to You.

(9:34 a.m.)

Thank You Father.

Thank You that without even knowing where I am going to go in Your Word, You guide and direct my thinking. I look to You.

Oswald Chambers [“Am I Looking To God?”] leads me to Isaiah 45:22. The Voice rephrases, “So turn your back on those idols and your face to Me. I will save you, wherever you are, to the ends of the earth, For I am God. There is none other.”

The bottom of the webpage directs me to Matthew 14:22-36. There I read about Peter looking to Jesus and walking on the water.

How I thank and praise You Father for all the good You are. You know us. You love us. You call us. All we have to do is look to You. Know You. Love You. And answer, "Yes" [ ♪Lord, Yes to Your will and to Your way. Yes, Lord, yes; I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me, With my whole heart I’ll agree, And my answer will be yes, Lord, yes♪ ]

Mm. Yes Lord. Thank You that we get to look to You. Guide us. Lead us. Bless us. Keep us as only You are able. We love You. We trust You. We need You. We want You. Yes, Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(239 words ~ 10:34 a.m.)

awareness

Thursday, October 12, 2017 (6:48 a.m.)

Most Dear and Blessed Holy God,

I love You. And I love the work You are doing in my life. 

(12:08 p.m.)

Mm, yes! How I love getting to be aware of Who You are and What You do.

Thank You Father. Yes, thank You. Thank You for friends. Thank You for family. Thank You for encouraging words. Thank You for challenges. And especially thank You for Your Word.

Much earlier I searched the word ‘awareness’ and landed at Habakkuk 2:14. “For the time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.” Mm, yes Father. What would that even be like?

The more I read in and of this book, the more reasons I find to smile.

Habakkuk’s purpose for writing this book? “To deal with doubt by affirming that in spite of the evil in the world, God has not changed in His person or His purpose” (The Life Recovery Bible). Thank You Blessed Father. Thank You.

Thank You for the hope that comes from reading Your Truth.

attest

Wednesday, October11, 2017 (6:20 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You that You are good. Thank You that Your Word (Psalm 136:1) attests to this Truth.

confidence and joy

Tuesday, October 10, 2017 (7:17 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You for so many things. So many thoughts. So many Truths.

(8:19 a.m.)

In searching the two words “so many”, I came across two more. Confidence and joy. The Life Recovery Bible’s comment for Psalm 40:1-5 assures us that Your “timing is always worth waiting for.”

taking heed

Monday, October 9, 2017 (7:37 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

What is it going to take for me to stay here, focused on You?

I love You. You are so good. So faithful. And my approach to time spent with You has not been.

Blessed Father God I want to take heed. Pay attention to my relationship with You. I confess to the carelessness with which I appear to come before You. Distracted. Preoccupied. Inattentive.

You deserve better. So much more than I have been able [or is it willing?] to offer.

Mm, yes Father. I love You. Keep me here. With You. In Your Word. To completion.

Reading Paul’s Final Advice (2 Corinthians 13:1-10) as well as his Final Greeting (vs. 11-13) in The Life Recovery Bible, my face is smiling as my heart is leaping. There is such self-recognition here. And hope.

Illustrated Bible Handbook simply abridges, “Chapter 13. Warning!” I read and agree. “Just as Paul relies on Christ in the heart to motivate obedience (ch. 5), so also Paul relies on Christ in the heart to discipline His own people.

“Christ in the heart”. The smile doesn’t fade. A feeling of empowerment swells. A sense of ‘all things being possible’ (Matthew 19:26; Mark 9:23) again grows. Thank You Father. Thank You.

Oh most dear and Holy God there is so incredibly much for which we are to be aware. I long to take heed. Do all You must!

“Paul’s farewells are brief. ‘Aim at perfection,’ he urges. ‘Listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you’ (11)” Illustrated Bible Handbook.

The Life Recovery Bible comment sums up 13:11, “As Paul closed this letter to the Corinthians, he left them with some worthy challenges and goals to pursue. In essence, he admonished the people to open their minds and hearts to personal change and the healing of their relationships. Such spiritual growth and interpersonal harmony can be fueled by faith in God, the ultimate source of healing love and peace. As modern readers of this letter, we, too, can benefit by acting on Paul’s wise counsel.”

Yes! “Rejoice! Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” Yes, Father. Yes!

Verses 12a and 13, “Greet each other in Christian love… May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Oh, yes Blessed God. Empower and enable me in taking heed to Your Holy Word.

I love You. I thank You. Amen.

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

getting back on track

Sunday, October 8, 2017 (8:15 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that I get to be here with You. I confess to again falling into the trap of attempting to avoid You. Consciously? Or subconsciously?

Blasé. Yes. That’s the word. Forgive me. Please! I have once more become nonchalant. Casual. Indifferent about spending time alone with You.

Malachi 1:10, The Message

presence

Friday, October 6, 2017 (6:00 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Thank You again for Your presence in our lives. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your Truth.

Oh most Holy God, thank You. Psalm 16:11 says so much to me.

assured... again

Thursday, October 5, 2017 (6:37 a.m.)

Most Blessed God,

Thank You. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your presence. Thank You for Your Spirit. Lead and guide me this day in all You would have me learn. Put into practice. Attempt. Achieve. Accomplish.

I confess to You most Blessed God, I fear failure. I will sit. Still. Waiting. Wondering. Wanting.

(7:25 a.m.)

And then I find myself smiling. Musing. Trusting. Believing. Knowing that You are God. And that You are good. Thank You Father. Thank You.

I could sit here and list failings after failures on my part. Instead I much rather look to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking. All the while knowing that You hear. And that You will help. Thank You Father.

"In You"

Wednesday, October 4, 2017 (7:20 a.m.)

 Albuquerque, NM

Blessed Holy, God,

Thank You again. You provide our needs. You generate joy deep in our souls.

Even as I begin to consider all that You are and all that You do, a smile graces my face. The song ♪all our hope is in You Lord. All our faith, all our joy is in You Lord. In You. It’s in You♪ begins singing to [in] me.

Thank You Father. Praise You Dad. Honor. Worship. And adore You.

Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (New King James Version).

Amplified Bible, “… at all times be gracious and pleasant… [who questions you].”

Thank You

Tuesday, October 3, 2017 (7:23 p.m.)

Albuquerque, NM

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You for family. Thank You for love. And thank You for laughter. So very much laughter.

Mm Father, I’m searching Your Word for verses on laughter ~ with no success. Thank You that I know they are there and am content to wait until tomorrow to find them.

Dearest Holy God, another horrendous event has happened while we were gone again. Lives lost. People injured. Fear reigning supreme once more. And communities banding together to help complete strangers.

Blessed Father, we are Your people. You are our God. We are made in Your image. We live in this fallen world that continues to make no earthly sense AND YOU know exactly what You’re doing. Blessed God, You allowed us this time away with loved ones. How I ask You to bless, keep, shine Your face upon and be gracious to those who are hurting. Lift up Your countenance upon them and give them peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

I love You Father. Thank You for loving us first.

(8:08 p.m.)

Be Sure ~ 9/29/17

Friday, September 29, 2017 (8:25 a.m.)

Winslow - ish, AZ

Amtrak To Albuquerque, NM

Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You for such beauty. Bright red trees in Flagstaff. Along with the reddish colors of the earth. Beauty we surely would have missed had the train not been running three hours behind schedule.

Mm, yes. Again, I am brought back to Your Word (Proverbs 16:9) that roughly translates to, “Go ahead and make your plans, but be sure to give God the eraser.”

Yes, Father. Yes. Show me things of which You would have me be sure this day. Let’s make it so I be sure to smile. Sing. Stretch. And stay my mind on You.

On a wiggly train, where the landscape seems to change as quickly as the passengers. Let our attitudes reflect YOUR goodness. Your grace.

Unforeseen delays, unruly passengers, disgruntled employees could all easily break spirits. A simple smile changes everything. Moods lighten. Demeanors soften.

Thank You Father. Thank You that no matter where we are in the world, there You are ahead of us. Behind us. Beneath us. Above us. Beside us. Within us.

To be sure ~ You know what You’re doing with us. Thank You Father. Align us to Your will. Readily. Willingly. Obediently. Lovingly. Mm, yes. Thank You. Amen.

(9:03 a.m.)