Thank You, thank You Jesus!

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 (6:51 a.m.)

Thank You, Jesus!

Thank You, thank You Jesus!

Blessed Lord, I can not even begin to thank You enough. You have always been with me. The past several days are when I have again experienced the peace of Your presence. Thank You, thank You Jesus!

Sitting here. Safe and warm. Rested. Refreshed. Regenerated. And rejoicing. Absolute, wholehearted rejoicing.

Thank You Jesus. I truly don’t want to stop saying it. Right now it just comes out freely. Easily. Wholeheartedly. Thank You.

I followed You. I did not set off on my own. I stayed behind. Watching. Waiting. Listening. Trusting. And taking my cues from You. Thank You Jesus.

My heart is settled. I notice I’m smiling. And breathing in deeply. You provide this peace. Thank You.

Considering the peace I am experiencing and all the change that is taking place in and around us, I am suddenly soulfully singing, ♪There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long But now I think I’m able to carry on It’s been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gon’ come oh yes it will♪

And that change? You! Absolutely, definitely You! Thank You Jesus.

So… as we continue reading our home and hearts for major change around here, I look to You. Asking Your guidance. Seeking Your patience. Knocking on Your door of mercy and grace.

And while I’m at it, let me ask You (Matthew 7:7) to emblazon the power and Truth of Proverbs 4:23 across my totality. Reintroduced to it yesterday I can’t get enough of it.

“Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences” (Complete Jewish Bible).

Expanded Bible, “Be careful what you think [Above all that you guard, protect your heart], because your thoughts run your life [life flows from it].”

The Message, “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.”

Mm, yes. Tell me more.

New International Reader’s Version, “Above everything else, guard your heart. Everything you do comes from it.”

The Passion Translation, “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”

I can only ask, “Please.” Yes, please do all You must in, with, by, through and for me all that You know is necessary for this to truly be a safe place of recovery and recuperation. Thank You. Thank You, thank You Jesus.

I love You. I need You. I choose You. I trust and thank You. Amen.

(441 words ~ 8:36 a.m.)

FIX!

Sunday, January 21, 2018 (6:52 a.m.)

Anaheim, CA

Dearest God,

I am grumping and growling right now. Internally. Feeling out of my element. Preparing to be disappointed. Oh! How’s that for honest?

Instead of anticipating joy, I am predicting disaster. 

Thank You Father. Thank You for exactly this particular place in time. Or is that play and time? Right here, right now, I am looking to You. Not seeking a distraction. Or any mind numbing. Just sitting here. Waiting. For the next thing.

More honesty… I think too much. About inconsequential things. I try too hard. Again, inconsequentially.

And this is where I see You coming in to change my thinking. Blessed Father, forgive my whining. Work in and with, by, through and for me that I would come to fix my mind… Yes indeed. That’s the phrase. There’s the word. And a smile. FIX!

The Passion Translation for Philippians 4:8 says, “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.”

"the God of peace"

Saturday, January 20, 2018 (4:31 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Where do we go from here?

I need You. Yes. Oh, how I need You!

There are some huge changes coming up. I thought I was ready for them. Last week was spent so effortlessly. Effectively. Accomplishing much. And yesterday I began feeling dazed. Cut off. Detached. Alone. Afraid.

Ah. There it is! Fear.

Forgive me Father. Your Word tells us repeatedly to “fear not”, “do not be afraid”. Yet here I am. Cowering. Pulling back.

So… God of peace, I come to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). Expecting. Yes. Father.

Because I DO trust You, Jesus I fully expect You to take all of the pieces of myself I am offering You and fashion them into something You find acceptable. These are all things I cannot do on my own. YOU can. I’ve experienced Your peace in the past. I’m seeking it again.

Mm, yes! God of peace I seek You. Reading Your Word (Philippians 4:4-9) I am again filled with hope. I choose to trust and believe that as I “don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything” (v. 6) You, "the God of peace", WILL be with me (v. 9).

Yes. Yes. Yes. Your Word speaks Truth. Promises. Hope. I need You Jesus. I thank You. I choose You, over fear!

Reading The Life Recovery Bible’s comment for this section and Illustrated Bible Handbook’s “A Plea for Perspective; 4:2-9” I am reminded that true happiness and joy are found when we trust and depend that You are working and are always in control. Always.

Not just often. Nor sometimes. ALWAYS!

I read Your Word. My heart settles. My soul smiles. I breath deeply. And hope.

“Paul speaks of joys that are found through relationship with the Lord (4). In Christ we have release from anxiety, for we can express every need to God and experience peace (5-7). In Christ we can concentrate our attention on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (8). In Christ we can put godly living into practice, and have the assurance that the God whose presence means inner peace will be with us (9)” (Chapter 4. Joy in the Lord Illustrated Bible Handbook).

Jesus, I love You. I need You. I choose You. I ask You. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I would truly come to trust and depend solely on You.

Mm. Trust. Hope. Thank. Praise.

“4:4-9 True happiness can be found in every situation of life when we recognize that God is at work and always in control. Because Christ is with us and His return is certain, we can act calmly in pain and difficulty. Peace and joy come when we focus on those things that provide lasting value to our life. The more we commit ourself to knowing God’s will through prayer and study of His Word, the better prepared we are to help ourself and others in the process of recovery” (The Life Recovery Bible).

Looking to You, hoping in You, trusting and depending on You again I ask, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).

Thank You. I love You. I need You. I choose You. Amen.

(546 words ~ 6:19 a.m.)

variables

Friday, January 19, 2017 (5:00a.m.)

I am here Blessed God, not fully awake.

(5:28 a.m.)

Still not fully awake. Singing. Studying. Searching. Seeking. And yes, going back to bed.

Holy God, I love You. I need You. I choose You. I thank You. And right now, this very minute I ask You to guide my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength in loving You as You wish (Mark 12:30).

♪In unity, to dwell in unity♪ It's the song I originally woke up singing. ♪Lalalalalalalalalalala♪ 

Work in, with, by, through and for me Father. I have a lot of stray thoughts going on. Corral my thinking would You please? Let it come to focus and center on You.

(7:31 a.m.)

Oh Holy God,

Thank You for more rest.

(8:07 a.m.)

And now, for a great deal of honesty… my mind is spinning wildly. There are a LOT of variables coming up. A long awaited major surgery and all the details that come along with that. Changes in scheduling directly related to said surgery.

I practice thinking and saying, “I trust You, Jesus” and at the very same time hear myself using the words “fear” and “afraid”. My only constant in the midst of all the unknowns is You. Thank You that You are our constant in ALL things.

Mmm… “in all things give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes! Please. Allow my mind to truly embrace this Truth!

Again I cry out. I love You. I need You. I choose You. I trust and thank You. This is more practice than complete belief. I’m saying it all because I’m supposed to. I’m looking to You to turn it all into something real and worshipful.

Yes. Please. Do all You must to settle my scrambled thinking and ideas. I love You. Yes. Deep breath. I need You. Yes. So incredibly much. I choose You. I do. Over fearful, frightened thinking “Forsaking All I Trust Him”! And again I ask You to do all You must in bringing me to Your path in all of this.

Now back to the song with which I awoke. ♪Behold how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together… In unity, to dwell in unity… Lalalalalalalalalalalala♪ (Psalm 133:1). Yes. Thank You Father.

Use me to advance the hope and love that comes consistently through trusting You at Your Word. Yes, Jesus. I trust You. Thank You. Amen.

(8:47 a.m. ~ 414 words)

rejoice and be glad

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 (7:03 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. In the midst of not such a great night’s sleep I remembered ♪This is the day This is the day that the Lord hath made that the Lord hath made I will rejoice I will rejoice and be glad in it And be glad in it♪

Rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118:24). Yes! Teach me more I pray.

The Message tells us, “This is the very day God acted - let’s celebrate and be festive!” Hmm… Celebrate and be festive.

An explanation for this Psalm in Illustrated Bible Handbook describes it as, “a great affirmation of God as He whose ‘love endures forever.’” And now I am singing a different song.

♪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 Sing praise, sing praise♪

Mm, yes Father. I ask Your absolute presence this very day, that I will truly celebrate and be festive. Show me Father how to live this day that You have made rejoicing and being glad. Yes. Thank You Father.

I love You. I thank You. I need You. I want You. Use me as You wish. Thank You. Amen.

(216 words ~ 8:15 a.m.)

faith / trust / belief

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 (7:36 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! I keep saying, “I trust You, Jesus” and my heart feels stronger. Happier. Freer.

Yes. I have claimed to know You all these years. Yet I haven’t always experienced the freedom Your Word promises. These past several days have been amazing!

I’m learning new things. Have interests I never imagined. Am eager. Excited. Agog. With You.

Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus.

I get to read Faith in the Son of God (The Life Recovery Bible 1 John 5:1-12). Faith. Forsaking All I Trust Him. Thank You for reminding me. Jesus, I DO trust You! Thank You.

Faith. Trust. Belief. Fairly short words. Huge meanings. Thank You for the privilege, the honor, the opportunity of learning to depend on You with my whole being.

“Everyone who trusts Jesus as the long-awaited Anointed One is a child of God, and everyone who loves the Father cannot help but love the child fathered by Him” (1 John 5:1 The Voice). Just think of the impact of living this Truth.

I am already experiencing the power of trusting Jesus like never before. Any sense of fear or being afraid is obliterated by reciting, “I trust You, Jesus”. Hearing myself speak this Truth settles my mind. Redirects my thinking.

Thank You for the seeming ease with which order has begun taking over the former chaos of our home. The mere thought of parting with items of our past used to send me to near panic. Your power has superseded practically every doubt I encounter.

Thank You Jesus. You are my Hope. Continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me that I would come to trust You even more than I do right now. I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You for more of Your power and strength to do that which You would have me do.

Thank You Jesus. Thank You Father. Thank You Holy Spirit. I love You. I trust You. I want You. I need You.

Mm, look where my eyes just fell. “For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory” (v. 3). Yes Lord!

Followed immediately by, “And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God” (v. 4). Thank You that I am coming to realize and experience precisely this.

Yes. Thank You. Praise You. Celebrate and trust You. Yes. Use me exactly as You wish. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(437 words ~ 11:15 a.m.)

left open

Monday, January 15, 2018 (7:41 a.m.)

Jesus at work

Sunday, January 14, 2018 (6:45 a.m.)

Gasp! “Oh my God!” “Wow!” Thank You God”

Oh, most dear and Holy God ~ how I thank You for all You have done for me so far this morning.

Before even awakening I was already singing to You. It seemed perfect at the time, although I have no clue now as to what it was. Thank You Father.

Thank You especially for the blessings You stirred in my heart, my soul and my mind to pray for two of Your children. Two individuals I am still unable to love as You would have me love. Rather than again pushing their names out of my thoughts, You allowed me to ask blessings for them instead. Emotional, spiritual, mental and physical blessings. Thank You Jesus!

This is YOU at work. You free us to do all that we are unable on our own. Mm, yes. The Truth of Philippians 4:13 at its best.

The Amplified Bible spells it out in detail. “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose - I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

That’s what happened! I have been practicing saying, “I trust You, Jesus.” It comes so much more readily. Without having to think about it.

Thank You. Thank You for working in me. Working through me. Having experienced the privilege of earnestly praying Your blessings on two that I am still unable to love on my own gives me hope.

Hope in You! For the first time in years there was no bitterness. No resentment. No indifference. I was truly taken by You to another level of what can only be described as Your love.

Thank You Jesus! Continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me. I love You so much. And I long to know, trust and love You all the more. Thank You. Praise You. Love You. Trust You. Amen.

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

Who and ALL

Saturday, January 13, 2018 (7:47 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You that I get to keep learning more of Who and ALL You are. Mm, yes! Who and ALL You are.

Thank You God. Thank You Father. Thank You that we get to read and trust You Word. 1 Corinthians 8:6 speaks Truth and offers hope.

“But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we exist for Him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life” (New Living Translation).

Think about it! There is only one God and Father. You! You created everything. We exist for You. And there is only one Lord. Jesus. Through whom You made everything and gave us life.

It looks so simple. How do we keep complicating things?

Thank You Father, that seemingly out of nowhere my heart started singing what I very easily found is Gray Rea’s ♪This Is A Good Day♪ Here I get to sing and read to You at the very same time.

♪This is a good day Cause Jesus Your mercy Is new for me It is new for me Be praised, let our worship rise in this place To the King of Love Cause You’re always good Always good How great, how glorious Is the Lamb of God who was slain for us He’s the King of us♪

Amazing! Blessed God, I get to read. Sing. Think. Plan. Hope. Breath in so very deeply. Rest. Trust. And ask (Matthew 7:7).

Yes, Holy God. I am asking You to guide my steps this day. I have sorting and deciding to do. Let me us the Truth of Your Word throughout this process.

The Message tells us, “Some people say, quite rightly, that idols have no actually existence, that there’s nothing to them, that there is no God other than our one God, that no matter how many of these so-called gods are named and worshiped they still don’t add up to anything but a tall story” (1 Corinthians 8:4-5).

How many of the things I insist on holding onto have I actually begun to idolize? Do all You must to break this pattern Dear Lord.

“They [some people] say - again, quite rightly - that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from Him, and that He wants us to live for Him. Also, they say that there is only one Master - Jesus the Messiah - and that everything is for His sake, including us. Yes. It’s true” (v. 6 The Message).

And again I feel the music swelling within ♪Be praised, let our worship rise in this place… Cause Jesus Your mercy Is new for me It is new for me♪

Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. Let me use Your Truth to Your good and Your glory. I love You. I thank You. I praise You. I need You. Fill me. Use me. Thank You. Amen.

(500 words ~ 8:55 a.m.)

turning to, focusing on, settling in and finding

Friday, January 12, 2018 (7:58 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I look to You. My mind wanders. Attention strays. Turn my focus back to You. Yes!

(8:32 a.m.)

Yes. Yes. And yes! Dearest, Blessed God, turn all my focus onto You. Thank You that I get to look to You. Turning my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength (Mark 12:30) to You.

Deep breath. Settling into Your Word. Finding hope. And joy.

Thank You Father. Thank You that we get to turn to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). And then finding. Peace. Your peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

“I trust You Jesus.” Yes. There. I’ve said it again. In turning to, focusing on and settling in to You and Your Word we find. Peace. Hope. Joy. Strength. Power. 

Fill me and use these attributes to Your good and to Your glory. I love You Father. I need You. I trust You. And I ask You. Fill me. Use me. As only You can. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(177 words ~ 9:11 a.m.)

continuING

Thursday, January 11, 2018 (9:28 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

I am here, continuING what I just started. Present tense.

I saw the importance of the “ING" when I very first noticed my own ‘shock and awe’ at the beauty of the sunrisING on Kings Beach earlier this morning.

Father, I LOVE when You cause me to gasp! I LOVE when I am reminded of just how very much You love us.

This prayer right now is representative of that love. I am NOT tryING to find or say the right thing. I am here askING Your presence in the overwhelmING task I have set out for myself this day.

Mountains of laundry. Christmas clutter that others could not begin to imagine. A return to a long ago pattern of stiff-neck-headaches seemingly abated by mindless, random, out-of-control eatING.

N-O-T You in that mix Father!

Evidently I have concerns I am not sayING straight out loud to You. There are health issues all over the place. Physical. Emotional. Thank You that You are here in our midst!

This is what I am countING on. Your presence in all of this.

As I prepare to get started, I am now dressed and rarING to go. Lead that I would follow. Don’t allow me to go on ahead of You. “You lead. I’ll follow.” Words I said almost 25 years ago. Yes Father! YOU lead, I’ll follow.

Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(247 words ~ 10:11 a.m.)

present tense

Thursday, January 11, 2018 (7:19 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I just begged the question, “How can that even be real?”

Technology is allowing me to watch the sunrise 450 miles north and 75 miles south of here. Present tense. Live. As it is happening.

You amaze me Lord. Colors. Clarity. Real time. And You are even closer than all this. Right here. Right now. All around. And within [cue ♪Quinn the Eskimo♪ and think of Jesus]. Amazing!

(8:12 a.m.)

As I sit here considering all You are, I am thrilled to read Your Word. Right now. Present tense. Real time.

Romans 5:11, “And not only will we be saved, but we also rejoice right now in what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we are now God’s friends” (Easy-to-Read Version).

Oh most dear and holy God. I turn to You. Rejoicing. “I trust You Jesus”. Words I am learning to practice saying. Present tense. In the here. In the now.

I love You Father. My mind wanders. I go off on a tangent ["a completely different line of thought or action"]. I am asking You to keep me on task today. Present tense. In the moment.

Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your beauty. Your grace. Your forgiveness. Your presence. Your will. Your way. Line me up to live each moment of this day as You would have me. Not squandering or wasting a bit of it.

I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You to “make it so Dear Lord. Make it so!” Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(271 words ~ 9:02 a.m.)

"life and radiant health"

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 (7:09 a.m.)

Holy God,

Let’s talk about love this morning, shall we? Your love for us. Ours for You. And one another. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Oh, most Holy God, thank You that we have so many translations of Your Word from which to choose. To compare. The Message. The Voice. Amplified Bible…

There is the flowery descriptive rendering in The Passion Translation. As well as the simplicity of the Contemporary English Version. Speak deeply into my heart this morning Dear Lord. Into my mind, my spirit, even my strength (Mark 12:30).

I love You and I long to love as You command. As I search and study Your Word, I ask You Blessed Father to guide me in understanding as well as action.

Even as I use the word understanding, I turn immediately to Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go. Don’t think for a moment that you know it all.”

Yes please! Sign me up for trusting You. Completely. Mm. Yes!

Contemporary English Version for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us, “Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.”

Oh how I confess to not being so many of these. Continue Your gracious, purifying work in me. Mm, yes. Purify me Blessed Lord.

I read Proverbs 4:20-23 and envision You speaking directly to me. “Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. Don’t lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning. Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.”

It IS Your Word I ask to penetrate deep within my heart, bringing life and radiant health. Yes Father.

The Passion Translation, “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, and it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Oh most Dear and Holy God. How I long to live each moment in the power and purity of Your love. Not easily irritated or quick to take offense. A safe place of shelter. Never giving up or stop believing the best for others.

Yes Father please. I long to live Your Word. Do all You must to this end. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

Blessed Hope

Tuesday, January 9, 2018 (8:36 a.m.)

(9:06 a.m.)

Distractions. Fearful thoughts. Wonders. Doubts. Hope. Yes, Father. Thank You for hope. Will You talk with me this morning about Your Blessed Hope?

(9:40 a.m.)

Reading (Titus 2:11-14). Hoping. Wanting. Looking. Searching. Breathing deeply. And asking. Yes Blessed Father, teach me so much more about Your Son, our Blessed Hope.

Three worship songs with which I am not familiar offer Your Truth and history. ♪I Believe♪ by Gold City; ♪For These Reasons♪ by Lincoln Brewster and ♪Blessed Hope♪ by Mac Powell & Shawn Lewis.

Sing to me Dear Lord. Teaching me that I will come to believe, trust and hope in You. Readily. Eagerly. Completely.

“I trust Jesus”. Words I want to live, not just recite. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).

And now a smile. As I read the comment for the last words of Revelation. The Life Recovery Bible “22:20-21 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. By trusting Christ with our future, we can better deal with our past and live a more productive present.”

Mm. Yes. Trust. Hope. Deepening “our personal relationship with Him. As we trust in Him and possess the hope of meeting Him face to face, we will grow closer to Him. Then Christ’s unconditional acceptance and unlimited power will continually undergird us in recovery.”

Oh yes. Come, Lord Jesus. Our Blessed Hope. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(293 words ~ 10:19 a.m.)

Spirit's fruit

Sunday, January 7, 2018 (7:29 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, Ca

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. I woke up this morning thinking of the fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Mm. Yes. Your Spirit’s fruit. Thank You.

The first word that came was patience. As in the importance of packing ours on every single trip we ever take. Oh, and now the smile as I read a definition for the word: “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset”.

Oh yes Blessed God. Yes! Grant us better understanding of what it will be to truly live Your way. Or maybe not understanding. Ability!

Here my mind splits off in so many directions. The original version of what has become known as The Serenity Prayer. And how do we experience joy?

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity [the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled] the things that cannot be changed, Courage to change the things which should be changed, and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”

Yes Father. Grace. Acceptance. Serenity. Courage. Change. Wisdom.

“Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next.”

And now the twist back around to the Fruit of Your Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23a). I confess to You Blessed Father, these are not the attributes that come out first when I am under pressure.

Continue Your holy work in me Blessed God. How I long to not only pack my patience, but to actually exude Your patience! Your love. Joy. Peace. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. And self-control. All of Your Spirit’s fruit.

Yes. Please. Grow me in the way You would have me be. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Your path. Your way. High-yielding with Your Spirit’s fruit.

I love You. I want to serve and represent You well. Thank You. Amen.

(400 words ~ 8:33 a.m.)

"wisely and well"

Saturday, January 6, 2018 (8:43 a.m.)
Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed, Holy God,

I love You. And I honestly feel like crying. My emotions are all over the place. Up one second. Down the next. Sadness. Concerns. And then a smile.

A gentle gust of wind. Just enough to move the branches right outside the window. Causing me to smile. And bring the tears even closer to the surface.

Yes. Father. I love You. I don’t know what all is going on inside me. The official end of the holiday season? The last day of another trip? Regret/guilt over time less than well spent?

Oh, most blessed God, how I confess to judging myself. Again. Harshly. Forgive me. Mm, yes Father. Deep breath. Genuine smile. Sit up straighter. Settle my thinking. Rejoice. Repent.

Thank You Father that I get to choose what to do with my feelings. Hold tightly to them? Allow them to exist? Attempt to extinguish them? Or just let them wash over me and be gone.

Let’s try that.

Antonyms for regret are: welcome, applaud, satisfaction, happiness... Let me welcome these misgivings I am experiencing Dear Lord that I would turn to You asking as Moses did, “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well” (Psalm 90:12).

Yes Bless God. Yes! The smile is real. Giving way to hope. Hope that You do indeed hear our prayers. That there is nothing so insignificant that we can’t bring it to You for healing.

Illustrated Bible Handbook Faith and Feelings states that You fully love and accept us. That while our feelings may surge, our perspectives will change “by consciously relating ourselves and our situation to God”. I am experiencing that very thing right now.

By turning to You honestly, openly and willingly I am trusting You to hear and answer. And before I can even finish my thought You sing to my heart.

Thank You for the ease with which to find the lyrics. ♪Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!♪ I do Blessed God. I do come. Just because I can!

♪Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt; Fightings within, and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!♪

The Wise Men came. This day (of Epiphany) celebrates their arrival. Teach me to live it well. Wisely and well.

Thank You Blessed God. Thank You for Your love. For Your mercy. For Your grace. I love You. Let this Truth be obvious. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(456 words ~ 10:07 a.m.)

"very good"

Friday, January 5, 2018 (6:38 a.m.)
Lake Arrowhead, CA

Holy God,

Good morning. Good New Year. Good. Very good.

(7:38 a.m.)

Mm, yes. Very good.

I’m reading in Your Word Blessed God. Genesis 1. Paying particular attention to verses 26-31. Yet having tremendous feelings of overwhelm.

We have ailing friends and family members. Many requests for prayer. And mixed emotions across the board. Thank You that I get to take another deep breath. Breathing in all Your goodness. Your blessings. Your Truth. Your promises. Your love. Your presence. And hope.

Thank You Father that I don’t have to try and make sense of my feelings. Thank You that I get to look to You and believe that “with all our failings, we are special” (Illustrated Bible Handbook; Human Nature: Man in the Image of God).

Because of Your love for each and every single one of us, we have the privilege to think. Feel. Value. Choose. Very heavy concepts to be sure.

Thank You Father that even though we carry Your image and likeness imperfectly, we each have the possibility of change. Restoration. Repair. To be made new (Ephesians 4:23-24). Mm, yes Dear God. Once again, in this present New Year I am asking You to continue Your work in me.

Jesus, You told Your disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). And You told the Jewish people who believed in You, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

I look to You as Truth. I look to You for truth. Thank You that Your Word is filled with You and Your truth. Grow me. Nourish me. Guide me that I would truly be “very good” in Your sight.

I love You. I long to serve You. And I thank You. Amen.

(327 words ~ 9:07 a.m.)

Anew

Monday, January 1, 2018 (6:35 a.m.)
Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed God,

A new month. A new year. Anew. Mm, yes. Father, speak to me this morning about experiencing time with You “in a new or different and typically more positive way”.

I read sections in Your Word where You promise hope anew (Psalm 78:7); life anew (Isaiah 58:9-12). And I feel renewed. Recharged. Revived. Restored.

Blessed Holy God, how I ask You to use this new year, this new day for Your good and Your glory. I love You. I long to serve You. And I thank You for another opportunity to learn to follow You. Anew. Thank You, Father. I love You. Amen.

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