solace

Thursday, July 26, 2018 (5:39 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. Thank You. I love You. We have plans. I’d like to see them succeed.

This all feels so stilted. Contrived. Let me start again.

Hi God, I love You. Talk with me. Work in me. Center me on You. Your will. Your way.

And again I say, “Thank You!” This time with a smile. Yes Father. Thank You.

Thank You for Your blessings. Your promises. Your Word. Your warnings. Thank You that I get to come before You perfunctorily stiff and You change my heart. You work my stiffness into something pliable.

Thank You Father. We DO have plans. And we’d very much like them to succeed. It’s incredibly hot around here and our efforts have lagged. Wilted really.

Nourish and nurture us as only You know is best.

I read in Your Word and find such hope. Solace. Yes, that’s the word. I am supremely comforted and cheered when I get out of the way of duty.

Coming before You as a sense of obligation is NEVER the way I want to approach You. You are a privilege. A gift. A true blessing.

Thank You for changing my intent. Time spent with You is an honor. Not something to merely scratch off my list of things to do.

Reading in Isaiah 57 is what started the shift. Opening my heart up to being honest with You continued it. Thank You that as I read and spoke honestly with You, Your peace started flooding in.

♪You ARE the Potter Father. I am Your clay (Jeremiah 18:1-6). Mold me and make me, This is what I pray♪

The Life Recovery Bible devotional titled Giving Up Control tells us that when we put our life in Your hands, You will reshape us as You see fit. That is what I am asking Blessed Father.

We have plans. I’d like to see them succeed. More importantly, I want to live this day for You. With You. By You. Through You. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(347 words ~ 6:57 a.m.)

Hallelujah, praise the Lord

Wednesday, July 25, 2018 (5:00 a.m.)

Thank You Father,

I love waking up and having my very first thought be that of a six year old in the backseat of the car singing ♪We’re having a salvation celebration, Get abroad the gospel train. Salvation Celebration, Hallelujah, praise the Lord♪ Yes. Mm, yes. Hallelujah, praise You Father.

It’s scheduled to be a busy day. I want to rest a bit more. Let my praise be to You, ♪Hallelujah, praise the Lord♪

(6:32 a.m.)

Thank You for more rest.

Yes Father. Thank You for more rest. And clearer thinking. 

Blessed God, I keep making mistakes. Most everywhere I turn, the end result of my efforts is not to my liking. Work in and with me this day, won’t You?

Yes. Your will. Your Way. Your Word. Mm, yes. Your Word!

Thank You for Your Word Blessed God. This morning I turn again to The Passion Translation. And smile. Reading the Psalms here is like poetry.

I confess to You that once more I fell in to the trap of thinking I didn’t have time to be here with You. That sleep and programs and other things were more important uses of my time. It never works out that way.

Thank You for Your gentle reminders. And Your ever faithful forgiveness.

Thank You that I get to read. And rest. Read. And rest some more.

Your Word inspires me. Delights. Encourages. Rebukes and reminds me. Thank You Father.

Subheadings for certain Psalms lead me to reading, learning and yearning for more. Psalm 113:1 [God Is Kind], 146:1 [Our True Help], 147:1 [Our Amazing God], 149:1 [Triumphant Praise].

It’s Psalm 148 where I settle in. [The Cosmic Chorus of Praise] How poetic is that? Just reading those five words my heart quickens.

Illustrated Bible Handbook calls it, “Praise to God offered by the entire universe.” Just think of it, a cosmic chorus of praise!

And this comment from The Life Recovery Bible, “God deserves for all the good we receive day by day. Not the least of these benefits is the help He gives us in restoring our life to health and sanity. There was a time we felt out of control; now God is making us strong. That should give us ample reason to join the rest of the universe in a chorus of ceaseless praise.” Yes! Oh yes.

Father, thank You. Praise You. Truly. Let me join my praise with that of the universe. You make Your people strong (v. 14). And I am grateful.

Forgive my self-indulged absence. I so much prefer time here with You. Thank You for Your love. Be in and with me as I leave here to get on with the day. I love You. Hallelujah, praise You Lord! Thank You. Amen.

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

Thank You. I love You.

Sunday, July 22, 2018 (7:10 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I don’t even know what to say today. Thank You? Yes. I love You? Absolutely. And what from there?

Or is that enough? Thank You. I love You.

At this particular moment it seems so. Thank You Father. 

By searching, “Thank You. I love You.” I come to the psalms. While reading in there, my heart starts singing, ♪Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul♪

Well this is completely unexpected! As I read the various translations for Psalm 25:1-3, the deeper grows  the peace that is passing over me. And the more tears fill my eyes. To overflowing.

Thank You God. I love You.

It really IS that simple! We can think all kinds of things. Consider all our best options. Make any number of plans. But when we come to You ♪Just As I Am without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!♪

When we come to You, just as we are, You hear us. John 6:37, “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus.

Yes. Thank You Jesus.

The Life Recovery Bible comment “6:32-40 After feeding more than 5,000 hungry people with five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus explained that He Himself was the bread of life. Jesus feeds the hungry with Himself.”

You do. You truly feed us with Yourself. Thank You Jesus.

“His is a perfect love that never rejects us, no matter what our past sins are. He satisfies the deepest hungers of our soul and wants to help us complete our recovery. Until the end of time, Jesus will work toward the healing and recovery of all the broken people in His world. Our part is to turn to Him and believe in His power to help us.”

Oh yes Jesus! Our belief in Your power to heal ALL the broken people in Your world. Please dear Jesus.

Turning back to Psalm 25. I came for the first two verses and truly can’t get enough of this chapter. The Voice actually has this song of David broken up alphabetically (A-V). Thank You Father.

Still the tears are on the surface. Yet I feel them deeply as well. I can’t thank You, nor express my love for You enough.

I trust You Father. Reading the comments accompanying this psalm they speak of placing our faith in You. Trusting You “to care for us and help us overcome the things in our life that would destroy us.”

And again the song, ♪Unto Thee O Lord do I lift up my soul… O my God, I trust in Thee, Let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me♪ As it continues singing deeply within, I read what Illustrated Bible Handbook has to say.

“Psalm 25. This appeal for help is also an expression of trust. David asks God to show him the Lord’s ways (4-7), confident that one who follows the Lord will find release (8-15). This prayer is offered despite David’s present loneliness and anguish (16-22).”

Oh most Dear and Blessed God, it IS to You we turn. Only You who can change our hurts into hope. How I thank and love You Father.

Use me this day exactly as You know is best. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(594 words ~ 8:24 a.m.)

connecting

Saturday, July 21, 2018 (7:14 a.m.)

Holy, Blessed God,

Thank You! You provided a day of connecting yesterday. Four friends learning more about ourselves and one another than we ever have before.

Yes Father, thank You! Thank You for Your hand in all of our lives. Thank You that as we shared our stories with one another we were able to freely express disappointments, fears and hope.

Yes Father. Hope! Hope in You. Hope for the future. All because of our hope in You. This is where I want to go this morning. Our hope in You.

Holy God, even here I get to turn to Your Word. The Passion Translation (Colossians 2:19) speaks of our need to be connected with Jesus.

“They [early Gnostics] refuse to take hold of the true source. But we receive directly from Him, and His life supplies vitality into every part of His body through the joining ligaments connecting us all as one. He is the divine Head who guides His body and causes it to grow by the supernatural power of God.”

This verse is found in a section (vs. 6-23) titled Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ. I recognize the peace that came to me over eight years ago from reading, believing and standing on the Truth of verse seven.

“Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.”

Yes Father, yes!

The comments in The Life Recovery Bible encourage exercising our faith in and conscious contact with You, “so that His power will be at work within us, filling us with joy and thanksgiving. Without God’s power nourishing us, we are at the mercy of our destructive habits and dependency” (2:6-7).

Oh yes Father!

Trying “to change through our own efforts, we realized just how powerless” we are. Yes Father, “everything we need is found not in ourself, or even in other people, but in Jesus Christ. A recovery that is not built on the person and power of Jesus Christ will always be incomplete” (2:9-10).

It is Jesus’ power that “is able to restore us to sanity and help us overcome our destructive patterns from the past” (2:11-15). Our freedom is found only in You!

“Paul tells us that we won’t find success in our own strength or rules, which lead us away from the only adequate power source - God. He is the only one with the power to transform us and help us conquer evil and rebuild our life” (2:20-23).

Talk yesterday circled around our hope of joy for one another. While we truly connected deeply with each other, it is only through our connecting directly with You that will ever lead us to the freedom and joy for which we so desperately long.

Father God, thank You. Thank You for the ways You work in our lives. Be with me as I go out to approach this brand new day. I love You. I long to live as You would have me live. Free and full of joy.

Please. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

YOUR

Friday, July 20, 2018 (6:28 a.m.)

Thank You God. Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit.

I came here to talk with You about my current lack of patience. Just as I was starting to look in that direction ♪Holy Spirit You are welcome here♪ started singing in my heart. Thank You.

I confess to You the lack of patience I have recently been experiencing. Directed mainly toward one particular little boy. Holy God, I don’t like this side of me. Especially since I could very well have been contributing to the genuine fear he is undergoing.

Forgive me Father. Forgive the pride that enters in me every single time he resists my best efforts of helping him overcome his fear.

And therein lies Your Truth of the matter. The key word here being “my”.

All the attempts I have made in helping him have been in “my” power. “My” experience. “My” past successes.

Forgive me Father. Forgive my pride. Let me truly sing out ♪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♪

Yes! YOUR glory. Your presence. Your strength. Your power. You working in, with, by, through and for me.

Without Your love, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:13) I will continue making the mistakes that lead only to more fear.

Yes, ♪Holy Spirit You are welcome here…♪ Let that be my call for this next entire week. I love You Father. I long to follow YOUR lead. Make it so dear Lord.

I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(287 words ~ 7:08 a.m.)

life itself

Thursday, July 19, 2018 (6:25 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

You blessed me yesterday. In such big ways. Thank You Father. I had asked You to encompass me. Yet I was surprised when You actually did.

Thank You for surprises Father. Although I confess, I much prefer the pleasant ones.

Mm, yes. Thank You Father. Glancing through Your Word I find myself pouring over Proverbs 19:23.

“The fear of the LORD leads to life” in many translations. The Message saying it this way, “Fear-of-GOD is life itself, a full life, and serene - no nasty surprises.”

Isn’t that what we’re hoping for? A full life. Serene. No nasty surprises. Life itself. Fear of You. Yes!

Oh! And it just keeps getting better!

The Passion Translation, “When you live a life of abandoned love, surrendered before the awe of God, here’s what you’ll experience: Abundant life. Continual protection. And complete satisfaction.”

Oh, yes! Please. Sign me up for that! Complete satisfaction. Continual protection. Abandoned love. Life itself.

Yes please, Father. Continue teaching me what it is to fear, reverence, respect and obey You as only You know is best.

Again I ask You to go in, with, above, beneath, before, behind and beside me this day. I would very much enjoy experiencing life itself as I did yesterday.

Thank You so very much Father. I love You. I need You. I want You. I ask You. I fully esteem and revere You. Thank You Father. Amen.

(248 words ~ 7:36 a.m.)

unshakable, assured, deeply at peace

Wednesday, July 18, 2018 (7:54 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. I love You. My ear hurts. I’m tired. And You are still good. All the time.

Thank You that all may not go well in my world and that is just as Jesus promised. John 16:33. The Message. “I’ve told you all this [He won’t be abandoned, The Father is with Him] so that 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.”

Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus. I get to turn it all back to You. My focus. My thoughts. My hope. My trust.

You are good. Your promises are true. The Life Recovery Bible comment “16:33 In this world, especially in recovery, we encounter ‘many trials and sorrows,’ many of them beyond our control. These can be endured with God’s help. On the other hand, some of our suffering is self-inflicted and can be avoided.”

In this particular case I cite swimmer’s ear. Easily avoided by a simple mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. Vigilance having given way to lackadaisy. Indifference. Lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.

And right there I am back at Revelation 3:14-21. The Message to the Church in Laodicea. “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other!” (v. 15).

My heart quickens with excitement. As I consider Your words of Truth, a devotional on “Love READ REVELATION 3:14-22 … Trying to love without first receiving God’s love is like trying to water something with a hose that’s disconnected from the faucet. When we receive God’s unconditional love, we can begin to love ourself. We are then told to love others as we love ourself and as Jesus has loved us. There is a boundless reservoir of love available to us; but without receiving the love of God in Christ, we will quickly run dry.”

Oh HALLELUJAH! Blessed Jesus. Thank You! I had the choice of keeping all my whining in my head. Thank You that I opted to bring all my complaining to You.

You are good. All the time. Use me this day. Exactly as You know is best. I love You. I thank You. My time here is up. Go with me, before me, behind me, beside me, above me, beneath me. I love You so much. Thank You. Amen.

(422 words ~ 8:35 a.m.)

God loves us

Sunday, July 15, 2018 (7:34 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. Sleep. Dreams. Coffee. Love. Mm, yes. Your love. Thank You. Talk with me this morning about Your love.

(7:58 a.m.)

Oh most Holy God, how I thank You for the ways You love us. I ask You to speak to my heart. And You do. Thank You Father.

So many verses speak of Your love. Romans 5:3-5 has my attention. As does Romans 8:38-39. I sense the hopefulness rise within me as I consider how very much You love us. Thank You Father.

Use me this day. Exactly as You know is best. Get my own way of thinking out of Your way that I will truly live this day as You would have me.

I love You. I need You. I thank You. I want You. Thank You Father. Amen.

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

Thank You Father

Saturday, July 14, 2018 (7:23 a.m.)

Bless You, Praise You,Thank You Father,

Mm. Yes. Thank You Father.

I had an early morning smile. There was sleep. I know because there were dreams. Messy, dirty, overflowing toilet dreams. And “Santa” printed on a greeting card describing a combination of this dear husband and his friend from quite some time ago.

Holy God, I always seem so amazed when I remember dreams in such great detail. Never knowing what they mean or represent. If anything.

Right when I’m about to dismiss them as just a random night time occurrence I think of Joseph and his ability to interpret them. Just as I started wondering more about a potential meaning I head over to Deuteronomy 13.

Thank You Father that even here I get to turn to Your Word. Expanded Bible; Deuteronomy 13:4. “Serve only the LORD your God. Respect [Fear] Him, keep His commands, and obey Him [listen to His voice] Serve Him and be loyal [cling] to Him.”

Mm, yes. Father, I long to live this day as You would have me live it. Serving only You. Respecting / fearing You. Keeping Your commands. Obeying You / listening to Your voice. Serving You and being loyal / clinging to You.

Thank You Father. Thank You.

Do all You must in making me the woman You would have me be. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(232 words ~ 8:07 a.m.)

"part acts"

Friday, July 13, 2018 (7:12 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Work with me please. In, by, through and for me. I tend to have what seem to me such great ideas. Only to find out they really aren’t. Or I don’t follow through with them.

You know me so much better than I know myself. Thank You that You do.

Thank You that You are good. Thank You that we are bade to come to You. Thank You that You absolutely know what is best.

This morning I come before You with the fact that I am feeling overwhelmed. There are so many projects that I have consciously been avoiding because they all seem so daunting.

During the night I was reminded of the recovery tool of breaking tasks up into part acts. I confess to having gotten quite excited at the thought.

Thank You for the hope that came from believing that I can get out from under the massive mess that has accumulated around here. Holy God, You are our hope. Truly.

Turning to Your Word again I smile as I read the verse that came up during my search of “part acts”. The Message. Hebrews 13:16. “Make sure you don’t takes things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God take particular pleasure in acts of worship - a different kind of ‘sacrifice’ - that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.”

Mm, yes! Father, I long to not “go slack in working for the common good”. Truly I want to ‘share what we have with others’. Yes, Yes, Please!

Reading in Illustrated Bible Handbook, “Chapter 13. Love and Good Deeds”. Yes. Tell me more. “Offer Praise; 13:15, 16.”

Do all You must Father in enabling and empowering me to make decisions and follow through with letting go of all that is unnecessary. Your good, Your glory. Those are necessary. I am asking You for the courage to risk making mistakes. I no longer want to stay stuck by indecision.

I love You Father. Yes. I read Your Word. I become so incredibly hopeful. Empower me I pray.

“With Jesus’ help, let us continually offer our sacrifices of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of His name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:15-16, New Living Translation).

An Illustrated Bible Handbook Theology in Brief (found in Titus) titled Good Works teaches that we are to offer You praise and our dedication of “doing good”. The root meaning of the word Paul used (kalos) is “beautiful, noble.”

“In Greek thought it [kalos] implies that which is aesthetically pleasing as well as morally good. It ultimately came to mean ‘the total state of soundness, health, wholeness and order’ that were to rule within and without a person.”

A comment in The Life Recovery Bible (Hebrews) spells out “13:8, 15-16 … Jesus Christ is totally consistent and trustworthy. He will always be there for us, no matter what. As that kind of God and friend, Christ deserves to receive the new covenant equivalent of old covenant sacrifices: (1) praise for who He is and what He has done; (2) good works of service; and (3) sharing with others in need (see 13:2-3). These activities all support an essential step in our ongoing recovery - telling others what God has done in our life and reaching out to people in need.”

You, only You, can teach me to do good and share with others. How I ask You to in, with, by, through and for me that which I cannot do myself. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(633 words ~ 9:05 a.m.)

God helping me

Thursday, July 12, 2018 (7:05 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. Hi. Hello.

I’m trying to wake up. Nothing has helped so far.

(7:31 a.m.)

My mind wanders. My resolve flits. My best intention is to stay here with You.

(7:47 a.m.)

And here it is. Finally. The smile. The genuine, authentic, “Thank You God” for which I was seeking. Found by entering “intention” in my search.

The Message. Romans 12:1-2. “[Place Your Life Before God] So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.”

Yes! Father, please. Work in, with, by, through and for me this day that I would truly get out of Your way. Empower and enable me in ‘fixing my attention on You’. I so easily become side-tracked with wonders and busy work.

Focus me on You I ask. I have a morning schedule of uncertainty. Plans are already being changed. I seem to have a huge question mark of indecision over my head.

Thank You that I can turn to You. Trusting. Hoping. Asking. Seeking. Knocking.

Lead that I will follow You Blessed God. Dictate Your will to me. Your way. I long to be obedient. Help me in my pursuit of Your goodness and Your glory.

I love You. I long to serve You well. I ask You to make it so. Thank You. Use me. Amen.

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

"God Loved First"

Wednesday, July 11, 2018 (6:54 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Good morning. I love You. Thank You.

Yes Father. Thank You that we get to love You. You sent Your Son to give us this privilege (1 John 4:9-10).

Talk with me this morning about the love You have for us (v. 19) that we would love You and others (20-21) as You command.

I have much to learn. Mm, like these words from Illustrated Bible Handbook. “God Loved First; 4:19-21. Love does not arise from man’s nature. Love is created in us by God’s work. God’s love does awaken love. Thus anyone who claims to love God, but fails to love other believers, simply is not telling the truth. The love of Christians for God is expressed as love for one another!”

Oh, yes Dear God! I still have so very much to learn.

Thank You that You are such a patient Father and God (2 Peter 3:9). Thank You that You love us enough to continue Your perfect, refining work in us.

Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me this day. Refashioning me into the woman You would have me be. I love You Father. I thank You. Amen.

(210 words ~ 8:09 a.m.)

think on these things

Sunday, July 8, 2018 (7:30 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. You are good. All the time. Thank You that You are.

There is so much in the world that is not. And now, with tears in my eyes I quote back to You the apostle Paul’s words to the believers in Philippi.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies” (Philippians 4:8-9; The Message).

It’s easy for me to fret. Stew. Build mountains out of molehills. How much better it is when I acknowledge Your sovereignty. Your power. Dominion. Control.

Yes. You are in control. Thank You Father. Praise You.

I get to read of this section of Scripture and be reminded that “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” (4:4-9; The Life Recovery Bible).

You do that for us. YOU provide lasting value to our life. Your Word provides lasting value to our lives. Your Truth. Your promises.

“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.”

Quoting from Illustrated Bible Handbook my heart quickens as I am reminded of the “rich promises which are ours through our relationship with the Lord.” Paul told of the joys that are found through that connection.

“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).”

Yes Blessed Jesus. Yes!

I ask You Dearest Lord to continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me that I would truly “put godly living into practice.” I long to experience life in You as the “source of constant joy” Your Word promises.

I love You Father. I need You. I want You. I thank You. I ask You. Thank You. Amen.

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

looking for the best

Saturday, July 7, 2018 (7:04 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You Father. My mind tells me one thing. My heart another. I wait. I pray. And again I experience, “We don’t know what we think we know.”

Mm, yes. So often I feel absolutely sure of certain circumstances only to find out I couldn’t be more wrong. Thank You Father for helping me learn to think the best instead of the worst.

It’s not easy. I tend to jump to wrong conclusions. Often. I build cases in my head about my own rightness, only to find out my thinking is flawed. Thank You Father.

I am here asking You to continue Your work in me. I long to live Your Word when it comes to love. What it is. What it isn’t, according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Mm, yes Father. Empower and enable me to love as You would have me love. I confess Blessed Father, more often than not, I don’t. Oh, but I want to.

Worldwide English tells us, “Love forgives everything. Love is always trusting, and always hoping, and never gives up” (v. 7).

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition, “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].”

And this from The Passion Translation beginning with verse six, “Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”

Such a tall order Lord! Do all You must Most Holy God in making me the woman You would have me be. Never giving up. Never losing faith. Always hopeful, and enduring through every circumstance (New Living Translation).

Do all that is necessary with, in, by, through and for me that I would truly come to look for the best in others. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

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

heartened

Friday, July 6, 2018 (7:10 a.m.)

Holy God,

It’s supposed to be extremely hot today. We’ve all been warned. And I confess the thought is truly daunting.

Mm, Father, thank You that even as I consider the meaning of the word I smile as I see the antonym. Hearten. CHEER (UP), encourage, raise someone’s spirits, boost, buoy up, perk up, inspire, elate, comfort, reassure.

You do that for us Father. You buoy us up. Inspire and uplift us. We are so blessed to be loved by You.

Turning to Acts 20 I am again heartened. I read of Paul’s encouraging, obedient nature. And I am grateful for his example.

We have tasks we would like to accomplish this day Blessed God. Chores that have been postponed for weeks. Be with us Lord.

I tend to go off on my own, not always using good sense. I look to You Dear Lord. And herein lies the hope. The Truth.

Looking to You, I turn to Your Word and read of the apostle Paul being “compelled by the Spirit” (v. 22). He was so in tuned to Your plan for him that he was willing to follow You through the most difficult of circumstances.

Thank You for the precedent he set for us Dearest Lord. Continue Your work in guiding and directing me this day. I long for You to lead that I will follow. I love You. Use me as only You can. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

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

giving thanks in all things

Thursday, July 5, 2018 (7:15 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You for years of loving You. Thank You for things that have changed over those years. I realize I don’t even know how to express my thanks right now.

“In all things give thanks”. Let’s look in to that, shall we? 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Thank You for helping me smile. Yes Lord. I love those times I notice I am smiling and become aware that you have made me glad about something. Anything.

It’s becoming second nature to turn a smile back to You with a thankful heart. Thank You Father.

I read Paul’s encouraging words to the believers in Thessalonica. Thank You for this record of their trust in You. Enable me this day to live as he directed them: warning those who are lazy (v. 14a), encouraging those who are timid (14b), taking tender care of those who are weak (14c), being patient with everyone (14d).

That verse alone is a fairly tall order!

Oh, but the Truth that comes from his directions. Not repaying evil for evil (15a), always trying to do good to each other and everyone else (15b). Always being joyful (16). Keep on praying (17). “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (18). So important. So true.

Holy God, thank You for Your Word. Your warnings. Your promises.

Let me learn to “not stifle the Holy Spirit” (v. 19). To “not scoff at prophecies” ( 20), but to “test everything that is said” (21a) and to “hold on to what is good” (21b). You alone are what is good. Keep me away from every kind of evil (22).

Such a short, yet power filled section. Yes a very short portion of Scripture reminding us that it is one 

(12:34 p.m.)

… that it is one what?

A very unexpected phone call from a loved one saddened by another’s completely unanticipated death. Father, thank You for the ability to reach out to others in our pain and sorrow.

Thank You especially for this morning’s first verse reminding us to “in all things give thanks”. Even an unforeseen death.

Thank You Father that nothing is unforeseen or surprising to You. Thank You that we are not alone. You made us to need one another. And to be there for each other. Thank You.

I ask You to bless those families that are hurting by loss. Things do not stay the same. They change. And we are to give thanks always. Empower and enable us in living Your Word as only You know is best.

Thank You for loving us. Always. Use me today to Your good and to Your glory. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(466 words ~ 1:03 p.m.)

freed to live love

Wednesday, July 4, 2018 (7:31 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

Good morning. We love You. Thank You for freedom. Yes Father. Thank You for freedom.

Your Word has so much to say about it. Guide me in understanding and applying the freedom we have in You. Thank You Father

A smile of genuine contentment seems to wash completely over me. It started with these words: “Galatians 5:1 [The Life of Freedom] Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”

As I continue reading I get more and more excited. “Chapter 5. Freedom in Christ Necessity of Freedom; 5:1-12, Freedom to Live Love; 5:13-26.” Think of it. We are freed to live love!

Oh that we would Blessed God. Yes! Father, You freed us in and through Jesus to live as You would have us live. Continue Your work in us that we would truly become the people You would have us be. Living love on a regular, daily basis.

What a concept. “Free to live love”. Yes. Please. On this day especially. As we as a nation celebrate the birth of our country, Father PLEASE teach us to live love!

We love You. Teach us. Use us. We love You. Amen.

(223 words ~ 8:23 a.m.)

what is real?

Tuesday, July 3, 2018 (6:53 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You. There are so many thoughts going in so many directions. There were descriptively scary dreams causing me to again wonder what is real.

Thank You Father that YOU are!

the Spirit of the living God

Sunday, July 1, 2018 (7:02 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You change us. And we are grateful.

Mm, yes. Father You keep working in us. With us. Through us. By and for us. Truly, we are grateful.

I find myself reading in 2 Corinthians 3. I came here for verse 18 

(11:04 a.m.)

and I stayed not only for the whole chapter, but others as well.

I love that You never cease to amaze me with the transformations that come from the Truth of Your Word. Thank You Father for being SUCH a very good Daddy!

Use us this day, exactly as You know is best. We love You. We thank You. Amen.