awaken

 Sunday, August 30, 2020 (6:36 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! Oh Your goodness, thank You for awakening me. Not just physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. And mentally.

Immediately I am singing ♪Your Love Awakens Me♪ As I look up the lyrics I truly feel as though I am living this song. Praise You Father.

♪There were walls between us By the cross You came And broke them down… There were chains around us By Your grace we are No longer bound… You called me out of the grave You called me into the light You called my name and then my heart came alive♪

It happened almost just like that for me this past week. On Monday or Tuesday my emotional dam finally burst and there were tears. So many tears. “Sub-sub”s are what we used to call them. Crying to the point of not being able to speak unbrokenly.

And then? Clarity. The overall calm that comes from having all that pent up emotion drained.

Holy God how I thank You. Thank You for allowing me to again see the Truth in the phrase, “You gotta get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’!”

You reminded me of two of the most memorable things from a long ago funeral of a former co-worker. Erma. A force to be reckoned with. A take no prisoners, unapologetic example of living life to its fullest.

Yes Lord. That is my first memory of having heard “The Dash”. A short instruction of making the tiny line on a headstone that represents the time we spend in this world matter.

Remembering that service closing with the prayer, “Lord, let me live as long as I’m alive and not die until I’m dead” changed my thinking. I realized how much I have been “phoning in” my days. Existing, not really living. Low profile. Not willing to risk hoping for anything more.

Lord, thank You for changing me! ♪You called me out of the grave You called me into the light You called my name and then my heart came alive Your love is greater Your love is stronger Your love awakens Awakens Awakens me♪

Thank You Lord. Praise You God. Use me as You know is best.

1 Corinthians 15:34 in The Passion Translation, “Come back to your right senses and awaken to what is right. Repent from your sinful ways. For some have no knowledge of God’s wonderful love. You should be ashamed that you make me write this way to you!”

Blessed Lord God, I long to live this day in the power of Your wonderful love. Keep awakening me as I go. I love You. And want to serve You. Do all You must. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(458 words ~ 8:13 a.m.)

certainty

 Saturday, August 29, 2020 (7:27 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You!

You are changing me. I can feel it. Things I used to hold on to, deep in my heart and soul, I am more able to release. Perceived hurts and slights. Misunderstandings. Misgivings. Qualms.

And the very opposite of qualm? Certainty. Mm, yes! Father I ask that You lead me this day in certainty!

I feel as though I've spent the bulk of my life being uncertain. Afraid. Do all You must in changing that Lord.

I long to live this day for You. Glorifying and enjoying You at every turn. Not taking the simplest thing for granted. Truly appreciating the gifts and blessings You provide us.

And You do Lord. You provide us with gifts and blessings at every turn. We don’t always recognize or acknowledge them as such.

We have some big decisions to make Lord. The kind I usually approach with great trepidation. Here I am asking You in leading, guiding and directing us.

Father God, this morning I’m reading in the book of Luke. Written 

(3:00 p.m.)

“To confirm the historical record of the life of Jesus Christ, whose universal message offers hope and salvation to all who turn to Him” (THE BOTTOM LINE The Life Recovery Bible).

Holy God, there is so very much going on in the world around us. Hurts. Disappointments. Genuine concerns. Thank You that we get to turn to You and Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

You are God. Lord, Almighty. In You we get to trust.

The RECOVERY THEMES for this book remind us: Jesus Loves the Outcast; The Power of the Resurrection; God’s Passion for Our Recovery; and The Power of the Holy Spirit.

Holy God, mistakes are made. Often. Thank You that Your Word is rife with forgiveness. We are taught, when we are willing to learn, that Your way is the absolute best way.

I am here asking You Lord to continue Your work in strengthening the certainty with which each of us are to approach You. The Voice tells us in Luke 1:4 “I want you to know that you can fully rely on the things you have been taught about Jesus, God’s Anointed One.”

Spelled out more fully in Amplified Bible, Classic Edition “[My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.”

Lord, we are in desperate need of the certainty of Your Truth. Thank You for planning so far in advance to meet our every need. We love You Lord. We need You. We want You. We trust You. Use us exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(474 words ~ 4:02 p.m.)

welcome

 Friday, August 28, 2020 (6:04 a.m.)

Holy God,

How I thank You for the privilege of knowing You. Teach me more about You please. Yes Lord.

Thank You that I again get to wake up singing. ♪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♪

Oh yes Blessed God. We can so easily become overwhelmed with the state of all that is going on around us.

Lord, there have been deaths. Drug overdoses. Horror. Mayhem. And we can choose to turn to You asking to be overcome by Your presence. Yes Father, Your Holy Spirit IS welcome here!

Turning back to the song I wholeheartedly agree that ♪there’s nothing worth more That could ever come close No thing can compare You’re our living hope♪ Yes!

♪Your presence, Lord I’ve tasted and seen Of the sweetest of loves Where my heart becomes free And my shame is undone♪ I smile as I sing and sit up taller. Straighter. Truly longing to be filled with Your Spirit.

♪Let us become more aware of Your presence Let us experience the glory of Your goodness♪ Oh yes Blessed God. Truly we pray Your presence as we sing.

Psalm 61 sings out our need for You. As well as Your availability. Thank You Father. Praise You.

It is You, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit to Whom we can turn every time we are in need. Ephesians 5:18 cautions us. “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.”

Use me this day Blessed God. Filled with Your Holy Spirit that I may love You, others and myself as You would have me love. With all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31.

Do all You must that I would truly glorify and enjoy You this day. In the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

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

proceed

 Thursday, August 27, 2020 (6:45 a.m.)

Holy God,

There are so many ideas floating around in my head. Interests. Hopes. Plans. I want to align them with Your will. Your way. How shall we proceed?

Into Your Word. And see where that takes us.

Jeremiah 17:19-20. “Keep the Sabbath Day Holy”. Interesting that You would remind me so perfectly Lord.

I had predetermined to make this a day of rest. I have long gotten out of the habit of taking one day a week and dedicating it to purposely enjoying You. Thank You Father for this opportunity.

With the goal of truly glorifying and enjoying You this day fresh in my mind and heart, I ask You to show me how to proceed.

Genesis 2:2-3

Psalm 92 (Sabbath song)

Mark 2:27

10:37

10:37 Luke, Hebrews

♪Open Up My Eyes in Wonder♪ (Build My Life)

Wednesday, August 26, 2020 (5:05 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

♪Oh What a Night♪ Yes. How I thank You Lord. A very odd night indeed. Music mixed with early sleep and a “black and white cookie” [exact half moon] in the western sky at 10:37 PM.

You reminded me yesterday that I am here to glorify and enjoy You forever. And to encourage others in doing the same. Today I ask You to guide me in doing exactly that.

Lord, these very uncertain days in which we are struggling can so easily take our focus off of You. Uncontrollable weather. Fires. Racial and social dissensions. Anger. Family hurts and losses. Dissonance. Discord. We must intentionally set our minds and hearts on following You.

Thank You Father that You constantly call out to us.

Proverbs 19:21

Matthew 22:37

Philippians 2:4

Matthew 6:21

Hebrews 6:10

John 3:16

Matthew 17:20

Psalm 139:17-18

Proverbs 31:10

When we choose to turn to You, trust in You, depend on You we are comforted. Given all we need to continue having faith in You. Thank You Father.

As I prepare to go out into this day, Lord I ask You to lead and guide me. Direct my thoughts, my hopes, my prayers. You are good. These times are trying. Hard. And You are always in control. Thank You that You are.

Right there I start singing again. ♪Lord, You are more precious than silver; Lord, You are more costly than gold; Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds; And nothing I desire compares with You♪ (Proverbs 8:10-11).

Take this day. Make it all You would have it be. Do all You must in reminding us that You alone are good (Mark 10:18b). We love You Lord. We need You. We want You. We choose to look to You. Believing. Trusting. Asking, Seeking, Knocking (Matthew 7:7).

Turning in Your Word I come again to Matthew 6:21. “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” Thank You Father.

Thank You for the reminder to come again to You. Yes! A Serenity Prayer Devotional for Matthew 6:25-34 tells us how easy it is to fall back to worrying. It encourages us to look for the joy, strength and sanity that comes when we accept each day’s realities. Thank you Father.

Yes. Thank You that all of this has led me back over to Hebrews 10:37 and A Call to Persevere. “10:26-39 This ‘warning’ summarizes the only way to a wholehearted pursuit of emotional and spiritual healing. First we can find release by repenting of sinful patterns and receiving forgiveness. Then we can take positive steps by strengthening our healthy behavioral patterns and attitudes, particularly our faith in God.”

Yes Lord. You are our only hope in all of this uncertainty! And here again I sing.

♪Worthy of every song we could ever sing Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe We live for You, oh, we live for You Jesus, the Name above every other name Jesus, the only One who could ever save… Holy there is no one like You, there is none beside You Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are and fill me with Your heart And lead me in Your love to those around me♪

Yes Lord! All of this I pray in Jesus’ most Holy name. Amen.

(602 words ~ 7:14 a.m.)

Your glory

 Tuesday, August 25, 2020 (7:30 a.m)

Holy God,

Thank You! I had a scary dream.

(7:47 a.m.)

And an unexpected, necessary phone interruption.

Holy, Holy God. There is so much that is not in our control. Thank You that we can continue turning to You. Singing. Praying. Praising. Trusting. Hoping. Believing.

Yes Lord. ♪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♪

What exactly does this mean Lord? I sing it. I believe it. What does it look like?

(8:59 a.m.)

Another interruption. Some necessary, pre-planned maintenance work. Singing to You and wondering what “Your glory” really means.

(12:27 p.m.)

Here my head shakes. And shakes some more In absolute appreciation. Yes Father!

I may not fully understand Your glory, but turning in Your Word (Daniel 12:2) I am filled with hopefulness. Holy God, as I read about this particular prophet of Yours I am amazed by the light that seems to fill my soul.

Thank You Lord. Thank You for the reminder that rings loudly from The Life Recovery Bible’s introduction to the book of Daniel. “Innocent bystanders often get hurt by the mistakes and sins of other people. Disasters happen that can affect us for life, even though we are not responsible for the events that take place. When we suffer innocently or unfairly, we can recover from the problems we have inherited only by facing the reality of our situation.”

“Daniel and his friends [Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego] were exiled to Babylon because of the sins of their ancestors, but they did not use that as an excuse for continued failure.” They trusted You instead.

“Because of their faith and courage, God not only repeatedly delivered them from difficult circumstances, but He used them to prove His existence and power to others.” Father, thank You that You are so good to remind us of the determined obedience of others used to teach us.

The RECOVERY THEMES for this book are: Life Is Unfair; Not Victims Forever; God Can Do Anything; and Pain in Recovery. And then there is Your Truth found in the comments for 12:1-4, 13. Here again I say, “Thank You and praise You Dear Lord!”

“As we face recovery, we would like to believe that life will never again be as painful as it was before recovery. That, however, cannot be guaranteed. Prior to the resurrection at the end of the age, there will be a time of unparalleled suffering for God’s people, and between now and then, there will be consistent tribulation for God’s people (see also Acts 14:22). While we may have faith, courage, and wisdom during that time, we will never have answers to all our questions in this life. However, we have the assurance that we will live forever with God and understand everything in the end.”

Thank and praise You Jesus! I get to wonder. And trust. And doubt. And waver. And come back to standing firm in the faith that You are in charge. I may still not know exactly what Your glory looks like but the hope I find in believing and trusting Your Word shines brightly within me.

Blending the song ♪Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here♪ together with ♪Heaven Is Here Now♪ allows me to truly believe ♪We’ll see Your glory♪ and it will be perfect. Thank You Father.

Use me to what is left of this day. To Your good. And to Your glory. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(609 words ~ 1:46 p.m.)

quotidian

Monday, August 24, 2020 (7:04 a.m.)

Growl, grumble, gripe, grouse. Countered with: sing, smile, stand, stay.

Holy God, how I thank You that I get to come to You with every single feeling I have. The good along with the bad. Yes Lord. I still judge my feelings.

Thank You that You have far more for us than meets our eyes. And hearts.

Mm, yes Lord. You provide hope where there seems to be none. Reminders of joy. Glimpses of goodness. Yes Father. You do this! Thank You. Praise You.

The smile on my face is faint. The one in my heart is broadening. Songs swirl within me. Each striving to be front and center.

♪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♪

And again, ♪Heaven is Here Now… come and reign here, come have Your way here Establish Your rule Come take the throne Your Kingdom come♪

Blessed God, I truly don’t know how to pray to counter all the fearfulness of these times. Your Word reminds us. “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words” (Romans 8:26).

Another song of Your Truth. ♪Strength will come rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord… Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our strong Deliverer You are the Everlasting God You do not faint You won’t grow weary♪

I sit up straighter. Filled with hope and joy. And then look around at what has become the ordinariness of our every day lives. Father it is so easy to become overcome with sadness and fear.

Turning again to Your Word, I stand on Your Truth and promises. Philippians 2:13 from church yesterday. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.”

You know our every single need. Nothing gets by You. I forget this often.

Illustrated Bible Handbook for Romans 8:18-39 calls Your Truth to mind. “We have the confidence that whatever enters our life is designed for good, that we might grow toward likeness to Jesus and our destiny (26-30).”

Father God, it is only in You, by You, through You, with You and for You that we have any hope at all. How I sing again that You would ♪Come and reign here Come have Your Way here Establish Your rule Come take the throne Your Kingdom come♪

Yes Lord. We get to so easily turn to the internet to find lyrics of songs that sing of facing our giants with ♪Confidence♪. Find information. And teach me the meaning of a new to me word.

This morning I happened upon quotidian. “a non-ordinary word to describe ordinariness.” Lord, You are anything but ordinary! How I thank You for all the ways You remind me of Your goodness and Your grace.

As I prepare to get started on whatever it is You have for me this day I turn to The Message. Psalm 4:6-8. Asking You to do all You must in teaching me to live this day in the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

“Why is everyone hungry for more? ‘More, more,’ they say. ‘More, more.’ I have God’s more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day Than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, For You, GOD, have put my life back together.”

Yes Lord. We look to You to put our lives back together. We are broken. Hurting. And looking to You. ♪For Your glory We’ll see Your glory… Our lives are not our own, We give them back to You We belong to the King!♪

Yes. Nothing quotidian about that! ♪Come have Your Way Establish Your rule Come take the throne Your Kingdom come♪

Yes Jesus, do all You must. Thank You. We love you. Empower and enable us to Your will. Amen.

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

blessings all around

 Sunday, August 23:2020 (5:43 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy Father God,

Thank You for all the blessings You provide. Family. Friends. Phone calls. Learning. Blessings all around.

Blessed Lord, it is so very easy for me to fall into the never ending trap of discontent. Thank You that You call us to more. Better. You.

Yes Lord. You call us to know, trust and depend on You. To learn Your will and Your way. And to obey. Mm, yes. ♪Trust and Obey, For there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey♪

Thank You Father. I come to You aware of our brokenness. Having the choice of looking at problems, or potential solutions. Thank You that Your Word of Truth calls out to us.

Turning first to the book of Joel (2:13-14) and then to Ephesians, Chapter 5; Living in the Light. Reading Your Word often surrounds me with such a blanket of hope. A true sense of being comforted. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that the prophet Joel wrote to warn Your people “of impending judgment, and to urge them to admit their sins and turn back to God” (The Life Recovery Bible THE BOTTOM LINE PURPOSE).

The introduction of this book reads much like our newspapers today. “Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes - natural catastrophes of all kinds - have a way of making us feel helpless. We can do nothing to stop them. We can only do our best to avoid them and pick up the pieces after they have occurred.”

When we turn to the writings of Joel (2:12-13), again we find hope. “A Call to Repentance That is why the LORD says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time! Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief; instead tear your hearts,’ Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered. He is filled with kindness and eager not to punish you.”

RECOVERY THEMES of this book list: The Power of Confrontation; The Importance of Forgiveness; God’s Power Is Limitless; and God’s Power within Us. Your power not only surrounds us but resides in us as well.

Lord God, how I long to lean into and fully depend on Your indwelling power. Believing, trusting and obeying Your call to us.

The Message tells us, “You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true - these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it” (Ephesians 5:8-10).

Living in the light. By the Spirit’s power. How I ask You to teach me more about forgiveness. And provide all that is necessary in its realization. Not just an ideal. No Lord, make it so I become a ready forgiver in every sense of the word.

I love You Lord. How I ask You to do all You must to Your good and to Your glory this day. Thank You. Amen.

(539 words ~ 7:11 a.m.)

Bless God

 Saturday, August 22, 2020 (7:07 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You! It’s taken almost a week and finally we have the song! Thank You Lord. Praise You. Yes. Praise, bless and honor You.

With that, I turn to Psalm 96:2-3. And 103:2.

(8:01 a.m.)

It happened again. Just like yesterday. An unexpected, necessary phone call. And in practically no time a planned one is coming up.

Lord, I come before You with a bucket filled with trauma. Drama. A death by drug overdose. Fractured familial relationships. Generational dysfunction that keeps getting passed down to the next.

There is divisive political turmoil. Racial injustice. Real life problems. Just like Jesus promised. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (John 16:33b).

It’s His words surrounding this Truth to which I cling. “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me” (v.33a). Followed by the conclusion of the entire chapter, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (33c).

Holy God, it is on Your Word that I truly stand. And depend. You are absolutely our only way through all of this!

Thank You Lord. Praise You. Bless You.

These are the words that brought me into the Psalms in the first place. Praise, leading to the Truth of Your forgiveness.

Preparing for another phone call I ask You to go before me. Be in, with, by, through and for me. Go beside, behind, below and above me that I will stay fully focused on Your goodness. Your grace. Your glory.

And here comes the song again. ♪Heaven is Here Now♪ by Gary Rea.

prayer of praise

Friday, August 21, 2020 (6:45 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

You are good. We are grateful. Where do I go from here?

It’s become far too easy for me to whine. Gripe. Grumble. Complain. Yes Lord. I have fallen headlong back into the habit of killing my own spirit.

Thank You for the reminders You provide us. A silly, wise beyond his years, seven year old drawing attention again to my own goal of being joyful. Yes please Lord.

And here’s a smile. Free. Genuine. Mindful.

Father I long to go forward with You. In acceptance. Praise. Applause. Teach me to truly worship and adore You. Even, especially, now.

Turning to Hannah’s prayer of praise (1 Samuel 2:1-11) Illustrated Bible Handbook encourages us to study Hannah’s prayer to better understand and practice prayers of praise. “She (1) speaks directly to God, (2) expresses appreciation for His character (3) and His actions.”