♪God is So Good♪

 Monday, October  31, 2022 (6:10 a.m.)

Most Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. You are so good. And with that? I get to start singing.

♪God is so good… He’s so good to me♪

Father, thank You! With just one word of Truth [that of Your goodness] I am back in Your Word of Truth! King David’s celebration of the successful move of Your ark [sacred chest built by the Israelites according to Your specifications] into Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15 and 16).

Reading of David’s wholehearted worship of You and his wife’s contempt of him (15:29) again I am grateful Lord. You ARE so good! You love us. You bid us come to You. In worship and adoration.

I ask You to be with us this day. Living in, by, through and for us. All this live long day.

Lord God, I love You. I need, trust and want You to lead and guide me. Empowering and enabling me to be obedient to You and Your call upon me.

Illustrated Bible Handbook describes David’s Psalm of praise: 1 Chronicles 16:7-43 as recalling who You are, telling of what You had done for Israel. The central theme being “the goodness, the glory, the greatness, and the majesty” due Your name.

Teach me to celebrate You like David. Unapologetically! Use me as You know is best. You are so good! Great. Glorious. And gracious. Thank You that You are. Praise You. Amen.

(250 words ~ 7:22 a.m.)

Good.

 Sunday, October 30, 2022 (5:55 a.m.)

Good morning good God and Father,

(6:19 a.m.)

Mm. Yes. Speak with me this morning regarding this one word please. Good.

(6:31 a.m.)

Mm. Yes. Good!

Thank You God. Just this one word offers us more than we could ever begin to understand.

Again the song with which I awoke blasts internal snippets of Your goodness ♪I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up... You Say…♪

(7:01 a.m.)

Oh Dearest God, thank You that You really, truly are THAT good!

Mm. Psalm 34:8, 100:5, 145:9.

So many reminders of Your goodness.

Ezra 3:11. Nehemiah 9:20. Nahum 1:7. Mark 10:18. James 1:17.

As we learn to stand on Your Word Dear Father, how I ask You to BE our focus. So much going on in the world today is everything but good. We need You Dearest Lord!

Changing a few of the words to the song I’m still singing within, I ask You Lord to be with each of us. Changing us into the people You created us to be. Good.

♪Are we more than just the sum of every high and every low? Remind us once again just who we are because we need to know♪

Oh yes most Blessed God! We need to be reminded who we are. In You. With You. By, through and for You.

Do all You must in each of us that we will come to better reflect Your goodness and Your grace. Glorifying and enjoying You as we go throughout the day.

Help us remember ♪The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me [us] In You I [we] find my [our] worth, in You I [we] find my [our] identity Ooh ooh♪

Right now Dearest God those identities are not looking so good. There’s a lot of yelling. Discord. Violence. Disgrace. And dare I say? Ignorance.

Another political election is approaching. You already know the outcome. Father God, how I ask You to be glorified. We need YOUR Truth Dearest God! Oh how desperately we need Your Truth. Please God. Please God. Please…

“Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b). We love, need, trust and want You. Urgently. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(400 words ~ 7:42 a.m.)

defining moments

 Saturday, October 29, 2022 (5:13 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. There was time to rest. And sleep. Awaken. Lie still. And consider. Mm, yes. Thank You Lord for the privileges You provide us.

Thank You for the opportunity to consider all we have [and are] in You.

(6:02 a.m.)

Thank You for mistakes Dear Lord. And the ability to laugh while making them. Guide me in our time here together I ask.

(6:27 a.m.)

I keep coming and going. And going and coming. One moment here in body and spirit. And the next? Just gone.

Keep me here with You, I ask.

(7:06 a.m.)

All my thoughts and reading have me considering crossroads. Defining moments. Big events. Again I ask You to guide me in my thinking. Searching. Finding.

Unlike the song [♪You Say♪] with which I gently awoke, ♪This Magic Moment♪ is insistent in my head. Lord, thank You for all the things that turn out not being what I thought. This song for instance! First introduced to me nine years after the original.

Lord God, I confess to making assumptions. Thinking I know things. When in actuality, I really don’t.

Here again, I thank You Lord. Thank You for reminding me of so many of the mistakes I have made throughout the years. Thank You that because of Your incredibly perfect love we can always move forward. In, with, by, through and for You.

How I thank and praise You most Blessed God. Lead, guide and use me today as You alone know is best.

Reading right now of another’s moments with You. I sense the gentle smile appearing on my face. Adam Thomas’ words, “… I began listening, seeing, feeling with my heart, no - with the very core of my being…”

Lord God, continue speaking to me I ask.

Referencing Mary and Elizabeth’s encounters with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:39-45) Episcopal priest Thomas relates, “It is the sharing of God’s presence in our lives that helps others witness that presence in their own” [WhereTheWind]. Thank You Father God, for the lengths You go to bringing us back to Your Word.

Encouraging his congregation in the art of evangelism, Thomas goes on in his urging. “We have the good news of God to share: how God moves in our own lives, how God moves through us, transforming us, and renewing our broken world.”

Talk about a defining [MAGIC - mercy and grace in Christ] moment! Thank You. Praise You. Use me. I love, need, trust and want You. Hallelujah! Amen.

(427 words ~ 8:06 a.m.)

internal rejoicing

Friday, October 28, 2022 (5:10 a.m.)

Good morning Lord,

Waking. Singing. Thinking. Praying. Admiring. Wanting to know more about rejoicing. Yes please. Lead me into Your Word this morning.

Nehemiah 8:10.

GNT

Psalm 5:11; 16:11; 28:7; 73:26; 118:24

Proverbs 17:22

Luke 2:10

John 15:11; 16:21-22

Acts 13:52

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Peter 1:8

(6:11 a.m.)

How truly I thank and praise You Blessed God. Every single time I recognize a smile on my face I associate it with joy. Acknowledging that I am rejoicing internally. Wholeheartedly. Without effort.

Thank You Lord. You make us aware of the joy we have in You. That which is truly our strength!

Live in me this day. By, with, through and for me. There are so many options for today. I want to use my energies well. Serving You. Joyfully.

Romans 15:13

(6:49 a.m.)

Father, thank You for the privilege of spending this time with You. Thank You that Your Word is rife with examples of the joy You provide.

Thank you that in my search this morning I found another’s [Jessica Udall] sharing of the importance of setting our hopes “on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). Taking time each day to notice, acknowledge, and praise God for what we are grateful for will go a long way to helping us experience the strengthening joy of the Lord welling up within us.”

Seems like internal rejoicing to me, Dear Lord! Use me this day. To Your good and Your glory. I love You. I need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(288 words ~ 7:06 a.m.)

exploring

Thursday, October 27, 2022 (4:58 a.m.)

Most Dear and Blessed God,

Thank You! You are great. Glorious. Good. Gracious. And I am grateful.

You love us. Care about and provide for our needs. How truly blessed [toowayhon] we really are.

(5:50 a.m.)

Mm. Thank You for time to sit. And explore. Yes! Exploring so many things I don’t know about. Right now? Going deeper into how You care about us.

Thank You Father. Praise You Lord.

(6:41 a.m.)

Taking this time to sit. Explore. Read of Your care and provision is heartwarming. Strength/faith building. Mm. Yes. I have very little to add. A request for Your guidance and leadership.

We, as Your people, need Your help. Your healing power in all our endeavors. Do all You alone know is necessary in bringing us to our knees of worshipful adoration.

You are truly ♪a Good, Good Father! It’s who You are, it’s who You are♪ Thank You that we are genuinely ♪loved by You♪

Work in, with, by, through and for me this day that I will continue growing into the woman You designed and created me to be. As “wonderfully complex” (Psalm 139:14) as I might be.

I end here where I started. Thanking You for being great. Glorious. Good. And gracious. Mm, yes! Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(229 words ~ 6:56 a.m.)

for so many reasons

 Wednesday, October 26, 2022 (5:56 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! For so many reasons. For music. And hearing. And finding lyrics to songs I never expect to be singing.

Thank You God for the 12:12 a.m. ♪Cool Change♪ wake-up call that led me to watching a captivating video of dolphins. Leaping. Playing. And now I’m searching why.

Thank You God for the curiosity that leads me in so many directions. Seemingly all at one time!

Guide my curious nature this morning Lord. The smile I’m experiencing is broad. And continuing to grow. There is excitement as I consider the multitude of ways You bless us.

Right now? With information!

Reading 13 reasons why dolphins jump, I am loving the rationale of “just because they are capable of doing so and because it’s fun!” Acknowledging not all is known about dolphin behavior, many plausible theories remain.

Father God, viewing them as “a curious and playful species” I know I want that to describe me! Jumping for joy just because I can. And it’s fun!

Like this time with You right now. Seeing You in all the intricacies of Your creations.

(7:16 a.m.)

The other day I recognized myself examining my understanding of Your joy being my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). I confess to not knowing the meaning behind the phrase.

And just like that [snap!] I’m reading in New American Bible (Revised Edition). “Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the LORD is your strength!” THAT resonates with me Lord. I see “rejoicing” here as a verb. An action I can make. In other versions I read “joy” as a noun. A word naming something.

I want very much to experience rejoicing in You as my strength. Thank You God! Thank You for this extended time to ramble with You. Exploring various songs that continue coming in to our time together. Asking You to lead and guide me through this day.

Firmly believing lyrics to one song to be ♪Hey! I’ll come back to you♪ Only to learn I’ve made another mistake. It’s actually ♪Peg It will come back to you♪ [Whatever the heck THAT means!]

Thank You God for the freedom with which You are teaching me to accept mistakes and move forward. Instead of staying stuck and dwelling in/on them.

Thank You for Your love Dearest Dad. And the myriad of ways You speak loudly to us. So many times with me, musically!

Here with another song. From much, much earlier. ♪I love You for so many reasons Which means I Love You For All Seasons♪ Thank You that I do Dear Lord.

Use me this day. Exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank you. Praise You. Amen.

(467 words ~ 8:04 a.m.)

so much more than blessed

 Tuesday, October 25, 2022 (5:21 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed, Generous, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You!

(5:50 a.m.)

Looking again at the Aramaic word toowayhon I am so incredibly grateful. Thank You Lord that we truly are “so much more than blessed!” The native language of Galilee. Where Jesus was born.

The more I read the more questions I have. Where is that exactly? Oh. Bethlehem is IN Galilee. This is where I confess to recognizing names of places while having no idea of their actual locale.

Thank You Father for again reminding me of how very much I don’t know. Bethlehem. Galilee. Gethsemane. Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives. These are important names of places. Thank You for sparking the interest to learn more.

We are truly toowayhon to know You. Use me this day Dear Lord. Seeking, finding and learning more as I go.

I love You God. I need, trust and want You to guide me. Making me fully aware and compliant to all You have planned. Empower, enable and imbue me with Your loving power (Ephesians 6:10). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(188 words ~ 6:34 a.m.)

"quiet reflection"

 Monday, October 24, 2022 (6:15 a.m.)

Family Room

“Quiet reflection.” What a great phrase! Thank You Father.

Introduced to me as a giggle by my big brother. I’m choosing it instead as a challenging opportunity.

Again I say thank You God. Thank You for smiles. Hot coffee. Shelter from the wind. Different surroundings. Your love. Your care. Your teachings.

Guide my quiet reflection on Paul’s description of love to the believers living in Corinth (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). ♪You Love Never Fails It never gives up Never runs out on me♪

The Life Recovery Bible says, “Love is more than a feeling. It is a choice of behaviors that grows in our life as we yield to God. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, produced in our life.”

Use me this day I pray Dear Lord. Exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(158 words ~ 7:20 a.m.)

Better.

Sunday, October 23, 2022 (5:24 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Thank You. I want to love You more. Better. Teach me please.

(6:34 a.m.)

How has it already been over an hour? Didn’t I just sit down with You? Looking into Your Word. Reading a contributor’s stressing of the importance of forgiving everyone. Yes please! I’d love to do that better as well.

Thank You for the husband who took the partial tune and one word [better] I gave him and found not only the group who sang it, but the song as well. ♪Peg♪ by Steely Dan.

♪I know I’ll love You better♪ That’s just like me. Wanting to love You better! The mention of a smile and a letter in the lyrics brings my mind to Your Letter to each of us. And I smile. Thank You Lord.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. “By Your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path” (The Message). “Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep me from stumbling” (The Living Bible).

As the tune continues, so my change in the lyrics. ♪And when You smile for a while I want to love You better♪

John 15:11

Psalm 16:11

Romans 14:17, 15:13

“Sorrowful joy exists… Joy comes from the Lord and through our focus on Him…. Jesus, the Source of our joy.” [GraceInMySpace]

All these thoughts. Searchings. Findings. Based on Your Truth. And the deepest desire to love You. Better.

Lead me. Guide me. Empower and use me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(288 words ~ 7:40 a.m.)

peace over panic

 Saturday, October 22, 2022 (6:45 a.m.)

Holy God,

You did it again!!! Provided peace where normally would have been panic. Mm, yes. Peace over panic! Thank You God. Praise You Lord.

Having the opportunity to read and learn about eagles on Thursday prepared me for unexpectedness yesterday. When plans went awry I went straight to You. Remembering teachings from Sunday’s NewHope message, “The best is yet to come.”

I quoted Your promises back to You. Standing firmly on the Truth presented by the prophet Isaiah (40:31). Here/hear quoted from Amplified Bible, beginning at verse 30. “Even youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,

But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]

Will gain new strength and renew their power;

They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];

They will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not grow tired.”

Eagles soar. They don’t flap. Or glide. They soar! Thursday’s teaching was the first, in all my years of reading this verse, to get an overwhelming, “Aha!” from me.

Thank You God for the word pictures that presented themselves in my studying. A large bird of prey perfectly designed for high flights! With little to no effort. Also made for rest. And storms!

We were in the midst of a potential storm yesterday Lord. Thank You You that I intentionally set my sights on You. Waiting. Not hiding. Preparing to take flight and soar like an eagle rather than flap incessantly like a bird.

Thank You too that I woke with all the words of a related song. Prior to opening my eyes I had the chorus sans the very first word. Was it hope? Faith? No. Strength!

♪Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord♪ Thank You Father for the privilege of continuing to learn [and share!] more of Your Truth.

♪Our God, You reign forever. Our hope, our Strong Deliverer. You are the Everlasting God, the everlasting God. You do not faint, You won’t grow weary. You’re the defender of the weak, You comfort those in need. You lift us up on wings like eagles♪

Countering every single thought of potential terror, I visualized myself on the very highest point of a tree. Waiting. Trusting. Believing that You would lift me high above any storm that was to come our way.

This is brand new territory for me Lord. A whole different better way of confronting what could come. I truly chose the peace (Philippians 4:4-9) You offer to us over the panic I normally stir up for myself.

Thank You Father. Praise You Lord. Continue Your work in us I ask (Matthew 7:7). Doing, teaching, empowering and enabling us to live this day in, with, by, through and for us.

We love You. We need, trust, thank and want You to be the trustworthy God we are learning You to be. Use us. Praise You. Amen.

(521 words ~ 7:47 a.m.)

Your grace

 Saturday Friday, October 21, 2022 (5:27 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You. You keep working in us. With. By. Through. And for us. Your grace covers us in ways we

♪… cannot see… God Will Make A Way… for me♪ (Isaiah 43:19).

Oh most dear and blessed God, thank You for the ways You draw our attention to You. Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

So many choices. Directions. Options. Opportunities to surrender our will to Yours. Thank You Father. Praise You Lord.

This time with You is taking me in a completely different direction than I had anticipated. Planning since yesterday to talk with You about soaring like eagles (Isaiah 40:31) here I am instead learning more about Your grace.

Lord God, I want to live this day in the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). “Pray[ing] in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay[ing] alert and be[ing] persistent” in my prayers to You (v. 18).

You are so good. Great. Glorious. And gracious.

It is Your grace that allows us to begin each day anew. Afresh. Learning to depend on Your grace being sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) is a trait I want so much to develop.

Continue Your work that I will “remain faithful, even when facing death” (Revelation 2:10). Make me ‘eager to do right, changing my heart and life’ (v. 3:19).

Said this way in The Message. “The people I love, I call to account - prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!”

Yes! It is Your grace that teaches. Prods. Corrects. Guides. Provides. Reminds us of all we are in You. Use me this day dear Lord. Exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. I love, need, trust and want You to be the Lord of my life. Glory be to You. Amen.

(326 words ~ 6:59 a.m.)