curiouser

 Friday, September 29, 2023 (7:15 a.m.)

Thank You God.

We get to be curious. And curiouser. Thank You that this is actually a word! Yes. I want to be more curious. About You. Your will. Your way.

I confess to trying to put You into a box. Of my own understanding. Thank You that You have the antidote for my misguided thinkings.

Proverbs 3:5-6. In the form of Your Word. And songs.

♪Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart and lean not own your own understanding In ALL your way acknowledge Him and He will direct Your path♪

Oh thank You Lord! I’ve been leaving You completely out of the “Something’s off. I don’t feel quite right” mix this past week.

YOU know what all is going on in and with me. “Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank You, High God - You’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made!” (Psalm 139:13-14 The Message).

Forgive me for slinking away from You. Wanting to have myself figured out before fully coming back into Your presence.

Dearest God. You are so good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-9). Forgive my tendency to forget Your Truth. Your Truth that we will know. Your Truth that will set us free (John 8:32).

Just exactly how is that Lord? By being curiouser! Not thinking that I already know and understand. No! “With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment” (Proverbs 3:5 Contemporary English Version).

Do in, with, by, through and for me all that I cannot possibly think, say and do on my own. You know my every need.

Thank You for making me curious enough to know that it’s You and Your Word I long to seek (Matthew 6:33). Yes!

“Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow” (Proverbs 3:6). Mistakes have been made. Secrets held. Let Your Truth shine through Dearest Dad.

Yes Lord. Make me even curiouser about Your Truth. Use me as You alone know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

hijinks

 Thursday, September 28, 2023 (7:14 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You for the song that just started singing itself to me. As well as the word with which I awoke.

♪Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight Jesus loves the children of the world Everything Is Beautiful in its own way♪

I had fun last night Dear God. Playful, laughing fun. Hijinks.

♪Like a starry summer night or a snow covered winter’s day

Breathing.

 Wednesday, September 27, 2023 (6:15 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. The sky was gorgeous. Clear. The air cool. Crisp. And my breathing? Full.

(6:40 a.m.)

Mm, Father. There are so many things I take for granted. I confess. Breathing is one of them. Thank You that You are here with us in every single breath.

And just like that [snap!] I’m singing again.

♪Every Breath You Take and every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take, I’ll be watching you Every single day and every word you say Every game you play… Every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I’ll be watching you♪

Father, how I ask (Matthew 7:7) that I will learn to use every single breath I take for Your good and to Your glory. Knowing that You are watching me.

Thank You for all You are and do on our behalf. Breathe the presence of Your Holy Spirit in, with, by, through and for me. I love You. I need, trust and want You. Amen.

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

P.S. And here came another song!

♪Breathe On Me, Breath of God Fill me with life anew, that I may love the way You love, and do what You would do♪ Yes, please!

“Then He [Jesus] breathed on them [disciples] and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit,’” (John 20:22). Again I say, Yes Please!

Mm. See also: Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28 and Acts 2. Keep us breathing in Your Spirit Dearest God. Amen.

getting to know You!

 Tuesday, September 26, 2023 (6:01 a.m.)

Laughlin, NV

Blessed Holy God,

“That’s pretty!” My first intentionally spoken words. Husband says, “Hi God. How are You? Thank You for a peaceful night. Our Father, Who art heaven.”

Thank You that we love You Lord. Thank You that we are getting to know You.

♪Getting to Know You…♪ Oh this just keeps getting better! Music from The King and I. Thank You that You are our King!

(7:11 a.m.)

So. Needles Hwy.

Time away. Opportunities to consider getting to know You.

Colossians 1:20-23. Friendship. With You.

Christ being God in the flesh. The only Source of power in our lives!

Healthy relationships built on selfless love and mutual respect.

endless blessings

 Monday, September 25, 2023 (8:04 a.m.)

Laughlin, NV

Blessed God,

Thank You! You bless us. Repeatedly. Abundantly. Endlessly.

(9:26 a.m.)

I don’t have my own words Lord. Try as I may, they aren’t coming. I read Your Word (Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 1:3-14) and Your Truth is all there.

Interesting that the first song of the morning keeps insisting. ♪Have you heard about the Lonesome Loser?♪ Thank You God that when I read further in the lyrics, I think of You.

♪Someday Somebody’s gonna see inside You have to face up, you can’t run and hide♪ Thank You for Your Word of Truth and promises that supports this very fact. You do see inside us! And You love us in spite of ourselves. Thank You that You do.

Switching songs, I’m now singing the counter to seeing myself as a lonesome loser. ♪My Love, there’s only YOU in my life  The Only Thing that’s right My First Love, You’re every Breath that I take You’re every step I make And I, I want to share, all my love with You No one else will do… Oh yes, You will always be, my Endless Love♪

(11:04 a.m.)

How very blessed we are to have Your endless love. Blessing us. Infinitely! A Truth I can’t begin to fathom. And for which I am endlessly grateful.

Thank You God for Who You are and all You do on our behalf. Use me this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). Rejoicing and being glad (24b). 

“Always be[ing] full of joy in the Lord… Let[ting] everyone see that I am considerate in all I do (Philippians 4:4-5a).

I love You Father. I want to represent You well. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(308 words ~ 11:13 a.m.)

pure praise

 Sunday, September 24, 2023 (5:51 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. I love you.

There are so may things I don’t know. Or understand. Thank You that we have Your Word to lead and guide us.

Remembering the Truth found in Psalm 145:5-8, I turned there. Described in Illustrated Bible Handbook as “Pure praise, offered to God for His many wonderful attributes and qualities.”

Mm, yes. Pure praise. Teach me that please.

And now I’m singing. Thank You Father!

♪Praise God! Give thanks to the Father for all That you say and do. Well, amen, amen, Sing glory hallelujah! Christ the Lord is risen for you… Christ the Lord is coming for you♪

Praise. Extol. Exalt. Lift high. Tell. Proclaim. Speak highly. Honor (Psalm 145:1). Oh yes Blessed God. Teach me.

Quoting New International Version, verses 4-7. “One generation will commend Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds. They celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.”

Yes! Let’s do that!

Continuing through verses 8 and 9, Father I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to do all You must in bending my won’ts to Your will! “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all;

And right here another song interrupts. ♪God Is So Good …He’s so good to me♪ Thank You that You are Dear Lord!

“…He has compassion on all He has made” (v. 9b).

Father God, I thank You. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as You know is best this day [which You have made (Psalm 118:24a)]. Rejoicing and being glad (v. 24b).

Thanking and praising You as I go. Yes. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

absolute awe

Saturday, September 23, 2023 (7:10 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for a new season. Fall. Autumn. Nature. Science. Wonder. Awe. Mm, yes Father. I am filled with absolute awe over who and all You are.

Looking in Your Word I turn to The Message. The Wind Ran Out of Breath (Mark 4:35-41). Drawn here by the disciples’ response to Jesus’ Ultimate Authority (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

Mm. “They were in absolute awe, staggered. ‘Who is this, anyway?’ They asked. ‘Wind and sea at His beck and call!’” (v.41). Filled with great awe and very much afraid in their wonder of Him.

Thank You Lord that in this change of seasons You are ever in control. Jesus’ rebuked the wind. “Silence!” Spoke to the waves. “Be still!” And questioned His disciples. “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (vs. 39-40).

Such great questions. Let me ask them of myself when I am confronted with circumstances I fear. Yes! Here's a smile. Reminding my face of the grace You want it to represent.

Use me this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). Rejoicing and being glad (24b). As You know is best. Filled with the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

Being alert. Praying as the Holy Spirit leads (Ephesians 6:18). Putting on Your “complete armour (vs. 11-17). Then I’ll be able to stand firm against the devil’s trickery” (New Testament for Everyone).

Thank You Father. For all You have done. Continue doing. And will do in the future. You are so good. Glorious. Great. And gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). Do all You must in changing us into Your likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).

We love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

 

undeserved privilege

 Friday, September 22, 2023 (8:02 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

You change my thinking. My attitude. My hopes. My dreams. Yes Lord. You change me! Thank You.

(8:47 a.m.)

Searching my heart [and the internet] I came across Romans 5:2. Repeatedly. Reading about standing in Your grace.

Father, I cannot thank You enough. You make the changes that we can’t. Or won’t. Thank You that You do.

The apostle Paul. Writing to the church at Rome. Explaining how Faith Brings Joy (New Living Translation).

“Therefore since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory“ (Romans 5:1-2).

You brought me a ton of grace yesterday. In the form of a ten year old. Asking forgiveness for circumstances beyond his control. YOU did this Father. Your mercy. Your grace. Your loving kindness that never fails (Lamentations 3:22).

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned!

I started out yesterday with a halfhearted approach to prayer. A better plan would have been to ♪enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart… enter Your courts with praise … say[ing] “This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice for He has made me glad”♪ (Psalm 100:4; 118:24).

How much better would that time have been served. Thank You Father that Your mercies DO “begin a fresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:23).

Father, I am asking that You work in, with, by, through and for me this day. The one YOU have made! That I will use the time You provide us wisely and well. Teaching me ever more about this undeserved privilege [also known as GRACE] You provide us.

Reading about how You change us I saw a quote by author Joseph Cooke. “Grace is nothing more nor less than the face that love wears when it meets imperfection, weakness, failure, sin.” My face did NOT wear grace, nor love yesterday Dearest God.

Again I seek Your forgiveness for being more filled with myself than You. Thank You for Your constant reminders of where You would have our hearts, Our souls. Our minds. Even our strength. Ever on loving You. And others, as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).

Thank You for the truckloads of work You bring about in changing us. All with You undeserved privilege [aka GRACE]. Use me as You know is best. Completely in the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Thank You. Praise You. Amen!

(462 words ~ 9:28 a.m.)

right time

Thursday, September 21, 2023 (5:38 a.m.)

Garden Grove, CA

Blessed God,

Thank You. You’ve given us time. To play. To enJOY. To struggle. To rejoice. And be glad (Psalm 118:24b).

Ecclesiastes 3:1 The Voice. “Teacher: For everything that happens in life - there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven:”. 

FONMU

 Wednesday, September 20, 2023 (5:44 a.m.)

Thank You God.

Thank You, thank You, thank You God.

I went back to sleep. I didn’t think I would. And I did. Waking up with a brand new attitude. Thank You, God.

You did this for me. I couldn’t do it for myself. You even provided me another acronym to describe what I’ve been experiencing. FONMU!

I spend much of many days in the state of FONMU. Fear of not measuring up. Thank You God, that this is not where You would have me.

(6:09 a.m.)

Thank You Father that as I was waking, I chose to sing ♪This is the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it♪ Thank You for the added emphasis put on the word will.

It helped me start thanking You. Even [especially] for all the things I find myself fearing. Over many of which I have absolutely no control.

Thank You that You have not given us a spirit of fear. The apostle Paul wrote to a faithful, yet discouraged Timothy. Reminding him “to help God’s gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire. God put His gift in you when I placed my hands on you” (2 Timothy 1:6).

It’s the following verse (7) I often search. “God gave us His Spirit. And the Spirit doesn’t make us weak and fearful. Instead, the Spirit gives us power and love. He helps us control ourselves.”

Yes! Please. This is the spirit I want to fully utilize. Standing firmly and staying my mind on Your Truth. Believing. Trusting. Acting upon Your love for each of us.

Mm, yes. Your love. The strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

I want to believe I am enough. Made in Your image (Genesis 1:27). Wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14). Your handiwork. Your masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). Covered and filled with Christ’s grace and power (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

I am in good company with ALL who have sinned and fallen short of Your glory (Romans 3:23). In and of myself? Absolutely not ever enough.

I want to live today in Your love and power. Not my own fear of not measuring up. Do all You must Dearest God. I love You. I need, trust and want You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(405 words ~ 7:10 a.m.)