smiling contentedly

 Tuesday, October 31, 2023 (7:11 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Lead me this morning. Guide me.

(7:27 a.m.)

Lots of distracting thoughts this morning.

The Message Hebrews 12:2-3 “Discipline in a Long-Distance Race” Thank You Father. Illustrated Bible Handbook Chapter 12:1-13. Discipline Run Your Marathon: 12:1-3.

Faith. Crowd of witnesses. Focus on Christ. Mm, yes. Thank You God.

Exhale. Deep inhalation. Release of excess muscle tension. Settling in. Smiling. Grateful.

The Life Recovery Bible. Faith HEBREWS12:1-4 “…we are told to pace ourself and bear the pain with patience. And remember, others who have run the same race and finished well are cheering us on!”

I’m smiling contentedly Lord. Thrilled with the ways You work in my thinking.

Misreading one word in the section above, I laughed as I realized it wasn’t “the pain OF patience.” Father, thank You for the various ways You call us more deeply into treasuring Your Word.

Considering being “surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith” (Hebrews 12:1a) grounds me. “…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus” (1b-2a).

Mm, yes Blessed God. Keep my eyes on Jesus! Do that in, with, by, through and for me. Continue bringing my focus back to all He has done on our behalves.

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

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

art

 Monday, October 30, 2023 (6:08 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. And thank You.

Thank You for the fine art of communication. And the opportunity of learning.

Mm, yes Father. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to teach me more.

Collaboration. Problem-solving. Communication. Unity. Listening. Searching. Expressing. Hope. Attention. Devotion. Curiosity. Humility. Gratitude. Kindness.

(7:24 a.m.)

Beauty. Awe. Wonder.

Father, I want to represent You well. Appreciating all You provide us. Teach me Lord. Yes. Teach me.

Again songs are singing to me. ♪You Can’t Fall Up♪ followed immediately by ♪Always stay Humble and Kind♪

Keep working in me dear Lord. Transforming me into that masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10a) You created me to be. Your poetry (The Passion Translation). Your making. Workmanship. Handiwork. Creation. Accomplishment. Work of art.

Yes! I am Your work of art. Teach me to use ♪all Thy hand has provided♪ “to accomplish the good works You arranged long ago” (v. 10b).

Yes! Good morning. And thank You. Amen.

(170 words ~ 7:54 a.m.)

songs of contentment

Sunday, October 29, 2023 (6:14 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for Your love. Your wisdom. Your Word. Truth. Promises. Examples.

Mm, yes. Thank You for Your way. And the privilege of searching Your Word to find Your best.

Thank You also for music Father. And the many times You speak to my very soul through it.

Waking up singing ♪Changes changes♪ I struggled to find the lyrics I sought. Thank You Lord for leading and guiding me. Even in an internet search.

While You never change, everything else does. The weather. Our minds. Plans. Even the songs that we sing.

Thinking of yesterday’s repeat performance of our “just right/Goldilocks” weather and yardwork conditions, I searched references to the apostle Paul’s statement of contentment (Philippians 4:11). Father, thank You for the ways You work in our hearts.

Searching to learn more about Your will and Your way, I’m sent to Philippians 2:5-11. While reading the importance of having the Attitude of Christ another song begins the moment I read the word “humble.”

Straight from the gardening soundtrack of yesterday. ♪Always stay Humble and Kind♪ Oh yes Blessed God. Continue Your work in us that we would always stay humble and kind!

Especially with ALL the changes that come our way. Every single day.

We love You God. We need, trust and want You as our Father and Guide. Use us exactly as You know is best. Singing Your songs of contentment as we go.

♪Changes, changes that’s all he can play Strangest changes he plays them all day So sweet So I repeat Changes, changes…♪

Thank You Father. Amen.

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

"Goldilocks"

 Saturday, October 28, 2023 (6:14 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Praise You.

Sleep. Rest. Joy. Contentment. Smiles. “Goldilocks.”

(7:03 a.m.)

Mm, yes. Thank You Father.

I experienced “Goldilocks” conditions yesterday. Not too hot. Not too cold. Not too wet. Not too dry. Everything for that time was “just right!” Thank You Lord.

I turn to Your Word right now. Searching these topics. Contentment. “Just rightness.” And look what I find!

Righteousness. Oh yes Blessed God. Tell me more about Your righteousness!

"a singing people"

 Friday, October 27, 2023 (6:23 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

You provide us so many reasons to thank and praise You. Music being just one of them.

Yes, Lord. Waking with one song in my mind and heart quickly led to others. Thank You Father.

Much like one thought leads me to another, this morning I’m also looking at various secular songs that bring me back to expressing the joy found in loving and being loved by You. Thank You for singing to me Lord. Making us a singing people.

♪Can’t Stop the Feeling♪

♪Happy♪

♪Celebrate♪

♪Love and Happiness♪

Living by the Spirit’s Power Ephesians 5:15-20

(7:07 a.m.)

Here I am. Amazed by You once again. Thank You God.

Just because I woke up singing about having ♪that sunshine in my pocket♪ I was able to follow another rabbit trail. All the way back to Your Word. Collecting nuggets of Your Truth as I go.

Thank You. Thank You God!

Tears appear deep in my soul as I remember preschoolers singing loudly [and with great conviction!] about the importance of ♪just dance, dance… dancin’♪ At their incredibly young age they already seemed to know what I’m just beginning to learn. Singing and dancing is biblical!

You provide these songs in our hearts because You created us to be a singing people. “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:3a). Thank You Father. Praise You Lord.

“Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds” (Psalm 105:2). Keep singing to my soul Dear Lord that I will continue singing to You.

Mm, yes. Use me as You know is best. I love You. I need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(305 words ~ 7:48 a.m.)

"a different kind of fruit"

Thursday, October 26, 2023 (5:33 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy Father God,

Thank You that You are on [in, with, by, through, for] Whom we get to put our focus. Your goodness. Your grace. Your glory. And greatness (Psalm 145:5-8).

Thank You for Your love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. And wisely directed energies (Galatians 5:22-23a).

Oh most dear and glorious God. How I thank You for the ways You direct our thoughts. Words.

(8:03 a.m.)

Dearest Lord, here I am. Thanking You. Again. And again. And again!

Turning to You. Putting our attention on the Truth of Your Word changes everything!

Back to the thoughts and words from above. I followed another rabbit trail. Finding delights at every turn.

Lord God, I don’t even have the words with which to express my heart at this moment. Full. Overflowing. Grateful. AGOG! Excited and eager to tell!

Yes! How long has it been that I have approached You with such awe? And wonder.

Thank You Father. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

Looking for YOUR Truth in my thinking. Wanting desperately to mind my thoughts. Words. And actions. I came upon secular sayings concerning the importance of WATCHing ones: words, actions, thoughts, character, habits.

Knowing I wanted Your Word on the subject, I kept digging. How like You to confirm the verses (Galatians 5:22-23a, Philippians 4:8) already floating around within me. While also offering up Proverbs 4:23.

Even here, I find it’s not enough. No! I want more of Your Truth. Your promises. All the way back. Starting at verse one. A Father’s Wise Advice.

Yes. Yes. Yes! Your wise advice. Found in so many different flavors [translations/rewordings].

Mm, Lord. Continue Your work in me I ask (Matthew 7:7). Growing. Nurturing. Pruning. Leading. Guiding. Directing. 

My thoughts. Words. Actions. Choices. And heart. Jumbled around to spell out WATCH. As in “Watch over Your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life” (Amplified Bible Proverbs 4:23).

(11:08 a.m.)

Take a look at the same verse in The Message. “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.” Oh most dear and blessed God, You know Your best for me. Line me up in it.

Going back to that very different kind of fruit (Galatians 5:22 The Voice) with which we began so much earlier. Again various translations paint Your Truth with broader strokes.

That last aspect of fruit. Often referred to as self-control. It’s also worded as temperance. Having control of oneself. Being the boss over our own desires. Strength of Spirit.

Taking the section in its entirety to The Message again I am in awe of You. Thank You Father!

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others [love], exuberance about life [joy], serenity [peace]. We develop a willingness to stick with things [patience], a sense of compassion in the heart [kindness], and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people [goodness]. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments [faithfulness], not needing to force our way in life [gentleness], able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

Yes Lord. I very much want to live Your way. Fully enjoying Your very different kind of fruit. Do all You must that I will represent You well. Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(580 words ~ 11:51 a.m.)

gratitude and praise

 Wednesday, October 25, 2023 (5:34 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

How grateful we are Lord. You are good. Gracious. Glorious. Great (Psalm 145:5-8). You do not change.

(6:05 a.m.)

Mm, yes. You do not change. You stay the same. Always. Oh, thank You Lord.

Yes. Thank You for Who and ALL You are!

Turning first to Malachi 3:6. Then Hebrews 13:8. I come back to Psalm 100 A psalm of thanksgiving.

Thank You for Your Word dear Lord. Your Truth. Your promises. All the reminders of Your eternal, unchanging presence in our lives.

Father, I want to “Shout with joy in the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy” (Psalm 100:1-2).

Thank You that You keep changing us. All the while staying completely unchanged Yourself.

“Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are His” (v.3a). Right here I take another sidetrack. Over to alternate versions. All proclaim You having made us. 

It’s The Message that reminds “we didn’t make Him.” The Voice points out, “we have not made ourselves.” How important it is for us to remember this Truth Dear Lord!

We are Your people. The sheep of Your pasture (3b). How grateful we are.

Turning to The Living Bible I smile contently as I imagine ‘Going through Your open gates with great thanksgiving; entering Your courts with praise’ (4a). Reading Your Truth using different words gives me pause to consider how blessed we truly are.

Oh! Look. Right here. The ending of this very verse (4b). “Give thanks to Him and bless His name.” Yes Lord. Thank You.

“For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and His faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation” (5). Thank You that You are all that Your Word claims You are.

I come before You this morning with gratitude and praise. Asking (Matthew 7:7) You to lead. Guide. Direct. And empower me as You know is necessary.

Use me as You alone know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. How truly I thank and praise You for being our good and perfect God. Amen.

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

Joy!

 Tuesday, October 24, 2023 (5:49 a.m.)

Laughing. Playing. Smiling. Joy! Yes Father, there is absolute joy deep in my heart this morning.

Thank You Lord for the playfulness with which I awoke. Peace. And the desire to continue learning.

Mm, yes Dear God. There was a lot of emotion experienced yesterday. Highs. Lows. To the point of napping.

Father, how I thank You for the opportunity to volunteer. And learn new things in the process.

Elementary school aged children. Each with their own style of being heard. Paid attention to. Thank You for the teachers Dear Lord who devote themselves to doing just that.

(6:59 a.m.)

There’s a ton of distraction going on here this morning Lord. Looking here. Reading there. Checking this. Viewing that.

Father, thank You that You provide us so much. Information. Experience. Curiosities. Opportunities.

I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) that You go before me. Behind me. Beside, beneath, above and within me that I will be continually aware of every single blessing You have for us.

I want to actively participate in all the joy You have so generously provided us. Uncomplicated. Free. Simple joy.

Guide. Direct. Lead me out into the day. Using the joy that comes from You.

Psalm 47:1. New Life Version God-the King of the Earth “Show your happiness, all peoples! Call out to God with the voice of joy!”

Yes please Lord. Showing happiness. Calling out to You with a joyful voice. Thank You. Praise You. I love, need, trust and want You. Amen.

(259 words ~ 7:30 a.m.)