more contrasting

 Monday, December 23, 2024 (8:43 a.m.)

Hi God,

It’s me again. Coming to You with the realization that there is a difference [contrast, if You will] between being and feeling.

Outside just now experiencing both at the same time, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 came immediately to mind. Looking at it right now in The Message, every aspect of myself is smiling!

Verses 16-18. “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who being to Christ Jesus to live.”

Yes! The thought came to me as I was reframing something in gratitude. I wasn’t feeling especially grateful at that moment. With just the tiniest of “thank You”s, once I started I almost couldn’t stop. And who would want to stop thanking and praising You?!

There is ALWAYS something for which we can be grateful. Like contrasts! The difference between what satan wants to steal [our JOY] and what Jesus came to give. Life! “…life that is full and good” (John 10:10 Easy-To-Read Version).

Thank You Father. Thank You Son. Thank You Holy Spirit. Keep me looking at You and all the contrasts surrounding me. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Use me. Amen.

(213 words ~ 8:57 a.m.)

contrasts

 Monday, December 23, 2024  (4:20 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. And thank You.

(5:44 a.m.)

I took a detour Lord. I wanted to look up a new to me song I heard yesterday. Finding it led to another. Then a video. Then to my phone and the need to delete. Oh, but what to delete? And how to empty the trash?

Trash! Today is trash day. Do You see where my mind is going? ALL over the place! And I find myself again feeling “out of my depth” - not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with a particular subject or situation.

And did You know [of course You do!] the words depth and death are only one letter apart? THIS is exactly how quickly I can become scattered and splintered in my thinking.

Bring my thoughts back to You Dear Lord.

(6:19 a.m.)

There is colorfully brisk beauty going on outside contrasted by the warm coffee drink in my hand. Speak with me about contrasts will You Lord?

And just as we prepare to go there to learn what You have for me, let me confess the FEAR I am again harboring. That ever often present dread of making a mistake. Failing. Causing or even experiencing sadness. Teach me Lord. I ask (Matthew 7:7) You once again to let me see my shortcomings for what they are…

A CONTRAST of Your strength! (Ephesians 6:10).

I don’t have to be afraid! Your Word attests to that over and over again. You did NOT give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I want to utilize ALL that ♪Thy hand hath provided♪

Father God, thank You that even [ESPECIALLY!] when we are feeling at our most vulnerable, You are ever present. Always here.

Contrast that with what our enemy would have us believe. That we are on our own. Alone. Abandoned. Forgotten. Thank You that we are not!

You are here. We have nothing to fear.

Continue Your work in me Blessed God. I love, need, trust and want You. While I don’t set out intentionally to make mistakes, they are going to happen. Embolden, empower and enable me to see them for what they are. Contrasts to perfection. Which is impossible for me.

Thank You that Your Word is filled with contrasts of Your perfection and Your people’s failings. I find hope and rest every time I read of Your Truth and promises.

Moses knew You to be the good, glorious, gracious, great God David sang of in Psalm 145 (verses 5-8). He sang his own song of You in Deuteronomy 32. 

“He is the Rock; His deeds are perfect. Everything He does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He is!” Verse 4.

Father, thank You for leading me. Guiding me. Directing my thoughts back to You. And Your Truth.

There are MANY things I do not know. Some of them more important than others. YOU know how You would have me handle them all. Teach me that I will not only listen, but learn as well!

I want to glorify and enjoy You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

blessings for days

 Sunday, December 22, 2024 (5:21 a.m.)

Holy, Blessed God,

Thank You Lord. You have provided me blessings these past few days. Weeks. Months. Years. Decades. Moments. Yes Lord. When I take the time to look, I see Your hand in so many areas.

Thank You Father. For the work You have been doing in my heart. My soul. My mind. My strength. You truly are a ♪Good Good Father♪ 

(6:41 a.m.)

An INCREDIBLY good Father! You love Your children with a love none of us has experienced before. Perfectly! How blessed we truly are. Thank You Father. Thank You.

Your love brings hope and healing. When we are willing to lay all of our burdens down at Your feet, we are freed to look around at all Your ♪hand hath provided♪ Blessings! For days…

Today I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to heighten my awareness to the numerous blessings taking place all around me. The glory displayed in the sky earlier. The shift I experienced in my brain the other day when music I previously have heard as noise became an absolute fight song for my psyche. My willingness to fully disclose my baking mistake to a sixth grade class. AND to request their honest critique!

This is growth Father. Growth You are providing me. Continue Your work in me Dear Lord. With. By. Through. And for. I want to represent You well. Being loving. Kind. Joyful…

On this 4th Sunday of Advent, I thank You for the hope, peace and joy You’ve already provided. Teach me to use well the love today’s candle represents.

I love You Father. Thank You for every single blessing You provide. Especially the ones I am yet to be aware. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(293 words ~7:34 a.m.)

 

something to be learned

 Friday, December 20, 2024 (4:02 a.m.)

(4:48 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! The smile on my face is real. Genuine. From deep within. My heart. My soul. My mind. My strength. All rejoicing because of Your goodness. And Your grace.

Father, I truly feel as though I have everything, everywhere, all at once coming at me. And then I remember. You tell me to, “Be still

OH! Dearest Lord! As much as I love You and say I trust You, You NEVER cease to amaze me!

The little snippets of songs [and scripture (2 Timothy 1:6) thank You very much!} You’ve given to me so far this morning seem to wrestle their way to the forefront. As I look further into each there is something to be learned from them all.

Changing two words in ♪I am a rock♪ makes perfect sense to me. Practically belting out ♪You Are my Rock! You are my Island♪ has me standing tall and firm in my mind!

Father You ARE my Rock! And my island of hope! Thank You that You are. Words can be changed. Thank You that You never do!

♪Last Christmas♪ comes with its own band of emotion. Yet the smile [hope, peace and love] continues growing. You are the root of all things good in my life. Thank You that You are.

And then? ♪Peace Be Still♪ Thank You Father!

♪I don’t want to be afraid Every time I face the waves I don’t want to be afraid… I don’t want to fear the storm Just because I hear it roar I don’t want to fear the storm… Peace be still Say the word and I will Set my feet upon the sea ’Til I’m dancing in the deep Peace be still  You are here so it is well Even when my eyes can’t see I will trust the voice that speaks I’m not gonna be afraid ‘Cause these waves are only waves I’m not gonna be afraid… And I’m not gonna fear the storm You are greater than it’s roar… Not, I’m not gonna fear at all… You speak peace Let faith rise up O heart believe Let faith rise up in me…I will trust the Voice that speaks Peace, peace over me… You speak peace♪

Oh Blessed Father thank You that You do!

There are a lot of plans coming together right now. I am asking You to take the lead in them all. Keep reminding me that I am a much better follower of Yours than leader. Be in, with, by, through and for all I think, say, be and do. I want to represent You well.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, reminding him “to keep using [rekindle; fan into flames] the gift God gave you” when he had laid his hands on him (2 Timothy 1:6 Expanded Bible). Father, thank You for reminding me as well.

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

(510 words ~5:50 a.m.)

knowing Jesus

 Thursday, December 19, 2024 (4:39 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. I’ve said and meant it again. Thank You for the blessings You provide. Blessings and challenges. Yes Father. Thank You.

I went to sleep last night remembering a phrase that had something to do with the words: no/know peace. I remembered the whole thing just now.

No Jesus, No Peace - Know Jesus, Know Peace

Yes please! I want to know Jesus. Not just about Him. Actually know Him!

(5:53 a.m.)

Father, thank You for providing us opportunities to grow. To learn. To change.

Reading various translations of Isaiah 26:3 settles my mind and soul.

International Children’s Bible “You, Lord, give true peace. You give peace to those who depend on You. You give peace to those who trust in You.”

Modern English Version “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

The Passion Translation “Perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with You; they confidently trust in You.”

Here’s something brand new to me! When I read or think about imagining, those imaginations are NEVER consumed with You. Worse case scenarios, yes. Possibilities of things going wrong, absolutely. Negatives over positives, most of the time.

Jesus, You came into this world to change all that. To be able to trust You, I must know You. Do all You must to that end.

Defined in the dictionary, imagination is ’the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful’. I want to learn to imagine [form a mental image or concept of] knowing You on a deeper, more meaningful, trusting level.

Yes. To love and trust You, I must know You!

♪To know, know, know Him is to love, love, love Him Just to see Him smile makes my life worthwhile To know, know, know Him is to love, love, love Him And I do I’ll be good to Him, I’ll bring love to Him Everyone says there’ll come a day when I’ll walk alongside of Him♪

THAT’s worth imagining! Yes. Do all You must most dear and blessed God to make it so. In my heart. My soul. My mind. My strength. I love You. I need You. I trust and want to know You more.

Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(396 words ~ 6:44 a.m.)

Nothing Less

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 (5:06 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. Again and again and again I say, “Thank You, God!”

I’m here once more confessing my tendency of complicating things. Taking the simplest and making it complex. This is not Your best for me I am sure.

Spending more hours trying to sleep than actually sleeping is another example of wasted energy. Lord God, how I thank You that even [especially?] in my time of frustrated wakefulness the Truth and promises of Your Word were ever-present.

Thank You that You draw my attention to the pressures I place on myself. Unsolicited undertakings and demands made by no one else but me. I do this. You don’t!

Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light (Matthew 11:30). I do NOT need to continue overloading myself and being afraid. I get to come to You and You will give me rest (v. 28). I can take Your yoke upon me and learn from You (29).

Yes please, Jesus. I like learning!

Thank You that as I got of bed singing ♪My hope is built on Nothing Less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness♪ Your peace had returned to my being. Reading of Your burden being light I was reminded to ♪cast all my cares upon You I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet, And anytime I don’t know what to do I will cast all my cats cares upon You♪

See? Even the mistake of that one word helps me smile. Giggle. Even laugh out loud. Imagining myself casting cats upon You. Thank You Lord for a sense of silliness returning. NOT taking the world serious!

I CAN ‘Give all my worries and cares to You, for You care about me’ (1 Peter 5:7). Thank You that You do.

As I took one item off an already full day’s list of things to do, I recognized a much fuller appreciation of the meaning behind the three glowing Advent candles. This truly IS a season of hope. Peacock (what’s up with the animal errors?!) PEACE! Joy.

Sending me right back to the next verse in Peter’s letter to the Jewish Christians. Here I am reminded to “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). I am to “Stand firm against him, and be strong in [my] faith” (9a).

Yes please! Thank You for reminding me that ♪My hope IS built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness… ♪

Father, do ALL You must that I will live this day (Psalm 118:24a) - the one You have made - as You would have me. Rejoicing and being glad! (v. 24b)

You are good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). I want others to see You when they see me.

Do all You must in using me as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You for being You. So I don’t even have to try to be! Praise You. Amen.

(516 words ~ 6:40 a.m.)

others

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 (3:39 p.m.)

Dearest, Dear Lord God,

THANK YOU! I get to come before You on behalf of one of Your precious children. A believer who is having her faith challenged.

Her prayers for the healing of others are not being answered as she had been sure they would. Now she is exhibiting her own set of symptoms.

Blessed Lord God, YOU know Your best. You know Your will. How I ask Your peace to come upon her heart. Her soul. Her mind. Her strength.

Remind her of Your goodness. Your grace. Your greatness. Your gloriousness (Psalm 145:5-8). These things about You do not change. You stay the same through the ages (Malachi 3:6).

You are the ♪Same God♪ who keeps the promises that You make. You are ♪constant through the trial and the change One Thing Remains Your love never fails It never gives up It never runs out…♪

Because You are good. Great. Glorious. And gracious. We get to choose to trust You. ESPECIALLY when things do not appear as we would have them.

Father, I ask You to heal my friend’s devastatingly hurting heart. Provide for her. Every single ounce of strength she needs to be able to trust You. You know? That mustard seed size of faith that can tell a mountain to move (Matthew 17:20b). Embolden, empower and enable her to stand firm in her belief that You really ARE her ♪Good Good Father♪

Holy Father God, we love, need, trust and want You. Do all You know is Your best in each set of circumstances troubling her hurting heart, soul, mind and strength. Remind her of the victories You have provided her in the past. Be glorified here Lord. Use it all to Your glory. We thank You. We praise You. Amen.

(281 words ~ 4:17 p.m.)