But the love of the Lord...

 Tuesday, February 27, 2024 (7:10 a.m.)

♪Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty Who was and is and is to come With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings You are my everything and I will adore You♪

Thank You Father. Singing. Smiling. Hoping. Praying. Wanting. Worshiping. Adoring. Loving. Needing. Trusting. 

(7:53 a.m.)

Lord, thank You for corralling my darting thoughts. Flitting one way and then another. Thinking I would start again in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, here I am instead at Psalm 103.

Reminded to “Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name” (v.1) singing immediately begins again.

♪With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings♪

Reading of the good things You do for us (2), Your forgiveness of our sins and healing of our diseases (3) I am grateful to be held by You. Considering Your knowledge of our weaknesses (14) and numbered days on earth (15) strengthens my soul.

Lord God how thankful I am to be Yours. “The wind blows, and we are gone - as though we had never been here. But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear Him” (16-17).

The Passion Translation tells us, “Your endless loves stretches from one eternity to the other, unbroken and unrelenting toward those who fear [read here as: fully esteem and revere] You and those who bow facedown in awe before You.” With the added hope that “Your faithfulness to keep every gracious promise You’ve made passes from parents, to children, to grandchildren, and beyond” (17-18).

Father God, how I thank and praise You. Asking (Matthew 7:7) that You would use me exactly as You alone know is best. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must in empowering and enabling me in following and serving You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(328 words ~ 8:42 a.m.)

dropping our guards

 Monday, February 26, 2024 (7:06 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy, Loving God,

Thank You.

(7:31 a.m.)

Mm. Yes. Thank You! For so many things.

Considering words that describe You I again find myself smiling. Thank You for the ways You show Yourself to us.

Father, it is YOU, Your will, Your way that has brought us to this particular place in time. Both of us waking to songs [♪You’re In My Heart♪ / ♪Love Is Alive♪] on our minds. And in our hearts. Each singing of love. For You. And one another.

Thank You Lord, for teaching us to drop our guards. To speak Your Truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

(7:53 a.m.)

Right here. In this very moment. My mind is almost exploding with excitement. Truly agog [excited and eager to tell] with all You offer each of us.

Holy God, it has taken us since lunch on Friday to finally find the courage and the words to discuss a hiccup we experienced. A break in communication left us distant from one another. Civil. Polite. Well mannered.

Thank You that You want more for us. You know our hearts. Our souls. Our minds. And our strengths. You know when we are putting on brave fronts. Attempting to protect ourselves from further hurt or embarrassment.

As my smile broadens, my heart grows as well. Turning again to the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus I am so grateful for his direct and guiding words. Thank You for his dedication in strengthening relationships with You and one another.

It’s Your Truth, strength and mighty power (Ephesians 6:10) that keeps us growing. Thank You Father.

Yes. Thank You! Reading back over to Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth (chapter 3, verses 14-20) I find even more hope. It’s Your “glorious, unlimited resources” that ‘empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit’ (v. 16).

It is absolutely You at work in us that teaches us to drop our guards. Enabling us to truly “experience the love of Christ, though it’s too great to fully understand” (19a). In so doing we “will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (19b).

It is You that keeps us loving one another. Wanting to treat the other with the respect, kindness and regard You would have us share. Freely. Wholeheartedly. Without conditions.

Continue Your work in us Lord. That we will readily drop our guards, allowing You to do all You know is best.

Thank You for loving us that we will love You and one another. Use us. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(440 words ~ 8:36 a.m.)

alive

 ♪Love is Alive♪

Sunday, February 25, 2024 (7:42 a.m.)

(7:57 a.m.)

Thank You Father,

I wasn’t sure of the song. As insistent as it was. Thank You for continuing to guide me in its direction.

Your Truth singing out to me again. In the most unexpected ways. Even going so far as teaching me that the verb insist not only means demand and require, but also stand firm. Not give up. Sick to one’s guns.

Lord, thank You that I get to have fun with You. Examining thoughts and ideas. Through the Truth of Your Word. Why? Because YOUR ♪Love is Alive♪

(8:51 a.m.)

Searching. Finding. Reading. Contemplating…

Thank You for leading, directing, guiding me deeper into Your Word. The apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus. Written to strengthen their relationships with You and with each other.

Titles for chapters and subchapters peak my interest. Ephesians 2:1-10, Made Alive with Christ. Chapter 5:1-14 Living in the Light. Verses 15-20, Living by the Spirit’s Power. And most importantly for our family?

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands (vs. 21-33). Your love has been alive in us and our relationship all these many years.

Thank You Father. Continue Your work in transforming us into the people You would have us be. Using us as You know is best.

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

(237 words ~ 9:12 a.m.)

 

change me

♪This Moment in Time♪

♪Humble Yourself in the Sight of the Lord♪

Saturday, February 24, 2024 (5:54 a.m.)

Los Angeles Harbor

Thank You God,

You reminded me again. Don’t take things personal. Forgive. Rejoice. Be glad. Smile. 

James 4:10

1 Chronicles 29:16-18

Use me Dearest Lord. Work in, with, by, through and for me that I will think, say, be and do all that You have of me.

I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must in changing me Lord. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(95 words ~ 6:30 a.m.)

majestic view

 Friday, February 23, 2024 (7:06 a.m.)

Cruising north to San Pedro, CA

Dearest, Holiest, Most Blessed Father God,

Thank You! What a majestic view. Ocean and sky as far as I can see. Colors. Clouds. Textures beyond description.

♪Majesty Worship His majesty♪

Revelation Song ♪Clothed in rainbows of living color… Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be To You the only wise King Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty Who was and is and is to come With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings You are my everything and I will adore You♪

Yes! Lord, I sit here truly in awe and wonder. How perfect is the very next line in the song.

♪Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder At the mention of Your Name Jesus, Your Name is power, breath and living water Such a marvelous mystery… And I will adore You♪

Thank You for this quiet opportunity to sit here at Your feet. ♪Just As I Am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bid’s me come to Thee Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come♪

Psalm 96:6, “Honor and majesty surround Him, strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.”

Still.

 Thursday, February 22, 2024 (7:28 a.m.)

Cabo San Lucas, MX

Holy God,

Thank You again. Still.

(7:40 a.m.)

Look at all this one word can represent. An adjective. Noun. Adverb. Verb.

Motionless. Soundless. Serene. Peaceful. Calm. Waveless. Quiet. Pacific. What?! I always thought that was just the name of our ocean.

Father, thank You that even in the simplest things You have SO much for us to learn. Contemplate. Observe. Examine.

(8:15 a.m.)

Reading others’ experiences with stillness, I’m again directed to Psalm 46:10a. “Be still [silent], and know  that I am God!” 

How truly blessed we are to have You here among us (v.7). Leading. Guiding. Directing. Protecting. Thank You Father.

One woman [Maree Dee] defines “be still” as needing to “be quiet, cease doing, and listen to God.” There she refuels and replenishes. Mmm. Learning more.

Again I thank You Lord.

“When We Are Still With God” we find rest. Discover who You are. Become small. While You become BIG. Find peace. Hear Your whispers. Begin to trust You. Surrender our will to accept Yours. Let go and let You be the truly good God You are.

Thank You God for people we do not know who are so willing to share their lives and learnings with others. Use each of us exactly as You know is best. Pointing to You. And all You have to offer.

I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You for the stillness You provide. Always. Amen.

(256 words ~ 8:39 a.m.)

deeper than the surface

 Wednesday, February 21, 2024 (8:00 a.m.)

Nearing Cabo San Lucas, MX

Blessed God,

I’m a little “dry” this morning with the thanks and praise. How about for the smile? The creature comforts. Warm coffee. Flavorful melons.

You bless us Lord. There’s been conversation. Fairly deep interactions. Digging deeper than the surface.

We have many opportunities. And so much love surrounding us. Thank You Lord. Truly. Thank You.

Talk with me this morning about Truth. Your Truth that absolutely sets us free (John 8:32). Thank You Father for Your Word. On and in which we can turn and stand. 

♪Thy Word is a Lamp upon Unto My Feet and a light unto my soul path♪ (Psalm 119:105). Thank You that we have such ready access to it.

I want to learn to share You and It with others. Freely. Readily. 

Just look at all this one word [readily] represents! Willingly. Without hesitation. Gladly. Happily. Cheerfully. With pleasure. With good grace. Ungrudgingly. Eagerly. Easily. Effortlessly. Without difficulty.

My own way of thinking was simply: honestly, openly, willingly. Thank You for reminding me that there is so very much truth to be found in the simple things. Enable and empower me in sharing it.

Turning to The Life Recovery Bible comment for Psalm 119:73-77 again I find myself delighted. Encouraged. Reminded that lives are changed by obeying Your commands I ask to be included here at verses 73 and 74, Dear Lord.

“You made me; You created me. Now give me the sense to follow Your commands. May all who fear You find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in Your Word.”

It’s Your goodness and faithfulness I want to follow. Learning to live joyfully. Seeking Your will and doing my best, with Your help to follow it. Willingly allowing You to transform me into ‘a living testimony of Your power to transform broken lives’ (comment).

Yes Father, do all You must in bringing the darkness of the past to light. “Choosing to live in the light - continually acknowledging our flaws as the light reveals them - results in a cleansed conscience and fulfilling relationships” (The Life Recovery Bible comment for 1 John 1:5-7).

Yes please Father. You do indeed know best! Thank You. Praise You. Use me. Amen.

(390 words ~ 9:13 a.m.)

rose petals, towel swans and champagne

 Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (7:42 a.m.)

Cruising South to Cabo San Lucas, MX

Blessed Lord God,

Thank You!

You blessed us again. Through the kindness of a stranger. Thank You, God. Thank You.

Having seen hearts and an anniversary banner on the stateroom wall, our room steward “Lucky” took it upon himself to treat us. Beyond anything we have ever come to expect.

How astonished we were upon reentering the cabin after dinner last night. Finding rose petals strewn within. Two towels sculpted into swans. Joined at the beaks to form a heart with their necks.

Father, it’s YOU behind the love that has spanned these past five decades. Lending itself to inspire another in joining our celebration. Fully surprising us with his generosity.

Thank You Lord.

natural instincts

 Monday, February 19, 2024 (4:19 a.m.)

Blessed, Lord God,

Thank You. Again. Thank You. And thank You.

Psalm 91:4

Hebrews 4:12-13

Jeremiah 17:10

(5:26 a.m.)

For weeks now I’ve been intrigued by the live feed of an eagle’s nest in our mountains. Father, I’ve been wondering about my intense interest in these two particular birds of prey and their three eggs.

To say I am fascinated by them is an understatement. Delight comes to mind. As does marvel. Amazement. Wonder.

Yes Lord. All this brought about by their natural instincts to care for their babies. And one another. Thank You for all You provide.

Continue teaching me to care Lord. Listening. Learning. Loving.

Use me. Exactly as you know is best. I love, need, trust and want You as the absolute Lord of my life.

Increase our connection with “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14). Reminding us of the importance of ‘being still and knowing that You are God’ (Psalm 46:10).

Develop in us the natural instincts You have provided that we will come to love You, others and ourselves with all our hearts, souls, minds and strengths (Mark 12:30-31). Thank You for Your goodness. Your mercy. Your grace.

Yes. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(227 words ~ 6:37 a.m.)

And thank You.

 Sunday, February 18, 2024 (5:46 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. And thank You. Mm, yes. Thank You. For so many things.

Your Word. Music. Truth. Promises. Love. Friendships. Smiles. Joy. Laughter.

Lord God, You are so good. Great. Kind. Giving. Forgiving.

♪Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul… O my God, I trust in Thee; Let me not be afraid ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me♪ (Psalm 25:1-2).

Well this seems new to me. The brief hymn I’ve sung for years isn’t just based on a psalm, it’s the first two verses of the King James Version for Psalm 25. Thank You that we get to learn so much Lord.

Reading these two verses in various translations, I want to know more. Understand more fully.

Lift up my soul. Bring my life. Appeal to You. Offer my life. Lift my inner being. Offer You my heart. Put my trust in the Lord and not be weakened. Put my life in Your hands. Offer myself. Give myself. Turn to You. Offer my prayer. Come before You.

Lord God, thank You so much! The more of Your Word I read, the more I want it to apply to me.

Trust in You. Not be disgraced. Shown the right path. Led and taught by Your Truth. Unfailing love. Faithfulness. Sins not remembered. Thank You, thank You God.

“The LORD is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray” (v. 8).

(8:55 a.m.)

Taking that verse as my cue to reach out to a loved one. I trust You to continue working Your call for me to keep practicing forgiveness. Not taking things personally. Loving as You would have me love.

Do all You must in changing us as You know is necessary. We love You Lord. We need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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