freedom found in forgiveness

 Monday, September 30, 2024 (4:38 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

Thank You! Yes. Thank You that we know You to be blessed and holy. Thank You that You and Your Word of Truth and promises teach of the freedom found in forgiveness.

Thank You for the opportunity to wake up singing [♪Make Room♪]. And smiling. Thank You that we get to learn to stand firmly and stay our minds on the power we have in the name of Jesus.

Yes Lord. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) that Your mighty power be made manifest in my life! I want to ♪Break Every Chain♪ and ♪Take It All Back♪

I love the ways You sing and speak to my heart. My soul. My mind. My strength. Use me this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). I truly long to rejoice and be glad in it (24b).

(6:17 a.m.)

Father God, thank You for extra time to rest. To read texts from people who love and encourage me.

Thank You Lord that You are such a good, good Father that You provide our every single need. In ways we often could never imagine.

At every juncture we get to choose. Turn right? Or left? Go straight? Or reverse? You allow us choices. Lord, I truly want to make the ones that bring life and blessings (Deuteronomy 30:19). I want to love and obey You, because You are my life (v. 20).

The comment in The Life Recovery Bible tells us, “The way to life is choosing God and His gracious forgiveness through Jesus Christ.” Yes, please!

I want to live the life You have for me. In You. With You. By, through and for You. Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must that I will represent You well. Bringing glory and honor to Your most holy name. Use me. Thank You. Amen.

(321 words ~ 7:03 a.m.)

truly grateful

 Sunday, September 29, 2024 (7:08 a.m.)

Lord God,

You are good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). And I am grateful. So incredibly grateful.

You working in, with, by, through and for me all these years has allowed me to keep smiling. Singing. Standing firm and staying my mind on You. And Your Word of Truth and promises.

Thank You Father. The Truth of Romans 15:13 is calling out to me this morning.

wonderfully blessed

Saturday, September 28, 2024 (6:30 a.m.)

Thank You Father,

You blessed us yesterday. Supremely. Perfectly. Wonderfully. Yes, Lord. You provided us the power and strength that come only from You. Thank You. Praise You.

The goal of glorifying and enjoying You, while simply honoring the past life of our very much loved patriarch and celebrating his eternal life with You was met. Mistakes were made. Snafus encountered. Kindness, love and grace abounded. Bless You. Praise You.

(7:34 a.m.)

As I go on practicing the fine art of trusting You as the good, good Father I believe You to be, I ask (Matthew 7:7) that You would truly ‘bless us and keep us, make Your face shine upon us and be gracious to us, turn Your face toward us [SMILE!] and give us peace’ (Numbers 6:24-26). Yes Lord.

(8:14 a.m.)

Thank You that we have Your Word of Truth and promises to lead and guide us each and every day. Thank You that my desire to live in, with, by, through and for You continues to grow.

Today I want to “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, our great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him and be strong in my faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9a).

Do all You must dearest Lord that we are more and more aware of the wonderful blessings You provide us. Every single day. Thank You for Your love that provides our needs. And conquered death (John 21:1-14).

(9:14 a.m.)

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

(291 words ~ 9:15 a.m.)

THIS is the day

 Friday, September 27, 2024 (5:19 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! THIS is the day that You have made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm118:24). Thank You. Yes!

The Message says, “This is the very day GOD acted - let’s celebrate and be festive!” Yes. Let’s!

Celebrate. Be festive. Rejoice. Be glad. These are the actions I want to take today. 

Singing. Smiling. Standing firm. Staying my mind on You. Your Word of Truth and promises.

Glorifying and enJOYing You. All the while honoring the life here on our earth of our much loved patriarch. Celebrating [and being festive!] his eternal life there with You.

Thank You for blessing us with Your presence Dear Lord. Thank You that the giant 100 year old oak that fell at the cemetery yesterday fell yesterday. Without incident. Or injury.

Thank You for time spent with family and friends last evening. Thank You for the opportunity to do it again today. This day! That You have made.

Use me. Use us. Use this occasion to truly love You, others and ourselves. With all of our hearts, souls, minds and strength (Mark 12:30-31).

Do all You must that life spent eternally with You is our takeaway from this day of rejoicing and being glad. Celebrating and being festive.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Thank You that I do. ♪Have Thine Own Way Lord Have This own way You are the Potter We are the clay Make us and mold after Thy will While we are waiting yielded and still♪

Yes Father. These lyrics. This day. Search me. Try me. Wash me whiter than snow. ♪As in Thy presence humbly I bow… Hold o’er my being Absolute sway Filled with Thy spirit till all can see Christ only always living in me♪

Yes. Please. That! Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(313 words ~ 5:56 a.m.)

God's army

 Thursday, September 26, 2024 (5:24 a.m.)

Holy God,

♪I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier I got soul but I’m not a soldier…♪ Oh, but I am. Aren’t I? Aren’t we called to be good soldiers in Your army (2 Timothy 2:1-7)? 

Yes! We are to “Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). To put on Your armor so we will “stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule the world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms” (11-12)

We are to “Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil” (v.13a). Yes Father! I want to “still be standing firm” (13b) after every battle. Thank You that You change my way of thinking.

I woke up singing one thing (♪All These Things That I’ve Done♪) and ended up having my heart cracked wide open by the power of Your forgiveness. Lord God, I am asking (Matthew 7:7) You to use me as an example of Your glorious, awesome power.

Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I will continue standing firm in the Truth and power of Your loving Word. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(256 words ~ 6:20 a.m.)

 

to be still and know

 Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (9:49 p.m.)

♪Word of God Speak Would You pour down like rain Washing my eyes to see Your majesty To be still and know That You’re in this place Please let me stay and rest In Your holiness Word of God speak… All that I need is to be with You And in the quiet hear Your voice♪

Yes please God. Yes. Please.

(69 words ~ 10:15 p.m.)

seeking and finding balance

 Wednesday, September 25, 2024 (5:58 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

I am looking to You for a wonderful balance of good enough. Yes Father. We have a LOT coming at us these next few days. Visitors. People wanting to help. I’s that need dotting and t’s that must be crossed.

I am looking to YOU for that balance I need going forward. Yes Lord. I am here seeking and asking (Matthew 7:7) to find balance for this day.

This day which You have made (Psalm 118:24a). The one in which I am to rejoice and be glad (24b). Rejoicing and being glad seems like a great place to start in finding balance.

Here I come back to the blessing of Your Word. Psalm 143:10. Boxed in pencil in my Bible. Asterisked and dated “Tia’s - Questa, NM 7-13-18.” I remember that day well dear Lord.

Sobbing in this kind woman’s lap because I was not yet the grandma I wanted to be. Thank You Lord for teaching me what it means to “BE JOYFUL!” Thank You for lightening my heart. Reintroducing me to the joy found in laughter. And smiling.

Mm, yes Lord. I want to smile, sing, stand firm and stay my mind on the Truth and promises we have in Your Word.

“Teach me to do your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing” (Psalm 143:10). That seems wonderfully balanced to me. 

Provide me a genuine, intuitive sense of what’s good enough and what needs attention. I love, need, trust and want You, Lord. Thank You for being the awesome, wonderful God that You are. Use me as You know is best. Amen.

(285 words ~ 6:51 a.m.)

Perfection!! (9/20/24)

 Friday, September 20, 2024 (3:16 p.m.)

Lakeside North Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Vista, CA

Glorious God,

Thank You! Perfection!! The “right” temperature. Tone. View. And communication skills. Thank You for exercise. And time spent on the water kayaking at the same time. Thank You for perfect lake colors. Geese. Ducks. Dragonflies.

resurrected life

 Tuesday, September 24. 2024 (6:23 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Jesus conquered death. I confess. This is a Truth I’ve never fully considered. Until now.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-25).

Referring to Lazarus’ dead body that lay in a grave, Lazarus himself was not dead. “Believers in Jesus who keep His word have passed already out of death into life” (taken from John 5:24).

Thank You Father for this opportunity to come to grips with the Truth that while our bodies die, we don’t! We pass on to eternal, unbroken, unending life (John 3:16). 

♪Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth… God of Wonders beyond our galaxy You are holy, holy Precious Lord, reveal Your heart to me… You are holy, holy♪

Thank You for this opportunity to consider and learn more about what it is to truly live and have our faith in You. Your Holy Spirit alive and living in us. Always. Forever. Uninterrupted. From everlasting to everlasting. Living forever with You.

Thank You Father. Thank You for speaking Your Truth into my very being. Work in, with, by, through and for me. Use me as only You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You know is necessary that we would truly live as You would have us. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(255 words ~ 7:00 a.m.)

♪Lord, I Need You♪

 Monday, September 23, 2024 (6:24 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You. I love You. I want You. I trust You. I need You.

Mm, yes! ♪Oh God, how I need You♪

Father, how I thank You for the ways You lead and guide me. Thank You that by finding one thing to be grateful for leads to the next.

Thank You that in being grateful, in wanting what You have provided us, we truly do find peace. Lord, I look to You this morning. Asking (Matthew 7:7) that You would continue blessing and keeping us (Numbers 6:24). Making Your face shine upon us and being gracious to us (v. 25).

Yes Lord. I am asking that You will truly turn Your face toward us (26a). And “smile” as You give us peace (26b).

You give us so much. Make us good stewards. That we would genuinely use all ♪Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord, unto me!♪

There’s much to be done. Use us exactly as You know is best. We love, need, trust and want You. ♪Oh God, how we need You♪

Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(194 words ~ 6:48 a.m.)

united and unafraid

 Friday, September 20, 2024 (7:06 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Blessed, Holy, Father God,

Thank You! I woke up feeling scattered and scared. Rather than putting the focus there, I’m coming straight to You. Asking (Matthew 7:7) that You would make me united and unafraid.

(8:05 a.m.)

Reading in Your Word, I am again reminded of the importance of being united with You. Yes, please!

Looking at the word united I want very much to “come together to form a single unit”. Join us together Lord. Into a single entity. Like minded. United as a group, with common aims and goals.

Yes Father. ♪Bind us together♪ with an unbreakable bond of love. What would that even be like? Inseparable. Indestructible. Built on, in, by, through and for You.

I want to glorify and enjoy You. While honoring another. I want to go about this with confidence that “Thy will” will be done.

I love You Father. I need, trust and want You. Lead, guide and direct my thoughts, words, actions and my very being.

You are good, great, glorious, gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). And I depend on You. Thank You for being my God. My Father. ♪My First. My Last. My Everything♪

♪Have Thine Own Way Lord… Thou art the Potter I am the clay Mold me and make me after Thy will While I am waiting yielded and still… Search me and try me… Hold o’er my being absolute sway Filled with Thy Spirit till all can see Christ only always living in me♪

YES! Do all You must. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(246 words ~ 8:27 a.m.)

confessing Truth and promises

Thursday, September 19, 2024 (6:30 a.m.)

Tahoe Vista, CA

Holy God,

I am confessing fear and sadness. Thank You that by putting it in print I get it out of my head. Searching to learn more I find the opportunity of confessing Your Word of Truth and promises instead.

Father, thank You! Three pages of twenty-five verses reminding me to put my hope and trust in You. Oh how I want to stand firmly on Your Truth.

(7:11 a.m.)

Look at this! I’m smiling! Contentedly. Peacefully. Thank You, God.

The more of Your Truth and promises I confess, the bigger my smile grows. My heart lightens. Breathing comes more readily. Thank You, thank You Lord.

Thank You for reminding me of the power that is found in You. The power of peace. And hope.

Thank You for the added reminder that I am to ‘not worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell You what I need, and thank You for all You have done. If I do this, I will experience Your peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. Your peace will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7).

I continue entertaining fearful, negative thoughts. Your Word counteracts them. Thank You for reminding me.

Yes Lord. ♪When I wake up in the morning, Lord, touch my heart Don’t let me stray, I just wanna stay where You are All I got is one shot, one try One go around in this beautiful life Nothing is wasted when everything’s placed in Your hands

♪Singing, oh Lord, Keep Me In the Moment Help me live with my eyes wide open ‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what You have for me…♪

Reading in the New Believer’s Bible I am reminded that “worry is a completely unproductive emotion.” And the antidote for worry [and fear]? Prayer!

So here I am Lord. Praying. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7).

There are decisions to be made. People to host. Interactions that I just am not good at. Intervene on my behalf I pray. Be all that YOU are, so I can just be me. The one You made in Your image (Genesis 1:27). Wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14).

Another smile. AND a song!

♪There is no fear ‘cause I believe There is no doubt ‘cause I have seen Your faithfulness, my fortress Over and over I have a hope found in Your name I have a strength found in Your grace… Make way through the waters Walk me through the fire Do what You are Famous For What You are famous for Shut the mouths of lions Bring dry bones to life… I believe in You, God I believe in You

♪Release Your love inside of me Unleash Your power for all to see Spirit, come, and fall on us Over and over, oh Lord♪

Yes! Over and over, oh Lord!

Thank You Father that You are good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). I love, need, trust and want You Lord.

Your grace IS sufficient for me, Your power IS made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Of which I have many. When left on my own. To my own devices.

Thank You that we get to confess. Power and strength in Your Holy name. Use me EXACTLY as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(568 words ~ 8:31 a.m.)