incredible joy

 7th Day of Christmas ~ Tuesday, December 31, 2024 (4:31 a.m.)

This has definitely been a year of unexpectedness. That’s the word I searched just now. Wanting to learn more about unexpectedness with You. Thank You for leading me to writings about incredible joy.

What a trade! I’m thinking about the many things I didn’t expect or see coming this past year and the next thing I’m invited to examine incredible joy. With You. Yes. It ALL stems from You. Thank You Lord.

Psalm 28:7, 62:8, 100:2, 139:16

James 1:2,3

(5:55 a.m.)

I say it to You often. Father God, You amaze me!

Reading others’ writing about finding incredible joy with You, Psalm 100:2 is referenced and here I am singing to You again.

♪… Have I told You lately that I love You? Have I told You there’s no one else above You? Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness Ease my troubles, that’s what You do♪

Blessed God, thank You that You give us choices. Every single moment of every single day. 

Thank You for the people You have brought into my life that encourage me to put my focus on You. You are the Positive Force. That excellent energy I want coursing through my veins.

Truly Lord. I want to live in, with, by, through and for You. This is only possible because of Christ’s willingness to come to teach us and then to ask You to send the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). Another Comforter. Helper. Advocate. Counselor. Intercessor. Strengthener. Standby. Companion. Friend.

Mm. This from The Message. Jesus speaking of The Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-17). “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and He’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take Him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see Him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know Him already because He has been staying with you, and will even be in you!”

Yes! Left to myself I cave to the roaring lion that is satan looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Bitterness. Resentments. Negative thinking and plotting all come so easily.

Thank You Jesus for coming to thwart “the thief’s purpose to steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10a). So much time has been wasted in pointless anger. Thank You for coming to give us a rich and satisfying life (v. 10b).

♪And they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love♪ (John 13:35)

Yes! Lord, make it so! With all the unexpectedness going on around us, let the incredible joy that life in You provides be what is seen. And practiced.

We love, need, trust and want You Lord. I ask (Matthew 7:7) that the hurting hearts of this world would be healed by the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) You so graciously sent to us.

Let us learn to worship and adore Him as You would have us. Use me. Exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(546 words ~ 6:34 a.m.)

so many questions

 6th Day of Christmas ~ Monday, December 30, 2024 (5:05 a.m.)

Holy God,

I woke up with questions Lord. Am I done sleeping? Why do I have to be done sleeping? Why is someone going through the neighbor’s trash? Should I do anything about it? What number would I call?

So many questions. Such indecisions.

Like, what would You have me care about today? How much is enough? What is too much?

There is so very much for me to learn Blessed God. With time seemingly getting shorter. Teach me what You would have me know. What really matters in Your perfect scheme of things?

(5:32 a.m.)

I’m smiling as I read an overview of the book of Hebrews. I’m not the only one with questions! So very many questions.

Believers, new to following Jesus had questions of their own. Thank You Father for always knowing what comes next.

I want to be surprised today. Pleasantly delighted in what You know is Your best.

The Jewish believers had doubts. I usually try to soften mine by referring to them as wonders. Uncertainty. Indecision. It all adds up to my not knowing.

Take a look right here at a comment for Hebrews 1:3. “…The only way a person can come to understand something of God’s glory and power is to get to know Jesus by faith…”

Here again comes the quote from another day. “No Jesus, No peace. Know Jesus, Know peace.”

I want to know You better Dear Jesus. You came into this world “to give life - life that is full and good” (John 10:10). I want to experience that life. In. With. By, through and for You.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for verses 7-18 ends by saying, “In Christ we can find security and serenity, even when we fail. God is able to use our sins and failures to bring about our ultimate good if we trust Him and obey His plan for our life.”

Yes please. I said that to You much earlier this morning. You know best. Line me up to be strong in Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Apart from from You I have no common sense.

Lead, guide and direct my very next step. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as You alone know is best. Loving You, others and myself. Wholeheartedly. Mindfully. With all I am in You (Mark 12:30-31). 

Thank You. Praise You. What’s next? Amen.

414 words ~ 6:00 a.m.)

"but a good word makes it glad"

 5th Day of Christmas ~ Sunday, December 29, 2024 (6:18 a.m.)

♪Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down♪ mixed equally with ♪My memory, my memory serves me far too well♪ You choose Your best for me Dear Lord.

What an exceptionally easy find Lord. Thank You! For the song. Your Truth. Another smile. Thanks, Dad! 

♪Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down But a good word makes it glad (Proverbs 12:25)… A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad the spirit is broken (Proverbs 15:13)…♪

Thank You Father for people who have sung Your Truth through the ages. Your good Word DOES make our hearts glad and joyful. Thank You that It does!

Use Your Word in, with, by, through and for me this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a) The one in which I am to rejoice and be glad (v.24b).

I love You Lord. I need, trust and want You. Continue Your work in teaching me not to be afraid. To be strong. And of good cheer courage (Joshua 1:9b).

Thank You for the resources to look more deeply at Your Word. Especially this one verse in Your charge to Joshua. He was to “Remember that [You] have told [him] this: Be strong and do not be afraid. Do not be weak but be brave. [You] the LORD [his] God, will be with [him]

(8:01 a.m.)

Thank You Lord for the restlessness that required me getting up from my spot here on the couch to work on other things. Dishes. Bed and coffee drink making. Pool care. Paper gathering. Distractions. And time to ponder.

Am I saying (and singing) the “right” things? Do I mean them? Without feeling them? Interesting how You get my attention Lord.

Thank You for the mistakes I continue making. Thinking I was quoting a coffee mug with Your words to Joshua. Nope! They are some of Paul’s very last words to Timothy. Written to encourage Your faithful but discouraged follower to continue doing Your work.

“But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength…” (2 Timothy 4:17). This I ask (Matthew 7:7) of You Dear Lord. Your presence in, with, by, through and for me.

♪Holy Spirit You are welcome here Come flood this place nd fill the atmosphere Your glory God is what my heart longs for To be overcome by Your presence Lord♪

♪Have I told You lately that I love You? Have I told You there’s no one above You? Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness Ease my troubles, that’s what You do For the morning sun in all it’s glory Greets the day with hope and comfort too You fill my life with laughter, somehow You make it better Ease my troubles, that’s what You do♪

Thank You for doing all this and so much more. You are good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). And I am truly grateful!

Do all You must that I will share a cheerful heart with others. Using good words to make hurting hearts glad. I love You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(538 words ~ 8:43 a.m.)

loving laughter

 4th Day of Christmas ~ Saturday, December 28, 2024 (5:45 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

I have a lot of “L”s running around in my head. Love. Laughter. Lord.

(7:21 a.m.)

Thank You for the delight and joy I find in reading other people’s musings on loving laughter. 

(7:51 a.m.)

Father, thank You for continuing to show Yourself to us in SO many ways! Even in unexpected word changes in songs.

Taking out “talk” and putting in “laugh” I’m smiling to the point of chuckling. How like You to remind me of the simplest, sweetest moments of my life.

♪Let’s give ’em Something to Talk Laugh About♪ makes me smile. Remember. Dig deep. All the way to the very last line. “How about love, love, love?”

Yes! How about love!?

Father, thank You for the ways You’ve brought Jesus’ love into our lives. Into the world. Not to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17) Save us. From ourselves!

Thank You that His purpose is to give a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10). One which I believe includes LOTS of loving laughter.

Use me Lord in sharing Your Truth with others. Your message of hope and wholeness. Do all You must. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen! (Tee-hee. Giggle, giggle ;)

(222 words ~ 8:29 a.m.)

Amazingly good!

 3rd Day of Christmas ~ Friday, December 27, 2024 (5:30 a.m.)

ARGH! Grolw. Grumble.

That’s funny! I can’t even tap GROWL out correctly! Thanks God. Maybe I don’t need to continue venting in that vein.

Thank You for a smile that keeps coming with many of my thoughts of expressing fear and sadness to You. Yes Lord. Even with the tears forming in my eyes, the smile is still here on my face. Maybe even in my heart. Thank You God.

Yes. Thank You.

You already know all the thoughts I was thinking of sharing with You. WOW! You really ARE good! Amazingly good!

Hours spent reading, thinking, half praying. All with the hope of going back to sleep. Coming to You with the fear and sadness that keep wanting to take center stage and I find another song. And a huge degree of the peace for which I have been searching.

♪Have I Told You Lately that I love You Have I told You there’s no One above You Fill my heart with gladness Take away my sadness Ease my troubles, that’s what You do♪ Thank You Father.

(6:42 a.m.)

Yes Father. That IS what You do!

Another beautifully crafted sunrise. Colors. Shading. Swirls. A sliver of the moon. Absolutely gorgeous.

I’m confessing the sadness and fear that continue wanting to take hold. I’m calling on Your name Jesus to fight and win this battle for me.

FAITH over fear. Gladness instead of sadness. I cannot produce these on my own. I can, however, take just one more step toward You. Further away from the one who “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Dress me in Your full armor (Ephesians 6:11-17) that I will be strong in You and in Your mighty power (v. 10). Empower, embolden and enable me to “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion” (18a).

 

I want to “Stay alert and be persistent in [my] prayers for all believers everywhere” (18b). I include myself in these pleas Dear Lord. Asking (Matthew 7:7) that I would be faithful in my desire to glorify and enJOY You!

I love, need, trust and want You Dearest God. ♪Holy Spirit You are welcome here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory God is what our hearts long for To be overcome By Your presence, Lord♪

Yes. Do all You must that I will live this day [which You have made (Psalm 118:24a)] rejoicing and being glad (24b).

You are GOOD, Dear God. Amazingly good! Thank You. Praise You. Use me. Amen.

(447 words ~ 7:12 a.m.)

counting it all as...

 2nd Day of Christmas ~ Thursday, December 26, 2024 (6:23 a.m.)

What an absolute delight! Unexplained music filtering through the halls. Untold beauty taking place in the sky. Complete peace in my heart. Sheer joy Lord. I’m counting it all as gain. Nope! Make that loss.

(6:56 a.m.)

Again I look to You saying, “Wow!” I keep making mistakes and You continue pointing me where I need to go. Straight to Your Word. The apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers. Chapter 3. The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ

As truly breathtaking as the sky was this morning that isn’t where our completeness is found. In recounting all of his efforts and achievements, Paul counted “everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v. 8a).

That’s where the true beauty is to be found! In knowing, trusting, loving and wanting You. The Gift that came into this world. Not to judge it, but to save it (John 3:17).

Thank You for the opportunity and desire to spend time contemplating all You are and have for us. I want to know You. Teach me what life in, with, by, through and for You is all about.

Use me as You alone know is best. Loving as You would have me love (Mark 12:30-31; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). With knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9). Thank You Father. Praise You Jesus. Come Holy Spirit. Amen.

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

the smallest smackerel

 Christmas Day ~ Wednesday, December 25, 2024 (7:28 a.m.)

Thank You Father,

You’ve done it again. Given me reason to smile. One leading right into the next. Growing my heart with each precious memory.

You are good, God! Great. Gracious. Glorious (Psalm 145:5-8). And I am truly grateful!

This IS a very different Christmas. Start to finish… different! And that doesn’t have to mean bad. 

No. There are still blessings to be unearthed. And counted. Songs to be sung. Memories brought back to mind.

You allow us this privilege Blessed Father. Decades of love being poured out from parents toward their children. Beginning with what You did for each of Yours (John 3:16).

(8:00 a.m.)

I’m shaking my head again. Lord, You never cease to lead me when I ask (Matthew 7:7). Keep me following You. So close to Your glorious right hand (John 10:27-29).

I come to You with the smallest smackerel of all the Advent Season has been for me this year. Snippets of hope. Peace. Joy. Love. And now, CHRIST! You multiple it all.

Thank You Father. A mustard seed of faith can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Five loaves of bread and two fish fed over 5,000 men, women and children, with 12 baskets of leftovers (Matthew 14:17-21).

You provide. You make everything new (Revelation 21:5). Traditions. Hearts. Lives. 

Different doesn’t have to be bad or good. It just is. And that is absolutely okay as long as we find You in the midst.

Jesus, thank You for coming to give us a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10). I love, need, trust and want You. Use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(289 words ~ 8:34 a.m.)