divine love and protection

 Monday, February 24, 2025 (3:51 a.m.)

Thank You for calling me out here to You Dear Lord. Thank You for waking me with songs and Scripture. Thank You for reminding me that 100% “God’s Got This”.

“This” right now, today, translates to all the things on the list of things to do. Every decision there is to make. All the tasks I’ve been avoiding and pushing off until the last possible moment.

Father, thank You for Your presence. Your divine love and protection. For Jesus. And the ♪Holy Spirit♪. The One who is ♪welcome here♪. To ♪come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory God is what our hearts long for To be overcome by Your presence Lord♪

Mm, yes! Your presence, Lord! ♪There’s nothing worth more That will ever come close No thing can compare You’re our Living Hope… I’ve tasted and seen Of the sweetest of love When my heart becomes free And my shame is undone Your presence Lord♪

How awesome it is for me at this very moment. All the songs and thoughts, Bible verses and plans I came out here with have taken a backseat to wanting to learn more about Your presence. Your divine love and protection.

Just introduced to me because of a dot of importance I noticed yesterday. Following Your urging to look up the “Talking With God” video I flagged in my sermon notes from two weeks ago, here I am reading of Jesus. The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (John 10).

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me” (vs. 27-28).

It is in You I trust Dearest Lord.You are God the Father who will never fail. Yes! ♪I Trust In God, my Savior The One who will never fail…♪

Thank You Lord. Learning more yesterday about fearing You. Giving weight [attaching importance] to Your Truth.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” (Psalm 27:1).

“Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment” (Proverbs 9:10).

“Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27).

How truly blessed we are to have Jesus as the Author [Leader, Pioneer, Initiator, Founder, Prince, Source, Originator, Designer, Champion, Maker] and Finisher [Perfecter, Completer, Goal, Instructor] of our faith (Hebrews 12:2a).

 

He endured the cross

(5:32 a.m.)

Yes Father. Because He endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him, “we must keep our eyes on Jesus…”

I learned in church yesterday that You are the Father I NEED when I mess up badly. NOT the One who will “kill” me for making mistakes. Thank You that I am able to trust You as such.

Reading up just one verse, I come to the title of Chapter 12. God’s Discipline Proves His Love Thank You for being SUCH a ♪Good, Good Father♪ to us. Filled with the divine love and protection described to me when I first sat down earlier.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for John 10:27-29 describes entrusting ourselves to Jesus. Feeling safe and secure. Believing that we are “in a safe relationship that God offers to us in which divine love and protection are expressed.”

Father God, I have been blessed to experience many examples of earthly love and protection. Elevating it to the ultimate level of “divine” is something I am willing to believe to see! Yes Lord, I readily trust and believe You are and will do all You promise.

With this crowd [cloud] of witnesses that have gone on before me (Hebrews 12:1a) I am willing to ‘strip off every weight that slows me down, especially the sin that so easily trips me up. And run with endurance the race YOU have set before me’ (v. 1b).

With tears in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face, I’m ready God. Let’s do this! “For I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

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

(738 words ~ 6:10 a.m.)

"Decisions, decisions"

 Sunday, February 23, 2025 (3:35 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Sleep was had. It came fairly easily. I am grateful. Now… about all the indecisions I’ve been attempting to avoid

♪Take it Back♪

♪Don’t Stop Praying♪

1 Peter 5:7

♪I cast all my cares upon You…♪ [Cares Chorus]

Colossians 2:6-7

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Proverbs 4:26

Forsaking

All

I

Trust

Him

(5:30 a.m.)

Thank you for more rest Lord. Being still and knowing that You are God (Psalm 46:10). For deciding ♪to follow Jesus. No turning back No turning back♪

♪Trust in the Lord With all your heart And lean not on your own understanding In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path♪ (Proverbs 3:5-6). Yes, please Dear Father.

Hebrews 4:12-13

Colossians 3:15

Let me take hold of Your Word. Trusting. Believing. Standing firmly on it. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Yes! Here I speak the name of Jesus over all the indecisions. ♪I speak the name ‘cause it’s all that I can do In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven And pray for… healing That circumstances would change I pray that the fear inside would flee in Jesus name I pray that a breakthrough would happen today… Come believe it Come receive it Oh, the power of His Spirit is now forever…♪

Mm. The power of Your Spirit. Yes! Let’s tap into that!

Father, I absolutely am reliant on the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Work in, with, by, through and for me that I would come to follow the steps YOU have set for me.

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

(302 words ~ 6:05 a.m.)

-est

 Saturday, February 22, 2025 (5:29 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! That was the easiest, longest, soundest, most uninterrupted sleep I have had for months. Thank You.

Waking with a song deep inside, I’m coming to You with it before going anywhere to try and track it down. This is different than my usual approach

Typically I exhaust most of my efforts before asking, seeking, knocking (Matthew 7:7) for Your help. Look at me change habitual patterns! Thank You Lord.

Thank You also for a deeper look at the suffix -est. A morpheme [how’s THAT for a new to me word?!] added at the end of an adjective. Depicting the highest quality or degree. As in many of the words used to describe You.

Finest. Greatest. Even, best!

Yes Dearest [unintentional!] God, You are the superlative of all the language I have available to me. Every word I can think to describe You changes as I add -est at the end. Kindest. Holiest. Lovingest… 

(6:14 a.m.)

Still thinking of the song from earlier. Words come and go. As does a particular section of the music. It has yet to form into one piece.

 

Take you as You are? Take me as I am? I believe…?

Thank You for this very different than I am used to willingness to not keep attempting to ferret out the “right” song. Yes Father. I am readily and gladly giving You complete control of the outcome. Blindly trusting You to lead me where You want me to go.

(6:31 a.m.)

Two songs that are not what I searched may possibly be what You have for me this morning. I trust You Lord to know and do what is best [there’s that -est word again].

♪Living Hope♪

♪I Believe It [The Life of Jesus]♪

Use me and the singing of Your Truth as I go about making sense of the current insanity of this household. There are decisions that must be made. Stacks and piles of what to keep and what to let go. I need Your discernment here Dearest God and Father.

I want to live in and with, by through and for You. Making choices that honor and serve You well. Change my stubborn heart.

Yes Father. I ask You to include me in Your message of restoration (Ezekiel 36). “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations” (vs. 25-27).

Yes please Father. I want to hear and follow You. Continue teaching me please. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(506 words ~ 7:05 a.m.)

ridiculous grace

 Friday, February 21, 2025 (5:36 a.m.)

Blessed God,

You blessed me again yesterday. Time spent with loving neighbors. Celebrating the ninety-second birthday of their patriarch. What a joyful opportunity. Thank You God.

Thank You too for an extended visit from our hospice chaplain turned dear friend. Thank You especially for her grace in not mentioning the jumbled mess I had created in the corner of our living room.

Thank You for her kindness. Encouragement. Love. And laughter.

Father, I’m feeling a bit off at the moment. There is much to do in the next few days. Thus far I’ve refused to actually write it all down.

I work better with lists. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to work in, with, by, through and for me today.

I confess to allowing myself to procrastinate. Continuing to push things off just one more day.

Reckless Love

Zephaniah 3:17 

(7:42 a.m.)

Here’s the smile I was missing. AND the song I was leaning towards! ♪Known♪

(7:54 a.m.)

And now? Truth and a confession.

I am feeling overwhelmed by avoidance. There it is. I want so much to avoid feeling loss and hurt and fear that I’m avoiding most constructive next steps.

With this being freely admitted, I’m again turning to You for help. Do all You must to get me out of Your way that You may truly have Your Way in, with, by, through and for me.

I’ve put so much off for so long, a sense of doom hangs over me. This is NOT from You! In Jesus’ pure and blessed name I call on Him to right my thinking!

♪Father let Your Kingdom come 

Father let Your will be done

On earth as in heaven

Right here in my heart♪

(Matt Maher)

Yes! Personalizing Katy Nicole’s song for healing I sing to You:

♪I speak the name of Jesus over me

In my hurting, in my sorrow

I will ask my God to move

I speak the name ‘cause it’s all that I can do

In desperation, I’ll seek Heaven

And I pray this for me♪

Father, I DO pray for my own healing! That circumstances will change.

♪I pray that the fear inside would flee In Jesus Name

I pray that a breakthrough would happen today

I pray miracles over my life in Jesus name, in Jesus name

♪I speak the name of all authority

Declaring blessings, every promise

He is faithful to keep

I speak the name no grave could ever hold

He is greater, He is stronger

He’s the God of Possible♪ 

Yes! You are the God of possible! As in, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

(8:49 a.m.)

I’ve spent literal hours reading other people’s opinions and understandings of my first two songs this morning. The more I read the more downcast my heart became. Father, I want to follow YOU! Not other people’s directing.

I want desperately to be corrected and disciplined (Revelation 3:19a) by the One who stands at the door and knocks (20a). To hear Your voice, open the door, welcome You in and “share a meal together as friends” (20b).

Empower and enable me to “be diligent and turn from my indifference” (v. 19b). It is absolutely in You that I “live and move and have my being” (Acts 17:28).

Do all You must Dearest God that I will come away singing of Your Truth. Your power. Your ♪Reckless Love♪ and ♪...ridiculous grace♪

I love You. I need You.

♪I pray that the fear inside will flee in Jesus name

I pray that a breakthrough

Would happen today

I pray miracles over our lives in Jesus name

I pray for revival

For restoration of faith

I pray that the dead will come alive

In Jesus name♪

Yes! In Jesus name! Amen!

(646 words ~ 9:07 a.m.)