Tuesday, January 7, 2025 (6:49 a.m.)
Amazing God that You are!
Turns out it WASN’T “Praise God” like I was so sure. Nope! It was actually the first two words of ♪Take It All Back♪
♪Fear’s got me living with the lights out…♪
Father! Thank You. Thank You. Thank You!
Now about that bag… :)
(60 words ~ 6:57 a.m.)
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 (4:30 a.m.)
♪Praise God…♪
I can’t find the rest of the lyrics. Nor the title of what I’m singing. For now, this must be enough.
I had planned to pack a bag yesterday. Seemed simple enough. Except I woke up feeling puny. Punk. Unwell.
Thank You God for resolution to the symptoms. Opening all the doors and windows seemed helpful. As did pacing myself. Altering my plans and energies.
You are a ♪Good Good Father♪ It IS who You are! Thank You Dad.
Thanks for the opportunity of coming before You. With a medley of songs in my head. One giving way to the next.
Still... It’s this one from above that keeps worming itself with jumbled words and melody that I’m trying to find.
Father, thank You for letting me ramble here. It’s windy outside. Scary windy. Rather than be afraid, I’m turning to You. Asking (Matthew 7:7) You to provide my every need.
I’m encountering brand new to me circumstances. Experiencing different situations. Some more off-putting than others. Again I look to You.
Thank You for the willingness to thank and praise You yesterday. Right in the middle of a bonked head. Checking for blood. Tears came quickly. Followed by gut-wrenching sobs.
Gentle fingertips continued feeling for signs of bleeding. Until the goose egg started growing. Thank You for the laughter than grew as well. First came a giggle. Then the full on belly laugh. A “Hallelujah!” And an “Amen.”
Father God, how I thank You for the ways You hold me tight. Especially in the middle of all that is new to me. Switching gears from what used to be to what is now.
You were there with me in all the befores. Just like You are here with me in the now. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Your leading. Your guidance.
With that said, there are so many decisions to make. Papers to go through. Laundry to sort. A bag to pack. New adventures to be had. I want to face them with confidence. In, with, by, through and for You!
♪Praise God… hum, hum, hum♪ The melody is there. The words are coming a little at a time. I’d really like to sing it out completely.
Blessed God, do all You must with me today. Continuing growing me into the woman You created me to be. The one “clothed in strength and dignity, and laughs with no fear of the future” (Proverbs 31:25).
Let my words be wise (v. 26a). And kind (26b). Provide the balance I need to watch over my household without being lazy (27).
Oh Blessed Father, thank You for all that You are and do. I love, need, trust and want You.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).
“For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need” (Philippians 4:13).
Use me as You know is best. Packing that bag and finding that song would be great places to start [hint, hint, wink, wink!]. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.
(538 words ~6:10 a.m.)
Epiphany ~ Monday, January 6, 2025 (5:51 a.m.)
Thank You God.
Finally! After hours of being awake, here’s a smile. A peaceful heart. And a readiness to start another day. Thank You for each.
Yes Father. Thank You for every reminder You provide.
♪Counting My Blessings♪ continues singing in my mind. Reminding me of the many ways You have provided through the years.
Every smile reminds me that You are here with me. That You are good. Glorious. Gracious. Great (Psalm 145:5-8). Thank You Lord.
(6:05 a.m.)
Coming out to fully enjoy my very last morning of Christmas lights and candles, Thank You for the peace that fills my heart.
I wasn’t expecting a lot of smiling today. It marks the date of another huge reminder. Two very young people making decisions that ultimately led to the end of each others marriages.
I like to think I see Your hand in it all. Yet I truly believe You would have had us approach our life together differently than the way we initially chose.
(10:21 a.m.)
Father, thank You for the forgiveness we have because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Thank You for the love He came to teach and exemplify.
Reading in the apostle Paul’s letter ‘to strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their relationship with You and each other’ (The Life Recovery Bible THE BOTTOM LINE) I want to follow his counsel. Do all You must to make it so.
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them… Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander as well as all types of evil. Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:29, 31-32).
Yes please Dearest Lord. These are not things I can do on my own. I need the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10) leading and guiding me.
Reading earlier about Epiphany I found and agree with this statement. “Epiphany reminds us to look for the work of God in our natural everyday lives.” Help me do exactly that today.
This day. You made. Rejoicing and being glad (Psalm 118:24). Knowing, trusting and believing that I am loved and forgiven by You.
Thank You Father. Use me as You know is best. I love You. Praise You. Amen.
(414 words ~ 10:56 a.m.)
12th Day of Christmas ~ Sunday, January 5, 2025 (6:14 a.m.)
Wonderful God,
Thank You. I woke up wanting You to make me aware of blessings today. They are here. All around me. Just look at that sky!
I am warm. Safe. Loved. Grateful. That’s four blessings right there. Thanks Dad.
Jeremiah 17:5-14
1 Peter 1:6-7
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
John 15:1-11
Ephesians 1:3
(7:24 a.m.)
♪Counting My Blessings♪
♪Oh My Soul♪
Blessed Father, thank You that my greatest blessing of all is getting to know You as Father. Trusting You enough to call You Dad.
Looking back through my own prayers of the past 15 years, I see that my conscious decision to leave out pertinent details concerning certain circumstances leaves a lot of holes and wonder of what may have been going on at the time. Even here, I thank You Lord.
While the particulars of many situations were intentionally left out, the essence of Your goodness and Your grace are profound. Father, thank You for teaching me all those years ago to ♪accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr. In-between♪ (Philippians 4:8).
It is absolutely YOU I long to worship and adore! Thank You for showing me the way out of the trap of resentments and bitterness I had unintentionally laid for myself all those years ago.
Thank You for repeatedly leading me to the foot of the cross. Every single time I don’t know where to turn or what to do.
Just like now. In searching how other people find blessings, I read a different account of the fruit of Your Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Described by the writer as gifts, not works. Amen!
Love–not hate
Joy–not despair
Peace–not anxiety
Kindness–not harshness
Goodness–not meanness
Faithfulness–not unfaithfulness or dishonesty
Self-control–not instability
Noticing the absence of gentleness, I add to the list - not brutality.
Father, empower and enable me in remembering and exemplifying the Truth of this rendering. I want to live in, with, by, through and for You. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as only You know is best. Finding Your blessings along the way.
Thank You. Praise You. Amen!
(371 words ~ 7:49 a.m.)
11th Day of Christmas ~ Saturday, January 4, 2025 (5:27 a.m.)
Blessed God,
Again I say, “Thank You!” Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son to teach us how to love one another.
(6:46 a.m.)
Or did You?!
Thank You for this time to explore exactly why it is You sent us Your Son. I found so many conflicting ideas. Various people sharing their own understandings. Thank You God that You want to right the wrongs of this world.
Jesus preached Your Good News (Mark 1:14-15). The wonderful gospel/glad tidings of Your kingdom. Your Message.
And what exactly is this Good News? According to The Message it’s, “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe The Message.”
Oh, but it keeps getting better! How many times have I heard or read this verse myself through the years? And THIS is the morning I’m barely getting a clue of it’s depth?!
Jesus speaking. The kingdom of God is at hand! “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” (Common English Bible).
EasyEnglish Bible. “Now is the time when the kingdom of God has come very near. You have done many wrong things. Turn away from them and change the way you live. Believe God’s good news.”
Jesus called Your people [of whom I am one] to “Repent and believe in the gospel!” Yes please Blessed Father. Teach me to do exactly that. Turn from my sins “and act on this glorious news!”
J.B. Phillips New Testament tells us, “The time has come at last - the kingdom of God has arrived. You must change your hearts and minds and believe the good news.”
We are to change the way we think and act. Are we do this on our own? No way! It’s only in, with, by, through and for You, Your Son and His Holy Spirit that we have any degree of redeeming power.
Because of Jesus’ willingness to give His life for us, we are able to be sorry for our sins, turn from them and believe Your very Good News. Thank You God!
“Jesus: It’s time! The kingdom of God is near! Seek forgiveness, change your actions, and believe this good news!” (The Voice).
Father, I thought I was coming here to learn more about:
Thank You for leading me instead to scratching the surface of Jesus’ extravagant generosity. Just look at all He was willing to do so we would come to repent and believe in Your glorious Good News.
Do all You must that I will fully live this day (Psalm 118:24a) as You would have me. Rejoicing and being glad (v. 24b). Repenting and believing (Matthew 1:15).
Forgiving and seeking forgiveness [ouch!]. Changing my actions [double ouch!]. There is so very much to take in. Thank You. Praise You. Amen!
(512 words ~ 7:48 a.m.)
Friday , January 3, 2025 (8:30 p.m.)
Thank You Father.
Just thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Ad infinitum. Thank You! Amen.
(8:33 p.m.)
10th Day of Christmas ~ Friday, January 3, 2025 (5:44 a.m.)
Awesome God,
Thank You! I am feeling easily confusion by which day of the week it is. What date of which month. And, oh yes, the year is different as well.
How interesting that just yesterday much conversation detailed a brain surgery that was performed one year ago today. Lord, you are amazing!
You bring people into our lives that help us grow. And change.
(6:14 a.m.)
Once again You have amazed, awed and wowed me all at the same time. Father I can never even begin to thank You enough for all You have and want for us.
You sent Your own precious Son to die on our behalves. A horrible, painful, seemingly senseless death so we could live. Abundantly (John 10:10). Eternally (John 3:16). In, with, by, through and for You.
Reading to learn more about how our brains work I am excited to read how science has proven the health benefits trusting You to be the loving Father You are has on us. Reducing stress and blood pressure. Improving focus and attention. Becoming more loving. Less angry.
Depending on how we know the true God You are, it can be easier for us to practice forgiveness. Of ourselves, as well as others.
Dear, Blessed God, thank You that it is never too late for us to learn to forgive. We don’t have to be angry or vengeful.
By learning to focus on Your love, I smile more. Hope comes more readily. Forgiveness, while still challenging, is possible. Like ALL things with You!
Bigger smile. Expanding hope filled heart.
The Life Recovery Bible comment for Matthew 19:25-26. “Left on our own, we would fall deeper into the pit of our addiction [in my case? Negativity!], never gaining control over it. But with God’s help, the inconceivable is possible.”
Not only is unimaginable change possible with You, I’ve experienced it time and again! Faith and trust in You has truly turned my life around. Repeatedly. Making ways where there seemed to be no way.
Father, thank You. You have brought hope and health into my thinking. Where I once was filled with fear, doubt, anger, resentment and despair, You’ve continued teaching me the importance of forgiveness. Again and again and again. Seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22).
Do all You know is necessary that I will live this day as You would have me. Rejoicing and being glad (Psalm 118:24). I love, need, trust and want You. Use me. Thank You. Amen.
(429 words ~ 7:02 a.m.)
