tears and all

 Sunday, January 13,2025 (5:27 a.m.)

Thank You Father.

I have tears forming. They come more often. Much more readily than before. Use them Lord. And me.

I want to embrace what You have for me. Tears and all.

(5:49 a.m.)

Thank You for seemingly using them to water my soul. With hope. Peace. Your presence.

Waking with the song ♪I’m Still Standing♪ my heart just leaped at the verse ♪… Lookin’ like a true survivor, feelin’ like a little kid♪ Yep! That’s me at the moment.

Thank You that I get to follow Your Truth. Into Your Word. Psalm 59:16-17. Attaching my trust with David’s. 

“But as for me, I will sing about Your power [♪I’m still standing… lookin’ like a true survivor, feeling’ like a little kid…♪].  Each morning I will sing with joy [♪I’m still standing…♪] about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress” (v.16)

Right here I confess to unfavorably comparing my own distress with that of others. Thank You that we have Your Word as a counter to our own attacks on ourselves.

Galatians 6:4-5. “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job will done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.”

Thank You that You know all the condemning thoughts I entertain about myself. Thank You that by following Your lead, Your Truth counteracts my thinking.

Singing ♪There is therefore now no condemnation For those who are in Christ
Jesus♪ takes me to Romans 8:1. Life In the Spirit

Thank You for reminding me that ♪My Life Is In You, Lord My strength is in You, Lord My hope is in You, Lord In You, it’s in You I will praise You with all of my life I will praise You with all of my strength With all of my life With all of my strength All of my hope is in You♪

I truly cannot ever begin to thank You enough. I continue bringing You my tears and You use them to water my soul. 

Reading a sermon posted online entitled “I’m Still Standing” I get to follow You again into Your Word. Psalm 92:12-14. Thank You Father.

“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.’

Yes please Father. Use these tears that I will remain vital and green. Still standing. Flourishing. Producing fruit.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm” (Ephesians 6:13). Yes please!

(7:22 a.m.)

Reading further in the sermon I learn even more about Your design of a palm tree. Long-lived. Upright. Useful. Flexible. Able to bend to the ground for hours on end and bounce right back.

The palm roots grow wide and deep. They are stretched and strengthened, not weakened, by storms.

Thank You Father for the ways You speak to Your followers. Thank You that the benediction to this particular sermon is Romans 15:13. A verse very near and dear to my own heart.

Father God, empower me to stand firmly on it today. The apostle Paul’s prayer for the church at Rome. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.”

Yes please! I want to serve and represent You well. Do all You must to make it so. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(671 words ~ 7:42 a.m.)