strength and power

 ♪…Make you to shine like the sun

And hold you in the palm of His hand♪

Sunday, November 30, 2025 (5:28 a.m.)

What? Why this song?

Good morning Lord. Thanks for some sleep. Lots of prayers. And then these particular lyrics. Why?

Where did they come from? Seemingly out of the blue.

♪And He will raise you up On Eagle’s Wings 

Bear you on the breath of dawn♪

Reading about the meaning and origin of this song, Psalm 91 and Exodus 19:4 are referenced. Refugees and fortresses are mentioned. As well as the descriptive image “of being raised up on eagles’ wings reflect[ing] the strength and power of how God holds us in His love.”

Now THAT’s a profound Truth to ponder first thing upon awakening! Thank You Father. I want very much to be raised up by Your strength and power.

I continue to be amazed by just how good You truly are. Waking to lyrics I’ve long remembered. Searching their significance. And finding myself reading “STEP 11 Patient Waiting Isaiah 40:28-31” (The Life Recovery Bible).

Father, thank You. Thank You for the “faith, hope and love” (1 Corinthians 13:13) we have in You. Always.

Thank You for the Truth of Your Holy Word. Thank You that You give “power to the weak and strength to the powerless” (Isaiah 40:28). 

“Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (vs. 29-31).

♪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 paths♪

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Thank You Father for who You are and all You’ve done. Empower and embolden me with Your strength and power that I will live this day [which You have made (Psalm 118:24a)] rejoicing and being glad in it (24b).

Thank You for Your love. Thank You for all Your provide. I love, need, trust and want You as my God and Father. Use me as only You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(375 words ~ 6:29 a.m.)

perhapsability

 Saturday, November 29, 2025 (6:30 a.m.)

Thank You Father,

Overnight visit with a grandchild. Opportunity to listen to anything that is shared. Like the creation of a brand new word for us. “Perhapsability.”

We both agreed on its uniqueness. Until I found it spelled out in an urban dictionary. “an adjective describing an action, event, or consequence with a weak or vague possibility of fruition. Not fully likely to happen or be true.”

Father, thank You that is NOT You! Thank You that I am able to come to You and Your Word. Always.

Thank You also for another new to me word. Peradventure. An archaic, middle English adverb or noun meaning perhaps. Perchance. Maybe.

Thank You that the first Bible verse I found in this vein is Acts 17:27. “God did all this [made the world and everything in it… (24-26)] so that people would want to know Him. They would look carefully for Him and perhaps they would find Him. Really, God is near to each of us” (EasyEnglish Bible).

Father, thank You for the desire to know You. Look carefully for You. With the perhapsability of finding You. I like my greater than average odds where You are concerned.

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

(226 words ~ 7:31 a.m.)

Grateful Heart

 Friday, November 28, 2025 (6:18 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! Yesterday was GLORIOUS! Beautiful. Fun...

I look to You with such gratitude. A truly grateful heart.

♪Sing praise Give Thanks (With a Grateful Heart)♪

Yes Father. I am absolutely grateful for the blessings You provide.

Beauty I haven’t seen in quite some time. Family fellowship that was ♪so darn easy♪! Completely ♪simple and free♪ (Just You ’N' Me).

“Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks to God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20 Amplified Bible).

“I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices; My body too will dwell [confidently] in safety,” (Psalm 16:8-9).

intensely incredible

 Thanksgiving Thursday, November 27, 2025 (6:44 a.m.)

Fine [as in exceptional!]. Glorious. Phenomenal. Wow! These are only my initial reactions to the intensely incredible artwork You have taking place in the sky this morning.

From one moment to the next it just keeps getting better! Thank You God. For the color. The wispy swirling of the clouds. The variations I see taking place. One blending right into the next.

Amazing. Yep! Absolutely amazing beauty. That’s what I see going on out there. 

(7:05 a.m.)

Father, thank You for this most extraordinary gift of starting this Thanksgiving holiday with such an incredibly grateful and thankful heart.

Such glorious beauty led me to finding these words describing You: All-powerful. Great. Awe-inspiring. Creator. Eternal and everlasting. Compassionate and merciful.

Father thank You that we have the Truth of Your Word. Especially meaningful this morning is Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Empowering (Ephesians 3:14-21). 

He on his knees thinking of Your wisdom and the scope of Your plan (v. 14). You, Creator of everything in heaven and on earth (15). Paul continuing to pray. Asking more of the inner strength of Your Holy Spirit (16). Christ’s presence at home in trusting hearts (17a). With roots going “down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love” (17b). 

Paul also prayed for the believers to have power to understand the breadth of Your love (18). And the experience of Christ’s love (19).

Lord God, thank You for such a time as this to be reminded of Your mighty power at work in us (20). All glory to You Dearest Dad, “forever and ever through endless ages” (21).

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me exactly as You know is best. Do all You must that I will worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You forever. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(310 words ~ 8:12 a.m.)

all the emotions

 Wednesday, November 26, 2025 (5:44 a.m.)

Most Holy God and Father,

Thank You.

I woke up feeling sad. Concerned. Indecisive. Vulnerable. Wobbly. Fearful. Emotional. And I get to bring it all to You. Thank You Lord.

Thank You that You allow us to speak honestly and openly to You. We are free to come before You with our hurts and fears. Not try to hide them away. Nor employ any ill-fated attempts at powering through them.

Mm, yes. I am quite powerless over the thought patterns that could very well lead me directly to paralyzation. Thank You that Your way is so much better!

(6:03 a.m.)

♪Your Way’s Better 

Oh, Lord, Your ways better♪

I confess to You Dearest Dad, the numerous times I fall back into the trap of pretense. Wanting [and trying] to be, think, say and do all I imagine You wanting of me.

And with that willingness to be honest I am led straight over to Micah 6:6-8.

“What can we bring to the LORD to make up for what we’ve done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the LORD? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make Him glad?

“No, O people, the LORD has already told You what is good, and this is what He requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.”

Yes please Father God. Teach me that!

Deuteronomy 10:12. “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires you to fear [fully esteem and revere] Him, to live according to His will, to love and worship Him with all your heart and soul.”

Tall orders all. None of which we are able [nor expected] to accomplish under our own strength and power. No!

The apostle Paul reminded the Galatian believers of the futility of trying to follow Your laws in our own human strength. “Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own humans effort?” (Galatians 3:3).

Why, indeed!

Blessed Lord, work in, with, by, through and for me that I will serve You as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You as absolute sway over every aspect of my being.

Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.”

Here again I say, “Yes, please!”

“Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper” (Psalm 37:3).

“Don’t worry about anything. Instead pray about everything. Tell God what You need and thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6).

Father, I need Your guidance. Your strength. Your power. Your Holy Spirit and deliverance from fear.

Yes! 'For You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind' (2 Timothy 1:7).

I want to stand firmly on Your Truth and promises Dear Lord. In glorifying and enjoying You forever. Make it so I ask (Matthew 7:7a). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(%79 words ~ 7:13 a.m.)

Smiling.

 Tuesday, November 25, 2025 (5:17 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

That’s what I’ve got right now. “Thank You.” And a smile.

(5:36 a.m.)

Looking into what constitutes a smile I often find the descriptions limited. Most of mine are sudden. Fleeting. Not always full.

Pronounced enough to immediately recognize them in my heart. Yet not necessarily registered on my face.

“Thank You [Father] for making me [so] wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - and how well I know it” (Psalm 139:14).

I love looking to Your Word and finding myself in Your Truth and promises. It’s far more impactful than when I see myself in the funny papers.

(5:56 a.m.)

Thank You Father for the privilege of coming before You. Exactly as I am. Flaws and all. Recognizing my need for You. Accepting Your love for me.

(6:19 a.m.)

I did NOT expect this! Reading in Job. Chapter 29. He had done nothing wrong. He was clean and blameless. And yet he suffered tremendous loss.

Job was honest in his final speech (chapters 27-31). Addressing wisdom and understanding (28). His former blessings (29). His anguish (30). And his final protest of innocence (31).

There are six chapters (32-37) of Elihu’s response and reminders before Your challenge to Job begins (chapter 38). And continues until Your concluding blessing (42:12-17).

And right here starts singing one of my very dear husband’s favorite songs.

♪… If ever a man had it all

It would have to be me

And, ooh

I Love You♪

(6:51 a.m.)

Seems like the perfect song Job would ultimately sing to You Dear Lord.

Thank You for my smiles. Let me use them to Your good and Your glory. I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(301 words ~ 6:53 a.m.)

continuously blessed

 Monday, November 24, 2025 (5:16 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. You bless us. Continuously.

Yes. We are continuously blessed by You. Thank You Father.

(5:27 a.m.)

Mm. Reading about blessings being related to Your presence, not our circumstances, provides me a deeper understanding of Aaron’s benediction. Number 6:24-26 takes on even greater meaning as I am reminded that the words used are all about You watching over us.

Father, how I thank You for the ways You

(5:54 a.m. 46°)

Neighbor’s covered front porch

… change how I see and interpret things.

Take this view for example. Thirty minutes ago I was sure there was going to be nothing outstanding about this morning’s sunrise. WRONG!

Father, thank You for the teachings of my very dear husband’s Boy Scout training. “Always be prepared.”

I was! Bag packed. Chair at the ready. And here come the colors. Along with the sounds of early morning transportations. And birds with various calls. A briskness in the cool air. All reminding me of Your goodness. Your grace. Your glorious greatness (Psalm 145:5-8).

(6:06 a.m.)

And just like that! The bright oranges in the sky have all muted to gray and the palest of yellow. I could have easily missed it all. Thank You Father for working in, with, by, through and for the ways I experience life in and with You.

(6:11 a.m.)

Staying put, I catch glimpses of pinks and even purples. Thank You Lord. A reissue of vibrantly growing colors is definitely not what I had expected! You bring such joy to my heart.

(6:16 a.m.)

Oh! Here come the blues. And a bit of white. Do You have fun creating these momentary masterpieces?

I want to be the masterpiece You created me to be. Your “accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things” (Ephesians 2:10a). You “planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives” (v. 10b Common English Bible).

Yes please!

(6:26 a.m.)

Looking back to Aaron’s blessing and Your continuous presence in our lives, I ask (Matthew 7:7a) that I would learn to use it well.

Expanded Bible. “May the LORD bless you and keep [guard] you. May the LORD show you His kindness [make His face shine upon you] and have mercy on [be gracious to] you. May the LORD watch over [lift His face/presence/countenance upon] you and give you peace.”

Oh yes most glorious God and Father! Make it so that I live this day [which You have made (Psalm 118:24a)] rejoicing and being glad in it (24b). All because of Your continuous presence.

Use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(460 words ~ 6:36 a.m.)