almost

 Monday, August 24, 2026 (4:59 a.m.)

Thank You God!

It took some convincing. And here I am. Smiling. Glad. Grateful. Willing.

What tipped the scale? The word almost.

Yes Father. After beginning with that first unprintable expletive of the morning I didn’t hold out a lot of hope.

Yet there I was, in under 15 minutes, ready to sing Your praises once again. Thank You Father.

Yes. Thank You for the power of almost.

Oh! Would You just look at this? Other people have experienced [and written about] this as well.

Ghulam Murtaza wrote of “almost” being a training ground for greatness. Where character is built, resolve tested and seeds of transformation planted. He encourages being alert. Aware and ready in acknowledging being on the way, although not there yet.

Thank You Lord. Continuing to look through the writing of others, I am heartened to read of the power found in trust. Respect. Kindness. Creativity. Understanding. And forgiveness.

Father, thank You for the ways You have been working in, with, by, through and for me all these decades. Thank You that I WANT and CHOOSE to believe in the power You have provided each of us through the inner workings of Your Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).

Use me today Dear Lord. Exactly as You know is best. Thank You for changing that earlier first uttered word of profanity into words of praise and thanksgiving. I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must with the “almosts” I encounter today. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(260 words ~ 5:54 a.m.)

security

 Sunday, August 23, 2026 (4:46 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You! You provided every security I needed yesterday.

Being willing to step outside of my comfort zone, I asked for help from other people. Thank You God for 

(5:10 a.m.)

… oh so very many things.

Another cup of coffee. Windows and doors to safely open allowing cooler, fresher air to enter in.

Hmm… cooler. Fresher. Air. Allowing. Entering in. Isn’t that what we are called to do with Your Holy Spirit?

easiest find

 Saturday, August 22, 2026 (4:20 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. This was the easiest find of song lyrics ever. Nobody But Jesus Thank You.

(4:47 a.m.)

How awesome is this? I enter the words “easiest find” into a search and I come to Deuteronomy 4:29. “But from there [a foreign land] you will again search for the LORD your God. And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him.”

Thank You Father. 

(5:07 a.m.)

I love when I recognize what You provide for us right when it’s happening. Tears at this very moment. A softened heart. Allowing simplicity to shine through.

Oh yes Dear Lord! How I long to keep things simple with You. Loving You (Mark 12:30), others and myself (v.31). With all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). Yes Father.

Continue Your refining (Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3) work in, with, by, through and for me. Making me into the “wonderfully complex” (Psalm 139:14) being You “knit together in my mother’s womb” (v. 13) all those years ago.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must that I spend this day (Psalm 118:24a) rejoicing and being glad in it (v. 24b). Use me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(225 words ~ 5:41 a.m.)

again

 Friday, August 21, 2026 (4:55 a.m.)

Here’s a first! I just used the word ghastly in describing the weather. Let’s discuss that together, shall we?

Father, thank You that I can bring something like this brand new to me weather experience to You. Yes. Thank You God.

♪I have decided 

To follow Jesus

No past♪

(7:12 a.m.)

Father, I got lost again. Searching for the above song. And the experience with my perception of ghastliness.

Lord, I confess to the privilege of not knowing ghastly firsthand. Unpleasantness, yes. Objectionable, also yes. Ghastly? Not so much!

Thank You God for the blessings You have bestowed on me. The opportunity to share phone conversations with loved ones regarding our love and concern for one another and other loved ones.

Father, it is YOU behind it all! You deserve the glory.

♪You are Worthy of It All 

You are worthy of it all

For from You are all things

And to You are all things

You deserve the glory♪

Thank You for reminding me

♪…of all the ways

You’re patient with me

What a faithful friend

Through every climb, every fall

You never leave♪

(Again)

Mm, yes Father. Again and again we get to come before You. Exactly as we are. And You never cease in Your ability and desire to wash us and change us (1 Corinthians 6:11).

I love You Father. I need, trust and want You. Use me this day just as You have planned (Jeremiah 29:11). Do all You must that I give You the glory You so rightly deserve.

Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(272 words ~ 7:32 a.m.)

(7:34 a.m.)

But wait! Here’s more!! The song I was searching for first!!!

The key words of the lyrics being “again and again the mess I was in” 

♪Goodbye Yesterday 

I’m livin’ in the light of a new day

I won't waste another minute in my old ways

Praise the Lord, I’ve been born again♪

Yes. Yes! Yes!! Praise You Lord!!! Thank You. Use me. Amen.

(345 words ~ 7:46 a.m.)

something different

 Thursday, August 20, 2026 (4:22 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You… 

I tried something different. Which turned into me singing ♪Something Better♪

Thank You that we are no longer bound and locked in our old ways of doing things.

Isaiah 43:18-19 - something brand new

♪I don’t know how, but You take all my pain

And You turn it into something better

Ooh, something better♪

Mm, see me smile at the mere thought of how You’ve been working in, with, by, through and for me. Lord God, how deeply and truly I thank You!

Thank You for the honor and the privilege of coming straight to You with our every thought. Every praise. Mm, yes Lord. More music. Another song.

♪Every Praise is to our God

Every word of worship, with one accord

Every praise, every praise

Is to our God♪

Yes! The very agogness with which I awoke speaks for itself. An eager, excitement of praising You for SLEEP! Real, honest to You, barely interrupted, refreshing, restorative sleep. Thank You God.

Thank You for the new to me description of the word agog’s origin. “Derived from the Old French term à gogo (in merry mood, or to one’s heart’s content).”

All these [over seventeen!] years after first linking the word AGOG with You, I’m delighted to be even more “excited and eager to tell” others of Your glory and Your grace. To my heart's content! Thank You Father. Thank You indeed.

(5:10 a.m.)

And here we are with yet another song!

♪I’ve seen shame, the kind that comes from mistakes

The kind that won't go away

When I turned around, they were right there to remind me

I’ve seen regret, the kind that messes with your head

The failure and the can’t forgets…♪

(I See Grace)

 

Oh, most dear and blessed God, thank You for Your great and glorious grace. It is what I depend on every single moment of all our days.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - Your grace is enough. Your power, my weakness

Ephesians 3:19b - I will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You

(5:28 a.m.)

We find so much Truth when we turn first to You. How I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue speaking Your love, forgiveness and grace to me. Every moment. Every day.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must that I will see as You would have me see. Hear as You would have me hear. Speak as You would have me speak. Love as You would have me love. You. Others. Myself. With all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30-31).

You alone are holy. And I want to live this day (Psalm 118:24a) as You would have me. Rejoicing and being glad (24b). Use me as You know is best.

♪Grace, grace, God’s grace

Grace that is greater than all my sin

I See Grace♪

Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(506 words ~ 5:40 a.m.)

God's Great Love

 Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (5:36 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! I woke up feeling groggy. Dragging. It took more than a minute for me to get to blessed, yet here I am. Thank You.

There is a lot in the world that is different than I would have it. Thank You for an experiment that worked well for me yesterday!

Having made a mistake last week while helping a young swimmer, I knew I wanted to apologize. You provided me the perfect means to do just that. Thank You!

Your reminder of the importance of listening more than talking (James 1:19) served us all well. We led with forgiveness and followed it up with fun. Again I thank You Father.

Thank You for helping me learn to ask for what I want. And to remind others in advance of my asking that “'No.' is a complete sentence.”

Just because I may or may not have certain preferences does not obligate another to my wishes. Thank You for softening those very sharp edges of my own ways of thinking.

Thank You that when all else fails, You don’t!

♪Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me♪

(One Thing Remains)

Lord, thank You for the Truth of which this song sings. Deuteronomy 31:8. Moses’ call to Joshua to not be afraid. 1John 4:18. Your perfect love casting out all fear. And Romans 8:38-39. NOTHING being able to separate us from Your great love.

It is in, with, by, through and for this great love that I ask (Matthew 7:7) to live this day. Listening more than speaking. Rejoicing and being glad (Psalm 118:24b). Being the wonderfully complex woman You are making me to be (Psalm 139:14).

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must that I represent You well. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(317 words ~ 6:20 a.m.)

beholding beauty

 Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (6:01 a.m.)

Thank You Father,

You keep teaching me to do hard things. I confess to rarely liking or appreciating them in the moment they’re taking place. But then…

I slow. I sit. Even stand and marvel.

Father, thank You for speaking deeply into my soul. Allowing me to behold beauty. Mm, yes! Thank You.

Thank You for drawing my attention to the budding roses. Looking past the spent ones. Continuing to walk slowly about the yard as the clouds colors changed from yellows to orange. Pinks were involved. And now white.

Mm, Father. I feel quite reflective this morning. My body quite possibly still reacting to potentially triggering foods eaten at lunch on Sunday.

How very odd, even frustrating, when things don’t function as we expect.

Here again, I thank You Lord.

Rather than fuss and moan, I truly am looking to You for the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

Reading further in this section, I am reminded of the importance of putting on all of Your armor (vs. 11-18). Not just some of it.

The Message reminds us to “take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials.” We’re to ‘put them to use so we’ll be able to stand up against everything the devil throws our way.’

Thank You for helping me remember “This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels” (12).

We are to “Be prepared.” I confess to dropping my guard in many areas. Thank You for drawing my attention back to the strength to which we have ready access in Your great power.

(7:41 a.m.)

Thank You that Your grace truly is enough [sufficient, all I need] (2 Corinthians 12:9a). Your power [strength] made perfect in weakness (9b).

Mm, yes. Thank You Father.

I want very much to behold Your beauty this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). Rejoicing and being glad in it (24b).

♪There Is Power

in the name of Jesus

There is power

Power in His name♪

Continue teaching me Your access code Dear Lord. I love, need, trust and want You as absolute God of my life. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(407 words ~ 7:53 a.m.)

a true spirit of wonder

 Monday, August 17, 2026 (5:16 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for clear thinking. And fun ideas.

Thank You for the opportunity to explore my thoughts.

(5:47 a.m.)

Yes, Father! Thank You for a true spirit of wonder!

Because of a huge tendency to criticize myself, I have been known to push wonderment aside in the search of certainty. Thank You for continuing to teach me the importance of wondering. With You.

(6:13 a.m.)

Thank You for the rhythm You are establishing in me.

(6:59 a.m.)

Yes Dad. A rhythm that encourages me to “slow, slow, quick, quick” on occasion. And to “linger longer” on others.

Thank You for the rhythm that allows me to sense the singing of another song. And to parse out the lyrics as they reveal themselves.

♪light… darkness

breath… lungs

pour out our praise

Great Are You Lord♪

Mm, yes! It IS “Your breath in our lungs” (Genesis 2:7). And we DO “pour out our praise to You only.” Thank You that we do.

Father, I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue growing my sense of wonder. Using it to truly glorify and enJOY You forever.

I love You. I need and want to live exactly as You have planned for me (Jeremiah 29:11). Trusting You. And not being afraid. Do all You must for my good and Your glory (Romans 8:28). 

In, with, by, through and for a true Spirit of awe and wonder. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(254 words ~ 7:15 a.m.)