truth in love

Sunday, December 5, 2010 (4:23 a.m.)

Amazing God of Glory,

Thank You! Thank You for unrest and dissent and disagreements in which we grow. Lord, thank You for truth that can be spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15). Thank You for continuing to work in us. Thank You for Your Word that indeed speaks truth to us, in love!

Lord God, how I come before You eager to tell others of Your love. Living with You and in You and through You is awkward Lord. It’s freeing (John 8:32) while at the very same time so completely different than the yelling, bickering or complete silence with which I grew accustomed at a very early age. With old habits dying hard Lord, I find anger my first weapon of defense when differences of opinions come along. Anger either expressed by my own sullen silence, or by unkind words and attitudes.

Thank You Lord that Your way is SO much better! Truth. Spoken in love. Ah, Lord. What an amazing and glorious concept! Thank You for not only thinking of it, but for repeatedly sharing it with us as well.

Lord, I come here with You ready and willing to learn more of what You would have us know. As my heart continues to change in the light of Your Word I ask You to temper and balance me. I see myself changing for the good. Your good. But with change often comes opposition. Teach me Lord to be prepared, fully dressed in Your armor (Ephesians 6:10-17) and the strength that comes from Your mighty power to counter every single attack and trick from satan.

I was excited when I woke up singing this morning. I was eager to come out here with You. Finding the words, I quickly knew there would need to be a twist to this particular carol du jour. Lord I look right straight to You asking Your truth to be evident in and through it. Taking out what commerce has created for this particular time of year I ask that we would truly celebrate YOU at the very heart of all our preparation. ♫For we need a little Christmas Right this very minute, Candles in the window Carols at the spinet, Yes we need a little Christmas…♫ but NOT like we’re used to Lord! This year be in every single decoration we set out. As we ♫haul out the holly♫ and put up the tree again, this year Lord let our hearts [and our souls and our minds and our strength] make it all about You!

♫For we need a little music, Need a little laughter, Need a little singing, Ringing through the rafter, And a little snappy Happy ever after, Need a little Christmas now♫ Oh but NOT for the sake of ritual Lord! It’s NOT about the trimmings and the trappings Lord. It’s about You. All about You!

Help me speak Your truth in love this day Dearest Lord ♫For I’ve grown a little leaner [in my spirit] Grown a little colder, Grown a little sadder, Grown a little older And I need a little angel Sitting on my shoulder, Need a little Christmas now♫ Mm. Yes Lord. Christmas as YOU designed it! Speak Your truth in and through us this day dearest Lord. I love You. Amen.

(543 words ~ 6:07 a.m.)

"Wait for it..."

Saturday, December 4, 2010 (6:19 a.m.)

Mm, Awesome God,

Thank You Lord. Thank You that this morning I truly had to “wait for it”. And even when I thought there was nothing left to watch for “Bam!” there was more color. Far more intense expansive color!

Oh Your goodness Lord. Here I was, sure that the beauty of the rising sun was over only to find that it had barely just begun. Hmm, Lord. How very often do I do that? Jump to conclusions based on what I see?

Lord, how I thank You for time to sit, reading Your Word, contemplating things larger than myself. I look around me. I catch a phrase and search it out. I read Habakkuk 2:3 and Romans 8:25. And I sing. ♫Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In light of His glory and grace…♫

Oh most dear and holy God, just looking around me I am grateful at how You have never left me nor forsaken me (Deuteronomy 31:6). I have gotten to wait and see You work. I get to sit and read and wait and watch and I am grateful Lord. Really, truly, deeply grateful.

Thank You for the love You have for Your children. A love so incredible that You sent Your only Son to save us (John 3:16). Thank You Lord that just as we can only catch fleeting glimpses as the color of the sky is here one moment and gone the next, it’s Your Holy Word and loving promises that stand the test of time. If I am truly going to wait for something Lord it HAS to be Your Truth.

Habakkuk waited for You to answer his honest concerns of You. And answer him You did. 2:2-3, “Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Lord, thank You that although things that happen in our lives are often not what they appear, You are always good. You cannot change. You are well worthy waiting for!

♫My hope is built on nothing less Thank Jesus’ blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand♫

Thank You that I have this honor and this privilege of waiting for You. I love You Lord. Amen.

(436 words ~ 7:51 a.m.)

"Oh!"

Friday, December 3, 2010 (5:50 a.m.)

Absolutely Awesome God,

“Oh!” What a perfect first utterance for the day. Such an automatic response escaping my mouth so naturally upon seeing the sheer beauty of this early morning hour!

“Oh!” Lord. It’s breathtaking! When I first started walking down the hallway I wasn’t even sure it was morning yet. The darkness caused me to doubt the time I had just read on the clock. Hmm. How often does darkness cause us to doubt?

Oh, but to see the sky Lord! Still dark with just swishes of light breaking through the clouds that are becoming more visible. An occasional glimpse of the thinnest Cheshire Cat moon. Oh and let us not forget to mention the bright morning star!

Lord, it’s the first morning I’ve gone outside in I don’t remember how long. Plus, when is the last time I’ve pulled up a chair to the kitchen window just to sit and watch for over half an hour?

Oh! Lord! Such beauty. Such awe. Such genuine appreciation! Thank You Lord. Thank You for the blessings that allow us to enjoy moments such as this.

Turning to the book of Hosea this morning I thought I had found the most perfect verse to express all the feelings my initial “Oh!” represented. “Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him, and He will respond to us as surely as the coming of dawn or the rain of early spring” (6:3). But then I remembered. Isn’t this the book about the guy who was married to the prostitute?

Sure enough! The very next verse (4) reminded me all too well that things aren’t always as they seem. “People of Israel and Judah, what can I do with you? Your love for me disappears more quickly than mist or dew at sunrise.”

Oh but then in verse six You bring it all back home again Lord. “I don’t want your sacrifices – I want your love; I don’t want your offerings – I want you to know me.” And how perfectly You tie that right back to the song I immediately started singing with the very first utterance of the day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GahhhnOu4w

Oh most dear and blessed Lord, how I do indeed love You! Thank You for this day. Thank You for this opportunity to come be with You. Thank You for Your love. Your plan. Your goodness. Your grace. Help me use them well. I love You. Amen.

(419 words ~ 8:23 a.m.)

take care

Thursday, December 2, 2010 (6:23 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You Lord for a ‘take care of myself’ (instead of ‘sick’) day yesterday. Thank You for a husband who understands and encourages me in taking good care of myself. In fact Lord, thank You that he is so inclined to help take good care of me. Oh, but so much bigger than all of this is the way that YOU take care of me Lord!

Mm. And this very thought leads me to Psalm 145:9 in the Contemporary English Version of Your Word. “You are good to everyone, and You take care of all Your creation.” What a wonderful, glorious truth!

Reading the entire chapter I am so grateful to be included as one You love. Blessed, Beloved Lord, thank You for the opportunity to praise and worship You. Verse four says, “Each generation will announce to the next Your wonderful and powerful deeds.” At this particular time of the year when things can get especially chaotic and far less focused on You, Lord thank You for this opportunity to take much concentrated time to sit and truly be with You. Let us truly live out the calling of this particular psalm, to offer pure praise to You for Your many wonderful attributes and qualities.

Mm, Lord. Yes Lord. Let us take care to love, honor and worship You as You so created us. Special, tender care to point to You our God and King (v.1) our wonderful Lord who is deserving of all our praise (3). Thinking about Your marvelous glory and mighty miracles (5). Celebrating and singing about Your matchless mercy and power to save (6). Thank You Lord that You are merciful, kind, patient and always loving (8).

Thank You that You are indeed “good to everyone, and You take care of all Your creation” (9). Mm. Lord. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(316 words ~ 7:55 a.m.)

♫Be glorified...♫

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 (6:27 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

How I ask this morning that You would come and be glorified in my life. What a glorious thought to wake up to. Thank You Lord.

I tried everything I could in my own power yesterday to continue holding another cold at bay. Soup, plenty of liquids, extra vitamin C… Rather than looking at myself as a wuss, a failure, or a great big baby Lord, I am coming straight to You asking that You would indeed ♫be glorified♫ in this cold,

For the first time in quite a few weeks the husband and I have again turned our attentions to making healthier choices concerning food and exercise. I don’t want this little blip in the radar of our whole-hearted attempts to derail us with a ‘too little too late’ attitude. No Lord, I come before You longing to see You ♫be glorified♫ in all aspects of our beings. Sore throat, sniffles and all.

Most Dear and Holy God, this is a relatively new approach Lord. Usually I come before You in such a situation whining about the inconvenience. Today, instead, it’s a gift of grand proportions to be able to ask instead that You ♫be glorified♫. Thank You Lord.

Reading the various verses that mention You being glorified encourage my heart. I even smiled in John 11:4 where You said of Lazarus, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

It was in Isaiah (49:3) that I started singing another song as well. ♫Light of the world You stepped down into darkness Opened my eyes let me see Beauty that makes this heart adore You Hope of a life spent with You So here I am to worship Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that You’re my God Your altogether lovely Altogether worthy Altogether wonderful to me♫ Lord how I thank You for another opportunity to sing of Your glory.

As I leave here to begin whatever You have for me this day how I ever so humbly ask that You would indeed ♫be glorified♫ in it. I love You so very much Dearest Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(376 words ~ 7:41 a.m.)

♫Sing Hallelujah♫

Monday, November 29, 2010 (6:10 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

How I thank You! I’ve been making mistakes lately. Some are bigger than others. But You know what’s really cool? Just as I was waking up and beginning to think about them, I immediately started singing ♫Sing Hallelujah to the Lord♫ instead. Each time my mind begins to replay the concerns of wishing things had been done differently for better results, another verse comes to mind. ♫Sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah, sing hallelujah to the Lord♫ And then I smile!

Thank You Lord. Thank You that even now as I was going to focus on searching for ‘mistakes’ in Your Word, I found myself looking up ‘sing hallelujah’ instead. And this smile of peace and contentment comes directly from the truth of Psalm 33. “Let all the joys of the godly well up in praise to the Lord, for it is right to praise Him” (v.1).

Looking to learn more about the word hallelujah I see that it is a transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “Praise God”. Again I thank You Lord that instead of waking up to think of the mistakes I’ve been making, I was immediately directed to praise You instead.

♫Sing Hallelujah to the Lord…♫ Mm. Sing hallelujah indeed! Reading a commentary note regarding this psalm You are described as 'powerful and worthy of our trust. You spoke the universe into existence and are able to re-create each of us. You are filled with tender love for all of us. You can remove the defects that bring destruction. And all You ask is that we turn our life over to You so You can work these changes in us.'

Excuse me Lord as I go now and continue singing hallelujah to You. I love You so much. Thank You. Amen.

(296 words ~ 7:28 a.m.)

Christ as Head

Sunday, November 28, 2010 (6:37 a.m.)

Most Blessed Lord God,

How I thank You Lord. Thank You for order and structure and accomplished tasks. Thank You for experience and examples. Thank You for teamwork. Especially with You as our leader. Mm. Lord. You as the Head of our household! How perfect. How wonderful. FINALLY! The truth of Ephesians is noticeably playing out here in our home.

Wow God. I can’t even think of all there is I want to thank You for. Let me instead read and then quote Paul’s words to his dear Christian friends at Ephesus. “Blessings and peace be yours” (Chapter 1:2) “God chose us to be His very own-” (v.4) “-we who stand before Him covered with His love.”

Oh most holy God, there’s far too much truth and love here for me to even try to condense it. Every single verse speaks to Your “wonderful kindness to us” (v.6). It’s all here Lord. The way You would have us live. The blessings that are to be found when we turn from the death and destruction of our old life without You to that which You have always planned for us. New life through Jesus Christ.

Oh most dear and blessed Lord, how I thank You for sparking us to life! Turning these pages I keep nodding and uttering, “Yes! Thank You. Praise You.” Paul wrote of the greatness of Your love. “When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God – some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth – that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God Himself” (3:17-19).

And see? Every single time I think ‘Yes, this is what I want to say to You’ there truly is more! Verse 20, “Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of – infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.” You amaze me Lord.

Each time I actually find myself walking in the power of Your loving grace I am amazed. I look around and take note. I want to be ever aware of becoming “equipped to do better work” for You (4:12). “Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times – speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly – and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of His body, the Church. Under His direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (vs. 14-16).

How could I possibly ask for any more than that? Lord Jesus, be the head of this family. This household. This community. This nation. This universe. Christ as Head and we Your body. Mm. Life as it was meant to be. Thank You Lord for working in us in such an incredibly powerful way. Please dearest Lord, keep us mindful and obedient to Your will and to Your way this day, as well as all those that remain. We love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(704 words ~ 8:00 a.m.)