Lord, Lord

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 (5:41 a.m.)

Lord, Lord,

Oh how I thank You Lord! Thank You for peace. Thank You for love. Thank You for joy. Thank You that You came so that we would have these, and so much more.

Thank You Lord that You call to us to get to know You. You want us to love You and trust You and build our very lives on You. It’s not outward appearances You want. You want all of our hearts and souls and minds and strength (Mark 12:30). Thank You Lord that You don’t expect us to just figure this all out on our own.

No. You came in person to teach us. You came to guide us. Walk with us. Be our Friend. That we would get to know You. And trust You. Depend upon You. Love You.

Oh most dear and holy Lord, as I experience the roots of this household growing down more and more deeply in You, again I turn to Colossians 2:7. Lord, how I ask that as these roots continue growing into You that we will indeed ‘draw up nourishment from You. See that we go on growing in You, and become strong and vigorous in the truth we were taught. Let our lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all You have done.’

Lord, Lord. Just in saying those words a pop song of the past came immediately to mind. Seemingly out of nowhere as I was considering You as Lord I heard in my head ♫Woman, do you love Me? Woman, if you need Me then Believe Me I need you To be My woman♫ Oh yes Lord. Lord that IS the desire of my heart. To be Your woman!

♫Woman, don’t forsake Me Woman, if you take Me then Believe Me I’ll take you To be My woman♫ Thank You Lord. I love You so very much. Thank You. Amen.

317 words ~ 6:44 a.m.)

trust

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 (5:25 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Good morning. I love You. I had bad/scary dreams and I can’t shake them. I’ve tried going outside to enjoy the bright stars and cool air. Thinking on the things that are lovely…

Hmm. Let’s go back to that “I can’t”. Let me take that thought back to bed with me and see what happens Lord. Surrender. To You. Yes to You in whom I can always trust. Mm. Yes. I will return! I love You Lord. Thank You.

(2:40 p.m.)

Holy Lord,

I think I might be more confused now than I was earlier [but at least I’m fully awake J] Lord, I DID get to go back to sleep for which I am grateful. More disturbing dreams that I did not understand equate a little to the many things I’ve not understood in my waking hours. And for one of the first times I can ever remember, that’s okay with me!

Lord, I’m the one that always wants to know what happened. And why! [How was that particular bubble light okay one day yet broken and completely empty the next?]

Here’s where I come back to thanking You Lord. Honestly, truly I thank You that I don’t have to understand things to be able to trust You. As I sit here basking in the comfort of Your presence I love the fact that Your Word is true. Everywhere I turn in it are promises of Your peace. Peace which I am experiencing daily in my life.

Lord, how I thank You for this truth. Your truth. Right here, right now I am content. Safe. At peace. In You. Why? Because of You! Isaiah 26:3-4 tells us, “The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. So always trust the Lord because He is forever our mighty Rock.”

Oh most dear and precious Lord, thank You that You are truly trustworthy and I get to fully trust in You. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(338 words ~ 4:51 p.m.)

fellowship

Monday, December 6, 2010 (6:39 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

Thank You for amazing beauty. Thank You for true fellowship with friends and loved ones. Thank You Lord that as I even consider the word ‘fellowship’ I immediately relate it to Paul’s closing benediction to Your followers in Corinth. “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2Corinthians 13:14).

Mm, most loving Lord, how I thank You for the opportunity to again explore this blessing. My mind seems to go into overload in just trying to wrap myself in this truth. Your Son’s grace, Your love and genuine camaraderie (mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together) with Your Holy Spirit. It’s the most perfect, divine trifecta imaginable. Thank You Lord!

As I pour over Your Word this morning, with a multitude of side trips – like the few walks outside to watch the majesty of Your glorious morning parfait unfold – I am thankful. Grateful. Awed. At peace.

Lord God, how I thank You for drawing me to this particular section of Your Word this morning. In wanting to better understand Paul’s benediction to his Corinthian friends, I turned to The Learning Bible. At the top of the page I find him encouraging them (v.5) to take a close look at themselves to see if they are really being true to their faith in Christ. “Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all?”

Hmm Lord. Leave it to You not to let us get too comfortable with ourselves. Thank You for the push to examine ourselves in Your light. Thank You for this call to admit our failures to You, all the while trusting that You will help rebuild relationships that will glorify and honor You.

Lord, how I love You and thank You. Now, ‘may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.’ Indeed. Amen.

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

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.)