♫I'm a BELIEVER♫

Sunday, April 10, 2011 (7:56 a.m.)

Beloved Lord,

It took quite awhile for me to recognize the song I woke up thinking about this morning. Once I remembered what it was, I doubted that You’d have me singing to You a song from, of all groups, The Monkees. But sure enough, after all these hours, I’m still singing ♫I thought love was only real in fairytales Meant for someone else but not for me Love was out to get me That’s the way it seemed Disappointment haunted all my dreams…

♫Then I saw Your face, now I’m a Believer There’s not a trace of doubt in my mind I’m in love! I’m a Believer! I couldn’t leave You if I tried♫

Thank You Lord that I get to sing this song with my whole heart. There WAS a time when ♫I thought love was more or less a givin’ thing Seemed the more I gave the less I got… Then I saw YOUR face…♫

Dearest Lord, how very grateful I am to be able to sing this directly to You. And even in this You still have surprises for me! I thought I was here with You this morning to learn more about Paul’s conversion. One turn of the page and it’s of Stephen’s faith in You I am reading.

Here was “a man unusually full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) who was known for his courage, boldness and faith. “Stephen, the man so full of faith and the Holy Spirit’s power, did spectacular miracles among the people” (v.8). And I am again amazed!

Stephen didn’t waste time in the unfairness of his treatment by those bent on murdering him. No. Instead, he shared his faith in You with them. Amazing Lord. Absolutely amazing! He spoke Your truth. Told Your story. Confronted the religious leaders about their denial. When they reacted in anger and set out to kill him, he didn’t want revenge or carry a grudge. No Lord. He kept his focus on You. Forgiving the people who were killing him. Amazing!

As he looked steadily into heaven (chapter 7, verse 55) he “saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand.” And he told them. But rather than believe him, “they mobbed him” (57) refused to listen “and dragged him out of the city to stone him” (58).

“And as the murderous stones came hurtling at him” (59) he didn’t cringe, didn’t fight or whine. “Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,’ And he fell to his knees, shouting, ‘Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!’ and with that, he died” (60).

Blessed Lord, when I sing of being a Believer, THIS is the kind of example I want to set! ♫Yes I saw Your face, now I’m a Believer Not a trace of doubt in my mind Said I’m a Believer, yeah, yeah, yeah…♫

Thank You Lord for such a privilege as this. Keep working in me to make me worthy of wearing the title. It is ONLY through Your healing power in our life that we can boldly carry Your message to others without apology, fear or shame. Make it so in me Dearest Lord! I love You. Amen.

(539 words ~ 9:23 a.m.)

unfolding

Friday, April 8, 2011 (6:31 a.m.)

Sweet Jesus,

Thank You! Thank You that I didn’t miss the unveiling of this multi-cloud layered morning. I gasped and called Your name when I saw it. Gorgeous, Lord! Absolutely gorgeous!

Saturday, April 9, 2011 (7:52 a.m.)

It’s taken me more than a day Dear Lord, but here is the word I was looking for: “unfolding”! I watched Your morning unfold before me yesterday. It was truly gorgeous Lord and I considered You in it all day long.

Thank You Lord for the beauty and the ease with which circumstances unfolded yesterday. Changes in weather and plans all came together equaling such an enjoyable evening.

Lord, how I thank You for gentle little surprises [like gasp provoking sunrises J] that help remind me to look over to You. Thank You Lord that even in the midst of a misunderstanding, You were there reminding me not to take anything personally. It was Your teaching that helped me offer up mercy and grace instead of frustration and bitterness. Thank You Lord. I like watching Your ways unfold before and within me.

As I turn in Your Word this morning, I have two choices concerning the word “unfolding”. Psalm 119 [that’s one really long chapter Lord! J] verses 129-131 help me remember that it is Your Word that impacts our lives. “Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple [that would DEFINITELY be me! J]. I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commands.”

Lord, as true as this section is, I confess to longing far better than obeying. Thank You that You are forgiving, patient and kind in Your dealings with us. Thank You also that Paul wrote of this very thing in what is now known as his second letter to the people of Corinth. He experienced first hand what it was to changed by You from the inside out.

Eugene Peterson used these words to described Paul’s thoughts of 2Corinthians 4:16-18 (The Message). “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though if often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”

Lord God, how I thank You for helping me remember Your unfolding perspective. I absolutely don’t see things from Your vantage point. Thank You for reminding me to trust in You unfailing mercy and grace. I love You so much Dearest Lord. Help me use this day to Your glory. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(483 words ~ 10:00 a.m.)

unchanging

Thursday, April 7, 2011 (7:46 a.m.)

Blessed Lord,

Good morning. I love You. How are You today? Unchanging.

(10:16 a.m.)

Yes. Unchanging it is! All these hours later this morning and I am still in Your Word, reading the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the people of Ephesus. I came here because of verse five and the mention of Your “unchanging plan” to adopt us into Your family.

Lord God, the more I read the more excited I become about Your unimaginable love for each of us. I’ve read several different versions of this chapter so far this morning and I still sit here amazed as I try to take in the truth of verse four. “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.”

I can’t even begin to imagine what this really means to my life Lord. I know I give it a lot of lip service. But to sit here and truly consider having been loved and CHOSEN by You before You even “laid down earth’s foundations” (The Message) is amazing!

The more time I spend with You and Your Word, the more AGOG (excited and eager to tell) I become. Lord, You are amazing. Incredible. Marvelous. “Wonderful. Counselor. The Mighty God. The Everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) Unchanging. And I love You.

Thank You Lord for choosing me to be Your own. Keep working in me to become all that You would have me be. Loving. Joyful. Peaceful. Patient. Kind. Good. Faithful. Gentle. And self-controlled. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Yes Lord. In Your own unchanging way, change me to be more like You. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(291 words ~ 11:11 a.m.)

value

Wednesday, April 6, 2011 (7:58 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

I love You. I thank You. I value You. I look to You for strength. I ask You to speak to me this morning regarding that which You would most like me to consider.

Most Dear and Awesome God, I turn to Your Word and I become excited. I read what others have written ages ago and feel as if it is meant specifically for me. Lord, how I thank You for loving each of us so incredibly much.

I confess to You the struggle I too often have with finding things of value in myself. I look to You and see endless supplies of great value. Reading Paul’s words this morning I am again challenged to reaccess my thinking. In his letter to the Church of Rome he told the people, “As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimation of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3).

Oh Your goodness Lord! Your great and glorious goodness! I love the way You connect the dots and draw me into an entirely different way of thinking. In his second letter to the people of Corinth, Paul told them (2Corinthins 3:5) “It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.”

I look to You for all power and strength. I read Your Word and am filled with encouragement, strength and hope. There are words of such poetry, power and God-inspired confidence. Lord, it is faith in You that provides value to our lives. Thank You for the opportunity and ability to love You. Teach me to use Your love well. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(301 words ~ 9:08 a.m.)

to know

Tuesday, April 5, 2011 (8:15 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You that I get to know You. Thank You that “Your steadfast love, O Lord, is as great as all the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your justice is as solid as God’s mountains. Your decisions are as full of wisdom as the oceans are with water. You are concerned for men and animals alike. How precious is Your constant love, O God! All humanity takes refuge in the shadow of Your wings. You feed them with blessings from Your own table and let them drink from Your rivers of delight” (Psalms 36:5-8).

These things I know to be true Dearest Lord. These are the very basis of my foundation in You. These truths are what allow me to truly “Be still and know” that You are God (Psalm 46:10). To “Search for Him and for His strength and keep on searching!” (Psalm 105:4)

You, Dearest Lord. You invited me to know You. To love You. To worship and adore You. To pray to You. “For You are the Fountain of life; our light is from Your light. Pour out Your unfailing love on those who know You! Never stop giving Your blessings to those who long to do Your will” (Psalm 36:9-10).

Dearest Blessed Lord, thank You for Who You are and all You do. Guide and direct me in getting to know You better. Make me obedient to Your will and to Your Way. I truly long to know and follow You more. I love You. I appreciate You and I seek to do Your will. Keep me with You Lord. Ever seeking. Ever searching. Ever longing to know You. Thank You Lord. I love You. Amen.

(289 words ~ 8:48 a.m.)

Blessings

Sunday, April 3, 2011 (8:50 a.m.)

Lord ~

I love You.

Sierra Lakes Parking Lot (10:55 a.m.)

I appreciate and long to glorify You. You have given me so very much through the years. I confess to taking far too much of it for granted. I don’t fully recognize and acknowledge many of the blessings You bestow upon me as exactly that. Blessings! Large. Small. Obvious. Obscure. Remarkable. Gracious. Merciful. Blessings everywhere I turn.

Lord, today I’m asking that You would not only make me aware of the blessings You so exhaustively provide, but grateful for them as well. There is no excuse for whining on my part. You love me. What more can one possibly need in life? You forgive me so that I can in turn forgive others. Help me do a better job at that.

I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(145 words)

GRATEFUL!

Saturday, April 2, 2011 (8:16 a.m.)

Absolutely Amazing God,

WOW! You are AWESOME! Thank You. Thank You for deep solid sleep, filled with dreams and details that right now mean nothing to me. Oh, but I slept. How soundly I slept!

Lord I’ve been talking to and looking for You this morning since before five. I was convinced I knew which direction my prayer was going to head. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Rather discouraged. I thought for sure that studying the word “Believe” would help set me straight.

Thank You that instead You prompted me to come sit at the window and watch the day unfold before me so beautifully. It was so beautiful in fact, I even thought that [‘beautiful’ J] might be the theme for the day.

Ah, but getting to go back to sleep. Deeply. Soundly. Restoratively. All that rest enhanced my gratitude and here I find myself in Colossians 3:16. Under the bold title “Christ The Pattern for a Fulfilling Life” Ah yes Lord! Speak to me clearly about Your pattern for fulfilling my life.

Last year, right about this time You encouraged me to live in You (Colossians 2:6) “rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness” (v.7).

Oh most Dear and Blessed Lord, how I confess to turning to the world for comfort and support over You. I feel lost so I seek desperately for what it is I think is supposed to keep me safe. I watch what all is going on in the world and I KNOW that You are our only hope, yet still I fall away in disillusionment.

Lord, You are good. You are holy. You ‘know the plans You have for us. They are pans for good and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11). While I don’t ever forget or actually doubt this truth-filled promise of Yours, I do tend to stand on it more firmly at certain times more than others.

Thank You Lord that Your Word is NOT circumstantial! It is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 12:8) like You! Nothing can be added to or taken from (Ecclesiastes 3:14).

Lord, every thought I have this morning brings me to another verse to look up. You are so very good Dear Lord and I am so thankful to be able to spend this time with You, fully AGOG [eager and excited to tell J] and grateful.

Considering the amount of time I think I have spent just sitting around indulging myself and feeling guilty about it Lord I ask You to redeem it and me. I keep trying to understand things that are not mine to figure out. I desperately want to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

The Preacher reminded me in Ecclesiastes 3:12 “there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good while they live.” I ask You Lord, oh so humbly and gratefully to empower me to live this day with the chief purpose being ‘to glorify You and enjoy You forever’. I love You so very much Lord. Help me LOOK like I do! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(573 words ~ 9:26 a.m.)