Wow!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011 (7:16 a.m.)

Wow God!

When was the last time I started off our time together with a “Wow”? Thank You Lord. Right now I ask that You would make me acutely aware of every single wow moment of this day.

It started very simply with the full-blown singing of ♫Our God Reigns♫ followed by my looking up the lyrics. Seeing two books of scripture listed under the title, I found my attention taken from the song directly into Your Word.

Father, I am amazed. Wowed, if You will. Lord, how easy it is for me to freely belt out the chorus here. Its truth filling my soul. But then I looked deeper into the lyrics. These are not words taken from the heart and mind of a songwriter. No. They are found right here in Your Word. Wow God. Wow!

Isaiah (52:7; 53) foretold Your coming. Your purpose. Your Passion. This always amazes me. Such detail as to what was to come. It’s one thing to have Dr. Luke (24:5-6, 39) give the historical account after the fact, but Isaiah speaking of it beforehand? Amazing!

♫How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him Who bring good news, good news Announcing peace, Proclaiming news of happiness. Our God reigns, Our God reigns…♫

Wow Lord! Straight from Your Word into our hearts and our souls. Wow God! Let us use Your Truth well. Exactly as You would have us. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(250 words ~ 9:33 a.m. 10/12/11)

Light

Monday, October 10, 2011 (7:07 a.m.)

Anaheim, CA

Most Blessed Father God,

Lord how I thank You. Thank You for beauty and light and change. Thank You for choices Lord. And options. And songs. Thank You Lord that You allow us to fear, or to have faith. Thank You that You provide. You ARE Light in our darkness.

Yes Lord, this morning I thank You for Your faithful Light. According to Moses, it was the very first thing You called into this world. “And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and then there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness He called ‘night’. And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5) What a gift Lord!

Over one and a half columns in the concordance reference Bible verses containing light. Samuel (2 Samuel 22:29) called You his lamp, “the Lord turns my darkness into light.” Mm, yes Lord. You do that!

Ezra (9:8) told how “for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in His sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.” Thank You Lord!

With the myriad of other verse to choose from, I am drawn instead to the commentary to a section from Ezra (9:6-15) containing the above quoted verse. “Ezra’s prayer of confession followed his mourning. He freely admitted the sins of the people and pleaded with God for their restoration. He realized that until they removed this major obstacle to their spiritual success, they would never achieve the victory that God intended for them.” Your Light, Lord, helps us see these things to which we would otherwise remain blind.

“Often we hold on to some area of our life that prevents us from experiencing everything that God has for us.” Yes Lord. Too often I hold, rather than release. Shine Your Light on these areas for me Dearest Lord.

You are wonderful and I need Your glorious Light to guide and direct every single step I take today and always. I love You so very much Dearest Lord. Thank You for Your love and Your Light. Amen.

(391 words ~ 10:06 a.m. 10/12/11)

Really Lord?

Saturday, October 8, 2011 (6:51 a.m.)

Really Lord?

I’ve been trying to avoid and/or change this song for over an hour. It won’t go away. It’s not one of the words of which I have ever been fond. “Groovy” as in ♫Wouldn’t You agree Jesus You and me got a groovy kind of love♫ Really Lord? Kind of cheesy, don’t You think?

Okay. Cheesy or not, here I come. I’m here willing to let You teach me what You’d have me learn this day. Let’s start with cheesy: Tacky, cheap, tawdry; trite; corny, cornball; cheap, unpleasant, blatantly inauthentic. Definitely not what I EVER want to be with You!

Right then. Off we go. [Icky. Squirmy. Smarmy. L] Ahem – blah – ‘groovy’ – skin crawl. I am REALLY having a negative reaction to this word Lord! It takes me right back to high school and all those times I didn’t fit in because I couldn’t/wouldn’t use the lingo! Thank You Lord that You are so much bigger than my worse memory!

One thing is for sure. I could spend the whole trying to avoid this and it still isn’t going away. So here we are. You and me. And like the word or not ♫When I’m feeling blue, all I have to do Is take a look at You, then I’m not so blue When You’re close to me, I can feel Your heart beat [kind of J] I can hear You breathing [I wish I could!] near my ear Wouldn’t You agree, Jesus You and me got a groovy kind of love♫

It’s a stretch. A lot of the words lean differently than I’m used to with You. And right there I know what it is and now I’m getting eager and excited to tell [agog J] I never visualize You as humanly present! Years ago? Yes. Currently? Absolutely not. There is always just the essence of You.

And with that thought comes a whole different song and mindset. Almost two years ago to the date, I wrote another prayer with the very same words of this title, “Really Lord?” I was hesitant over the word ‘flavor’. As I pursued it, it took me to another song ♫Sabor A Mi♫ - loosely translated as ‘The Taste of Me’. I struggled with You that day as well Lord.

Thank You for reminding me. That day I was led to Mark 9:50. A commentary for verse 43-50 speaks of the importance of getting rid of anything in our lives that might draw us away from You. It mentions addictions and emotional baggage that we hold onto instead of You. It goes on with the need to “identify our weakness by making a fearless moral inventory of our life.” And instructs of the need to take action by cutting off any offensive parts of ourselves so we can begin the process of healing. This rather long commentary also speaks of the importance of having a support group to help us through such drastic measures. That brings me back to thinking of You in human form.

So what did I do with that thought? Me, being me, GoodSearch.com d “Jesus with skin on”. And now I HAVE to ♫agree, Jesus You and me got a groovy kind of love We got a groovy kind of love We got a groovy kind of love♫

I read websites that told of people being You with skin on in their volunteer missions and ministries. Reading more, I came across Bob Kellemen’s RPM ministries and his having awoken “this morning with a deep longing to love well.” He referenced Matthew 22:35-40 as his basis for his premise.

Summing it all up rather succinctly, I have to say “Really Lord!” ♫We got a groovy kind of love♫ Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(635 words ~ 8:27 a.m.)

THINK!

Friday, October 7, 2011 (7:02 a.m.)

Loving Lord,

Thank You. Thank You that the very first thought [song J] I had this morning was ♫Think, think, think on these things. Think on the things that are lovely. Think, think, think, think on these things, Think on the things that are good♫

(8:59 a.m.)

Lord! It is SO easy for me to think negatively! This could go wrong. That person might misunderstand me. What if…

And the next thing I know, I wake up singing a simplistic song from our children’s childhoods and I am reminded, ♫When I am starting to think about things that are yucky and gloomy and dreary, I stop myself short and start over again To think about things that are cheery♫

Truly Lord, I wish it were that easy! Your Word reminds us repeatedly of all You are. All You’ve done. How much You have overcome. And still I sit. Paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes. Not being good enough.

Thank You Lord that You DID come to save this world and not condemn it (John 3:17). Thank You that You have provided our every need.

In reading ‘A Fruitful Life’ thought for the day “Peace is not the calm before the storm, but the calm during the storm” I was reminded of another of Your Truths. John 16:32-33, “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Ah, yes! YOU are our calm during the storm! Thank You Lord. We can endure trials and sorrows with Your help. It is with You that we find the peace and courage to make changes in our lives. Thank You Lord! You have the power we need to walk the path You would have us go. You have already overcome all the obstacles that stand in our way.

Lord God, how readily I forget that. Through You we really can focus on solutions instead of problems.

(11:21 a.m.)

And once again, You fascinate me Lord! Right in the midst of typing the sentence above, I thought of a Patch Adam’s quote I have referenced in The Life Recovery Bible. Not thinking I had a snowball’s chance of finding it any other way, I began single page turning in the book of Acts. Ending up empty-handed in Revelation, I went backwards through John. As time was drawing close to my leaving for a walk, I found myself wondering, “Why didn’t you just pray and ask God to show it to you?”

My very sad answer to that simple question was, “Because I don’t think He will.” Followed immediately by my prayer that You would prove me wrong. Still not quite believing that You would indeed give me what I asked, I shot up the “Please help me find the reference Lord.” Three random thumbs through the Old Testament (and not a full minute) later, I saw the arrow I had drawn to point me to the comment for Isaiah 26:3. Lord God, thank You!

Whether I am to be reading Psalm 104 and thinking of how all of nature displays Your glory, or Philippians 4:8 and the ‘true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy’ things You can help us concentrate our attention on I am grateful for Your call to me this morning to THINK!

A commentary for the Philippians verse reads, “True happiness can be found in any situation of life when we recognize that God is at work. Because Christ is with us and His return is certain, we can act calmly in the face of painful and difficult situations. Peace comes when we focus on those things that provide lasting value to our life.” Thank You Lord.

Again I turn to Isaiah (26:3) and read, “He [that would be YOU! J] will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord!” Thank You Lord! ♫I capture my thoughts before they capture me And drag me to depths of depression. I think about things that are lovely and true, Thought after thought in succession♫

Thank You Blessed Lord for calling me to think and feel and be and do (Mark 12:30) Your love and peace this day. I love You so very much. Thank You. Amen.

(764 words ~ 12:11 p.m.)

masquerade

Thursday, October 6, 2011 (7:20 a.m.)

Blessed Lord God,

I love You. And just like that, You surprise me again! Not having much sound sleep, I woke up singing ♫Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade♫

Immediately I thought there was no way I would find a Bible verse using this word. Again I was proven wrong!

In writing his second letter to the church at Corinth, Your apostle Paul warned the Corinthian believers against false teachers “masquerading as apostles of Christ” (2Corinthians 11:13). “And no wonder, for satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness” (vs. 14-15a).

I forget Lord. Far too often I am ready and eager to believe all of what I see and hear, no matter how far fetched. Thank You for reminding me to look carefully at who and what I am dealing with. ♫Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade! Look around – there’s another mask behind you!♫

Ah, most blessed Lord. Thank You that even as we are confronted with Your truth that satan and his minions do indeed masquerade among us, it’s Your promise at the end of verse 15 that encourages us onward. “Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

Lord God, the commentary in The Life Recovery Bible reiterates what Paul preached in all of his letters. “Salvation is a free gift, paid for by the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ… Without God, we are helpless against the power of sin in our life. But with His help, no problem is too great to overcome.”

Unlike a phrase in the song ♫Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade♫ Lord how I ask You to embolden, empower, enable and equip me to live each day without masks of any kind. Help me live honestly, openly, willingly. Obeying Your will and following Your way. Set me free to live and speak truthfully, far away from the masquerade.

I love You Lord. Thank You. Amen.

(340 words ~ 8:52 a.m.)

lyrics

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 (8:02 a.m.)

Most Beloved Lord God,

Thank You! It wasn’t until I had already been up awhile that I heard music in my head. Then I recognized it. And smiled. Just now, in ‘GoodSearch’ing the lyrics I smiled again. ♫For greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City♫

Right here I am stuck in having no clue as to what to title this entry. ♫You’re the God of this City You’re the King of these people You’re the Lord of this nation You are♫

These are big thoughts! ♫You’re the Light in this darkness You’re the Hope to the hopeless You’re the Peace to the restless You are♫

Lord, there are so many things that You are!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 (7:39 a.m.)

I didn’t see it yesterday Lord. This morning it leaped off the screen. ♫You’re the Light is this darkness♫

I spent time yesterday looking up verses that tell of many of the things You are. I confess to feeling somewhat overwhelmed [given too much of a good thing J] by the many descriptions of You Lord.

While I didn’t pay close attention to yesterday’s A Fruitful Life calendar page, I remembered it this morning and took a better look at it just now. 2Samuel 22:29, “For Thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.”

Here I am reading of King David’s joy of being protected by You. Not only does he tell of it, he sings it in a song of praise. These are lyrics Lord. Much like the ones I awoke to again this morning ♫You’re the God of this City♫ Thank You Lord that You ARE ♫the King of these people♫

Blessed Lord, I continued reading down to verse 34, which took me over to Psalm 18:33 and Habakkuk 3:19. Each was set to music, singing very much the same thing, three different ways. “The Lord God is my strength; He will give me the speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains” (Habakkuk – “A note to the choir director: When singing this ode, the choir is to be accompanied by stringed instruments”).

“What a God He is! How perfect in every way! All His promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind Him. For who is God except our Lord? Who but He is as a rock? He fills me with strength and protects me wherever I go. He gives me the surefootedness of a mountain goat upon the crags. He leads me safely along the top of the cliffs” (Psalm 18:30-33 – “This song of David was written at a time when the Lord had delivered him from his enemies, including Saul”).

“O Lord, You are my light! You make my darkness bright. By Your power I can crush an army; By Your strength I leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is true. He shields all who hide behind Him. Our Lord alone is God; We have no other Savior. God is my strong fortress; He has made me safe. He causes the good to walk a steady tread Like mountain goats upon the rocks (2Samuel 22:29-34 – David’s Song of Praise).

Lord God how I thank You for lyrics that stand the test of time. Lyrics that are just as true today as the day they were originally penned. Thank You for providing joy and hope in scary times of our lives. Thank You that Your Word is true and works in those who believe (1Thessalonians 2:13). Thank You too Lord that You Word is active and living (Hebrews 4:12) and changes us as we grow in it. Thank You Lord.

Thank You for lyrics which set our hearts to the music of our souls. Thank You for lyrics that uplift and give us hope. Thank You for lyrics that remind us ♫You’re the God of this City You’re the King of these people You’re the Lord of this nation You are You’re the Light in this darkness You’re the Hope to the hopeless You’re the Peace to the restless You are There is no one like our God… For greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City Greater things have yet to come And greater things are still to be done here♫

Oh “Amen!” “Yes God.” “So be it!” I love You!

(756 words ~ 10:15 a.m.)

joy!

Saturday, October 1, 2011 (7:59 a.m.)

Primm, NV

Awesome, Incredible, Wonderful God,

Lord. Thank You. Thank You for fun and frolic. Thank You for friends and helpfulness. Thank You for learning.

Thank You for a beautifully clear sky one minute and pouring down rain the next. Thank You for flashes of lightning in the late night desert sky. Thank You for a quick, safe drive to our destination.

Lord God, thank You for the desire to be thankful. Thank You for this husband who aims so high to please. Thank You for the shifts in our relationship that has afforded us the opportunity to truly enjoy each other’s company. Mm. Yes. Thank You Lord for joy!

(1:23 p.m.)

Thanks of joy took me to the book of Jude, verses 24 and 25. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever more. Amen.”

Thank You Lord. Thank You that You came into the world, not to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17). Thank You that You know our every need. Thank You that You knew there would always be false teachings about You and You supplied letters from Your followers to warn other believers of their need to “stoutly defend” Your Truth (Jude 1:3).

Lord God, How I thank You for who You are. Maker. Defender. Creator. Master. Father. Son. Holy Spirit. You are good Lord. Mighty. All-powerful.

Continue teaching, preparing and growing me Dearest Lord. I see Your hand working so profoundly in our lives. And I am truly grateful.

Do all You must in making me into a conduit of Your joy. I love You so very much and I want desperately to share You and Your love with others. Thank You Lord for all You are and all You do. I love You. Amen.

(337 words ~ 2:09 p.m.)