nonetheless

Saturday, February 7, 2015 (6:36 a.m.)

WOW!

I love starting out with “Wow” to You! Thank You Father. I nearly missed another opportunity to be wowed by You. One minute the sky was blue and a cloud ordinarily white. And the next? Orangish pink! It didn't last. Here one moment. Gone the next. But beautiful nonetheless.

Mm. Nonetheless. Your Word even speaks to this. “In its quest for national recovery, Judah sought help from Egypt, not from God” (The Life Recovery Bible comment for Isaiah 30:1-5). “Nonetheless, the Lord is waiting to be merciful to you, and will rise up to show you compassion. The Lord is a God of justice; happy are all who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).

How often do we go about on our own, trying to figure things out for ourselves? In our power. Our own strength. Thank You that You are so much bigger than we could ever hope to be.

You amaze me Father! You never cease to astound me. I come to You practically blank. No idea where in Your Word to look. A momentary color in the sky. A single word and I'm suddenly reading deeply in Isaiah. Chapters 28-31. Principles of Judgment.

There are warnings. And promises of blessings. Words of futility. And an assurance of Israel's Ultimate Deliverance (Chapter 32). Father, I can't thank You enough. You absolutely know what You are doing. We are to trust and follow You. Keep working in each of us that we will do exactly that.

Thank You for that earlier moment of “Wow!” in the sky that ultimately led me to the supreme awe I have found in Your Word this morning. Peace. Hope. Trust. Willingness. Do with us all that You must to make us truly Yours.

I love You Father. I trust You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(309 words ~ 7:58 a.m.)

a threat and Your Promises

Friday, February 6, 2015 (8:48 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! I get to sit here reading Your Word. Looking. Searching. Digging. Wanting. And being blessed with every find.

Father, there is so very much I don't know. I don't understand. And at the strangest times... like in the middle of a dream... Your Truth rings out loud and clear. Here again was the unexpected singing of ♫I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter His courts with praise. I will say, “This is day that the Lord has made!” I will rejoice for He has made me glad.♫

The other day a three year old taught us a lesson on being upset beyond words and his ability to work through the emotions involved. Wow! Talk about “a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11:6b).

(10:36 a.m.)

And here again, the mental illness issue mentioned yesterday comes into play.

Lord God, I'm scared! I look to You and know that I am not supposed to be afraid. I'm confessing fear to You right now. Fear of doing nothing. Fear of overstepping a line. Fear of the unknown. I've chosen trustworthy people with whom to share this fear. People with personal experience with mental disorders. People who have been homeless. People “in the know”. Doing nothing doesn't appear to be an option. Saying something is necessary. Please guide and direct me.

Blessed Father, help is available. Help in so many different guises. Guide us where we need to go to help someone who clearly “poses a threat to himself and to others”.

As I sit here considering a threat made in desperation, I am reminded of Your promises. “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them [the inhabitants of the Promised Land]! The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you... Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8).

I trust You Father. Guide and direct us to YOUR best. Your will. Your way. I love You. I depend on You. All this I ask in Your Son's most holy name. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(385 words ~ 11:01 a.m.)

standing in the gap

Thursday, February 5, 2015 (6:51 a.m.)

Holy Father,

Thank You for the very first hint of praise this morning. You know if I was still sleeping or if I was already waking up when it began. I was aware of it immediately. Nothing I had to strive for. It was just there. Thank You. Praise You.

(7:49 a.m.)

Still praising and thanking You. And now standing in the gap.

Prayer is needed Father. Mental illness, bad choices

the sacrifice of praise

Wednesday, February 4, 2015 (8:28 a.m.)

Holy, Blessed God,

For two hours I've been searching Your Word, hymnals, commentaries trying once again to learn how to praise You. The deeper I look, the more confused I become. How hard does this have to be? Not really, right? Remember when I told You how easily I can complicate the simplest of things?

I woke up truly wanting to praise You. I was even singing the songs. ♫Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above, ye heav'nly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.♫

The more I sang, the deeper I looked. Authorship. Details. Bible verses. And more songs. ♫Praise God♫; ♫Rise and Shine♫. I read and sing of giving You glory and my head swirls. I don't know how to do this.

You deserve our best. Time and again I give You what's left. Not my finest. Work in me, I pray. Teach me obedience. Empower me to Your glory. And with that, more songs!

Holy Father, clear my mind. My heart. All that I think I know. After all this time and all these words, take my soul where You want it to be. Teach me what it truly is to bring You the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).

I find myself unable to think straight. There's excitement. Eagerness. A genuine desire to get this right!

I started by singing ♫Let There Be Glory and Honor and Praises♫ but mistakenly [?] turned instead to ♫Let There Be Praise♫. Right across the page, under the topic OPENING OF WORSHIP is the hymn ♫We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise♫.

The Life Recovery Bible (NLT) says, “With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of His name” (Hebrews 13:15). In the comment for this section of Scripture it spells Jesus out as “totally consistent and trustworthy”, “always there for us no matter what”, “that kind of God and friend”.

I can't praise You as You so rightly deserve. I ask Your power, strength and ability to do in and through me all that I am unable on my own. I love You. I thank You. And I praise You. Feeble as it stands right now. Thank You for Your work in giving me that desire to do better. Praise You, Father. Praise You Jesus. Praise You Holy Spirit. Praise and thank You. Amen.

(407 words ~ 9:51 a.m.)

excellent greatness

Tuesday, February 3, 2015 (7:03 a.m.)

Blessed Redeemer,

Glorious Savior. Our Rock. Hope. Shepherd. Love unbounded. So many names and words to describe You. How blessed we are to be tasked with praising You and telling of Your excellent greatness (Psalm 150:2).

Joyful songs have been written throughout the years. Your Truth put to music. Thank You that I get to be reminded of Your love, Your unparalleled mighty works, in the most unexpected ways.

How I ask You to teach me the fine art of praising You. I don't think I do it well. It still doesn't come automatically or without a prompt of some sort. For me, thanking You comes so much more readily.

This morning, I am asking that You will work in all of my heart, soul, mind and strength teaching me to praise You as You so rightly deserve (Psalm 96:4).

I love You. Use us this day as You wish. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(162 words ~ 8:18 a.m.)

thankful and joyful praise

Monday, February 2, 2015 (7:14 a.m.)

Holy, merciful God,

Thank You. Thank You for all that You are.

Thank You that I get to come before You this morning wondering how best to praise You. Thank You that when I ask You provide for that request. Thank You for the numerous times that You have provided (Philippians 4:19) before I've even thought to ask.

Thank You for songs of joy and love. Thank You for hymns of praise. Thank You that “You are my strength” (Psalm 18:1). Thank You for the desire to sing ♫Praise the name of Jesus, Praise the name of Jesus. He's my Rock, He's my Fortress, He's my Deliverer, In Him will I trust. Praise the name of Jesus♫ (Psalm18:2).

I watched You work in and through me yesterday. Formidable tasks I had previously been unable [unwilling?] to even begin where completed in a timely, well ordered fashion. That was absolutely YOU, not me.

Thank You God. Thank You that I thought to ask for what I wanted. Thank You that in the midst of the one hiccup of the evening I had Your presence of mind to go back out and seek resolution. Praise You Father. Praise Your holy name!

Reading through The Celebration Hymnal I feel honored. Awed. I am given the resources to truly praise You. Beginning with the very first hymn and continuing on for pages. Each offering a twist, a different level of praise.

I ask You most loving, providing Father do in and with, by and through me all that You desire this day. I long to praise You appropriately. Abundantly. Truly teach me to ♫Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!♫

Use us exactly as You wish this day Blessed Father. We love You and long to serve You. Well! Thank You Father. Bless You. Praise You. Amen.

(320 words ~ 8:31 a.m.)

A New Hiding Place

Super Sunday, February 1, 2015 (8:28 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

You are good. It's bright and nice outside. And I'm not feelin' it. I should. I'm supposed to. I even want to. So I'm coming to You. The Creator of all.

Today I am plagued with doubt. Guilt. Ugly feelings. The things I am thinking are twisting and turning and not leading me to the foot of Your cross.

I know I am blessed. I absolutely believe that beyond all shadow of any doubt. And I know You are good. Holy. Perfect. Loving. Kind.

Father, I ask You to help me look at You. Your Truth. Your promises. All You are, instead of what I am not. There's a dance, a struggle going on within me. I have learned through the years that there is growth in the struggle. I am asking You to grow me.

Grow me as You wish.

(9:38 a.m.)

Hmm. And here You do just that!

Father, thank You. Struggling. Twisting. Turning. Wanting. Knowing. Trusting. Believing. Seeking. Following. Reading. Singing. Praising. All these things I cannot do on my own. I need You to guide me. Losing myself in the struggle of it all. I find You. A New Hiding Place.

2 Samuel 22:1-33 tells of King David's recognition of Your hand in his life. He knew full well it was always You who were sovereign. You who's “way is perfect”, who's “promises prove true”. You who is “a shield for all who look to Him for protection” (v. 31).

I get to be honest with You. I get to ramble. Make very little sense. And You accept me. You know my heart (Acts 15:8). You know my every thought (Psalm 139:2). I don't have to pretend with You. I get to be as real as I possibly can be. And You love me in spite of myself.

Thank You Father. Thank You that in being honest I get to be reminded that ♫You ARE my hiding place! You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance; Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You♫ (Psalm 32:7).

In acknowledging Your Truth, I get to read this psalm of David's honesty. I am encouraged to be real with You. Confess my inability to praise You as I ought. And ultimately come to rejoicing!

Thank You that I “do not [have to] be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control” (v.9). In confessing my inability to praise You as You so rightly deserve, I am able to revel in the fullness of verse 11.

Hear very simply from The Message, “Celebrate God. Sing together – everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof!”

You do for me, with me, by me, through me ALL that I am unable to do and think and feel and want for myself. You provide the ability of praising, rejoicing, being glad and shouting for joy. All for the asking.

Thank You Father. Thank You for being the Hiding Place I need to refresh, regroup, revive so I can once again rejoice.

Yes! ♫Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice!♫ It's bright and nice outside. I see it. I appreciate it. And I thank You for all of it. Bless You Precious God. Bless You. Praise You. Thank You. I love You. Amen!

(565 words ~ 10:57 a.m.)