the Gift

Tuesday, December 8, 2015 (6:07 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

Thank You. Thank You for rest. And sleep. Thank You for beauty. And hope. Thank You for the Gift of Your precious Son. And all that His life, death and resurrection brought to us. Thank You for music. And songs to sing of His birth.

Thank You Father that You love each of us so incredibly much.

  

come unto Jesus

Monday, December 7, 2015 (7:39 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! Thank You for changing my heart. My mind. My focus.

It's been almost two hours since I first started avoiding You here. I thought I'd start by looking up Your Word. I got more and more confused, so I played some puzzles instead. I thought about You, but refused to commit.

I wanted answers first. A direction to go. Thank You for again reminding me that I am just to come (Matthew 11:28). I get to be honest and trust You to do all with me that I can't manage on my own.

My emotions are all over the place. I rush easily and often, right straight toward anger. That's not cool. Not how I want to be remembered. Work in me Blessed God. In and with, by, through and for me.

You are Who I need. You remind me to breathe deeply. Thank You Father.

Thank You for the privilege of turning to You. Thank You for the honor of searching Your Word. Seeking Your face. I forget. I refuse. I struggle. You remind me. And I settle down. I am calmed. Thank You.

Thank You for calling me to come unto Jesus. Thank You that as I search the Scriptures, hymns of old sing in my mind. I pour over The Celebration Hymnal and am heartened as I turn from one to another.

None of this interaction is possible on my own. Sitting alone attempting to find the best translation for my own understanding [of Philippians 4:8] leaves me feeling frustrated. Coming to You with splintered dreams and a hurting heart; faith, hope and even joy break through as I sing ♫Breathe on Me, Breath of God♫

Holy God, how I thank You for the Truth (John 20:22) of which this hymn sings. Thank You for the reminder immediately following. ♫Greater Is He That Is in Me♫ (1 John 4:4). Your Word prompts me to once again trust Your authority. “Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God's Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one that is in the world.”

YOU are our power Father! Keep breathing on us Blessed Jesus that we would truly, fully “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22) I trust You. I need You. I love You. And oh, how I thank You! Thank You for the hope that comes from trusting You. Use it through me this day I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(421 words ~ 11:27 a.m.)

honest

Saturday, December 5, 2015 (3:06 p.m.)

Honest.

I'm going to practice being honest right now. Hard honest. Real honest. Help me get my head around what I want to say to You right now.

Blessed God,

Yes. You are blessed and You are God. Thank You. Thank You that those two are still true. Thank You that as I continue I will find even more that is still true. You are good. Faithful. Loving. Kind.

And there is horrible, ridiculous violence in the world. Thank You Father that the insanity of it all has to hurt You WAY worse than it does any of the rest of us.

I wasn't going to come here with You today. I thought about it earlier and I passed. Just now I thought of it again and also considered passing once more. Thank You that I didn't.

Thank You that I knew I needed to come say something to You. Even if it was wrong. Which causes me to wonder... is anything we say to You actually wrong? Are we truly free to say things like, “Hey God? What's going on here?”

Is it okay that what I truly wanted to say is, “HEY! A little mad here!” Immediately I found myself wondering if I wasn't really sad instead.

YOU know our hearts. Our souls, minds and strength. You know each of us far better than we will ever know ourselves or one another.

“Senseless tragedy” comes to mind. All the strife. Hostility. 'Bitter disagreement over fundamental issues.' I don't understand any of it Father. It all hurts.

Just being able to be completely honest and say, “Dad, I'm sad.” Not mad. Sad. Help us Father. Show us all what to do with our helplessness.  

God Is On His Throne

Thursday, December 3, 2015 (6:56 a.m. MST)

NNW toward Los Angeles, CA

Thank You Father,

Thank You for calling me out to You. Thank You for early morning color in the sky. Thank You for thoughts and hopes. Thank You for a stomach that feels so much better, after having put far too much food into it.

Blessed God, thank You for safety and security. Thank You for Your love and Your beauty. Thank You that as I sit here appreciating the sights and sounds of the dawn preparing to break, my mind takes an immediate turn back to a massacre that took place near our hometown yesterday.

Yes Father, thank You for reminding me of the need to pray. Pray for strangers. Our community. Loved ones. The world.

Thank You that as I sit here wondering how to pray, the hymn ♫God is on His throne No need to worry God is on His throne...♫ begins singing to me. Thank You Father. Thank You for reminding me, just as the sun makes its ascent up out of the ocean, that You are indeed on Your throne.

My eyes look elsewhere. My thoughts dart about. And then I catch another glimpse of glory with You. Brightness far too great to face head on.

You are on Your throne. No need to worry. A four-year-old stopped right in the midst of playfully spinning the other day as he took in the Truth of this hopeful hymn. He stopped and requested we pray together. A very simple, heartfelt thank You for loving us. And for fun.

Yes, most Blessed God, let me remember to stop all I am doing and thank You for loving us. And for fun.

(9:07 a.m. MST)

Remembering that You are on Your throne and we have no need to worry sends me to reading in Daniel (7:9). Father, I confess to knowing very little of this faithful prophet. The more I read, the more awed by his obedience to You I become.

Thank You Father for such exquisite examples You've given us of those who trust and follow You despite tremendous acts of evil and oppression. We as a nation and a people are living in a perilous time. We've come to depend on government instead of You.

YOU are on Your throne! It is faith and trust in that Truth which causes us not to worry. Looking at present day circumstances is enough to cause us all to fear. Instead, let us fully embrace the unparalleled wisdom of a four-year old who instinctively knew to stop what he was doing and pray.

Let us as a nation and a people do precisely that. Stop. Pray. Trust. In our God who is seated firmly on His throne. “The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than those who surround His throne” (Psalm 89:7).

“O Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as You, Lord? Faithfulness is Your very character. You are the One who rules the oceans (Psalm 89:8-9a)... Powerful is Your arm! Strong is Your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength. Your throne is founded on two strong pillars – righteousness and justice. Unfailing love and truth walk before You as attendants” (vs. 13-14).

Attend to each of us Blessed Father. As we come to acknowledge You as Lord. Bless us. Keep us. Smile on and be gracious to all who are in absolute, desperate need of You. Be gracious. Show Your favor. And give Your people Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

We love You Father. We long to serve You. And we desire to do it well. Teach us not to be complacent. Ignite our fires that we would truly burn brightly for You. Use us. You ARE on Your throne. We have no need to worry. We love You. We trust You. We are Yours. Amen.

(655 words ~ 9:40 a.m.)

awing

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 (6:44 a.m. MST)

Anchored off Cabo San Lucas, MX

Most Holy God,

Awestruck. Filled with awe. And here comes the sun. Beautiful. Amazing. Glorious. Glorifying. Awe-inspiring. And it's back behind the clouds. What an early morning treat. Such a delight. Thank You Father.

Be alert. Be aware. Your Word tells us repeatedly to be on the lookout. Thank You for the occasional glimpse of the sun this morning. Peeking through the layers of clouds. Just often enough to keep me watching.

Blessed Father, thank You for the privilege of being here. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. Thinking. Wondering. Wanting. Pondering. Considering. Awing. And we come full circle back to awe. A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.

Holy God, I sit. Look. Read. Hope. Rest. And wonder some more. I read of miracles. Commitment. Discipline. And shadows of doubt begin.

Blessed Father, thank You that I get to be this honest with You. No part of me has to pretend to be stronger than I am. To know more than I do. Thank You.

Thank You for allowing my thoughts to go all over the place as You continue pulling me back to the Truth of Your Word. As I read. Deduce. Conclude. Consider. And wonder some more. I am grateful for the call to trust in You (Proverbs 3:5) with all my heart and to lean not on my own understanding.

Father, thank You for this time to truly just be with You in awe and wonder. Thank You for continuing to work in me every time my innate tendency toward self condemnation begins again.

Thank You for putting my focus back on Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises. Thank You for the privilege of awing You as God. “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).

Yes. Please. Let me do exactly that. I love You. I thank You. I worship and adore You. Guide and direct my awe this day. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(357 words ~ 9:01 a.m. MST)

strength to endure

Tuesday, December 1, 2015 (7:19 a.m. MST)

South to Cabo San Lucas, MX

Most Dear and Awesome God,

Thank You. Thank You for rest. And adventure. And thank You Father for rest from adventure. Mm. Yes. Thank You for the wonderful balance we find in You. Rest. Adventure. Rest. Adventure.

Holiest God, we look to You with gratitude. And with that gratitude comes a request. Blessed Father, I am asking for Your strength to endure whatever You know is coming next.

I tend to look back. Think of all that was. Wonder how and what I could have done differently. This morning I am looking right here.

There's a vast ocean. Beautiful sky. And our day completely untouched. Be our focus Blessed God. Truly, we long to serve You.

I read Your Word. I get excited by the pictures that form in my mind. I am deeply heartened by ancient words that encourage me to “keep up our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ” (Hebrews 3:6b).

It was the Holy Spirit that told the author of Hebrews, “Today you must listen to His voice. Don't harden your hearts against Him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God's patience in the wilderness” (Hebrews 3:7-8; Psalm 95:7-11).

How I thank You Blessed Father for the opportunity to sit here before You. I read. I hope. I become excited and eager to tell [agog]. Truly I want to shout out to all who will listen [and even more so to those who will not], “Don't give up. Persevere. Hang in there. Believe. Trust. Rest in Him.”

The Life Recovery Bible comments encourage us even more to rest in You. The Israelites not only received Your law at Mount Sinai, they experienced 'spiritual privileges and visual awareness of Your awesome power'. And still they “refused to exercise faith and enter the Promised Land that God graciously offered.”

We still make that same mistake. We see the way set before us and we waver. Doubt. Blessed Father, how I ask You to do all You must to anchor me firmly to Christ. Your wonderful blessings and freedom are offered to each one of us.

It's all there for the taking. Your place of rest. Increase my faith in Him who can do “infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope” (Ephesians 3:20b).

Prepare me blessed Father for the adventure of this brand new month. Beginning with this all new day. Provide me the strength to endure all that comes to pass. The strength that only comes from loving and trusting You.

Thank You Father. Praise You. I love You. Use me exactly as You wish. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(462 words ~ 8:51 a.m.)

down in my heart ~ 11/30/15

Monday, November 30, 2015 (6:29 a.m.)

Southbound to Cabo San Lucas, MX

Blessed God,

Thank You. I awoke to thoughts of Your peace which passes understanding being down in my heart (Philippians 4:7). Of course, along with that thinking, comes the children's song. ♫I've got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart... to stay♫

Most Holy God, thank You for Your peace. Your peace. Down in my heart. To stay.

(10:14 a.m.)

Yes, Holy God. You are doing great and lasting work in our hearts.

Here are words from The Life Recovery Bible comment for the section of Scripture beginning with the apostle Paul's call to the Philippian believers to “Rejoice!” (4:4-9). “True happiness can be found in every situation of life when we recognize that God is at work and always in control.”

Oh, most Holy God, how very grateful I am that this is true! Knowing You to be good, trusting You to be at work and always in control allows me to truly experience Your peace that passes understanding down in my heart.

Thank You Father. Empower me in using that peace (and JOY) well this day. I love You. I thank You. Down in my heart! Amen.

(211 words ~ 11:58 a.m.)