Lord of all

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 (6:27 a.m.)

Challenge Meeting Jesus,

This morning I am reading [and singing] songs of You being Lord of all. I didn't expect it. Nor plan it. But here we are. You, the Lord of all and me, one who desperately wants to live as though I truly believe that.

Blessed Jesus, there are challenges. Little, itty, bitty ones all the way to huge, life changing burdens. And You are Lord of them all. Nothing gets by You unnoticed.

I look at irritants of this earth and begin to become unnerved. Small things start to set me off. And then You remind me that You make all things work together for my good (Romans 8:28). I accept Your challenge! The challenge of believing, trusting and depending on You to prevail.

Mm. I get to sit here and sing of desiring Your presence. ♫There's nothing worth more that will ever come close No thing can compare, You're our living hope Your presence, Lord♫ I believe this. Truly! I do.

♫I've tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves Where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone Your presence, Lord♫ Again, I have experienced Your presence. I have!

Yet... irritants, hiccups, challenges, struggles, burdens often get the upper hand on my demeanor. Teach me Blessed Lord of all to readily sing out ♫Holy Spirit, You are welcome here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for To be overcome by Your presence, Lord♫

Amazing God, Blessed Jesus, Holy Spirit, You truly are Lord of all. Remind me to release the negative things and breathe in deeply Your forgiving power.

Colossians 2:9-10, “For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.” The Life Recovery Bible comment, “... the truth found in Paul's statement – that everything we need is found not in ourself, or even in other people, but in Jesus Christ...”

Mm, yes! Thank You that You are Lord of all!

♫You are Lord, You are Lord You are risen from the dead And You are Lord Every knee shall bow Every tongue confess That Jesus Christ is Lord♫

Full exhale. Breathing out fear and doubt. Deep breath. Inhaling trust and hope. Live in me this day. Fully. Deeply. Rooted. Planted. Lord of all.

I love You. I thank You. I ask You. Amen.

(422 words ~ 8:21 a.m.)

singing to the Lord

Monday, May 23, 2016 (7:40 a.m.)

♫Jesus, Jesus, I love Jesus♫

It appears this is not an existing song. Yet here I am singing it anyway. Thank You for the freedom to just sing out to You. Even with music of our own making.

Thank You for the opportunity of reading in Your Word about others who have sung to You throughout the ages. This morning I am especially focused on 1 Chronicles 16:23 and Isaiah 12:5. I love every time I get excited reading Your Truth.

Thank You Jesus. Thank You that in singing and reading of who You are and all You do I am again reminded of the power offered to us when we call upon Your name.

Thank You for being the One we can turn to when all is not as we would have it. You encourage us to come to You when we are weary and carrying heavy burdens (Matthew 11:28). You promise to teach us. Being yoked with You, our souls will find rest (v. 29).

The Message says it this way, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Ah, yes! Exactly what I ask of You. Continue reminding me that it is when I get away with You and learn Your “unforced rhythms of grace”, You won't put anything ill-fitting on me and I will “learn to live freely and lightly.”

Who can ask for more than that? Nothing ill-fitting. Living freely and lightly. Thank You for the honor and privilege of making up my own song to sing to You. I love You. I thank You. And I ask You to use me well this day. To Your good and to Your glory.

Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(356 words ~ 9:45 a.m.)

Risen Jesus

Sunday, May 22, 2016 (7:18 a.m.)

Risen Jesus,

Mm. Yes. You ARE our risen Jesus!

"becoming 'Truth-full' "

Saturday, May 21, 2016 (6:31 a.m.)

Blessed Jesus,

Thank You! You reminded me of speaking Truth yesterday. Truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Mm, yes. Thank You.

This morning I get to read more and more of Your Truth in Your Holy Word. And the more I read, the more excited I grow. Oh, thank You Jesus.

You guide us. Teach us. Provide Your Holy Spirit to indwell us. Reading of Your Truth (Ephesians 4) in The Life Recovery Bible I am profoundly blessed. How I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your very good work in me this day.

“Since Jesus described Himself as 'the Truth' (John 14:6) and we are to be filled with Him, the recovery process involves 'becoming Truth-full' ” (TLRB Honesty). Mm, yes Jesus, fill me with You and Your Truth that I may truly walk this day in full honesty.

I love You Jesus. I need You . And I thank You. Amen.

(157 words ~ 7:06 a.m.)

this other song

Friday, May 20, 2016 (6:03 a.m.)

(7:02 a.m.)

♫Do, do, do, do, do, Do, do, do, do...♫

Oh, Yes! Thank You!

Holy Three-in-One, I spent quite some time trying to find the lyrics to a different song. It sings of this being ♫a new day♫ and then I fell back to sleep.

Lying here on the couch I noticed how heavy my body felt. Right as I started thinking the worse about myself those thoughts were immediately countered by the strains this other song.

Looking up the lyrics just now I see the phrase above is actually written ♫Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh♫ Followed later by the line ♫This is gonna be the best day of my life♫ I choose to believe this!

You keep reminding me to stay present. I get to accept however my body is feeling as a fact and not judge myself harshly for it. I don't have to try and figure out why it's happening. I just need to be aware. Right here. In this moment.

In doing that I remember that You keep leading me to making better choices. I am learning new things. Putting good practices into action. And yes I feel tired. My body is telling me many things. And I need to listen to it, without judging myself negatively.

You are doing this in me. You are effecting changes that are leading to this new awareness. When the internal judgments start You are right here reminding me to stop.

Thank You! There's another song that calls us to ♫Sing to the Lord. Oh, sing God a new song♫ That's what You've been doing for me. Teaching me to sing to You. To sing You a new song.

As I prepare to get started with this day, I am asking (Matthew 7:7) You to keep on leading me, guiding me, teaching me. Continue developing in me the positive habits You would have me practice.

I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You to keep me singing. ♫Wo-o-o-o-o-oh...♫ Thank You. Amen.

(340 words ~ 8:55 a.m.)

thank You

Thursday, May 19, 2016 (5:30 a.m.)

Good early morning,

Hello. Hi. How's it goin'? Can you tell? I don't know how to even begin this morning. So again, hi. And thank You. We can never go wrong with thank You, can we?

Well, I guess as long as the tone matches the attitude. There can be some pretty sarcastic thank yous out there. Thank You that this is not one of them.

Hmm. Thank You Lord.

(6:13 a.m.)

Yes! ♫Thank You Lord♫ Singing these simple words led me to the lyrics by John Redmon and a lesson about the Shunammite woman of 2 Kings 4:8-37.

(7:08 a.m.)

Mm, yes. ♫Thank You, Lord♫

Thank You for the opportunity of learning more. Of practicing putting Your Word into action. How I ask that this day You would guide me to the areas You would have me. Put me in tune with Your angel chorus.

Keep me on track in readily and eagerly singing and proclaiming ♫He is good... It is well... Thank You Lord♫ You are amazing. Holy. Perfect. Wonderful. And Jesus is Your name.

Thank You Jesus. Thank You for the changes You are making in my life. Provide exactly what You know I need to live this day to Your good and to Your glory. I love being excited about learning to love You more. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Amen.

(231 words ~ 7:43 a.m.)

Your Truth

Wednesday, May 18, 2016 (6:56 a.m.)

Sweet Jesus,

You bless us so much. Thank You. Thank You for insights. And instincts. Work with me this day in recognizing, trusting and obeying Your leading.

You reminded me to speak Your Truth to two little boys yesterday and the day before. They are precious. Blessings. Created in Your image. Fearfully and wonderfully made. So loved. What a change in behavior and attitudes.

Your Truth. Mm, yes Jesus, lead me in Your Truth this day. Remind me often of just exactly who I am in You, that I would freely share Your Truth with others.

I love You. I look to You. And I ask You to continue Your work in me. Lead me in Your Word and in all You have for me to put into practice.

As I read of Your Truth in Jude this morning, I am spurred to learn more. Teach me Jesus. Fill me with the ability to recognize and fully trust the presence of Your Holy Spirit. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

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