Praise!

Thursday, July 7, 2016 (6:18 a.m.)

Praise You, Father!

Mm. Yes. Praise! An antonym for the word malign.

I awoke with a choice this morning. I could once again focus on a character malignment forged against me many years ago. Or I could seek Your better way. Thank You for reminding me that I always have a choice.

Thank You that this morning I again chose You. Your Word. Your will. Your way. Thank You that Your peace truly washes over me as I sit here, reading and reflecting on Your Truth.

Psalm 119:129-136 from The Message, “Every word You give me is a miracle word – how could I help but obey?” Being honest here, there are far too many times that I fail to obey.

Continuing, “Break open Your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning.” Mm. Yes. Please.

“Mouth open and panting, I wanted Your commands more than anything. Turn my way, look kindly on me, as You always do to those who personally love You.”

Mm. Yes. Father. Thank You for the absolute privilege of loving You. Personally. Mm!

“Steady my steps with Your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me.” Yes! Your Word of promise. Yes!

“Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live my life Your way.” Yes, please. YOUR way!

“Smile on me, Your servant; teach me the right way to live. I cry rivers of tears because nobody's living by Your book!”

Oh, most dear and awesome God. Thank You that we have You to love and to guide us.

Thank You that we can choose to praise You, rather than curse others. This morning I pray the Expanded Bible's translation for verses 132-134 right to You.

“Look at [Turn to] me and have mercy [compassion] on me as You do [as is Your custom] for those who love You [Your name]. Guide my steps [Steady my feet] as You promised; don't let any sin [guilt] control [dominate] me. Save [Redeem] me from harmful [oppressive; exploitative] people so I can obey [keep; guard] Your orders [precepts].”

Yes. Please!

Father, You know my heart. You created me in Your image and are more aware of every single one of my foibles than I could ever be. Do everything You must to turn all of my feelings, beliefs, thoughts and actions (heart, soul, mind, strength) into the ultimate praise of You.

I love You. Lead and guide me that I would follow exactly as You wish. Thank You for again reminding me of the importance of bringing You praise. Teach me to do it well. Thank You. I love You. Praise You. Amen.

(457 words ~ 7:44 a.m.)

it's all in a name

Wednesday, July 6, 2016 (6:36 a.m.)

Awesome, Amazing, Incredible Father,

Thank You. Thank You that You are indeed awesome, amazing, incredible and most importantly, Father.

Mm, Father. GOD, Lord, Lord God.

Blessed, Loving Lord, how I thank You for the opportunity of looking to You. Looking at the variety of names there are for You.

Father, thank You that there are so very many names used to describe You: Lord God Almighty; The Most High God; Lord, Master; Lord, Jehovah; The Lord My Banner; The Lord My Shepherd; The Lord That Heals; The Lord Is There; The Lord Our Righteousness; The Lord Who Sanctifies You; The Everlasting God; God; Jealous; The Lord Will Provide; The Lord Is Peace; The Lord of Hosts. And these are only the names from the Old Testament.

Mm. This morning I'm sticking with Father: Dad; Daddy; Pop; Pa; Dada; Papa; Originator; Creator; Maker; Author; Architect.

My heart, soul, mind and even my strength are at peace. Content; satisfied; pleased; happy; glad; unworried; untroubled; serene. All this from considering Who You Are and the names that tell us just a little bit more about You.

Father God how I thank You. Lead, guide, direct and empower me to Your good and Your glory this day. Let me represent You well. I love You. I thank You. Amen.

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

everything we need

Monday, July 5, 2016 (6:17 a.m.)

Mm, Most Holy God,

Thank You for rest. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for reminding me yesterday that “our hope is in You alone” (Psalm 33:22b).

May I just say, so incredibly truly, “Oh my God!”

Turning to The Message just now I have tears stinging my eyes before they roll down my nose. Thank You Father for this heart that is so very sensitive to Your Truth.

“We're depending on GOD; He's everything we need. What's more, our hearts brim with joy since we've taken for our own His holy name. Love us, GOD, with all You've got – that's what we're depending on” (Psalm 33:20-22).

Depend on You. Everything we need. Hearts brimming with joy. Your love.

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC), “Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield. For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name. Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.”

I confess to You right now the frustration that led me to this Truth. As embarrassed as I feel to say it, I was complaining about the hopelessness of ever having a green, healthy lawn. The words I used were, “There is no hope in...”

Thank You for stopping me mid-sentence to remind me that my hope is in You. You have us covered. Covered by Your Son's precious blood (1 Peter 1:9). Wow! We are truly blessed!

Thank You Blessed God. Use me this day exactly as You wish. I love You. Thank You. Praise You. Need You. Want You. Trust You. And hope in You. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(299 words ~ 8:05 a.m.)

prolific

Monday, July 4, 2016 (7:48 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Thank You! You have blessed us repeatedly. Regularly. Abundantly. Prolifically. Now there's a word I haven't considered before.

“prolific – adjective (of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring”.

Hmm. I like the way one word takes me to pages and people in Your Word that I rarely visit. This morning it's to Josiah, “one of Judah's best kings, even though he was the son of one of Judah's worst kings” (The Learning Bible).

Oh most Holy God, thank You for the example of this one man working hard to break the sinful patterns set for him by his father and grandfather. Thank You for this history lesson of personal and national reform.

Thank You that we get to read of kings who ignored Your warnings (2 Kings 33:10; 21-25) to their own detriment. Thank You that one single word can lead to so much Truth.

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

(179 words ~ 10:46 a.m.)

greatness beyond discovery

Sunday, July 3, 2016 (6:42 a.m.)

Most Holy, Awesome God,

Thank You that You alone are God. Thank You that You are worthy to be praised (Psalm 145:3b). Thank You that Your greatness is beyond discovery! (c).

You truly never cease to amaze me. My thoughts so often and easily lean toward the negative. Oh, but when I turn them to You I find one surprise after another.

Thank You for ready access to Your Word. Thank You that we have a multitude of translations at our fingertips.

Thank You especially for the many ways this one verse can be presented:

“The Lord is great and so worthy of praise! God's greatness can't be grasped” Common English Bible.

While the beginning of the verse remains much the same, words for the last section are varied. “No one can measure His greatness / comprehend His magnificence”; “unsearchable”; “incomprehensible to man”; “beyond all searching out”; “greater than anyone can understand”; “beyond understanding”; “indescribable”; “unfathomable”; “there is no end to His greatness”.

Mm. Thank You Father. Thank You that You are our God and King (v. 1). Thank You that we have Your Word on which to meditate.

Oh, yes, Blessed Father. Thank You that as I sit in Your presence more pieces of Scripture come to mind. And with each added component, another smile.

Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Mm. Yes. Greatness beyond discovery. Work in me this day as only You can. I love You Father. I worship, adore, praise, bless and thank You. These things I pray to You through Your Son's most holy name and by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Thank You for loving me. Let me use it well. Amen.

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

undeserved kindness

Saturday, July 2, 2016 (7:21 a.m.)

Holy, Holy, Holy God,

You are good. You are holy. You are loving. Kind. I am looking to You to do all You must to set my mind on Christ.

Wow! Thank You! I ask. You answer. And I am amazed!

Colossians 3:1-4.

abundant pardon

Friday, July 1, 2016 (5:46 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Holy. Loving. Kind. Mighty. Forgiving. Hmm... yes. Blessed God, talk with me this morning about forgiveness.

Pardon. Excuse. Overlook. Feel no resentment toward. Truly, Father, what would that be like?

I get to read in Your Word (Isaiah 55:1-9) of Your abundant pardon and I marvel. Blessed God, I absolutely want the life You offer.

Illustrated Bible Handbook states, “all are invited to come to the Lord, to experience fully and freely the complete satisfaction He provides (vs. 1-2).” Thank You Father.

Thank You for not only inviting us to “Come to me and live” (v. 3) but for offering us Your “inexhaustible forgiveness” (v. 7).

Abundant pardon. Generous in forgiving. Lavish with forgiveness. Merciful and quick; very ready to forgive.

Yep! Let me again practice being like You. I love You. And I so want to be like You. Do all You must that I will follow exactly as and where You lead. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(169 words ~ 6:54 a.m.)