Such a celebration!

Sunday, July 24, 2016 (6:49 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

Blessed Jesus. Thank You!

Thank You for the love of family we got to experience again yesterday. A much loved mother, aunt, friend was joyously surprised by her loved ones. Such a celebration. I likened it to the one we will have with You someday.

This morning I have the opportunity of reading of You preparing a table for us (Psalm 23:5). I see pictures of great beauty and elegance. And I think once more of the love we witnessed again yesterday.

Planning. Preparation. Hard work. And the ultimate “Surprise!” Live music. And all that love. Thank You Father. Thank You that we are honored to witness all that love.

Psalm 150 and Philippians 4:4 come up as places to read of celebrating You. That is truly what I long to experience. Praise. Rejoicing. Such a celebration!

such a giant step

Saturday, July 23, 2016 (6:41 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You! There was not a lot of sleep and I thank You for that which was. You are so good. We have You to turn to. Talk with. You. Over all.

I look to You Blessed Dad. You who supply our every need. This morning we have challenges. And opportunities. I look to You to provide for our needs, exactly as You know is best.

How grateful I am to depend on You. Breathing deeply. Singing ♫Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee♫ Reading Your Word. Reflecting on the hope that lies within.

I confess to feeling scattered. I look to You to corral my thoughts.

See? I was looking at Psalm 139:14, the verse referenced in the above hymn and thanking You for indeed making me “so wonderfully complex”. Going back to the beginning of this favored psalm I am excited to be reminded, “O LORD, You have examined my heart and know everything about me” (v. 1).

Mm, yes!

“You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment You know where I am” (vs. 2-3).

Mm, yes. And yes!

You know me. You know where I am. I'm safe. In You. Thank You Father. Be with me this day as I truly look to You. Thanking You for making me so wonderfully complex.

The Life Recovery Bible tells me that “Saying we are God's 'workmanship' means that we are unique and beautiful masterpieces – works of divine poetry. Beauty and value are designed into the very fiber of our being by virtue of our Creator.”

Allowing You to work in our lives, removing all that is not Your best for us is such a giant step toward believing that I am truly treasured by You.

Use me this day, precisely as You wish Most Dear and Awesome God. I love You. I thank You. I praise and worship You. Guide, direct, prune and nurture me exactly as You know is best. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(363 words ~ 8:11 a.m.)

God Most High

Friday, July 22, 2016 (6:17 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

What does it mean that You are most?

(6:48 a.m.)

Oh, Father, how I love asking You questions and watching where Your answers lead!

This morning we took awhile to get to Psalm 57:2. Oh, but here we are! “I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”

It's You who does Your work in and through me. You to whom I get to cry out. You who are most high. Over all.

The various translations say You: are “perfecting me”,“performeth all things for me”, “accomplishes all things on my behalf”, “performs on my behalf and rewards me [brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]!”, “comes through for me”, “takes care of me completely!”, “does everything for me”, “supplies my every need”, “performeth His promise toward me”, “completes what He began in me”, “does such wonders for me”, “vindicates me”, “holds me together”, “finishes all things for me”, “always does what is good for me”...

Holy God Most High, all these ways of reminding me that it is indeed You who does the incredible work. You who fulfills Your purpose in me. Thank You Father. Thank You that we do get to cry out to You. Pray to You. Turn to You. Run to You.

Thank You Father for the many times and various ways that David wrote and spoke of his reliance on You. Mm. Continue Your work in me that Your purpose is fulfilled.

I love You. I thank You. And I long to glorify and enjoy You. Thank You God Most High. I love You. Amen.

(279 words ~ 7:53 a.m.)

trusting God alone

Thursday, July 21, 2016 (6:30 a.m.)

Oh Most Dear and Holy Father God,

Thank You that You are indeed dear and holy. Thank You that because You ARE, we are never alone. Praise You Father!

As Moses was telling Your people of Israel that he would not be crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 31:2), he let them know that they would not go alone. “But the LORD of God Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua is your new leader, and he will go with you, just as the LORD promised” (v. 3).

It is YOU we need to learn to trust! Far more than programs and people and meetings and the latest health findings. YOU!

Verses 6 and 8 of this chapter echo one another. “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! 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 neither fail you nor forsake you.”

I look to You this morning Father. Not knowing what today holds. Absolutely believing and trusting that You hold it all right in the palms of Your very capable hands. Thank You.

Thank You for this kind of trust. Thank You for the ability to take the next step into a brand new day. Holy Father God how I ask that You would bless and keep each and every one of us. There is so very much strife and struggle going on in this world in which we live.

We desperately need Your guiding presence. Fully trusting in You alone. I love You Father. Fill me this day with Your love, Christ's grace and the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14) that I would indeed continue to grow into the woman of Yours You would have me to be.

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

(353 words ~ 6:56 a.m.)

And so much more!

Wednesday, July 20, 2016 (6:53 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Oh how I thank You, Father. Oh, and praise You as well. You have been providing our every need. Exactly as Your Word promises You will.

The word I thought of first this morning was “manna”. Having You provide our daily needs is still something I seem fairly new at being aware. And I think I often appear as disgruntled as the Israelites.

Thank You for this opportunity to read again of Your people's journey across the desert (Exodus 15-18). I see myself so very much in their whining and lack of faith and gratitude.

They experienced the miracle of You parting the Red Sea and still “the whole community of Israel spoke bitterly against Moses and Aaron.” Blessed, Holy God, in verse 15:26b You describe Yourself as “the LORD who heals you.” I believe You to be exactly that.

And so much more!

Yes! You are so much more than just the God who heals us. You also provide our every single need. Exactly as is needed. You love us. And care for us. You save us. And the list continues.

As I continue reading of Your perfect provisions to Your people I'm not sure if I am more dumbfounded or comforted by the beginning of verse 15:20. “But, of course, some of them didn't listen”.

How often do I find myself in the not listening category? Today I am here asking that I would not only be aware of Your provision, but far more importantly - be grateful! And obedient!

Dearest Father, I long to serve You as You so rightly deserve to be served. I ask that You would do every single thing necessary in making me exactly who You create me to be. I love You. And I look to You that I would represent You well. And so much more!

Praise You. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(319 words ~ 9:09 a.m.)

becoming

Tuesday, July 19, 2016 (6:12 a.m.)

Holy, Mighty, Awesome God,

Thank You. Thank You that You are holy. Mighty. Awesome. Thank You that I want to know You. Love You. Serve You. Follow You.

Work in me in becoming the woman of Yours that You would have me be. Oh, thank You Father. Thank You that I get to read in Your Word. Thank You that I believe that You do truly speak to us through these pages of old.

This morning it's 2 Corinthians 3:18b that is speaking loudest to me. “And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.”

Oh, blessed Jesus, make it so!

The Voice uses the word metamorphosed and I am intrigued by the definition; “the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.” I really like reading “or more”. I believe myself to be taking much more than two distinct stages in becoming all You have for me to be.

Keep up Your good and perfect work Blessed God.

promises, promises

Monday, July 18, 2016 (7:48 a.m.)

Holiest, Holy God,

I think about You. I talk to You. I'm amazed by You. I read Your Word. Your promises. And I hope. Thank You Blessed Father for the ability to hope. The privilege. The honor. The decision to believe You at Your Word.

Blessed, Holy God I confess that fearing and feeling dread comes much easier to me than hoping does. Thank You that You are so much bigger than the things of this world that take our attention away from You. Thank You for the blessed opportunity of turning to Your Word regularly and often.

This morning I am again reading Your Promise of Victory, Isaiah 43:14 – 44:5. Oh how I pray Your presence into our day this day.