sickness, sledding and snow

Thursday, January 5, 2017 (6:42 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed God,

Thank You! So many days into the new year and finally I am here to say to You once again, “Thank You!”

Thank You for the blessings and privileges You have provided us. Thank You for special time away with grandkids. Thank You also for the challenges and genuine joys involved all this week.

We've had sickness, sledding and snow. Oh my! How I thank You for Your presence in it all.

Jesus came to bring joy

Friday, December 30, 2016 (5:27 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

Thank You for waking up to more Christmas carols in my mind. ♫O Come, Let Us Adore Him♫, ♫Go, Tell It on the Mountain♫, ♫The First Noel♫.

Thank You for songs. Thank You for Christmas. Thank You for the joy Your Son came to bring to the world. Oh look, another song! ♫Joy to the World♫

Mm, Jesus. Thank You for the joy You came to bring.

(6:53 a.m.)

We have much to accomplish this day. Let Your joy be our focal point.

Reading in John 15 (vs.1- 17) of You as the True Vine two more songs sang out to me. ♫Joy, Joy♫ and ♫This is my commandment that You love one another that Your joy may be full♫. Jesus, how I ask that I live this day in Your joy.

John 15:11 (The Living Bible), “I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!” And The Message, “I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.”

Yes, please. It is Your joy I long to experience. Wholly mature at that!

Come with me this day. In my thoughts, my words, my actions. I love You Jesus and I want the world to know it. Thank You for loving us so much that You came to bring Your joy to the world. Hmm. Yes. Thank You. Guide and direct me in using Your joy well. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(264 words ~ 7:22 a.m.)

our Ransom

Thursday, December 29, 2016 (6:50 a.m.)

♫Sweet Little Jesus Boy♫

The song started singing again just a little bit ago. Thank You Father. Thank You for time and occasion to reflect on what the birth of Your Son truly means for us.

I fall into the category of being one whose “eyes was blind” and “couldn't see”. One who “didn't know who You was”.

Holy God, how I thank You for coming into the world to be our ransom (Mark 10:45).

(8:21 a.m.)

Blessed Jesus,

Thank You for the privilege of searching and reading. Thank You for the honor of being called to be Your friend. So many verses. So much Truth.

"and ransom captive Israel"

Wednesday, December 28, 2016 (7:51 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

(8:49 a.m.)

You are so good. So kind. You provide so much. Thank You.

Thank You for time to sit. To ponder. Consider. Reflect. Review. Wonder.

Blessed Father, how I thank You for the love You have for mankind. That You would come to earth in the form of an infant.

I woke up several times singing ♫O Come, O Come, Emmanuel♫ I thought heavily on the words ♫and ransom captive Israel♫ Now I find myself singing ♫Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel♫

How I wonder, what would it be to truly live a life of rejoicing? I confess to thinking of joy. And there are many instances of my genuinely experiencing delight and gladness.

This I bring back to You Blessed God. You came to be with us (Emmanuel). You came to “ransom captive Israel”. And we are to rejoice. Let me live this day reflecting the delight and gladness that comes from truly celebrating the birth of Your precious Son.

Happy Fourth Day of Christmas, Father. I love You. Amen.

(185 words ~ 10:08 a.m.)

worship, adore, extol

Tuesday, December 27, 2016 (7:21 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

It's the third day of Christmas. How would You have me proceed? Worshiping. Adoring. And extolling. Yes!

Holy God, teach me to worship, adore and extol Your Blessed Son.

My mind is swirling with tiny bits of information. Words describing other words. Christmas carols referencing Scripture verses. Those verses prompting more melodies. Very akin to the chicken, the egg and which came first. One thought blending right into another.

Thank You Father. Thank You for the opportunity of truly focusing our thoughts and time on You. Thank You for The Celebration Hymnal and its Worship Sequence for PRINCE OF PEACE.

Let's Worship and Adore Him (Revelation 15:4). I Extol You (Psalm 111:1). O Come, All Ye Faithful (Luke 2:15). And then my own head singing O Come, Let Us Adore Him (Matthew 2:2).

Blessed God, how I ask You to guide my worship, adoration and extolling of Your precious Son's holy birth. These are truly powerful words that point to other strong meanings.

Worship = admire. Adore = love dearly. Extol = praise enthusiastically.

Big words. Bigger meanings. Teach me how to use them well this day. In my actual execution of worshiping, adoring and extolling Your Holy Son. ♫O Come, Let Us Adore Him♫ indeed!

Thank You Father. Happy Third Day of Christmas! I love You. Amen.

(228 words ~ 8:33 a.m.)

truly celebrate

Monday, December 26, 2016 (7:44 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! It's what some of the world has come to know as the second day of Christmas. Teach us what You would have us know about truly celebrating the birth of Your blessed Son.

Hmm... truly celebrate. How do we learn this Blessed Father?

Joyce Meyer references John 10:4-5 in reminding us that we are Your sheep, “and the sheep know the Shepherd's voice – the voice of a stranger they will not follow.” She declares, “You can hear from God; it is part of your inheritance as a Christian. Don't ever believe otherwise!”

Because Your Son was born, we have this gift from You. Thank You Father. Teach me to use intimacy with You as You would have me use it.

The comment for this section in The Life Recovery Bible expands on the Truth of sheep and their shepherd by likening Jesus knowing “our personality, needs, feelings, and desires.” This comforts me deeply.

Jesus came into the world as an infant. And He knows my personality! Thank You Father. “He even knows our faults and our sins, yet He still loves us!” Mm. How truly grateful I am.

Continuing in the comment, “He [Jesus] calls out to us and leads us in the way that is best for us. To be set free from the pain of our past, we must respond to the guiding voice of our Shepherd, who knows us fully and loves us completely.”

Jesus, we are here to celebrate Your birth. Let us readily hear and recognize Your voice that we would follow Your best for us. Thank You for this time to learn even more of what it will be to truly celebrate Your arrival!

Thank You. We love You. And are glad You came to be Lord of all. Guide us I pray. Thank You. Amen.

(312 words ~ 9:36 a.m.)

first day

Christmas Day – Sunday, December 25, 2016 (7:27 a.m.)

Merry Christmas, Father!

♫On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...♫

Mm... first day. Christmas. True love. Gave...