"wholeness in our life"

Sunday, July 9, 2017 (6:57 a.m.)

Holy God,

You are good. Holy. All the time.

I am not. I could easily make a list of all the things I am not. Let's not do that. Help me focus on You instead. Your blessings. Your goodness.

The sky was beautiful this morning. I thought of You instantly. You and Your glory.

(7:31 a.m.)

Thank You Father.

Thank You that I get to sit here, reminded that the heavens declare Your glory (Psalm 19:1). In so doing, I am led to read, trust, believe and hope in the Truth of Your Word.

Illustrated Bible Handbook, “Psalm 19. Here is a measured statement of God's revelation of Himself in nature (1-6) and in the written word (7-14).” Mm, yes. Thank You!

The Life Recovery Bible footnotes affirm Your presence with us (19:1-6) while also declaring the importance of Your laws. “19:7-11 Adhering to God's laws will produce wholeness in our life.” Oh, yes please Father!

“Applying God's Truth revives our inner being and gives insight – even to the least of us – into how we should live. His Word is not a burden that robs us of the good things of life (see Matthew 11:29-30). Instead, it transforms us and replaces our discouragement with joy.” Mm, Your promises Lord!

And here, (International Children's Bible, verses 12-13 ) is more of Your Truth spelled out. “No one can see all his own mistakes. Forgive me for my secret sins. Keep me from the sins I want to do. Don't let them rule me. Then I can be pure and free from the greatest of sins.” Oh, indeed Father. Indeed!

“I hope my words and thoughts please You. Lord, You are my Rock, the One who saves me” (14). Yes Father. Yes.

Your sky declared Your glory for me this morning. And I am so incredibly grateful. Thank You for using it to guide me in Your Word.

Truly allow my words and thoughts to please You. I confess, I'm pretty sure they have not been. Use me this day for Your good and for Your glory. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(359 words ~ 9:05 a.m.)

and mean it!

Saturday, July 8, 2017 (6:49 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

I love You. I want to thank You... and mean it. I really do.

Circumstances and situations seem to be negatively intensified by the heat. I find myself grumping and grousing just because I'm hot.

Forgive me Father. You bless us profoundly. Truly, I am grateful. Keep working in me to be more like the teachings of Paul.

He “learned the secret of contentment in every situation” (Philippians 4:12). He charged the believers in Thessalonica to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes Father, I am asking You to continue empowering me in doing this... and mean it!

James told the early believers (James 1:2-4) “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” Yes please!

The common denominator in all this? Your power. Your Son. Your Spirit.

Father, I love You. I do. And I am grateful. Really, truly I am. Keep working in me. Guiding. Teaching. Empowering. Enabling me to be and feel and think and do (Mark 12:30-31) all that You have for me.

Thank You. Bless You. Praise You. I mean it! Thank You. Amen.

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

Teach me, please!

Friday, July 7, 2017 (6:07 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You that no matter what is going on in our lives You are still blessed and holy.

Yes. Blessed, Holy God, I ask You to guide my thoughts and my learning right now. They tend to scatter. It's already hot outside. I didn't expect that. Turning in Your Word I am reminded of verses I have studied before.

Looking at notes from past church services I remember songs we have sung. Snippets of information. Messages of hope and proclamation. Teach me, please. Mm, yes. Teach me, please!

I am eager to learn. Eager to trust. Eager to obey.

And here's the verse I ask to live out this day. Psalm 143:10. “Teach me to do Your will [so that I may please You], For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Amplified Bible).

Mm, yes. Teach me. Please You. My God. Good Spirit. Lead me. Level ground.

Illustrated Bible Handbook describes, “Psalm 143. A cry for deliverance and guidance.”

The Life Recovery Bible footnote for verses 143:5-12 speaks of addiction, lost hope, deepening depression, Your help. At our very fingertips we have Your Truth offering us eternal hope. “As we spend time in prayer, His gracious Spirit will lead us forward and show us how to live.”

Mm, yes. Yes. Oh, yes! Gracious Spirit, lead us forward. Show us how to live. In You. By You. Through You. For You!

Blessed, Holy, Faithful Father God, how I thank You that Your love is perfect. Teach me to recognize it. Know it. Believe it. Trust it. Live it. Share it. Yes Father. Teach me, please! I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(289 words ~ 7:45 a.m.)

the smile of God

Thursday, July 6, 2017 (6:33 a.m.)

Holy God,

Hi. It's already an interesting morning. And look! I'm smiling.

Thank You God. Thank You for things that help us smile. Who would have thought that with the amount of brooding I had already done this morning that it would take a mysteriously broken egg in our back yard to remind me of Your love and care for each of us?

You are good God. All the time.

I keep getting glimpses of Your goodness. Yes. Another glimpse of goodness with God. Your goodness!

Thank You Father that we get to choose. In every event of the day. Positive? Negative. Fear? Faith. Facts. Feelings. It's all there. And we get to decide.

Thank You Father. Thank You for giving us reasons to smile. We don't have to know. Or understand. Or even care. Just be aware. Alert. Paying attention for the glimpses of Your goodness. And then smile. Sing. Stay. Stretch.

My own reminders of what it is to love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). And my neighbor as myself (31).

Holy God, I confess that when I try to figure any of this out I become distraught. I don't do enough. Can't be enough. And then I remember! That's why You sent Your Son. And look... another smile!

Thank You Father. Yes. Thank You.

I read Your Word. Reconciliation between brothers Esau and Jacob (Genesis 33:10). Your smiling presence among Your people (Psalm 44:1-7). Asaph's prayer for restoration and Your face shining down upon Your people (Psalm 80).

The Life Recovery Bible (80:9-13) affirms, “God does marvelous works for us. He frees us from bondage, removes barriers from our life, and firmly establishes us, doing all He can to help us grow and prosper spiritually.” Mm, yes!

Keep me breathing You deeply into my heart. My soul. My mind. And my strength Blessed God. Ever reminding me “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your [MY] face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day” (Proverbs 15:13).

Mm, yes! A cheerful heart. The smile of God. Mm. Make that my Truth for this day Blessed God. This day that You have made. That I would TRULY rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). Yes Holy Father please!

How I love You. And ask that You would please use me to Your good and to Your glory. Order this day and my participation in it exactly as You wish. I love You. How I thank You. Amen.

(423 words ~ 7:47 a.m.)

filled with emotion

Wednesday, July 5, 2017 (6:40 a.m.)

Holy God,

I keep getting tears. Not a lot. A few here. Some there. Enough to know that I want to spend some serious time here with You Blessed God.

Thank You Father. Thank You that I get to come here. Filled with emotion. Truly searching Your Word.

I love when I come upon a verse I haven't considered before. Today it's Psalm 56:8. The Message, “You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in Your ledger, each ache written in Your book.”

Thank You that everywhere I turn this morning I am reminded that “The symbolism of a record book expresses that God knows everything about people” (The Learning Bible 40.7 the book). Oh, yes Blessed God!

I read. I hope. I pause. Tear up. Read more. Hope more...

The Life Recovery Bible footnote (Psalm) 56:8-13, “As we keep our thoughts focused on God and trust Him, we will find, as the psalmist did, that God is on our side. Even when our struggles are most difficult, God knows our pain, and He will do His part.”

I don't have to waste time figuring out what exactly is “wrong” with me. And then trying desperately to “fix” it. No! I get to trust and hope in YOU! Your plan. Your promises. Your Word.

Continuing with the footnote, “We, however, must fulfill our responsibilities of being obedient to God's revealed will. His program is always best for us in the long run.” Yes!

Today, last week, I have been filled with tearful emotion. Change persists. Nothing stays the same. And I get to practice being grateful. Content. Trustful. Believing that You know exactly all You are doing.

Thank You Blessed God. Thank You that “There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthian 13:13).

Yes Blessed God. Thank You for Your love. Your hope. And for collecting my tears in Your bottle. I love You. Use me this day EXACTLY as You wish. I love You. I thank You. Amen!

(357 words ~ 8:25 a.m.)

the True God

Sunday, July 2, 2017 (6:09 a.m.)

Oh, Most Dear and Holy God,

Thank You for the ways You work in our lives. Thank You for how one thought can lead to another and before we even know it, there is Truth being exampled in our lives.

Mm, yes. Father, thank You for the manner by which You drive our thinking.

I drew a completely incorrect conclusion just now. Which reminds me, I made quite a few of them yesterday [and the day before] as well.

I am one who rushes easily toward blame. I tend to regularly make wrong assumptions. Thank You that You remind us to “Be still and know” (Psalm 46:10). Yes. To be still, “be calm, see, and understand” (The Voice) that You are “the True God”.

Hmm, the True God. Yes! Oh most Holy Father. Thank You!

Left to my own devices, I make messes. I start out in the right direction. And before I know it, I jump headlong... incorrectly!

Mm, Father, thank You! Thank You for the smiles You have already provided me this morning. The opportunity to recognize and consider my many foibles.

How I love You Blessed Dad. Deeply. Profoundly. Appreciatively. You are indeed the True God. How I long to know You more. Better.

Thank You for once again taking me in Your Word where I did not expect to go. “Psalm 46. God is His people's mighty fortress!” (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

“46:7-11 God, the commander of the heavenly armies, is here among us. If we put out life in His hands, we can rest, confident that He will protect us. He knows our weaknesses and can strengthen us in the needed areas, helping us to overcome the attacks we face each day. Our enemies may be strong, but God is far more powerful than anything that might assail us” (The Life Recovery Bible).

The High God. Our mighty fortress. Elohim. The True God. Use me this day. As You wish. I love You Father. Thank You for loving us like no other. Yes. Thank You. Amen.

(347 words ~ 7:41 a.m.)

forever

Saturday, July 1, 2017 (6:41 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You that You are God. Thank You that You are good.

Mm, yes! Good God. Good, good Father. Oh how we love You. We trust You. Depend on You. Lean into You. Why?

Because ♫You're a Good, Good Father It's Who You are, it's Who You are...♫

Holy God, I come to You this morning with unknown to me health concerns of loved ones. Unknown to me. Unknown to others. NOT unknown to You!

Blessed, Holy God, You know that I like to wrap things up. Neat and tidy. Put a bow on them. Tie 'em all together and get on with happy. Sometimes we have to wait. Wonder. Wander. Wish. Hope. Pray. Trust.

Yes Father. Trust.

I don't know what is going on. And to be honest, I am aware that I don't have to know. I am charged with believing. Hoping. Trusting. And praying. Yes Father, I am praying Your blessings on our loved ones.

Reading Psalm 136:1 in the various translations of biblegateway.com I am instantly reminded of another song. “One Thing Remains”. ♫Your love never fails, It never gives up It never runs out on me Because on and on, and on, and on it goes♫ [forever].

The Message tells us, “Thank GOD! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits [endures forever]. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits [… forever]. Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.

These are the things I choose to remember every single time my mind wants to worry. You are good; and Your mercy and loving-kindness endure forever. Your faithful, steadfast, loyal love. Your grace. These are the things that last forever.

Father, we feel fear. We want to trust. We look to You. ♫You're a Good, Good Father It's Who You are...♫

Yes. Good, Good Father, take our fears and turn them into prayers. Of faith, hope and love. The greatest of these being love (1 Corinthians 13:13). These three things that continue [endure; remain] forever (Expanded Bible).

We look to You Father. With faith, hope and love. We look to You. Asking Your blessings of protection and peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

We love You. We trust You. And we ask You (Matthew 7:7) Holy God. Yes Father. We seek Your healing comfort and care. Forever. Thank You. Amen.

(398 words ~ 8:19 a.m.)