"living honestly with others" ~ 3/26/18

Monday, March 26, 2018 (7:05 a.m.)

Arriving Nawiliwili, Kauai, Hawaii

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You that I am once again saying, “Thank You.” Thank You for truly softening my heart. Thank You for reminding me that I was not to sin “by letting anger gain control” over me (Ephesians 4:26).

The New Relationships; 4:25-5:2 Illustrated Bible Handbook, “Even anger is to be dealt with honestly, by going to a brother and working out the conflict before it leads to sin”. Prior to this Truth I read a section on the importance of “living honestly with others”. Yes please, Father. Continue Your work in teaching us to live honestly with one another.

That was indeed how hurt and angry, bitter and disappointed I was. I took a situation personally. I did not allow for another’s feelings. Only my own. Thank You Father.

Thank You even for the time You let me stew in my own juices. Weighing Truth against errant beliefs. Thank You Father. Yes. Thank You.

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your way. Thank You for Your Truth. Thank You for Your life (John 14:6). Turning… mm, yes! Turning!

I turned to You yesterday. Many times. In the midst of angry thoughts and feelings I knew You would have me do different. “I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference” (Revelation 3:19).

Continue Your good work in me I pray blessed God. I love You. I long to serve You well. Make it so I ask (Matthew 7:7). Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(287 words ~ 8:53 a.m.)

"willing to obey" ~ 3/25/18

Palm Sunday, March 25 2018 (6:30 a.m.)

Port of Honolulu, Hawaii

Awesome, Holy, Loving God,

Here I am. None of those three. Yep. Looking up the antonyms, I find “unimpressive, sinful, cold and cruel”. Yep. Me to a tee.

I’m not even willing to ask You to forgive me yet. I’m still bound and determined to nurse this present grudge from over 14 hours ago.

I knew as soon as I started it that forgiveness was a choice. Love, also a choice. And I determinedly stuck my heels in as I decided, “No!” Not just no, though. “Absolutely no.” No way. No how. Not gonna do it. Uh-uh. No.

I even considered You. Your Son. This being Palm Sunday and all. Still not willing.

So… here I am. Asking for You to do in and with, by, through and for me all those things I cannot [or WILL not?] do for myself. Soften my heart (Psalm 51:10).

It’s almost as though I am playing some ridiculous game of chance that I know I will only lose. There is absolutely no way of me coming out ahead on this.

I search Your Word. I read Your warnings. I am fully aware of the snares of unforgiveness. And do I “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19)? Absolutely not.

The computer screen says, “10:10”. That’s our time back home. Three time zones away.

I was prepared to completely disregard it until I remembered its importance. Recorded by the apostle John, Jesus told his disciples, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”

My deeply seated stubbornness will enable the thief to win. I can’t fight him off on my own. I can continue my plotting and planning to show another how disappointed and hurt I was because of his own choice. Or I can choose to ask You again to do for me that which I am currently unable…

Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.”

Yes. Willing to obey You. That is my wholehearted plea.

I can’t do it on my own. You can. Do all You must in changing, cleaning, softening my heart that I would be willing to obey You and forgive another.

“Forgive me Father, for I have sinned…” I’ve held this resentment and bitterness in my heart all these long, many hours. I release it to You. To do with exactly as You wish. I love You. I long to serve You. I need You. I want You. I choose to trust You to do as You know is best.

Do all You must I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(461 words ~ 7:29 a.m.)

safe ~ 3/24/18

Saturday, March 24, 2018 (9:12 a.m.)

Port of Hilo, Hawaii

Most Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You for safe travels. Thank You for safe seas. Safe. Yes. Thank You that we are safe in You.

Psalm 12:6 tells us, “The LORD’S promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times.” This is where our hope lies. In You. In Your promises.

Holy Father God, I confess to often giving in to fear of the happenings of everyday life and politics. It’s when I come back to Your Word and Your promises that I smile. Rest. Trust.

You are currently teaching me much about trusting You. And letting go. Yes. Letting go of things. Hurtful thoughts. Long held ideals. False beliefs.

Thank You that even though I am in desperate need of learning to let go, I get to rest assured that You will never let go of me. Thank You Father. Thank You most dear and loving Father.

Taking just the context line for Psalm 12:7 I read, “You will keep us safe and protect us”. Planning to delve more deeply into this later, for now I ask You to do exactly that as we go exploring Hilo.

Keep us safe and protect us Dearest Dad. We love You. We thank You. And we ask You to use us to Your good and to Your glory. Thank You. Amen.

(240 words ~ 9:43 a.m.)

deep love ~ 3/22/18

Thursday, March 22, 2018 (6:19 a.m.)

En route to Hilo, Hawaii

Blessed Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You that You are blessed. Thank You that You are holy. Thank You that You are God; “our God, the LORD alone” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Thank You that as I explore this verse in Illustrated Bible Handbook I come across these words, this Truth. “Love for God: 6:1-2. …The commands of God can never be understood apart from the deep love that is to motivate each party to covenant relationship.”

Hmm… deep love. Yours for us. Ours for You. Oh, but our love for You is so very little when compared to Yours for each and every one of us.

Thank You that even as I begin to consider Who and What and All You are, one of the most basic children praise songs starts singing to me again. ♪Lord, You are more precious than silver. Lord, You are more costly than gold. Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds and nothing I desire compares with You♪

How true! How very true Precious God and Father.

So here I am with the “You are…” statements, asking that You would continue teaching me to love You with ‘all my heart, all my soul and all my might’ [mind and strength] (v. 5).

The Life Recovery Bible comment for this verse explains, “Love is not primarily an emotion. It is a decision that shows itself in appropriate actions. Thus, loving God entails the decision to follow God’s program, looking to Him constantly for help and forgiveness.”

How perfect are those last eight words! I definitely need help with forgiveness. Thank You that I can look to You constantly for all my needs.

Work in and with, by, through and for me this day Blessed God. Chisel me exactly into who and what and all You would have me be. For Your good and for Your glory. 

I love You Father. I praise and thank You. I need and want You. I choose and trust You. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(353 words ~ 7:42 a.m.)

ever-present ~ 3/21/18

Wednesday, March 21, 2018 (7:29 a.m.)

En route to Hilo, Hawaii

Holy God,

Thank You for the God You are. Good. Holy. Present. Ever with us. Even as the sea takes us high and low. Further west. You are here. Ever present. Mm. Thank You.

Yes Father. Thank You for the love You give us. Thank You for the opportunities to share that love at every given moment. We get to choose. Share? Or withhold? Share blessings? Withhold blessings?

(9:52 a.m.)

Oh most dear and Holy God, how I truly thank You that You do not withhold Your blessings from us.

Just now, the blessing of added rest. Wave induced sleeping and rest. The sounds. The rise and fall of the sea. So much for us to experience right in the midst of it all. And here You are. With us. Thank You Father.

We have no specific plans this day. An opportunity to go out and just be in the moment, with You. Our “ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). And this is where I smile bigger than I have all morning.

Verse 3, “Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” Perhaps a little less surging Father. But You, always ready. Ever-present. Yes. You. Us. Others. Making our way safely across the open waters.

Use us this day Blessed God, exactly as You wish. We love You. We thank You. We need You. We choose to trust You. Praise You Dearest Father. Amen.

(263 words ~ 10:22 a.m.)

imagine Your good and Your glory ~ 3/20/18

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 (7:36 a.m.)

Enroute to Hilo, Hawaii

Blessed, Holy God,

How I thank You. You provide us with surprises that we just don’t see coming. You bless us with outcomes we could never imagine.

Think about it… a long planned cruise. Grade school friends surprisingly brought together at the embarkation area of the port of departure. It all truly boggles my mind.

Father, I am asking You to use this current trip, much like I ask You to use every moment of every day, to Your good and to Your glory. Wow! What would that even look like? Your good. Your Glory. Hmm…

Your Word has much to say about both. Guide me in what You would have me learn and put into practice this day.

Open my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength (Mark 12:30) to Your leading. Guide me in implementing Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Empowering (Ephesians 3:14-21). Oh how I love You Father. Need You. Want You. Choose You. Trust You.

“Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope [imagine; New International Version]” (Ephesians 3:20).

Dare to hope. Imagine. Yeah. Just imagine all Your good and all Your glory. It truly boggles my mind. Thank You Father. Use me this day. Exactly as You wish. I love You. Amen.

(248 words ~ 9:32 a.m.)

Letting Go ~ 3/19/18

Monday, March 19, 2018 (5:43 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that You are… holy. Thank You that You are God. Thank You that because You are all You are, we have hope. In You.

♪Lord You are more beautiful/precious than diamonds/gold...♪

♪You love endures forever… Sing praise Sing praise♪

(6:45 a.m.)

I am confessing concerns to You right now. We have another trip. I’m taking too much STUFF. It’s not all necessary, but it’s already packed and would be too hard to undo it all now. Sooo… instead, I am asking You Blessed Father to USE it all in teaching me even more that I need to know about letting go.

We’ve made some good starts. It is indeed a never ending process. And I definitely need You every step of the way.

Come with us I pray. Go before us.

♪Let the Peace of Christ Rule in Your Heart And whatever you do, in word or deed, Do it all in the name of the Lord. Giving thanks giving thanks to God thro’ Christ, the Lord♪

I don’t know this song at all, but the corresponding Bible verse settles my heart. Colossians 3:15, “Each of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.” Yes! Yes. Oh yes.

Control my thoughts with Your peace Dear Lord. Let the tears that keep coming to the surface fall ~ or not. You decide. Let me not be afraid to feel deeply all that You wish. And be grateful. Yes. Grateful. Thank You. I love You. Use me Father. Amen.

(7:33 a.m.)