♫ I'm Growing Up ♫

Thursday, February 7, 2019 (6:22 a.m.)

Almost to Ensenada, MX

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You!

3:41 came really early this morning. And with it? Such JOY. Real, true JOY. And music. Truly my own private praise party in my mind.

Thank You Father for whatever tune it is that I have changed the words to ♪I’m growing up… I want the world to see…♪ Truly Father, thank You.

Thank You for this trip. Thank You for fun. Thank You for friendship. Thank You for choices. Mm, yes Father. Thank You for choices. Choices to fear or hope. Bless or curse (Deuteronomy 11:26). Live or die (Deuteronomy 30:19).

♫ Ladies Night ♫

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 (4:24 a.m.)

Anchoring off Avalon, CA

♪Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning my song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in Three Persons Blessed Trinity!♪

(6:10 a.m.)

Oh Most Dear and Holy God, thank You. Thank You for the love that has brought us to this place. Thank You for the stars that shone throughout the night. And the music that sang softly in my head. ♪On My Own♪ and ♪Oh yes it’s ladies night Oh what a night♪

Holy God, how I thank You for the honor and privilege of coming before You. Exactly as I am. Truly full of worship and admiration for Who and All You are.

Thank You Father for having our backs. Thank You for enveloping every aspect of our being. Thank You for Your light and Your love. Thank You for Your Word of Truth.

Oh! And thank You for another song that has just started singing itself to me. ♪Living Out Loud♪ Yes Father, again I ask Your guidance and ability to ♪shatter the silence It’s a beautiful sound when each moment counts Starting right now, I’m gonna start living out loud♪

Turning in Your Word (Mark 9:7) to read of being enveloped by You and Your love, I’m surprised to be reading of healings as well. Once again Dearest Lord, You do not disappoint. Or cease to amaze.

How I thank You for the various ways You get my attention. Thank You for the choices You provide. Again I find myself considering Deuteronomy 30:19.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey Him and commit yourself to Him, for He is your life. Then you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (v. 20).

♫ This Moment in Time ♫

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 (3:50 a.m.)

Southern California coast

“Fun Day At Sea”

Thank You God,

Thank You for the opportunity of waking up and literally seeing stars. Beautifully intriguing stars, right out our cabin window.

Thank You too for the awareness of this current incredible blessing. And for the ability to wholeheartedly be singing ♪This Moment in Time♪

new experiences every day

Monday, February 4, 2019 (5:28 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

There’s a new experience coming today. Just saying that I realize that we have new experiences every day. Thank You Father.

And here I follow Your Word over to Proverbs 16:3. The Passion Translation, “Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself. Then every plan you make will succeed.”

I’m smiling as I read all of the chapter. You know each of us. Inside and out. How I ask Your blessings on this brand new adventure.

Father, I love You. I long to do Your will. I ask Your presence in every single aspect of this day. Travel. Camaraderie ~ “mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together”.

Yes Father. Make it so. Do all You must in making us the women You would have us be. Loving. Kind. Using gentle, encouraging and healing words (Proverbs 15:1, 4).

Oh blessed God, how I ask You to do exactly what You know is best. Thank You for Your love. Empower each of us in using it well. Thank You God. I love You. Amen.

(197 words ~ 6:11 a.m.)

on eagle's wings

Sunday, February 3, 2019 (4:52 a.m.)

Blessed Holy God,

There are so very many things that I simply do not understand. Thank You Father that I don’t have to. I get to turn to You. Trusting. Singing.

(6:16 a.m.)

And then exploring. Your Word. The internet. Writings about Your Word. And songs.

Father, there is no end to all I don’t know. Thank You that You provide for our every need. And teach us in the process.

Tears are welling up deep inside me. Thoughts and Truth bounce from one to another. Holy God, thank You!

Thank You for the beauty and kindnesses that abound around us. Thank You for all there is for us to learn.

Singing to You several hours ago I am surprised to find out that the Scripture verse I have always associated to one song is not its origin. All these years [decades] I have thought of Isaiah 40:31 as I belt out, ♪And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings Bear you on the breath of dawn Make you to shine like the sun And hold you in the palm of His hand♪

As it turns out Exodus 19:4 and Psalm 91 are more often referenced in regards to ♪On Eagle’s Wings♪. And now I learn of a book written by the composer detailing his bout with Guillan-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

Thank You for Father Jan Michael Joncas’ willingness to share his experience with this “catastrophic and chronic illness”. I ask You to use On Eagle’s Wings: A Journey Through Illness Toward Healing exactly as You know is best.

The unexpected twists and turns this time with You has taken again make me aware that I don’t know what I think I know. How I ask You Dearest Lord to continue Your work in growing me. Teaching me. Bringing me ever closer to Your shelter and safety.

Reading Psalm 91:1-4 I am reminded of having seen a mother hen shelter her chicks from impending danger. She sat. Strong. Unruffled. Protecting her young.

Your Word promises that for us. Father, here I am asking [seeking, knocking ~ Matthew 7:7] Your blessing and keeping upon myself and others. You are everything we need in life.

Continue doing all You must in making each of us aware of the love You have to so freely share with us all. I love You Father. And I thank You. Use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Amen.

(420 words ~ 8:38 a.m.)

a gift of laughter

Saturday, February 2, 2019 (5:26 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning.

(6:57 a.m.)

And thank You.

I got to read Your Word. And go back to sleep. Warm. Dry. Safe. Sound. Thank You Father.

Let me be honest Dearest Lord. There’s an overwhelming part of me that is feeling tremendously guilty. And I am struggling to figure out if this is true or false guilt.

While I am so incredibly grateful for all the blessings You provide, what about the people who are cold and wet right now? Here I have the nerve to be rejoicing about the recent gift of laughter (Psalm 100:2 The Message) I have been experiencing lately, while others are shivering and trying to stay warm.

Holy God, speak to me here. I love You. I long to do Your will. Yet I sit. Safe. Warm. Dry. Not giving of myself. Or my resources. Is it sin that I am aware of the needs of others and do little to nothing to meet them?

I confess Father I am at a loss. I truly don’t know which way to turn in Your Word. Is satan distracting me from praising You? Or is The Holy Spirit directing me to do more than just pray Your blessing and keeping of others (1 Thessalonians 5:19)?

(1:49 p.m.)

All these hours later and I’m still in my head. I love You so much. I go back and forth between being incredibly grateful and feeling tremendously guilty for being warm and dry. Safe. And sound.

Holy God, I am going out on a limb here. Not wanting to be the least bit insensitive. Rather than staying locked in perceived guilt, I choose to praise You as I had originally intended.

Father, You are good. You are holy. You are kind. And I depend on You to do all You must for the benefit of others. Should You want me to do more than pray, I call on You to guide and direct me into action.

Until then I will continue to praise and thank You. “Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Back and forth. Hope. Then concern. Rejoicing. Followed by sadness.

And then back to where I started. Psalm 100 A psalm of thanksgiving. “On your feet now - applaud GOD! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence” (vs. 1-2).

Yes God. I do applaud You! A gift of laughter is what originally brought me here much earlier this morning. These past few days I have been extremely aware of my willingness and ability to laugh. Readily being joyful. Genuine gifts from You.

“100:1-5 We always have reasons to rejoice. We live in God’s presence, under His continual care, and we experience His love each day. Each time we come into His presence, our heart should be filled with gratitude and praise. God never stops showering us with His love, He always keeps His promise to help us when we call on Him” (The Life Recovery Bible comment).

It’s on behalf of others for whom I call on You now Blessed God. Asking, seeking, knocking (Matthew 7:7). Depending on Your provision and care. Guide and direct me in what You would have me do for others Lord.

I love You. I thank You. Amen.

(573 words ~ 5:02 p.m.)

clearer thinking

Friday, February 1, 2019 (5:52 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Thank You for sleep. And clarity.

Thank You for the most amazing rainbow I have honestly ever seen in my life. Thank You for friends and family with which to share it.

Thank You for a hiccup that happened yesterday that ultimately led to clearer thinking. Hmm. Clarity. Clearer thinking.

I don’t know how this led me to Habakkuk 2:2-3. Oh but thank You God that it did. I get to read of Habakkuk complaining to You. And You replying to him.

Mm, yes. Thank You God. Thank You that we get to express ourselves honestly with You. Even when that honesty reveals doubts and despair. Thank You that the theme running throughout Your Word is the Truth that You are a ♪Good Good Father♪ and You never change.

As I breathe out deeply and back in very naturally I am smiling as I read “God Is Our Source of Hope: Our hope must be built upon the foundation of our powerful and loving God. Because Habakkuk’s hope was in God, he could patiently wait for God to bring the day of judgment against Babylon. We live - really live - by trusting God. We will make progress in recovery as we improve our relationship with Him and seek His face each day. He is our strength and our place of safety. He is the basis of our hope for recovery” (The Life Recovery Bible).

You are. And I am grateful. Thank You Father.

Funny how I can read Your Word and initially think it says and means one thing. Then as I study and read the same section somewhere else I realize an error in my own understanding.

Take my thinking just now as I read verse two of chapter two. “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else.”

Here in my modern day thinking I imagine the encouraging signs friends and loved ones hold up for marathoners to read as they run by.

A different translation says, “… Then a messenger can read it and run to announce it.” So often Father, I don’t know what I think I know.

Thank You that You are ever here. Unchanging. Leading, guiding, pointing us in the direction You would have us go.

Do that with this day I pray. Lead. Guide. Point me in the direction You have set out for me. Thank You for the work You are doing. The growth You are providing.

I love You. I ask this in Jesus’ precious name. Thank You. Amen.

(447 words ~ 7:28 a.m.)