do all You must

Thursday, March 7, 2019 (6:20 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Good morning. Thank You. Yes thank You Father.

I have a true sense of peace about me. I was drawn to the Truth of Acts 20:24 the other evening. Looking into it right now I ask Your guidance and understanding.

The apostle Paul acknowledged being “irresistibly drawn by the Holy Spirit” (V. 22) to Jerusalem, not knowing what awaited him, “except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead” (23). What an example for us Father! Thank You.

I read of Paul’s experiences and automatically link them to THE TWELVE STEPS with which I am familiar. Step 11 particularly comes to mind here.

“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” Paul demonstrates his willingness to obey You time and again.

The verse (24) to which I initially turned has me visiting Step 12 as well. Fully aware of the dangers and unknowns that lie ahead of him Paul confidently stayed true to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

“But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.” Father, I want to live my life with that kind of abandon.

Step 12, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message [YOUR Message!] to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” Yes, please, Father.

You are indeed good. Holy. Worthy. Do all You must in making me the woman You created me to be.

I love You. I long to serve You as only You know is best. Do all You must to this end. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(329 words ~ 7:06 a.m.)

attending

Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019 (5:55 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You for another rainy day. Thank You for the shelter we have against the elements. How I ask Your blessings and mercies on those being negatively affected by the weather.

Holy God, here once more I chide myself for being aware of problems without taken action. Talk with me concerning where You would have me put my focus.

Yes Father. Direct my attention to the areas You would have me explore.

Today we begin the season of Lent. A time of preparation. Self-reflection. And repentance. Work in and with us these next 40 weekdays.

You are so good. I long to live and to love as You would have me.

A United Methodist topical search concerning Lent teaches it as a time “when we seek to literally ‘turn around’ and realign our lives and focus toward God. It is a time to give up things as well as take on new life-giving practices, helping us rid ourselves of distractions and our own selfish desires. By doing so, we seek to live and love as more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.” Yes please Father.

While walking the dog yesterday I found myself truly attending to many of the moments I was experiencing. Not thinking ahead of what was to come. Nor ruminating over what had already been. Actually being aware of where I was. Genuinely there in each moment.

Thank You for that experience Father. This Lenten Season I ask that You will teach me the importance of honestly attending, truly being present at the times You provide us.

I tend to get easily distracted. I long to learn to focus on what You have for us each day. Giving up eating in the living room until Easter and walking the dog as many days as possible are only two ways I am hoping to experience more of You.

Thank You for this time together Father. I love You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Amen.

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

one-of-a-kind

“Fat” Tuesday, March 5, 2019 (8:30 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

It’s such a different morning. Asleep until after the sun shone. A very detailed dream. An unexpected phone call. Not our usual start to the day.

(8:57 a.m.)

Yes Father. Different. Unusual. Unique. One of a kind. Words that have come to define describe me these past few weeks. Thank You Father. Yes. Thank You.

Thank You for the smile that continues breaking through. It’s a brand new day. One of a kind. Out of the ordinary. How I ask You to use it to Your best. To Your good. And to Your glory.

How I thank You Father. For taking a seemingly crazy dream and turning it into fond memories. Along with a sense of awe. A reminder of the possibilities that each day holds.

I didn’t plan to come before You with such a wide scope of potential topics. Thank You for narrowing them all down to Jesus’ one-of-a-kindness, found in John 1:14-18.

Here we are introduced to “The true light of the world… Jesus Christ, who was full of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness” (The Life Recovery Bible comment). Thank you Father.

Illustrated Bible Handbook tells us, “Through incarnation He [Jesus] communicates God’s glory in an entirely new way.” Different. Unique. One-of-a-kind. Praise You!

“Through Jesus, who was both fully God and fully human, we can know what God is like and enjoy a relationship with Him. Jesus Christ came to bring us God’s unfailing love and forgiveness and to reveal God’s faithfulness to us” (TLRB). Holy God, how truly grateful we are!

“God’s forgiving grace says, ‘I forgive you for your wrongs; I love and accept you freely for the person you are.’ His faithfulness says, ‘I will follow through on all I have promised’ ” (TLRB). Praise You. Thank You. Use me this brand new day as only You know is best.

I love You. I need You. I trust You. And I ask You to continue Your work in me as only You can. Uniquely. Unusually. In Your truly one-of-a-kind way. I love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(368 words ~ 10:00 a.m.)

"Amen! Come Lord Jesus!"

Monday, March 4, 2019 (5:44 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. Romans 3:24. I’ve been thinking about it since 12:15. Now I’m even singing 

(6:12 a.m.)

And here I am switching gears. Frustration followed not being able to find the lyrics to ♪Take the gift, take the gift, take the gift, It’s free♪ To the point that I slid right into searching other things on the internet.

Father, I’m asking You to put my focus back on You. There’s this huge struggle with disappointment that I’m dealing with.

Not because of the song. Just overall. A disconnect. A sadness. I don’t know what to do with it.

Taking a big exhalation I’m going to lie down and see what happens. Forgive me Father. I really don’t know what’s going on with me.

(6:49 a.m.)

And here I am. Back with a different perspective. I can wonder. And work. And spin myself in various directions. Or I can sit. Rest. Wait upon You. Thank You God.

Yes Father. Thank You for settling my soul. My heart. My mind. 

Sitting with You. Exhaling deeply. And choosing to trust.

I don’t need to know all the things I wonder about. I need to know and trust You. I can find peace when I invite You in to the chaos that swirls deep within my being.

Thank You Jesus. Thank You that while I don’t understand so much that happens in this world I can choose to rest and trust in You. I can believe in Your return. Not needing to know when. Just trusting that You will indeed come again.

Thank You Father. Thank You Son. Thank You Holy Spirit. You know all that is needed for this day. I am willing to trust You in it.

While the smile on my face is faint, I feel it deeply. Thank You. This is my wholehearted worship to You. I rest. I trust. And I plead, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).

Yes. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(341 words ~ 7:20 a.m.)

the power of Christ's resurrection

Sunday, March 3, 2019 (5:41 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

Thank You.

For hours now I keep coming back to the Truth we find in Romans 3:23. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Talk with me about this I pray.

Thank You Father. Starting over in chapter one I am reading with fresh eyes. And as I do, I find so much hope.

(6:22 a.m.)

The smile on my face continues coming and going. As does the awkwardness I feel resulting from the song that keeps singing itself to me. Looking up the lyrics only intensifies that awkwardness.

♪I get knocked down But I get up again♪ by Chumbawamba of all things. I read a little in Romans and what seems to be my own private fight song starts up again.

With that said Blessed God, I am asking You to guide and direct me in our time together.

And just like that the song is singing again. I’m reading Reflections on Romans in The Life Recovery Bible. insights ABOUT THE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION. No blasphemy intended here. Jesus got knocked down And He got up again. Again and again and again.

Holy God, thank You. Thank You for the various ways You speak to us. Thank You for making Your Word come alive as we read It. Your genuine treasure trove of Truth.

(7:24 a.m.)

I read. I sing. I hope. I want. Yes Father. I want to know You more. You are so good. You provide for all our needs. Empower and embolden me in living this day as You would have me.

Loosely quoting The Life Recovery Bible summary of Romans, we are all guilty. We are all offered Your free gift of salvation. It’s Your grace and the Holy Spirit within us that frees us from sin’s power.

We have no grounds to be arrogant because “all have sinned and fallen short”. Although we are each different, it’s because of Your mercy that we must respect one another. Thank You Father.

When we are willing to come to You, believing and trusting in the power of Christ’s resurrection, You teach us how to live. This is where I ask You to show me ‘how to deal with my sinful attitudes and behaviors, telling me how to get back on the right track. Showing me how to recover from the effects of sin and dysfunction in my life.’

Mm, yes Father. And here again the song, ♪I get knocked down But I get up again…♪

Thank You Father. I love You. Use me this day exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Amen.

(449 words ~ 7:51 a.m.)

songs of praise

Saturday, March 2, 2019 (5:48 a.m.)

Blessed God,

How I love You. And thank You. Yes Father. Thank You that I get to wake up saying, "I love You."

What shall we do here today? How shall I praise You?

Singing. Yes!

♪To God be the glory Great things He hath done So loved He the world that He gave us His Son♪ Hmm. Yes Father. Thank You that we get to sing to You.

(7:02 a.m.)

And just like that, a mistakenly pushed button gave me time to explore another avenue. One closest to my heart. Wifedom. A rare British word meaning “the position or state of being a wife.”

Blessed God, thank You. Thank You that this IS a position and state that I take especially personally.

Holy God, being able to explore Your Word truly allows me to sing songs of praise to You. Thank You Father.

We have “rainy day schedule” here today. Let me use it well. Heeding the common sense collections of wisdom in the book of Proverbs, combined with the wise words of the Preacher/Teacher in Ecclesiastes.

Holy God, I love the way You get my attention. Especially when I think I’m sure I’m heading off in one direction. Then “BAM!” Proverbs 21:9 and Ecclesiastes 9:9.

Two verses with which I wholeheartedly agree. Only because of the work You have done in me through the years. Thank You Father for making me receptive to Your Truth.

I love You. I long to be the woman You would have me be. Work in, with, by, through and for me this cold and rainy day. Do all You must that I will truly glorify and enjoy You through the process.

The smile on my face is genuine. Deep.

You provided me the desire to love and respect this man to the best of the ability I have in You. You are the One who has impressed Your Truth so deeply upon my heart. Thank You Father.

As I go off into this day, I ask You to continue reminding me that it truly is “Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife” (Proverbs 21:9 Christian Standard Bible). Yes Father.

Continue Your work in each of us that we will represent You well. The Living Bible says to “Live happily with the woman you love through the fleeting days of life, for the wife God gives you is your best reward down here for all your earthly toil” (Ecclesiastes 9:9). Keep up Your good work in us Dear Lord.

And here I quote The Life Recovery Bible comment for “9:7-10 Because life is short, we should enjoy it fully, and whatever we do, do well. The Teacher recognized that ‘under the sun’ was not the end of the story, but he never minimized the importance of our days here. God wants us to enjoy the friends and family He has given us. We may sometimes feel that our life is insignificant in the larger scheme of things, but we need to realize that our everyday life does make a difference. God will use us to touch the lives of others if we follow His program. This is one of the greatest lessons of recovery.”

Yes please Father. Keep guiding and teaching us to Your will and Your way. We love You. And long to sing Your praises. Do all You must. Thank You. Amen.

(584 words ~ 8:37 a.m.)

mindful

Friday, March 1, 2019 (5:56 a.m.)

Holy God,

I’m here seeking newness. It’s a new day. A new month. I would like a new attitude.

Thank You. Just saying that helped me smile. Smiling settled my soul. Out went the bad air, in came the good. Yes breathing fully helps me see straighter. Thank You Father.

Thank You for the saying that I came across the other day. “In with the butterflies. Out with the bees.”

(6:21 a.m.)

Oh yes Father! Thank You for the helpfulness of others. Taking time to explore new and different to me ideas just now slowed my breathing and settled my racing mind.

Thank You Father! Settling in with You. Exploring verses in Your Word I have never pondered before.

The more fully I exhale, the deeper I inhale and the clearer my thinking. Thank You God.

Thank You for the opportunity of looking into Paul’s words to the Gentile and Jewish Christians living in Rome almost 2,000 years ago. Father, I love the way Your Word speaks to us in present times.

Initially turning to the eleventh chapter of Romans because of the word mindful, I continue breathing fully and deeply. More hopeful with each exhalation. You are in charge Father. And I am grateful.

Verses 19 and 20 in The Message paint the picture of Your tree of faith. Deadwood was pruned because of a disconnect of belief and commitment between the branches and the root. Then a grafting took place. Allowing me to unite with Your "belief-nurturing root."

Paul cautions the Gentile believers, “So don’t get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green.” Yes please Father. Keep me viable. And growing.

I love You. I long to serve You. Joyfully. Mindfully. Lovingly. Completely.

“For everything comes from Him; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory evermore. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

Empower and enable me in glorifying and enjoying You as You know is best. Fully. Deeply.

Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

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