grace to accept

Tuesday, May 7, 2019 (7:12 a.m.)

(7:42 a.m.)

Blessed God,

How I thank You! Yes. Thank You.

I have been experiencing Your “grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed”. Yes. I sit. Consider. Wonder. Hope. Breathe. Rest. And am awed.

Yes Father. I am truly awed by You and the ways You work in our lives.

“Awe; a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear [read here as: full esteem and reverence] or wonder.”

I confess to You Father, I enjoy and appreciate this opportunity of trusting and believing Your Word. Your promises. Your Truth. There is such a gentle sense of calm. Untroubled peacefulness. Thank You God.

Oh Most Dear and Blessed God, how I truly rejoice as I sit here reading in and of the apostle Paul’s confrontation of Peter (Galatians 2:11-21; The Message). Learning again what it is to be justified by faith in Jesus Christ and declared righteous by God (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

Thank You Father that we do not have to work our heads off to please You (v. 19; The Message). Thank You that Paul taught that this approach did not work. It was ‘Christ’s life that showed him how and enabled him to quit being a “law man” so that he could be Your man.’

It’s the conclusion of this section that truly inspires me. “Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate [disown] God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily” (v. 21).

And here, The Life Recovery Bible comment for 2:20-21 ends with, “Paul wanted to show the Jewish believers that they could gain nothing by trying harder. They had to give up control and allow God to heal them and empower them in battling sin. We must give up our old ways of looking for deliverance and accept God’s grace - the free gift of forgiveness and healing offered by Jesus Christ.”

Yes. Yes. Oh yes!

Father, I am asking You to use Your grace in me this day. There is much to attend to. Let me accomplish that which You know is best. Most worthwhile.

I love You Father. I thank You.

I need You. I want You. I choose You. I believe and trust and depend on You and Your grace.

Quoting the last line of Reinhold Niebuhr’s Original Serenity Prayer, “You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.”

Yes, Father. Amen!

(394 words ~ 9:23 a.m.)

a little child shall lead

Monday, May 6, 2019 (6:38 a.m.)

Blessed, Father God,

How I thank You Lord! Thank You for gifts and blessings and memories and ultimately sleep. Yes Father. Sleep came hard last night. My mind wouldn’t shut off no matter how much I tried.

Thank You that instead of continuing to fight it, I was able to remember the significance of being awake late into the night. 36 years ago I had trouble sleeping. Followed by labor pains. And the birth of a baby girl.

Blessed God, how I thank You for that baby girl Lord. One of the little children who has led us through the years (Isaiah 11:6). Mm, and here come the tears!

Oh yes Blessed Father. Thank You for the opportunity and the privilege of parenting this precious child of Yours! Thank You for all she continues to teach us.

Not wanting to misrepresent Your Word, I dig deeper to the meaning behind the quote. Hunting and cherry picking my way through to better understanding I come across several New Testament verses that teach of the power of Your little children.

I sense my heart breaking open under the Truth I read. Children Lead Us in Humility. Children Lead Us In A Forgiving Spirit. A Child Leads In Sincerity. A Child Leads In Confiding Trust.

Thank You Father. Thank You for all You have done through the years in getting our focus back on You. Thank You for the gifts. And the blessings. The memories. And all that is yet to come.

Holy God, I ask You to bless this BabyGirl who has led us in so many ways through the years. Keep Her. Smile on her. Be gracious to her. Show her Your favor. And give her Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

We love You Lord. We need You. We choose You. We ask You. And we thank You. Oh how we thank You. Use me this day exactly as You know is best. Thank You Father. Amen.

(337 words ~ 8:02 a.m.)

Open Door

Sunday, May 5, 2019 (7:02 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. I woke up singing just now. Belting out, actually. Not a new to me song for sure. Also not one I’ve ever paid any attention to before yesterday.

♪Love is an open door! …With You! …♪ It is Father. Truly.

How I never caught this before yesterday I don’t know. I’m so glad to consider Your love for us in the randomness of another Disney lyric.

I requested prayer upon prayer yesterday as I took two boys on our very first solo adventure together. Thank You that it all culminated with three excited and very pleased participants. All because of Your love for each of us.

Father, we planned. Prepared. And most of all prayed. Inviting You along. Thank You for taking such good care of each of us.

And now, about that open door. That door that Jesus spoke of concerning the church of Laodicea. Revelation 3:20. “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.”

We each have the opportunity to welcome You and Your love. Or refuse. Reject. Disregard the love that You offer us.

The Life Recovery Bible’s devotional entitled Love ends by telling us, “Jesus is waiting for us to open our heart and receive His love. He said, ‘Look! Here I stand…’ (Revelation 3:20). Love is waiting. We receive it when we open up to the love God offers us.”

Yep! ♪Love is an open door! …With You! …♪ Continue Your work in teaching me to use that love well. As You know is best.

Father, I love You. I thank You. And I ask You. Do all You must in using us to share Your love and Your open door policy with others. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(317 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)

adventure

Saturday, May 4, 2019 (6:33 a.m.)

Most Dear and Holy God,

Today I’m going on an adventure. And I’m inviting You to go before us. Behind, beside, beneath, above and within us. Completely encompassing us in every way imaginable.

Yes Father, an adventure. With children. I’m seeking Your protection Lord. Asking that we will each be kept safe in Your loving care.

Turning immediately to Your Word, I am drawn to Paul’s writings to the Corinthian believers. Here, in First Corinthians, Paul encouraged Christ’s followers to resolve their problems and honor God.

Yes. Dearest God. Today is set for adventure. I am asking Your presence in our solving of every single problem that may arise. Let us calmly and peacefully approach each issue that could come up and use Your Truth to loving resolve them all.

We love You Father. We need You. We choose You. We trust You. Depend on You. And I am asking You to come on along on this newest adventure.

Thank You God. I love You. Amen.

(173 words ~ 7:46 a.m.)

most blessed

Friday, May 3, 2019 (6:40 a.m.)

Most Blessed and Holy God,

Mm. “Most Blessed”. Father, truly You are!

As I sit here, reading and thinking, I realize… So are we! We are most blessed just to know You.

Jeremiah (17:7) said as much. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. “[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.” I can’t thank You enough. Ever.

The more I read, the more hopeful and grateful I become. One verse leads to another. One section (vs. 8; 9-10) echoing others (Psalm 1:3; 139:1-4).

Mm. Yes. Most Blessed God!

Father, I ask You to use the “warm fuzzies” I am experiencing as I read Your Truth. Promises. Warnings. And hope.

Illustrated Bible Handbook says this concerning these “Psalms of Trust; 17:5-18. The wickedness of man’s incurable heart can only be healed by trust in God (5-10). This beautiful psalm concludes with an appeal by Jeremiah for vindication (14-18). He has not run from his heartbreaking and lonely task.”

I read. I smile. I trust. I believe. And yes, I hope.

The Life Recovery Bible for “JEREMIAH 17:1-14 We may have learned a long time ago that hoping only brings disappointment. Our hopes were dashed. The promises we believed were broken. We were left feeling like fools for ever hoping in the first place. But perhaps we were devastated because we put our hope in the wrong place.”

Because I truly do know You as Most Blessed, I get to believe Your promises. Father, thank You. Praise You.

Continuing in the above devotional, “Turning our life over to God means placing our hope and confidence in Him instead of people, who will disappoint us. When we place all our hope and trust in other people, it’s like expecting a tree to flourish in a barren desert. People will disappoint us and are unable to satisfy our deepest needs. Trusting God changes everything.”

It does! Trusting You truly changes everything. Thank You Father.

Concluding, “Jesus said, ‘The water I give… becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life’ (John 4:14). When our hope is in God and our life is in His care, we are sustained when we otherwise would be devastated.”

Yes. Most blessed and holy God, use us this day as You know is best. Teaching us, empowering and emboldening us in sharing Your Truth and promises with others.

We love You Father. And we long to serve You exactly as You wish. Work in, with, by, through and for us. Thank You. We love You. Amen.

(450 words ~ 8:15 a.m.)

"IF"

Thursday, May 2, 2019 (5:39 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I made a mistake yesterday. More than one I’m sure. Playing different scenarios over and over in my head I quickly realized how much I don’t like the word “IF”.

If I’d done this instead of that. If I hadn’t made the decision I did. If I could do it again.

If…

Thank You that through all the thoughts that ran around in my head, my need for You ran highest. I knew I needed a way to stop the meanness I was putting on myself.

Thank You that “Immanuel Forever” came straight to my mind. Immanuel. God-With-Us. Forever. Yes! Thank You Father. "IF"

I was actually thinking how destructive that word is to our peace of mind. If this, if that, if something else. Once I substituted You into the mix, I smiled. The tension left.

Immanuel Forever! Yes. You are with us forever. We do not have to be critical. Afraid. Upset. Alone. We can choose to turn and trust in You. Thank You Father.

Thank You even more for another Truth that goes along with these two letters. "I’m forgiven." Whatever the worse possible scenario, I’m forgiven!

I no longer need to hate this word. I no longer need to fear it. Yes. I will continue to make mistakes. Rarely intentionally. And every single time You will be with me and I will be forgiven.

And here I get to read Your Word. In Isaiah. Illustrated Bible Handbook. The Book of Immanuel (Chapters 7-12). Blessed, Holy God, how I thank You.

Coming to this section because of two verses (Isaiah 8:9-10). “But face the facts, all you oppressors, and then wring your hands. Listen, all of you, far and near. Prepare for the worst and wring your hands. Yes, prepare for the worst and wring your hands! Plan and plot all you want - nothing will come of it. All your talk is mere talk, empty words, Because when all is said and done, the last word is Immanuel - God-With-Us” (The Message).

How much do I resemble this description? Prepare, plan, plot and wring my ways. Ah! “Because when all is said and done, the last word is Immanuel - God-With-Us.” Oh, yes Blessed Father. Yes! Immanuel forever.

Here [The Book of Immanuel] I get to read again of Your promise. A Word of Hope; 7:1-9. A Call to Trust the Lord (Isaiah 8:11-22; The Life Recovery Bible). Titled A Boulder Blocking Your Way in The Message. Your Word rings out hope when we read deep enough to find it.

“GOD spoke strongly to me, grabbed me with both hands and warned me not to go along with this people. He said: ‘Don’t be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don’t fear what they fear. Don’t take on their worries. If you’re going to worry, worry about The Holy. Fear GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. The Holy can be either a Hiding Place or a Boulder blocking your way,’” (vs. 11-14a).

We get to read of warnings. And promises. Hope. Your anger. Judgment. More hope. The just rule of the Messiah. And Songs of Praise for Salvation (Chapter 12). All because I thought I hated the word IF.

Father, I ask You to use me this day in spreading Your Truth. The hope we have only in You. The fact that You ARE with us. Immanuel Forever!

And when I do make those mistakes that are indeed inevitable, remind me as often as You must that because of Your love and sacrifice "I’m forgiven." Thank You Father.

Provide the blessings as You know is best. Empower and enable me in using them to Your glory and the good of others. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(641 words ~ 7:26 a.m.)

boggled praise

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 (6:52 a.m.)

Holy God,

I just reached for the letter ‘A’ and quickly realized it’s another new month. Lord, my mind is truly boggled. How does it keep seeming like time is just flying?

Boggle: marvel, wonder, baffle, astonish, astound, amaze, stagger, overwhelm.

Yep. That’s the word. I am experiencing all those things. So often and in so many ways.

I pause. Think. Wonder. Scramble. Try to get a clue. And smile as I realize that there is just so very much that we are never going to understand.

Rather than allow my mind to continue unchecked, I exhale fully. Inhaling naturally I am more aware of my surroundings.

Father, the other day I made the statement to a seven year old that “It’s hard to be human.” We have the ability to think. And that can lead us in so many directions.

Here I am asking You Dearest Dad, reel me in. Put me in check. There is a part of me that feels completely out of control. And then I remember. Praise!

Yes Father, when all is not that I can understand, still I can praise You.

(8:38 a.m.)

Yes! Still I can praise You. Thank You Father.

Two songs merge together right now. Matt Redman ♪You Never Let Go♪ and Joseph Garlington ♪My Life Is In You♪

Yes Blessed God. My mind can get boggled. I can have the sense that all is spiraling out of my control. And then I can turn again. To You! Breathe. And let myself go. Fully. Into Your comforting, continuing care.

Yes Father! Praise You!

Psalm 150. The Message. “Hallelujah!” Praise You in Your “holy house of worship, …under the open skies;” Praise You for Your acts of power, … Your magnificent greatness.

“Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings; … with castanets and dance, …with banjo and flute; …with cymbals and a big bass drum, … with fiddles and mandolin. Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD! Hallelujah!”

Yes Father! Hallelujah! Praise You!

I can choose confusion and overwhelm and unsteadiness and… OR I can praise You. Thank You Father.

I am asking that I would truly praise You in [with, by, through] my thoughts, words and deeds this day. Let them be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight.

I love You. I need You. I choose You. I want You. I trust You. And I praise You Father. How deeply and truly do I praise You!

Teach, empower and embolden me in doing it all the more. Thank You Father.

As I search Your Word, wondering how best to praise I come full circle back to Psalm 150. The Life Recovery Bible comment.

“One of the best ways to praise God is with our life, including submitting to His will for us and sharing the Good News with others. All of us are recipients of God’s loving forgiveness and restoration. Every living creature - each of us - has ample reason to praise our wonderful gracious God. ‘Let everything that lives sing praise to the LORD! Praise the LORD!'”

Yes. Father. Yes!

The speed with which life seems to be passing me by is dizzying. When I am aware of exhaling the futility of it all and breathing in the simplicity of Your Message, again I am able to let go and allow You to truly be God of my life. My mind. This moment.

Thank You Father. Use me I pray. Exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(584 words ~ 9:22 a.m.)