♪Good Good Father♪

Friday, May 14, 2021 (8:26 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

How I thank You for being such a ♪Good Good Father♪ It really IS Who You are! ♪And I’m loved by You It’s who I am…♪ Thank and praise You God.

I was able to think a lot about swimming yesterday. Time spent in the water. Helping others learn to be safe in and near it. What a genuine, tremendous blessing You have provided me Lord.

Comparing the numerous things that float naturally with those that automatically sink. I’m still smiling as I consider a thought I shared with another believer. Unforgiveness will sink us straight to the bottom. Every single time. Just like a stone.

(9:06 a.m.)

Blessed God, it’s You I want to know. Honor. Worship. Adore. This day. And always. Speak to me in ways that I am able to see as well as hear. You are so good Lord. Yes. Absolutely.

♪You’re a Good, Good Father It’s Who You are… And I’m loved by You♪ Do all You must Dearest Dad, that I genuinely come to live and love as You originally designed us.

Right here again, You guide. And I follow. Thank and praise You Lord. Over to God’s Original Design (Genesis 2:15-25). harvest.org Points to ponder. Questions to consider and the call to “take steps now to change the direction of your marriage. If you do God will bless your marriage.”

You designed Your love for us to share with others. Continue teaching us how. Thank You our good, good Father. Praise You. Use us. Amen.

(264 words ~ 9:36 a.m.)

I am grateful!

 Thursday, May 13, 2021 (6:15 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. I love You. You’re good. And I’m grateful. Oh yes, blessed God. I am grateful!

Here I quote David’s praise of You from The Message, “Thank You! Everything in me says ‘Thank You!’ Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing Your holy temple and say it again: ‘Thank You!’ Thank You for Your love, thank You for Your faithfulness; Most holy is Your name, most holy is Your Word. The moment I called out, You stepped in; You made my life large with strength” (Psalm 138:1-3).

Life made large with strength. That’s You Dear Lord! Doing all with us. In, by, through and for us that we can’t possibly ever do on our own.

Thank and praise You Father. These heartfelt words of David's remind us that we always have something for which to give You thanks. Your holiness. Love. Faithfulness. Strength. Power. It’s all You Oh God. How deeply and truly I thank You.

I have an entire day of unstructured opportunity before me. Use it and me to Your good and to Your glory. ♪I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing♪

You are so good. It always comes back to Your goodness and Your grace. Do all You must that You will genuinely be glorified and enjoyed by me. Forever.

Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(233 words ~ 7:08 a.m.)

"What's the Truth?"

 Wednesday, May 12, 2021 (6:19 a.m.)

You’ve done it again! Thank and praise You God.

Thoughts swirled most of the night. Finally came the question. “What’s the lie?” Followed almost immediately with the answer. “I’m not enough.” Then Your Truth. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

Praise You Father.

Believing Your Truth brought a deeply natural smile. And a fifty year old song. Reminding me that I, myself, am something special. I confess Lord, I forget this. Often.

Interesting that it’s a “Chicano rock, soft rock, funk” song that still has me swaying. Internally, as well as physically.

♪Laaahh ah, ah, ah La, la, la… I never met a girl like you in my life… Suavecito, mi linda♪ 

When I look at the lyrics I can imagine You singing them to me. ♪From here on, you’re gonna see You’ll be mine until eternity Suavecito, mi niña Suavecito, la, la, la…♪

Holy God, thank You for repeatedly reminding me to look for Your Truth. I am enough. Because I am made in Your image (Genesis 1:27). Praise You Father.

Amplified Bible tells me Your Truth according to David. “I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works And my soul knows it very well.”

Mm, Truth! Your blessed Word of Truth.

Use me this day to Your good and glorious end Dear Lord. Smiling. Singing. Standing firmly and staying my mind on Your Truth. I love You. I need You. How I thank and praise You. Amen.

(262 words ~ 7:36 a.m.)

perfect delight

 Tuesday, May 11, 2021 (6:23 a.m.)

Holy God,

You provided us such a delightfully perfect day yesterday. Or was it perfectly delightful? Either way, Lord, I thank You.

Decisions came easily. Plans fell into place. What joy. And contentment. Praise You Father.

It all started with a heartfelt prayer. Absolutely ideal weather for yard work. Every necessary tool. As well as opportunity to connect with our neighbors. Truly blessed Lord. Thank You.

Remembering to pray at each turn came easily. As did redirecting as needed. Father, how I thank You for the privilege of knowing I was being held firmly in Your grip. A truly glorious experience. Thank and praise You Lord.

This morning I’m reading in John. Chapter 17. Jesus’ Final Prayer. Paying particular attention to verse 13. Beginning with Amplified Bible, Classic Edition and ending with a footnote from The Passion Translation.

Jesus praying, “And now I am coming to You (The Father); I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them (His disciples) [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].”

That’s what I encountered yesterday Lord. Your joy. Delight. EnJOYment. Gladness. Perfection. In my soul. Filling my heart. Thank and praise You Father.

The footnote for this verse tells us, “This ‘delight’ is more than happiness. It is the complete satisfaction that comes in knowing that our lives are pleasing to the Father and that we fulfill His desires on the earth. This is the delight that Jesus shares with us and prays that we would experience.”

Yes, Lord! Your perfect delight. Do all You must that we would continue learning to live in Your loving presence.

Father God, I love You. I thank You. We need You. Use us as You know is best. Praise You. Amen.

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

learning love

 Monday, May 10, 2021 (7:20 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Just when I thought I didn’t have anything to say, “Learning Love” came to mind. Yes Father. Thank You that in You, we get to learn love!

Oh, thank and praise You, Lord! Right when we start to think we know so much, that “we’ve got this” Your Truth shows we are only beginning to learn.

Psalm 51:16-17

1 Corinthians 2:6-13

Ephesians 5:1-2

Philippians 1:9-11

Colossians 1:3-8

2 John 1:4-6

All these verses and it’s at 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 that I stop. Asking You to continue Your teaching me Dear Lord.

Yes Father. Following the title Love Is the Greatest, we learn there is “something else that is better than any of them!” Referencing the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in chapter 12.

Verses 1 through 3 of chapter 13 tell us so much of the importance of Your love working in our lives. “If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal…”

Gifts of prophesy, knowing all the mysteries of the future, having the gift of faith, giving all and sacrificing self without loving others “would be of no value whatsoever” (v. 3b New Living Translation).

Oh most Dear and Blessed God, continue Your work in my learning to love as You would have me.

The Life Recovery Bible 13:1-3 footnote teaches us, “Paul was writing to a group of believers who had started to forget what real love is. He showed them all their abilities, talents, and spiritual gifts amounted to nothing if they didn’t love each other. Without selfless love, we have nothing. Loving relationships are essential to the recovery process.”

The Passion Translation sums up this simple Truth so perfectly. “… and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing.”

I want to learn to love as You would have me Dearest Lord. I confess, I currently don't. Do all You must to Your good and perfect end. I love You.

Quoting the apostle Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians (1:9-11) here in The Message. I sincerely ask You to make Your Truth happen in me. “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life circumspect [cautious, careful] and exemplary [ideal], a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.”

Yes Lord. Teach me that I will continue learning love. Your love. Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(505 words ~ 8:22 a.m.)

quiet trust

 Sunday, May 9, 2021 (6:33 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that You are good. Great. Glorious. Gracious. Talk with me this morning about Your character.

1 Peter 3

sleep interrupted

 Saturday, May 8, 202 (7:03 a.m.)

Holy God,

How blessed am I to have You keep me company throughout the night! Thank You Lord.

It seemed like such an especially long stretch of darkness. So many interruptions. And every time, thoughts of you. Praise You, God.

I wasn’t expecting to be reading of Job and The Book of Human Suffering yet here I am. Thanking You again. There is so much for us to learn. About You. Your grace. Your goodness.

Thank You Father. No matter how wrongly we, or our friends, may think about our circumstances, You remain true. Your Word of Truth and promises does not change.

Job’s friends thought they knew and could explain why he was suffering as he was. The Message says Elihu wanted not to be interrupted (Job 33:29-33) while he taught “the basics of wisdom.”

Oh Lord, how often do I fall into that category? Of being so completely wrong about any given circumstance. Forgive me, I pray!

Quoting here the last paragraph of The Life Recovery Bible’s introduction to the book of Job again I thank You for Your Truth Dearest God.

“The book’s prologue makes it clear that Job was innocent. The solutions offered by his friends were clearly wrong. Why did God allow Job to suffer? Job was never given a lucid answer. He did learn, however, to stand humbly and trustingly before His Creator. God alone knows and understands all things. Life brings hurts, and there are no guarantees that we will escape them. But through suffering we can learn to live by faith rather than by our own strength. We can learn that even when suffering leads us to doubt, God is still with us.”

Oh, most dear and blessed Father, how I thank You for every single disruption that brings us closer to You. Use me and all interruptions I encounter to point directly to You.

I love You. I need You. I thank You. And I ask You to guide and direct me in Your glorious light. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(347 words ~ 8:20 a.m.)