very afraid

 Friday, May 28, 2021 (5:31 a.m.)

Holy God,

I was afraid last night. Very afraid. Reading Your Word right now, I realize I am not alone. Thank You Father. It’s comforting to know I’m in good company.

My experience was short lived and minor in comparison with the struggles encountered by those written about in the various books of The Bible. Lord, You saw me freeze. Unable to move or think.

Standing in the dark. Stunned. Thoughts scattered. I didn’t even think to pray.

I’m praying now. Hours after the fact. Power yet to be restored to many.

Father, talk with me this morning. Momentary fear took over me last night when the enormous crash preceded flickering lights. Another bang. Flashes. Sparks. An overwhelming green hue to the sky.

(7:31 a.m.)

Two hours later and I’m still trying to understand my reaction. Lord, I just used the phrase “my senses were assaulted.” It seems so inconsequential.

My life wasn’t disrupted. I was in no immediate danger. Or peril. Yet there I stood. Frozen by fear of the unknown. Trying desperately to make it all make sense.

Thank You that Your Word tells us repeatedly not to be afraid. “Fear not. Be of good courage…” Mm, yes. Thank and praise You Father.

Looking in the various Bible translations I’m particularly drawn to Easy-to-Read Version and International Children’s Bible. It’s oddly comforting for me as I read of others being “very afraid.”

Thank You Father. Reading of warnings in Isaiah (21:3) and miracles in Luke (8:22-56) I am grateful for Your Truth and promises. Your peace and comfort settles in and I find myself smiling.

Holy God, no matter the circumstances You remain. Great. Glorious. Good. Gracious. Thank You. Praise You. Use me as only You know is best.

I love You. I need You. And I thank You Lord. Oh, how I thank You! Amen.

(323 words ~ 8:21 a.m.)

"but for the clouds"

Thursday, May 27. 2021 (5:40 a.m.)

Blessed Jesus,

Thank You. Praise You. Worship and adore You!

The words can’t come out fast enough! Right in the midst of my thoughts comes a song. First in snippets. Until, ♪… What A Beautiful Name It Is The Name of Jesus Christ my King♪

The smile on my face keeps getting bigger. Thank You Father. Praise You Lord. You keep blessing my thinking.

Having experienced and accepting the initial disappointment over the missed sighting of yesterday’s lunar eclipse I borrowed an explanatory phrase of a favored uncle. In describing the thwarted talent and craftsmanship of several beloved family members he would insightfully end with the phrase, “but for the drink.”

Mm, yes Lord. But for the drink! Oh how I thank You for the many ways Your Truth comes through in our lives.

Yesterday, while again verbally sharing the absolute beauty of that early morning sky I heard myself say, “But for the clouds…” Waking up just now with the precious memory of 1:27 this morning and clearly seeing the moon right out our bedroom window I found myself immediately thanking and praising You.

Father God, You allow us such mercy and grace. Hope. And “Aha!” moments. Like when I was rousing from sleep and remembered that “Jesus is coming with the clouds!” (Revelation 1:7 Easy-to-Read Version).

I read Your Truth and immediately start singing ♪Our God is greater, our God is stronger God, You are higher than any other Our God is Healer, awesome in power Our God! Our God!♪

And seemingly out of nowhere I’m right back to ♪The Name of Jesus Christ my King… What a wonderful [powerful, beautiful] Name it is The Name of Jesus♪

“But for the clouds” I might have missed the relevance. Thank You for another glimpse of glory, Lord. Praise Your Holy name.

Use me this day. Exactly as You alone know is best. Keep my heart [soul, mind, strength] and hands open wide to accept all You have to offer. Sometimes the biggest blessing comes wrapped in clouds.

Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

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

anyway

 Wednesday, May 26, 2021 (6:29 a.m.)

Holy God,

What would You have me do with disappointment? Thank and praise You anyway! Yes. Thank and praise You Father.

I didn’t get my way earlier. Clouds prevented my perfect viewing of the much anticipated and publicized total eclipse of the Super Flower Blood Moon. I thanked You anyway.

There was unbelievable beauty in the clouds. Along with a Truth I may not have noticed otherwise. I could see hints of the moon. Knew exactly where to look. Even though I caught only an occasional glimpse. Just like with You! I know You’re always here with me. Even though I rarely “see” You.

Father God, I DO thank and praise You for the blessings You provide us. Even this opportunity to discuss feeling disappointed. I didn’t want to appear ungrateful to You. I wanted to be faithful. Hopeful. Loving. Kind.

Thank You for the work You’ve been doing in me that kept me from cursing my dashed hope. I remembered instead to thank You anyway. Being reminded by something that was completely out of my control, I recalled the importance of holding my desire with open hands.

Yes, Lord. Please God. In the grand scheme of things I have far more reasons for which to thank and give You praise. Regardless of any circumstance [or disappointment] You remain great. Glorious. Good. Gracious.

International Children’s Bible puts the Truth of disappointment quite simply. Proverbs 13:12, “It is sad when yo don’t get what you hoped for. But when wishes come true, it’s like eating fruit from the tree of life.”

Keep my eyes on You Dearest God. Your Truth. Your Word. Your promises. Disappointments will come. And go. Continue teaching, empowering and enabling me to thank You anyway.

I love You. I need You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(303 words ~ 7:44 a.m.)

calmed

Tuesday, May 25, 2021 (6:53 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

You did it again! Repeatedly calmed my thoughts throughout the night. Thank You Lord. Mm, yes. Praise You God for Who and all You are!

The smile on my face is real. The peace in my heart? Deep. The more I read in Your Word the greater my hope. Father God, how truly good You are.

All this Truth and music too? Thank You Lord.

♪Water You turned into wine, opened the eyes of the blind There’s no one like You, none like You! Into the darkness You shine, out of the ashes we rise… Our God is greater, our God is stronger God, You are higher than any other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power Our God! Our God!♪

Oh Amazing and Faithful Father, thank You for the hope we find in You. You are so incredibly good. Great. Glorious. Gracious. We are absolutely lost without You. Praise You Lord.

Your Word speaks to staying calm. Being calmed.

And here’s the verse I long to take with me into the day. Psalm 94:19. The Passion Translation. “Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of Your presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.”

Just reading these words, imaging them to be true for me, fills me with such potential for joy. And with that? Another definition!

“potential - having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future” YOU do this for us Lord!

The apostle Paul’s words here, “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am” (Philippians 4:13 The Message). That’s You Lord!

♪ …You make all things work together for my good… ♪

You do! Romans 8:28. Illustrated Bible Handbook, “We have the confidence that whatever enters our life is deigned for good, that we might grow toward likeness to Jesus and our destiny (26-30).” Yes please Lord. All Your Truth and promises.

I love You Father. I trust You. Need You. Want You. Thank and praise You. Amen.

(356 words ~ 8:21 a.m.)

 

mysterious ways

 Monday, May 24, 2021 (6:10 a.m.)

Most Holy God and Father,

Thank You for the opportunity and privilege of coming before You. Thank You for the ways You work in our lives. Mm, yes Lord. Your mysterious ways. Talk with me this morning, won’t You?

How amazing You truly are Dear Lord. I get to share my heart, my soul, my mind, even my strength with You and You lead me deeper into Your Word. Thank You.  Praise You.

Starting with Joshua’s obedience to the Commander of Your army and the ultimate falling of the walls of Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:21) I continue reading and learning all the more. Father God, how I thank You for the words written to empower and encourage us to this very day.

Having the resources to read in and sing of Your Word [♪Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho♪] are blessings I confess to taking for granted far too often. Being able to stop and say “Thank You” is paramount Lord.

We are so exceedingly grateful for who You are. All You do. Have done. And continue doing. On each of our behalf. There truly is no end to Your goodness.

One thought [mysterious ways] leads to a song [♪His Way♪] a Bible verse [Isaiah 55:9] and the internet [compelling Truth and crosswalk]. The more I read, the greater the gratitude.

Father, I thank You for Your tender care. Your Truth. And promises.

I get to read of Joseph’s obedience to You (Genesis and Exodus). And start singing ♪God Will Make A Way Where there seems to be no way He works in ways we cannot see He will make a way for me♪ It’s so true Dear God.

Referred over to Romans 8:28 I continue considering Your mysterious ways. Looking in The Message my heart settles and soars simultaneously. The peace and the hope Your Word provides amazes me.

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”

Blessed, Holy, Father God, we’ve experienced this in our lives of love for You. Ridiculously difficult circumstances turned right side up because of Your perfect mysterious ways!

Father, thank You. Thank You for teaching us. Providing our every need.

The Passion Translation footnote for Romans 8:27 calls You “God, the heart searcher.” You do search our hearts.’Not just to uncover what is wrong, but to fulfill the true desire of our hearts to be fully Yours. Grace triumphs over judgment.’

Oh yes most blessed God. How blessed are we when we deserve judgment, You provide grace. Mercy. And another song. ♪You delight in showing mercy Mercy Triumphs Over judgment Oh love, great love Fear cannot be found in You♪

Thank You Father. Praise You Lord. Use me this day. Exactly as You know is best. In all of Your mysterious ways. I love You. I need You. Amen.

(556 words ~ 8:56 a.m.)

thanking and praising God

 Sunday, May 23, 2021 (6:35 a.m.)

Holy God,

How I thank You Lord. Throughout the night I found myself thinking. Then thanking. Praying. Followed by praising.

Looking to Your Word for others who thanked and praised You, I come across David (1 Chronicles 23:28-31) and Daniel (6:10). Oh to have their faith, Father. Thank You for the opportunity to revisit examples of people who genuinely knew the importance of thanking and praising You. Against all odds.

Most Blessed God, I confess to having convenient faith. The kind that doesn’t interfere with the beliefs of others. I’m far less likely to go out on a limb for You. Forgive me Lord.

Thinking and thanking, praying and praising all come relatively easily for me when I’m alone with You in the dark of night. But what about when what I believe conflicts with that of another? Where is my “Hallelujah! Thank and praise You, God” then?

You know all You are doing with me. I ask for the wherewithal to truly be the woman You created me to be. One who faithfully gives You the glory at every turn.

Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me to Your good and holy end Dearest God. I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You for all that is needed. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(232 words ~ 7:37 a.m.)

Truth-filled thoughts

 Saturday, May 22, 2021 (6:43 a.m.)

Most Blessed, Holy God,

I love You. Thank You for good sleep. And Truth-filled thoughts.

Thank You Lord that You are great. Glorious. Good. Gracious. Faithful. Eternal. Thank You that when my thoughts wander they can always come back to Your Truth. Mm, yes.

Thank You that Your Truth fills our hearts. And minds.

I turn to You this morning. Your Truth. Your promises. Your loving care and kindness.

As I settle in, reading of Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) I’m asking You to lead and guide my learning.