love and trust

 Tuesday, November 8, 2022 (5:48 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I come before You this morning. Curious. Grateful. Trusting. Mm, yes. I trust You, Lord.

And just like that [snap!] I’m singing. And turning in Your Word to learn and know more. ♪I Love You, Lord and I lift my voice To worship You, O my soul, rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what You hear: May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear♪

Thank You most dear and glorious God. Thank You for Your love that holds us steady. Thank You that in all the various things that we know little to nothing about, You stay true.

(6:22 a.m.)

And here I thank You all the more! The verse associated with this short praise chorus is Psalm 18:1. Concerning this psalm, Illustrated Bible Handbook relates, “Shout out joy and love!” Telling of David’s feelings regarding being “delivered from Saul and his other enemies. In graphic language David portrays God coming to aid His trusting servant.”

Joy and love. Love and trust. Yes please Lord. So many unknowns. Concerns. Out and out misleading lies. We need You God!

David’s words, “I love You, Lord; You are my strength. The LORD is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God is my Rock in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the Power that saves me, and my Place of Safety” (vs. 1-2).

Thank You. Praise You. Use me Blessed God. Loving and trusting You to be and do all You have promised through the ages. I love, need, trust and want You. Be glorified Dear Lord. In my thoughts, words and actions. Amen.

(282 words ~ 6:49 a.m.)

Stand!

 Monday, November 7, 2022 (5:38 a.m.)

Holy, holy, holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. I got to be really honest with You yesterday. And You blessed me. Repeatedly. Thank You!

Wanting to cold (56°) water swim and mow the lawn I dressed accordingly. While distractedly sweeping up fallen leaves and surveying weeds I will want to pull someday I remembered doing much the same 29 years ago. Preparing the yard for an after funeral family gathering.

Thank You God! That one “I’ve done this before” thought helped me identify a knee jerk reaction to the sadness I was feeling. Subliminal though it was.

Lord God, You never cease to amaze me! Having attempted this same swim the day before, I was fully aware that it just wasn’t “right.” Paying attention to the lack of sun on the water allowed me to change my mind and try again this next day.

Having been honest with You yesterday morning I kept following Your lead throughout the day. Church. Baking A volunteer school project. And finally, outside. Reminded almost immediately that this is 29 years, almost to the day, that life support was discontinued for my dad. Thank You again Dearest God.

Thank You for Your presence with me now. Thank You for Your presence with us then. Thank You for the kind doctor who asked if he could pray before disconnecting the machines.

Thank You Lord. Thank You for the songs I woke up singing yesterday. Those same ones that flooded back to me while swimming. All employing the same word. Stand.

♪Stand By Your Man♪ was first. ♪I’m Still Standing♪ followed rather quickly. A bit later came ♪Standing in the Need of Prayer♪

It was while swimming that I smiled at the one word title. A command I sense from You regularly. ♪Stand!♪ Lord God, I truly want to stand with You. In You. By You. Through You. For You.

Here I look to Your Word. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” Yes, please!

Mm, yes Dearest God. So many verses reminding us to “Stand!” Firm. Against the schemes of the devil.

Do all You must this day that we will truly follow You. Your leading. Your way. We love You. We need You. We trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Use me. Amen.

(404 words ~ 7:12 a.m.)

ever present

 Sunday, November 6, 2022 (5:18 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy, Loving God,

I’m confessing sadness this morning Lord. I love You. I’m loved by You. How can I even begin to justify such a discrepancy?! I can’t! You can. I’ll let You.

Thank You that You know my heart (Proverbs 21:2) Dearest God. Thank You that we get to come before You exactly as we are. We 

(6:03 a.m.)

… are blessed to follow our thoughts into Your Word. Lord God, You know my ramblings. Where they begin. And end. Thank You that I don’t have to try and change them all into making any sense. I get to bring them to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7) Your ever present 

(6:22 a.m.)

Yes! Your ever present...  help! That’s what I’m seeking.

Thank You for rifling through my emotions. Showing me the fear I have for the world today. Again I say to You, You know my heart. You know all the concerns I work so hard to avoid (Philippians 4:6).

Lord God, I thank You that I get to come before You saying I need You. I need Your strength. Your power. Your wisdom. Your presence. Your continued presence in my heart. Soul. Mind. And strength.

Dearest, dearest God. Thank You that You ARE “our ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1). I come before You still singing out one of the many songs with which I awoke all those hours ago.

♪It’s me, it’s me, it's me, O Lord, Standin’ In the Need of Prayer…♪ Yes! It’s me. Standing in deep need O Lord.

Use me. Exactly as You know is best. Fear, sadness and all! Please do all I cannot. In. With. By. Through. And for me. I trust You to be my ever present help in times of trouble. Here. Now. And always.

Thank You for the supreme privilege of being allowed and encouraged to call upon Your Holy name. Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(337 words ~ 6:48 a.m.)

still learning!

 Saturday, November 5, 2022 (5:23 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You.

(5:55 a.m.)

I’m still learning! Thank You for that.

Thank You for ALL the times I’ve thought I’ve known so much only to be reminded that I really don’t. I’m still learning. So much. About so many things.

Father, I want to live this day as You would have me. Learning as I go. Do all You must to keep my focus on You. Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

Reading in Proverbs (1:1-6, 7; 12:1; 18:15), Micah (4:1-4), John (6:43-46), Galatians (3:2-4) I am again reminded of how little I actually know. And how very much there is for me to keep practicing.

Thank You that even here as I consider Your love for each and every single one of us, the music in my head continues on repeat. Changing just one word of the title and several in the song itself I have that dreamy feeling of being whole. In You. With You. By You. Through You. For You.

Replacing the word “standing” with “learning” it fits me well. ♪I’m Still Standing Learning better than I ever did Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid And I’m still standing learning after all this time Picking up the pieces of my life without You always on my my mind♪

Thank You dear God and Father. You know us so well. Our needs. Our faults. And You love us anyway. Always.

Continue teaching me that I will keep learning. Each and every day. I love You. I need, trust and want You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(292 words ~ 7:11 a.m.)

"I love You."

 Friday, November 4, 2022 (5:37 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Thank You for all the reasons we are able to say this to You.

(6:48 a.m.)

First introduced to the ease with which we get to express ourselves to You over 45 years ago. During a children’s sermon. “I love You.”

Short. Sweet. Says it all.

Reading the various things written in Your Word and on the internet again I simply say, “I love You.” Thank You Father that many times the less said truly is the better.

Use me this day Dear Lord. Exactly as You know is best. Loving You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. And my neighbor as myself (Mark 12:30-31). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(128 words ~ 7:10 a.m.)

P.S. ♪I Love You Lord and I lift my voice To worship You O my soul, rejoice! Take joy, my King in what You hear May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear♪

Short. Sweet. To the point! <3

intermittent rain

 Thursday, November 3, 2022 (5:04 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You.

We had rain yesterday. Light. Gentle. Intermittent rain. Until it was gone. Lord God, thank You for the reminder of Your tender care of us.

Thank You that there is nothing intermittent about Your love for us. Reminders of it abound and surround us. Thank You for the promptings You provide for us to remember and be grateful to You.

Intermittent rain allowed us to slow down. Take a good look. Recall past rainy days. Be excited. Thankful. Glad.

Blessed Father, You have enabled, encouraged, nurtured us in our relationship with You. And one another.

I watched an example of kind forgiveness yesterday. One person offering compassionate understanding to another’s circumstance.

Father, how I want to be consistently kind. Patient. Forgiving. Yes. Work with me I pray. In. By. Through. And for me. Making me into the woman You created me to be.

(6:42 a.m.)

One who loves You with all her heart, soul, mind and strength. And her neighbor as herself (Mark 12:30-31).

The sinful woman, who anointed Jesus’ feet with her tears, hair and expensive perfume (Luke 7:36-50) gives us such a wonderful example of faith. Caring most about Him. More than anything else.

Thank You God for the forgiveness He provided her. And us. I want to be consistent in my forgiveness. Of others. And myself.

Thank You that You are such a good, good Father. Use me today as You know is best. Loving. Forgiving. And kind. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(263 words ~ 6:55 a.m.)

loving kindness

 Tuesday, November 1, 2022 (4:26 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for Your loving kindness. Thank You from just these two words I’m taken straight into Your Word (Lamentations 3:22-23). And over again to songfacts [♪Great Is Thy Faithfulness♪].

Lead and guide me this morning Dear Lord.

(5:12 a.m.)

How I thank You Lord for the examples You provide us throughout Your Word. This morning I continue looking at the despair Jeremiah experienced. The physical as well as the emotional.

What a blessing to be able to read his words. Father, thank You for his honesty and faithfulness to You. Starting at verse 20 [Easy-to-Read Version]. “I remember well all my troubles, and I am very sad. But then I think about this, and I have hope: We are still alive because the LORD’s faithful love [loving kindness] never ends. Every morning He shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal!”

Lord God, I love the examples You provide us of others remaining faithful to You in times of brutal trials and hopelessness. You ARE our hope. And how well we know it. Thank You Father.

Use us this day. Exactly as You know is best. Relying on You for our every single need. Thank You for Your faithfulness Dearest God. Your provisions. And mercies. Strength. And blessings. All from You. Teach us to use them well.

I love You Lord. I need, trust and want You. Continue Your work in each of us. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(260 words ~ 5:58 a.m.)