God is!

 Day of Epiphany ~ Friday, January 6, 2023 (6:21 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed, Holy God,

I cut time with You short yesterday. Started. Stopped. Went on to other things. Forgive me please.

Thank You for reminding me just before bed that my dependence is in and on You. Throughout a very sleepless time I was able to recall the importance of fearing not. And beholding!

I confess my tendency of catastrophizing circumstances. Making mountains out of molehills. Thinking of the “what if”s instead of “God is!”

Oh yes Father! Thank You that You are far greater than my deepest fear. ♪Lord, You are more precious than silver; Lord, You are more costly than gold; Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds; And nothing I desire compares with You♪

Your Word of Truth and promises is our true treasure Dearest God. In It, You provide every answer to any question we could possibly ever ponder. Proverbs 8:1, “Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!”

Father, I am asking You to steady my thinking. Align it with Yours. “Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge over pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can be compared with it” (Proverbs 8:10-11).

What I desire right now Lord is Your presence as we prepare to travel in inclement weather. Icy streets and walkways. Steady us Lord. It IS in You we trust!

And would You just look at this! A comment for Psalm 91:1-4 in The Life Recovery Bible. “When we discover we are powerless to fight our addiction alone, we become weak like little children. We feel helpless to protect ourself, caught in a whirlwind of our own making.” [Isn’t that EXACTLY what I do?!]

“We turn to God our Rescuer because there is nowhere else to go. How comforting to know that when we cry out, God will rescue us and protect us as a mother bird protects her young. Our powerful defender will never fail us if we turn to Him for shelter and safety.”

I do Dear Lord! I am asking You to protect us and keep us safe.

I left here yesterday before completing my thoughts on being dependent. On You. And one another. You reminded me last night in the most unexpected way [Jesus Calling]. Thank You Lord.

Back over to The Life Recovery Bible. Another comment. 1 Corinthians “12:12-26 … When we have an accurate view of ourself, we will give God the credit for the gifts He has given us and be thankful for His help in recovery. If we cannot do this, we need to go back to Step One and once again admit how powerless we really are.”

I am powerless Dear Lord! Over every thought, word and action that does not align with Your best for me. Work in, with, by, through and for us Father. In ways that only You know is for our good and Your glory.

“Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Father, You know best. Do all You must in aligning us to Your will and Your way.

We love, need, trust and want You as Lord of our lives. Thank You. Praise You. Use us. Amen.

(570 words ~ 7:18 a.m.)

dependent

 12th Day of Christmas ~ Thursday, January 5, 2023 (7:25 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You. Another day of rain. And we are warm and dry. Thank You Lord.

You bless us in ways we are often unaware. Many times unexpected. Sometimes unappreciated. And always necessary. Dearest Father God, we are dependent upon Your blessings and care of us.

Turning to Your Word to learn more about being dependent, I come to 1 Corinthians 12:25. Teach me more Lord about Your plan that Your people would be dependent on one another.

Day 12 - The glory of the LORD

Ezekiel 1:

International Children’s Bible 1 Corinthians 12:25

The Shepherd

11th Day of Christmas ~ Wednesday, January 4, 2023 (7:51 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

(8:14 a.m.)

“Fear not. Behold!” (Luke 2:10 - again!)

Day 1 - God with us

Day 2 - God our Father

Day 3 - Jesus Christ

Day 4 - The Helper

Day 5 - The greatness of the Lord

Day 6 - God is love

Day 7 - God is good

Day 8 - The Lord is peace

Day 9 - God sustains

Day 10 - God is unchangeable

Day 11 - The Lord my shepherd

(8:40 a.m.)

What a find Dear Lord! What a find!!

Thank You Father. Just when I was doubting my commitment to honoring the 12 Days of Christmas, You provided me such a treasured find!

A pastor/congregation [Central Church Bideford] from the UK dedicated to glorifying You at this time of year.

All this, PLUS a new-to-me song. ♪The Real 12 Days of Christmas [my Jesus Gave to Me]♪

12. Eternity that’s free

11. A thousand songs to sing

10. Streets of pure gold

9. Mansions above

8. A robe and a crown

7. A body glorified

6. Power from on high

5. JOY for my soul!

4. Love for all men

3. Peace in my heart

2. Everlasting life

1. Salvation full and free

(8:57 a.m.)

Awesome Holy God, thank You for the ways You find to speak [and sing] to my soul. Teaching me so much more than meets our worldly eyes!

This morning, a lesson from the UK. Reminding me of the importance of the angel’s three words to the shepherds. “Fear not. Behold!”

Behold, indeed. See. Observe. View. Look at. Watch. Survey. Witness. Gaze upon. Regard. Contemplate…

I confess to having gotten bored and weary with what was almost seeming like “this whole 12 Day nonsense.” Forgive me Father! 12 days is nowhere near long enough to “Behold!” all You are and bring to our lives.

Let me live this 11th day of Christmas fully honoring and catching glimpses of You and the Gift You sent into this world. I want to serve You well. As You have designed.

I love You. I need, trust and want You as my Shepherd. Leading, guiding, providing, protecting me as I go. Thank You. Praise You. Bless You. Amen.

(382 words ~ 9:43 a.m.)

"Glad tidings"

 10th Day of Christmas ~ Tuesday, January 3, 2023 (7:47 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed God,

“Glad tidings.” Those were the words this morning. I read them last night. It was just earlier I realized I’ve never given them much thought.

(8:25 a.m.)

And there started my search!

Luke 2:10. “Glad tidings” appears in only a few translations. Others use “good.” Or “good news.” Here’s “glorious news.” Next up is “gospel.”

The Living Bible tells us, beginning with verse 9, “Suddenly an angel appeared among them [some shepherds in the fields outside the of village of Bethlehem], and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord.” What would that have been like?

“They were badly frightened,” [understandably!] “but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ He said. ‘I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!’”

“Glad tidings of great joy.” Also known here as “the most joyful news ever announced.”

The Message? “… a great and joyful event that is for everybody, worldwide…” Thank You Father, for your perfect plan!

On this 10th Day of Christmas, Dearest God, I very much want to share in the shepherds' eagerness of seeing for themselves what had been shown to them (v. 15). Making known what had been told to them about that Child (17). Glorifying and praising You “for all they had heard and seen as it was spoken to them” (20).

Yes, please Father. I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to use me in offering to others the same “glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people” You presented to the shepherds all those years ago.

I love You Lord. I need, trust and want You to lead and guide me in glorifying and enjoying You this day. Work in, with, by, through and for me as only You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(326 words ~ 9:10 a.m.)

thanking God

 9th Day of Christmas ~ Monday, January 2, 2023 (6:49 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed God,

Thank You!

(7:09 a.m.)

Yes Father! Thank You for so many reasons and ways of thanking You. Thank You for Your Word of Truth and promises to lead and guide us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

James 1:17

Psalm 7:17, 118:29

1 John 4:16

We get to read Your Word. Readily. Easily. Often. Freely. In multiple versions.

Right now? The Message. “I’m thanking God, who makes things right. I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God” (Psalm 7:17).

Let this be my cry for today. This moment. And the next.

I love You Lord. I want to serve You as You so rightly deserve. Thanking You as we go. Use us as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(146 words ~ 8:07 a.m.)

HAPPY NEW

 8th Day of Christmas ~ Sunday, January 1, 2023 (7:47 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Holy God,

HAPPY NEW: day, week, month, year. I’ve been thinking of all the newness we have in You. Direct and guide my seeking and finding this day Dear Lord.

(8:31 a.m.)

New life. New power. New spirit.

(8:48 a.m.)

New way of thinking. New season. New beginnings. New Kingdom living. New way of life.

(9:02 a.m.)

2 Corinthians 5:17.

The Living Bible. “When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!” Amen! Hallelujah, Lord!

The Passion Translation. “Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.”

Amplified Bible. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. “Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!”

Easy-to-Read Version. “When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly everything is new!”

So much newness Lord. Guide me in it. Steep me in it! I want to live this new day, week, month, year, life in, with, by, through and for You. Your strength. Your power. Your Truth. Your promises. Your Word.

I love You. I need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Use me. Amen.

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

internally singing ~ 12/31/22

 7th Day of Christmas ~ Saturday, December 31, 2022 (6:12 a.m.)

Lake Arrowhead, CA

Blessed God,

Thank You! On this very last day of another year, I am truly grateful for the numerous ways You have blessed us. Safe travels. Pleasant company. Fun. Joy. Your love. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. And self-control (Galatians 5:22-23a).

I woke up earlier internally singing an invitation to the Holy Spirit.

(6:36 a.m.)

Mm. Look. Here’s another smile.

Thinking about ending one year and preparing to welcome another with a smile and a song. We are truly blessed! Thank You Father.

♪Holy Spirit, You are welcome here Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for To be overcome by Your presence, Lord♪

Yes! End one year and begin another becoming ♪more aware of Your presence♪ Experiencing ♪the glory of Your goodness♪ Yes!

The Passion Translation describes “the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within” us as “divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.”

It ends with the caution to “Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless” (v. 23b). I want to live these remaining days and years in the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

Internally singing. Externally smiling. Eternally standing firm and staying my mind on the Truth and promises of Your precious Word.

You are good Father. Great. Glorious. Gracious. And we are grateful. Work in, with, by, through and for us that we would be the stewards (1 Peter 4:10) You created us to be.

We love You Lord. We need, trust and want to follow You into this next new year. Thank You for being the ♪Good, Good Father♪ You are. Praise You Dad. Happy New Year. Amen.

(335 words ~ 7:17 a.m.)