Good. Holy. God.

 Sunday, January 22, 2023 (6:58 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You.

Thank You that You are good. Holy. God.

(7:19 a.m.)

So many times You take me in directions that I least expect. Like now. Considering You as good, holy and God I’m reading John 17. And Hebrews 8:1-6.

Sections of Your Word with which I am unfamiliar. I want very much to grasp a better understanding. Jesus as our High Priest and Intercessor. These are big Truths Dear God. Guide my thinking I ask (Matthew 7:7).

(7:34 a.m.)

Again Your goodness comes to mind. The unexpected blessings You provide. Thank You God that You are so good and provide so much. Our every need.

Father, I ask You to continue guiding and directing us to Your will. And Your way.

Illustrated Bible Handbook breaks “Jesus’ ‘high priestly’ prayer” into three sections. Reading in John Chapter 17. Jesus’ Final Prayer we are blessed to learn of His “Coming Return to Glory; 17:1-5.”

Father, thank You for this opportunity to read and learn more of Jesus’ glory. Prior to His birth and long after His death and resurrection.

“Jesus Prays for His Disciples; 17:6-19.” Here He interceded for their safety. And asked that they would receive ‘the full measure of His joy’ (v.13). Thank You God.

“Jesus Prays for All Believers; 17:20-26.” This is where we factor in. “Looking into the future the focus of Jesus’ prayer is ‘that they may be brought to complete unity’” (23). Oh that we would!

Reading The Life Recovery Bible comment for this prayer, I find great comfort in learning that “Jesus intercedes with God the Father on our behalf, bringing our needs and requests continually before God.”

How often do I find myself believing it’s up to me to present it all to You on my own? Looking for the right words and attitude.

Thank You God that Jesus is there with You. Praying “that we would know His perfect joy, be protected from all evil, grow in Truth and holiness and show love toward all people.” Yes please! Continue growing and protecting us.

Because You are good, holy and God, we get to keep turning to You. Coming to You. Depending on You. Loving, needing, trusting and wanting You to make us more like You.

Do all You must Dearest Lord that we would live this day in, with, by, through and for the power Jesus provides. Use us as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

smiling patterns

 Saturday, January 21, 2023 (5:55 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for things that help me smile. Number configurations and associations. Patterns actually. Thank You that even in finding the words I want to use another smile appears.

Thank You Lord that I get to bring these smile and pattern acknowledgements to You. Father, thank You for all the ways You speak to our very souls.

(6:29 a.m.)

2 Timothy 1:13

Mm, Father. Thank You for the nuggets of Truth that I often miss. This particular pattern described in Illustrated Bible Handbook.

“Guard the Deposit; 1:13, 14. But faith not only means entrusting ourselves to God. It means that God entrusts ‘the pattern of sound teaching’ to us! ‘Pattern’ indicates a ground plan used by an architect, or a rough draft in literature. In Scripture we have a clear outline of God’s Truth: now we are to build on it and fill out its details by our lives and by exposition. With the help of the Holy Spirit, Timothy will guard this trustworthy foundation and later pass it on to other faithful men (2:2).”

J. B. Phillips New Testament presents Paul’s encouraging words to Timothy as, “So keep my words in your mind as the pattern of sound teaching, given to you in the faith and love of Jesus Christ. Take the greatest care of the good things which were entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who lives within us” (2 Timothy 1:13, 14).

The comment from The Life Recovery Bible tells us, “1:7-14 Timothy did not have all the character traits normally expected of a leader. He may have been fearful and timid at times, but Paul said that God gives ‘power, love, and self-discipline.’ Paul told Timothy not to let his weakness stop him from ministering to others. His success was not based on ability, skill, or courage; it was based on the Holy Spirit’s power working in him. In recovery we don’t have the inherent strength, courage, and self-discipline needed to overcome our dependency. Through God’s power, however, we can succeed in recovery.”

It IS Your power Dearest God that allows me to associate simplistic patterns to the point of automatically smiling. A little akin to a knee-jerk reaction. Subliminal. Without thinking. I notice a smile and recognize You as good. Thank You Lord!

This morning I ask You to encompass me with Your presence. I’ll be venturing out today. Not knowing what to expect, nor how best to prepare. I look instead to You. Asking You to go before, behind, beside, beneath, above and within me. Guiding. Guarding. Providing every single bit of courage it takes to allow You to bless us as You know is best.

Thank You Dearest God for the pattern of smiling and thinking of You. Use it to Your good and to Your glory this day. Thank You. I love, need, trust and want You. Amen.

(496 words ~ 7:19 a.m.)

declaring the glory of God's goodness

 Friday, January 20, 2023 (6:49 a.m.)

♪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♪

That is my intentional, on purpose, welcoming song to You this morning Lord.

♪Let us become more aware of Your presence Let us experience the glory of Your goodness♪

Right here I confess to not really knowing what the glory of Your goodness is. I want the songs I sing to and of You to be much more than mere words on a page. Father, truly I want to experience and declare the glory of Your goodness.

Thank You for the opportunity to explore Your Word. Looking for Your Truth. Your guidance. Your direction.

Psalm 19

Isaiah 64

1 Corinthians 2:12

Thank You Father that as I sit here seeking to learn more about welcoming Your Spirit into each day I find a new to me song. ♪Holy Spirit, Thou Art Welcome in this place… Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace, Thou art welcome in this place♪

Welcome. Yes! “Be glad about, appreciate, embrace, give the thumbs up to.” Thank You Father. I like when You provide words and phrases I understand. Thank You.

“Oh, that You would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in Your presence!” (Isaiah 64:1). Talk about declaring the glory of Your goodness.

And the song begins again. ♪…I’ve tasted and seen Of the sweetest of loves Where my heart becomes free And my shame is undone Your presence, Lord Holy Spirit, You are welcome here…♪

I want to live this day for You Lord. In. With. By. Through. Exactly as You would have me.

While ‘the heavens proclaim Your glory and the skies display Your craftmanship’ (Psalm 19:1) I want my ‘reverence for You to be pure, lasting forever’ (9a).

“The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them” (vs. 9b-11).

Lord God, I’m asking You to do all You must that I can know “all the sins lurking in my heart. Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin” (12-13).

Being able to turn to and in Your Word, I find such hope Blessed God. All the things over which I have no control, Your Spirit does. “For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:10-12).

There are times Your Word appears so much deeper than I could ever understand. And then? An occasion such as this where I want it all at once.

For now I ask Your Spirit in me to empower “the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). Declaring the glory of Your goodness.

I love You Lord. I need, trust and want You. Use me as You know is best this day. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

welcoming the day

 Thursday, January 19, 2023 (5:41 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Sleep. Rest. Smiling. Music.

(5:58 a.m.)

I like waking up feeling grateful, Lord. Thank You.

(6:08 a.m.)

Searching to read more about feeling grateful with You, I found an article that encourages welcoming the day, rather than seizing it. I like that. An unrelated image shows a coffee mug stating, “Welcome the day with a grateful HEART” right next to the words “Good Morning”.

Thank You God! I’m guessing right here that gratitude is also a choice. Much like the myriad of emotions we feel throughout each day. We get to choose which to feed.

In my quest to live a more joyfully balanced life I’m asking You to continue Your work in helping me learn the importance of side stepping the negative things. Being aware, focusing on and leaning in to the positive.

(7:30 a.m.)

Blessed God, I truly want to learn to welcome each day. Before ever getting out of bed. You have been teaching me all these years that I am to think about whatever is: true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).

(7:56 a.m.)

And just this quickly, we have horrifying news that a much loved neighbor grandkid (now young dad) died last night in a car crash. Holy God, even here I know You are good. I ask Your blessing and keeping of all who are affected by this tragic news.

(8:14 a.m.)

Even here. ESPECIALLY here! I turn to Your Word Dear Lord. And am again blessed by Paul’s words to the Philippian believers. Reading up just a few verses (4:4-7) and then to the beginning of Chapter 3.

“The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.” Thank You Father!

This is a family of Believers. Men and women who know and depend on You to be the good, good God that You are.

Thank You that as I continued reading I smiled at verse 14, realizing that this precious young man is experiencing Your Truth firsthand. As heartbreaking as this is for the rest of us here, he “press[ed] on to reach the end of the race and receive[d] the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

At this very moment I cannot say I like it. I absolutely don’t understand it. And at the very same time, I know You to be good. I ask Your blessings Dearest God. 

Let them “experience [Your] peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (4:7a). Your peace to guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus (v. 7b).

(10:23 a.m.)

It is exactly right now that I need Your training in welcoming this day. With its heartbreakingly sad news and all. I love You Lord. I need, trust and want You. Use me as You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(524 words ~ 10:25 a.m.)

the Spirit of God

 Wednesday, January 18, 2023 (7:35 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Praise You. You’re good!!!

(7:46 a.m.)

SO good!

Father, thank You. I got to experience Your peace yesterday. Your absolute, total peace.

Circumstances that would normally send me into a tizz were met with complete calm. A calm not of my own making. Thank You Lord.

Thank You too for the constant reminders that You have for us. It wasn’t until just now that I recognized myself having experienced the Truth of the apostle Paul’s words to Timothy.

Here [hear] from The Passion Translation. “For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self control” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Thank You for the peace that truly passed all understanding (Philippians 4:7) as I sat looking at a piece of mail in my hands. Unlike my usual response to things I don’t understand, I gave every single thought of the unknown immediately over to You. Not asking. Seeking. Or beseeching You for anything. Just handed it over yo You.

(9:07 a.m.)

Thank You God! This current encounter with the absolute unknown is allowing me to look long and hard at where my roots truly are. In You!

“Let your roots grow down into Him [Christ], and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the Truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Father God, You have not given me a spirit of fear! New International Reader’s Version tells us, “God gave us His Spirit. And the Spirit doesn’t make us weak and fearful. Instead, the Spirit gives us power and love. He helps us control ourselves.”

This has nothing to do with me trying to do or be anything I’m not. It’s all about relying on the Spirit You have given me. Thank You God.

I remember well the day in Puerto Rico that we witnessed Psalm 57:1 in action. Baby chicks running to hide under their mama’s outstretched wings. Until the danger [too many people] passed by.

Thank You God for the way you are working in our lives. Growing us to trust You in the unknown.

(9:45 a.m.)

I like watching [and hearing] You work Lord! The soundtrack You provide to accompany me throughout the days is so appreciated.

Waking up [and immediately identifying] the chorus of MercyMe playing in my mind had me smiling without thinking. Now the words bolster me to complete upright sitting.

♪I know You’re able and I know You can Save through the fire with Your mighty hand But EVEN IF You don’t My hope is You alone I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt Would all go away if You’d just say the word But even if You don’t My hope is You alone♪

Yes Father! The Spirit You have given each of Your Believers allows us to know, trust, believe our hope is You alone. Use us as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(518 words ~ 9:54 a.m.)

wont

 Tuesday, January 17, 2023 (5:52 a.m.)

Thank You, Blessed God!

You intervened on all of our behalves this weekend. Patterns. Customs. Behaviors. Habits. Wonts. All led to frustrations. Anger. Tears. And YOU stopped us in our tracks! Thank You Father. Praise You Lord.

We were reminded many times that “anger is easy.” It takes little to no thought. And zero self control. Thank You God, that YOUR Truth spoke loudest!

Voices raised. Emotions were all over the place. And Your teachings rang true! Praise You Father.

(7:07 a.m.)

Anger does come easy. Hurtful words loudly shouted. Thank You that Your way is so much better for us.

Thank You that Your Truth whispered to me. “Be angry and do not sin.” Holy God, it is only now that I learn that this verse from Ephesians (4:26) is a quote of Psalm 4:4. Thank You that You keep teachings us.

I want to continue learning. Like the word ‘wont’ for instance. Habit. Custom. Practice. I want my wont to align with Yours for me.

Father, thank You for teaching us to bring it ALL to You. Our mistakes. Frustrations. Wants. And wonts.

As You continue Your work in, with, by, through and for each of us I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to keep Your Word in my heart. Whisper It to me loud enough to get my attention every single time I need it.

Here I embrace The Life Recovery Bible comment for Psalm “4:4-5 Turning our will over to God is not a one time experience, it is a moment-by-moment decision to keep our mind fixed on doing God’s will. Today we don’t sacrifice animals on an altar to please God, but we can offer God our life as a living sacrifice. In order to do this, we must seek out and then follow God’s plan for holy and healthy living.”

Yes Lord! Let this become the wont of our family! With only one apostrophe away from the word we fall back on so often. Let our “won’t”s become our wonts!

Thank You God. Use us as You alone know is best. We love You. We NEED, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(378 words ~ 7:41 a.m.)

out of my hands

 Saturday, January 14, 2023 (6:26 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Praise You! You blessed us yesterday. With peace. Happy news. Beauty. Hope. Words of encouragement.

Thank You Lord. Thank You too for the struggle I experience in attempting to bypass all the fear taking place within my thoughts.

Father God, I felt Your presence yesterday. As I worked toward creating order in our home I realized that I was once again comparing myself with others. Thank You for reminding me that You made me as wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14) as I am.

Lord, I long to like myself just as I am. You know my thoughts. They are no surprise to You. Thank You for offering me Your Truth every single time I found myself wanting to be different. Better.

Turning my thoughts to You, Your Word, Your Truth, Your promises helped settle my soul. I am not a mistake. I make them, but I am not one! That realization is huge for me Dear Lord.

Along with all the weaknesses I encounter, I also have strengths. Many of which I have yet to be aware. The standard to which I fail so miserably to align myself is manmade. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to teach me to keep my focus on You.

Yes Father. You! Your ideal. Your will. Your way. I am not my neighbor. I have my own unique set of issues. You are here to walk me through them.

Thank You for waking me with Jeremy Camp’s Truth filled song ♪Out of My Hands♪ Yes Lord! Just look at these opening words. ♪Every day this never ending pressure Tries to take its claim over my heart I have tried to hold it all together But time and time again, I fall apart♪

Thank You God, for everything you use to get my mind back on You. ♪Brought to my knees by all of these things I don’t understand Don’t understand, I will let the weight of my fear fall like sand Out of my hands and into Yours♪

Blessed Father, it’s Your Truth that calls to me. Reminding me of the importance of Facing the Sadness (The Life Recovery Bible devotional for Nehemiah 8:7-10).

Yes Lord! It’s the last paragraph of this writing that is tying it all together for me. “When we set out to face the pain and sadness of making a moral inventory, we will need the ‘joy of the LORD’ to give us strength. This joy comes from recognizing, even celebrating, God’s ability to bring us out of bondage and care for us as we pass through the sadness toward a new way of life.”

I confess to wanting to go around the sadness of mistakes I’ve made Dear Lord. Attempting to sweep them under the rug [or in this case, pack them away in boxes] is of no help whatsoever.

Do all You must Blessed God. In. With. By. Through. And for me. I cannot do any of this on my own. I need You every single step I take! Leading, guiding, directing me in the way I am to go.

Provide the strength I need Dear Lord. I want to live this day as You would have me. Honestly. Openly. Willingly. Trusting Your joy to be my strength!

Yes Father! I want to live this day in Your joy. Thank You. Praise You. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Amen.

(581 words ~ 7:56 a.m.)