Bravo, indeed!

 Wednesday, September 13, 2023 (6:31 a.m.)

Holy, Holy, Holy, Father God,

Thank You for Your holiness.

(7:23 a.m.)

After much searching. Following. Glancing. Scanning. Reading. Seeking. Here I find. Psalm 29. The Message.

“Bravo, GOD, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, ‘Encore!’ In awe before the glory, in awe before God’s visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honor Him! GOD thunders across the waters, Brilliant, His voice and His face, streaming brightness- GOD, across the flood waters” (vs. 1-3).

Holy God. Thank You! We seek. You provide. Considering Your holiness, again I am speechless.

Thinking about Your thunder [primarily translated as Your voice] I am once more encouraged by David’s descriptive words. Father, my own words fail. Thank You that they aren’t needed.

Thank You that You know my heart. My mind. My soul. Even my strength. Thank You that You alone are God.

Thank You that Illustrated Bible Handbook describes: “Psalm 29. Here is a psalm of pure praise, exalting in God’s power over nature.” Yes! Bravo, indeed!

Various translations list Your thunderous voice as tympanic. Symphonic [The Message]. Powerful. Majestic (v.4). Smashing, toppling, breaking, cracking, destroying, shattering, splitting the mighty cedars of Lebanon (5).

Dear Father, thank You for the Truth The Life Recovery Bible comment tells us. “In this psalm we are reminded of God’s great power over the natural world. Yet even though His majesty is greater than any words can describe, He knows and loves each of us. Knowing how powerless we are over the problems we face should make us realize that we need to turn our life over to Him, the One who is all-powerful. He is the only one able and willing to help us.”

Yes. Your power. Your thunder/voice spits fire/strikes with bolts of lightning (7). Shaking/quaking the barren wilderness/desert (8).

It’s Your voice that “makes the deer give birth and strips the woodlands bare. In His temple all cry, ‘Glory!’” (v. 9 Christian Standard Bible). Mm. Yes. “Glory!”

Verse 10 tells of You sitting above the floodwaters. Ruling and reigning as King forever.

Examining all this Truth, it is verse 11 that stirs most deeply within. Spelled out here in both The Living Bible and The Message.

“He will give His people strength. He will bless them with peace” (TLB).

“GOD makes His people strong. GOD gives His people peace” (MSG).

Thank You that You do Dear Lord. We come before You because we are in desperate need of Your will. Your way. Your holiness. Your Truth. Your promises.

Do all You must in blessing and keeping us. Making Your face shine upon us. Being gracious to us. Turning You face towards us. Smiling. And giving us Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

We love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use us as You alone know is best. In the strength of Your mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Thank You. Praise You. Bravo, indeed! Amen.

(500 words ~ 8:47 a.m.)

a simple smile

 Tuesday, September 12, 2023 (5:32 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You Lord. There’s a smile in here somewhere. I sense it. 

A simple smile. Slight. Easy. Gentle.

Thank You Father. These are the reminders to my heart. My soul. My mind. Even my strength that You are here with me. Regardless of circumstances. You are here!

Thank You. Yes, thank You.

My tendency is to wallow. Build mountains out of molehills. Over-react. Invent. And mope.

Thank You that with every single smile that starts across my face, I am immediately aware of Your presence. Whether it’s the beauty of a bloom on our favorite hibiscus plant. Or the sliver of moon still in the eastern sky as the sun rises.

Father, You are behind it all. Thank You that You are!

I confess to You the degree of mopiness with which I arose. Thoughts of not being enough. Fears of not measuring up.

Thank You that You come in. Circumventing my habit of negating Your goodness. Your grace. Your mercy. Your presence.

And here it is! Finally. A song for my heart to sing.

♪…Your presence, Lord 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! Your presence in our lives changes everything. Our thoughts. Our words. Our actions.

One simple smile was all it took for me to turn to Psalm 67. Father God, thank You for the ways You smile on us each day. I want to use the strength that comes from Your presence as You would have me.

The Life Recovery Bible comment for this Psalm tells us, “We are called to share with others the good news of God’s powerful deliverance and His plan for salvation for all.” This is not to be a chore for us to avoid.

No! “It should be a natural expression of our joy at being delivered from forces too powerful for us to handle alone.”

Yes! It is the presence of Your Holy Spirit that battles the joylessness that so easily overtakes our thinking when we are not alert. Aware.

The comment continues. “Without God’s help, we could never resist the tempting call of our addictions. But with His help we can live with freedom and joy.”

Mm. Yes. Freedom and joy!

The first verse of Psalm 67 asks You to “be merciful and bless us.” That Your face would smile with favor on us.

Thank You Father for the contagiousness of a simple smile. Yours to us. Ours to You. And to others.

Use us this day. Exactly as You know is best. Willing to share Your love. And joy. With all we encounter. Freely. Genuinely. Without hesitation. Or reservation.

Empower and embolden us in living Your Word. Your way. Smiling [and singing] as we go.

♪There’s nothing worth more That could ever come close No thing can compare You’re our living hope… I’ve tasted and seen Of the sweetest of loves Where my heart becomes free [HUGE smile!] And my shame is undone Your presence, Lord♪

Yes! Your presence Lord. In the occurrence of Your Holy Spirit. The One who is welcome here.

Do all You must Dearest Lord. That we will sing. Smile. Stand firm and stay our minds on the Truth and promises of Your Holy Word.

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

(583 words ~ 6:52 a.m.)

Psalm 63

 Monday, September 11, 2023 (6:52 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I’m starting this day feeling sad. Moody. Down in the dumps. I’m looking to You.

Rather than searching too hard for the root [Is it the date? The novel I’m reading? Or the dream of the lost loved one?] I’m coming instead into Your presence. Actively seeking You.

(7:16 a.m.)

Mm, Father. Thank You. Illustrated Bible Handbook “Psalm 63. Close personal relationship with God brings the believer to the place of praise and joy.” Yes please, Lord.

Every single hint of a smile stirs my heart. Thank You God. I read. I hope. And read some more.

Seeking first Your Kingdom (Matthew 6:33) as Jesus taught His followers is a practice I want to develop. Thank You that You provide us every opportunity to do just that.

Because You know the plans You have for us, plans for good and not disaster (Jeremiah 29:11) You give us a future and a hope. Using Jeremiah, You convey Your message to the captive people of Judah.

Thank You Father for the hope found in these verses. “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

No tricks. No secret handshakes. No shortcuts. No! We get to actively seek and find You! Thank You. Praise You.

And in the midst? We get to smile. And sing!

♪My Life Is In You, my strength is in You Lord My hope is in You, Lord, in You, it’s in You… I will praise You with all of my heart I will praise You with all of my mind With all of my life, and all of my strength All of my hope is in You!♪

(8:49 a.m.)

A phone call. Added prayers for the health of loved ones. Father, how I thank You for Your availability.

And in the midst? Another song.

♪I Raise A Hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody I raise a hallelujah, Heaven comes to fight for me♪

Mm, yes Father! You remind us…

♪I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, You’re gonna hear my praises roar Up from the ashes, hope will arise Death is defeated, the King is alive!♪

Thank You Father. Praise You Lord. Turning to You. Actively seeking Your presence, I am truly blessed.

“O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

You are preparing us Father. Yes! For whatever is to come. Teaching us to ♪sing in the middle of the storm Louder and louder, You’re gonna hear our praises roar…♪

Do all You must Dearest God. Training us. Teaching us. Using us. Exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You, Father. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

 (514 words ~ 9:08 a.m.)

pure joy

 Sunday, September 10, 2023 (7:11 a.m.)

Blessed, Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You!

I was able to witness pure joy yesterday. Pure, unadulterated, genuine, completely unexpected joy.

A young mom accomplishing something she never knew she wanted. Swimming ten yards into the deep end of our pool. Father, thank You for the freedom from fear You provided this precious mom. A woman dedicated to doing everything she can in setting great examples for her daughter.

Thank You Lord for providing me this opportunity. With every single stroke I SAW her confidence build! I am covered in chills, with tears in my eyes, as I remember recognizing the pure joy she was experiencing.

Father, thank You. You’ve gifted me with the privilege of witnessing and identifying pure joy. In myself. As well as others. Thank You for yesterday’s added bonus of the mutual tears of joy being shed. As well as the exchange of a deep water hug.

Lord, I am asking (Matthew 7:7) that this experience be so deeply ingrained and imprinted within that I always equate the joy You provide us with the look of confident triumph and accomplishment that I saw on that precious face yesterday. JOY Father! Your perfectly provided joy.

Thank You for this time to sit with You. Examining all I saw with my very own eyes. A family filled with so much love and regard for one another. Playful. Encouraging. Dedicated to each one’s betterment.

Thank You for the examples You set before us God. Standards You use to teach us more about You and all You have for us. Thank You for leading me again this morning to the apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. And his heart for others.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:13).

I SAW confident hope yesterday Lord! Made manifest as pure joy. Let me remember and use this experience as You would have me. Freely! To Your honor. And Your absolute good.

Father, I love, need, trust and want You as the completely perfect God that You are. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(387 words ~ 9:24 a.m.)

freshness

 Saturday, September 9, 2023 (6:11 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You Lord. Already out and active. Necessary pool care. And admiration of Your early morning freshness.

Mm, freshness. Your freshness, Lord. Lead me into Your Word this morning.

(6:46 a.m.)

I’m smiling as again I say, “Thank You, Lord.” Not only smiling, but singing it out. ♪Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Lord♪

Their are various artists who’ve also sung these words. Thank You Father for their simplicity.

Time spent with You changes our lives. Our thoughts. Our words. Our actions. An absolute freshness comes over our entire being when we submit ourselves to loving [and being loved by] You.

Drawn again to 2 Corinthians 5:17, I read “We Are God’s Ambassadors” (vs. 5:11-6:2) What an honor. Privilege. Responsibility. I ask (Matthew 7:7) Dear Lord that You teach me to use it well.

Reading this section in The Message, I marvel at its simple title. A New Life. Beginning at verses 14 and 15, I thank You Father for all You want us to learn.

The apostle Paul speaking. “Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in His death so that everyone could also be included in His life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.”

Amen to that Dear Lord!

“Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know” (v. 16). I still so often get it all wrong Lord.

Thank You that “Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone, a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and Him, and  then called us to settle our relationships with each other” (17-18). You do this refreshing work in us Dearest God.

“God put the world square with Himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what He is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ Himself now: Become friends with God; He’s already a friend with you. How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on Him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God” (19-21).

Talk about an absolute freshness! Do all You must Blessed God that I use Your fresh start to each new day exactly as You would have me.

And right here, another song. ♪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 He will be my guide Hold me closely to His side With love and strength for each new day He will make a way, He will make a way♪

Thank You. Praise You. I love, need, trust and want to live the freshness of this new day for Your good and to Your glory. Amen.

(573 words ~ 7:46 a.m.)

free indeed

 Friday, September 8, 2023 (5:26 a.m.)

Awesome, Blessed Father God,

Guide me this morning. I have so many thoughts. Wonders. Distractions. Put me in Your Word. Exactly where You want me I ask.

(6:11 a.m.)

Thank You Jesus!

♪Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed I’m a child of God Yes I am♪

Mm, yes! Freedom. Truth and freedom. Your Truth. Your freedom. Thank You for leading me here. John 8:31-36.

“Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free’” (John 8:31-32).

Truth and freedom. Thank You Father.

♪In my Father’s house There’s a place for me I’m a child of God Yes I am♪ Thank You for songs that sing out to our hearts. Souls. Minds. Even our strength.

Yes Lord. Reminders of Your call for us to love You completely (Mark 12:30). And our neighbor as ourselves (v. 31).

And how do we do this? By knowing who we are in Christ. New creations (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“For we are God’s masterpiece [workmanship]… created anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).

Thank You for the ways You bless us dear God. Reminding us of Your power made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Use us this day [that You have made (Psalm 118:24a)] Rejoicing and being glad (v. 24b).

We love You Father. We need, trust, and want You as absolute Lord of our lives.

♪I am chosen Not forsaken I am Who You Say I Am You are for me Not against me I am who You say I am♪

Do all You must in teaching us to embrace and utilize the freedom You provide. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(324 words ~ 7:05 a.m.)