smiling anyway

 Tuesday, October 3, 2023 (6:14 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. You are good. Great. Glorious. Gracious. And I am grateful.

Falling asleep last night while thanking You, I knew I was smiling. Sitting with You now, I know I am again. Smiling anyway.

Huge confession is coming. I haven’t said it out loud to You because I see myself as weak. Not wanting to bother You with trivial matters. 

I skirt. Attempting to ignore. Wanting desperately to avoid the inevitable. Here it is. Father, I don’t feel good. Something is off. I halfheartedly think it’s one thing. Allergies? Or another. Food choices?

Changes in the weather? Emotional issues? Stress? Disappointments? I’ve been attempting to hide them all under the guise of cheerfulness and joy.

Father, I absolutely appreciate the opportunity of rejoicing and being glad. And even here, as I’m finally being straight with You, a feeling of Your power is coming over me. Thank You Lord.

This IS joy! Nothing I’m attempting to manufacture. Or present. This is joy brought on by Christ’s teachings. Thank You Lord.

Thank You for the faith, hope and love that remain when all else is gone (1 Corinthians 13:13). I’m smiling as I read this section in The Passion Translation‘s rendering of Your Word.

“For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run” (vs. 12-13).

Father, thank You so much for the blessings You provide us. Each and every single day.

Directed to Psalm 147:11 after searching “smiling with Jesus” I am again amazed by Your love and provision.

F.A.C.T.

 Monday, October 2, 2023 (6:11 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You.

In searching to learn how to “faithfully apply Christ’s teachings” I found these two Truths:

“In John 10:30, Jesus said, 'The Father and I are one.' He sought always to dwell in a consciousness of pure harmony with Spirit, and in this state of oneness with God, the stress of human life was powerless to deter him from his mission.”

“By constantly affirming God’s presence and power in our lives, we, too, can experience 'the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding'. (Phil. 4:7)”

(6:47 a.m.)

Yes. Thank You Blessed God. So many thoughts swim around in my head. Thank You that I get to bring them all back to You.

I confess to getting caught up in my feelings. And fears. Thank You that Jesus’ teachings are far greater. Stronger. More powerful than any all of the things my mind considers.

Blessed Father God, how truly I thank You for the ways You work in, with, by, through and for me. I love the freedom we have to search Your Word. Finding Your Truth.

Lord, I want to faithfully apply Christ’s teachings. Thank You for reminding me that I must know these teachings in order to apply them. Lead and guide me 

Psalm 29:11

Proverbs 16:20

Jeremiah 17:7 (5-10).

Matthew 5-7. The Sermon on the Mount

Mercy and grace in Christ. Your Truth. Your teachings. Lead me. Guide me. Do all You must that I walk this day [which You have made (Psalm 118 24a)] as You would have me. Truly rejoicing and being glad (v. 24b).

I love You Father. I need, trust and want You. Empower me in faithfully applying Christ’s teachings. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

Christ's teachings

 Sunday, October 1, 2023 (7:31 a.m.)

Thank You God! Praise You Jesus.

Focusing always on Christ’s teachings is something I want to pursue.

FACT ~ 9/30/23

 Saturday, September 30, 2023 (6:30 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for Your faithfulness. For Your mercies that fall afresh every morning. Lamentations 3:23.

Thank You for Your Truth. On which we can stand firmly. And in which we believe.

I confess to having been swayed by conflicting feelings recently. Fears overshadowing faith. Feelings disregarding facts.

Father, thank You for reminding me that You are in control over all. We are told repeatedly in Your Word to “fear not.” Do not be afraid. Trust in the Lord.

How quickly and easily I forget. Forgive me Father.

(7:35 a.m.)

Reading Your Word. About faith. And hope. Father, I ask You to embed Your Truth deeply within me.

The apostle Paul wrote “to strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their relationships with God and with each other” (The Life Recovery Bible). I ask (Matthew 7:7) to be included in this mix Dear Lord.

Paul’s words in Amplified Bible, “And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),” Yes, please Lord.

And now I’m singing. ♪Great Is Thy Faithfulness 

curiouser

 Friday, September 29, 2023 (7:15 a.m.)

Thank You God.

We get to be curious. And curiouser. Thank You that this is actually a word! Yes. I want to be more curious. About You. Your will. Your way.

I confess to trying to put You into a box. Of my own understanding. Thank You that You have the antidote for my misguided thinkings.

Proverbs 3:5-6. In the form of Your Word. And songs.

♪Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart and lean not own your own understanding In ALL your way acknowledge Him and He will direct Your path♪

Oh thank You Lord! I’ve been leaving You completely out of the “Something’s off. I don’t feel quite right” mix this past week.

YOU know what all is going on in and with me. “Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank You, High God - You’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made!” (Psalm 139:13-14 The Message).

Forgive me for slinking away from You. Wanting to have myself figured out before fully coming back into Your presence.

Dearest God. You are so good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-9). Forgive my tendency to forget Your Truth. Your Truth that we will know. Your Truth that will set us free (John 8:32).

Just exactly how is that Lord? By being curiouser! Not thinking that I already know and understand. No! “With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment” (Proverbs 3:5 Contemporary English Version).

Do in, with, by, through and for me all that I cannot possibly think, say and do on my own. You know my every need.

Thank You for making me curious enough to know that it’s You and Your Word I long to seek (Matthew 6:33). Yes!

“Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow” (Proverbs 3:6). Mistakes have been made. Secrets held. Let Your Truth shine through Dearest Dad.

Yes Lord. Make me even curiouser about Your Truth. Use me as You alone know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(374 words ~ 8:24 a.m.)

hijinks

 Thursday, September 28, 2023 (7:14 a.m.)

Father God,

Thank You for the song that just started singing itself to me. As well as the word with which I awoke.

♪Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight Jesus loves the children of the world Everything Is Beautiful in its own way♪

I had fun last night Dear God. Playful, laughing fun. Hijinks.

♪Like a starry summer night or a snow covered winter’s day

Breathing.

 Wednesday, September 27, 2023 (6:15 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You. The sky was gorgeous. Clear. The air cool. Crisp. And my breathing? Full.

(6:40 a.m.)

Mm, Father. There are so many things I take for granted. I confess. Breathing is one of them. Thank You that You are here with us in every single breath.

And just like that [snap!] I’m singing again.

♪Every Breath You Take and every move you make Every bond you break, every step you take, I’ll be watching you Every single day and every word you say Every game you play… Every smile you fake, every claim you stake, I’ll be watching you♪

Father, how I ask (Matthew 7:7) that I will learn to use every single breath I take for Your good and to Your glory. Knowing that You are watching me.

Thank You for all You are and do on our behalf. Breathe the presence of Your Holy Spirit in, with, by, through and for me. I love You. I need, trust and want You. Amen.

(178 words ~ 7:40 a.m.)

P.S. And here came another song!

♪Breathe On Me, Breath of God Fill me with life anew, that I may love the way You love, and do what You would do♪ Yes, please!

“Then He [Jesus] breathed on them [disciples] and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit,’” (John 20:22). Again I say, Yes Please!

Mm. See also: Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28 and Acts 2. Keep us breathing in Your Spirit Dearest God. Amen.