(see also: )

 Sunday, November 5, 2023 (5:23 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. I want to be thankful today. There are so many reasons.

Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1; 1 Chronicles 16:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Yes Lord. There are so very many reasons to be thankful with You. Just turning to the topical index at the back of The Life Recovery Bible illustrates this.

Looking up THANKFULNESS I am directed to “(see: Gratitude)” Following this path I’m immediately led to “(see also: Praise)”

My smile this morning seems never ending. Turning over to “Praise” I am delighted to find “(see also: Celebration, Gratitude, Worship)”

There seems no end to the “(see also:)”s. Adding to my thankfulness. And the broadening of my smile.

Seeing also WORSHIP, I find overlaps as well as “…Prayer” Turning to CELEBRATION the delight continues. “(see also: Enjoyment, Joy, Praise)”

Father. Like I said at the beginning. There are so many reasons to be thankful. Keep me acknowledging You in all of them.

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

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

so much to learn

 Saturday, November 4, 2023 (6:56 a.m.)

Holy God,

There’s so much to learn. So, SO much to learn! Thank You for Your willingness to provide our every need.

Thank You for Your Word that teaches us to come to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). The more we open ourselves to You Dear Lord, the more You provide.

Psalm 86:1-5

2 Peter 3:5-9

“Your Word, O Lord, is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).

All this Truth. And Your promises. I barely scratch the surface. And here I am, digging so much deeper.

Psalm 16. Illustrated Bible Handbook says, “This beautiful psalm expresses satisfaction with personal relationship to God. God alone is the source of all good (1-4), the One who assigns our place in life (5-6), and the One who guides us by His presence (7-8). The final verses (9-11) express David’s expectation of resurrection, and are also messianic references to Christ (cf. Acts 2:24-31; 13:35-37).”

Thank You Father. You provide us Truth. And hope.

Do all You must in making me a better learner. I love, need, trust and want You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(218 words ~ 8:27 a.m.)

humble and kind

 Friday, November 3, 2023 (6:04 a.m.)

Thank You God.

You’re helping me learn new things. This morning I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to expand my ability to “Be humble and gentle in every way. Be patient with each other and lovingly accept each other” (Ephesians 4:2).

The Passion Translation tells us “With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience.”

Father I was able to see an example of this in action yesterday. Watching a baseball manager honestly express his emotions over the loss of the World Series. Thank You Lord for his willingness to publicly share his hurting heart. All the while staying truly humble and kind.

Yes God. Continue showing me Your standard through other people. Teaching me to “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient and accept each other with love” (Easy-to-Read Version).

All the while giving thanks to You our God and Father for everything in the name of Your precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20). Yes Lord. Keep teaching me.

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

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

rejoicing fool

 Thursday, Octo November 2, 2023 (5:16 a.m.)

Good morning Blessed God,

Thank You. Sleep. Rest. Refreshment. Renewal. Restored. Rejoicing.

(5:29 a.m.)

Yes! That was the word with which I awoke. Rejoice. Enjoy. Be glad.

I confess to feeling torn Lord. There are so very many concerns of the world. Absolute atrocities. Crimes against humanity. Division. Man’s inhumanity to man. Sadness. Fear.

(5:59 a.m.)

Conflicting songs.

♪Rejoice in the Lord always And again I say, “Rejoice”♪ competing with ♪What Kind of Fool♪ Choosing to bring these two words [rejoice and fool] to You, I smile. Following Your lead to Proverbs, I find myself excited to learn more.

Yes Father. Teach me what You would have me take with me. Thank You Lord.

Common sense. Godly wisdom. Read and heed. Ignorance. Denial. Pride. Costly mistakes. Wisdom. Priorities. Boundaries. Behavior patterns. Honesty. Limits. Healthy relationships. Dysfunction. Healing. Your Word of Truth and promises covers it all!

Thank You that we have You to turn for “life-changing counsel.” Our ways are not Your ways. You would have us learn “to live disciplined and successful lives… do[ing] what is right and just and fair” (Proverbs 1:3).

This does not appear to be the order of any current day Dear Lord. Change us. Yes. Keep us from becoming and/or remaining rejoicing fools.

You are so good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). We are in such dire need of Your ways (Isaiah 55:6-9).

Work in us Dear Lord. By, through, with and for us. We need You.

On this very note, I have partially done projects around here. Even confessing that to You a Mary Poppins logical lesson in life springs immediately to mind.

“Well begun is half done.” Following that lead, again I’m singing. ♪In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun You find the fun and snap! The job’s a game And every task you undertake Becomes a piece of cake A lark! A spree! It’s very clear to see…♪

(7:34 a.m.)

Oh yes Blessed Father. Help me find the fun today. Not in a rejoicing fool kind of way. No. Empowered and emboldened by Your Holy Spirit. Accomplishing all as YOU know is best.

“for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power” (Philippians 4:13 The Living Bible). Show me what it is YOU would have me do Dear Lord.

I love, need, trust and want You. Direct me as You alone know is best. Thank You Father. Praise You. Amen.

(398 words ~ 7:38 a.m.)

"... with God"

 Wednesday, November 1, 2023 (6:13 a.m.)

Holy God,

It seems like “one of those days” Lord. Lead me and guide me I ask (Matthew 7:7).

(6:33 a.m.)

And here’s the smile!

Thank You God! Contentment. All at once.

First the realization. Then the time stamp. Followed by the sky out front. Thank and praise You Lord.

I confess to feeling moody. Lingering concerns for loved ones. Unease over the state of Your world. So many distressing considerations.

Turning to Your Word instead, I am reminded. Repeatedly. “Do not be afraid!”

And just as the smile hits, noting the time starts me singing. ♪Seek Ye First the kingdom of God And His righteousness;♪

Oh! And it just keeps getting better!

The color in the sky intensifies. And the song continues.

♪And all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Hallelu, Hallelujah!

♪Ask, and it shall be given unto you; Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7). Hallelu, Hallelujah!

♪Man shall not live by bread alone, But by every word [HUGE smile!] That proceeds out from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4). Hallelu, Hallelujah!♪

Thank You for the times I remember to add “… with God” to subjects I search. That’s where the real digging begins.

Old Testament promises. New Testament reminders. Your Truth leading and guiding the way.

(7:33 a.m.)

Still reading of and marveling at Your perfect, tender care I am grateful Father. So incredibly thankful to have Your Word.

Blessed Lord God we, Your people, are in desperate need of You. Let us learn from the example set by Timothy and the apostle Paul. They ‘stopped relying on themselves and learned to rely only on God’ (2 Corinthians 1:9b).

Father, teach us to truly check ourselves. Before we wreck ourselves.

With You! Adding those last two words in the search brought me to Ephesians 4:22-24. And another smile.

Yes Lord! Continue teaching me to ‘throw off my old sinful nature and former way of life… Instead, letting the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. Putting on my new nature, created to be like You - truly righteous and holy’ (vs. 23-24).

Use me today Lord. Exactly as You know is best. Trusting You every step of the way. Thank You. Praise You. I love, need, trust and want You. Amen.

(404 words ~ 7:57 a.m.)

smiling contentedly

 Tuesday, October 31, 2023 (7:11 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Lead me this morning. Guide me.

(7:27 a.m.)

Lots of distracting thoughts this morning.

The Message Hebrews 12:2-3 “Discipline in a Long-Distance Race” Thank You Father. Illustrated Bible Handbook Chapter 12:1-13. Discipline Run Your Marathon: 12:1-3.

Faith. Crowd of witnesses. Focus on Christ. Mm, yes. Thank You God.

Exhale. Deep inhalation. Release of excess muscle tension. Settling in. Smiling. Grateful.

The Life Recovery Bible. Faith HEBREWS12:1-4 “…we are told to pace ourself and bear the pain with patience. And remember, others who have run the same race and finished well are cheering us on!”

I’m smiling contentedly Lord. Thrilled with the ways You work in my thinking.

Misreading one word in the section above, I laughed as I realized it wasn’t “the pain OF patience.” Father, thank You for the various ways You call us more deeply into treasuring Your Word.

Considering being “surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith” (Hebrews 12:1a) grounds me. “…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus” (1b-2a).

Mm, yes Blessed God. Keep my eyes on Jesus! Do that in, with, by, through and for me. Continue bringing my focus back to all He has done on our behalves.

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

(275 words ~ 8:23 a.m.)

art

 Monday, October 30, 2023 (6:08 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. And thank You.

Thank You for the fine art of communication. And the opportunity of learning.

Mm, yes Father. I’m asking (Matthew 7:7) You to teach me more.

Collaboration. Problem-solving. Communication. Unity. Listening. Searching. Expressing. Hope. Attention. Devotion. Curiosity. Humility. Gratitude. Kindness.

(7:24 a.m.)

Beauty. Awe. Wonder.

Father, I want to represent You well. Appreciating all You provide us. Teach me Lord. Yes. Teach me.

Again songs are singing to me. ♪You Can’t Fall Up♪ followed immediately by ♪Always stay Humble and Kind♪

Keep working in me dear Lord. Transforming me into that masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10a) You created me to be. Your poetry (The Passion Translation). Your making. Workmanship. Handiwork. Creation. Accomplishment. Work of art.

Yes! I am Your work of art. Teach me to use ♪all Thy hand has provided♪ “to accomplish the good works You arranged long ago” (v. 10b).

Yes! Good morning. And thank You. Amen.

(170 words ~ 7:54 a.m.)