♪Wondrous Journeys♪

 Wednesday, April 3, 2024 (9:44 a.m.)

Garden Grove, CA

Most Dear and Holy, Loving Lord God

Again ~ Still ~ I thank You. Blessings abound. Fireworks with a musical soundtrack. ♪Wondrous Journeys♪ ~ Yep! That’s us.

Father God ~ You have delighted us with so very many wondrous journeys in our life times. Thank You. Praise You.

We turn to YOU in the unknown. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7) for Your presence every time we venture out into the uncharted territories that we come upon. Knowing. Trusting. Believing that we are never alone in them.

You are always with us. Leading. Guiding. Directing us in all the “chance encounters of the BEST kind” You have planned for us. Those plans You have that are for good and not for evil. Those plans that will give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). For those days when You will listen as we pray. And be found by us when we look for You wholeheartedly (vs. 12-13).

♪“Yes, Lord, Yes” To Your will and to Your way I’ll say, “Yes, Lord, Yes” I will trust You and obey When Your Spirit speaks to me With my whole heart I’ll agree and my answer will be “Yes, Lord, Yes”♪

Make it so Dearest God. In, with, by, through and for us. Let our answers be ♪Yes Lord Yes!♪ Do all You must. We love, need, trust, want, thank and praise You. Amen.

(245 words ~ 10:04 a.m.)

spontaneous

 Tuesday, April 2, 2024 (6:42 a.m.)

Garden Grove, CA

Holy God ~

Thank You! Praise You.

There have been giggles and laughter. Playfulness. Surprises. Fireworks. And so much JOY. Thank You Father. The best word I can think to describe all the delight is spontaneous. Unexpected. Far beyond all plans.

Yes Lord. This dearly loved grandpa put so much time and energy into planning this indoor waterpark Spring Break ‘EGGstravaganza’ for these two growing boys.

Blessed God, “thank You” is not enough in expressing my exploding heart to You. Remember that fear I confessed to You late the other night? The one about me not being enough or able to pull off these days away. Thank You for hearing me and doing what only You can.

There’s a true spirit of adventure. Serendipitous if You will. Absolutely “right place/right time.” A chance encounter. Waiting for food led to blowing bubbles, squirting water and playing safely in a wave pool with two young boys from London. Hugs with their mum abounded as did the smiles on all of our faces.

Thank You for the JOY we are experiencing Lord!

(8:23 a.m.)

Yes Father! The more I reflect on the JOY we encountered yesterday, the evermore aware of our dependence on You I become. NONE of this current time away together would be possible without much planning and well thought out execution by those in charge (e.g. grandfather and parents).

My part in all of this? Confess to You my fear of inadequacy and embrace the opportunities You alone provide us. Games these nearing teen and tween adolescents once played as very young ones are freely revisited. And my entire being is blessed! Thank You. Praise You. Use us. Amen.

(297 words ~ 8:46 a.m.)

fearing not

 Monday, April 1, 2024 (5:37 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! Sometime during the wakeful night I confessed fear to You, smiled immediately and went right to sleep. Thank You for the comfort I received from being honest with You.

Thank You that we are always able to turn to You and Your Word of Truth and promises. Thank You that in every single situation we encounter we have the choice of fully esteeming and revering You while not being afraid.

(6:41 a.m.)

Singing is happening in my soul. ♪I will trust, I will trust, I will Trust In You♪ And I do Lord.

Reading in Your Word, my heart quickens with hope and leads to more singing. ♪Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down♪ (Psalm 95:6-7). Father, thank You that our hope truly is in You!

Use me today, exactly as You alone know is best. I want very much to trust in You and not be afraid (Isaiah 41:10). Standing firmly while staying my mind on all You are. Good. Great. Glorious. Gracious (Psalm 145:5-8).

Continue Your work in teaching me all You know I need. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(200 words ~ 7:06 a.m.)

a very different Easter

 Easter Sunday, March 31,2024 (7:07 a.m.)

♪Up From the Grave He Arose♪

Thank You Father! This Easter Sunday is different than any other. Yes Lord. It’s a very different Easter.

(8:03 a.m.)

Thank You Jesus for ALL You have done on our behalves. Use us to Your good and to Your glory (Ephesians 1:1-14). 

Thank You for rising ♪With a mighty triumph o’er Your foes… Hallelujah! Christ arose!♪ Amen. Amen!

(72 words ~ 8:13 a.m.)

THE One

 Saturday, March 30, 2024 (7:24 a.m.)

Good morning Blessed Lord. Thank You 

(8:34 a.m.)

Yes. Thank You for the interrupting phone call. Placed to wish us a “Happy Holy Saturday.”

Thank You for the changes You make in peoples' lives, Lord. Ones who once shook their fists at You now worship at the foot of Jesus' cross. How blessed are we to be covered by Your love and forgiveness.

Mm, yes. Thank You Holy Father for the love You sent to this world in the form of Your Son (John 3:16). The One who ♪paid it all♪ Mm, yes! THE One in Whom we find our ♪all in all♪

Use us this rainy, windy day. Sharing the strength and power we have in You. THE One who provides us the love and respect we need to practice Your forgiveness.

We love, need, trust and want You. Thank and praise You for Who and all You are. Amen.

(162 words ~ 9:11 a.m.)

so much better

 Friday, March 29, 2024 (6:14 a.m.)

♪My Jesus, My Savior Lord, there is none like You All of my days I want to praise The wonders of Your mighty love♪

This is NOT how I had planned to start my time with You. Thank You that You know so much better than I!

Thank You that it’s the same song singing to me. Beginning with the first verse instead of the chorus. Lord God, You truly ARE ♪My comfort, my Shelter Tower of refuge and strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You♪

Yes Father. I want to know You better. So much better than I do.

♪Shout to the Lord All the earth let us sing Power and majesty Praise to the King♪ Yes! Power and majesty are the words, even though I was singing “glory and honor.”

Blessed God, thank You that ♪Mountains bow down and the seas will roar At the sound of Your name I sing for joy at the work of Your hands Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand Nothing compares to the promise I have in You♪

(7:19 a.m.)

Holy God, how I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue singing Your Word to me. Thank You that ‘Your thoughts are nothing like mine’ (Isaiah 55:8a). Yes! ‘Your ways are far beyond anything I could imagine’ (8b).

“For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so MY ways are higher than your ways and MY thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

Yes Father, Your ways and thoughts are so much better than mine. Continue Your work in changing my heart, soul, mind and strength into all You would have them be. Completely loving (Mark 12:30-31).

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Use me. Exactly as You know is best. Singing. Smiling. Standing firmly and staying my mind on Your Truth and promises. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

healing love

 Thursday, March 28, 2024 (5:31 a.m.)

♪You give hope… Great Are You, Lord♪

Mm, yes! Thank You for the life and hope You give. The love that You are (1 John 4:8b). The light You bring to the darkness (Luke 1:78-79).  The broken hearts You restore. Your breath in our lungs (Acts 17:25b) that cause us to ♪pour out our praise to You only♪

How blessed we are that ♪All the earth will shout Your praise Our hearts will cry, these bones will sing Great are You, Lord♪ 

(7:04 a.m.)

Father God, how I ask (Matthew 7:7) You to keep me singing of Your matchless, healing love. 

You have plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11a). Plans for good and not for evil (11b). Plans to give us a future and a hope (11c). Thank You Lord that You do.

Thank You that Your Word calls us to trust in You. With all our hearts (Proverbs 3:5a). Leaning not on our own understanding (5b). Seeking Your will in all we do (6a). Believing You will direct our path (6b).

Thank You for telling Jeremiah that when the people of Judah prayed, You would listen (Jeremiah 29:12). That they would find You if they sought You wholeheartedly (13). Their captivity would end and fortunes be restored (14). 

We find great hope in Your Truth and promises Lord. Thank You for the kings, prophets and followers who wrote of their own experiences and those of others.

We get to “be truly glad” (1 Peter 1:6a). For the “wonderful joy ahead” (6b). Even though there will be many trials to endure for a little while (6c).

Thank You for Jesus’ own forecast of many trials and sorrows on this earth (John 16:33a). Complete with the added bonus to “Take heart because I have overcome the world” (13b).

Talk about healing love! Fill me with Your Spirit that I will live in, with, by, through and for that love today. Use me as You know is best. Thanking and praising You as I go. Following You. Amen.

(345 words ~ 7:42 a.m.)