♪10,000 Reasons♪

 Wednesday, April 17, 2024 (5:34 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You! I have tears. Tons of emotion. Thank You Father.

I didn’t expect it at all. Barely even recognized it was there. Waking to the softest singing in my mind. Notes. A tune. And finally, recognition.

♪There’s a new day dawning… 10,000 Reasons♪ Mm, yes Blessed God! ♪10,000 reasons for my heart to find♪

“Deer in the headlights” has described my approach recently. As well as an ostrich. “Sticking its head in the sand.”

There are so many things going on that I don’t want to see. Or think about. ESPECIALLY in the late night hours.

Thank You for reminding me last night that “Jesus” is where I want my focus. Once remembered, I countered every scary thought with the true name above all names.

You did this for me Lord. As well as providing me a lullaby to beat all others. ♪All night, all day Angles Watching Over Me, my Lord All night, all day Angels watching over me♪

I honestly thought sleep would never come. And the next thing I knew? I was waking to ♪a new day dawning♪ Oh look! More of Your Truth sings out as the lyrics continue.

♪It’s time to sing Your song again Whatever may pass And whatever lies before me Let me be singing When the evening comes♪ Yes!

And here I get to move over to Psalm 34. Believing, trusting, depending and standing firmly on Your Holy Word.

♪You’re rich in love And You’re slow to anger Your name is great And Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons For my heart to find♪

Yes Dearest Lord. Keep my focus on You I ask (Matthew 7:7). Doing all for [with, in, through and by] me that I cannot possibly do myself.

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

(326 words ~ 6:45 a.m.)

overflowing with thankfulness

 Tuesday, April 16, 2024 (6:15 a.m.)

Blessed Father God,

Thank You! Thank You. Thank You.

(7:22 a.m.)

Not knowing what else to say I searched “gratitude with God.” Thank You for leading me again to Colossians 2:7.

“Let your roots grow down into Him, 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.”

Yes please Dear Lord. I want to be grateful. In, with, by, through and for You. Rooted, built up, established in the faith and overflowing with thankfulness. Do all You must I ask (Matthew 7:7). Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(119 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)

faces of gladness

 Monday, April 15, 2024 (7:18 a.m.)

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You… Infinite thanks to You Blessed God. 

Not that I’m “feeling” it. Or even want to. All because we are called repeatedly to give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Here again I say, “Thank You Lord.” Truly.

Yes! It’s in turning to You with ♪thanksgiving in our hearts♪ (Psalm 100:4a) that we are able to genuinely ♪rejoice for He has made me glad♪ (Psalm 118:24b).

You HAVE made me glad Dear Lord! Even while my face doesn’t necessarily reflect gladness. My heart, my soul, my mind are intentional in viewing circumstances through Your goodness. Your grace. Your kindness. Your presence.

Underlying it all, Your joy bubbles to the surface. Thank You Father.

“Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces” (Psalm 34:5). Make that so in me Dear God.

Yes Lord. Turning to You under the weight of all that does not seem “right” in my little corner of this world I stand firmly and stay my mind on the hope we find in Your Word of Truth and promises.

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever” (Psalm 16:11).

I trust You blessed God. I love, need and want You. Do all that only You are able. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(252 words ~ 7:59 a.m.)

changed perspectives

 Sunday, April 14, 2024 (5:40 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Thank You.

(6:04 a.m.)

You know my thoughts. Feelings. Fear. And faith. In You I am free to be the me You created me to be. Thank You Father.

“Genuinely curious and respectful”

“Balance of thought”

“God’s got this”

“Journey of Divine timing”

“When music stops, everything stops”

(9:40 a.m.)

(11:04 a.m.)

And I’m back again.

Father God, thank You. There’s a LOT going on this morning. People. Places. Things. Little of which we have control over. Thank You that You do!

The Book of Psalms. A treasure trove of honest emotion. How blessed we are to have these five books [how have I never before known this?] collected into one. Thank You Lord.

(12:01 p.m.)

All the thoughts. And hopes. Wonders and fears turn to thanks and praise when we consider who and all You are. Focusing on You and everything You do changes our perspectives. Thank You Father.

Searching “loving and thanking God” earlier is what took me over to Psalms.

(1:40 p.m.)

107:21 to be exact.

International Children’s Bible. “Let them [the people of Israel] give thanks to the Lord for His love and for the miracles He does for people.” 

Yes! Awesome/marvelous/wondrous deeds. Wonderful/great works. Amazing things.

Like indoor plumbing. Yes Father. When all is said and done today, I am still thanking You for the creature comforts You’ve provided us. Warm, dry home. Easy access to Your Word. Changed perspectives. And indoor plumbing.

Reading more about the psalms. Some written almost 1500 years before Jesus. I am grateful for Your followers. Those willing to share their innermost struggles. That I would be able to relate to the cries of their hearts all these millennia after the fact.

Use me Dearest Lord. As only You know is best. Loving, needing, trusting and wanting You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(330 words ~ 2:19 p.m.)

the One you want to call

 Saturday, April 13, 2024 (5:45 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You!  I have a huge smile. And it keeps getting bigger.

I was sure it was a mistake. This couldn’t possibly be the song You’d have for me. I even tried changing it to ♪This Is the Day♪ Thank You that You really do know best.

Twangy. Campy. Just plain fun. Thank You Lord.

Tow Mater singing ♪Trouble, if you get in trouble, Shoot! It don’t matter if it’s big or small! Flat tires, grease fire, No gas, broke glass, Tow Mater, the one you want to call♪

Lord God, thank You for this little adventure in lyric finding. Yes. Thank You for the way You lead me in finding Your Truth in the most unexpected places.

Searching “Jesus, the One you want to call” I find jesus.net Here I get to read about the courage You provide. Thank You Father. You work in the most unexpected ways.

Like taking me to singing ♪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 to new day He will make a way…♪

I can’t make this stuff up! Starting with a playful, secular song and my heart becomes wide open to Your possibilities.

A completely unknown to me person from France [Eric Célérier] sharing his understanding that we are full of courage because You place it in us. He prays Your peace will surround those reading his words. Your perfect love will cast out all fear and fill your children with Your strength and Your courage. In Jesus’ wonderful name.

All this Truth coming to me because I was willing to follow Your lead. Singing ♪Trouble, if you get in trouble…♪

How perfect is this writer’s reference to Psalm 46:1. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Yes! ♪Trouble, if you get in trouble♪

Lord, You DO provide us the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). When we prayerfully bring our cares [♪Cares Chorus♪ (1 Peter 5:7)] and concerns to You (v. 6). Fixing our thoughts on what is true and honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise (8).

Trusting, believing, depending on Your presence (Joshua 1:9). Reinforced by the underlying theme song in my mind. ♪Trouble, if you get in trouble… Jesus is the One you want to call♪ Yes! THE One I want to call!

Thank You Father. Keep singing to me I pray. Reminding me to bring all I have to You. Use me as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

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

going with the song

 Friday, April 12, 2024 (6:13 a.m.)

Blessed God,

I’m going with the song! ♪You’re in My Heart♪

(7:47 a.m.)

And with that came breakfast ideas. And hopes for the day.

Thank You Father. I am confessing to You what I’ve been dancing around for weeks. Fear of failing health. Yes Lord. Something’s going on here we haven’t yet figured out. Thank You that we have You to trust!

Mm, yes! Our faith is in You. Our hope. Yes!

♪Light in my darkness Peace for my soul You are my rescue You’ve never let go All my hope is in You All my strength is in You With every breath my soul will rest in You♪

Yes. Yes! ♪Here in my weakness Always the same Your love is my shelter Your life is my way♪ Oh look! This is NOT the song I thought it was.

♪My Life is in You, Lord 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 life I will praise You with all of my strength With all of my life, with all of my strength All my hope is in You♪

Thank You. Thank You. You remind me of the importance of turning to and trusting You. Adoring. Confessing. Thanking. And supplicating. 

Turning now to Your Word. Psalm 8:1. Revised Standard Version “Divine Majesty and Human Dignity To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith [a musical instrument or tune]. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth! Thou whose glory above the heavens is chanted”

Thank You for the privilege of seeing this one verse presented in so many different ways:

Contemporary English Version “(A psalm by David for the music leader.) The Wonderful Name of the Lord Our LORD and Ruler, Your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let Your glory be seen in the heavens above.”

Easy-to-Read Version “To the director: With the gittith. A song of David. LORD our Lord, Your name is the most wonderful in all the earth! It brings You praise everywhere in heaven.”

EasyEnglish Bible “The music leader must use special music. This is a song that David wrote. The sky at night [footnote: When he was a young man, David was a shepherd. He was with His sheep on the hills at night. David saw the moon and the stars in the sky. He knew that God made them all] LORD, our Ruler, Your name is famous all over the world. The sky above shows how great You are.”

And this from Illustrated Bible Handbook. “Psalm 8. How awesome God is, whose greatness is shown in creation, and who stoops to care for man!”

Yes! How awesome are you! ♪You’re in my heart, You’re in my soul You’ll be my breath should I grow old, You’re my Savior You’re my best friend You’re in my soul♪

You are! Thank You. Praise You. Use me as only You know is best. Loving, trusting, needing and wanting You. Amen.

(521 words ~ 8:58 a.m.)

contemplative

 Thursday, April 11, 2024 (5:54 a.m.)

Slow to start. Where to even begin? Adore. Confess. Thank. Supplicate [ask, pray, request, suggest].

Yeah. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll suggest things to You. Please note, my lighthearted sarcasm. But first? I’ll sit. Ramble. Resist.

♪O God, Our God how excellent is Your name in all the earth♪ (Psalm 8:1)

James 1:19

1 2 Timothy 1:7

Reluctant. Resistant. Reticent.

(7:09 a.m.)

So many thoughts and feelings. Subdued comes to mind. Contemplative. Yep. That’s the one.

Thank You God. For this time to sit. Consider. Thank. Think. Not judge.

♪Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)… I can hear so much in your sighs And I can see so much in your eyes There are words we both could say But don’t talk… Close your eyes and be still Don’t talk, take My hand and let Me hear your heartbeat Listen, listen, listen♪

I hear these lyrics coming directly to me from You! Close my eyes. Don’t talk. Listen. “Be still and know” that You are God (Psalm 46:10).

Thank You Father. Live in, with, by, through and for me this day. The one You have made (Psalm 118:24a). That I will truly rejoice and be glad (v. 24b). Albeit quietly. Reflectively. Internally. Contemplatively.