called to pray

 Sunday, May 4, 2025 (4:30 a.m.)

Awesome God,

Thank You. You reminded me again. I am so loved (John 3:16). And I am called to pray (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Thank You very much.

Right there in the middle of the darkened room. Not yet fully awake. The reminder of decades past. “When you can’t sleep, pray for whoever comes to mind.” And I did!

One thought led straight to the next. This person’s name and/or needs quickly gave way to another. An eager, excitement [agog-ness] took root. Thank You Father.

Thank You for reminding me of all the blessings You have provided me throughout my lifetime. People. Places. Things. Examples. Most importantly You. Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

Father, how I ask (Matthew 7:7a) You to use me. Exactly as You know is best. Loving You. Others. Myself. Completely. With all heart, soul, mind and strength. (Mark 12:30-31).

What an incredibly tall order. Thank You for reminding me that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

(5:49 a.m.)

You amaze me Blessed Father. Waking to various songs singing in my mind:

♪Place In This World♪

♪I’m So Blessed♪

♪I’m So Excited♪

I’m grateful for the musicality You have provided me. Thank You for singing Your Truth to me in so many ways.

♪Come As You Are♪

(6:04 a.m.)

I confess to getting wildly distracted just now. One moment I’m singing Your praises. And the next? Near panic set in while I started reading about gopher control.

Father God, how I ask (Matthew 7:7a) You to again place Your hand on my quivering, shaky demeanor. Steady and strengthen me as only You know is best.

Taking the word shaky to Hebrews 12:12 I’m delighted to be reading Your Truth. Hebrews 12 and 13: God’s Discipline Proves His Love (12:1-13), A Call to Listen to God (12:14-19), Concluding Words (Chapter 13).

(7:31 a.m.)

I read. Think. Fear (people, places, things). Teach me Dearest Dad to FEAR [Fully Esteem And Revere] You instead!

(8:00 a.m.)

Ecclesiastes 12:13. The Message. “The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what He tells you.”

Yes please Lord.

♪Word of God Speak 

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You’re in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness♪

Empower and enable me in hearing and obeying Your call on me. “When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13).

(8:24 a.m.)

And from there I go straight over to verse 33. Jesus’ continued words to His disciples. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.”

Have peace. Yes please! Peace in, with, by, through and for You. Yes.

Much earlier You directed my thoughts to the “grace notes” You add to my life.

(9:08 a.m.)

“A phrase used to describe God’s unmerited favor…  the idea that God’s kindness and help are freely given, not earned.”

I am aware of MANY of the grace notes You have provided me throughout the years. Blessed Father God, I am so very grateful to You. Continue growing me as You know is necessary to better use me to Your glory.

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

(628 words ~ 9:15 a.m.)

more to learn

 ♪Word of God Speak 

May Would You pour down like rain

Causing Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty♪

Saturday, May 3, 2025 (4:57 a.m.)

Blessed God,

It often surprises me how many mistakes I make. Whether it’s singing lyrics incorrectly or deciding my own next steps. Father, thank You that You are so good and willing to teach us.

Psalm 103:8-19

(5:53 a.m.)

Searching and reading about mistake making I thank You for the reminders You send my way. Other people write of their experiences. Citing Nehemiah 8:10. Go and celebrate. The joy of the Lord is my strength. 

So many times I tell You I don’t understand. Thank You that I don’t have to. Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord. Lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge You. And You will direct my path.

This quote from crossroad coach has me musing. “When we accept His [the One who promises to give us His joy when we ask for it] joy in the midst of our mistakes and painful experiences, the reaction of joy is so different and unexpected that we can’t help but begin to reflect His glory to the world around us.”

Go figure! Accept Your joy and reflect Your glory. Yes, please! Sign me up for that. I want very much to continue learning how You would have me share the love You have for each of us.

♪I need Your light to help me find

My Place In This World♪

Yes Lord. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

Oh yes please Lord!

I do not belong to this world (John 17:16). Make me holy by Your Truth (17a). Teach me Your Word, which is Truth (17b). 

As You send me into this world (v. 18) I especially ask (Matthew 7:7a) You to keep me safe from the evil one (John 17:15).

♪Father, let Your Kingdom come

Father, let Your will be done

On earth as in Heaven

Right here in my heart

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us, forgive us

As we forgive the ones who sinned against us

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from the evil one

Let Your Kingdom♪

Oh yes, dear Father. Let Your Kingdom come. And Your will be done (Matthew 6:10). Use me exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You. Do all You must in helping me learn and put into practice all Jesus came to teach.

Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(468 words ~ 6:48 a.m.)

 

wherewithal

 ♪Da-da-da-da-da-da… words I don’t remember…

Faith in this world? ♪

Friday, May 2, 2025 (5:37 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You for the desire to sing and give You thanks. Thank You also for the wherewithal to identify lyrics I couldn’t otherwise grasp.

♪I’m looking for a reason

Roaming through the night to find

My Place In This World…

Not a lot to lean on

I need Your light to help me find

My place in this world…♪

(6:08 a.m.)

Father God, thank You for allowing me the means to use what I knew to be an incorrect phrase to find what I sought. There is absolutely no way that I have faith in this world! All my hope and faith and trust are in You. Yet that was the word that kept coming to my mind.

How truly blessed we are to know that all of our faith has to be in You. Not this world.

Blessed God. Thank You for being everything we need. Glorious (Psalm 145:5). Great (v.6). Good (7). Gracious (8). Thank You that we are called to “praise You every day” (2a). Yes! “I will praise you forever” (2b).

Mm. Verse four, “Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; let them proclaim Your power.” Oh yes Blessed Father. “One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts.”

EasyEnglish Bible. “Down from father to son, people will praise You. They will tell each other about the powerful things that You have done.” Yes, please! I want to be counted as one who praises You forever.

Lord God, I want to represent well the last line of The Life Recovery Bible comment (145:1-7) for this section. “Our praise of God’s work in our life can bring joy and encouragement to others.” Do all You must to Your good and perfect end.

♪… Though the fear is talking’

No it can’t take out my faith

I’m gonna praise, I’m gonna praise

I praise the mountain moving

Body raising, Breaker of chains…

I praise the heaven seated 

Undefeated, Highest of names

 That’s Who I Praise

… I wanna love like Jesus

That kind of grace

I wanna live like I got no

More precious time to waste

I’m gonna give Him glory

With all my thanks

‘Cause there’s no greater, stronger, higher name

And that’s who I praise♪

Thank You for continuing to sing and lead me more deeply into Your Word. Right now, starting at Matthew 6:19. Continuing through the whole of chapter seven. Each verse rife with life in, with, by, through and for You (Hebrews 4:12)!

Father God, I can never adequately put into words all that You are and have done for me. Thank You that Your Word says it all:

Teaching about Money and Possessions (Matthew 6:19-34)

Do Not Judge Others (Chapter 7:1-6)

Effective Prayer (vs.7-11)

The Golden Rule (v.12)

The Narrow Gate (13-14

The Tree and Its Fruit (15-20)

True Disciples (21-23)

Building on a Solid Foundation (24-29)

Jesus, I want to live as You came into this world to teach us to live (John 10:10b). Fully alive and abundantly. In its fullest measure. Truly. With everything we need. More and better than we ever dreamed of. 

Empower and enable me in becoming a better learner Lord. Let me put Your teachings into my actions. Yes. I love, need, trust and want You Lord.

Do all You must that I will come to love as You would have me love. You. Others. Myself. Wholeheartedly. Mindfully. Soulfully. Energetically (Mark 12:30-31).

Use me exactly as You know is best. Thank You. Praise You. ♪... I need Your light to help me me find my place in this world…♪ Amen.

(630 words ~ 7:32 a.m.)

still singing

 Thursday, May 1, 2025 (3:40 a.m.)

Dearest Blessed God,

Thank You. There was sleep. And singing.

♪Who Am I, that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name♪

Followed by thinking. So very much thinking.

(3:50 a.m.)

Already there have been snafus. And a lot of gratitude.

Father God, I am so grateful for the blessings You have provided. Like the music that keeps singing within.

James 1:17. EasyEnglish Bible “Remember that every good gift comes to us from God. He only does what will help us. He is our Father in heaven. He made everything in the sky that gives us light. Those things do not give us the same light all the time. They change, but God does not change.”

Father, You know the prayers of my heart. The insecurities. Indecisions. Uncertainties.

Yet You also provide me with joy. Hope. Peace. Encouragement. Opportunity. I’m asking You (Matthew 7:7a) to continue Your work in teaching me how best to use all You have so generously given me.

(5:03 a.m.)

As I sit here reading in and of Your Word, I notice I am again smiling. Broadly. With wide abandon.

Father, I confess to You the inadequacies I attribute to myself. The negatively imbalanced comparisons with others.

(5:38 a.m.)

♪Who am I…

I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean♪

Thank You that as I sing to You so many Bible verses come to mind. James 1:11a and 6b especially.

Father, You know Your plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11a). Who am I to question or doubt that they are truly for good and not for evil? Giving me a future and a hope.

I want to live this day [that You have made (Psalm 118:24a)] as You would have me. Rejoicing and being glad (24b). A relatively tall order depending on the base on which I stand.

Continue teaching me to stand and stay my mind on Your Truth and promises. Delighting, enjoying, being happy, taking pleasure in You (Psalm 37:4a) as You would have me do.

I love, need, trust and want You Lord. Do all You must in using me as You alone know is best. Sharing. Caring. Loving as You would have me love. You. Others. Myself. Wholly (Mark 12:30-31). Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(352 words ~ 5:58 a.m.)