Thank You, thank You Jesus!

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 (6:51 a.m.)

Thank You, Jesus!

Thank You, thank You Jesus!

Blessed Lord, I can not even begin to thank You enough. You have always been with me. The past several days are when I have again experienced the peace of Your presence. Thank You, thank You Jesus!

Sitting here. Safe and warm. Rested. Refreshed. Regenerated. And rejoicing. Absolute, wholehearted rejoicing.

Thank You Jesus. I truly don’t want to stop saying it. Right now it just comes out freely. Easily. Wholeheartedly. Thank You.

I followed You. I did not set off on my own. I stayed behind. Watching. Waiting. Listening. Trusting. And taking my cues from You. Thank You Jesus.

My heart is settled. I notice I’m smiling. And breathing in deeply. You provide this peace. Thank You.

Considering the peace I am experiencing and all the change that is taking place in and around us, I am suddenly soulfully singing, ♪There been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long But now I think I’m able to carry on It’s been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gon’ come oh yes it will♪

And that change? You! Absolutely, definitely You! Thank You Jesus.

So… as we continue reading our home and hearts for major change around here, I look to You. Asking Your guidance. Seeking Your patience. Knocking on Your door of mercy and grace.

And while I’m at it, let me ask You (Matthew 7:7) to emblazon the power and Truth of Proverbs 4:23 across my totality. Reintroduced to it yesterday I can’t get enough of it.

“Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences” (Complete Jewish Bible).

Expanded Bible, “Be careful what you think [Above all that you guard, protect your heart], because your thoughts run your life [life flows from it].”

The Message, “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.”

Mm, yes. Tell me more.

New International Reader’s Version, “Above everything else, guard your heart. Everything you do comes from it.”

The Passion Translation, “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”

I can only ask, “Please.” Yes, please do all You must in, with, by, through and for me all that You know is necessary for this to truly be a safe place of recovery and recuperation. Thank You. Thank You, thank You Jesus.

I love You. I need You. I choose You. I trust and thank You. Amen.

(441 words ~ 8:36 a.m.)

FIX!

Sunday, January 21, 2018 (6:52 a.m.)

Anaheim, CA

Dearest God,

I am grumping and growling right now. Internally. Feeling out of my element. Preparing to be disappointed. Oh! How’s that for honest?

Instead of anticipating joy, I am predicting disaster. 

Thank You Father. Thank You for exactly this particular place in time. Or is that play and time? Right here, right now, I am looking to You. Not seeking a distraction. Or any mind numbing. Just sitting here. Waiting. For the next thing.

More honesty… I think too much. About inconsequential things. I try too hard. Again, inconsequentially.

And this is where I see You coming in to change my thinking. Blessed Father, forgive my whining. Work in and with, by, through and for me that I would come to fix my mind… Yes indeed. That’s the phrase. There’s the word. And a smile. FIX!

The Passion Translation for Philippians 4:8 says, “So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.”

"the God of peace"

Saturday, January 20, 2018 (4:31 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Where do we go from here?

I need You. Yes. Oh, how I need You!

There are some huge changes coming up. I thought I was ready for them. Last week was spent so effortlessly. Effectively. Accomplishing much. And yesterday I began feeling dazed. Cut off. Detached. Alone. Afraid.

Ah. There it is! Fear.

Forgive me Father. Your Word tells us repeatedly to “fear not”, “do not be afraid”. Yet here I am. Cowering. Pulling back.

So… God of peace, I come to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). Expecting. Yes. Father.

Because I DO trust You, Jesus I fully expect You to take all of the pieces of myself I am offering You and fashion them into something You find acceptable. These are all things I cannot do on my own. YOU can. I’ve experienced Your peace in the past. I’m seeking it again.

Mm, yes! God of peace I seek You. Reading Your Word (Philippians 4:4-9) I am again filled with hope. I choose to trust and believe that as I “don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything” (v. 6) You, "the God of peace", WILL be with me (v. 9).

Yes. Yes. Yes. Your Word speaks Truth. Promises. Hope. I need You Jesus. I thank You. I choose You, over fear!

Reading The Life Recovery Bible’s comment for this section and Illustrated Bible Handbook’s “A Plea for Perspective; 4:2-9” I am reminded that true happiness and joy are found when we trust and depend that You are working and are always in control. Always.

Not just often. Nor sometimes. ALWAYS!

I read Your Word. My heart settles. My soul smiles. I breath deeply. And hope.

“Paul speaks of joys that are found through relationship with the Lord (4). In Christ we have release from anxiety, for we can express every need to God and experience peace (5-7). In Christ we can concentrate our attention on the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (8). In Christ we can put godly living into practice, and have the assurance that the God whose presence means inner peace will be with us (9)” (Chapter 4. Joy in the Lord Illustrated Bible Handbook).

Jesus, I love You. I need You. I choose You. I ask You. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I would truly come to trust and depend solely on You.

Mm. Trust. Hope. Thank. Praise.

“4:4-9 True happiness can be found in every situation of life when we recognize that God is at work and always in control. Because Christ is with us and His return is certain, we can act calmly in pain and difficulty. Peace and joy come when we focus on those things that provide lasting value to our life. The more we commit ourself to knowing God’s will through prayer and study of His Word, the better prepared we are to help ourself and others in the process of recovery” (The Life Recovery Bible).

Looking to You, hoping in You, trusting and depending on You again I ask, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20b).

Thank You. I love You. I need You. I choose You. Amen.

(546 words ~ 6:19 a.m.)

variables

Friday, January 19, 2017 (5:00a.m.)

I am here Blessed God, not fully awake.

(5:28 a.m.)

Still not fully awake. Singing. Studying. Searching. Seeking. And yes, going back to bed.

Holy God, I love You. I need You. I choose You. I thank You. And right now, this very minute I ask You to guide my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength in loving You as You wish (Mark 12:30).

♪In unity, to dwell in unity♪ It's the song I originally woke up singing. ♪Lalalalalalalalalalala♪ 

Work in, with, by, through and for me Father. I have a lot of stray thoughts going on. Corral my thinking would You please? Let it come to focus and center on You.

(7:31 a.m.)

Oh Holy God,

Thank You for more rest.

(8:07 a.m.)

And now, for a great deal of honesty… my mind is spinning wildly. There are a LOT of variables coming up. A long awaited major surgery and all the details that come along with that. Changes in scheduling directly related to said surgery.

I practice thinking and saying, “I trust You, Jesus” and at the very same time hear myself using the words “fear” and “afraid”. My only constant in the midst of all the unknowns is You. Thank You that You are our constant in ALL things.

Mmm… “in all things give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Yes! Please. Allow my mind to truly embrace this Truth!

Again I cry out. I love You. I need You. I choose You. I trust and thank You. This is more practice than complete belief. I’m saying it all because I’m supposed to. I’m looking to You to turn it all into something real and worshipful.

Yes. Please. Do all You must to settle my scrambled thinking and ideas. I love You. Yes. Deep breath. I need You. Yes. So incredibly much. I choose You. I do. Over fearful, frightened thinking “Forsaking All I Trust Him”! And again I ask You to do all You must in bringing me to Your path in all of this.

Now back to the song with which I awoke. ♪Behold how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together… In unity, to dwell in unity… Lalalalalalalalalalalala♪ (Psalm 133:1). Yes. Thank You Father.

Use me to advance the hope and love that comes consistently through trusting You at Your Word. Yes, Jesus. I trust You. Thank You. Amen.

(8:47 a.m. ~ 414 words)

rejoice and be glad

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 (7:03 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. In the midst of not such a great night’s sleep I remembered ♪This is the day This is the day that the Lord hath made that the Lord hath made I will rejoice I will rejoice and be glad in it And be glad in it♪

Rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118:24). Yes! Teach me more I pray.

The Message tells us, “This is the very day God acted - let’s celebrate and be festive!” Hmm… Celebrate and be festive.

An explanation for this Psalm in Illustrated Bible Handbook describes it as, “a great affirmation of God as He whose ‘love endures forever.’” And now I am singing a different song.

♪Give thanks to the Lord, Our God and King His love endures forever For He is good, He is above all things His love endures forever Sing praise, sing praise♪

Mm, yes Father. I ask Your absolute presence this very day, that I will truly celebrate and be festive. Show me Father how to live this day that You have made rejoicing and being glad. Yes. Thank You Father.

I love You. I thank You. I need You. I want You. Use me as You wish. Thank You. Amen.

(216 words ~ 8:15 a.m.)

faith / trust / belief

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 (7:36 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You! I keep saying, “I trust You, Jesus” and my heart feels stronger. Happier. Freer.

Yes. I have claimed to know You all these years. Yet I haven’t always experienced the freedom Your Word promises. These past several days have been amazing!

I’m learning new things. Have interests I never imagined. Am eager. Excited. Agog. With You.

Thank You Father. Thank You Jesus.

I get to read Faith in the Son of God (The Life Recovery Bible 1 John 5:1-12). Faith. Forsaking All I Trust Him. Thank You for reminding me. Jesus, I DO trust You! Thank You.

Faith. Trust. Belief. Fairly short words. Huge meanings. Thank You for the privilege, the honor, the opportunity of learning to depend on You with my whole being.

“Everyone who trusts Jesus as the long-awaited Anointed One is a child of God, and everyone who loves the Father cannot help but love the child fathered by Him” (1 John 5:1 The Voice). Just think of the impact of living this Truth.

I am already experiencing the power of trusting Jesus like never before. Any sense of fear or being afraid is obliterated by reciting, “I trust You, Jesus”. Hearing myself speak this Truth settles my mind. Redirects my thinking.

Thank You for the seeming ease with which order has begun taking over the former chaos of our home. The mere thought of parting with items of our past used to send me to near panic. Your power has superseded practically every doubt I encounter.

Thank You Jesus. You are my Hope. Continue Your work in, with, by, through and for me that I would come to trust You even more than I do right now. I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You for more of Your power and strength to do that which You would have me do.

Thank You Jesus. Thank You Father. Thank You Holy Spirit. I love You. I trust You. I want You. I need You.

Mm, look where my eyes just fell. “For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory” (v. 3). Yes Lord!

Followed immediately by, “And the ones who win this battle against the world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God” (v. 4). Thank You that I am coming to realize and experience precisely this.

Yes. Thank You. Praise You. Celebrate and trust You. Yes. Use me exactly as You wish. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(437 words ~ 11:15 a.m.)

left open

Monday, January 15, 2018 (7:41 a.m.)