Monday, September 21, 2020 (7:44 a.m.)
Holy, Holy God,
Thank You that You are indeed holy Lord. The night seemed long. So many thoughts. And songs.
♪Everyday♪ by Buddy Holly
Hezekiah Walker’s ♪Every Praise♪
Gospel song about not losing one’s joy
Pledge of Allegiance (still applicable?)
Lord’s Prayer
♪God Bless America♪
Sunday, September 20, 2020 (6:52 a.m.)
♪Holy Spirit You are welcome here♪
I woke up singing just that. Thank You that You ARE welcome here!
♪… come flood this place and fill the atmosphere Your glory Lord is what our hearts long for To be overcome with Your presence, Lord♪
Singing often leads to smiling. And ultimately searching Your Word. Thank You Lord. Thank You that we have Your Word to search, to stand firmly upon, to stay our minds on.
As I began examining my expectations I took them straight to Your Word and found King David’s ‘praise psalm honoring You for Your intervention in history on behalf of the righteous, calling on You to continue to judge wicked nations’ (Illustrated Bible Handbook Psalm 9).
I wonder, along with so many others, do we as a nation fall into this category.
Psalm 9:1. The Passion Translation. “Triumphant Thanks For the Pure and Shining One To the tune of ‘The Secrets [or Death] of the Son,’ by King David Lord, I will worship You with extended hands as my whole heart explodes with praise! I will tell everyone everywhere about Your wonderful works and how Your marvelous miracles exceed expectations!”
The Life Recovery Bible comment for verses 1-6 describes experiencing Your help in beginning to change our lives for the better. The responsibility we have in sharing Your message of hope with others. Our need in allowing You to help us overcome the defects in our character.
Yes Lord. That is exactly why again I sing ♪Holy Spirit You are welcome here… Your glory Lord is what our hearts long for To be overcome with Your presence, Lord♪
Holy God, we are in desperate need of Your presence Lord. We as Your people. We as a nation. We do love and long to serve You. Exactly as You know is best. Keep working everything together for Your good (Romans 8:28).
None of us has a clue as to what it will all look like in the end. We do however know and trust You to be good. Kind. Loving. Forgiving. Perfect. Do all You must. We love You. We need You. We thank You. Amen.
(369 words ~ 7:52 a.m.)
Saturday, September 19, 2020 (7:53 a.m.)
Good morning Holy God,
Again I say, “Good morning.” What does it really mean? What does so much of all we do on any given day day really mean?
Right now I’m going to consider it a gift. From You. A day You have given us.
Galatians 5:16-18 The Message and The Passion Translation
Holy, Blessed God You provide such beauty and joy
Friday, September 18, 2020 (5:00 a.m.)
Holy God,
Again I say, “Good morning” to You. And with that I immediately start singing. ♪Good morning. Good morning…♪
Taking this phrase into Your Word, I find myself once more in the early pages of Jeremiah (Chapters 7:1-10:25. Ruin and Exile). You remember? The “bullfrog” from yesterday.
Holy God, thank You that I get to be playful and silly with You. Even going so far as smiling so big when I read “F.R.O.G. = fully rely on God”. Oh that we would truly rely on You!
Blessed Lord, I love You. Truly. Dearly. Deeply. I am confessing to You right now to feeling lost. Disappointed. Disillusioned.
Thank You that we get to be this honest with You. There are hurts. Fears. Balanced by an occasional smile. A hope. Even a sense of joy.
I am reminded that our purpose as Your people is to glorify and enjoy You forever. I search out what that would actually look like. A myriad of verses are available throughout Your Word. Beginning in Genesis and ending in Revelation.
Thank You Father. Thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You for Your plans. Thank You for the mistakes we continue to make.
Yes Lord. I long to become one who can wholeheartedly thank and praise You for the mistakes I make. Do all You must to this end.
I yearn to be freed from the fear that keeps me bound. Truly laughing in the face of adversity that I would fully embrace all the hope and joy You have for us.
Blessed God, I am asking that I would not live this day “neither hot nor cold” (Revelation 3:15). Continue Your work in making me victorious (v. 21). Make me truly willing to hear, listen and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches” (22).
Bind us together in one accord. Yes Holy Father! ♪Bind us together, Lord; Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken… There is only one God, There is only one King, There is only one body; That is why we sing… Bind us together with love♪
All of this time spent singing and searching this morning ends with me reading in Colossians 3. “Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (vs. 12-15).
Oh make it so Blessed God. Do all You must to make it so. This I ask. All in Jesus’ most holy name.
I love You. I need You. I thank and praise You. Bless and bind us Father. Together, in Your name. Thank You. Amen.
(529 words ~ 7:03 a.m.)
Thursday, September 17, 2020 (5:17 a.m.)
Good morning Lord,
How I thank You for providing smiles. I appreciate every time I realize that I am smiling. Yes Lord.
With that comes another smile. And a song. ♪When You’re Smiling♪
Just one click and I’m learning more about this song, the people who’ve sung it over the years and a variety of other information that has nothing at all to do with singing.
Right now I’m taking the opportunity to follow my thinking. “Just one click” led me to learning about the song ♪Just One Look♪ While doing that I found myself praying for loved ones.
Father, You amaze me. You created each of us with our own skillsets. Abilities. Interests. Thank You that You have a plan in here somewhere. A plan that is meant for good and not for evil. A plan to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
And right there? Another song. And with it? Another smile.
Playful as can be. ♪Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog♪ Oh look! All these [nearly 50] years later I learn it’s really titled ♪Joy to the World♪ And just when I think I am spinning wheels and wasting time I find some kernels of truth.
Your Truth can be found Father whenever we’re willing to search for It and follow our own quirky interests. Wikipedia of all places tells me “A member of Three Dog Night said that the original lyrics to the song were ‘Jeremiah was a prophet’ but no one liked it.”
How ‘bout that? Originally rejected by two of the three main vocalists it was ultimately recorded because “the band needed a ‘silly song’ to help bring the band back together as a working unit.” Oh dearest God, how You work in the most mysterious ways!
Reading further the song is referred to as ‘not even close to our best record, but it might have been one of our most honest.’ Is that how we are to be with You Blessed God? Your Word tells us over and over again that You never expected us to be perfect. Just honest!
Following this thread back to the internet [theodysseyonline] I read that we are to hold ourselves to “a standard of grace, not of perfection.” Oh how I ask You to keep teaching me Father.
Lead me that I will follow. Into Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises. Ever reminded of Your goodness and Your grace.
We are Yours Father. Ever curious. And challenged. You are ever perfect. Loving. Kind. Forgiving. In charge.
Do all You must this blessed day Dearest God, that we would truly come to worship and adore You. Even if I’m singing of a bullfrog [PROPHET} named Jeremiah! We have SO much to learn from the book carrying his name.
I love You Father. Use me this day. Exactly as You know is best. Countering every single worthless thought with Your Truth. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.
(497 words ~ 7:05 a.m.)
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 (6:38 a.m.)
Holy God,
Thank You. I got to wake up singing again. AND I knew exactly what song it was! Thank You Father.
♪Grander earth has quaked before Moved by the sound of His voice Seas that are shaken and stirred Can be calmed and broken for my regard Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You Through it all, through it all It is well♪
Thank You that I get to take my singing into Your Word. This morning to the apostle Peter’s words to his audience of hurting people and their Call to Suffering. Holy God, how truly I thank You!
Thank You that You are in charge of every single aspect of our lives. There is not one single thing about each of us that You don’t already know.
♪Far be it for me to not believe Even when my eyes can’t see And this mountain that’s in front of me Will be thrown into the midst of the sea. Through it all, through it all… So let go my soul and trust in Him The waves and wind still know His name♪
Just considering the Truth involved in this song I marvel at the fact that Peter not only knew Your name, he knew You! And even in knowing You dearly, he made mistakes. Thank You for not hiding any of Your story from us.
In 1 Peter 3:13-17 we are taught that we may very well suffer for doing good. The mere thought of that flies in the very face of what we as a people have come to expect. Doing right in our minds equates to receiving right in return.
How excruciatingly hard it can be to say, “Thank You” when that is not always the case. Again I practice doing that right now. "Thank You Lord. Thank You Lord. Thank You Lord."
I have no idea what today holds. But I do trust and believe that You hold all the variables for us.
♪So let go my soul and trust in Him The waves and wind still know His name… It is well with my soul… It is well, it is well, with my soul♪
Holy God, do all You must to Your good and to Your glory. You are good. There is none like You. And ♪Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You … And it is well with me♪
Keep me singing this day Blessed God. Singing. Smiling. Standing firm. And staying my mind on the Truth of Your promises and Your Word.
I love You. I need You. I long to worship and adore You as You so rightly deserve. Lead us that we will follow You. Exactly where You would have us. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.
(470 words ~ 7:40 a.m.)
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 (8:31 a.m.)
Holy God,
I’ve been calling out, “Jesus” recently. Every time my mind starts taking me places I’d rather not go my reset has been, “Jesus. Jesus. Jesus…”
Thank You Lord. Thank You for the genuine peace of mind and settling of my soul that has taken place. Sleep has actually happened. As well as a periodic sense of calm.
Turning in Your Word [1 Corinthians] I am reading Paul’s words. Written to “encourage the believers living in Corinth to resolve their problems and honor God” (THE BOTTOM LINE The Life Recovery Bible). Oh Dearest Lord! Oh that we would heed his words.
As I read his greetings and warnings, I liken it to him speaking to us today. “Mere infants in Christ” (v. 3:1) strikes an immediate chord. Asking You to bless us as Paul invoked on behalf of the believers living in Corinth (1:3) we truly seek Your grace and peace.
Reminding Your church in Corinth (v.1:2) that they had been called by You to be Your own holy people. “He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as He did Christians everywhere - whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs.”
Blessed Holy Father God, I don’t have to tell You the discord taking place in this nation alone. We have become an abominable people. Particularly loathsome. Forgive us Lord I pray. Lead us back to Your righteousness. Our goals and views have become skewed. We are in desperate need of Your holy presence.
Quoting The Life Recovery Bible footnote for 1:2, I insert the United States of America for the name Corinth. “Corinth [USA] was a giant melting pot with a great diversity of ethnic groups, religions, intellectual perspectives, and moral standards. It had a reputation for being fiercely independent and decadent. Idolatry flourished; more than a dozen pagan temples at one time had employed at least a thousand religious prostitutes. The new believers in Corinth had to deal with many deep-rooted habits and attitudes as they sought to nurture their new lives in Christ. Temptations of all kinds abounded throughout the city. Corinth was not unlike our world today. The apostle Paul’s advice to these early believers will touch on many of the issues we face today.”
NONE of all we are dealing with at this time comes as any surprise to You at all. You know Your people. You saw it all coming. And with that said, what is there for us to do? Call on the name of Jesus!
Illustrated Bible Handbook tells us, “As Paul begins this problem-focused letter he is not discouraged. Whatever our problems, we too can remain confident in the Lord.” Thank You Father.
(1:32 p.m.)
Yes. Thank You Father. Thank You for the phone calls that got me up and moving around. Phone calls reporting improving health and relationships.
As I go out into the remainder of the day, let me remain confident in You. Whatever the problem!
Lord Jesus, continue to hear us when we call out to You. Lead and direct us to Your will and to Your way.
We love You Lord. And we are in desperate need of You. Make us obedient to Your call to love and to forgive. That we would truly become the people You would have us be. Yours! In thought, words and deeds.
Do all You must. To Your perfect end. I love You. Amen.
(583 words ~ 1:40 p.m.)
