smile of gratitude

Friday, November 20, 2020 (5:42 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. I thank You. I got to wake up singing again. And I am grateful.

Lord, there is so much going on in the world. And inside my head. So I come to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7).

I’m in need of direction. Guidance. Leadership. A master plan.

And here is the smile. Of gratitude. Yes. Praise You Father.

The sunrise just keeps getting better. More beauty and color with every glance outside. Thank You God.

Thank You for so very many reasons to smile. To be grateful. Mm, yes Lord. Thank You that we can turn to Your Word. And find ourselves.

Reading Matthew 25:25 I readily see myself in the words of the third servant. “I was afraid… so I hid…” Me. Right there!

Thank You God. I can be so innately hard on myself. And then come to Your Word and find hope.

The Life Recovery Bible devotion entitled Perfectionism describes me repeatedly. Paralyzed. Shamed. Not what others wanted me to be. Unrealistic expectations. Fall short. Not even try to succeed.

All of this leading to the wisdom behind Jesus’ illustrations. “All God asks of us is that we try to do something with our abilities and resources. When we allow ourself the option of just making modest progress, we will find the courage to progress in recovery. Even the least improvement is better than not trying at all or being doomed to complete failure by our perfectionism.”

Yes! That’s what happens to me. And it is absolutely not Your best for any of us. 

Lord, I come to You this morning. Asking again that You would truly free me to be the woman You created me to be. The one clothed in strength and dignity, who laughs with no fear of the future. Whose words are wise and kind. And whose children rise and call her blessed and her husband praises her (Proverbs 31:25-28).

Make that happen in and with me Dearest Lord. By, through and for me. Take all my fear and turn it into the courage needed to live this day fully. With faith to believe that You truly are all You claim to be.

I love You. I long to serve. Exactly as You alone know is best. Do all You must that I will genuinely glorify and enjoy You. This day and forever. Thank You. Praise You. Use me. Amen.

(414 words ~ 6:50 a.m.)

Enough

Thursday, November 19, 2020 (5:13 a.m.)

Holy God,

I’m confessing a bad attitude. Yep. One simple request by another and “Bam!” the gloves were on.

What the heck was that anyway? Why did I react so intensely? And negatively.

There we were, working along. Each at our own pace. Truly I’m asking You Lord because I honestly don’t have the clue. Why am I still upset over this all these hours later?

I am harshly judging another for not being sorry enough. YOU don’t work that way! That is not the love and forgive tenet You teach. So what do I do now?

There it is! Reading Psalm 60:1-4 the singing and the smile started immediately. ♪Your Grace Is Enough♪

Mm… speak with me this morning about all that is enough Dearest Lord. You are enough. Your grace is enough. Your faithfulness. Your mercy. Your love. Your justice. 

Enough - as much or as many as required. Enough. Teach me more Lord.

Here is where I thank and praise You Father. You allow us to be honest. To act and react badly. To sin and begin again (Revelation 3:19b). Thank You God.

Thank You that I get to be this honest with You. I get to say out loud for everyone to hear, “I was wrong! I behaved badly. There’s still a hint of justification left inside from what I perceived as fault-finding. Blame.”

And… I get to bring these thoughts and fears and mistakes straight to You. Asking (Matthew 7:7) to be changed. Not to my own specifications. But to Yours.

Father God, You alone know the plans You have for each of us. Plans for good and not for evil. Plans to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Here I am asking You to continue leading that I would follow.

Take yesterday’s blunder as the perfect example. I recognized right as it was happening. I didn’t like what had been said and I didn’t know how to address it. In and of itself it was a perfectly harmless request. And it triggered something deep inside me.

So as I work to follow You past yet another seemingly harmless mishap, I ask You to grow me stronger. Your grace IS enough! (2 Corinthians 12:9). Steep me in it this day.

Teach me what it is You want me to learn regarding Your love. And forgiveness. Your grace. And goodwill. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that I would truly become the woman You created me to be.

I love You Father. Use me as You know is best. ♪Great is Your faithfulness oh God… Your grace is enough for me♪ Praise You. Thank You. Amen.

(454 words ~ 6:38 a.m.)

snippets

Wednesday, November 18, 2020 (4:58 a.m.)

Holy God,

I’ve had snippets of songs singing with every waking throughout the early morning hours. Thank You for the ready recognition of each before falling back to more sleep. 

First it was, ♪You unravel me with a melody You surround me with a song♪ [No Longer Slaves]. Then came ♪You call me out upon the waters The great unknown where feet may fail♪ [Oceans]. And finally, ♪I love You, I love You, I love You… [For so many Sentimental Reasons]♪

Thank You that I get to bring them all to You with a heart filled with peace and hope.

Blessed, Holy God, we are looking to make big changes around here [“Big. HUGE!”]. Even as I consider all there is to be done, I know that we cannot successfully do any of it without Your leading and guiding.

Most Holy Father, we are so very grateful to be Your children. To know that we can come before You with snippets of songs and Scriptures and never ending “to do” lists. Work in us this day. With. By. Through. And for us. That we will truly continue transforming into the people You would have us be.

I read Your Word. Matthew 12:1-8 (Hosea 6:6), 12:17-21 (Isaiah 42:1-4). And I smile. Contented. Hopeful. Asking that You would make Your promises true in me.

Let me walk with You this day. Following Your lead. Obeying Your direction. I love You Lord. Be glorified. Thank You. Amen.

(257 words ~7:24 a.m.)

zest

 Tuesday, November 17, 2020 (6:20 a.m.)

Holy God,

A word came to mind and here I am reading Psalm 27:1, followed by John 1:5, 9 and 1 John 1:5. Use me this morning as You know is best Dearest Lord.

Mm… The Message “A David Psalm Light, space, zest - That’s GOD! So, with Him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.”

Zest - great enthusiasm and energy; a quality of excitement and piquancy [of being pleasantly stimulating or exciting].

Talk with me, won’t You? About living this day zestfully. Yes. Full of energy and enthusiasm.

As I sit here, reading and thinking I find my smile growing larger. Father, thank You. Thank You that we get to come to You. With whatever word comes to our minds.

Illustrated Bible Handbook describes “Psalm 27. A prayer of confidence in God, on whose person David’s whole being is concentrated.” Hmm. What would that be like Lord?

To TRULY depend on You for every aspect of who we are and all that is to come. Thank You Father. Thank You for the hope that comes from reading and depending on Your Word.

The verses cited above speak of Your Light overcoming darkness. Oh look at this!

The Passion Translation. 1 John 1:5. “God Is Light This is the life-giving message we heard Him [Jesus] share and it’s still ringing in our ears. We now repeat His words to you: God is pure light. You will never find even a trace of darkness in Him.”

Blessed, Holy Father God, I turn to You with all my hopes, all my thoughts, every fear that begins to manifest itself asking that You would continue guiding me more deeply into knowing, trusting and worshipping You. You are good. You are kind. You are vital.

Thank You Lord. Teach me to embrace and live this day with all the zest that You alone provide. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(332 words ~ 7:43 a.m.)

...heartfelt laughter

 Monday, November 16, 2020 (5:15 a.m.)

Holy God,

You are good. I am made in Your image. And I love You. Here I’m asking You to lead and guide me throughout this day.

You provided laughter yesterday. Easy, free, genuine, heartfelt laughter. Mm, let me take this moment to consider that one. I remember it well. “As if it were yesterday.” Oh yeah, it was!

Thank You Lord. Thank You that I get to laugh with You. Easily. Freely. Genuinely. And deeply heartfelt. Mm, yes.

There I stood at the edge of a Christmas tree farm. Touting the massively hidden beauty of one particular, peculiar looking conifer. Seemingly finding evidence of it having been crossbred. And then the laughter.

Easy. Free. Genuine. Heartfelt laughter. Unguarded, good natured ribbing. Thank You God. That was all You.

Psalm 126:2 CEV

Psalm 30: 4-5 The Message

Ecclesiastes 7: 1-3 The Message Don’t Take Any thing for Granted

Genesis 21:6 The Voice

Isaiah 51:3 TPT

Holy, holy God. How truly I thank and praise You. I am asking You to use Your Truth in guiding and directing me this day. Thank You for allowing me to eagerly embrace this moment of heartfelt laughter.

Do all You must in making me obedient to putting into practice the Truth of Your Word. I love You Father. I long to serve and glorify You. With easy, free, genuine, heartfelt laughter. Thank You. Praise You. Use me. Amen.

(247 words ~ 6: 55 a.m.)

Hmm... exactly that

Sunday, November 15, 2020 (5:48 a.m.)

Holy God,

I love You. Thank You that I get to come to You saying exactly that. 

Luke 10:28 TPT

CEB Joshua 11:15, Esther 6:10

Psalm 150:6, Hosea 11:8-11, Romans 12:2

Hmm… exactly that.

Teach me more this morning Lord. I get to read these two words in several translations and am reminded yet again of how vast is Your influence throughout the ages. Thank You.

Yes. Thank You Father

oil of joy

 Saturday, November 14, 2020 (4:29 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Such good sleep. Praise You Father.

Yes Lord, how I thank and praise You. 

Mm, Father. The longer I sit here, the more I read. And as I do my thoughts corral back to Your Word. Thank You Lord. Yes. Praise You.

Thank You for Your Truth. Your promises. Your commands. Your message of hope. Guide me into Your Word this morning, won’t You?

Another pause. A longer exhale. Fuller inhale. And a smile. Thank You Father. You remind me to do what is vital. Breathe! Yes. Wholly. Completely. Intentionally.

This morning I am actively seeking to learn more about Your oil of joy. I read of its mention (Isaiah 61:3; Hebrews 1:8-9) and I long to know more. Where would You have me look, Dearest Lord?

Right at this moment it is Jeremiah 31. Hope for Restoration (vs. 1-14) and Rachel’s Sadness Turns to Joy (15-40).

Oh most dear and Holy God, how I thank You for guiding me to Your reminders of hope. Reading the comment for this chapter in The Life Recovery Bible my heart beats more quickly as the smile on my face grows larger.

“31:1-40 God paints a joyful picture of recovery, with all the elements of repentance, sorrow, forgiveness, laughter, restoration, and hope. Once again God’s people would follow His plan for them, and He would receive their worship and praise. We can experience this kind of restoration, too. We start the process by admitting our need for God’s healing power in our life. God desires to rebuild His relationship with each of us, no matter how far we have strayed from Him. He delights in finding new ways to exhibit His love to those who belong to Him.”

Again I am reading Your Word and thinking about the division of Your people. Right here in this country. People choosing sides. Each believing to the death that their interpretation of Your Word is correct. People who truly love You, hating and name calling those who don’t agree with them. We desperately need Your healing oil of joy to replace the ashes which hatred of one another has caused.

Lord God, I turn to You. Asking. Seeking. Knocking (Matthew 7:7). Teach us to truly “bring honor to Your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise You forever and ever” (Psalm 45:17).

Earlier in this chapter (vs. 6-7) “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”

Oh yes Blessed God, do all You must that we will honestly come to love what is right and hate what is wrong. According to You! Not the dictates of others.

I love You Lord. ♪And I lift my voice To worship You Oh my soul rejoice Take joy my King In what You hear Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear♪

Even readily singing this to You takes me again to Your Truth. Psalm 31:23-24. “Love the LORD, all you faithful ones! For the LORD protects those who are loyal to Him, but He harshly punishes all who are arrogant. So be strong and take courage [another song!] All you who put your hope in the LORD!”

I long to keep thanking and praising You this day Blessed God. The more I read, the more eager I am to continue.

Psalm 102: 25-27. “In ages past You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You remain forever [♪Your love never changes♪]; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will fade away. But You are always the same; [♪Your Love Never Fails♪] Your years never end.”

Father God, I love You. We are in desperate need of Your presence. Do all You know is best in bringing us to recognizing and obeying Your will and to Your way.

Psalm 9:1-2. “I will thank You, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things You have done. I will be filled with joy because of You. I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High.”

Yes please! Keep us singing Your praises Dearest Father. With every struggle we encounter, teach us to offer it straight to You as an opportunity of hope. Yes. Teach us Lord. To love as You would have us love.

Thank You. Praise You. Use us. Amen.

(791 words ~ 6:54 a.m.)