Your Word

Lord, how I love your Word and the wonder of your ways. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 is such a great reminder to keep our minds on you. I love the visual image of a painting, with the figures in the foreground appearing large, while the figures in the background appear small and farther away. So it is with our minds during each day, amidst each problem or joy. What we focus on seems to be large, and in the foreground. While those things we are not focusing on, seem distant and small. Lord, help me to keep you in the foreground of my mind! If you are near and you are large to me, everything else fades to the distance. Draw me to your Word, and give me a thirst for prayer and quiet in your presence. Then my mind with be steadfast, and I will trust in you. I will call to you and you will hear me! Lord, thank you for your ways, and for calling me into relationship with you. Use me to glorify you, precious Lord.

Proverbs

Lord, I have so very much to be thankful for, and Thanksgiving Day was a testament to that. Thank you for all that you have provided.....a faithful husband, a wonderful family, a warm home, true friends, and even the time to cook and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast. Lord, none of that, even, compares with the priceless gift of your love and grace, and your precious Word. Thanksgiving began and ended with my reading from Proverbs. Lord, thank you for these empowering words, delivering your keys to a well-lived life. Yesterday morning I read Prov. 18:10 "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." My mind just grabs onto these words. How basic, yet how powerful. And today, verse 20:24 "A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" So true, Lord, you have really been working this one in me lately. It is so comforting to find this truth written so very long ago in your Proverbs. The words are so simple, explain so much, yet impossible to grasp in the living out of our lives. Lord, I love you. I seek you. I praise you for calling me into your life.

Thanksgiving

Ephesians 1:3 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." Lord, as a prodigal daughter, I humbly praise you for this gift. How the days of my life are different because of your grace and sacrifice!! Through the darkness and suffering of the world, we have this knowledge! Through the injustice, your sovereignty. We are ensured the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and through you, Lord, Christian community. Lord, I thank you for the gift of friendship. My friendships mean so much to me, and bring such joy, becuse they reflect you. Friendship is a canvas where your mighty love is etched out. I am so grateful. I am thankful. Thank you, Father.

We are so Blessed

Isaiah 49:13 "Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains"

Psalm 16:8 "I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure"

Lord, we are so blessed. Today Lord, the gift of time to rest in you, to enjoy the spectacular beauty of your creation....grandchildren, friends, health. Lord, thank you! My mind is turning over ideas etched there from readings this week..... a teacher's gift to students in
Burkina Faso, a young woman's view of the U.S. through the eyes of her former life in Ethiopia, travelers' varied attitudes on a cruise ship adrift at sea. Even on our worst day, we have reason to praise you. My heart heavily holds several women close to me who suffer losses. Lord, they wonder how do they move forward? I pray they find comfort in Psalm 16:8. I pray your promise for them. I rejoice in the gift of intercessory prayer, as I call out to you for healing and blessing on their lives. Thank you, Father, for your Greatness.

Wait Upon the Lord

Lord, I praise you for music. I praise you for hymns, I praise you for current worship songs, and for beautiful melodies of the ages. I praise you for lyrics that embed themselves in my mind, and play theselves over and over throughout each day. I thank you for faithfilled songwriters, and I thank you for King David, who wrote psalms to you from deep in his heart. Lord, these beautiful songs and psalms bring me strength and fill me with your joy. They transform my thoughts, sing out my joys, and help me soar over my challenges. "Strength will rise as we wait apon the Lord." Lord, this is so true. We rest in you, surrender to your ways, and slowly our will becomes your will. When we are singing to you of our love, our joys, our sorrows.....you are there, and we find comfort. Thank you, Father. "One day in your courts is worth a thousand elsewhere."
Judges 5:3" I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel."

Quite Time with My Lord

Lord, I praise you for your generosity toward your believers. Thank you for joining us in our quiet times. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your promises that are made known to us through your scriptures. Thank you for the peace that results from spending time with you. Thank you for the healing that takes place, for ourselves and others, when we pray in faith. Thank you for your Holy Name.

James 1:6 "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."