I choose You!

Abba, sitting here this morning, thoughts drifting in and out, waking early, wanting to be still, wanting to hear Your voice and just sit quietly in Your presence. Realizing how I tend to over think things and hang on when I need to let go. The need to have times of playfulness and joy. To really trust that You have all things – all my concerns, fears and worries – safely in Your hands. To rest in Your peace that passes understanding. I choose these things today, now, at this moment – to live and rejoice in Your presence, which is always with me, in me, surrounding me. Whom shall I fear or what can come against me that isn't first filtered through Your loving hands. You do the impossible and provide a way where there is none – your part the seas and calm the storms - and calm the storms in me. I am Yours, I belong to You . . . and oh, how I adore You.

. . . the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

Father, thinking about this, that the glory which shown in Jesus was not something physical but the reality of Your presence, Your essence - Your love, which is Who You are. Thinking of the line in the song – to love someone is to see the face of God . . . that there is a difference between being in love with someone and loving someone – between believing in You and believing You. Perhaps its that one is a feeling and the other is a choice. Your love is so far beyond us. Jesus was/is the manifestation of Your love. And our love for You is manifested in believing Him. Oh, to be like Him, to have a heart like His. Please dear Lord, make it so in me.

“Do not be ashamed of your emptiness” . . .

. . . “There is no place for pretense in your relationship with Me” and 'My relationship with you is saturated with grace' (from Jesus Calling)

Father, I think I needed to hear this this morning – because I do feel an emptiness , a longing to connect. I have a tendency to view this type of “feeling” as an indication that something is wrong in me. But I see that it may just come from Your Spirit stirring in me, drawing me closer and deeper and more and more dependent on You. I want to make a difference for You. I know I'll never be great in Your kingdom, but I just want to know that I've done my part, that my life will be fruitful - for You. I am so grateful that You have saturated my life with Your grace – a love so amazing.

Rom 8:38-39

Morning musings

Father, reading this morning – to recognize that You are God, and You alone. All authority is Yours, You are the head over all and You have given us a choice; either to walk with You or away from You. Your promises to those who walk with You are life eternal, a life filled with love, peace and joy. These gifts are our security, that we can count on – when we trust You. You have saved us – saved me from the “corruption that is in the world through lust”.

Father, I pray that I will never grow tried of hearing of all that You have done and continue to do, that each day will be filled with awe and wonder, that You should care for me with such love, with such abandon. Thank You, Father, for the gift of prayer, that I may come into Your presence knowing that Your desire is to be in relationship with me; that I can bare my heart to You and that You hear me when I pray, really hear me – not just the words but the deepest parts of me are all known to You. And knowing that Your plans and purposes for my life are being accomplished through Your Spirit in me. Love so amazing!

A broken heart and a contrite spirit

Thank You Father, that Your love for me is greater than my sin against You. Reading in Jesus Calling about victories and failures, that victories in our own strength can cause us to go our own way, where often the failures – when confessed – can lead us to a deeper dependence on You; that Your strength is made perfect in my weaknesses. (You certainly have a lot to work with in me).  Your grace is sufficient, its more that enough for me.

A Christmas thought

Happy Birthday and thank You for coming and dwelling among us and making the way that we can now live in unending fellowship with You. As I was reading this morning I came across 1 John 3:23 and to paraphrase it simply – trust Jesus and love others. It occurred to me that I like these simple yet insightful sayings because for me they are easy to remember and I need things to be simple. To be able to sum up, in just a few words, just what it is that You ask for, what brings You honor and delights You. Now these words may be simple but the living them out requires more that is humanly possible – but then You've taken care of that too – through Your Spirit, Who dwells within us. The only thing I can say is . . . WOW!

“. . . the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day”

How remarkable, that before the fall God walked in the garden with man. It appears to be a habit of daily, continual fellowship that was up close and personal; apparently one of relaxed, informal and uninhibited conversation.  It was God's desire for this to take place and He would – somehow – make the reality of His presence known to Adam and Eve. And then we blew it – through our own selfishness but then He made a way . . .the way. In Jesus, He once again walked in the garden with man. Now we can live eternally in fellowship with Him Who loves us and desires to be in relationship with us. How amazing it that!