1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

Suppressing is to put an end to the actions of something, in this case, the spirit of God.  Stifle is to end by force, and in this case it’s talking about when someone has a word from God for you.  Both suppress and stifle are verbs, requiring an action or decision on our part if we do them.  Gullible is not a verb, it’s an adjective meaning “easily deceived”.  Check out, keep and throw out, are also verbs, requiring an action on our part.  How would this verse read if we changed these words to their opposites?  “Suppress the spirit, stifle those who have a word from the master.  Also, believe everything you hear.  Don’t question anything, throw away only what is good.  Keep whatever has a hint of evil.”  Either way you read this verse, the real way or my made up opposite way, it is kind of frightening.  Is it right to think that if we believe everything we hear, not only are we being deceived easily, but it also translates into the action of discarding what is good and keeping what is evil. 

Why is it that our human nature is so adept at not believing in God’s ways, but ready to swallow hook-line-and-sinker the ways of men?  Actions require more effort than something that just is, for example “gullible”.  The way to not be easily deceived is to not be lazy, but to take action and do research, talk to people, check your facts, but also, to relax in God’s presence, to allow Him to move, to invite Godly people to speak into your life.  What do I do with my own personality that believes the best in people? That wants to encourage and bring out people’s strengths?  How do I do this and not be deceived?  Well I guess this verse answers that.

Lord, I sort of wish I’d had this revelation about 16 years ago.  Help me to keep your spirit moving in my life, to welcome godly insight from people, to not believe everything I hear, to check things against your word, against your voice, against your spirit that lives in me.  Help me to keep only the good things and to chuck anything that even has the slightest hint of evil as far away from me as I can.  Help me to teach this to my children.  Better yet, teach us together through your revelation and wisdom. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Not only is Christ’s strength revealed to us through our weaknesses, but also his POWER.  We are promised not just to feel strong, but to be POWERFUL!  Strength implies to me that “I can make it, I can reach the end, I will finish…”  But POWER, that’s a whole new outlook!  “I will WIN, I will crush the enemy, I will be victorious!”  When hardships, or heart-break come to us, we are transformed into a POWERFUL warrior in Christ.

When life brings me to these moments of personal weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions or difficulties, let me be encouraged.  Dare I say be grateful?  Even delighted as Paul says he is.  When this happens, it means that an opportunity has arisen for Jesus to work POWERFULLY in my life.  Let me settle for nothing less than His powerful hand moving and guiding me through my areas of weakness. 

Jesus, so many times I just can’t get my eyes off of the hard things, the things that hurt me.  Let me have an understanding, that even IF I am focused on those things, that what I’m really focusing on is a miracle about to happen.  That in those areas of my heart, my attitude, my actions, that YOU are able and desiring to do something powerful in that place.  Help me to submit those areas to you, and to trust your work in them.  You are amazingly faithful and good to me.  I thank you for your grace that covers all of these areas that seem to constantly remind me of my weaknesses.  You are strong there, and you are POWERFUL.

Romans 4:13-15 If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That's not a holy promise; that's a business deal…But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God's promise at that—you can't break it.

God’s goodness and grace just IS.  It is truly a gift.  God doesn’t make deals with us about it, that would give us too much credit.  That would negate the gift.  If we were involved in any way in the earning of his grace on our lives, of his blessings, of his goodness, of his forgiveness…that would weaken the message of him.  It actually completely changes the definition of what grace is. 

In what areas am I wheelin’ and dealin’ with God?  What areas of my life am I still striving in to be the perfect Christian, the best example of a godly woman?  Can I do MY best, knowing that it may not THE best, and rest in God’s gift of grace to cover it?

Lord, thank you for your grace.  Thanks for not going into a business contract with me, and letting me feel like I owe you, like I’ve got to hold up my end of the bargain or the deal is off between us.  Thanks for just taking care of me, and for holding out your gift for me to receive.  I’m so relieved.

Proverbs 3:21-26 Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don't for a minute lose sight of them. They'll keep your soul alive and well,

I notice in this scripture that “Clear Thinking” and “Common Sense” are capitalized, as if they are proper nouns…they are the names of my friends.  These friends are so special that I guard them with my life and keep them in my line of sight at all times.  Much like I do my babies.  Look at the promises attached to Clear Thinking and Common Sense.  Beauty in and out, safety in travel, energy, restful sleep, no drama….  What mamma doesn’t need all that?  

Am I nurturing Clear Thinking and Common Sense like they are my friends?  Do I take care of them and focus on them?  Or do I hang out more with my “friends”, Confusion and Irrationality?  What “relationships” am I indulging?  I guess I can tell by my energy, my sleeping, my  drama level.

Lord I love that you are so practical.  Thank you!

1 Thessalonians 3:12 …And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you… (MSG)

I imagine the scene in a movie (because really, does anyone ever do this in real life?) where someone is pouring a cup of coffee, and isn’t paying attention, so the cup overflows as the person keeps pouring and pouring.  Finally someone notices and rushes to the spill with paper towels to clean up the mess.  Or maybe like in real life, when I’ve filled the kids’ cups up too full, so I have to drink a little off the top before giving it to them.  That’s how God’s love can be in our lives.  Filling us to the brim.  Filling us to overflowing.  Filling us so that people rush to us to soak up what they can get of God’s love.  Filling us so that there is enough extra at the top to drink in before we serve others. 

Am I letting God fill me up to overflowing?  Or am I so self aware that I won’t allow any spillage?  Can I let go long enough to allow God to make a love mess in my life so that it blesses others? 

Lord thank you for loving me.  Thank you for calling me to love others.  I know YOU have enough to go around.  Just help me to be an empty vessel willing to overflow with your love.

Psalm 101:1 My theme song is God's love and justice, and I'm singing it right to you, GOD.

A theme is a common thread that runs through all the different areas of our lives.  A song is so many things.  It’s a way to remember something, like a commercial jingle, or it’s a way to express yourself, or it’s an anthem.  So a theme song is an anthem that is expressed in all parts of us.  GOD’S love and HIS justice is the expression that flows through our lives.  HIS heart and HIS righteousness is what is remembered in every thought, every action, every idea and plan of his children.  We have this song running through our heads so much, that we can’t help but sing it right back at the Father of creativity, love and justice.

I’m reminded of the movie “The Emporer’s New Groove” and how Cuzco hires a band to follow him around and constantly play his theme song, and how Cuzco makes fun of the doofy guy, Kronk, for having to sing his own theme song.  Apart from being hilarious, there is a little message here.  Am I more like Cuzco who needs people to sing his theme song over him with great hype and fanfare and then stands in judgement of people who dare to walk their own walk?  Or can I be like Kronk?  Able to sing my own song with pride and to know myself so well that my song is a part of ME, and not put on me by others?  

Lord, let the music of your love and justice be my song.  Let YOUR heart resound in my life.  May my theme be rooted in the confidence of WHO YOU ARE and who you’ve called me to be.

Galations 5:22 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, 23 not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. (MSG)

The fruits of someone following God’s ways are obvious.    Affection, love of life, peace, trustworthiness, compassion, holiness, committed, not forceful, balanced. 

What fruits are showing in my life right now?  When I start to show an imbalance in one of these areas, I can readjust with God.  Check in with Him to see if I’m on the right path still.  How about my kids?  What about my relationships?  Are they mirroring these fruits?   

I love your ways Oh God.  They truly are so much better than mine.

Psalm 77:12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. (NIV)

The Psalmist writes this after he describes his inability to sleep because his brain just won’t stop thinking.  He lays there and thinks about all of his troubles, he’s remembering, he’s writing songs, he’s wondering how the Lord is going to solve his problems… in essence, he has insomnia.  Then a thought clicks and he decides to think about all of the good things of God, all of his works and miracles.  He made a choice to rest his thoughts on the goodness of the Lord.  I bet that’s what he was doing when sleep overtook him at last.

How many times have I laid in bed doing the same exact thing?  Rehashing my history, planning my future, rehearsing details for the next day, thinking about something I would like to create, wondering how God is going to piece together the puzzle of my life….  Could going to sleep really rely on a simple decision to refocus my thoughts?  To let my mind rest on the beauty of God?  Hmmm… can’t wait to try it, which will most likely be tonight.

Lord, your provision for all of the parts of me is overwhelming.  To even include an antidote for insomnia in your word is beautiful.  Let my mind find rest in thinking about your goodness. 

Ruth 2:14 At the lunch break, Boaz said to her, "Come over here; eat some bread. Dip it in the wine." So she joined the harvesters. Boaz passed the roasted grain to her. She ate her fill and even had some left over.

So this part of the story happened after Ruth had already pledged her loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi, and had stepped into a role of taking care of her.  In that role, Ruth took the initiative to get some food for her and Naomi, so she went out to glean a field.  She did not intentionally go to Boaz’s field, who happened to be a relative.  Ruth was a foreigner, a widow, with no friends, no man to take care of her but with an elderly woman depending on her, no connections at all…. and was going to work at somewhat of a personal risk to herself, as it was a common fear for women to be raped or abused as they were out in a far off field.  I think she was really brave, or maybe just really hungry.  Either way, God supernaturally guided her to the right field.   So Boaz happens to see her out there, and asks about her.  I’m thinking that he “noticed” her, that he thought she was beautiful.   Was it really common for the owner of the field to notice and inquire about a gleaner?  She wasn’t even an employee, a hired worker… she was a charity case.  He then instructed his workers to give her special treatment and make sure that she got some of the “good stuff”.  So in this verse, he actually calls her over to enjoy lunch with him and his employees.  Do you think Boaz always ate lunch with his harvesters?  Or was he interested in eating lunch with her?  Hmmm…  He passed her the grain.  Maybe their fingers touched during the exchange.  I can imagine him sitting next to her, not able to take his eyes off of her, making sure that she gets enough to eat.  I wonder if the other workers were noticing his attention to her.  I wonder what they were thinking?  The bible doesn’t mention anything about his workers arguing with him or having a bad attitude about giving her special treatment.  In fact, they went right along with it happily it seems.  This speaks to the love and respect they had for Boaz I think.  Maybe they liked seeing him fall for this beautiful woman.  I’m also struck with the fact that Ruth accepted the invitation, and felt comfortable enough to join in the lunch.  Maybe in her home country, Ruth was not a “charity case”, showing us how she also humbled herself to the lowly position of gleaner, all because she had a mission to accomplish.  Ruth not only ate enough lunch for her, but she also had left-overs and was able to take them home to Naomi.  What an awesome day for Ruth!  She acted in loyalty and kindness, embraced her responsibility, put on a brave face, humbled herself, AND held her chin up in confidence.  She was rewarded with a “coincidental” connection, an abundance of food, respect, and the first glimmers of her love story.

There is so much for me to “glean” from this passage.  Ha-ha.  I too have found myself with no man, but with a ton of responsibilities.  I am not a foreigner, although I do find this position in life quite foreign.  I have embraced my responsibilities, have been loyal and kind, have put on a brave face, have humbled myself, and have remained confident.  I know that God had guided me, connected me with people, has provided more than enough for me, has built up my reputation, and has given me a glimpse of a love story.  I am encouraged.

Lord, thank you for including in your word, these cool stories of your people.  I have always loved the story of Ruth, and just love how she speaks to me.  Thank you for teaching me about loyalty, responsibility, humility, confidence… and that these attributes of a “strong” person can be rewarded with things like ABUNDANT provision, great company, and love.  Thank you for thinking I'm beautiful, thank you for believing in me, and thank you for working out the details of my finances and future.  You are truly awesome.

2 Samuel 7:28-29 "And now, Master GOD, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would, Master GOD! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"

David was chosen by God to be a king, and was given a promise that his descendants would be blessed.  David loved God so deeply, but screwed up many times and in major ways.  Time and time again David came back to his first love, God.  King David is ending his prayer of thanksgiving with this final request, to bless his family forever.  And God did just that, ultimately connecting their lineages together through Jesus.  The beautiful grace of God moves in the lives of those who love him, even when they make mistakes.  God honors those who love Him.

This is why the first commandment, “To LOVE God”, is first.  If our hearts are not filled with God’s love, then they are filled with love for other things, not leaving room for God’s grace to move.  And his grace does move in the lives of those who love him.  Even when we mess up as badly as David did, He keeps his promises to us.  Also, our love and obedience to God has an effect on our family.  We need to claim the promises that God has given us in regard to our children and family.

Lord, I am so grateful for my heritage.  I can feel the generations of Godly men and women who have gone before me, who are responsible for my existence.  I thank you for putting your anointing and blessing on my family, both the generations before me and the ones to come.  I honor you for this gift Jesus.  I stand firm and confident in it.  Help this assurance and understanding to pass to my children, and to their children. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

Cheerfulness reflects on our countenance.   So smile, pray and be thankful no matter what as a reflection of our hearts towards Jesus.

Well, I’m thinking (at least for me as I’m not really a “cheery” person) that I would HAVE to pray all the time in order to be cheerful ALL of the time.  So, the smiley cheery part of this verse is where I can see being the hardest part for me.  Pray all the time… I can do that.  While I’m folding the laundry, doing the dishes, saying “Oh God help me with these children!”  I actually can see the power and strength in thanking God no matter what happens.  Even in the hard times, the painful times, I am determined to learn what I can a through it.  I am convinced that God can be glorified through the heart aches of life. 

Jesus, you are so worth smiling about.  You are fun to talk to.  You reveal your steadfast character to me through all of life’s situations, and for that I am so thankful. 

Psalm 55:16-17 I call to God; GOD will help me. At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs—he hears, he rescues. My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger. (MSG)

When I take deep sighs, all through the day, it usually means that I can’t catch my breath because I am overwhelmed by something.  That something is pressing on me so hard, that I can’t breathe in a normal pattern.  Nonetheless, God is there to rescue me.  Not only does he hear me when I cry to Him for help, but He has already heard my sighs.  While I’m taking these deep-just-trying-to-breathe-to-stay-alive sighs, my life is already complete, I just may not realize that.  This scripture doesn’t say that my life WILL be well someday, but that it IS now, even in the middle of the trouble.  When all I can do is breathe, God is there with me, rescuing me and reminding me that my life is whole and safe. 

This is such evidence that God is who He says He is.  Our circumstances don’t change Him.  Even in the middle of trouble, we are still well, because HE is.

Lord, you know that sometimes all I can manage, is just to breathe.  Thank you for rescuing me in those moments, on those days, during those weeks.  Thank you for hearing my cries to You, and for listening to me trying to catch my breath.  Thank you for allowing me those moments, and for not leaving me to figure them out on my own.  Thank you for not even telling me what to feel, how to think, but for just being there reminding me that I’m OK, and that my life is safe and awesome.

Matthew 37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

In our hearts are the things, activities, people, all the things that we love.  Our souls…. What drives us, what we’re passionate about, why we exist.  Our minds…. What we think about, what we learn, what we teach.  God’s first command is to love Him in all of those things.  If He is the core of what we love, how we treat our bodies, why we exist, what we dwell on… there really is nothing else.  HE then is our reason.  All of these things, though they are “of” Him, are still reflected in US.  So, he adds to his command to love our neighbors as ourselves.  This is not a less important command, it is equally important, he just mentions it secondly.  How do we love ourselves?  I would say that our natural desire is to put ourselves first… so that is how we need to love others… putting them first.  Really though, when HE is first, and our love for others is greater than our need to love ourselves… we are the true benefactors.

This is so opposite of what the world teaches, even the “Christian” world.  I’ve been through so much, don’t I deserve to put myself first once in a while?  Or “If mamma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”.  It’s all about perspective.  Yes, as a woman, a mother, I need to take care of myself in order to be whole, happy, and in a position to nurture.  God is not disputing that!  In fact, He is supporting that wholly!  He knows that when we love HIM first in our hearts, souls and minds, that we will be FILLED to capacity with HIM!  …the almighty, the all powerful, the great physician, the wonderful counselor, the lover of our souls, the father to the fatherless… Then loving others as ourselves comes “easy”, because we are filled with the love, mercy and compassion of our Savior. 

Oh Lord, take me completely over.  Have residence in my heart, my soul, and my mind.  Fill me up in those areas with your love, with your purpose and with your thoughts.  Fill me to overflowing so that those around me will also know you. 

1 Thessalonians 4:2,7 …keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance…God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside.

Living a life with God is fun, creative, full of the good things of life.  It doesn’t mean that each and every day is a plod, a chore, but that there lies days of excitement, of adventure.  It’s orderly, safe, full of the purity of God and consistently beautiful.  Our private lives are just as beautiful as the life that everyone sees.

Am I living a consistently beautiful life?  Am I so partnered with God that my inside life is the SAME as my outside life?

Lord, thank you that living a life with you is something that is fun, beautifully holy and not chaotic.  I love this sort of life.  Thank you for cleaning up the areas and people from my life that subtracted from the beauty, from the spirited dance and from the holiness of my life with you.    You are beautiful and holy.

Psalm 51:16-17 Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice.

Doing what we are “supposed” to do as Christians, or being “perfect”, is not even noticeable to God when it’s done as a habit or chore.  Unfortunately for us, that is the mode that we easily fall into when everything in life seems to be going smoothly.  It’s when we have a pride shattering moment or a healthy dose of humility that we tend to really pour our hearts out to God and worship Him in earnest.  When we worship Him in those times, when our hearts are hurting loving Him from that broken place, that He notices our devotion.

Does this mean that we have to constantly have to be heart-broken or going through a tough time to honestly worship the Lord?  Yes… and no.  God’s heart is for us to live whole, victorious lives through Him.  He doesn’t intend for us to mope around in a constant state of “my life is so hard and meaningless… help oh help me God!”  However, we do need to have a constant spirit of humility in the presence of the King.  Each and every time we come before Him in worship we need to humble ourselves and check our hearts, attitudes, and convictions so that we can worship Him in truth, and not just be going through the motions of a meaningless acknowledgement of Him.

Lord, you are the mighty King.  May my worship to you be in complete truth.  Convict me of my wrong attitudes.  Keep me walking the line of victory and humility.  Help me to reject the habits of going through the motions in my walk with You.  You are truly amazing.

Psalm 77:16-19 Ocean saw you in action, God, saw you and trembled with fear; Deep Ocean was scared to death. Clouds belched buckets of rain, Sky exploded with thunder, your arrows flashing this way and that. From Whirlwind came your thundering voice, Lightning exposed the world, Earth reeled and rocked. You strode right through Ocean, walked straight through roaring Ocean, but nobody saw you come or go. (MSG)

I see a ship sailing on calm waters.  Beyond the horizon line, out of sight from the ship, God is standing watch.  He senses trouble and is ready to clear a path for the little ship.  I picture God at the ready, and when the water sees him, it begins to be troubled. I see a defiant stare in the face of God, daring the water to outdo him.  I see clouds all around the face of God let out a mighty roar and explode with rain.  God begins to wield his lightning bolts and attack the troubled waters.  Then through the incredibly loud volume of the waves, the rain, the wind, the lightning, God’s voice thunders and in a giant flash, the troubled waters are exposed.  The earth shakes in submission and rocks from side to side.  God then steps down into the midst of the troubled ocean waters.  As He wades in the depths, the sea becomes calm again, and God moves forward to the next battle.  God is out of sight before the ship appears from the horizon behind.  The little ship never even knowing that a battle had just been fought for her in the calm waters that she is now sailing in.

This scripture shows me that God fights unseen battles for us.  He goes before us, going to war against unseen dangers.  He smooths our waters before we even know there was to be a storm.  What a powerful, all knowing, loving God.

God, thank you for going into battle for me.  Thank you for your mighty voice that exposes the truth.  Thank you making my path clear.  May I never forget your love for me.

2 Samuel 22:29-31Suddenly, GOD, your light floods my path, GOD drives out the darkness. I smash the bands of marauders, I vault the high fences. What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every GOD-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him makes it. (MSG)

When our direction is unclear, there is darkness and we can’t see where to go, we are either frozen in place, or worse, we’re stumbling along thinking that we can figure it out as we go.  Then all of a sudden, probably when we think we can’t go one more minute in the darkness, God’s light FLOODS our path.  It’s so bright in fact, we have to blink and squint because our eyes have gotten so used to the darkness, then we have to stand for a minute and get used the brightness.  All of a sudden we can see the obstacles that were hidden by the darkness.  We can not only avoid them now, but we can remove them.  Sometimes a distraction will be placed directly on our clearly marked path, but everything is so bright, that we can just jump that hurdle as we’re speeding along on our way.  God will not misguide us, he won’t put confusing signs in our way.  We don’t have to stroll our way along the path, we can RUN.  There is no risk of getting lost or hurt when we are on the straight, smooth path of God because it’s a guaranteed successful trip!

Time and time again I am reminded that God’s ways are best, and that HE has a plan that is probably a lot better than mine.  Do I stumble along in the darkness trying my best to find my way?  Or do I wait until the lights come on?  When they do, do I take a minute to adjust?  Do I make a note of the lay of the land?  Do I recognize where the path is and where the obstacles are?  When I see the clearly marked path, do I run?

Lord thank you for this promise and this picture you’ve given me.  Remind me that when I feel like I am the darkness, to just wait until You turn on the lights.  Help me to not try to navigate on my own.  Remind me to notice the lay of the land before I start to run.  Thank you for the promise of a sure smooth path.  I’m lacing up my shoes, ready for the race.

Psalm 51:7,9 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. (MSG)

Soaking and scrubbing… two different actions required for the treatment of stains.  The soaking softens the stain and gets it ready to be scrubbed out.  The scrubbing gets down in the grooves of the fabric, agitating and lifting the stain out.  In life when we’ve made a mistake or taken a misstep, or sinned, we may have a stain on us that requires more than a simple toss in the delicate cycle, more than going through the motions.  This is especially true if the stain has been there for awhile.  Old, dried on stains are harder to get out.  God however has a plan to get the fabric of our lives c-l-e-a-n.  He SOAKS us in His word.  He SOAKs us in His conviction.  He SOAKs us in His grace. He SOAKs us until our hearts become softened to His voice and His leading.  Sometimes, our stains need extra attention so He SCRUBS us with His word, with His conviction, with His grace.  He SCRUBS us until we have a clear direction, a fresh start, forgiveness, a rejection of self-condemnation.

A Genesis week to me refers to the week of creation; a week where God literally made something amazing out of absolutely nothing.  Each day He had a plan.  Each day was ordered.  Each day was productive and fulfilling.  He can do this with our lives!  Even when we’re fresh out of the wash, we’re wet and wrinkled, we’re not folded and put away yet, we’re still in the chaos of the laundry cycle!  BUT, we’re clean and smelling fine!  We’ve been soaked and scrubbed and been given a fresh start.  He can work with that.  He will dry us, iron us, fold us, put us away and get us ready to step out into a new day.

How often do I take the time to stop going through the motions and let God treat the stains in my life?  Do I pray with an openness to hear Him and let Him work me into something new?  Do I let Him treat my stains while they’re fresh, before they have a chance to really set in?  Do I let Him complete the cycle before my “self” interferes?

Lord, remind me to soak.  Thank you for having a redemptive plan.  Keep me clean and fresh!

Psalm56:8 You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.

This is quite a statement, especially if you’ve had a year like I have had.  It’s quite a feat to be able to keep track of EVERY toss and turn, there have been many in just as many sleepless nights.  To keep record of EVERY tear would fill volumes.  And the aches… Lord, do you really write about all of my aches?  Who even knows about them but you God?  And you take the time and the care to write them down?  That is so validating.

I am reminded that when I feel lonely, I am not alone.  Not only is God with me during those times, he actually can recall them at any given time.  He even has a record of them all, so he and I can discuss those times, and accurately see how we worked through them.  That is so encouraging to me, the queen of rehash and discuss. 

Lord, first of all, THANK YOU for being with me in my darkest, most private times of sleeplessness, tears and aches.  Thank you for recording them.  Thank you for validating them.  And thank you for making allowances for what some have told me is one of my biggest weaknesses, the need to talk about things.  You know this about me, and you’re up for it anytime, because hey, you’ve kept track.  You can keep up with me.  That is so awesome! 

1 Samuel 1:10 Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried….16 ….It's because I'm so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I've stayed here so long." 17 Eli answered her, "Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him." 18 "Think well of me-and pray for me!" she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant. (MSG)

Hannah was grief stricken, couldn’t eat, was provoked by her rival, and could not even be comforted by the man who loved her.  She turned to God, again, and this time she prayed until she had an answer.  She went alone to church, poured her heart out at the altar with such intensity that she was accused of being drunk.  She pleaded with God, promised to actually give back to him the thing she was asking him for, if only he would honor her, and prayed with such tenacity that she didn’t leave until she had a firm answer from God.  When she received that word, she believed it.  So much so that it reflected on her countenance.  Her bitterness turned to joy and expectancy, even before the miracle actually occurred.  She had great faith.

What unfilled dreams do I have in my heart that I have pursued God with such tenacity about?  Do I pray until I’m done?  Do I have the willingness of heart to desire something so deeply, yet can keep it open before God?  Do I have the devotion to His plan for my life to give it back to him, in whatever way he calls me to?  Do I have the faith to believe even before my dreams come true?  Does it reflect on my face?

Lord, you are unwaveringly faithful.  Keep me in a constant state of prayer.  Thank you for unlocking dreams in my heart.  Help me to submit them all to you, and to keep an open heart to where you are leading me. 

2 Corinthians 4:16 So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

Things are not necessarily what they seem, or what we think they are on the outside.  We may see devastation of the moment, but God sees the bigger picture.  We may see confusion, but God is ordering things.  We may think that there is no plan, but God is working his grace daily.  We may assume that things are not going to ever change, but God is unfolding his perfect will.  We may only recognize our own inadequacies, weaknesses and mistakes, but God sees his child that he loves.  We can’t give up!  God is working, and all his works are perfect.  He is making a new life within us, even if we can’t see it yet.

How do I submit to God’s plan, His timing?  I choose to trust, to have faith, that I don’t know everything!  Focus on and feel the new life that He is creating within me.  Welcome the unfamiliar changes, the new ways of thinking, the new attitudes and behaviors.  Trust in the things that He is teaching me.  Adopt these things into my habits, my prayers, and my thoughts.  Know that interspersed with it all, is His perfect grace, guiding me and being patient with me.

Dear Jesus, thank you for your sovereignty.  Thank you for your all-knowing, all-seeing character.  Thank you for perfect plan for my life, and for knowing me better than I know myself.  Thank you for your beautiful gift of grace that loves and protects me and takes care of me, even when I am so unworthy.  Help me to recognize and honor where you are working in my life.  Help me to model that to my kids and to show them that you are their constant.  Let your character reflect in our lives.  Let this day be lived with joy.  Remind me that even though the last year has been chaotic and painful, that you still had a plan.  You’ve constructed the past year in a way I could not have possibly done.  I can look back now and see that you have had a plan all along, and you orchestrated it, all the while dumping buckets of grace on me.  You’ve softened my hard edges.  You’ve put words of wisdom in my mouth that could have only come from you.  You’ve given me superhuman strength to make it through sleep deprivation and everything else involved with having a new born on my own.  You’ve shown me a deeper joy than I have ever experienced.  How is this possible?  After experiencing such feelings of devastation, of pure tragedy!  It can only be explained as your work, your faithfulness and love to me, your sometimes pathetic, always imperfect, but deeply devoted daughter.  I am forever grateful and in awe of you. 

1 Corinthians 16:14 Do everything in love.

Such a simple yet complex command.  How are we really able to do EVERYTHING in love?  It’s humanly impossible, I think.  Only with the supernatural strength from God can we operate in the love dimension.  Here’s a reminder of what love is.  1 Corinthians 13:4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head,5 Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,6 Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,7 Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

Remember that when I patiently explain things to my kids, I am being love.  When I burn the midnight oil on a project, I am being love.  When I pray for my friends and family, I am being love.  When I exercise self-control over my shopping, I am being love.  When I keep my motives in check, and don’t brag, I’m being love.  When I respect the position that others take, I am being love.  When I keep my anger in check when so and so says I still owe $, when I know I don’t, I’m being love.  When I don’t remind my ex about all of the mistakes he’s made, I’m being love.  When I speak the plain honest truth, I am being love.  When I don’t try to figure out my future, but let God do his job, I am being love.  When I see the best in others, instead of assuming the worst, I am being love.  When I purpose to move forward in my life, I am being love.

Oh Jesus help!  You are love.  I love love.  I love You.

Psalm 41:12 You know me inside and out, you hold me together, you never fail to stand me tall in your presence so I can look you in the eye.

God knows me, even the secret places, the parts of me that I don’t even acknowledge.  He understands the parts of me that I certainly don’t want to expose.  He nurtures the dreams of me that I’m afraid to keep dreaming.  The memories in me that I try not to remember, He remembers those too.  He knows the fears that I have, and gently reminds me that in Him, there is no fear.  He’s the One who makes sense of me.  He stands me up to see myself, to see the world through His eyes.  He’s doing a beautiful thing.  I can see it now. 

I can face my future.  I can stand tall in the beautiful presence of God and dream.  I can stand tall in the strength of God’s protection.  I can stand tall and rest in His timing.  I can stand tall and trust in His love.  I can stand tall in the assurance that He knows me and is there for me anyway. 

Jesus, thank you.  Thank you for knowing me and promising to make sense of me and my life anyway. 

Psalm 106:3 There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.

It can sometimes be difficult to treat people fairly if they have wronged you or someone that you care about.  And doing the right thing often seems like comes with a price.  In my experience, that price has often been loneliness, being judged by others, or feeling like I am not understood.  There is a promise here though, and the promise is joy. 

God’s plan for his children who do the right thing doesn’t involve anything contradictory to joy.  Bearing the burden of responsibility to always doing the right thing, (living like I “should”), doesn’t equate to bearing the burden of loneliness, depression or self-righteousness.  It’s true, there are always going to be people who don’t understand my stance or opinion or sense of what is right, but that does not take away from the joy that God has promised me. 

Lord, thank you for this promise.  Thank you for building in me the desire to do the right thing, at all costs.  Thank you for giving me the strength to do that for most of my life.  I’ve missed something though Lord.  I’ve missed the promise of joy.  Forgive me for owning the loneliness, depression and self-righteousness that has often accompanied my “right” decisions.  Help me to own the joy, just for the sake of it.  Help me to flow in your ideas of justice, righteousness and joy.  You are amazing.

1 Corinthians 9:24 You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. 25 All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally…. 27 I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Athletes train hard, they all want to win.  They train and are sold out to the idea that they will win, but in reality they don’t all win.  Even if they do, it’s a temporary win.  Eventually they will be too old, their bodies will give out, their trophies will tarnish.  They devote themselves, sacrifice their own comfort, for a TEMPORARY prize without eternal promises.  How much more should we be sold out to our own training, knowing that our prize is ETERNAL, never fading, and it is God-honoring.  AND, our prize is guaranteed!  We are going to win.

I wantto stay vigilant, keep practicing the things that keep me strong in the Lord.  Do I have the courage to be radically obedient so that life will have an eternal impact on those around me?

Lord help me to be radically obedient to the convictions that You have called me to.  Give me courage and discipline to live the life that You have purposed for me.  Help me to show my children how to live a life of faith and trust.  Give me strength to purge my life of everything that is not of you.  Let your joy shine all over me and my children.  Keep us daily on the path to serve you as a family.   You are so worth it.  Your promises are true and everlasting.  Our prize is guaranteed and eternal.  Thank you Jesus!

Psalm 37:5 Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done: 6 He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon… 34 Wait passionately for God, don't leave the path. He'll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose it. (MSG)

He sees me, he acknowledges my feelings and place.  He approves of me and understands me, and will say so in the brightest time of the day, when everybody is awake and out and about.  He will make sense of my life in full view of others.  In the mean time, I desire to stay the course and passionately pour myself into God. 

Just lay it all out there, be honest, flip on the lights. I can keep being honest, pressing into God, seeking his direction and will, and be patient.

Oh Jesus your faithfulness to me is overwhelming.  Each and every morning you astound me.  You know how I have lived for so many years in the dark, and here you are promising fulfillment in full light.  I didn’t even know how important that was for me.  You know me better than I know myself.  Help me to keep being honest to myself, before you, with my children, in my relationships.  Continue giving me the faith and passion to love you and seek you daily.  Give me supernatural strength to wait for your perfect timing for the unfolding of my new life.

Galations 3:5 Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you?

All the good things in my life are not because of me.  They are all from God.

I can continually look to Him as my provider, my strong tower, my friend, my everything.  Every good and perfect thing comes from him.  My children, my relationships, my future, my talents, my abilities… Jesus, thank you!   Even my moral fiber and my faith and my trust in him, is from him!

Lord I really just am standing in awe of you.  You are so showing yourself to me in ways that I have never allowed you to do before.  Please forgive me for all of the wasted years when I thought I knew anything.  Thank you helping me to learn this lesson.  The sick part is, I know you’re going to have to remind me of it again and again.  Help me to listen.  Thank you for being so faithful to me. 

Mark 11:22 “Embrace this God-life. Really embrace it, 23 and nothing will be too much for you….. 24 That’s why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything, ranging from small to large. Include everything as you embrace this God-life, and you’ll get God’s everything. (MSG)

He calls us to embrace, or to hold closely everything that is about Him.  When we feel overwhelmed, to let go of the things that are not His idea, or His mandate for us, and hold even closer those things that are.  When life feels like it is too much, go back to the things of Him.  When we hold Him close, He will not hold back, He will give us all He's got.  There is no fear of rejection, He keeps His promises, it's who He is.  As we draw closer to Him, He WILL draw closer to us.  Cover everything about our lives with prayer.  He cares about the big and the small things. 

The word "embrace" offers a different point of view than "clinging".  Clinging implies a sense of desperation, a sense of holding so tightly that you're unwilling to let go, no matter what.  The word "embrace" shows me more of a welcoming, loving, reciprocating gesture.  When I feel overwhelmed, or that life is just too much at the moment, what is my natural tendancy?  Do I keep bull-dozing through whatever it is?  Do I "cling" to God's plan or worse, to my own plans?  Or do I take a step back and "embrace" God? 

I so want the God life.  I want the forgiveness, the radical obedience, the walking in wholeness, the hearing of God’s voice, children who serve him.  Help me Jesus to embrace you and not to cling to my best laid plans.  Remind me to pray about absolutely everything.  Thank you for caring about it all.  I lay my future before you.  I give you my desires.  Thank you for promising to draw close to me.