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Psalm 148:1 …Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him from the heights above.
For me, there is something very holy about watching the sun rise over the ocean. My first sunrise this year was on Easter Sunday, and it is hard to articulate the mix of emotions I felt as I watched the sun ascend seemingly from the ocean itself. The dolphins, the birds, the lapping of the waves, everything felt like hope, renewal, and praise. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 148:3 Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.
I wonder if my affinity for sunrise has anything to do with the stretches of “long, dark nights” of life? When I am sick, nights are usually the hardest. When my babies were little and not feeling well or were teething, nights were the toughest to endure. When I am struggling with grief or sorrow, worry or fear, nights are the longest, bleakest, toughest times. But even before the sunrise makes an appearance, the gentle lightening of the sky gives me hope. Sunrise is coming. This darkness won’t last forever. Thank You, Jesus.
Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the hope and praise that is the sunrise every morning. Thank You that the “long, dark nights” of the soul aren’t the end, no matter how they test us. Thank You that we can praise You in the darkness just as fervently as we can in the daylight, maybe even more so. Thank You for the hope of sunrise. Draw us closer. Help us praise You always. Amen.
Psalm 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
Have a blessed day. 

John 8:4 … “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.”
I try to behave in such a manner that if a tv camera were following me, broadcasting my every move, I would not be embarrassed. Somehow, though, I still manage to screw up in a thousand little ways daily, multiple times a day. Jesus, Help me!
John 8:7 … “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
We live in a judgmental society. We know we all mess up, but we often use an arbitrary scale of judgment to assuage our own guilt. Deflection is our friend. “Yeah, I messed up, but not as bad as she did.” Jesus, Help us!
John 8:10-11a … “Woman…Has no one condemned you?” … “Then neither do I condemn you.” ….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the show of compassion in this scripture. Judgement is so easy. Compassion can be so difficult. Yet You showed us the ultimate compassion when we absolutely did not deserve it. Help us to show that level of fierce love and deep compassion to each other, Lord—even when we don’t deserve it, even when we didn’t earn it. Especially then. Help us to love as You love, Lord. Draw us closer. Amen.
John 8:11b … “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Have a blessed day.

Psalm 30:6-7 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.” …but when You hid Your face, I was dismayed.
I consider myself to be a strong person, independent, capable. With time and effort, I can do most anything I set my mind to. Usually, these traits serve me well, but sometimes they get me into trouble. Sometimes I get so busy “working for the Lord” that I miss what He is actually calling me to do for Him. I told a friend recently that lately I felt like a banshee howling into the gale. That feeling should have been a tip-off that I was operating under my own strength and not in my Savior’s. Jesus, Help me.
2 Cor 12:9a My grace is sufficient for you.
I know that God created me exactly as I am for a purpose. I’m pretty sure His purpose for me involves loving others, encouraging them, showing care and compassion, especially to those who aren’t used to receiving it, those who feel they don’t deserve it, those who are in desperate need of His hope. But at times it seems so very overwhelming, the scope of the task before me. There are so many who need hope and encouragement, myself included. Jesus, Help me.
2 Cor 12:9b When you are weak, My power is made perfect in you.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You are my strength. Thank You for creating me exactly as I am for Your purpose. Thank You for the reminder that I’m not supposed to do this in my strength. I need You. Your strength is perfected in my weakness. Help me to breathe, to wait on You, to trust in You, to see what You are calling me to right this minute, to do that thing to the best of my ability, to refocus in Your will, to move on to the next thing You are calling me to do. One step at a time, Jesus. Show me the way. Draw me closer. Amen.
Psalm 30:11 You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy….
Have a blessed day.

Mark 8:29 “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say that I am?” ….
Lord, You are my Creator, my Redeemer, my Rock, and my Salvation. Every good and perfect gift is from You. You are with me always. Your steadfast love strengthens me. You are present in every circumstance, and You can work all things for my good and Your glory. 
Acts 9:6 … “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” ….
Lord, I know that You have me here in this mental dessert for a reason. You have something You need me to do or understand, something You need me to confront or work through, maybe a new direction in which You are trying to move me. Honestly, I’m not sure, but I know You are here with me, Lord. I know You are trying to guide me. Help me to be still, to listen, to understand Your direction. I know You are making a way in this wilderness as only You can. Help me to perceive Your movement, Your direction, Your will.
John 6:69 We have faith in You, and we are sure that You are God’s Holy One.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for my rock-solid faith in You, even when I don’t understand. I know You are with me. I know You love me deeply, fiercely. I know You will reveal my path one step at a time. Help me to breathe. Help me to trust. Help me to understand Your will for me right this moment. Make a way, Lord, as only You can. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 John 4:16 And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Have a blessed day. 

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Lord, You are sovereign and holy, gracious and loving. You make sure I have exactly what I need to take my next step in Your will. Forgive me for the times when I am discontent. Help me, especially during those times, to be able to clearly see both Your provision and the next step You would have me to take. Give me a heart of gratitude for the abundant blessings You surround me with daily. Restore my world-weary soul.
Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters….
Lord, Just like a toddler who doesn’t like to stop playing to rest but needs that rest in order to keep going, I have a hard slowing down, being diligent about self-care. It feels selfish and indulgent, but I know it’s important because You encourage me to take care of myself, to rest, breathe, take time in Your presence and Your word, to take time daily to nourish my soul so that I have the space, the peace, the energy to do Your work. Help me, Jesus, to take better care of myself so that I can better care for Your people.
Psalm 23:3 …He restores my soul….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that with You, I lack nothing, through You, I have all I need for the next step You need me to take. Help me to trust and obey, even when the world tries to tell me I need more, more, more. Help me to take time daily to nourish myself, to root myself in You, so that I can nourish and uplift others in Your name. Draw me closer, LORD. Amen.
Psalm 23:5 …my cup overflows.
Have a blessed day.

Ezekiel 11:19a I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them….
Lord, You are our center, our rock, our refuge. You hold us securely in the palm of Your hand. Even when we can’t feel Your steadfast presence, You are with us. This world tries to divide us, knock us down, tear us apart, but You are our center, Lord. Hold us together. Give us an undivided heart. Renew our spirit. 
Ezekiel 11:19b …I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Lord, It is so easy to allow our hearts to form calluses. We feel like toughening up is the right reaction to the chaos of the world, but we don’t realize that continual calluses can harden our hearts to the point that we are stony, cynical, and utterly useless to You. Help us, Lord. Remove our hearts of stone. Restore to us hearts brimming with love for You and for Your people.
Ezekiel 11:20b …They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that You are with us, that You are holding us, that You are renewing our hearts and spirits. Lord, this world can take a toll. Sometimes we feel like we are giving it all we have and it’s still not making a difference. Thank You for understanding where we are and what we need. Thank You for holding us together and for filling our hearts with Your love and Your peace. Help us to love You fiercely and to love Your people unconditionally. Draw us closer. Amen.
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Have a blessed day.

Micah 7:7a But as for me, I will look to the LORD….
You would think, at my age, I’ve already become whatever it is that God wants me to be. But I am beginning to realize that life is a continual process of becoming, of renewing, of refining. This idea fills me at once with a sense of great hope and possibility and a vague feeling of dread. The sense of hope and possibility come from my precious Savior and how He might use me in, through, and after this process of becoming. The dread is my stubborn, static humanity, which doesn’t like change and is very comfortable right where I am, thank you very much.
Micah 7:7b …I will wait for the God of my salvation….
The process of becoming is messy, chaotic, painful. Ground must be plowed. Boundaries and barriers must be broken through. Tender new growth must tentatively push toward the light in hopes it will be nourished and nurtured properly. Sometimes pruning must happen, cutting back strategically so that new growth can take place. This process of becoming is not for the faint of heart and requires the utmost confidence in the One who is in control.
Micah 7:7c …my God will hear me.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that our lives are a continual journey to becoming who You designed us to be. Help us not become stagnant, Lord. Help us not to succumb to the fear of change and the unknown it brings. Help us to hold tightly to You, Lord, and to know that You can, will, and do bring beauty from our ashes, from our brokenness. You bring growth and renewal in You. Help us to support, uplift, and encourage each other through this process of becoming, Lord. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
John 10:10 …I have come so that they may have life, and have it in full.
Have a blessed day. 

Romans 15:13a May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace….
My youngest had a field trip yesterday that required me to take him to school by 6:45 am, which is a change in our morning routine. As we were in transit, we discussed what a beautiful morning it was. And as I rounded a bend in the road, we were unexpectedly blessed with the most gorgeous sunrise. 
Romans 15:13b …as you trust in Him….
It was still early enough that the ephemeral mist was softening the edges of the earth. The sun was just cresting the mountains, filling the sky with warm, golden light. It was breathtakingly beautiful, this little tableau on the way to school. It was available to everyone, whether we paid attention to it or not. And seeing it filled me with awe, peace, and wonder at the power, love, and majesty of my Creator. 
Romans 15:13c …so that you may overflow with hope….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the glorious sunrise yesterday that still fills me with wonder and peace. This is Your grace, Lord, unexpected, undeserved, a gift, freely given, there for the taking, but we must be open to receiving it. Lord, You know I’m still struggling, and I know that You are still with me. Draw me closer. Renew my spirit. Continue to fill me with wonder and hope as I experience Your unexpected grace in my life. Amen.
Romans 15:13d …by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Have a blessed day.

John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit….
Lord, Thank You for choosing me, for loving me fiercely, even though I have done and can do nothing to earn or be worthy of Your love. It absolutely boggles my mind that Your love, Your grace, Your mercy are mine for the taking. They are Your gifts to me, to all Your beloved children. Forgive me when I do not act in a manner befitting the child of a King. Help me not to forget who I am and Whose I am.
1 John 4:10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loves us and sent His Son….
Lord, Thank You for loving us deeply, fiercely, and unconditionally. Thank You for sending Your Son so that we could be restored to You. Thank You for forgiving us when we fail to live in a manner befitting such an amazing sacrifice. Your love for us is like nothing we have ever experienced before, Lord. Sometimes it’s a bit hard to take in because the love of this world is so full of conditions and exceptions. Give us the grace to gratefully accept Your gift of love.
Exodus 19:4 You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder of Your fierce and steadfast love. Thank You for daily bringing me back to Yourself. Help me to sit at Your feet each morning, Lord, to soak up Your love, to absorb Your peace into my bones, my very marrow. Help me to become so acquainted with Your thoughts and Your ways that they become my own. Help me to love others as You love me—deeply, fiercely, unconditionally. Draw us closer to You. Amen.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
Have a blessed day.

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
I have the reminder to “Choose Joy” everywhere in my life. I’ve got a t-shirt, posters, candles, painted signs. Truly, I can’t look far without seeing that precious reminder. And yet, for the past week and a half almost, I’ve been struggling mightily, and most days, I’ve been choosing grumpiness, annoyance, and sadness instead of joy. Jesus, Help me.
1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances….
I have maintained for quite a while that I will find what I look for in my life, so if I choose joy, look for joy, and celebrate the joy in my life, I will continue to find things about which to be joyful. And if I choose grumpiness, annoyance, and sadness, I will continue to find things in my life to inspire those emotions. Jesus, Help me.
Col 1:11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need….
Lord, Thank You for this day and for the reminder that choosing to root myself in Your love and Your light is a daily choice I get to make. Help me, even when I’m tired, grumpy, fed up, or sad, to look toward You instead of getting bogged down in my mess. Help me to feel the strength of Your glorious power, Lord. Help me, always, to choose, focus on, and celebrate Your joy in my life. Draw me closer, Lord. Amen.
1 Tim 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me….
Have a blessed day.