GOD IS MY REFUGE

 Dear Dad:

Here is a picture of what I am looking at as I talk with you today

1 Corinthians 3:7 "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." NIV

God the creator is in control. He has the last word. We can only do so much. Think of the plants or animals we take care of by watering or feeding. We are helpers, but God is the master. 

You stopped me today and said, I like to say, "GOD is my refuge, not he is my refuge, but God!" I stop and think that is so right, let us address Him properly. On our own we are lost.

Let's look at more verses:

Psalm 62:8 "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." NIV

Psalm 18:30 "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him." NIV

Let's pray:

God you are my refuge, ever present. Will you strengthen me today, for I feel tired. God thank you for making me grow. Amen.

We open our hands and recite:

GOD IS MY REFUGE!

GOD MAKES THINGS GROW1

ALL I'LL EVER NEED

 Dear Dad:

John 16:33 "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have over come the world." NIV

We open our hands:

'YOU ARE MORE THAN I'LL EVER NEED!", says my Dad.

He's an overcomer! We are overcomers! We get to sit, enjoy, it's glorious! He overwhelms us with great joy! Rejoice that he is faithful and sufficient! No Matter what comes our way, we know He is enough!

Let's pray:

Dear Lord, you are enough. I am enough! You are all I need! Amen.

Let's shout:

YOU ARE ALL I NEED!

I REVEL IN YOU JESUS!

GET BEHIND ME 2

 Dear Dad:

Matthew 6:30-34 " If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and  tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. NIV

Our conversation is short today.

Thank you! Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. NIV

We reviewed the story that the day before I got a text that a friend sent me the song GET BEHIND ME. I told my dad he said those exact words that same morning. God surely wants us to pay attention. He is making himself so real to us all. My friend said, "I heard the song on the Christian radio and I thought of you and had to send it." 

That is the HOLY Spirit showing himself to us. He is working in our lives. He is so real! God is in control! He is working on our behalf!

We were all in awe! 

Let's pray:

Lord I delight myself in you! You give us the desire of of my heart and that is to know and love you! Thank you for revealing yourself to us. Amen.

GET BEHIND ME! 

JESUS I AM FREE

 Dear Dad:

Psalm 16:9-10 "Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay." NIV

I am free! Get away from me Satan. GET BEHIND ME! To God we pray! We are fully armored from head to toe in the Lord and all His weapons. Free in your forgiveness!

Ephesians 6:13 "for this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand!

As we talked today about Jesus love by dying on the cross and rising from the dead; that gave us forgiveness of our sins and new life. Jesus for gave me. I picture the old cartoon with the devil on one shoulder and God on the other. Who is whispering in your are today? Tune in! 

Let's pray:

Jesus you are the voice I want to hear from. I am glad and my tongue rejoices. I am secure because you will not abandon me. I will not die but be with you one day! Amen.

Open my hands:

Jesus I am free!

GLORIOUS GIFT OF FORGIVENESS-JESUS IS SAFE

 Dear Elaine:

My dad wrote to me today!

Today is the word on forgiveness. I have sent you a verse. Love you Dad.

Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." NIV

No thought of what he was thinking when he wrote this. But reflection on our own can connect us to Jesus. Remorse does that. Our perfect and loving God touches our heart with convictions and when we agree with Him our heart does not feel condemned but loved. I had an encounter with Jesus in the past. I have heard in my heart convictions before but it is so freeing and safe to go my Father in heaven. Let me say that again, "He is so safe and living." I am not afraid to go to Him.

Go to Him today with your needs. To forgive or be forgiven, he is the best listener.

I can't say it enough. Jesus is safe!

Let's pray:

Lord help me to forgive...will you for give me...Amen.

let us recite.

Jesus is safe!

YOUR LOVING KINDNESS REACHES TO THE SKIES

 Dear Dad:

Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying :

"I have loved you with and everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." NIV

Let's pray:

Thanks for everything Lord! Your loving kindness reaches to the skies. 

Your love is so big! Huge! To the skies!

I can't say it enough! For today hold our hands out!

YOUR LOVING KINDNESS REACHES TO THE SKIES!

JESUS IS OUR JOY

 Dear Dad:

Jesus is our joy! Amen!

Grateful for the last supper remembering Jesus last words and actions. He was truly serving and teaching us. A servant Jesus was! He loves us so much!

Let's pray:

Thank you Jesus for another new day. It's hard to believe you did a last supper so beautifully and then got up and died so horrifically, for us! Jesus is love!

Hebrews 12:2 "Fixing our eyes on Jesus. The pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the Joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." NIV

Other bible verses we talked about today!

John 6:51 "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." NIV

The last supper represented the foreshadow of Jesus giving up His body for us!

"Stop chasing after food that spoils, but your soul is looking for more! 

Celebrate your redemption from sin because of Jesus!

One table and one forgiveness, its with Jesus!

Jesus the redeemer!

JESUS IS OUR JOY!

KING OF GLORY

 Dear Dad:

As we reflect on Palm Sunday and Jesus "Triumphant ENTRY"

Let us recite :

"Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory." Psalm 24:8-10

When we ask ourselves truly looking for the answer, "Who is this King of Glory?"

Let us worship him! When we worship Him we draw near to him!

Amen! Picture His triumphant entry, Hallelujiah!

Let's pray:

King of Glory! We honor and worship you today! Amen

Let's open our hands and recite:

King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

YOU MAKE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL

 Hi Dad:

Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has mad everything beautiful in its time He has also set eternity in the human heart; Yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." NIV

Imagine, what does this verse mean to us? In time whatever goes on in our lives He is working. This verse refreshes me by making it feel as if God is working out the best outcome. Since He knows past, present and future He knows all the pieces to the puzzle of life, therefore each person place and things involved God knows and He is able to think of the details of situations for working it out. Do you get what I mean? Even the case with health and death His timing is beautiful. This is hard to comprehend at times, especially if you are going through the struggle in real time. In real time it is hard and we are in process of giving things to God and trusting Him. Saying, "Our Father in Heaven knows best." Repeat, "He knows best! When we get on the other side of things is when we begin to see the beauty of God. Since God says our life here on earth is short. He is very concerned about eternity with Him with utmost importance.

He knows the beginning to the end!

Let's pray:

Dear Lord, you make everything beautiful in your time. Thank you for setting eternity in me heart and knowing all things. Amen

You make me beautiful1

I AM RENEWED IN MY MIND

Dad:

Declare with me today:

I WANT TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF MY MIND"

Ephesians 4:23-24 "to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." NIV

 to be renewed in the Spirit of our minds.

Put on new self, we are created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (I said, "Picture yourself putting on the best, comfortable, refreshing clothes!") 

Ephesians 5:10 test, probe, be careful, try to learn, find out what is pleasing to God. Ephesians 5:7 "do not become partners of evil." NIV 

BE A PARTNER, partaker, associate of Christ. 

Let's pray:

Dear Lord thank you for the promise that when the Spirit recalls a verse to my mind, you are renewing my mind. Help me! Amen.

I AM RENEWED IN THE MIND! 

ROBOT DESIGNER

 

Oh my, it’s 9:00am, I usually make the phone call at 8:30am every morning! It felt so good to sleep in, but at the same time my mind was racing ahead for the day and it’s uncertainty. My phone rang and it was him calling me, oops I am not prepared for my dads daily devotion we do together. Hi! Perky yet worrisomely I asked, “How are you?  “Good”,  was his response. “What are you reading this morning?”, I asked.

Today was a day that He comforted me. I usually do the devo, but not today. He had his Jesus today open and I kid you not, I can’t make this stuff up, “I have built into your brain the amazing capacity to observe your own thoughts. So, it is possible to monitor your thoughts and make choices about them. When having a worrisome thought-tell yourself, “Not now!” For many years if you know me at all I usually am telling my thoughts, “Stop it!”

But this was a new way of asking the Lord to help us take captive thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Draw near Me by expressing your trust in Me, your love for me Me. This is by worship.

It popped my head that this day the designers are all into creating Robots. “Dad, think of a robot designer building into each robot abilities to be able to do the job they were created for. That is the same for us! God created us to be able to combat and destroy stinking thinking! Our great designer allowed a manual to be written to help us to live. Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water. Revelation 14:7 NKJV”

This devo subject is nothing new. For years authors have been trying to warn us about the mind and how evil is wreaking havoc. He is a liar, prowling around trying to devour or defeat us.

The song, Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down, comes to me. I find my favorite version of this song and play it (Maranatha Promise Band). I send it off to my dad, “Let’s worship!”

I felt invigorated, ready for the day. We prayed:

Lord, thank you for another day. May we each worship and draw near to you and sense the peace you promise that comes by doing that. Let us find others who we can share this with. It is a testimony to your saving grace and power which you have always promised from the beginning of time. Amen

To you my friends. We can’t conjure up moments like this. But we can expect them. We can anticipate that at the right time God will not let us stumble or fall (to me that is defeated in a prolonged time). He just won’t! Be encouraged and remember to have that, NO WAY OR STOP IT at the tip of your tongue. Get ready to worship and find a verse to replace the thoughts. Why?  Because He wants to do more than we could ever imagine, Ephesians 3:20.

GETTING THROUGH

 For the past month If you did not know my dad and I have been sharing the bible with each other. This is post 23. I hope you have been enjoying these connections.

dad said 3/28

Trust in me moment by moment

Close my eyes and think of things to say

Read his verse in the Bible.

It’s his words I need to saturate my mind with the Bible. Jesus is with me. Today getting through today is a victory. Getting through today with Jesus. It’s Jesus speaking through me.

UNLIMITED

 Hi Dad:

How are you today? You answered I am doing okay! Everything is ok. You don't have all the answers about the CPAP but you answered positively. You even went on to say you had a little insomnia last night but it's ok. You are growing. God see's that! You even were not fretting about your Dr. appointment with regarding the CPAP machine and your breathing through the night. You are not freaking out! I heard such a calm response like, "We will see Monday!"

GROWTH! 

You are getting the unlimited resources of God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit! Unlimited love!

Psalm 73:23-24 " Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory." ESV

So reassuring!

Let's pray: 

Thank you Lord for you right hand that holds me. You guide me and counsel me. Glory is in the future. Amen.

OPEN YOUR HANDS BELIEVE SAY WITH ME;

UNLIMITED!

WE ARE PARTNERS

 Dear Dad: I am sharing my message with my dad today! 

Declare with me today:

I WANT TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF MY MIND!

Ephesians 4:23-24 To be renewed in the Spirit of my minds. Put on new self, created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (Picture yourself putting on the best, comfortable, refreshing clothes!)

Ephesians 5:10 test, prove, be careful, try to learn find out what is pleasing to God. Ephesians 5:7 do not become partners of evil. BE A PARTNER, PARTAKER, ASSOCIATE OF CHRIST!

PRAYER:

Lord I am testing, proving, being careful, learning trying to please you in your strength. I want to partner, partake, associate with you! In Jesus name Amen. 

OPEN OUR HANDS

BELIEVE

WE ARE PARTNERS!

I AM SET APART; PREPARED

 HI DAD:

As we just had this moment of HOPE! Being refilled with hope. We have a story to testify about our CPAP. We bless people with God stories that we personally experience.

Stop!

1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," NIV

Romans 5:5 "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." NIV

Let's pray:

We are set apart, prepared to give an answer to everyone for the reason of hope. You never disappoint us, because your love is poured out within my heart through the Holy Spirit. We gaze at your beauty Lord. Amen.

OPEN OUR HANDS:

I am set apart!

I am prepared!

I am filled with hope!

DON'T GIVE UP ON HOPE

 4-7-25

Lainey days

 

My dad is trying to fix his new CPAP machine. When I was preparing to make are daily phone call this morning. I looked at the Jesus Always book that we sometimes do together and I read April 7 and it was good. It was nice and I was like, but what Lord what do we need? The word perplex, popped in my head) came to me and I knew to look up a verse in first Corinthians where that is, And as I’m talking to my dad, I realized it’s exactly what he needs because I had no idea when I called that he was trying to fix his new CPAP machine (it was recording many more stop breathing incidents than ever in the past) and having difficulty but he already had in place a nurse who helped him he already had in place a Doctor Who was gonna call him in the afternoon. He has his phone recording-the rhythms in the night of breathing so he’s kind of on top of. I was like, “You are on top of it have you lost your peace God gives you?” He said, “No, but I’m a little worried.” Your not destroyed or in despair. As we have been working on our default responses when we are in the waiting room of life, when someone ask you, “how are you doing?” We could say, “I’m a little perplexed, but not in despair because I have things in place that are going to give me answers .” What comes out of our mouth as we trust in the Lord and from the overflow of our heart shows the light of Jesus and his promise to take care of us. We say with our own mouth, “I’m a little worried, but I have things in place.” With that said he shouts out, so “Don’t give up on hope!” He doesn’t get what’s going on and he doesn’t understand fully this new machine he doesn’t get why it was The numbers were good and now they’re kind of off that gives him a bit of fear and he is perplexed but, He said, “Don’t give up on Hope.” I love that woo. Hope is Jesus. Today we know for sure we got on the phone anticipating reading your word and praying with you Lord and here The Holy Spirit worked out a message. “Don’t give up on.” Hope Jesus is hope.

As we talk to each other daily, God gives us these little catchphrases that coincides with his word and it gives us peace to know he did this he gave us hope !

2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-12 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." NIV

DON'T GIVE UP ON H.O.P.E.

HE OFFERS PEACE ETERNALLY

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!

 Hi Dad:

Nothing else matters! One body, one Spirit, one hope , one lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Dad there are 7 of these one above. Father thru, over, in! All 4 times above!

Wow! That's also to think about to occupy our minds today! My Dad wanted me to remember also today that there is no night in heaven, so I looked it up to have evidence Revelation 21:25 "On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there!" NIV

"Written on His thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16 NIV

Pray:

Lord thank you that you represent 7 one's. You are everything! You are the light in heaven. You will appear again and it is written you are KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Amen, Love you Dad

Such great things to talk about with my 91 year old Dad. 

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

King of kings and Lord of Lords!

LET MY LIGHT SHINE!

 Hi Dad, how are you? Let's think about others today.

That really helps us to refocus. Get our minds off ourself. How can we do this?

Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." NIV

Not only is it good to serve others as Jesus did, it glorifies God in heaven. It directs peoples attention to think about what really matters.

Stop and say:

LET MY LIGHT SHINE!

1 John 4:11 "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." NIV

Pass the love along always and forever.

Let's pray:

Jesus I receive your joy! (hands wide open) Release me from thinking about myself too much, so I can enjoy pleasures of serving loving, being grateful. 

Let my light shine!

I WILL NOT GET DOWN TODAY

 Dad, when we are getting down let us choose this message.

STOP!

Psalms 121:5-8 "The Lord watches over you-the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." NIV

Let's pray:

Lord I marvel because you watch over me, you protect me day and night. You watch over my life and everywhere I go today. Thank you. It fills me with hope. In Jesus name Amen.

Say:

I will not get down today...

JESUS I RECEIVE YOUR JOY!

 Big day Dad! Sharing is caring!

Let's check out these

Stop!

Philippians 2:13 "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. NIV

God works in me? Yes! Each thing we do today Dad let's remember God is working for us, giving us desires and the power to do what pleases Him (NLT)

What a joy knowing this truth!

Ephesians 3:19 "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." NIV

Pray: God fill me to the measure of all your fullness. Your love surpasses knowledge. Amen.

Ephesians 2:6 "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms." NIV

Struggling today with stinking thinking! Say, "Not Now I am seated with Jesus in the heavenlies!"

Just picture that. Sit with this thought often. Seated with Jesus. Wow! One day for real in person, for now in my mind!

Luke 10:20 "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." NIV

Say: My names in heaven! Imagine that!

Pray:

Lord I my names in heaven because of you! Amen.

LET'S OPEN OUR HANDS:

I RECEIVE YOUR JOY!

REPEAT OFTEN!

I AM A WELL WATERED TREE!

 Dad, think of a peaceful place with a stream and a beautiful trees that drink from those streams. The serenity you get from a place like that is priceless.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has not worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." NIV

So much here Dad!

Stop!

Open our hands and say:

I am like a tree planted and being watered by God. I fear nothing even bad thoughts, scary situation, I'm green, I have nothing to worry about, even when I don't understand, I am going to bear your fruit.

lET'S PRAY:

Dear Lord: You fill me with water and give me understanding thank you for helping to lean on you. I want to please you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

My CONFIDENCE IS IN YOU!

NOT NOW!

 Elaine, I have worrisome thoughts. The things he thinks about are out of his control to fix. We need to take swift action here.

STOP! 

TELL YOURSELF!

NOT NOW!

Pray:

NOT ever, nothing else matters except you Jesus. Help me get a grip on these thoughts. In Jesus name I pray Amen. 

Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water. Revelation 14:7 NKJV

This pops in my head as we complete our time together today.

COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN. Find the youtube version of Marantha!

Open your hands to be grateful 

I worship you Lord!

I AM MORE VALUABLE!

"A cardinal has been tapping on different windows each day", I excitedly told my Dad. It makes me slow down. It reminds me of Jesus the creator. I hear in my head when I see the bird, sit, enjoy my bird, delight and know I am real. Draw near to Jesus!. That bird even came to my bedroom second floor window, I saw it when I woke up! Can you believe it! It is a God wink! His display of all things.

Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens;  They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! NIV

Stop! Say with us:

I'm more valuable than birds! 

Pray:

Thank you Lord for loving me and letting me know I am more valuable than the birds. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

I AM MORE VALUABLE!

WOW!

TRUST IN THE LORD

Another new day Dad! We have many things going on, we are waiting. Let's learn something to help with that.

Stop!

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." NIV

Hold out your hands wide open:

Pray:

I want to trust you Lord. Lean on you for understanding, submit to you. Help me Lord. I look for the path to be straight and have confidence in that. In Jesus name Amen.

Believe!

I am grateful for:

The straight path.

I TRUST YOU WITH....

INTERUPT

 Dad, I got to share this verse with you:

Psalm 46:1-4 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

Dad, no matter what is going on our Father in heaven is okay with us INTERUPTING Him!

Stop!

Think of the amount of times in our lives that people get angry when interrupted?

24/7 He loves us that much.

Any time, any day! Wow! take it in, no?

I can hardly stand it! 

He is ever present and never ever rejects us! 

Let's pray:

Father I know so much is going on in the world, but you always have time for me and that blows my mind. I love you and thank you. Amen.

I cand INTERRUPT GOD! 

I AM DEVOTING MYSELF TO PRAYER

 When we fret Dad sometimes we just have to stop and practice the presence of God.

Action for today:

Stop!

Colossians 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

Let's break this down.

We can remember to devote or give all to prayer. Most important thing we can do.

Look around or be watchful, why? Things can go haywire pretty fast in our minds if we are not being aware. Again, think about what we are thinking and seeing. 

From Philippians 4:6-7, prayer, petitions and thanksgiving then God has our attention enough to guard our hearts and minds. It is hard to explain to anyone they just have to read these verses and put it into practice.

Let's pray today:

Lord help me to continue to devote myself to pray and be alert, watchful, aware to my thoughts and going in and out. I am so grateful I have you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

BE DEVOTED TO PRAYER1

GRASP THE LOVE

 Dad we need healing power. He is wanting to feel God's love. Today we review that the head knowledge is so important to know before it gets to our heart. 

Believe!

Can Christ dwell in your heart through faith?

Yes, yes and yes!

Ephesians 3:17-19 "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." NIV

We can pray:

Lord I pray I am rooted and established in love, may have power, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is your love Jesus, and I know your love that surpasses knowledge-that may fill me to the measure of all the fullness of God. Amen.

I am so grateful for this truth.

Let's say all day.

Christ dwells in me.

GRASP THE LOVE!

I am established in His love!

HE DELIGHTS OVER ME

 Dad, what comforts you?

What is giving you peace? 

I read these words

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

In the moment take a breath and read the verse again. Realize God is delighting in you. Stop. Stop. Listen and take in these words, in His love HE DELIGHTS OVER YOU! Does it comfort you with the next part of the verse, He will rejoice over you with singing? Do you hear worship songs come to you that are comforting? I am reminding my dad of his role as a father. How no matter what he delights over me because I am his child. Well, our Father in heaven looks at us the same way. Think about that conncetion.

I had the next verse ready for this day.

Psalm 36:5 "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies."

After quoting this verse the song by the group THIRD DAY comes to mind.

STOP!

Let's say it together:

Lord you love, reaches to the heavens. Lord you take great delight in me. You rejoice over me with singing.

Pray:

Lord help me to remember that you delight over me. Your love reaches to the heavens, you love me, you rejoice over me with singing. Thank you Lord for this message that is so personal for me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

You delight over me! My goodness how powerful!

. 

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS

 It is a natural human response to feel anxious. But it can be habit forming and too much.

That is the warning of today.

STOP!

Dad let's say this:

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS.

PRAY:

Father in heaven you are a promise keeper, thank you for helping me with these racing thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Let us 

Stop, pray, believe, thankful!\

We got this!

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

 Today was another review day:

Asking my dad why are we doing this daily?

Do you just ask yourself, "Why do I spend time with the Lord?"

Philippians 4:9 "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Our goal each day from the beginning of this project of the mind with my dad is to transform, grow, renew our minds, create default thinking that is positive.

Let's pray: God of peace I receive your peace today. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

GOD OF PEACE BE WITH YOU.

WHATEVER IS...

TODAY YOU MADE NEED A REMINDER TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING!

 My dad had a thought that kept racing in His mind. I asked what are you going to do about it? What's the tool for today. Holy Spirit help us. 

We are transforming our minds. 

In my dads case he would tell me things aren't that great today and I would say, let's practice that not being in your vocabulary. If someone asks you how you are doing, how about a response like, "it's a challenge but the Lord is with me."

This exercise is called Philippians 4:8 your thought.

Here is a trick. Is your thought one of these eight words! Memorize these eight words. I am always saying them when a trial comes or insomnia sets in.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." NIV

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

Well think about it! If it does not:

Stop, pray, believer, be thankful...carry on in the Lord!

Let's pray:

Lord I am thinking this.....(state what it is) help me Philippians 4:8 that thought. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Now you have 8 words to stop that stinking thinking, let us get to it.

Philippians 4:9 "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Our goal each day from the beginning of this project of the mind with my dad is to transform, grow, renew our minds, create default thinking that is positive.

GOD OF PEACE BE WITH YOU.

Relief is on the way....says the Lord.

Only God!

NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US

 Have you experienced thoughts that you just don't understand why you keep thinking them?

Is the enemy winning in your mind?

NO AND NO!

He will never win was the message to my dad today. 

Isaiah 54:17 " no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

Some days you just have to pray this for yourself and others.

Let's pray:

Lord no weapon forged against me will prevail. I needed to hear this. Help me believe this promise. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Friends the enemy attacks the mind and we just pick up those negative thoughts and continue you them.

I'm calling all you out, even myself. Stop it! 

No schemes of the enemy are going to win. Jesus is the winner.

I HEAR YOUR VOICE

 Dad what do you need today? Here's a verse to combat while you are in any waiting room of life.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just feel alone, helpless, unsafe, just need a word of encouragement?

John 10:27-28 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." NIV

Today when attacked with the negative:

Let's say this together: I HEAR YOUR VOICE

No one can snatch me out of Jesus hand!

I mean no one and let's add no thing!

Let's pray:

Father in heaven thank you for your word that promises that I will NEVER taken from your hand. You are always here. I am so grateful! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Friends let us stop all stinking thinking today 

Again we say together: I HEAR YOUR VOICE, 

NO ONE WILL SNATCH ME OUT OF JESUS HAND!

BE DETERMINED IN THE LORD

 We all need some courage to carry on. But today Dad needed a bigger word than courage, a push to just get through things! Do you ever find yourself wanting a push to get through something?

I do!

Let me explain how we got a word from the Lord to be accomplish something in real time.

Luke 9:51 " As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus WAS determined to go to Jerusalem, to fulfill His purpose." AMP

We all have purpose. We all want to get things accomplished, right?

Let us do it the best way ever, in the Lord's determination!

Determination= (in other versions) steadfastly , resolutely, set His face to go.

I pray this help you like this helped us, only God can give you the determination to carry on like He did.

It is powerful!

Let's pray:

Father I need you, oh how I need you, help me accomplish things today with YOUR determination. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Be DETERMINED IN THE LORD!

GREATER THAN '<'

 Dad and I agreed I would check in daily for a word from the Lord. I am anticipating. Dear God help me to help, oh when you show up Lord it is so powerful. It is straight from you and I can not be in control. You do the unimaginable.

I don't know how to explain when I get a verse but this verse was what I shared this day.

1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

After quoting the verse it pops in my head the mathematical sign greater than 

 '<'

Jesus is great than. Any problems you put on the less than side, fear of severe illness, fear of any lack like money, fear of the unknown, fear of a relationship failing....and so on  '<' JESUS IS GREAT THEM ALL! 

Today we are going to replace any fear with only the word

Jesus is greater than and it comes from 1 John 4:4.

Okay, can we do that?

Let's pray:

Father in heaven you are so much greater than any thing that comes our way today, help me to have control over these fears.......(name the fear) Amen.

I since have found out so much Christian merchandise sold 

God is greater than  '<'

Well on this particular day I never knew that it was so wildly used.

God you are greater than...

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: I WANT TO FEEL HIS LOVE

 My Dad calls me and in his voice such urgency, he needs to talk now, now,  he is filled with anxiety, "I WANT TO FEEL JESUS, I WANT TO FEEL HIS LOVE!" 

It doesn't matter what is creating the anxiety, what matters is the default reaction. He knows about the default. He can't do this alone. Can you identify? When two are more are gathered there He is in our midst. God does not always expect us to be transformed alone. Plus, honestly, I learn from these experiences. I grow from them. I am touched by them. Can you relate? Using your gift for others blesses you tremendously. Use your gift. Be a listener. You will see the Holy Spirit first hand. Do I know what I am doing? No! But I am trusting the Lord with all my heart.

I quote Philippians 4:6-8, we focus on, He guards our heart and mind.

We need to read it ourselves. Look at it. Step away from devotions at the time. The Spirit does the job of bringing you peace and communion with God. 

Let's pray: Lord guard my heart and mind, we are so thankful for you. Help me to be restored. Transform my mind. 

Dad are you okay now. After praying can when I hang up I ask, "Do you have the Lord's peace."

"Yes", he states.