Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!   “And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.” - Exodus 14:22 I have always pictured the Children of Israel triumphantly marching across the parted waters, joyfully singing Your praises at the miraculousness of their deliverance.  It finally dawned on me this morning, that the only ones to experience joy at the time of the crossing were those who wholeheartedly believed that You would keep the waters parted until they safely reached the other side.  To those with even a shred of doubt, it would have been terrifying.  Both those with much faith and those with little faith crossed on the exact same path that day, but it was their level of faith in each step that determined if the experience was one of joy or horror. Father, I lift my friend before You.  We praise You that You save us from impossible c...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!   Even before the sun sends a blush of color across the eastern sky, the birds are already offering their morning praise.  I hear the contented sigh of our little dog still asleep in his bed.  There is really so much to be grateful for, and I am.  Yet this morning there is a gnawing inside me over habits that I have been unable to overcome. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” - Romans 7:15.   We are not alone in our struggle.  We struggle and strain and vow to do better, only to succeed for a time and then revert to our old ways.  Your Word says in Zephaniah 4:6 - “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”   Father, we can’t do it by ourselves.  We have tried might and power.  We need Your Spirit. Father, I lift my friend.  We bring their disappointments, messes and mistakes - thos...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  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.” - Philippians 4:8-9.  A couple of days ago I turned on a light-hearted, innocent comedy to play in the background while cleaning house, and I learned something powerful.  The positive tone of the movie changed the rest of my day for the better.  What was on in the background had a much greater effect than I thought.   Father, I lift up my friend.  Help them to use great care in what they expose themselves to. Help them to select the content as they select a meal at a restaurant, knowing the...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!   “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” - I Corinthians 15:58.  Lord, sometimes we work diligently, but see no evidence that our efforts are making any difference.  With time, we become discouraged and are tempted to throw in the towel.   Father, I lift my friend.  There are things in their life that feel like an endless treadmill.  They take step after step in the direction they believe they are to go, but the scenery never changes and they begin to question if they are even going the right way.  Father, if they are off course, redirect them.  But if they are on the right path, give them a reassuring sign.  Send Your Holy Spirit to comfort them and refresh them, and send Your angels as ministers of hope and peace.  Give them light on the horizon and evidence ...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. - Zephaniah 3:17. “Exult” - You are over-joyed and unable to contain your exuberant delight - over US!   Father, I lift my friend.  Open their eyes to Your immeasurable love for them.  You don’t just tolerate or like them.  You are crazy, lovesick for them.  If you had a wallet, their picture would be in it.  If you had a fridge, it would display their artwork.  The very mention of their name brings a wide smile to Your face.  You think about them day and light.  Your eyes are always on them, making certain they are safe and their needs are met.  The sunrise and sunset put Your love on display.  The delicate details of the flowers speak of Your care for them, and the fragrance, of the tenderne...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7.   Father we all experience fear.  Thank you for the protection it provides, when we remember the past and can imagine consequences.  That fear can prevent us from making foolish decisions, and cause us to step back from the edge of life’s cliffs when we get too close.  As with much of life, however, it is a spectrum.  At one end it is protection and a gift, at the other end, when given free reign over our imagination, it becomes a paralyzing tyrant that cripples our future and hope.   Father, I lift my friend.  Your Word says that in this life we will have tribulation, but to not fear, because You are good and have the final say.  In the midst of a fierce storm at sea, with their ship heading for the rocks, help them to not fear, but remember who is in their boat.  Help t...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6 Father, we have probably heard this verse a thousand times, and are great at every single part, except two words, “with thanksgiving.”  We pray and offer thanks for our received blessings, but we sometimes stumble over thanking You for Your provision before we see it with our eyes.  We offer our petition and instead of following the petition with praise, we end the sentence with a question mark.  Sometimes we become so focused on Your sovereignty, that we can lose sight of Your faithfulness and goodness. Father, I lift my friend before You.  We joyfully bring their requests before Your throne this morning.  Your Word says in Isaiah 64 that even before they call You will answer, and while they are yet speaking You know their heart and request in thei...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” - Matthew 5:24.  Lord, relationships can be a LOT of work.  Differences of opinion, harsh, cutting words and ill feelings serve to divide us, not only from the other person, but also from You.  We don’t want anything that would serve as a barrier in our relationship with You!  We want nothing that would prevent us from hearing from You, or that might stay Your hand of blessing!  It is hard to humble ourselves to ask for forgiveness, and equally hard to approach someone who has offended us for the purpose of reconciliation, especially if they have not offered an apology.   Holy Spirit, come!  Change our hearts.  Make us more passionate about being reconciled than about being right.  Help us to listen in order to understand, instead of merely hearing so we can ...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.” - Psalm 34:18.   Sometimes we come to a dead end - we travel down a long, hot canyon to realize that the only exit is behind us.   Father, I lift up my friend.  They are tired and weary.  The road has been long and rough.  The scorching heat has left their throat dry and their flesh burnt.  Meet them at this place of discouragement.  You understand, and have carried our suffering of loss, rejection, betrayal and false accusation.  You bore the agony of every failure and the crushing pain of sickness and grief for all mankind.   Theos pasēs paraklēseōs - Holy Spirit, God of all comfort, come!  Abide with them in their suffering.  Carry them in their affliction.  Minister healing to Your beloved child.  When the come to the end of themselves and they feel it is more tha...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father! “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16.   Lord, someone very precious to me has an issue with painful muscle spasms.  From across the room, the muscles can be seen contorting under the skin. I thank You, Father, that You use my hands to help. With a touch, the muscles instantly soften. It is completely unrelated to skill.  What I first thought coincidental, is actually You using my hands to bring relief. It is simply Your hand slipping inside of mine, a touch, and the spasms melt like butter.  It is sheer joy to be used by You!   I lift up my friend.  I thank You for the gifts and talent...

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!  “The Lord i s my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”- Psalm 27:1.   A couple of weeks ago, I helped to put out a grassfire.  It was caught early, and there was not much of lasting consequence.  I discovered later that a significantly larger fire was closer to home and was actually set on our hill.  It dawned on me yesterday that it was set in my absence, and my disabled parents, who live with us, were home alone and unable to drive.  Grateful tears came to my eyes, realizing all I could have lost, but didn’t. Tragedies happen, but You spare us from so much.  People called me a hero for putting out a tiny fire, but it is You, my Lord, who are the ultimate hero.  You extinguish fire after fire in our lives, most of nwhich we never even know are there.   Father, I lift my friend.  Reassure them of ...