It’s that early morning CAT wake up, drives me nuts, but I’m certain it’s not the cat’s fault, it’s ANGEL ARMIES surely, up correcting the situation I’m dreaming about and the cat is the pawn to actually jump on my bed and get ready to bite me awake. Then sits peacefully. Really. Not lying, it HAS to be angel armies. And it’s OK, because it was truly a non-productive dream, I had written stuff in the dream but dreaming that I was frustrated that I didn’t write down awake and it was gone (but I was dreaming about dreaming) and then I was dreaming gardening and food leftovers and being shamed for the waste. I still see the lady’s face, the mushrooms were still good enough but I composted them, ahhh but I know that was NOT a productive dream. And that’s when the cat came out loudly waking me up… 430am, new years eve. And no I don’t have any plans to stay up later, but it’s best that I consult both the cat and the angel armies for that too.

What is good to reflect upon at the end of the year? Not my woes, not my no-go’s. Reflection upon God’s blessings and the releasing of those fruitless frustrations – yes, that’s to be reflected and appreciated. Since I am 55, I have seen 56 new years, and to have a whole next year, Lord willing, that is a blessing in itself. One day at a time. 

How about a year to wait on this cat?

Lord willing. 

How about a year to spend more time with family? And friends?

Lord willing. 

How about a year to spend more time with the Lord?

Lord requested!

How about a year to stress less and smile more?

Lord commanded. 

How about a year to get healthier?

Lord please help.

How about a year to roll things off the back more?

Lord-enabled!

What would you do with another year? I know what we should do, we should TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME!

A quick google to find the right scripture, shows AI algorithms that find top picks: Jesus says it in Matthew, and the Psalms say it, and recently I was telling a Jewish friend to not over worry, remember that manna that God provided and DON’T be hankering for any quail. What God provides is both good and sufficient. Even Jesus at the manger was surely provided for, look at the crowded scene of my mom’s nativity. 

Jesus? All he needed was provided too. I’m sure He did not worry at that moment. Took Himself as a babe to be in the most vulnerable position, and yet knew the plan going in, speaking of relief of “it is finished” for His numbered days.

So, in Psalm 90, Moses prayed a prayer for us, asking the Lord to direct us, appreciating our God is SOVEREIGN, ALMIGHTY and PURPOSEFUL. Jesus also gave us a prayer for daily doses of HIM, and to not worry…

Really, I will appreciate (even these early morning wakeups), to know Lord that You are in charge and You want us to be productive for You! And appreciative. May we number our days and make the most of them!

Amen (and can someone get this cat some manna?)

Amen and Happy New Year early!

2025 will be fine, one day at a time. 

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Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death – they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.

 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.

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Jesus said in Matthew 6:5-34

Prayer

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 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.

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