Day One

Today is day 1 of making rising early a habit. Although I was awake at 5:20, I did not get out of bed. G had to be up that early to get to Abilene, so I was awake to tell him I loved him. 

Then I drifted off to sleep while I was praying for him. This is not a fail for me, because I did get out of bed at 6:45 on a Saturday. 

I had a great hour and half quite time before A got up.

So far I am pleased. I know through the power of the Holy Spirit it will become easier, especially as my body adjusts to a new sleep pattern. 

 

This morning as I studied these women, I  found that each of them rise early. 

Proverbs 31:15 says, "She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls." 

There is a reason she rises early. Because there is only 24 hours in a day. So in order for her to make use of the time given, and the gifts God has entrusted her with she knows she must rise early to...

1. Meet with Jesus

2. Plan out her day

3. Provide for her families needs

Because when those are done, she too, is out the door serving, working, supporting her husband and taking care of others. 

She is always placing others before her self. I want my life to reflect those same character qualities. 

Jesus you have given me a new day to rise early and meet with You and take care of my family. Those are the two most important gifts You have given me and I want to honor You and them. I know I will have days I struggle but I trust in Your strength and the help of the Holy Spirit to help me overcome temptations of laziness and selfish thinking. Thank You for this amazing privilege. Amen

Do It So You Have No Regrets

"If you keep yourself pure you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work." 2 Timothy 2:21

Do you know someone who is lost? Maybe you have a family member, or members that don't know Jesus. Maybe you have a friend or friends that don't know Jesus.

How are you showing them Jesus? Are you talking with them about Him, or are you waiting for the right time?

Jesus says, "Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not." 2 Timothy 4:2

I believe that sharing Christ with others goes way beyond just our actions and examples. We have to tell them. Talk to them about it. Share our story of how God saved and rescued us. No matter how nasty our past!

BUT, just as our passage says, we must keep ourselves pure, seek the Counsel of Christ, and listen to the Holy Spirit. We must seek to live pure and Holy lives that are pleasing to Christ, and not follow the customs and behaviors of this world.

We must also allow the Lord to reveal to us why we need to live each day sharing His name with as many as we can. Hell is real, and if we wait for the right time to share the Good News, they will experience the reality of Hell and it will be to late.

I don't want to live with that regret. The regret that I ignored the prompting of the Lord to share His Good News. The regret of knowing that I chose to be comfortable rather than uncomfortable. The regret of knowing that I lived in fear of my inadequacies to share, rather than the confidence and faith that Christ would speak through me. Nor do I want to regret desiring acceptance of man rather than God.

Like Paul says, "Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant." Galatians 1:10

Jesus use us to share the Good News. You equip us with the words, all you ask is that we make ourselves available for You to use us. Cleanse us and purify us so that we can be Your utensil. Amen