TGI5

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE 5 O'CLOCK HOUR.  NOR DID I THINK I COULD EVER COME TO ENJOY IT'S DARKNESS, PEACE, AND SOLITUDE.  YET, HERE I SIT WITH BIBLE OPEN, STEAMING CUP OF COFFEE HALF OF WHICH IS CREAM (LOW FAT, AND PERHAPS MORE 1/4 THAN 1/2), AND A HALF-EATEN OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE (A) HOME MADE AND B) NOT MY USUAL EARLY MORNING SNACK, BUT TARGET RAN OUT OF MY GO-TO SLIMFAST BARS.)

OUR STREET IS STILL.  MY HEART IS STILL. OUR CHILDREN ARE ASLEEP. (THOUGH NOT FOR MUCH LONGER.  THESE DAYS BOTH HAVE BECOME EARLY RISERS, BUT NOT EARLY ENOUGH TO JOIN THE 5 AM CLUB...THANK GOODNESS!) MY HUSBAND IS CLAMORING AROUND UPSTAIRS READYING HIMSELF FOR THE WORK DAY.  AND, ALL IS WELL IS MY WORLD. 

MY ORIGINAL GOAL WAS TO WAKE EARLY THREE MORNINGS A WEEK, BUT AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF RISING EARLY (MARCH 1ST) I WAS HOOKED AND HAVE RISEN EARLY EACH WEEK DAY TO MEET WITH MY LORD, PRAY, READ, AND WRITE.  THIS TIME HAS CHANGED MY HEART, CLEARED MY HEAD, SETTLED MY SOUL AND REVIVED MY DESIRE TO GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF MY LORD AND SAVIOR. 

THE QUIET OF THE MORNING HAS ALLOWED ME TO SEE MORE CLEARLY, LISTEN MORE ATTENTIVELY, AND FEEL MORE DEEPLY GOD'S PRESENCE IN MY LIFE AND HIS STRONG DESIRE TO BE IT'S FOCUS.  5AM HAS BECOME A SWEET HOUR OF THE DAY.  I NO LONGER FEAR IT, BUT EMBRACE IT.  IT IS MY CALM BEFORE THE INEVITABLE STORM (RAIN, GENTLE MIST, HAZE - IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE DAY AND TEMPERAMENT OF MY LITTLE ONES), THE STAR INGREDIENT IN MY RECIPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL DAY, THE FUEL FOR MY JOURNEY.

I know it's the Spirit

Who's at work within me

'Cause I can't do these things by myself

I have tried and I've tried

But it's always the same on my own

Everything is a mess

I give praise to my Lord

I give praise to my King

I give glory and honor to God

For it's Him and NOT me

This I clearly do see

It's His grace

That enables me

God's Grace Enables Me

by: Janet Mullaly