early in the morning

I am slowly reviewing 2010 in my mind and heart.  It was a year of refining, a year of growth, a year of healing, a year that was sometimes very painful and a year filled with a peace that passes all understanding. I am documenting lessons learned and lessons that God continues to have to teach me that I wish I could learn.  I'm not sure I'm brave enough going to post the specifics here or if I will keep them private. 

But one thing I did learn last year is that my days, and then by extension my family's days, are better when I start my day early in the morning with God.  I had heard the Christian expression of "quiet time" for years but not really ever known what it meant.  Until this year of refining by God.  I learned that "all" it means is that you quiet yourself before God and spend some time with Him.

So, I tried it.  Early in the morning before the house is awake; I like to sit in this chair, on my favorite quilt from Guatemala, drinking coffee from my favorite flowered mug and read my bible.  The sun streams into the windows beautifully (or at least it did when I took these pictures in November) and there is a profound peace in the stillness.

I like to have a devotional to point me towards various verses or scriptures and one that I really like is called Jesus Calling.  Here is the amazon link to a newer version that I was given for Christmas and it also includes a place for journalling on each day.  Which I think will be really great so I have a record of what I was going through on that day the year before.  Another book I am in the process of reading with a dear and trusted friend is called Sacred Rhythms, by Ruth Haley Barton.  We have scheduled time every other week in the morning where we get together to review the chapter and honestly discuss where we are.  We are hoping to get past chapter 1 this year.  We have a lot to talk about in our lives so sometimes we don't get to the chapter discussions.  But it is so great to have a trusted sister in Christ who can walk this journey with me.

Towards the end of the year, really from Thanksgiving through Christmas, I stopped being as dedicated with my quiet time.  In fact, I stopped it all together.  I would grab a few minutes during my day on my way to other things but I didn't start my day that way.  And it showed.  My life was disordered, my thoughts and days scattered, my emotions where up and down, my thoughts were not focused on God and others but on me, and as I result the end of the year was not smooth and peaceful.  So one of my New Year's Resolutions is to get back to my quiet time.

From now on, this is where you can find me, early in the morning...