Quiet time

 I was up a little before four this morning.  No, I didn't set my alarm that early, there was nowhere I had to be.  But at my age, my bladder determines when I get up.  Some mornings I am able to go back to bed and get a couple more hours of sleep.  Not always.  This morning I decided to stay up.  So, I have made coffee and am sitting at the keyboard recording my thoughts.

I love this time of day, the quiet, when most of the world is still sleeping.  It is peaceful, non-chaotic.  Sitting in our library with the laptop, I hear an occasional vehicle drive by.  I can see Hwy. 72 as it makes its way through Tuscumbia.  It is mostly quiet.  Even the birds aren't up yet.

There are other reasons I like this time of day, but I guess the primary reason is early in the morning, I feel closer to God.  I know I am not alone in this.  I have heard others say similar things.  But there are no distractions, no interferences, nothing really, except refilling my coffee cup that can interfere with my time with the Father.

It is not just prayer time, though that is a huge part of it, it is time to reflect on the blessings in my life, which are many.  It is time to reflect on life, yes, take inventory of my weaknesses.  Where have I recently failed, how can I be a better husband, a better father, a better son, a better friend, a better Christian example and encouragement to those I meet and those I am already close to.

I have a mental list of everyone I need to pray for.  That includes me.  I'll be honest, I need to write this list down. I know that God knows what is on my heart, but when I pray, I need to say these names out loud.  Let them leave my lips and proceed to Go's ears.  I have paused for a moment to write names down.  Just writing is a good reminder of what I need to do.

My mother and stepfather are continually on my mind.  Seemingly every waking hour of every day.  They are both 88 and will be 89 this fall.  Health is an issue for both of them, and it affects their quality of life.  The time is coming, quicker than they would like, when changes are going to have to be made. 

It has been a tough couple of weeks.  I am not going to mention names for obvious reasons but two friends, both under 50, one under 40, have been diagnosed within the past two weeks with breast cancer.  That has upset me.  I am not ashamed to say when the second one contacted me earlier this week to tell me about her diagnosis, I cried.

I have another friend whose spouse is fighting depression big time.  I wish I could do more, b I can't, so for now, I just lift them up in prayer.  As I contemplate them this morning, I do wonder what else I can do.

Another friend had a complete meltdown yesterday and is at a loss as to why life has turned out the way it has, why it just seems out of control, and they can't stop it.  Sometimes you just want to hug somebody so much and remind them to trust God, that he is in control and that he never fails.  We talked a long time, and they were on my mind when I woke up this morning.

Paul said he was "chief among sinners."  I know what he means.  There are times when I feel so detached from where I need to be in my life, I think, "I know better."  It was also Paul who wrote in Romans 7 (I love, love Romans), "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do.  This I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I don't want to do, it is no longer I who do it but it is sin living in me that does it."

I am so grateful for that thought.  I wrote in my last blog about how much I admire Paul.  He was a sinner.  I am a sinner.  I can't escape that.  But my quiet time, my daily time of reflection and prayer helps me deal with who I am and where I am in life.

I know most of you who read this have a daily quiet time, or study time.  Certainly, a time of prayer, and I applaud that.  Just let me encourage you to continue your time of reflection and time with the Father.  We need it more than we need coffee.

We are not perfect people, but we do serve a perfect God.

It's now 5.20.  Thank you for being a part of my quiet time today.

Have a great Friday, be kind to each other.