In the Morning, In the Evening...

"in the cool of the day"

Genesis 3:8

I am not a morning person.  That needs to be said up front.  The longer I'm allowed to sleep, the better.  I wake up more focused, and more energetic and maybe even more pleasant.  But I guess I'm not the one to ask about that...

It's especially true in the colder months, when the bed is warm and cozy.  But it's still true in the summer.  It's one of the dangers of having a TV in the bedroom ~ the temptation to just lie there, informed or entertained by whatever I might turn on. 

But even though I'm still not a morning person in the summer, it's different somehow.  When the weather is cold, I'm inclined to go right from my bed, to the couch with a blanket, and as soon as my mind wakes up a little, I get right into reading the Bible, or my Bible study.  But in the summer, I know it's going to be hot later, so I'm eager to get started on things I won't want to do later, like laundry or vacuuming or housecleaning.  I know me, and when it gets hot, I don't want to do much.  Even my brain can't be relied upon to excel at concentrating.

{Yeah, so I guess I'm not a morning person, 

and I'm not a "hot afternoon" person.  

But the rest of the time, I'm awesome!  Really!}

My plan, on the hot days, is to "accomplish" stuff in the morning, when it's cool, and then reserve the hot part of the day for reading or writing ~ something where I don't have to move very much.  But it often doesn't happen that way.  I end up running errands or watching TV with the kids or reading something.  Maybe the Bible.  But not always.  It's kind of a hit-or-miss, decide-at-the-time, go-with-the-flow kind of thing. 

Not a great plan.

And I got to thinking about the line in Genesis about the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.  Doesn't that sound so wonderful and peaceful?  But I think it's not necessarily about the cool of the day; it's about the best of the day.  Whenever that might be.  First thing in the morning, right after work; when it's cool; when you're not distracted; when you're in the tub; right before bed; when the baby is napping...  

I don't know why Adam and Even didn't walk with Him in the hot of the day, but I picture it like now, and who'd want to go walking in the hottest part of the day?  So why would I think that the worst part of my day is the time I should give Him?  Whether that "worst" part is when I'm hot, or busy, or in a rush or whatever, it's insulting to not make time for Him at all, and it's insulting to give Him my "leftover" time. 

Of course He's with me always, and of course I can cry to Him when things are at their worst.  But I think there's so much potential for growth in prayer, and in His Word, when I'm at my best. 

In the cool, in the calm, in the quiet,
     I will find Him waiting for me.

~ "My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up" ~

Psalm 5:3

~

Want it all; want it now

"the Revelation of Jesus Christ"

Revelation 1:1

Well, summer has officially begun in our home.  Probably in a lot of American homes... Memorial Day has that effect.  On Sunday we barbequed burgers and marshmallows at our house, and Monday we went over to my folks' house for barbequed ribs and corn-on-the-cob.  We ate watermelon and the kids swam a little in my parents' pool, and we had ice cream for dessert. 

I'm not a big fan of summer.  It's probably my least favorite season, because I don't like the heat.  But my kids love summer.  It's not even about school being out, because we homeschool year-round in our home.  They just love all the things that go along with summer, like swimming and barbequing and watermelon and roasted marshmallows and corn-on-the-cob... 

What's interesting to me, though is that my kids want all the good things of summer, all at once.  As soon as they can feel the change in the weather, and the day is lighter longer, they start talking about it.  They get a tiny glimpse of summer, and they can't wait to experience all of it.  They aren't satisfied with some; they want all. 

I love that attitude.  I love the idea of not being satisfied with a little, if you can have a lot.  At first, I thought they were being greedy.  Why do we need all the good things of summer right away??  But then I thought, why shouldn't they be excited for the things they love?  They're not greedy kids; they're not demanding anything, they're just eager.

And frankly, when I thought of it that way, it made me think of heaven.  That's the attitude we should have, as a result of the peek we've had into heaven through the Book of Revelation.  Have you ever read it? 

A pure river of life, clear as crystal... the tree of life, which will bear fruit, and the leaves for the healing of the nations. 

No need for lamp, nor light of the sun, for the Lord will be the light.

No more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain.

Pure gold, like clear glass... precious stones of sapphire, emerald, amethyst, topaz... Twelve gates, each made of one pearl... A street of pure gold, like transparent glass...

A throne, and a sea of glass like crystal.  And a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald.

And angels and creatures and elders giving Him endless praise and glory. 

Let's want that.  All of it.  Soon.

~ "desire better:

      a heavenly country" ~

Hebrews 11:16

An Unexpected Blessing....

"I will bless those who bless you"

Genesis 12:3

You may have the read the post a few weeks ago when I was a trifle irked at a friend of mine, all because she had inadvertently hurt my child.  Everything's fine now, but I spent several days thinking about the effect it has on me when one of my children is suffering.  I can handle my own pain better than I can handle one of my kids being hurt.  I suppose that's a fairly typical "mom" thing...

Well today, I experienced the opposite.  We visited some friends of ours, and my Awesome Girl came away blessed.  It was such a simple thing, really.  My friend had some clothes that no longer fit her, so she offered them to my daughter.  That's all.  There was no effort on my friend's part, except to act on the impulse that maybe my daughter would appreciate some new clothes.  But if you've ever been a 14-year-old girl, you'll understand how excited my sweet girl was.

But then my friend went one better.  We had gone on a walk down to the beach, and seeing my girl squinting, my friend offered her her sunglasses.  And then ~ she gave them to her.  Just a simple "thought you might like to have these."  Again, not a big deal.  But the impact on Awesome Girl ~ and on me ~ was huge.

You see, Awesome Girl doesn't own any sunglasses.  Which is tricky business when you live in a place that is relentlessly sunny most of the year.  I've tried and tried to buy her some, but she can't find any she likes, and every time we've gone shopping for them, she comes away frustrated.  And I think maybe, a recommendation from her mom is the kiss of death ~ you know: "if mom likes them, they can't be that stylish."  And really, I understand that.  My girl loves me, but I am her mom...

But my friend is fun and cool, and I think the fact that they were her sunglasses made them a treat for my girl.  And she was so pleased.  She was almost speechless.   She smiled and accepted and said thanks, but I know how appreciative she really was.  

I know it was not that big a deal for my friend, but it was for me.  And it made me think of today's verse, from Genesis.  These were God's words to Abraham, and I think it beautifully reflects the way a parent feels about their child.  When I became a parent, I understood God's love for His children in a whole new way, and it's very enlightening.  When someone blesses my child, they bless me ~ and it makes me want to bless them back.  God loves His children ~ loves us ~ and because of that He blesses us, and He blesses those who bless us.   And it's as effortless for Him to do so as it was for my friend to bless my daughter.   And I'm grateful yet again, for illustrations of His love, in everyday life.

~ "I will establish My covenant 

as an everlasting covenant 

between Me and you and your descendants after you, 

for the generations to come, 

to be your God and the God of your descendants after you." ~

Genesis 17:7

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime!

"He who gathers in the summer is a wise son"

Proverbs 10:5

Summer is soon upon us in sunny Southern California ~ not my favorite season, but only because I'm not a big fan of hot...  I do enjoy the change in schedule:  sports winding up, Bible study taking a break, and slowing down on school a little, though we never really stop.   Summer is a time to relax from our busyness, do some projects around the house, and ideally, take a vacation.

A flexible schedule, and certainly a vacation, can provide excuses not to pray, and study the Bible as much.  I tell myself I'm enjoying a "brief" respite from the homework of Bible study, but then that "brief" break can last for weeks... I tell myself that projects around the house should be started in the morning, when it's cool, but that justifies a delay in my morning quiet time... and of course, it's perfectly understandable to miss church because of being on vacation.  Or getting ready for vacation.  Or having just returned from vacation...

But then there's this verse in Proverbs.  I'm not crazy about the word "gather" in relation to summer.  "Gathering" and "summer" together just sound so.... hot.  But it says gathering is wise, and who doesn't want to be wise?

There is much to be gathered in summer, and in a way, it's the perfect time.  The structure may be different, and the schedule more flexible, but the rewards are no less great.   His Word still exists in summer, and ways to serve Him are all around, so wisdom and blessings await!

While my body may desire to relax more in the hot months, I want my mind and my soul to be eagerly gathering what He has for me; and what He has for others through me.  I desire to find cool, relaxing, refreshing, invigorating love in the pages of my Bible.  "Summer" is defined as the season in which the sun shines most directly, and I do pray that I will feel the warmth of the Son this summer.

~ "The Lord God is a sun and shield...

no good thing does He withhold 

from those whose walk is blameless." ~

Psalm 84:11