Giving Firstfruits!

confession - this is my "weekend coffee cup" that makes a regular coffee cup look like a simple little shot glass! ;-}

I know in the hustle & bustle of this hurried, harried world it is truly difficult to sit, reflect & lose one's self in thought & praising. Each of us handle things differently due to our own personality, time constraints, and 'what works for us'. But, I've established a covenant of my own with God. He tells us to give Him our firstfruits, so that's just what I do. I get up an hour before my boys in order to give God the firstfruits of my day. And I "get" that He values that time too. When I had set 2 (count 'em TWO) alarms & neither one went off, I just woke up naturally ... now that's what I call a Godly wake-up call!

So, I quietly saunter into the living room, with my big 'ol cup of mocha-colored hazelnut bliss, light my favorite candle, and crack open (mind you, I sure don't have to dust off) my trusty Bible and lose myself in His Word and in communicating with Him. Sometimes I can actually open the door & enjoy some of the world coming to life for another day if it's not too hot/humid or cold. Often I pray for my needs (we humans are selfish that way). But that's what He wants us to do...come to Him with our needs...and even our wants...and dare I say it...our dreams. Of course, He already knows ALL of it anyway, but He can't work in your life if you don't invite Him in to work amongst all your needs/wants/dreams, now can He? (Ok, ok, well of COURSE He can, but work with me here...!!!) Anyway...back on track here Merana...my prayers naturally progresses to pray for my children (for now AND their future), for needs of others, for our troops, for those in emergency services, for our politicians (crooked or otherwise) b/c they still make the laws & make decisions that impact the rest of our lives (from the mayor all the way up to the President), the pastors & those serving to reach this hurting world, and even for the person that I know He has planned for me to spend my life with some day. And mostly, I pray for Him to guide me into becoming the person, and especially the mother, that HE wants for me to be. My most desperate dream, if I'm honest, is to reach as many people as I can for Him. I want to admit to them my faults, my doubts, my trials...just to stand before them (or, ok, sit at a computer & type) to tell them of His grace that gets me thru ALL of that ... and brings me out stronger in the end. It's kinda like the man in John 9 who was born blind & nobody's sin was to blame for it. It was allowed so that God's power, and glory, and grace could be shown. And if you want the truth...I've started praying for you all, dear Blog Buddies. That we will encourage & learn from one another, and that things we have to say here will extend out from each of us to reach people who are in need. So that we can say, "Ya know what (my friend sitting here with me), I read a post from one of my blog buddies that applies to just this thing. Let me find it for you." And thus His reach expands even further through us.

Then I usually end up our precious time together by thanking Him for the grace of being able to even spend that time together & then praising Him for all those gifts He's given me and others I know. My pastor called me on the carpet one time when I was meeting with him & his wife (lovely people) just sobbing my eyes out. He asked me point blank, "Well, when was the last time you praised God?" Ummm, what do you mean? Of course I'm thankful. Well then you need to spend some time actually letting Him know that!!!" Ummm....point taken! (yet another wake up call if you ask me!)

And sometimes I stop to just get lost in the sound of silent worship. Ever do that? Just "listen" to those lovely things that are part of your life? Being thankful for the two gifts involved there? The gift of the various sounds created, and especially the gift of hearing! For me....the steady drone of the house fan, the gentle breeze through the leaves on the trees & tickling the windchimes outside, the song of several different birds, cows in a nearby field, a train whistle off in the distance...wait a minute...what the???...now wait just a dog-gone minute... Ok Mr. Harley Man you are ruining my moment here!! Get your sorry self to work already. Ah, there it is ... bliss again .... peace & tranquility. Dang, gotta go wake up the boys...there goes peace & tranquility - LOL! But then again...what a way to start a day...and then I also get to watch my children in their peaceful slumber before I wake them gently...now that's peace personified! I thank you for that, Lord - most of all!