Love this time of year

I just Love this time of year with all the colors and the absolute beauty all around us. Also the smell of someone roasting marshmallows over an open fire. Sleeping is wonderful and all the different hot drinks. YUM!!! It amazes me how God has made this all for our enjoyment. He could have made everything black and white or just three different colors or whatever. Yet, He chose out of His love for us, to make millions of colors, birds that sing, flowers that smell wonderful and look beautiful.

This morning in my time with Him I read (NIV)Matthew 26:38-39. Then He said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little further, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 


I read those words and it just pains me to think how we take it all so for granted. In the morning as we rise, do we think as the song says, " Give me Jesus" or is it more like give me a few more minutes. Or maybe even "oh God, I can't do this again today," never really thinking what he did for us. He loves us so much to give us all that we have. 


Reading on verses 40-41 (Message)When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander in to temptation without even knowing you are in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."


Oh, how those last two sentences are so true. We say ok I'm going to get up earlier and spend sometime with Him and we really want to but our flesh is so weak. Yet the words, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour?" God forgive us, how can we be so self absorbed. Then he warns us,"Stay Alert; be in prayer so you don't wander in to temptation without even knowing  you are in danger." How many times have you asked yourself, how did this happen, how did I get here? Once again He loves us so much He sent His only son to die for us, and then gives us His word with instructions, warnings, etc. to guide us. But if we are not in His word daily, and in prayer, so that we know what those things are, what can we expect?


Several years ago I took on the challenge of Becky Tirabassi to spend an hour with God everyday. It has changed my life. I challenge you to do this as well I promise you won't be sorry. I also recommend journaling as you go along. I basically wrote out my prayers and wow what it has done for me. I will share more about that in later posts. Please when you rise in the morning take notice of all God has given you, and say in your heart if not out loud, "Give me Jesus" for He is all you really need. Then spend that hour with Him, you'll be glad you did.