Early Morning Splendor

Today is a special day...it is our 48th wedding anniversary!! And to start the day off right, we spontaneously decided to watch the sunrise together. So we grabbed our mugs of hot coffee (hubby) and hot tea (me), jumped in the car and drove to the public boat ramp on Lake Kerr, which is about five miles from our home, and arrived just in time to witness this:

 Our selfies...early morning bed head sans makeup...this is as good as it gets...

 last picture from the car as we drove away...

When we arrived back home we sat down to read our morning devotions.  I picked up Sarah Young's Jesus Calling and read what she wrote for today's date...and I thought it quite profound in "light" of what we had just experienced...

"Meet Me in early morning splendor.  I eagerly await you here.

In the stillness of this holy time with Me,

I renew your strength and saturate you with Peace.

While others turn over for extra sleep or anxiously tune in to the latest news,

you commune with the Creator of the universe.

I have awakened in your heart strong desire to know Me.
This longing originated in Me, though it now

burns brightly in you.

When you seek My Face in response to My Love-call,

both of us are blessed.

This is deep mystery,

designed more for your enjoyment than for your understanding.

I am not a dour God who discourages pleasure. 

I delight in your enjoyment of everything that is

true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable.

Think on these things,

and My LIGHT in your will shine brighter day by day."

Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, August 16.

Could anything have been written more perfectly for this morning?

As well as Sarah Young's inspired devotional writing for this day, she also included a reference to Isaiah 40:31, which is one of my favorite verses ever, but especially perfect for today:

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint."

This verse was a special confirmation to us today because just yesterday we were grappling with a major decision, and finally made our choice to back away from our desired plans and "dreams" and wait on the Lord to show us HIS plans for us. Once we surrendered our will to God's will completely, we had renewed peace and strength...and were finally able to sleep at night again.  So today's experience and these words from God's Word and from His servant were exactly what we needed to hear today, to reaffirm to us that we had made the right decision.  

I ask you, dear friends, Isn't God good?  Isn't our Lord just awesome in His works to the children of men?

"Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

For He satisfies the longing soul,

and fills the hungry soul with goodness."

Psalm 107:8-9

Amen!