Good Morning!

So, remember I said one of my New Year's resolutions was going to be to read through the Bible?  I started doing that, I read a chapter or two from the Old Testament in the morning and then in the New Testament before I go to sleep.  What I've added to that practice is meditating on the chapter I read as I am falling asleep.  (Doesn't meditating sound so much more official than just thinking about. LOL)  Sometimes it takes a few minutes, sometimes a bit longer, either way, the last thing on my mind before I drift off is Jesus and I love that idea. 

A  unexpected benefit to this practice is in the morning I find myself often waking with Him on my mind.  It's the most amazing way to start the day.  The first time it happened it caused a big smile to spread on my face and in my heart!  What a beautiful way to start the day...God visit!!

The things that I think about as I am drifting off may seem inane, or silly to some...like when I was thinking about Matthew 5:24-25  News about Him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to Him all who were sick.  And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed--He healed them all.  Large crowds followed Him wherever He went--people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.  My thoughts went something like this:  I drew a picture in my mind of Jesus sitting down to teach, surrounded by all these people.  A sloping hillside, green with summer...Jesus reaching out, touching those who came to Him,walking among these lost and needy souls.  His love and compassion radiating from the look in His eyes, the touch of His hand...and then my thoughts took another turn.  Where did these people stay?  Did they have jobs they had to leave?  How long did it take them to get there?  Didn't they have to walk from far away?  How many miles did they walk in a day?  LOL 

Whatever they had to do, it was worth it for them to sacrifice, worth it to travel, worth it to close businesses, leave family, employers....all for the sake of being in the presence of Jesus, of God.  I want my life to reflect that as well.  Whatever the sacrifice, He's worth it. 

Lord, thank You for this new practice in my life!  Help me to keep it up.  Let me be willing to surrender anything for Your sake.  In Jesus Name, amen.

Try reading the Bible tonight before you sleep and think (meditate) on what you've read. 

Philippians I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.  Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.