The Morning Watch

Watching darkness disappear and the new day dawn
has always been a favorite of mine. 

As a young child, I was introduced to the MORNING WATCH by the gonging of a camp bell announcing the time for all campers to gather at the lake front, sit on dew-soaked benches, and as a group be led to consider God's Word. Admittedly, I can't say that it was a spiritual favorite to me in those early years. My little heart only longed to hear that relief bell call me from a dark lonely night in a hot stuffy cabin full of noisy strangers. I ran longingly, looking in every direction for a sibling or across the bridge to see the familar gait of my Dad coming to join me. I know I felt relief for making it through the night and re-connecting with family. Believe me! I was not an advocate of age related cabins which left me alone with strangers & weird noises in the dark! Mornings couldn't come soon enough for me! 
I remember those actual gatherings to be scary, intimadating, yet in a way, quite fun! Scary because there was no way I would speak up!  Each morning, the camp director would give us a WORD to encourage recall of memorized Bible verses.  The older campers 'popcorn' action of jumping up, quoting, or reading a verse on the topic was so fascinating. There were many times I was really surprised the Bible had so much to say on some particular word the director would suggest.  The MORNING WATCH session would end with the director's wrap-up thoughts & prayer for the day just as another gong would rush us off for breakfast. 

Sunrise among shadows

 Now, years later, the MORNING WATCH is still a sweet favorite time to be treasured. My friends know that as an adult, I decide when my mornings begin, never needing the piercing gong of an alarm clock! Throughout the years, often in darkness. I slowly wandered to my corner chair to meet with the Lord and be encouraged with Scriptures.
Now, in our new Florida home, a new pleasure for MORNING WATCH is a recliner on our screened patio. In solitude & darkness, as my fingers wrap around a coffee cup, my slippers shuffle their way outside & I settle comfortably to WATCH morning "happen". 

I love the quiet darkness with the gentle breezes moving the shadowy ferns. I find comfort taking shape as dark palm trees outline the gentle hues of the sky. I wait quietly as the beams of sun paint the sky, welcoming another warm day. Eventually, the light draws so close, I enjoy a sparkling dance on the pool water as dew drops on the screen break the sunrays patterns. Each morning, I watch in awe as the beautiful skies "declare the glory of God, & the firmament shows His handiwork"!  
Anyone awake & watching hear nature's declaration of "the glory of God"!  

   Finally, as the sun rises in the sky, I grab a quick breakfast,  and with my Bible & my journal, I continue my time out on the patio. Just as those MORNING WATCH times taught me so many years ago, I turn to Scriptures for the WORD of the day. To make things even more fun, a prophet's testimony in Isaiah 50:4 challenged me about 4 years ago to diligently be among those who are taught by finding a WORD during my lessons with God. 

 "The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, so that I should know how to speak A WORD in season to him that is weary."

How awesome the challenge to be among those who have been taught!

There is a huge difference between having a familarity with God's promises & actually looking expectantly to watch a faithful God keep those promises with you. Actually, I believe one must believe the promises belong to them before they look for their personal fulfillment.
It is a great comfort to read that Jesus would send His Holy Spirit to help us, but it is far more exhilarating to receive the reward  those promises grant when one is willing to be taught. I've seen many precious prepared ones risk all with a ready WORD as they observe those who are weary, needing nourishment & encouragement.  I long to be among these spiritual ones and be prepared to lift up & encourage others with the WORD of God! 

Daylight Bible time

In John 14, Jesus said the Holy Spirit will "teach you all things" and "bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you." 

In John 16, Jesus said the Comforter  "will guide you into all truth" and "show you things to come". 
This past Sunday, I was shown this promise in Deut 29:29 "The secret things belong to our LORD GOD, but those things which are revealed BELONG to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the WORDS of this book [law]."
This is exactly what I claim when I attend my Morning Watch with open Scriptures. God through Jesus, the WORD, has revealed truth. I want to know what belongs to me and my children forever! I want to know we may do all the words of God's Book. Because of this desire, I conclude I must know His WORD. 

So, my list of reasons to be taught is long, including "to know the only true God & His Son whom He has sent into the world" (Jn 17:3), and "to know & observe all that is written therein", (Josh 1:8-9) because Scriptures declares that when these things are revealed, they belong to me and my children. (Deut 29:29). This "Isaiah challenge" is also a reason I want to be taught. All around us there are discouraged people, weary of well-doing, suffering neglect & abused by power. I'm convinced that to have the tongue of the taught will make me ready to SPEAK a WORD to sustain, to encourage, to bring nourishment, to lift up. 

"The LORD GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a WORD him who is weary."

My Morning Watch practice follows this goal. As I read Scriptures, I write down what each verse is saying, often adding several versions so that synonyms used help my understanding. I give a one sentence to my reading chart to make sure I'm grasping  understanding. I add cross references to emphasize the context & often complete passages are read to get a larger picture of what is being taught. When my own study is satisfied, I turn to the material of a Bible study I've joined for fellowship. I study their daily lesson. I look for a common thread, a WORD found throughout my activities of Morning Watch. In my journal, I keep record of the WORD I've been given each day. My drawn chart lists ONE WORD each day to help me remember to carry God's Word through my activities.

Journal ONE WORD in a MONTH @ a Glance

As I go about my day, I listen expectantly for the WORD. In each conversation, news & media readings, activities & fellowship, & even telephone visits,  I listened carefully for that WORD to be used.  Hearing that WORD is my cue that God's WORD needs to be brought into my communication. Someone in conversation, or even my own heart, needs to be encouraged and lifted up from weariness. I believe God is faithful to open our eyes of understanding when we "search" with all our heart. This ONE WORD practice has taught me to be fully engaged in listening. It has allowed me to even hear deeper things that have been left unspoken, yet have wearied the burden bearer & I can bring these things to God in prayer.

 
What a thrill it has been to hear "the" WORD and be ready to encourage with Scriptures.  In my own life, this practice has made His Holy Spirit's Presence so evident. I have felt prepared, & even confident, as I've seen the evidence of the loving Father using my tongue to encourage another one of His children. Each conversation, whether phone or in person, becomes opportunities to bless someone, knowing that God also promises "His WORD will never return to Him empty or void. I've even noticed that my perspective for doing errands in town has become Watch Tower times as I look around me and observe "him who is weary". 

Lately, it has been also good for me to close out a month by looking at my ONE WORD CHART. I see how those daily WORDS have impacted my life & activiities. I see a connection of my own personal MORNING WATCH times being confirmed in activities, conversations, church messages, Bible studies & times of fellowship. Following the trail of ONE WORD studies, I realize I've seen the evidence of things not seen and have known the substance of things hoped for. This path of tracing ONE WORD in my MORNING WATCH shows that God definitely orders my steps, often with profound lessons teaching me to walk by faith.

Most of all, I am learning to REST in the faithfulness of my loving Father. 

In John 16:33, Jesus concludes his message with this WORD. 
"These things I have spoken unto you, that IN ME you might have PEACE. In the world you shall have tribulation, BUT be of good cheer. I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. "

AND His WORD sustains me.

Our New Chapter Begins in FLORIDA

PSALM 91 was often quoted to us by our loving mom. Now, I understand she was not only teaching trust to her children, but she was reminding her own fearful heart to take refuge in her Heavenly Father, knowing HE was carefully taking charge & protecting those she loved dearly. She need only to ABIDE under the shadow of the Almighty.
2021 begins a NEW CHAPTER in the story of our lives together as we serve our King Jesus. I began quoting, meditating, and praying the claims of this same Psalm over our family for the past several "covid-19" months, but even more recently, this Psalm became a daily calming meditation for my own heart as changes quickly started to evolve in our own little circle.
On my birthday, we put our KC home up for sale. Before my birthday was actually over, we had offers to consider. And then, our summer ADVENTURE began with hurried sorting, cleaning, packing, and throwing away things I had thought for years were my treasures. 

We believed God had called us to consider another location, so we began to take steps of faith, venturing into the crazy housing market. Within weeks, we vacated our 36 year home in KC, moved to a 'hotel' room for 5 weeks, living out of suitcases & boxes and creating all kinds of experiential dishes using only CROCKPOTS!! 

By August, we thought we were moving into a two bedroom apartment for the rest of the year, only to find ourselves at the end of a month of travel in the full mode again of packing up our possessions.

In September, we loaded an U-Haul, and headed south to warm & sunny FLORIDA.
There were times when we felt we were experiencing a "Macedonian" call we couldn't really explain, but strongly felt God had taken us by our hand to lead us into unknown territory. Even now, there are times when we wonder who is asking God to send His servants to this community to draw them into closer relationship with the Savior! We couldn't even make sense of it to several of our friends, but we're so blessed they joyfully praised God as we told how plans were unfolding. 

We watched God provide an adorable doll-house type home in a beautiful GOLFING community, with one of our best "dreams" unbelievably covering the whole backyard! 

Now, with each October morning, before Don goes to work in his home office, or I attack packing boxes & storage bins, we leisurely take our coffee & Bibles out to our gorgous screened-in patio. Sitting beside our pool, we begin our morning under heavens that "declare the glory of God". The full Harvest moon lights the western sky of stars as the eastern sky majestically paints streaks of pinks & blues to welcome the warming sun. Our patio is a haven of beauty, peace, and God's glory!

   Even now, I sit on this patio, the sun climbs the horizon, warming the pool, & welcoming another Floridian day. I'm completely surrounded by a wonderful natural garden of colors in both leaves & flowers. We're able to open the living room/patio french doors & extend our livng space for lounging and even meals. In the early cool morning hours, there is also plenty to do in this immense garden surrounding our home. We've even found a LEMON tree showing almost ripened fruit for lemonade and new blossoms are adding color to the already beautiful foliage. We're learning botanical facts to know what blooms in the cooler days, and what should wait until Spring. Because cooler weather is invading, we wait for the warmest hours of the day to enjoy an afternoon break floating & snoozing in the sun. Palm trees & ferns continually rustle in the cooling breezes, shading the afternoon sun's warmth and making it possible to turn off the AC and enjoy this extra room even in the evenings! 

Don has also begun exploring our neighborhood. Our street is a a very large circle, and makes an easy track for morning jaunts. The houses are facinating, each so different with fantastic landscaping. No fences enclose properties, so it feels like one big park as we walk. On the outer frame of the circle, is a wonderful 36 hole golf course. We only have one cross walk for Golf carts to use, but it's so fun to see so many enjoying the beauty of the greens. Don hasn't really golfed for over 40 years, but as we make friends, we're realizing it might be a good outside activity to pick up again. Beyond the golf course, we've found a beautiful fresh-water lake with a white beach, We've enjoyed a few Sunday afternoon picnics with ants and fun wateredge sports. 

So just to recap... We really filled a large U-Haul and took 3 days for Don to drive the truck carrying all our earthly possessions. I followed close behind the truck in my fully packed red car. The week prior to the trip, I read & claimed my mom's favorite Psalm 91. The one verse that continually came to my anxious mind became very precious to me as I reigned in all my imaginings! In verse 11, we are told that "He gives His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways." 

Each time worry felt overpowering, this verse would come to my mind. I prayed for peace as I claimed what I know about the Father's love, care & protection. 

The hour we departed KC, two precious friends came to say "See you later". We prayed together for the days on the road. In prayer, our friend was led to quote this verse, specifically requesting 4 angels be put in charge of the truck's corners! He prayed that our Father's charge would protect & guide us in traffic, over hills and into valleys along our route. His WORD was just what I needed to hear prayed.

I cannot recall the number of times, the four corners of the back of that truck lit up and reminded me who was put in charge. There were also 3 extra lights which made me often smile as I thought they might be extras put there not only to let me see the truck, but to constantly remind me of God's extreme loving care as I followed close behind. I knew those angels had been sent to watch over me in extra measure!! 

 I praise the Lord for His Word of promises, and for good friends who have often come alongside us to encourage & pray over us. They often blessed our hearts as they used the Word over us in remembrance of God's declarations & character. What a blessing to hear the same words said in a prayer covering us that I had prayed over in the the weeks prior to the big move! Thank you, dear friends. 

Thank you to each one of you who helped us pack, load the truck, and prayed for our journey into this new chapter. We appreciated how you lightened our load and walked beside us as we started this new chapter! 

How we really hope you visit our new home with sweet fellowship in the months ahead!