My daily forecast

Along with a major shift and transition in my life comes a wonderful new routine. Even before I enjoy my first cup of coffee I spend some quiet time with Jesus.

It used to be that I would get out of bed at 5:30 every morning, often not having gone to bed until almost 11:00 the night before, depending on what time my husband would want to go to bed. I am somewhat a morning person but not quite that early. I would rush to get in the shower and do all the preparation to make myself look presentable before having to wake the kids up at 6:00 and 6:30. I would be out of the house by 7:00, heading off to work. I felt very rushed. It was all about hurrying to get as much done as I possibly can so we can get to the next hurried thing. When I got home I would often have to rush to feed everyone before heading out again. On Fridays, I had 10-15 minutes to freshen up once home from work before heading out and we would get home very late at 12:30-1:00 am! I loved many of the things we did and the people we were with but I came to dislike having to rush about continually. Over time I became exhausted and overwhelmed. I longed to be able to just quietly sit in His presence.

Right now I am not rushing. I am sitting here smiling. It is 7:00 am and I am sitting in bed with a pretty feminine quilt, newly arranged room, facing my window now filled with beautiful plants, overlooking the back yard where I can see the beginnings of changing trees. I have two sweet kitties at the end of my bed and a cup of tea on my nightstand. I don’t have just any cup. I have a new thing for teacups with saucers. I like them with pretty little floral designs. I have two now but I am thinking I must have at least 4 if not six pretty little cups with saucers so that I can invite others to come and have a cup of tea with me, only not in my bedroom of course! But seriously, my bedroom is now my most favorite room in my house. It is pretty, clean, uncluttered and what is not to love about having two closets to myself! Most of all, this it is where I am learning to sit and quiet myself.

Not only do I have my cup of tea and a little teapot that holds loose leaf tea, but I also have two bibles, and a journal on my bed right next to me. Well, one is under my iPad as I type away. I didn’t plan on writing a blog this morning but it is what I simply feel in my heart to do. Being true to my heart is one of the things I am learning to do in this new season. For so long I denied my own heart. I didn’t think it had any value or anything to offer. I saw it as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. I have since apologized to my heart. It is important. It does matter. The Bible says the pure in heart shall see God. The Word of God has so much to say about the heart. David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Our hearts are very important to the Lord. That is why He is after our hearts. My heart must be of value for the Lord to desire it!

As I look up and out of my bedroom window, I can see the season has changed. The weather is cooler. The trees are beginning to change from green to vivid reds and oranges. The sun is setting lower. The forecast today calls for a sunny day with seasonably warm temperatures. That word ”forecast” means to predict or estimate a future event or trend, usually as a result of study and analysis of available pertinent data. Well, I can’t think of anything more pertinent or worthy of study than the Word of God. So here I am in my comfy bed looking at my forecast for today. This is what I found: You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are eternal pleasures. Psalm 16:11. The Passion Translation: For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life, the path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with you. I know that what I need for my day is not an umbrella but His presence. That is where I will find joy. That is where I find the revelation I need for today. Revelation and joy are in my forecast for today!! Now I am ready to have my first cup of coffee and begin my day. What is your forecast?