So, I’ve been thinking that it’s high time that I write a little more on here. It’s been my practice thus far to only post my writing after it is completely “finished” – when I have articles that run together and seem complete. Lately, I’ve been having this urge to just write a few of the thousand-and-one things that have been running through my head, even if it isn’t one of those polished thoughts. After all, “real life” lessons rarely come in completely organized form. For me, they usually come through muddling through mental quandaries, stumbling over words, scribbling notes on scrap paper, and asking a ton of questions because I don’t have the answers. Real life is saying “I really don’t know why” and learning to put one foot in front of the other before seeing the conclusion clearly written out. But you know, that’s okay… in fact, it’s better that way.

So, I’m going to write today as if you were sitting across from me over a cup of tea. You can stir your cup thoughtfully and give an occasional nod. I’ll chatter away rather haphazardly, completely forgetting that I have a hot beverage in front of me (which is okay - I don’t like tea that much anyway.) And who knows, maybe we can make sense of some things together.

Okay?

Okay.

So, since we’re getting real here, I thought I would talk about real life.

You know, the everyday.

We all have them.

Right now, my life has settled into a relatively regular routine, which has given me lots of chances to think about how to spend my “every day.” If you looked at my calendar right now, you would see many days in a row that say “Work: 9-5” that neatly repeats over and over and over again. That’s right. That means an early-morning groan when the cell phone alarm goes off (thanks to Anna who is keeping me accountable to get up early!) and the sigh of relief at the end of a day as I fall into bed … and everything in between. The days kinda mesh together sometimes, and honestly, it’s been all too easy to fall into the rut of the everyday and forget to live.

You know, I’m so glad that God knows what these days are like. :) In fact, I read a verse last week that I believe he designed specifically for people like me.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

To sing praises to your name, O Most High;

To declare your steadfast love in the morning

And your faithfulness by night

~ Psalm 92:1-2

Out of all the times in the day, why would He say to declare steadfast love in the morning? He says the same thing several other places (Psalm 59:16, Psalm 90:14), so obviously this early morning ritual is very important.

I’ve been thinking about this the last several mornings as I’ve stumbled out of bed. Since I’m not generally a morning person, getting up early isn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world. The only way that I’ve been able to cope with this practice is to set my cell phone just out of reach so that I have to actually get UP, get myself dressed and ready so I don’t fall asleep again (cold water helps!) and then finally wrap myself in a big quilt to have my time with God. It is usually THEN that I look out the window and see the sky beginning to change colors… and the morning suddenly looks much more welcoming.

Declaring “his steadfast love” to me has been much like wrapping myself up in that comfy quilt in the early mornings. It’s realizing that – even in spite of all the discipline and “hardships” that come with the normal daily routine – I have His arms wrapped around me. It’s remembering that I’ve slept in them all night long and they are there to wake me up to a new day of living in His presence. There is just something about focusing my mind on the steadfastness and assurance of His love that helps me to face the day ahead.

And then, the day flies by … and nightfall comes. I think my favorite time of the day is right before sunset. Sometimes I’m just driving home and can watch the sun slowly disappear on the horizon. Other times I manage to look outside just long enough to catch the fleeting rays of sunshine before the world is enshrouded in the blanket of darkness. Either way, God says to remember His faithfulness by night.

To me, that is very easy to see, especially at the END of the day. My mind is still fresh with all the conversations, “to-do” lists, feelings and activities of the day … and it’s usually pretty easy to see where I’ve failed and where God has come through. There is nothing quite like falling into bed at the end of the day, realizing that you’ve made it through because He was carrying you.

“We must begin and end every day with praising God, must give him thanks every morning, when we are fresh and before the business of the day comes in upon us, and every night, when we are again composed and retired, and are recollecting ourselves; we must give him thanks every morning for the mercies of the night and every night for the mercies of the day; going out and coming in we must bless God.” ~ Matthew Henry

And you know what? He says it is good for a reason.

It really

REALLY

IS.

Kinda makes the "everyday" seem a little less ordinary, doesn't it? :-)