The Right Side of the Bed Makes a Difference

Good Morning, Sunshine! That's what I said to these beautiful skies on my walk yesterday! I wonder if that's what we hear God say back to us when we roll out of bed each morning? Do we hit the ground running, with spring in our step and gladness in our heart? Are we a ray of sunshine to all who see us – no matter what time of day it is?

I’ve been this waking-up-and-smell-the-roses kind-of-gal for a long time now. I make it a point to be a ray of sunshine when I get up in the morning. I spoke this girl into existence. I was always an early-riser, but not with that sunny disposition. But, I became her. Most of the time, I start my day in a state of joy and gratitude. I love the idea of a new day with all the potential of God-moments and opportunities that await me. And, now that I’m on this 6 am walk-a-thon each morning, I’ve come to appreciate it even more so.

I’ve enjoyed watching Michael Bublé and his adorable Argentina wife, Luisana, on their Facebook Live videos during quarantine. I don’t look for them but they pop up automatically on my scrolls. Happy, positive, adoring each other – and even more so after their 4-year-old son, Noah, recovered from liver cancer and is now thriving. I said it a few days ago, but this applies to them as well “What didn’t kill them, made them stronger!” I didn’t realize it until a few days ago, that they met in 2009 on the set of his music video “I Never Met You Yet!” She was the girl – that he did meet and married. I especially appreciated when Michael emotionally praised Jesus for his boy's cancer remission during an appearance on James Corden’s show.

I took a rabbit trail. I was getting to one of my favorite Michael Buble's songs: “It’s a new dawn; It’s a new day; It’s a new life, for me, and I’m feeling good!” But, I've heard many people say: "I'm not a morning person so don't talk to me until I've had my coffee!" When I hear someone talk like that, I think "Pleassse -- don't say that! With God's help and your determination, you can be a morning, afternoon AND night person!"

If I got up in a MOOD, my Mama would say: "You got up on the wrong side of the bed. Go get back in, please, and get up on the right side!" My Mama didn't take too well to grumpiness (and believe me, she had plenty to be grumpy about). She taught me to bring sunshine to our mornings. The fact is, if our family and friends have to deal with our grumpiness just because we got up, it could dampen their "sunshine" spirit. God loves "morning" people, so that's reason enough to become a "morning" person. Listen to His Word here:

~ "Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are NEW EVERY MORNING; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
~ "I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me." - Proverbs 8:17.

God promises us His great love, unfailing compassion and mercies that are new every morning. So, whether we are a morning songbird getting up at 6, 8 or 10, or a night owl, the point is that every day is a brand new day with God so why not get up by looking UP? We say: "Good-bye yesterday to its worries and fears" and say "Good Morning, Sunshine! It's gonna' be a GREAT day!"

God's Faithfulness is New Every Morning

I often take a meal to Mom's for us to share and "catch up" on what's going on in our little corner of the world. Last week, we had our usual conversation, drew cards from her Bread of Life Promise Box which contains various scriptures, which by the way, she has all memorized. I started reading the one she pulled for me, and she quoted it right along as I read it. She's had that Promise Box for as long as I can remember, and it always seems the promise we draw, are "right on" for "the word" we need for that day.

I looked up at her little corner stand by her kitchen table and took in the sweet photo of her and Dad alongside that beautiful scripture and song, "Great is Thy faithfulness," taken from Lamentations 3:22-23 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

I think back on the faithfulness of God for this precious couple. Though they went through many storms of life in the natural, physical and spiritual, those words were always those that they held onto. Those words on that plaque held true for her and Dad when the devastating tornado blew through their home and destroyed everything around them, except for the shower stall they were standing in -- the faithfulness of God brought them through it without even a scratch on them.

I always enjoy seeing Facebook's "On This Day" that comes up each day in our timeline (that is, if you've agreed to have it come up). Since I only started using FB in 2009, that's as far back as my "On This Day" goes back. (By the way, if you'd like to see your "On This Day" posts, just go to www.Facebook.com/OnThisDay and yours should pop up. I remember when, in 2009, how much FB annoyed me. It seemed it was just a haven for people complaining or whining about stuff, so I avoided it. But, then, when my sweetheart became so ill with Stage 4 Kidney Cancer, I knew it would take on a whole new meaning for me. It would be my daily journal to show the faithfulness of God during what was the toughest, yet the sweetest time of our live. God's faithfulness took us through it all. I know that because of FB's "On This Day" and I'm reminded how sweetly God carried us through those days.

What is it about those times that seem so crushing and disappointing, yet they become the most victorious and purposeful times of our lives? It's the faithfulness of a loving God Who displays His sufficiency in the midst of our insufficiency, His peace in the midst of our chaos, and His grace in the midst of our being so lost.

God's faithfulness -- strength for today -- hope for tomorrow -- and unwavering love that causes us to sing "Great is Thy Faithfulness". Knowing that, it sure makes the journey so sweet.

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Is that you that we're talking to? Are you a ray of sunshine when you get up in the morning? I make it a point to be. I don't need an alarm clock -- mine is built-in -- usually, right on time between 6:00 am and 6:30 am. I get up, get my thermal mug of coffee, post my morning blog and FB message, and enjoy a few precious quiet moments at the beginning of the day before the phone starts ringing and my daily routine and responsibilities begin. I taught myself to be this way.

Most of the time, I start my day in a state of joy and gratitude. I love the feel of a new day, with all the potential of new opportunities and moments to enjoy. Michael Buble sings this song so well: “It’s a new dawn; It’s a new day; It’s a new life, for me, and I’m feeling good!”

It astounds me that people say: "I am not a morning person so don't talk to me until I've had a cup of coffee!" They imply "I'll be in a bad mood until I get my coffee!" Okay, so I'm big on being positive and optimistic, and when I hear someone say that, I think "And, they are getting what they are saying. They will never be a morning person as long as they keep saying that!" If I got up in a MOOD, my Mama would say: "You got up on the wrong side of the bed. Go get back in, please, and get up on the right side!" My Mama didn't take too well to crankiness and grumpiness (and believe me, she had plenty to be cranky and grumpy about) so she taught me to bring sunshine to our mornings. The fact is, if our family and friends have to deal with our crankiness and grumpiness, just because we had to get up -- it has the potential to dampen even morning persons' spirits.

God loves "morning" people, so that's reason enough to become a "morning" person. Listen to His word here:

~ "Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are NEW EVERY MORNING; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

~ "I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me." - Proverbs 8:17.

God promises that His great love for us and unfailing compassion (and mercies) are new every morning. So, whether we are a morning songbird getting up at 6, 8 or 10, or a night owl, the point is that everyday is a brand new day with God and joy and gratitude should be our reason for getting up. So, say: "Good-bye YESTERDAY, with all the mistakes and worries and fears, and say "GOOD MORNING, Sunshine! It's gonna' be a GREAT day!"