Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It didn’t take much to put a smile on my face this morning as I watched the Master turn on the lights to this glorious new day. I may enjoy a little adventure in life here and there, but I love some of the routine as well; and the routine of stepping out into the world each new day from an old farmhouse filled with the aroma of fresh coffee is just about as good as it gets to me. For as long as I live I will never take for granted the blessing of each new day or the simple pleasures of the world around me. Isn’t that the way you look at life too?

It could be so easy for any of us to wake to a new day without a single thought about the blessing of still having days to wake up to. Some people roll out of bed and the first thought on their mind are the aches and pains that go along with rising. Some people wake up with hunger in their belly and the first thought is what they will eat for breakfast. Some people wake up and they are so far away from appreciating the solitude that is there to savor in the morning but they turn on the TV just minutes after their eyes open to catch up on the tragedies of the world. Some people wake up with a mind full of all of all kinds of things that need to be done on that particular day as if the computer of their mind never shut off during the night. Some people wake up mad and some people wake up scared and some people wake up worried and some people wake up lonely. All of these things are signs of the tendency to put ourselves first and foremost at the beginning of each new day, and when that’s what we do; we fail to be grateful for a new day to live…challenges and all.

Little do any of these people know that the Joy and the Peace they see in the Life of another has nothing to do with a perfect day or a perfect life without struggles. The Joy and the Peace that they see has nothing to do with God showing more favor on one life over another….although they’re quick to point out how YOUR life isn’t like THEIR life as they attempt to justify their attitude about where they are (or where they aren’t) in life. The Joy and the Peace is not a sign that nothing “bad” happens in their lives or that they couldn’t easily be inclined to focus on the aches and the pains and the trials too. The Joy and the Peace shows up no matter the circumstances when they turn to the Source of Life…to the One gracious enough to give them one more day to live and to the One who has Plans and a Purpose for each one of them…to the One who knit them together in their mother’s womb…to the One who holds their hand EVERY TIME they reach out for His, to the One who has the entire world in the palm of His Hands, to the One who is big enough and Powerful enough to handle any problem and any emotion IF they’ll just turn to Him…especially at the beginning of each new day. And WHEN they do: they’ll find Joy and Peace no matter what’s going on in their lives too.

I’m going through a few bumps in life right now and I could easily give time and energy to these things at the beginning of each new day…but I know better. I want Joy and Peace and strength for it all and I know that it all begins with me and my willingness to begin the day with the King of Kings. How about you? Do you tell yourself that you don’t have time for this “nonsense” because your life is full of turmoil and your day is too busy for God? If so, PM me. I’ll set you straight on how little you have to do with the outcome of anything you’re dealing with and I’ll point you in the direction of Peace that you can have through it all, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be rolling out of bed and running to spend your time with the Living God too, and before you know it you’ll have “Peace that surpasses all understanding” no matter what just like I do!