Monday Morning Musings....

Getting up early to read God's word and to pray....


At a meeting recently we were discussing some books to study for our ladies summer series.  We wanted it to be light, but with meaning.  We wanted it full of God's word and have really practical day to day ideas and encouragement to living out what Christ teaches in the Bible.

"Shopping for Time" by Carolyn Mahaney was mentioned.

Most of us had read it already as a book for our book club.  And then there was much discussion over one of her ideas for getting the most out of each day...getting up early...like really early!  I forget what the author said was the BEST time, but it definitely was elaborated on at the meeting.

One of my friends said to me, "maybe someday I'll be able to get up as early as you do, Beth, but right now I just can't do it.  I can't concentrate that early."  She's right you know...it is hard to concentrate that early.

The author (and co-author's) mention that they get up early to spend time reading God's word and to pray.

I try to follow Flylady.  If you haven't see the website, it is definitely worth checking out!   You can find out information about her at www.flylady.net .  She recommends to get up 15 minutes before anyone else in your house to get ready for the day.

This morning my wonderful dog, Butch, woke up at 2:30 am!  ugh... normally Dave takes him out, but I kept waiting for Dave to wake up, but he didn't and the dog kept scratching at the door.  I figured that I'd better get up or there'd be a mess to pick up.  Since I was already up and I have a really long day today I thought that I should stay up.

Now, my friends think that I'm crazy when I do this.  I'm not really.  I'm actually a really sane woman (well, most of the time).  It's just that once I get up I usually take FOREVER to get back to sleep, then I sleep through my alarm clock, then I feel rushed in the morning.  So I get up (and go to bed early that night if at all possible).

I was reading my Bible and praying this morning when the thought struck me about why I like reading and praying so early in the morning.  It sets my day.  I don't always remember everything that I read, but it reminded me of eating breakfast.  I don't spend a lot of time on breakfast, but I eat within 30 minutes of getting up to set my metabolism and my attitude (when I'm hungry I get cranky).  I do that in the morning with prayer and the Bible.  I don't do any deep studying at this time of the day...my brain doesn't function well then, but I just read.  I soak in the words of the pages and I think about what the author is saying and I try to pick out something small to think about during the day.  It sets my desire to please God all day.  It helps my attitude.  It sets my outlook on life.  It gives me hope for the day.

Psalm 143:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Teaching Grammar

Yesterday I taught the placement of indirect object pronouns and direct object pronouns to my Spanish one class.  My classes are having a hard time with it.  They need a lot of review.  By the end of the day the kids became a little frustrated.  In fact one of them said something like why can't we just learn Spanish anyway?  Why do we need grammar?  Well, it was a great sunny day and who would want to learn grammar on a sunny day?  And just how does Spanish grammar have to do with English grammar anyway?

When I got home I got a wonderful note in the mail from Kirsten.  She reminded me of when she was my TA last year.  I loved how she would leave me notes and this note in the mail was one of those.  You know the kind...the ones that are a shot in the arm to remind you that you are on the right track.  They make you smile and remind you that someone really does love you and what you do and who you are is important.

Some of my kids came in today during lunch and got some help on the grammar.  They are getting it now (of course they brought food in and I believe that you can learn just about anything when you are also eating great food).

Grammar is the scaffolding that we use to build our language.  Without it we wouldn't be able to communicate to the depth of our soul.  We really wouldn't be able to really express ourselves with just basic words...you put them together...you get sentences...then you get paragraphs....and grammar allows us to use less words sometimes (in context) to express ourselves better.

I probably just slaughtered the paragraph above, but then again what do I know about English grammar when I'm suppose to just teach Spanish grammar?  Happy Tuesday!

Sunday Ride

I like Sundays. I like taking the day to rest. I like taking the time to go to church and worship God with my friends. Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” Sundays are days that I plan and prepare. I cook and clean a little. I get to hang out with friends and family. I don't work for pay on Sunday any more. Sure, I have work that I bring home to do, but if it doesn't get done by Saturday night then I put it away until Sunday night after church....because I need time to rest. I need time to refocus and recharge. My week is crazy with life so Sunday is a time to reflect and re-energize. To rest. Rest comes in many different ways to many different people. For me and Dave it's sometimes a lazy day that includes a nap. Sometimes it's hanging out and playing with family and friends. Sometimes it's a long ride....bike ride. Sometimes it's a short bike ride (like today) that takes on an adventure of it's own. So on our way back (on a really cool hardpacked mostly gravel trail here in Boise off of Eagle hidden between a subdivision and the river) Dave wanted the longer (and hotter) part of the path, so I took another short cut (well, I thought it was short...ended up being longer). I got to go through a really fun hardpacked dirt path (with 3 big puddles where the river overflowed into the path). I love Sunday rides, whether in a car or on a bike. It gives me time to clear my head so I can take on another week of being on the front lines. Happy Sunday!