We all woke up this morning with a message written across our hearts, either penned by our hand or by God’s.
What was your message? Mine?
Well, I’m gonna live this day better than yesterday, Lord. Through your strength and by your grace, I’m gonna live this one better.
And I have lived it better. God’s presence has been genuine and his hands gentle to me. It’s only 2:30 in the afternoon. I’ve made my bed, done some laundry, wrote 1,400 words in my WIP, ran four miles, and had a bath. Oh, I almost forgot… I’ve also had numerous e-mail chats with my Kentucky friend, Shirley, who is graciously lending her creative eye and photographs to a project I’m working on. Have you ever stopped by to visit her to read her heart and to see our world through her photographic lens? You’re missing something if you haven’t. She’s as home grown and genuine as they come. I’m not sure how our paths first crossed; perhaps, through Exemplify. Regardless of the prompt, I’m glad it arrived. She is a gracious portion of God’s love on this earth. I am the better for having her life intertwined with mine.
I don’t know how the rest of this day is going to play out. My kids arrive home in swift order. There will be homework to manage. A meal to make… well, to imagine (oh Billy, sweet man of mine, what’s on the menu tonight?). Dishes to clean. Baths to administer. Books to read and perhaps a movie to watch with my older boys before their pilgrimages back to college. Yes, I’ve got an “idea” as to how this day is going to end. Getting there from this moment seems a short leap, but when I do… when I close my eyes on this day, if I don’t do a single thing more than what I’ve currently done up to this point, then today has already been a better day than yesterday.
Today, I woke up to a good message. Tomorrow, I pray to wake accordingly.
What was your message this morning? Cut honestly through to the truth of the matter, and wrestle with your answer. Did you wake up to pain? To heartache? To joy? To expectation? To your “here we go again, Lord” or “I can’t possibly face my life right now.” Your answer tells you a great deal about who is holding the pen.
If your morning message wasn’t what you wanted it to be, then re-write it. Yes, re-write it. Right now. If you could do your 6:30 AM wake-up call all over again, how would you want your message to write?
How thankful I am for a God who allows me re-writes, right smack dab in the middle of my day. I don’t have to wait until tomorrow to start again. Neither do you. God is the Author of our blessed “do it better’s” no matter the time of the day we feel his prompt along these lines. The key to doing it better resides with God’s pen, not ours. So do yourself a favor…
Hand him the pen. Allow God his moments with your heart in order to re-write the rest of your day. It matters not if you’re reading this at 10:00 PM or 10:00 AM or any other hour in between. What matters is the moment you call right now and the message you want attached to your right now.
I value your right now. So does our heavenly Father. May his lavish love and continuing presence be your portion as you march your way through the rest of this day, living the message he’s written onto your heart.
Now, let’s see…
I can add “writing a blog post” to a day that continues to live better than yesterday. I’m on a roll. There is more day left to live. I think I’ll get busy living it. As always…
peace for the journey,
PS: Leave me a comment about the “message” of your heart this day, and you’ll be entered to win one of Shirley’s latest photo/devotional books, Meditations of an Autumn Heart or Simply Light (your pick). You can preview them by clicking on these links. Also, take time to visit Shirley and her work at Sketches of a Common Life. She’s anything but common, friends. Shalom.
Today was a crazy day. So, God has been telling me that He is in the craziness of life…right there with me. Walking me through it all.
Blessings~
Sheryl
I woke up to being "Grateful" for feeling so. Life has been better since I started starting my day with God's word before getting out of bed:) Glad yours was good too!
As always you stir my spiritual thoughts and spur me on! This morning my day was 1/4 over when God hit me strong with his message of "gentleness". I posted it. I love it when He does that. It shows His presence!
Blessings friend!
In His Graces~Pamela
How precious is that grace that is new every morning!
Today I rose with a sad heart, but a heart at peace and, paradoxically, filled with joy.
Blessings friend, and may your buoyed heart remain aloft for many days to come!
Kathleen
God Calling contained my words… Just Be. I have a Just B jacket too although I did not wear it today. b
My heart's message?
"Be still."
"I am your very great reward."
Isn't He just absolutely amazing?
Sweet dreams.
The message written on my heart when I awoke at 3:30AM was"confusion of His Calling." I pondered on the reasons for my confusion all day. I know where His wants me to be and what I am to do but I have given the pen to the nay-sayers around me. Tonight I am praying and deciding that the pen will be returned to the proper author's hand.
my message today…
expectancy but be prepared 🙂
gathering together my things in wait for possible snow, many little chores to do because things lock up down here when it snows…everyone hits the grocery 🙂
Christ's Word tells me he calls us to be prepared, to be expectant for how He will meet us each day, each moment, knowing He will ALWAYS answer when we seek Him, whether it's in the moment, in the future or in realizing where he met us in the past (and we didn't realize then but recognize it when we get still)
What a great concept! I'm reminded of Job of whom it was said "God blessed (his) latter days more than his beginnings." Job 42:12. A re-write of sorts…Whether of days, weeks, years or life-times, God is the author of re-writes, isn't He?
(I'm quite jealous of all you accomplished in 1/2 day! That's impressive, Eileen!)
I guess I never thought about my "half-lived day" but I will from now on. You got me thinkin…again.
'Just wanted to thank you for your sweet card I received. Thank you for your prayer and support.
Love,
Melanie@Bella~Mella
I honestly don't know what my message was this morning…but through the day it's been, "Lord, we need your direction!"
I'm sure tomorrow morning, I'll be thinking of this post, and making sure I start the day asking the Lord to pen my message!
I've been searching for that message-digging deep and opening my ears to Him. So far, this year, I keep hearing to "empty out". I'm trying to get rid of the baggage. Emptying myself so He can fill.
Love this post, Elaine. Love this picture! Way to go Shirley!
Elaine, it's because of His call to "living life" right now, that I have stepped back from this computer screen. It's only been 3 days, but they have been 3 remarkable days. This afternoon I had coffee with a friend who just needed someone to listen. Monday I purchased a membership at a Fitness center and I'm intentionally getting some exercise. I'm no longer planning my days around my computer. IF I have time, I'm here, but it is no longer controlling my days.
My message today? God spoke to me through Wendy Pope's video and from the devotional you gave me. I wrote in my journal this morning (quoting Sarah Young): "I want to make your life a glorious adventure, but you must seek to know Me in greater depth and breadth instead of striving for a safe lifestyle."
The "safe lifestyle" sits and lives in the crossroads. Too often we settle for mediocrity because it feels more comfortable. Sarah continued to write, "A predictable lifestyle may feel safer, but it can shield you from what you need most of all – Me! When unexpected shakes your routine, recognize that you are on the threshold (or crossroads) of a new adventure and that God will be with you all the way."
I'm praying that the Lord will move me from a mediocre, and dare I say "safe" life. I asked the Lord to invite me on an adventure today. I'm praying I won't miss His invitation. That I won't miss any more opportunities to know Him more and love Him deeper.
"Terah lived for 205 years and died while still in Haran."
Genesis 11:32 "Haran" means crossroads. I don't want to die at the crossroads having never lived in my Promised Land.
Praying your day tomorrow will be even better than today!!!
Hugs,
Joy
"Restoration" was my waking call…I thank God for His "edits"….
Wonderful post….
I woke up this morning to have my two lovelies greeting me with hugs and snuggles. My message was that I'm very loved by HIM and others. My day was productive. I thank God for holding the pen that writes my life. Amen.
Gratitude was on my lips first thing this morning — gratitude for better sleep the past couple of nights. And now at the end of the day, my heart's cry has been "Lord, help me use my time wisely." It's not that I use a lot of time unwisely — I just never seem to get as much done as I'd like to. Probably because my expecations are a little unrealistic… Yes, I'm a goal-oriented gal 🙂
I think you wrote this yesterday–guess I missed it. Today I woke up with thankfulness and a quiet heart to do some Bible study.
(However, Microsoft Word Manager is trying to manage a document I'm working on and totally frustrating me! [capitalizing without caps lock, highlighting in black when I move the cursor to correct, etc]) Guess I better do a quick re-write of my day!
I awoke being so thankful and feeling like I had energy, for the first time in over two weeks. This nasty upper respitory influenza that has been running rampant in my body has taken it's toll. I thougt, wow, I'm having nice full clean and clear thoughts.
Then I had a delightful deovotion that really has stuck with me for 24 hours…."be today who you want to be tomorrow" by Ruth Clark.
That was rich, is rich, and holds so much truth.
Love,
Yolanda
My message on this new morning…
"I'm your contender, elaine. I am your salvation." (Psalm 35).
peace~elaine
Well, I'm definitely off to a better day today….I'm working from home (can't get up our steep driveway, due to 3" snow). And, even though I'm finishing my portion of our end-of-year reports, I'll be able to get them done without the usual interruptions in my workday. That, in itself, makes me smile.
For our meal today, we'll either have baked chicken or meatloaf. Baked chicken is a favorite of mine and Bo's, meatloaf is Bill's an Billy's favorite. Do I gratify my own (and Bo's) desires or will it be Bill's and Billy's? And no, I'm not gonna cook both!
Praying this is a great day for you, friend.
Hugs,
Beth
I think I woke up with a "let's see how this goes today" moment. I was able to read in Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace this am, and the verses in 2 Cor about who is sufficient for these things? relating to ministry, and the we consider nothing as from ourselves, but He makes us adequate or competent for ministry. I plan on doing more studying of His Word today, and I get to blog today too!:)
Blessings to you Mrs. Elaine:):)
katiegfromtennessee
What a great and uplifting post Elaine. Re-writes are God's specialty, that is for sure. And He can begin at any point we hand over the pen to Him. Just knowing of His mercy makes my heart overwhelmed in so many ways.
The message of my heart this morning was "wake up princess! My kingdom awaits your display of My glory."
I had a very sweet time with Jesus today. My message was from an awesome devotional book I'm reading called "Jesus Calling." And the message was this:
"When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece in invisible realms."
Isn't that just lovely?
I awoke to a feeling of peace and that is truly a great feeling. I have been stuck in my house three days due to a storm again and I have felt peace and rest.
blessings
Oh this post meant so much to me. I am in a place of Fasting and Prayer for several days now and all through this time the LORD has been so PRESENT with me and in me and over me and under me that I am basking in the lavished blessings He is pouring over me – and all of it comes even in the middle of some pain and discomfort from an ongoing physical problem… but it's never about our circumstances – His Abundant Life comes through our trials!
Enter me for a chance to win!Thanks!
Choosing JOY, Stephanie
JESUS ONLY in 2010
My days begin with the Lord. It is essential that they do. It is about 1/2 way thru the day when I usually struggle and need to stop for a breather with Him. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Today, I didn't, and I wish I'd had. This evening, I did. And He was faithful to start me new, just hours after I'd said no to Him. What a Savior.
You always touch my heart, Elaine. I will have to visit your friend Shirley. She sounds remarkable!
Hi Elaine. This is beautiful. A reminder that today is the best day of my life and I should live it NOW, for HIS GLORY. And that means even when things are different than I expected them to be.
In Him,
Gladwell
I too am experiencing a better day today than yesterday and you are right – last night as I went to bed I put the pen in His hand!! Love your words, Jill
The Lord has been showing me the last few days, how special and unique we all are as individuals. Something we all need to hear from time to time. To stop comparing my life to someone else and just work on my personal realtionship with Him every moment of every day.
I loved this post.
I wake up each morning to expecatation and responsibility. Both those combined always lead to some adventure. The expectation that not only is God going to be at every turn, but the responsibiliy He gives me to carry His truth in each matter, each moment, each burst of laughter, and each heart wrenching moment. I am glad that my Redeemer is right there with me. He gets me always, and I embrace Him.
I woke up to "Jesus Calling" and the words, "I am with you and for you".
I need those words even more as of late and I'll need them always. Knowing that any portion of my day whether it be 1/3, 1/2 or whole, will find Jesus saying to me, "I am with you and for you."
Thank YOU LORD for being with me and for me especially because I need You most…
Bless you Elaine.
Oh thank you for these inspiring words! I definitely need a "re-write" today!
-Alisa Hope
As always, you inspire and challenge. This morning part of my Bible reading was from Ps. 12 where the psalmist declares that the words of the Lord are like silver refined, pure and undefiled. I pray that His Words would be more precious to me than silver and gold and I thank Him for His pure and holy Word, living and active! May I know Him more and more!