Why in the World Would I....?

      From underneath my favorite snuggly brown blanket, in my favorite big leather chair, under my favorite corner window area, with my coffee still steaming, the birds chatting about their dreams and the most beautiful of striped pink and blue sunrises, Good Morning Everyone!

       There is something that I want to share with you guys. It has become the reason that I get up in the mornings. The reason that I can function....well. The reason I remain overconfident in my faith. The reason I am what I am, and do what I do. It has absolutely changed my life as well as carried me through decisions and difficult times. It is the reason that I live. It is my intimate relationship with the Savior of the world.

      He has become my everything. My reason for living. My reason for joy and peace. And the reason I can become more like Him and less like me. Falling daily as I do, I remain confident in the fact that my intimacy with Jesus Christ has changed my total being, and most definitely my whole world.

    It is my goal today to encourage you to find the same relationship. To encourage you to make sacrifices to display your love in creative ways to the God who made every animal and every plant. He is the creator of each sunrise and sunset. He knit each of us together in our mother's womb and He is capable of loving each of us far more than we could ever possibly imagine. To think that the Almighty God. King of Kings and Lord of Lords wants me to meet with Him each morning is insane. "That cannot be possible. He must be far too busy creating new people and saving the world to want to meet with little old me." Wrong. That Powerful God of the Universe, the one who knows all and is All, desires ALL of us. Check out this little gem of a verse nestled in the middle of His word to us, "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. " ~Zephaniah 3:17.   HE WANTS US. BAD. His love for us is a strong, jealous love. And what started out for me as a "Well, I guess it's the least I can do since He does so much for me." has gradually become the reason that I rise each day. I want to share some ways to seek Jesus early in the morning. Some helpful advice and how-to's, as well as some "why the heck is this important to me"'s. I pray that my own personal experience, as well as what I've learned and studied, will inspire you to begin a relationship with Christ in which you cannot get enough! A relationship that is so deeply satisfying and fulfilling and indescribable. So hear me out for a bit! Here goes.

This is why I believe that waking early to meet with Jesus is important.

 1) My family is covered in prayer each and every single morning. What better way for my husband and children to start their day than knowing they have already been prayed for. What a feeling of confidence and power and protection that provides them! When they wake up, they know exactly where I am and what I'm doing.  I have the power in Christ and in my prayer life, to provide them with that security!

2) I am able to set an example for my family. For my kids. They see my loving Jesus and don't just hear about it.

3) Mornings are the most beautiful part of the day! Enough said. Insert your own favorite part of the mornings whether it be chilly air, sunrise or the sounds of the coffeepot, it's all beautiful.

4) When I rise early, it is literally, THE only "ME" time that I get during the day. Anyone else ever feel as if they need a little privacy. Especially once kids learn how to unlock doors so that even bathroom breaks and showers are no longer sacred. I am able to sit in silence and focus. And that is something that as a mother, I have to make happen. Because it WILL NOT just happen on its own.

5) When I wake up before everyone else and spend time with Jesus, I am prepared for my day and the chaos that will abound. Rather than waking up in the midst of chaos that has already began, I am up, which 98% percent of the time results in a way more calm beginning of the day.

6) I give God complete control and permission to rule my day. To be in control. Because as much as I like control, I recognize that His control is way better than my control. Even though my flesh doesn't want to let go! I know that I truly want Him to be Master of my day.

7) When I wake up early, I can get a head start on all the chores that I so easily fall behind on. Once I have my quiet time, I can get a load of clothes going, unload the dishwasher, pick up a bit and make breakfast, all before the kids wake up. Head starts for moms are always welcomed.

8) If you like to run/exercise, you have some quiet time and get your exercise done in the beautiful morning before anyone even knows you're awake!

9) I seek peace and rest from God. You're a mom too right? Ever needed peace or rest. Yes. Of course you have. God is THE provider of those things. And every other good and perfect gift. (James 1:17) Wake up early and getcha summa dat!!

10) It's the LEAST we can do. God sent His own Son, who was already in heaven with Him, down to this earth for US. To be ridiculed and persecuted and beaten then hung on a cross. Pretttty sure I can wake up a little earlier to love Him the way He deserves and loves to be loved. My God loves to be worshipped, praised, and glorified. He certainly longs to be intimate with me. And for all the times He loves me, I long for Him to know how much I love Him.

11) You don't know God? Don't know how to find Him? How to hear from Him? Jeremiah 29:13 says we will seek and find Him when we search with all our hearts. Ever lost your keys? Your wallet? Your kids for the matter in a crowded store? Do we not search with all our hearts for those things? Yup. We do.

12) KNOWING GOD IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL. John 17:3, "And this is the way to have eternal life-to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth." ooooo....I want to have eternal life!!! So....I guess I will "know" my God! (How well can I know Him? How do I know Him? That's the next blog post....stay tuned ;) )

13) My quiet time could protect/rescue me! Ever heard the stories of people praying and God rescuing them!! From sufferings or pains or even death! HELLURRR!!! Daniel in the lion's den. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Jonah. Shoot. Do we not have our own personal fires and lions dens that we need to be rescued from each day?! Yea. My prayer life is vital.

14) JESUS DID IT. Enough said. Right?

15) All throughout the Old Testament and New, big things happened when people met with God. And followed up with obedience. Walls of cities tumbled down, laws were created, seas were parted. I'm just saying.

16) How you begin each day determines how your day will go....I mean, Lemony Snicket says so,  "Morning is an important time day because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have." That's true and you all know it is!

Ok. Those are a lot of reasons y'all. And I wanted to post the "How-To's of Quiet Time," but I will let your eyes rest and post that one separately later! You're welcome ;)

This is so major. I have personal experience and testimony of how amazing God is and how personal things get and how sweet the time is. How He has spoken to me and met with me every single time, some days in different ways than others, but I know that He is in me, and I am in Him, and if that is true, then I will be able to produce much fruit and if that is not true, then I can do nothing. John 15:5.

I pray pray pray this helps. And I can't wait to share some valuable tidbits on how to get things going!! Maybe you have some other reasons that quiet time is important in your life. Feel free to add them in a comment below!! Would love to hear what you think :) xoxo mamas!

A Love Letter to Giggy & Grammy

Dear Giggy & Grammy!!

        Hi!! Millie Faye girl here :) I've been really wanting to write you a letter. I feel as if I have a few very important things to say to you two. First, I would like to thank you. I know that since my crawling days, I have added waayyyyy more gray hairs to your head than either of you would ever like to admit. But, I mean, I am a fun girl. What can I say? And there are so many fun things that you guys and my mom put everywhere for me to get into, and well sometimes I just can't help it. Also, for all the diaper changes. I mean ewww gross right?! You guys are the best for doing all of that. Mom will pay you back for that one day when y'all are old. I'll let her know that she had better, don't worry I got your backs. ;)

         Ok next item of business. You guys sure take care of Kennedy, and JulieAnne and me a lot. I mean a lot. And I don't just mean you take care of us, I mean like you take CARE of us. The chick-fil-a trips, the new clothes and toys, the bedtime stories, the movie snuggles, the Jesus Loves Me songs….man do you guys know how to spoil a little lady like me!! All my favorites! All the time. I have heard mommy say how special it is and what a blessing it is to be able to do certain things and leave us with y'all. She trusts you guys so much and I guess that's important to know we're being well taken care of while she's off galavanting at youth camp with dad or whatever. (I promise I won't tell mom about all those times you forgot to feed us lunch or forgot to buckle us. That'll just stay between us.)

          Hmmm…I think that just about covers it from me. I like you guys so much and you're amazing, but the main reason I wanted to write you guys this letter is on behalf of my old lady. Man, I'll tell ya, she seems to be a stress bomb lately. What with ministry, homeschooling, two jobs, a mommy group, meetings, house full of kids (one of those she always tries to get rid of, I'm not sure which one yet though) and more, I guess she gets a little busy. Problem is, at times, I think she gets a little too busy to thank you guys the way you deserve. I know she's thankful, because I hear her talking to daddy. I hear her praying and thanking God for y'all. I see her crying sometimes because she doesn't want to have to ask for help….again. (You guys know she's stubborn like that!) I know that even though she probably doesn't tell you often enough, mommy is super duper thankful for your help, and that you guys are close enough to come to her rescue when she needs you.

        Mommy always says she doesn't know what she would do if you guys weren't around to help her out. But I think I know, I personally think she would be a disaster. She would probably pull all her hair out and quit her jobs and quit doing ministry and quit homeschooling and quit a lot of things. I mean, maybe not, but sometimes by the way she acts, I think she might be on the verge of doing that at any moment. Nah. I'm kidding….I think she'll be alright….probably once I get a little older and start behaving some ;)

      So here's my grand finale. THANKKKK YOUUU!! From the bottom of my heart, and mom's too I guess. Thank you for being such a huge part of our lives. For taking good care of us. For loving us. Blessing us. Helping us. And sacrificing for us. You did an ehhh….alright job as parents….but I'll tell ya….you guys stinkin rock as old grannies :) You guys are amazing. I love you lots and lots. One day, when the big girls go off to college, I'll have you all to myself! I'll take you out for chick-fil-a lunches, and I'll buy you new toys and cute clothes, we'll read bedtime stories and watch movies and snuggle, and maybe just maybe we can sing Jesus Loves Me together. For old times sake.

I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my Giggy and Grammy you'll be.

Lotsa love and snuggles~~

Amelia Faye Van Hook