Day 35: Give Me Jesus

This is a very simple hymn, but its simplicity is what makes it true and wonderful.  The verse starts out like this:

In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

Give me Jesus

When I made the commitment over Lent to write and reflect each day, I decided to do the blog post every morning.  It was a way to keep myself on schedule, and to hold myself accountable.  I have come to like starting off my mornings reflecting and conversing with God.     

There is a great scripture in Lamentations:

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. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.  Lamentations 3:22-24

God's mercies are new each morning.  God's grace is new each morning.  God gives us the morning for a reason.  Sometimes we have to endure the night.  It is dark and long.  It is uncertain.  I have endured night times in my life where I wasn't sure the sun would rise.

Jesus' faithful followers had to endure 3 days of a dark, dark night.  But the Son did rise.  That is what the sun is there to remind us of in the morning.  Jesus left the tomb.  He was faithful.  When we think that hope is gone.  That it will forever be dark - watch the sun rise, that is a promise from God - we have been saved and made new, and that promise is renewed every morning.  

As I wake up this morning, it is finally a spring morning.  I can hear birds chirping - a natural alarm clock.  Those are the things you hear in the early morning, when it is quiet and still outside.  Sometimes we forget that waking up in the morning, simply having another day, is one of the biggest gifts that God can give.

~SP

Sunrise.  August 2009.  Wauwatosa, WI