Thursday January 22, 2009

 

 

How Do You Start Your Day?

 

 As a rule I wake up about an hour before Cerwin (5 a.m. is my favorite time), but I rarely set an alarm clock, so the time may vary.

 

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I turn the TV on to one of three channels that air beautiful  music-videos in the morning, and while listening to soft, worship music, I read the Bible online, usually by subject or something I am researching.  I use http://www.biblegateway.com/.  If I don’t have access to the Internet, I use Quick Verse which is downloaded on my laptop.

I have read or listened to the Bible in its entirety many times, so have chosen a theme method for this time in my life.  I usually spend about fifteen minutes doing this.

 

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Prayer involves checking my computerized Praise & Prayer Journal.  I began this years ago because of the many prayer requests that come into my life. 

Today I opened my Praise & Prayer Journal folder, and then opened the folder numbered 22 – because this is January 22.

Twenty-two happens to be Cerwin’s date of birth, so the folder dated 22 begins with reasons I praise God for bringing Cerwin into my life.  Each day’s entry begins with praise – based on the book, “31 Days of Praise” by Ruth Myers. 

Next is a listing of my prayer requests.

1. My personal requests – for spiritual growth in my life – are listed every day.

a. I adjust this according to spiritual goals and what is going on in my life.

2. Cerwin and our children and grandchildren are listed every day.

a. On the day of their birth (like Cerwin’s today) I list special life requests or current needs.  His actual birthday is April 22.

3. Other family members and friends (personal, church, ministry) are next. 

a. Each name appears once a month.

4. The next list is made up of people we met – at meetings or on trips – people who God laid on my heart.  People who are not in my life on a regular basis.

a. Each name appears once a month.

For instance:

When visiting an overlook to Mount St Helens many years ago, a man came up to me and asked about my faith in God, and told me about his search for truth.  He was entered into my journal on the day of the month we met. 

A woman in an airport restaurant asked me to pray for her. 

A man came up to me in a gas station store in the midwest and asked me to pray for him and his family.

5. The last list is current burdens and special requests of family, friends, and ministry. 

This list changes daily as new names and concerns are added.

As I go through the month, names and concerns may be deleted or moved to a dated folder so I am reminded of them once a month.

 

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I am writing this because of the benefit a prayer journal has been to my life.  

I prefer the computer, because it is easy to add or delete names and requests.  For instance if today I entered the name of someone who had surgery, or is sick with a flu or cold, it can easily be removed the next time I open the folder to this date and the person is no longer ill.

Maybe this will challenge someone else to keep a Praise and Prayer Journal.  (I even back it up on an external drive every now and then so I don’t lose the contents.)

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At 6:00 or 6:30 (when Cerwin comes to the living room) the TV channel is changed to the news, and I am ready for the coffee that he grinds and brews.

My Xanga Bible verse is entered about this time (or may have been entered earlier) and I check to see what blog friends have been up to. 

 

 

My breakfast is almost always a slice of toast (I currently have a loaf of pumpernickel) with peanut butter.  That’s probably why some of you find bread crumbs on your sites in the morning!

 

 

 Fruit is also an important part of my breakfast.  The Gala is my favorite apple this time of year.  Bananas or juice are other fruit choices in the morning.

 

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That is pretty much routine for me – unless the day is not routine.

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