Starting on an early note

So, if this goes anywhere, this is day one of my participation in this "Faith Experiment".

The first question I need to answer is "Why Bother".

I seem to detest the "Self Help" movements. I don't want God's surpises to simply be amazing things that happen in my life.

I DON'T want this to make me a better person.

I DON'T want this to give me a better life

I DON'T want God to do things in my life for experience sake.

I DON'T want to have items that simply make for a more intersting testimony.

All I want is for God to make me into a better digit, organ or whatever I am, in HIS body. That needs to be my only focus. Not that my life would be turned around, but that HIS body would be strenghtened.

*****

So this is where it all begins.

I am certain that, in God's providence, it is no coincidence that Terry came to speak to our staff about the "Surprise Me" experiment on a day that I had to wake up exceptionally early.

Now that the school year has started, things 2 & 3 need to be picked up at 3 on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. That means, I need to leave work at 2:30 on those days.

Last year, I would make up the time by working a couple extra hours on Thursday. Today, I tried something a little different.

I work at a place where people often get to work before 5am. I have often had to get there before 5am. So why, I wondered, can't I get there at 6am 2 days a week.

I set the alarm for 4:30 this morning.

Normally, the snooze button gets a work out as I tend to wait until the last possible moment to start my day. Today, I was wide awake at 4:29. I beat my alarm to the day.

It takes me about 30 minutes to be ready to head out the door. That allowed me a little time to reintroduce myself to morning devotions.

It was wonderful! I brewed the coffee, showered, dressed and sat in the livingroom and read the Bible. What a treat!

I should admit that, I had actually forgotten about today's meeting and the experiment while I undertook this return to God's word. I remembered the project when it came time to pray.

I was actually excited to realize that I had mistakenly read yesterday's scheduled reading. That meant I could start all over again and read TODAY's scheduled reading. I was actually disappointed when it was all over. I literally hungered to keep going. I am actually looking forward to tomorrows reading! I have never had this much desire or excitement over reading the Bible before.

I am not exactly sure where it came from. I haven't attended any conferences, read any inspirational books, or been challenged by another brother or sister.

This just came upon me today and I am excited to keep going! I have always found prayer and bible reading to be necessary disciplines of the Christian life. For some reason, today, they were more than that. They feel like a privilege.

When the time came for me to go to work, I prayed a quick prayer some of my collegues have been challenged to pray:

"Surpise me, God".


He beat me to it this morning.