June 24, 2025, Tuesday, 638 a.m.: A personal journal entry (Making time to be with the Lord and His Word)

Here I sit and watch squirrels play in our yard and run up, down, and around and around the trees.

I also watch the blue jays and tufted titmouses (or is it titmice) grab peanuts from the place on the deck that I set them.

Whoa! I just saw two crows in our yard. (Glory!) Now I see them in a tree.

The grey tabby cat is curled on a pillow beside me on the sofa.

I am not sure where the orange Maine Coon is. Wait, How did I miss that? He is curled up on my husband's lap.

My spouse and I prepare for our day and take time to curl up with the Word. 

And speaking of curling up, Sinan the orange just moved to snuggle between my ankles as I recline and journal. This brings me a real problem. I was going to get up and get more coffee. Sigh. I guess I am waiting.

It is now 642 a.m. and the sun is just starting to kiss the trunks of a couple of the trees near their tops, the trees that are in back of our house.

I love this time of the day. This time before the world gets too caught up in the hustle and bustle of things.

I got a decent night of sleep but definitely feel like I need a few more.

The truth of the matter is I still feel exhausted. I need at least a couple of days of stillness and rest. However, I do not have that luxury. I will be headed to the hospital again to see a friend, and brother in Yeshua/Jesus, who is having surgery today.

Isn't this a good depiction of life?

Doesn't this show why we need to treasure the blessings that God has given us? To stop and appreciate the small things? And the big? And thank Adonai for them? Because in the next moment, we might have to do the hard?

The truth of the matter is, I am exhausted enough, I know I couldn't be, or offer, much good. I really need a break. However, I absolutely trust God and know He will give me what I need in order to endure. It's far more important to be there for a friend. To be able to pray over them. To be there. To allow them to know someone is waiting for them afterward.

But isn't this a good reminder to make sure to have time with Adonai/God in the Word, prayer, and thanksgiving at the start of the day? To help prepare you for whatever the day looks like ahead and all of its surprises?

Like being called to the hospital, and a 2-hour drive out of the blue yesterday, which I didn't hesitate to do, but it comes with a cost. If I hadn't had time with the Lord in the morning, I would have been in horrendous shape, with horrible exhaustion, by the end of the day. The truth of the matter is, if I had not had my time with the Lord in the morning, this would have been quite difficult.

This is why it is imperative to have time with God and be in His Word every morning, even if you have to sacrifice sleep to do so. It costs far more not to do so.

I will not lie. With how exhausted I am, I really needed extra sleep yesterday morning, and I feel the same this morning. That extra sleep would have made a difference. 

However, being with the One who is Holy, Holy, Holy... with the Eternal One... with the Father... This is priceless. Nothing can compare. He is our everything. Time with Him is precious and essential.

Taking time to be with Him, be in His Word and be nourished by it, and thank Him, is absolutely necessary to have the best day and live the best life. We cannot do that without Him. After all, the best day and best life are centered on Him and His Word.

I dare not think what my day might be like if I do not take this time.