5:16 Club -- Day 2 Reflections

6:53 am. The house is still quiet, except for a whining dog ready to get of the crate and a meowing cat demanding to have her long-overdue litter box cleaned. (Okay, I'll get to it this morning, promise!)

I've been awake since 5:23 am, and my heavy eye-lids and slightly icky feeling testifies to this dramatic change in my rise-n-shine habits. But it is so worth it! I felt the peace of Christ surround me throughout yesterday, having my overwhelmed tizzy settled by a full filling of the Lord in the morning, and the satisfaction of taking care of priority things in priority order. It wasn't so much pride as rather the absence of guilt that was so profound. The blessings followed, with getting out of the house to visit a friend 30 minutes ahead of time, providing an opportunity to run an errand with all four kids in tow and still arrive even just a few minutes early. Now that is truly a miracle.

This morning, as I arose even earlier than yesterday as I was beckoned by the hymns playing on my clock-radio, warming my heart and mind to the idea of starting the day by worshiping the Lord rather than running from the needs of the children. The opportunity to pray until the thoughts ran out, rather than ending abruptly because the needs around me are pressing in, made getting up early worth it! Reading the Scriptures as the Spirit leads, rather than as a check-list, "One chapter done!" -- is also much more relaxing and fulfilling.

So my friends, if you belong to the I.A.J.S.O. club, I beg you to resign! Change your membership. You are in the wrong club. Extra sleep isn't what will change your status! No, you need extra Jesus. Extra quiet. Time to reflect. Give up the sleep, girlies. Join with me! This 5:16 club has much, much better membership dues and a whole lot more benefits!

Let me leave you with this precious Scripture the Lord brought me to during my study this morning. I read it in my new ESV Study Bible, thanks to Crossway Publishers, so the different translation really struck me...

John 7:38-39 ESV
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Are you thirsty? Parched? Overwhelmed? Jesus makes it so simple. He will quench our thirst if we come to him. It starts with believing He is who He says He is -- Redeemer, Savior of this World, Messiah, Friend, Lord -- and then coming to Him as we are. Look at what He promises. Out of our heart will flow living water. That living water is Jesus, Himself. Can't you just picture it pouring forth right out of the center of your very being?

For weeks now, if not months, I've desperately tried to pour forth the love of Jesus to my family and those around me. My intentions and willing heart has been good. But the problem has been that there was only a drop at the bottom of a nearly dried up well. The bit of time with Jesus here and there was only enough to replenish me for the moment. Yes, it was plenty for the moment. But I can already see the blessing of having my heart swelling with the fullness of Christ, simply because of the time I devoted to Him yesterday and today. Sustaining this commitment may indeed be hard, but the immediate blessings definitely spur me on. I hear God saying, "This is a taste of what you have desired. Keep coming and I'll give you more and more. It doesn't mean life will be without trouble, my precious daughter, but you will have more of my strength and a deeper sense of my love to sustain you. This is my desire for you. Walk obediently in it."

Friends, head straight to the well-spring of life and receive the only satisfying drink. Don't stop. Don't delay. Go.

Because of Him,