I have begun writing out the Psalms I am up to 57. It’s been quite the adventure. Before I go to bed at night, I write out a Psalm. I journal the highlights, make the words that jump out at me in large special design and it’s the last thing I think about before I lay my head on my pillow. That’s a good thing- that’s a bad thing. That’s what I am thinking about as I slowly drift off, or awaken in the middle of the night.
I am not a morning person. I have never been although I have desperately tried to convince my body that morning is a blessing and being a part of it should be a double blessing. I have tried getting up early and spending the “Jesus quality moments” and it just doesn’t work. I don’t do mornings. If I do too many mornings in a row, and I blame it more on the one doing the snoring, I actually get sick. I cannot sleep good enough to wake up before my sleep number factor is reached. Which, is why I am usually in bed at 9 p.m. doing my calm down and Psalms moments.“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;I will sing and give praise. “Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn” I am not sure anyone in the house wants me to get out the guitar or mandolin and begin making music. Well, they don’t mind, but not right now-before the dawn is awakened. I am only awake this a.m. because I totally forgot to shut off the alarm on my i-pad and it kept going. Technology doesn’t ever do what our minds think it should do, it does what we program it to do. 6 a.m. every Sunday the alarm goes off and continues going off until it runs out of battery or the one who set it gets up and shuts it off. 
The beauty of the dawn awakening is unlike any other beauty. I had the honor of traveling around the world this past year. There is beauty in every place I saw. Most every picture I look at is breathtaking either from a physical beauty or a spiritual beauty. My heart smiles when I see the Victoria Falls of Zambia, and the smiles of those kids at the well in Uganda. I marvel at the windmills of Holland and the castles of Germany. The picture of the lighthouse in Duluth with the waves crashing against the shore is breathtaking…. but, when and if I am awake and see the sun rising, that’s a beauty all unto it’s own. There were a few times in our flights that we flew into a sunrise.That’s almost indescribable. And God tells reminds me through David, “my heart is steadfast, I will awaken the dawn.” We all know what’s in our heart does affect the beauty of the sunrise means something different. If we are troubled, the start of a new day may simple be overwhelming with how we will handle the troubles we didn’t leave on our pillows but brought with us when we awoke. If our heart is steadfast, it’s a totally different way we awaken the dawn. It’s more of a confident, reassuring, calm conquering of our world that we greet the sunrise and say, “God, you and I got this and it will be a wonderful day. I am alive and you are within my being.” The rest of the chapter definitely does lead up to the awakening, which is very indicative of our lives. What’s happened before we lay our heads on the pillow usually does affect how we get up. David had run away from Saul and was hiding in a cave. I haven’t had that exact experience, but I have been in many caves in my mind. And yet, praise and understanding who God is was first in David’s mind. I am in a crappy place, and yet God is still God. I am frustrated with how others are treating me, God is still God. I am running for my life, God is still God. And both of us, will awaken the dawn much better than simply one of us; especially if that one is me.
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.
He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
I am in the midst of lions I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.
My heart, O God, is steadfast my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”
In a matter of moments the sun will be dancing in the eastern sky. I will awaken the dawn, with God’s help. I will get ready and go lead worship. I will laugh and talk with people whose heart has brought them into church. I will pick up music folders, gather about the instruments, and drive back across southern Minnesota. I will pick music, grab the mandolin, fiddle and guitar and head for another worship service. By the time I get to that one, the sun will be setting and the day will be o’er. What lies in store for the day, I can only plan and take steps toward where God has led me. But, I will praise you Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the people. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted O God above the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth… I will awaken the dawn with singing and a worshipful heart… I am glad the alarm went off and woke me up…what a way to start my day.
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Special Touch Ministry 