25,000 Mornings: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern Life
By Faye Rowe
()
About this ebook
In 25,000 Mornings, the award-winning author of Keepers of the Testimony and Smooth Stones & Promises serves up daily portions of ancient wisdom.
In her first devotional, Fay Rowe writes for both the young and young-at-heart on varied subjects such as:
&bull Starting Out and Starting Over
&bull Believing Words
&bull Resting on the Rock
&bull Talking to God
&bull Never Giving Up
&bull Being Yourself and Living with People
&bull Clocks and Calendars
"In 25,000 Mornings, Rowe writes with penetrating clarity and spiritual perceptiveness, and yet with a hint of playfulness that engages the reader."
Reverend Peter A Black, author of Parables from the Pond
"Author Fay Rowe offers readers another compelling book packed with wisdom. Wrapped in warm humor, 25,000 Mornings draws us step-by-step closer to God and leaves us feeling well prepared to face the day."
Donna Fawcett, award-winning author of the Donna Dawson novels
"Fay continues to delight with honesty and humor. As she openly shares about when she has had to refocus her thoughts on the heart of the Father, she gently stirs the reader to do likewise."
Mary Haskett, award-winning author of Reverend Mother's Daughter
Faye Rowe
Fay Rowe grew up on the east coast of Canada, where she attended Memorial University of Newfoundland and earned degrees in education and English. She has taught in both private and public schools in Canada and in College Station, Texas. As a teacher of fourth-grade and junior-high students, and in settings such as Sunday morning church services, Wednesday night Bible studies, and various women’s club and conference events, Fay Rowe has shared powerful insights with people of all ages. As an author, she encourages her readers’ faith while challenging them to walk ever closer to Jesus. Her second book, Keepers of the Testimony, won a TWG (The Word Guild) Award (Relationships Category) in 2009. Fay has a grown daughter, Gillian, and is mother-in-law to Ryan. She and her husband, Glenn, live in Ontario, Canada, where she is working on her first novel and producing a weekly podcast.
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25,000 Mornings - Faye Rowe
Contents
Preface
25,000 Mornings
Beginning Again
Times and Seasons
Just Imagine
To Dream the Impossible Dream
Perchance to Dream
Sure Steps
Words
Seeds
Nothing Comes from Nothing
Is it, or isn’t it?
Casey Comes Home
Parched
911
Paul and Festus
Paul at Sea
Saving Faith?
Famous Believers’ Hall of Faith
Blessed Are They
Ye Shall Know the Truth
Like a Child
The Living Word
Believing Like Jesus
Everyone a Winner
Earthshaking
Out of the Mouths of Babes
Our Greatest Gift
Blue Monday
Let the Weak Say Something
The Building
Lunch with Jesus
Papyrus and Pitch
Hope Springs Eternal
Bambi Returns
Fuel
Go for Gold
Living in Gerar
Still the Same
Gabriel Shares a Testimony
It Ain’t Over
The Solid Rock
Live Here
The Secret Place
Fingerprints
Confidence
Carried
Time is Love
No Feelings
New Adventure
Answered
Before We Call
The Farm
Moose and Deer and Bears, oh my!
On Grooves and Strongholds
Virtual Prayer Room
The Phone Call
Jesus Wept
The Gift
The Armor
Who Deserves It?
Perfection
Safe at Home
The Mercy of God
Forgotten Rest
True Love
Caleb Got It
Give me that Mountain
Surprising Connections
The Most Regrettable Failure
Significance
Look in your Hand
Is it I, Lord?
Breakfast with Jean
Rooted
My Favorite F’s
Flying High
Legacy
Over to you, Lord.
Adjustments
Insider Information
Reward or Result
Thanks Boss
Godlessness
On a Clear Day
The Book
Context
Moderation
The Thief
To Do or Not to Do
Living for Jesus
Good Dirt
The Beholder
The Episode
Eats, Shoots &Leaves
Chicken or Egg
No Man’s Debtor
Goodbye and Hello
Psalm 19
The Law of the Lord
The Law of Hair Splitting
Jesus Shares a Spiritual Law
How to Love the Commandments
Need Good Judgments?
Give Me a Testimony
Clean Afraid
Tradition
Modern Day Levites
What Do You Do For Fun?
Balance
Daffodils and Roses
Of Flowers and Birds
Authentic Gospel
What Are You Hiding?
Individuality
Ripples
Let it go!
Power to Forgive
Aeration
Throwing the Chicken out of the Car
A Hug in the Mail
Rehearsal
Fresh like the dew or stuck in the mud?
Fame and Fortune
Wealth and Riches
Love Never Fails
Therefore
Criticism
Passages
The Witness
Rejoice with Those that Rejoice
A Visit with Pastor
Look at me!
The Visit
A Mystery
Out with the Old
Hurry Up and Wait
My Trees Talked
Patience
Fruit takes Time
Only with Age
Marathons and Finish Lines
About the Author
About the Books
To Glenn
My partner in everything.
Preface
Dear Friend,
A few years ago, a television ad for the state of Michigan said we have 25,000 mornings, give or take a few. Michigan has given us 68.49 years—no doubt an average based on the recorded life spans of both the good and the evil.
I’m very sure God has given us more time than has the state of Michigan!
I’ve lived a considerable number of mornings already, and I’ve learned a few things about life. One of the most important things I’ve learned about life is this: We need God in it.
One way to ensure we keep God in our lives is to keep him in our days. I’m convinced that as we start each day by turning our thoughts to him and his ways it will help us live our very best life, and our thousands of days will be filled with his goodness.
As we spend the next few mornings together, I hope these simple devotional offerings help you begin your morning with a sense of joy and peace, and with expectation for what God has for you—and has for you to do—in the rest of your day.
God bless you!
Fay
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth
(Romans 1:16)
On Starting Out,
or Starting Over
There’s excitement in it, and anxiety.
In either case, it is an affirmation of life.
25,000 Mornings
God said he’s given us all things richly to enjoy, didn’t he?
If every new morning truly is from him, filled with his mercy and loving kindness, then deciding to enjoy each one sounds like wisdom to me.
But we don’t always do that, do we? Often, we let the cares and busyness of life crowd out the joy of God’s wonderful gift.
When that happens, even our time with family and friends—or time that could be spent in joyful productivity and fruitfulness—is marred. Overlooking the good in our lives, we find ourselves focusing on the troubles and evils around us, and we end up wishing away our precious time.
I’ve already used up a considerable number of mornings, so I’m more than ready to start enjoying them on purpose—to be more in the moments
of my days, to resist wishing them away for any reason, because God is in them with me.
I’ve decided to enjoy the sunshine and maybe even the rain. I’ll smell the coffee and enjoy a cup once in a while—maybe even two or three, if the morning is slow. And I’ll be thankful for the day, even if it calls for ironing, as this one does.
Today, enjoy the gift—and don’t miss all the other gifts hidden in the package.
"Teach us to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
Beginning Again
Depart from me for I am a sinful man!
Peter’s cry rang across the water.
A short time earlier, he’d listened to the teacher with as much respect as anyone else—or so he thought. He’d even been happy to help Jesus by letting him use his boat as a platform. And just a few minutes ago, after Jesus’ talk was finished, Peter had done what Jesus told him to do. He went out on the lake to fish one more time even though he’d been certain it would be a waste of time and effort.
Now, at this moment of self-revelation, Peter felt he deserved the smelly slaps on his face as he knelt among the fish, too ashamed to look Jesus in the eye.
What shamed him was the broken net. Jesus had told him to let out his nets but he had let out only one—and not his best one at that, because he knew there were no fish to be caught that day. After all, he’d already spent the whole night fishing with nothing to show for it.
That broken net told Jesus (as well as everyone else) that Peter’s trust—and, therefore, his obedience—had been half-hearted.
I think I know how Peter felt. There have been times I’ve looked too long at my own realities (my own world of impossibilities), and my trust in God has weakened. Whenever that happens, my own weakened trust results in the same self-protecting, half-hearted obedience as did Peter’s. Before long, I am like Peter—filled with joy-stealing shame.
But comfort comes from Jesus’ words to Peter, Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll catch men!
A fresh start! That’s what Jesus offered Peter that day, and that’s what he offers all of us: A new beginning—expectant, hopeful, without shame.
Today, start out fresh.
"The Lord’s mercies . . . are new every morning"
(Lamentations 3:22-23).
Times and Seasons
My husband teaches in a business school. One of the concepts I occasionally hear him discuss is an escalating commitment to a failing course of action
—in other words, not knowing when to change direction. Apparently, it is occasionally appropriate to let something go and just be thankful to learn from the experience. To someone like me (persistence is high on my Respected Attribute List) that smacks of giving up or giving in, and I hate both. I have, however, come to see the wisdom in what he teaches.
A while ago, a road I went down didn’t take me where I expected to go. I was frustrated, because wasting time bothers me as much as giving up. The failure bothered me because I’d had peace about taking that road, and now I questioned whether someone as dull of hearing as I obviously must be could ever be led by God.
Then I heard Evangelist Jesse Duplantis say, Your direction is not always your destiny.
That took a while to sink in. Eventually, reflecting on my recent disappointment, I realized I might have taken that road for a different reason than I’d first thought. Maybe it was so I’d learn to take risks. Or maybe it was to help me develop skills, knowledge, and relationships that would help me move forward. It could have been for any or all of those reasons. I found all of them on that road.
I now think of changes in direction—even those brought about by negative circumstances—as exciting adventures. New seasons bring new challenges, but new challenges bring new growth, and growth brings new joy. With this newfound perspective, I am free to be led by the Spirit, not by sunk cost, whether that cost is time or money.
May we all know the times and the seasons in our lives—the time to go in and the time to go out—and enter each season with trust and faith in the one who leads.
Today, be open to new things. And be excited!
"Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and
afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:24).
Just Imagine
I’m delighted beyond words. I am soon to become a grandmother.
It still seems incredible, too wonderful to get my mind around. Maybe none of us can fathom it at first. I’ve heard many a newly-minted grandmother say, I can’t believe it!
I don’t think our amazement has anything to do with the fact that our children have children, although I’m told that’s part of it. I think it has more to do with the fact that we don’t feel old enough to be grandparents—not nearly as old as our grandparents seemed to be, or our own parents when we made them grandparents.
Somehow, in spite of having to deal with our bodies’ undeniable evidence of the passing years, our minds keep us young.
There are still so many things in this world that feel new to us. New looks, new ideas, new experiences, new places to see, new people to meet. And every twenty-four hours, a brand new day.
I know the writer of Ecclesiastes said there is nothing new under the sun, but—dare I say it?—I think he was wrong, at least in one respect.
Every day is new, filled with new mercies and fresh grace, with new challenges and new hope, with new manifestations of God’s blessing.
We see it in the face of each new baby.
Today, imagine amazing new things!
"But though our outward man perisheth,
our inward man is renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).
To Dream the Impossible Dream
I just put down Turn Your Dreams into Realities, by Sue Augustine. It’s probably the most practical, biblically accurate and motivating motivational book I’ve read in a while—and very well written to boot.
With short chapters, it’s perfect for bedtime reading and with the added benefit of ending the day with positive, hope-filled thoughts. While it’s definitely a must read for someone just starting out in life, I expect Augustine’s book would help any of us revive some dreams we thought had died.
Dreams are like heart vitamins. Without them we weaken and, eventually, settle into inactivity and fruitlessness. God knows that. That’s why he gives them to us—dreams designed especially for who he created us to be, designed so we can share his joy of fruitfulness.
As we read his Word with the express purpose of finding his will, his ways and his voice, we’ll begin to sense his very personal dream for us—not all at once, probably, but step by step.
I was going to say Happy dreaming!
but that’s not really the goal. The dream is just the beginning. But, like every beginning, without it nothing happens.
Today, look at who your Father is and remember you were born to greatness.
Let yourself hope again.
Let yourself dream.
Where there is no vision, the people perish
(Proverbs 29:18).
Perchance to Dream
Dreams can be elusive things.
This is true, not just in regard to realizing them, but also in recognizing them.
When I was a teenager, I dreamed of being a writer. But it seemed an impractical, if not impossible, dream. I discarded even the very idea of writing professionally and, instead, became an elementary school teacher.
I can’t say it was a mistake; I loved teaching. In fact, back then if anyone had asked if I wanted to write I would have laughed. But years later, I discovered that the dream was still alive. Now I’m working on the novel that was the dream in the first place. I don’t know if I’ll finish it, but that doesn’t matter. I’m