Jeremiah says it over and over again. This heart-hurting prophet proclaimed one of the tenderest facts of God's Love: "I spoke to you rising up early." That phrase of God's continual plea for our hearing gives us a picture of His earnestness. He rises up early to get the jump on all those things that will occupy us during the day. He precedes the dawn, He is the Before of telephones ringing and newspaper headlines and memos marking Monday's matters. He is the First Call. God, Who is longing to be gracious unto you and me, rises up early to call us to Himself. Sometimes I feel that if time had more mornings I could catch up with time's other agendas. The mornings have a cleanness that invites energy. That's why God rises up early; to offer His Handclasp of direction through the day. I am encouraged to start my day with praise unto God and to open my ears to Him early before those ears get stuffed with sounds of lesser matters. As a child I awoke to sounds in the house: my Mother in the kitchen, my Father who took the loudest showers man has ever known and to the feeling of security: those in charge of me were already up. And so is God...each morning. Oh, God, you're up already!...inviting me with an early call.    

 

Excerpt from "Jeannette Clift George, From Center Stage"