Severe Weather Alert: Hurricane Chloe

Mornings are the best, aren't they?

Actually, that's only a half truth. Mornings from 5:00 to 6:45 AM are the best time of day.

From 6:45 to 7:15 AM, the Ball family morning is a ticking time bomb. Or at least that's what our frantic escape out the door tells us.

No matter how much we prepare, it's always the same end result.

The night before, my wife lays out the girls' clothes. Packed backpacks and jackets are hung next to the door. My daughters place their breakfast order the night before. It is delivered promptly at 6:45 and the television is turned on.

But our preparation always ends in chaos.

The source? A four year old, toe-headed girl, who goes by the alias Chloe Cupcake.

Or, as we were told by her teacher that they refer to her as, Hurricane Chloe.

She refuses to get out of bed. No amount of begging, prompting, threatening, screaming, or bribing can open those blue eyes. I will even offer coffee sometimes!

When you hear the whine, "I'm seeepppyyyy", you know the time bomb has been tripped.

That is until I learned how to disarm the bomb.

She will gladly get out of bed and even get ready, if I will do something.

All it takes is me waking her up and whispering, "Chloe, do you want to watch television with Daddy?" Somehow she reaches upward, using sonar to find my arms without opening her eyes.

She sits in my lap and watches 15 minutes of Disney Jr. Then, on her own, she gets ready.

Our bomb has been defused and everyone exits the house safely before chaos explodes.

All of our preparations and planning had been pointless. What matters most to my daughter is spending a few minutes with her daddy before she starts her day. This makes me feel ten feet tall.

My daughter has taught me the value of a few minutes spent in relationship. Just a few minutes spent with God has the power to change your day.

If you will start your day with a few minutes of prayer, your day will be totally different.

Christian, maybe all your preparations and planning in your life have left you frustrated. No matter what you do, you can't seem to get your stuff together. Everyday your life feels like a bomb has gone off.

Try waking up and spending a few minutes in conversation with God before you get too busy. Give it one week. Show God that you are committed and that you want to spend time together. See if your day doesn't get exponentially greater.

God's eyes are searching throughout the earth looking to strengthen people's hearts who are fully committed to him. Did you just get some OT dropped on you? Yes, yes you did (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Every father wants to be there for his child. God is no different. Wake up and start your day with God and see how you are strengthened.


Question:
How do you start your day?