Early Morning Reveille

     When I went to camp as a child, we were awakened each morning by a scratchy record playing "Reveille," a trumpet call used to awaken military personnel at sunrise. The name comes from "réveillé", the French word for "wake up."  The sound of this familiar melody playing over the camp PA system was a signal for campers to rise and begin the new day; it was a morning wake up call.

     Mornings are best savored slowly for me now, which doesn't always happen.  I don't drink coffee, but I do have a morning routine that brings guidance, comfort, and peace.  So this is how I love to start my day....

      I begin with the Bible passage for the day in my One Year Chronological Bible (NIV).  I'm reading through the Bible this way for the second year, and I truly love it.  The entire Bible is divided into daily readings in the order the events actually occurred.  This arrangement has been very enlightening and has taught me so much. 

     There are three devotionals I like to use, if there's time. 

      Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is an excellent devotional book which I began reading in 2011.  It is written as if Jesus were speaking to you, and I often feel the day's entry is just for me.  The devotions are short but powerful.  The Bible verses included are always thought provoking.  Looking up the Scriptures has become a sort of spiritual treasure hunt for me after I finish reading the devotional - I'm excited read the verses and see which will "speak" to me each day.  This tiny little book has become widely popular, with sales exceeding 2.5 million.

     The Upper Room Daily Devotional is another important part of my morning.  I have been reading this little devotion daily for many years, and it is always insightful and relevant.  There is a Bible reading, short devotion, prayer, and thought for the day.  I'm often amazed at how devotions written by people from all over the world can speak to me personally as if written just for me.

    The third devotional book I use if possible is Choosing Joy: A 52-Week Devotional for Discovering True Happiness by Angela Thomas.  This book focuses each week on a different aspect of intentionally choosing joy in our daily lives and offers practical help for Christians.  I just began this book in 2012 but really like it.

    The most important part of my morning reveille is my prayer time.  I use a journal and incorporate Scripture into my prayers.  And I always begin with I Samuel 3:10- "Speak, Lord, for you servant is listening."

     Sometimes I listen to or sing praise music, light a candle, or write a psalm of praise to God.  Always I am changed....

     On the final day of camp, reveille was replaced by a cheesy song which happily proclaimed: "Good morning, good morning!"  What makes your morning good?  What is your reveille?