I am a morning person...after I have my coffee, that is! But, coffee or not, I just love those early morning hours when the air is fresh, the day is new and those first rays of sun are gently warm-no matter the climate you live in. It's also in the morning when I feel most motivated, ideas tend to come to my brain and I feel like I could conquer the world with my burst of courage! Have you ever watched a sunrise? It is a thing of glory and beauty-a bit of a different flavor than a sunset. One is a beginning, the other is an end. But both are worthy of-you guessed it-reaching for my camera so that I can savor the moment again in the future. Have you ever heard the song, "Morning Has Broken"? I love it, because the words and the music captures some of the essence of what I am trying to say here.
Morning has broken, like the first morning. Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird. Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, Praise for them springing fresh from the Word.
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of morning!
Rain is certainly a good thing-a perfect gift from Him. He created it to meet some of our most basic of needs and also that of the earth. It refreshes, nourishes, cleans...who can complain about that?! It even makes music-beautiful music! Have you ever paid attention to that music? There's a poem which is entitled "The Music of the Rain", from which come these lines: "...It seems a mighty symphony at times, when down it pours, As it splashes and it crashes as the oceans on their shores. The trumpets, drums and cymbals of the rain together play To make loud, harmonious music and a lovely melody. Then enter the sweet instruments of flute and harp and strings, As the raindrops sprinkle, then they tinkle like the birds that sing...." There is a lovely little phrase that comes from a certain song. It says "into each life some rain must fall". We 
can't say that it's Scripture, but we can certainly say that it's true. No life, no marriage, no family, no generation can escape the rain that will inevitably fall. But remember that rain is a good thing. Admittidly, at times we think there is an overabundance as we look at the destruction and pain and (what we think is) permanent damage. But whether our rain is literal or symbolic, the truth applies that God is in control. He will not allow more than we can handle. The umbrella of His love and care will be over us at all times, protecting us from the elements..."til the storm passes by". 
