In the mornings, arguing with God

Have you ever woken up and thought about how nice it would be to lay in bed for a few more minutes? Then those minutes seem to multiply rapidly until you have no choice but to get up and have no time for God?

I have a bad case of this problem. This summer, I asked God to help me fix it. I mean I want to spend that time with God, I just somehow end up still in bed and even asleep.

So here at Camp Cherokee (the second half of the summer) I tell God to wake me up when He wants me up. He has been every morning thus far, and slowly making it earlier.

But on Sunday morning, I really didn't want to get up. I had been up later then normal that night. I also hate to see thing packed up and people leaving.

Despite all the excuses I gave Him that evening, I still woke up early.

"God," I said, " I thought you understood that I didn't want to get up Early today, I have until 10 that I don't have anything to do. Besides, I don't want to see two of my best friends leave today. I can say good bye right before they leave, then I wont be crying quite so long. So, I am going to stay in bed."

"You need to get up now." I heard in my mind.

I rolled over and ignored the voice.

"Joelle, You need to get up now." It came again. then God reminded me that if I sleep in just once, then I won't be able to get up early for a long time. Then that I still should give him the first part of my day, and if I wait, I'll want to do some thing like eat first, then talk with people, and do anything but devotions.

"Fine," I agreed, " I'll be awake, and I can still lay here, maybe even pray laying here with my eyes closed." God knew what I was doing, I was tying to agree with Him and still get my way.

The argument had been going on like this for a while, when I heard voices on the dock.

"Your Friends are over there, you need to get up." I heard.

"But they are going out on the lake, and I wasn't invited," I turned over again and put on my best pout face for God. "Besides, I'm over here on the dock and they're still by the boat house. They won't see me here."

No voice answered me, but it started to sprinkle.

"Ha," I told him knowing that I was going to lose this battle, " I can still be out here this rain."

It started to rain more on my face then on the rest of my sleeping bag. Literally dumping water in my face.

I laughed and hid my face, I liked this game.

It started to rain harder.

"Hey," I said, " I don't want to get too wet now. I want to sleep out here again."

"Then get up."

"Alright, I'll get up,"

Immediately the rain let up, I picked up my bed and put it away in the boat house. then I went for my bible to spend more time with my Father.

God is the best one to lose arguments to, no one get mad and no verbal stabs are made.

This morning was almost a rerun of this, but I recognized it, and got without so much of a fight.

He is the only parent that can dump water on me to wake me up and still keep me smiling. Even though yesterday was a sad day, I still had a smile, most of the time.

God is so wonderful, I don't know what I'd do without Him in my life.