Mornings Thursday, Jan 22 2026 

Uncategorized , , , , kennethbow 7:09 am

Morning

Here are some passages that teach about seeking God early in the morning:

1. Psalm 63:1 David in the wilderness

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.”

This is the classic verse:

  • Early will I seek thee
  • Not obligation — desire and hunger

2. Proverbs 8:17

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”

God attaches a promise to early seeking:

  • Seek early → find God

3. Lamentations 3:22–23

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed… They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Morning is when:

  • Mercy is renewed
  • Yesterday’s failures don’t define today

4. Mark 1:35 Jesus’ example

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

How do we go wrong if we follow Jesus example?

Jesus:

  • Woke up before sunrise
  • Sought God before people

5. Psalm 5:3

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”

6. Isaiah 50:4

“He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

Morning is when:

  • God teaches
  • God speaks

7. Job 1:5 Job as priest for his family

“And Job rose up early in the morning… and offered burnt offerings.”

Job didn’t wait for crisis:

  • He covered his family daily
  • Early intercession

8. Psalm 88:13

“But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.”

“Prevent”  means:

  • Go before
  • Start the day with God first
  • Give God the first and best

We believe in first fruits, and that if we give God the first of our finances, he will bless the other 90%.

What about our day? Is it possible…

“If God gets your first hour, He’ll bless your remaining 23.”

“The devil wants your mornings rushed, distracted, and noisy — because he knows whoever controls your morning often controls your day.”

“Those who seek God early don’t just start the day better — they start the day aligned with eternity.”

  • First light
  • First love
  • First voice you listen to
  • First spirit you yield to

All of Scripture leans toward this principle:

Seek Him first — especially in the morning.

 

El-Shaddai Monday, Jan 19 2026 

Uncategorized kennethbow 8:44 am

El-Shaddai

El: the God who can do anything

Shad: correlates to chest or breast (similar) to a mother nourishing her child at her breast

Is there any feeling like when your child comes and crawls up in your lap and lays their head on your chest and just lays there? No words. Sometimes there are just sobs and sniffles. Maybe I’m just a sentimental old fool but to me there’s no feeling like that in the world you don’t even have words to discribe it or explain it. 

You softly murmur it’s OK baby mama‘s got you -OK honey OK daddy‘s got you. I wonder if El-Shaddai holds us to his breast and whispers it’s OK I got you. Everything‘s gonna be all right.

You hold them to your breast and something is transferred between the two of you that is truly unspeakable. There’s a transfusion of love and peace and grace that is non-judgmental: that moment rights the wrongs. It makes the world a better place again. Their whole life is right side up again. 

That little part of you laying on your breast, that came of out of your flesh, snuggles and hides his face in your breast…their world is right again.

That’s what El-Shaddai does. When you leave that moment of being held to his breast, the one who can do anything, your world is right again.

Problems are still there, you’re still without a husband, you’re still broke, you still have the disease, but somehow, those things are now in the background. Your strength is renewed. You leave that moment strong enough to face life again: you have been in the presence of El-Shaddai and he has held you against his breast.

 

The Tower of Edar Wednesday, Jan 7 2026 

Uncategorized kennethbow 9:13 am

Reading today…. Rachel dies….buried on the road that they will take to captivity and then return many years in the future. Jer 31.15-17. Jacob travels 1 mile and stops at the tower of Edar. 

The Tower of Edar (also called Migdal Eder, meaning “Tower of the Flock”) is located very close to Bethlehem.

Distance

• Approximately 1 mile (1.5–2 km) from Bethlehem

• Roughly a 20–30 minute walk

• Just outside Bethlehem, traditionally toward the south or southeast, near the shepherds’ fields

Biblical Context

• Mentioned in Genesis 35:21 (KJV)

“And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.”

• Jewish tradition (notably Micah 4:8) associates Migdal Eder with Messianic expectation

• Many Christian scholars connect this area with the shepherds of Luke 2, making it significant in Nativity studies

Why this matters

Migdal Eder was understood as a watchtower used by shepherds—particularly those raising lambs for Temple sacrifice. Its close proximity to Bethlehem strengthens the theological symbolism of Christ’s birth near the place where sacrificial lambs were watched and protected.

I thought it was interesting that Jesus was born in the place where sacrificial lambs were raised for temple sacrifice. He was the lamb of God and he was born in the spot where they raised lambs for that purpose. (Note: the photo is an AI creation, not an actual photo).