My body (specifically my back) wakes me early, and so, oftentimes, I am up while it remains dark outside.      It is in the dark where we find the sudden and sustaining light of God. Disbelief is a solid emotion because we either believe something——–OR——-we do not. This is true for so many parts of life.
We either sense the security of our home         OR    WE DO NOT.
We either know the love of our parents      OR      WE DO NOT.
We either trust in faith, knowing that God really exists      OR      WE DO NOT.
We either accept Jesus’ resurrection, that Jesus arose and then ascended to heaven 40 days later to sit down beside God’s throne      OR        WE DO NOT.
We either believe Jesus is the One who came as the promised Messiah in Bethlehem & who will stand up one day (at God’s appointed time) to return in His second coming, to rapture us, the church        OR          WE DO NOT.

• WE EITHER BELIEVE      OR
• WE DO NOT BELIEVE.
  

I have an amazing story to tell you.
On Sunday morning (a little before 4 am on Easter), I was suddenly awakened by a bright light shining in the hallway outside my bedroom door.      One moment, I slumbered, and the next moment, I was awake…….seeing the light.

At first, I became frightened and immediately thought it was a flashlight of an intruder, someone inside our home. Some-One truly was present, but not One who intrudes and harms, but One who loves and heals.
Now, once I am awake, I am awake. So, on Sunday morning, I arose and went into the kitchen to make some coffee.  My husband asked me later that morning if I searched the house for the intruder, and no, I did not.      Truthfully, my fear left my brain as soon as soon as I walked into the kitchen to make the coffee and stretch. Let me explain.

Fear and Disbelief are certainly NOT where we should remain……….Really!
There was NOT an intruder.      I soon discovered the essence of the light.      The shining light in my hallway, the light that awoke me from my slumber, the bright light shining through my eyelids and into my eyes was clearly the light of God awaking me, and very quickly, I discovered why. Let me explain.
On Sunday morning (while still dark in KY), it was mid-morning and very light-filled in Italy.  Only minutes after I arose from my bed, after I sat down with my coffee, my earbuds, and my Bible, there came a message to my phone, one sent to me by a beautiful student (from her home across the globe).
I am praising God today for answered prayers. Let me explain.

During our talk, I invited this former student to church with me (virtual church for her & in-person for me). I thanked and praised God for waking me up early so I could have time to talk with this beautiful girl, and I am thanking and praising God today for waking me up early (again today around 3:40 am) to see how God always answers our prayers.  Let me explain.

We must always know this truth—–

• Without God, there is no presence of light, no revelation, and no salvation.
• Without God, there is only disbelief.
• Without God, there remains only the.darkness and separation from God.
• Without God, there are only the lies of Satan screaming in our ears.

Early this morning, I received a second message from this same student.    In today’s message, she told me how she did actually attend Easter service with me on Sunday (my 10:45 am & her 4:45 pm), and not only that, but she also told me how she invited her mom to come too.  I love how we are continually reminded of God’s amazing presence. 
Throughout the Sunday morning service, I stood there and continued to praise God for His light of awakening.    I asked others during Sunday School to join me in praying that she would join us in church, & now (today) I know WHY I could sense her presence…………standing right there beside me as we sang praises, as we listened to the pastor’s message, and as we worshipped God together. It was God’s amazing answer to our prayers as we stood there (together), all because of God’s amazing and powerful Holy Spirit.

Often, when life occurs, we are reminded of a biblical narrative, one that involved real people just like us. In the Bible, the apostle Peter was quite a rash man, and Peter was called to leave the trade he knew and to follow Jesus.  By trade, Peter was a fisherman, and Jesus called him to continue to fish, but to now fish for men, to now begin preaching the Word of God for the whole known world to hear.       As Peter obeyed and followed God, then God faithfully drew men to Himself and saved them, washing them clean as HE covered their sins. It is such truth———God seeks us—–right where we are & right as we are, still in our sin (Romans 5: 6-9). I once read these words—–We (like Peter) are called to fish. We fish and follow wherever God leads, & God performs the miracle of cleansing their souls through His salvation.

The apostle Peter wrote these words (a few years later, after following Jesus, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus).
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, (6) so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (7) and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (8) obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (9). (1 Peter 1: 6-9)

• God awoke me when I was 15 and gave me the free gift of His salvation.  I only needed to accept that I was a sinner——totally lost, believe in Him as my Savior, and confess my sins. Immediately, I received His salvation. (Romans 10: 8-10)
• God awoke me Sunday morning.  I know it as clearly as I know my own face in the mirror.
• God awoke me and gave me a purpose for my wakefulness.
• God awakes us so often and gives us so many reasons to lift our hands in praise to Him.
• God awoke me, and I am thanking Him today for answered prayers.
• God awakes us, & we remain (still) so amazed every time WHEN He does, & HOW He does, & WHY He does allows us the opportunity to be involved with His purpose.

There is a beautiful melody I heard this morning as I spoke again with this student. As I listened to the melody and read her message, the lyrics spoke to me, reminding me of God’s amazing grace of His salvation, freely given to each of us. God is the Alpha & the Omega, the beginning of all and the very end of all things.
“Wake Up Sleeper” is the melody by Austin French—-listen if you have opportunity. 

Let us today be awakened by God.

Let us today not linger any longer within the darkness of our disbelief.

But let us awake and arise, stepping into the light of God.