I had never fully realized the breathtaking beauty of a sunrise until the time change. Getting up while it is still dark doesn't appeal to me, but I have discovered an amazing production of grandeur at daybreak.

Shafts of light come tiptoeing through my bedroom window, wearing hues of pink attached to ribbons of sunbeams. A mockingbird's overture begins. He bows with enthusiasm before nature's audience. Earth awaits with bated breath for the dawn of a new day. Lilies of the field begin to sway to the "Hallelujah" chorus.

The moment arrives. Glorious light appears, dressing the world with awesome wonder. The crescendo mounts. The trees of the field clap their hands and my heart's melody beats with reverence.

"Good morning, my child. I rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

I bask in the "Son's" rays, bursting with delight!

What a way to start your day. What a way to make it count!

Starting and ending a day with God makes everything better. "To proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night" (Psalm 92:2 NIV). We can never say "thank you" enough to God. Expressing gratitude to God changes negative circumstances. It changes arrogance into humility, selfishness into appreciation and pessimism into optimism.

No matter how busy one is, taking time for prayer and meditation early in the morning is a timetable of success for the rest of the day.

Luke 4:42 demonstrates the importance of early morning prayer: "At daybreak Jesus went to a solitary place." Jesus needed time alone with the Father for prayer and fellowship for the day. If He needed it, how much more do I need it?

Each day brings challenges. Many mistakes are made. When I fail, I feel guilt and get into self-criticizing faults, making me feel I am the only person in the world who has failed. Thanks be to God I can rise above my failures and mistakes. I can turn bad days into good ones and I do it one sunrise at a time with God's help. "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word" (Psalm 119:147 NIV).

Early morning prayer gives strength for the day at hand. In spite of difficult hardships, the believer is given strength to get back up when knocked down, strength to keep believing and strength to keep trying.

We live in a different world since 9-11. The threat of terrorism is a very real concept to deal with. However, the only real security in this life is in our God. Complete trust in Him can dispel our fear. If He spared not His own Son, will He not take care of us? Therefore "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes" (Psalm 112:7-8 NIV). Memorizing these scriptures frees the believer from the bondage of fear, making the gift of this day count.

I read a story about Paderewski, the great musician. While the vast audience awaited the beginning of his concert, a little boy escaped from his mother, sneaked upon the stage and began playing "chopsticks" on the piano. Some yelled "Get that kid out of here!" At that moment Paderewski appeared on the stage and said to the boy "keep playing." He then sat down beside the boy and played along with him, blending a beautiful melodious masterpiece into the simple tune of the boy's rendition of "chopsticks."

That's what Jesus does. He sits beside you and me and tells us to "keep playing," while He makes something beautiful of our lives.

That dear friend, makes a day count!