Let me guess, you read the headline, and you are thinking to yourself, "This girl has absolutely lost it." And to be honest, I really kinda think the same thing. The sun rises at approximately 5:37 a.m. across the beautiful fields of Tennessee. Yes five flipping thirty seven in the morning time. Some of the chickens don't even make it for that. And I am so not a morning person. I'm a "give me a couple hours and some coffee before you speak to me" kinda girl. But hear me out, I intentionally got up to see the sunrise, and you should too.

Now before you go thinking I just came up with this idea of randomly witnessing a sunrise on my own, slow down. This was not my idea. Remember? I need coffee. I would never in a million years come up with an idea to lose sleep on my own.. not happening. This was the profound idea of author and inspirational speaker, Annie Downs, and it originated from her book "Looking for Lovely" that I am currently almost finished with! And if you are looking to be inspired, let me just say that this is the book for you; it is absolutely phenomenal. (The teacher in me needed to put that little plug in for you.) Anywho, it was Annie who said that if you have never witnessed a sunrise, you need to, that you are missing out on something so small yet something so great in the every day.

If you know me, I've always loved all things inspirational, so when I realized I have never intentionally watched the sunrise, you best believe I was setting my alarm to be inspired (mind you at 5:37, yay-rah). I went to bed feeling pretty excited hoping to grab a cup of coffee, do my devotional, and take the most beautiful picture of a sunrise ever and make all my Instagram followers think I was a real go- getter. But things don't always go as planned, now do they?

That alarm blared at 5:30, and I was in the middle of one of the best dreams I've ever had. You know the kind where you just don't wanna wake up because it's that good? Yes, that was me, and my alarm clock shattered my dream, literally. So I got up confused and annoyed, and then I remembered I was supposed to be inspired. I was not inspired. Not in the least. I almost, almost, almost went back to bed, and then I remembered my dream was ruined, so I proceeded to make my way outside.

Because I've always been terrible with directions and never really used a compass like ever I went to the wrong side of the house, which would have been the most convenient side of the house. I had already planned where to put my stuff and take the picture, and so then I had to pack up shop and move to the other side of the house, where there was no seating and no place for my coffee and a super tall tree line, of course.

The sky was kind of pinkish, and I saw no signs of the sun, and to be honest with you it was kind of cold and damp. And again I almost gave up and went inside, but then I remembered that setting my alarm and ruining my dream would have been a waste, so I stayed, and I am so glad that I did.

I waited past 5:37. It was 5:40 actually. The internet lied to me, and I almost gave up again. And then through the branches of the trees, I could see this ever so tiny glow, The sun. Oh yes, the sun was coming. This was what I had waited for.. and the stupid tree line was in my way. I ran and got my car keys because now I was invested, and I'l de darn I was gonna see this sunrise.

I drove to the end of the road, where I debated putting on my hazards and parking, and then I realized within a couple of minutes the sun was now completely visible from my house and moving quickly, so I rounded to corner real quick back home.

I sat in my car in the driveway, and watched that ever so small glow completely take over the sky. Like it literally hurt your eyes to look completely at it; it was pure radiance, and I was mesmerized. And as the sun rose, the temperature did as well, not gradually but immediately. Just the presence of the sun changed everything. And it was here that I was humbled.

Each and every morning, not one every now and then, but faithfully every single morning, God gives us a sunrise, a beautiful reminder of His love every day. I have been on this earth for 21 years, and I have never intentionally watched the sun rise, never. And it's there for me every day. God is so faithful to us and loves us unconditionally despite how seldom we stop to appreciate it.

The key word of this morning for me was intentionality. I intentionally focused in on the sunrise, and what I saw was so spectacular that you won't ever understand unless you experience it for yourself. Every tiny obstacle of that sunrise morning made me re- evaluate and make a decision that the pursuit was invaluable. I was intentional about it. When I was looking at the sun, I was so focused on it that nothing else around me mattered. What if we intentionally seek out Jesus like I did the sunrise? Expecting to look and find something so lovely and so radiant. Like wow, that would be so super cool. And I'm preaching to myself here. I think it's no coincidence that God calls the sun, the sun because we see the Son through it.

The presence of the sun immediately impacted everything and everyone around it, like as soon as it came out, the world warmed up. The world was different. That my friends is the perfect illustration of the picture of my friend, Jesus. He changes things, y'all! In His presence there is an immediate and noticeable difference. Can I get an "Amen, hallelujah!" So good, Jesus is so good. Darkness flees and the light of day breaks through. Thank Jesus for sunrises!

Some people will say, "Kristen, if you got all that out of a sunrise, I just don't know about you." And that's okay because I didn't believe something as small as a sunrise could have such a significant God impact in my life, and you won't know either unless you experience it yourself. Like I feel the love of Jesus all around me as I write this, and it's awesome, so good y'all. Intentionally wake up and pursue the sunrise, and see if the Son doesn't intentionally seek and pursue you!

Thank you, Annie Downs. You were so right!