Kristin chronicles life as wife and mother of four with daily musings about what’s cooking at The Schell Café. Passionate about cooking and gathering family around the table, she knows the truth that man cannot live by bread alone and shares her faith story and love for Jesus Christ at The Kitchen Mission. Someday, Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, the two sites will merge. Until then you can find Kristin at her blogs or on twitter @theschellcafe.
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The Schell Café is more than my little nook in the blogosphere, it is quite literally my kitchen. By day, the command center bursts with activity generated by our family of six – meals, snacks, homework, crafts, home office, portal to the backyard and catch-all for backpacks, Legos and tutus.
In the pre-dawn hours of the morning, this normally chaotic space is a quiet refuge. It is my meeting place with the Lord.
For my 40th birthday Husband gave me a prayer couch for the kitchen. Before you google ‘kitchen prayer couch’, rest assured it’s just a regular old sofa I placed in the kitchen, but it is special. This is where I meet the Lord in the throne room of grace.
What does my morning couch time look like?
From an earthly perspective, I guarantee it’s not pretty and bed-head is definitely involved. Very early I make my way downstairs. After several years of this early morning time with the Lord, we’ve both come to expect it, and I usually wake up without an alarm about 5:30 am (although this morning He moved the appointment time up to 4:45 am!).
Cozy on the couch, still in darkness, I greet the Lord with praise and adoration, something like this:
Good Morning Lord. Thank you for the gift of this peaceful, quiet morning. You are an awesome God – the author & perfecter of our faith. You are merciful, righteous & steadfast. You are my rock & my redeemer. My protector. My shepherd. You alone are worthy of all my praise.
As I reach to turn on the lamp Psalm 119:105 floats across my heart:
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
What follows next varies but I always dig in to scripture with my prayer journal close by. Currently, I’m participating in the Bible in 90 Days Challenge. I spend about 30 – 40 minutes on the readings taking notes in the margins of my Bible or in my prayer journal for further study.
During the academic year, I attend our women’s bible study at church. I use my couch time for daily scripture reading of our study. I’m part of the leadership team, but I don’t use couch time for ministry work, although I certainly pray for it!
After time in the Word, or as the Holy Spirit leads, I pray. Really the entire morning is a continuous prayer, but I focus more intently after my readings and like to follow the ACTS prayer. Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication. If the Littles remain asleep, I close my couch time quietly listening to the Lord.
By now the sun filters through the windows and my kitchen begins to buzz. Throughout the day, my prayer couch will host a child needing a band-aid, another wanting hugs, and a hungry Husband waiting for dinner. I smile and my heart is in anticipation of my next meeting with the Lord whose mercies are new every morning.
Blessings,
Kristin
You made me want to schedule an appt at your couch ;) But then I realize I have one, too! Maybe not in my kitchen (I like that idea), but my couch is always free early in the morning. I love your description … so glad you shared.
Thanks Julie. I’d love for you to join me on the couch! It’s seen its share of friends over the years too.
Thank you so much for sharing, Kristin! I do love curling up on my couch and looking out at the sunrise through my patio doors … but your kitchen couch sounds like sheer bliss! Love your heart and your encouragement.
Love it! My favorite time is when the house is quiet in the early morning! It took me years to get there, but it is the sweetest place and time with The Lord!
Blessings,
Stacey
Kristen, I love the whole prayer couch thing! I love that you put it in your kitchen where the hub of activity in our homes takes place!
It’s funny how a “place” can become so significant, but it’s where we make something as simple as a chair or a couch an altar…a place where we meet with the Living God – bask in His presence – seek His face – intercede for others – and find mercy and rest.
I sure wish my kitchen was big enough for a couch! :-)
I really need to set myself a schedule, I just need to have time for me and my saviour xx
Thank you for sharing you couch with us xx
I appreciate what Kristen said about not using her couch time for ministry. I struggle with carving out time for ME to be in the Word, knowing that I’ll be in the Word throughout the day as I work on ministry stuff. I’ve been trying to be more intentional about having time that is solely for me and God, apart from my time in the Word for ministry purposes. I’ve started keeping a scratch pad nearby, though, for when I come across a passage/thought during MY TIME that I can develop later on for ministry purposes.
I do that same thing, Ashley. It can be very difficult to make ourselves commit to that time for God to speak to us about us … but I’ve certainly learned that it makes everything else I do – ministry and otherwise – so much more grace-filled when I am faithful to listen to Him about me first.
Ashley, Not using this time for other works is the hardest thing I face each morning. I’m often so tempted to do ‘just a little work’, ‘quickly check an email’ or ‘get the coffee started’. But, I’ve learned that this is usually the only uninterrupted time of my day to rest in His presence. And He’s so worthy of it!
A few years ago I asked my husband to move one of our recliners into our bedroom for my prayer spot. I urgently requested that nothing else be put on the chair so that it was always available for a quiet prayer. As time passed, the chair became invisible under piles of laundry, pillows or books. This has inspired me to claim my Prayer Chair back for it’s original purpose. Thanks for the encouragement!
Cherie~I had a similar experience happen after my son moved out. I claimed it as my office, prayer chair, treadmill and all. But somehow, every item that didn’t have an immediate home ended up in there and I can’t even get to my chair.
I’m with you. We’re taking back our territory and setting it aside for the Lord! ;-)
So glad y’all are encouraged to take back your special places. Notice you already have these places – can I get an amen for provision?!!? Question for y’all – aren’t treadmills designed to hold clothes?
Kristin_
Thanks so much for sharing. It was a beautiful description of your Quiet Time.
I have enjoyed getting a peek into the Quiet Times of all these beautiful ladies this week. So much fun.
Blessings~
Marita
Kristin, your description made me think of one of my most beloved passages of scripture. It is Psalm 143:8-10 and it says ” Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” One of my favorite musicians, Sherri Youngward, has put these verses to music (along with lots of other scripture) and it is BEAUTIFUL and always stirs my heart to worship the Lord. Thank you for your encouragement in this post. Blessings, Jenny C.
Oh Jenny! Thank you for the sweet reminder of these verses. And for introducing me to Sherri Youngward. I look forward to checking out her music.
Wow. I’m moved, encouraged and inspired. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful piece of your relationship with Christ. :)
WOW! I’m so blessed and encourage by each of your comments. Thank you for the warm welcome here at Scripture Dig. And big thanks to my friends for inviting me to share. I look forward to getting to know each of you as we continue to dig and share together in this special place.
Thank you, Kristin, for your transparency and for letting us have a sneak peak at your most precious time with our God. As you shared, my heart rejoiced with you as I too treasure those early morning minutes with God. They are so special and yet we have to guard and protect that time from so many potential invaders. But it is so worth it. Over the years, it’s been during this special time with God that God has birthed an idea for a drawing for me, or calmed a fear I was battling, or allowed me to dump my concerns and weighty requests at His feet and exchange it with joy…His joy and peace. Phil 4:6-7 talks about that great exchange.
Thank you Kristin for sharing that sweet place with us.