MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Condry’s and RRSN

by | Dec 25, 2024 | Headlines, RRSN News, Spiritual Development, Sports Devotionals, Uncategorized | 0 comments

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The “Most Important Hour”

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). 

A couple of years ago, a dear friend of mine sent me a book called the “Most Important Hour.”

He told me “I think you will like it, if you give it a chance.”   The pages of the “Most Important Hour” for the most part are blank.  It’s a journal. 

The mindset is simply to rise early in the morning (my time is between 4:45 a.m.-5:30 a.m.) and spend the first hour of the day with God.  So, each morning, I follow the same routine with one goal in mind.  To seek ye first the kingdom of God that day.

While I am enjoying my freshly brewed coffee, I open up my journal and I have an intimate conversation with God on what my blessings are. What I am thankful for and every morning, I write a letter to GOD. Sometimes it’s a paragraph, and sometimes it’s two pages.

The way I look at it was, if Jesus made this a common practice and discipline, I needed to do it as well.   Mark 1:35 says “Jesus rose up very early in the morning, while it was still dark to pray in a solitary place, ” It is important to note the connection between Jesus’s ministry and his prayer life.  In Mark 1:32-34, Jesus healed all the sick in the town and cast out all the demons. Mark tells us that this ministry took place after sunset.

Rather than sleeping in after this amazing ministry, Mark notes that Jesus got up before the sunrise in order to pray.  I’m sure that Jesus was exhausted, but he knew that his strength came from God the Father, so his prayer time could not be compromised.  It is clear that Jesus’s ability to minister powerfully came from as a result of his prayer time. These two are intimately connected.  What we do first thing in the morning over time says a lot about our true priorities.  In general, we have our best energy in the mornings, after we’ve just slept, and once we’re fully awake.

To what or to whom will we give the first fruits of each day’s time and attention? For me, it’s simply seeking first the kingdom of God each and every morning. So, our prayer this CHRISTmas season is that you get to know this God of ours closer than you ever have before.

So, join me first thing each morning.  You will understand why it’s the most important hour of the day! 

Merry CHRISTmas and God’s Blessings Always!   Paul and Tonya Condry

Related Stories

THE 2025 INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST INSIDER – WEEK SEVEN

BY PAUL CONDRY AND MATT KOPSEA NEWS AND NUGGETS Rensselaer Central’s Chris Meeks secured his 200th career victory in the Bombers’ 51-0 win over Benton Central. In Lawrence North’s 63-48 win over Warren Central, the two clubs combined for more than 1,100 total yards of...

ICE BREAKER MEN’S HOCKEY TOURNAMENT BEGINS

ICE BREAKER TOURNAMENT –by John Fineran WHAT: The unofficial beginning of the NCAA Division I college hockey season administered by College Hockey, Inc. on behalf of the Hockey Commissioners Association. WHO: Notre Dame (Big Ten) (0-0-0), Quinnipiac (ECAC) (1-0-0),...

Bethel Women’s Volleyball Falls to No. 13 Mount Vernon

MISHAWAKA, Ind.---The Bethel Pilots (14-9, 6-4) fell to the No. 13 Mount Vernon Nazarene University Cougars (17-5, 8-2) on Wednesday evening in the Gates Gymnasium.  Breyana Bosket led the team in kills (nine).  Paige Franz led the team in...

AROUND THE REGION – WEEK EIGHT

BY FRANK KIELPIKOWSKI Fall weather is upon us and with it comes exciting October football in the Region. The IHSAA tournament kicks off in two weeks and in fact, the pairings will be unveiled on Sunday (October 12) with my boss, Paul Condry, Brendan King, and Bob...

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS FLAG TO KICK OFF FIRST-EVER POSTSEASON TODAY

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS FLAG TO KICK OFF FIRST-EVER POSTSEASON TODAY Indianapolis – The Indianapolis Colts today celebrated the kickoff of the first high school girls flag football postseason, which begins today. Fall 2025 was the first season of girls flag as an “emerging...

VU Volleyball Earns Road Sweep at UIC Tuesday

Volleyball Earns Road Sweep at UIC Tuesday The Valpo volleyball team conquered one of its toughest nemeses in recent years in Missouri Valley Conference action Tuesday evening in table-turning fashion, heading to Chicago and coming away with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-23,...

FIGHTING IRISH CLASSIC

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Results after Tuesday’s final round of the Fighting Irish Classic on the par-70, 7,023-yard Warren Golf Course at the University of Notre Dame: TEAM STANDINGS UCLA (833: 279-273-281) (-7) Baylor Larrabee 69-67-70—206 (-4) T5. Kyle...

THE 2025 INDIANA FOOTBALL DIGEST’S DANDY DOZEN – WEEK SEVEN

CLASS 6A Brownsburg (7-0) Crown Point (7-0) Lawrence North (6-1) Carmel (6-1) Center Grove (6-1) Penn (7-0) Westfield (5-2) Fishers (5-2) Fort Wayne Northrop (6-1) Decatur Central (5-2) Warren Central (5-2) Hamilton Southeastern (4-3) CLASS 5A New Palestine (7-0)...