Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a magnificent morning so I opted for a front-row seat to watch the Master wake up the world today. I can watch the sunrise from any window in this old house, and one day soon that’s what I’ll do as I ride out the winter months. But nothing beats being surrounded by His creation as we ALL stand in awe at the Work of His hands. Isn’t that the way things ought to be in life?

I’m a bold woman of Faith and I’m rarely lost for words. I stand for what I Believe in no matter what, and I’m not too timid to speak up. You can always count on me to stand up for the downcast, and you can count on my Voice to be heard when theirs is too weak or when they are lost for words of their own. I’m passionate and Compassionate. I’m Strong and I’m Courageous. I have unwavering convictions that are sometimes mislabeled as “personal opinions” and I never grow tired of speaking up for my God or for the Truth of His Word. But the purpose of me speaking up isn’t so that I can be heard….I speak up so that HE can be heard. God is the truest definition of Love and Compassion and although He can show His wrath any time He feels like it, His wrath is never abused and it always stems from Love. He doesn’t point fingers or jump down throats just to be heard even though He could…and neither should I.

Christ didn’t treat those who didn’t believe in (or agree) Him with unkindness, bitter words, or tongue lashings; instead, He extended Compassion as He spoke Truth with Love. He showed a Compassionate Heart to the most “unlovable” people and thousands upon thousands of people came to Know Him because of His HEART… NOT because of a heavy hand or bitter words. The way to lead people TO Christ is to mirror His Ways! If Christ didn’t minister to the dark world with a mean Spirit then why are so many Christians? That doesn’t come from Him…it comes from the adversary instead.

Despite my boldness, I know that I’m not the Judge or the Jury and I’m not a fighter at all. In fact, I dodge conflict like the plague and I am a renowned peacemaker in my own world. But when I am called by the Living God to speak up for Righteousness I’m given the Words, the courage, AND THE HEART to do just that. And when I’m called to be a Reflection of His love, His Grace, and His Compassion, I am given a Tender Heart and immeasurable patience to share with another. Every word I speak, every step I take, every day of my life should be a Living Testimony for the Living God, and although I’m not even close to being perfect, I never lose sight of the Goal. When you look at life that way it puts everything into perspective…especially our behavior toward others who don’t know Him. At least it does for me.

I’m as bold as a lion or as gentle as a lamb…I’m whatever He needs me to be at the time and for HIS Purpose and not my own gratification – and it all stems from Love and not hate or judgment. I’m striving to be a beautiful example of the Love of Christ and a Reflection of the nature of my God in a dark and ugly world so that He can be Seen in me and Heard through me in all that I do and all that I am. “The greatest of these is love.”

How about you?