Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I spent the first part of this new day outside on the porch and I listened in the dark as nature came to life. No orchestra could hold a candle to the sounds I heard, and it was as if nature was celebrating the God I Serve right along with me. By the time the sun came up, I was already filled with awe over the Work of the Master’s Hand in my Life, and from this porch. No artist could ever paint anything as beautiful as what I see when I look at Life with Eyes for Him. Sometimes I study my Instruction Manual. Sometimes I sit in silence. Sometimes I fall at His feet. Sometimes I just weep. And sometimes, like this morning, all I can do is Praise Him for His Majesty. “If the stars were made to worship, so will I.” Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

I think some people believe that all I do is sit around on the front porch taking in the view, but that’s not true. My life is busier than most people know, and most of what I stay busy with isn’t outside at all. I understand the Importance of Time with the Living God and I understand the Value of Peace…AND I guard both with everything I’ve got. I know what Life looks like when it’s consumed by things of this world, and that’s not a place I’m willing to go or a price I’m willing to pay…the loss of Peace and Trust in the Plans of the God of all. I don’t “question” what He’s up to because I Trust in His Master Plan. I don’t “tell Him” what’s going on in the dark world because He’s the One to allow it. I don’t cry out for Him to reckon with the evil in my country because He already sees it and He’s letting it roll for this Season for His Purpose. Sometimes I wonder if He’s allowing it all to see what His People do. Will they focus on the dark world and how they’re going to “fix it?” Will they rant and rave to anyone who will listen to be sure the message gets through? Will they sprinkle a little “God” into what they do and say to validate their hate and agenda? OR will they fall to their knees in Surrender to the One with the Master Plan? Will they Praise Him no matter what’s going on?

It’s not that I don’t care about what’s going on in the world around me, it’s that I know I can’t “serve two masters” – the more time I give to the dark world and its agenda, the LESS Time I give to the One who Created it. Garbage in, garbage out. It’s not possible to fill up with a good dose of all the horrific things going on in the world and fill yourself up with Praise for the Living God at the same time. Of all the things we could say or do to make the world a better place, NOTHING can hold a candle to the Love and Light of Jesus Christ. That’s what the world needs more of, and that’s what God’s People are Called to do. The more we talk about all the injustices, the less we talk about the Living God…the only Hope any of us really have. The more we talk about the dire future of America, the less we talk about Heaven! We only exist to Glorify God, and we’ve all been given the same Great Commission…the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ…the ONLY message that can make a difference at all. Things can’t get better “in the White House” unless God’s House is in order…and right now, there’s garbage coming in and garbage going out. Oh, how my God must mourn to be taking the back seat for Time and Attention as His people chase the darkness instead.

I began this new day Praising God for who He is and what He does for me. I accept my Assignment of the Great Commission and I do my best to live it out each day. If you want to talk politics and/or the deterioration of this wonderful nation of ours, I won’t be engaging. Not because I don’t care. Not because I don’t think it’s impacting life in America or that I don’t believe our freedom is being lost. But because I know that HE IS FREEDOM and I can’t serve two masters…this dark world and all of its ugliness and the One with the Master Plan. I’ve got Peace that surpasses all understanding at one of the worst times in our history…and I’ll have Peace every step of the way because my focus is on Him. My Trust is in Him. My role is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How about you?

“If the stars were made to worship, so will I

If the mountains bow in reverence, so will I

If the oceans roar Your greatness, so will I

For if everything exists to lift You high, so will I

If the wind goes where You send it, so will I

If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I

If the sum of all our praises still falls shy

Then we’ll sing again a hundred billion times”