Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a perfect morning as I kick off this new day of a new week and I have a Heart overflowing with Gratitude after my time with the Living God today. We had a little Talk about Trust and about my Purpose and He showed me in Black & White the Wisdom I need…not just for today…but for every day of my Journey through this Life. The Author and Perfecter of my Faith reminded me that my walk as a Christian calls for me to be eager to Listen and Learn to the One who died for me and to always be Willing to be Obedient to His Call in my Life…no matter what. Tuning into the Living God is the key to Wisdom, Peace, Joy, and Strength. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

Being a Christian has nothing to do with DNA or genealogy. It has nothing to do with going to church or singing songs. Just saying you’re a Christian doesn’t make you a Christian, and just saying you Believe in Christ doesn’t either. The Bible says that even the demons believe and they shudder and tremble in fear at the sound of Jesus’ Name. Wearing a cross around your neck doesn’t make you a Christian. Neither does exchanging the word “luck” with the word “blessed.” Being a Christian doesn’t mean you’re perfect or that you don’t make mistakes…it just means you’re filled with remorse when you do and you rush to the Cross for Forgiveness as fast as you can. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you’re better than anybody else because of your Faith. Doing good things for others doesn’t make you a Christian. Being a “good person” makes you easier to be around, but that doesn’t make you a Christian either. Being a Christian means that you Surrender your life to Christ. Being a Christian means that you belong to Him and not to yourself. Being a Christian means that you long please Him and that you’re willing to put in the Time to refine your Heart to be more like Him…and you never stop Seeking Knowledge and Truth for the Journey. I am a Christian.

I get a little annoyed sometimes when people tell me how “lucky” I am. Although I am grateful beyond measure and I never cease to give thanks for the blessings in my life… from my Faith…to my family…to this old farm…to my heart that has been Tenderized by the King…even to the ministry He allows me to be a part of each day. NONE of these things have anything to do with me being “lucky.” God doesn’t love me more than He loves anybody else and He hasn’t blessed me more either. What they see from afar is not about me – it’s all about Him. They look at the beauty of this old farm and they read the Words that have been Delivered from the throne of God and all they see is the Sweetness. Some people make excuses for their lives and they’ll suggest that if they had my life then they could be “happy too.” But nobody knows all the crevices of my life. Nobody sees all the flaws. Nobody had a front-row seat as I’ve been Tenderized and broken by the Living God over and over and over again (be careful what you wish for). What they see from afar has nothing at all to do with me being lucky. What they see from afar is my heart for the King. What they see is Christ. I am a Christian.

Why do the boundary lines fall upon me in pleasant places and why does it look like I’m “lucky” to you? I’ll let God answer that in His own Words: “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

I am a Christian.

How about you?

Are you leaning on some lame definition of what it means to be a Christian while you lack joy, peace, compassion, and love in your life? IF so, reach out to me. It might be time for you to truly understand what a relationship with Christ looks like and when I’m done with you your life will take on a whole new “look” too!