Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and beautiful on this January morning and I couldn’t get in the presence of God fast enough to let His Word nourish my soul. We’ve been praying for rain in Virginia and God gave us an abundance a few days ago. When I look at the pond that has been restored to its “normal” state by the rain, I think about my Life. When I look at the fields still overflowing with water, I think about my Life and how when my “levels” are low all I have to do is seek His face and I’m filled up all over again too. When I look at the geese and how they are drawn to the fields for their nourishment, I think about my Life and how Jesus is the source of my Nourishment before and after the “storms.” Isn’t it just like our Mighty God to use a heavy rain over a simple farm in Virginia to speak to my Heart this morning?

It isn’t always easy to carry the Torch for Jesus Christ in a dark world. Naturally, those of us who boldly Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ expect to be rejected because most people don’t want to hear the Truth and because they’re threatened when their darkness can’t exist in the Light. It doesn’t feel good to be Rejected for attempting to share the most wonderful Gift of all, but it’s not surprising because the Bible tells us what to expect as followers of Jesus – “they will hate you because of me”. But no matter how many times we’re “rejected” by one of our own, we’re as shocked and as hurt as we were the very first time it ever happened. Christian meanness is the worst kind of meanness and it’s no wonder the Bible reminds us over and over to be kind and loving toward one another – something that should come naturally for the family of God…but it doesn’t. When Jesus stood before Peter, He knew where the source of the “meanness” was coming from and He dealt with “it” head-on when He said, “GET BEHIND ME SATAN!” When we encounter meanness from one of our brothers or sisters, the only way to endure is to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” and that Satan is on temporary assignment through them to cause dissension. This is the key to Peace no matter how we’re treated in this Life.

It’s no wonder so many people have a problem with Christians when they see how we (sometimes) treat one another and how quickly we turn on them when we see their sin. I recently read about Billy Graham’s response to a question about the sin of Brother Jimmy Swaggart who was publically exposed for his sin – “If it happened to Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart it could happen to me. This holy man of God won thousands of souls for Christ. He is already wounded; let us not finish him, let us heal and lift our soldier”. Billy Graham portrayed a Christlike love to many fallen Soldiers over the years. Jim Bakker (televangelist) was arrested in 1988 on fraud charges and was convicted in federal court in Charlotte, NC. Bakker recalled the time Rev. Graham visited him in prison unannounced. “Probably my lowest moment of that day and I was cleaning toilets,” Bakker said. “He threw his arms around me and said ‘Jim, I love you.” At a time when countless Christians were (practically) screaming “Crucify him!” Billy Graham saw them through the eyes of Christ instead. I want to be like Billy Graham – a genuine Reflection of Jesus.

I work as hard as I can to share Jesus Christ with the world and I’m Unstoppable because I care only about what He thinks of me – not what the world thinks of me. I’ll keep turning the other cheek (instead of debating the Truth) because that’s what Christ tells me to do. I’ll turn the other cheek a thousand times if that’s what it takes and I’ll love my brothers and sisters ESPECIALLY when they sin because I’m called to spur them on in the Journey of Faith and because that’s what Jesus does for me. He died for me. He has already forgiven every sin. He has prepared a place for me. He’s my Hope and my Future. So, if I have to take a few hits here and there…if I have to be shunned because I’m a woman feeding sheep when others believe Christ can’t use me…if I turn black and blue from the hits I take for my Faith…it’s all worth it to me. I’ve already died to myself and, as the Apostle Paul said, “If God be for us, who can be against us”. Amen?