Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. God added a beautiful layer of snow to the fields while I was in Pittsburgh to celebrate the 13th birthday of my first grandson. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall there is no place like home to me. It’s bitter cold this morning, and there won’t be any melting today, but with a hot cup of coffee and a warm Heart, all is well with the world to me. I sat in His Presence for the longest time this morning Preparing for this new day and all that the Alpha and Omega has Planned for me in the days ahead. I’m Excited about His Plans for me and how He will be using me all the days of my life here on earth BECAUSE I’m Armed and Ready… I’m Tenderized and Transformed! I spent years in the desert being Prepared for this precise moment in Time and I was born for such a time as this! Some people will be in a tailspin today over something as simple as a snowfall and some people will hide under the bed over what’s going on in this dark world, but not me because I’ve been to the desert and I’m Prepared for it all. In the desert, I found my Strength and I learned to Lean on Him and I learned that there is no good thing in me apart from Him. I’m a Willing Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and I’m certain that if I keep my focus OFF myself and ON Him, I’ll be Serving Him with honor until He calls me Home…AND I’ll always be Victorious. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

Most people do everything in their power to avoid time in the desert but it’s in the desert where God does His greatest Work on the human Heart. Paul spent three years in Arabia – Moses spent 40 years wandering – Joseph was in Egypt for 13 years – and David spent many years hiding away from King Saul. When we see people soaring in Service to the King of all kings, you’ll always hear that they were sent to the desert first to Prepare their Hearts. This is true from the saints of the Old Testament to people we rub elbows with today. It takes a desert experience to Prepare. Understanding this part is the Key to Peace and having the Heart it takes to see (and Believe) that all things really do work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose. I received plenty of War wounds while in the desert and “proudly” wear them in the Name of Jesus Christ today as a Witness to how a Mighty God can Transform even the hardest of Hearts with just a little Time in the desert.

Be careful what you wish for in your Journey of Faith – if you sincerely want God to enlarge your territory it’s probably going to involve some time in the desert where “no pain, no gain” takes on New Meaning. After all, if anybody knows how stubborn and selfish the human heart is, God does, and He Knows how to Tenderize the Willing Ones! He Knows that in order to accomplish His Greatest Work through us, He first needs to throw us into the desert…like a spiritual sink-or-swim Experience designed to Strengthen His people. It’s definitely an Honor to be used for Kingdom Work no doubt about that, but it always comes with a price for the Privilege. In the desert, God changes us and removes things that hold us back and make us “useless”. In the desert, He forces us to draw upon His Grace alone. Thank God, the desert is only a short (but Powerful) Season in our Journey of Faith. When He has accomplished what He wants in our lives in the desert, He will bring us out and when He does, we see Kingdom Work in an entirely different Light. God has given each one of us a Mission to fulfill that can only be Fulfilled after we have spent adequate Time being Prepared in the desert. Have no fear of the desert and don’t avoid it like the plague if you desire to be used by the King, because it’s in the desert where you’ll hear His Voice like never before, and it’s there where you’ll receive your Marching Orders for this Journey called Life.

The ground is covered in snow but I’ve been more focused on the desert of my past than what I see with my eyes this morning. I’ve been in the desert and I came out Victorious AND I always will because He promises me that. I have a Testimony that could make the toughest man cry but I wouldn’t change a thing about my Journey. It took the desert to Refine me into the Vessel I am today and my territory just keeps getting bigger and bigger because of it. Be careful what you “wish” for if you want to be a Vessel used by the King of all kings, it always comes with a “price” to Prepare. There are no words for my Gratitude for a God who loves me enough to take me to the desert so that I can have the privilege of doing Kingdom work on this side of Heaven until I draw my last breath.

How about you?