Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s impossible for me NOT to smile when I watch the Master wake up the world day after day and year after year. No matter the Condition of my Heart when I first wake up, it doesn’t take long before I’m filled with an Attitude of Gratitude and overwhelmed with Joy from the front porch of this old farm. Sometimes I wonder what the world would look like if everybody sought His face first thing in the morning, and if every one of His Children understood the importance of sacrificing just for the Privilege of sitting in the Presence of the Most High God. As for me, I can almost hear the voice of my God saying, “Rise and shine, child!” and the thought of the Master wanting to meet with me makes getting up earlier than my body wants to a piece of cake. From where I sit, losing a little sleep is just a minor sacrifice for the honor to be in His Presence…a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the One who died for me. If the Author and Perfector of my Faith expects me to “rise and shine” all day long in the Name of Jesus Christ, then I need to be sure that I’m Ready! I am an Ambassador for the King of all kings, and every “sacrifice” I make in His Name is small in comparison to the Price He paid for me. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith, too?

To Rise and Shine in the wee hours of a new day is a choice that involves a minor schedule adjustment for most people. For me, it’s not always easy to get my body to cooperate with my Heart, but I know that if I need to “Rise and Shine” in the Mighty Name of Jesus all day long to fulfill my Purpose, then being Equipped is non-negotiable. So…I make the effort, and I allow Him to fill my Heart and Soul every morning, and I am confident that I will RISE AND SHINE all day long because I’ve been made Ready with the touch of the Master’s Hand. My Faith isn’t something that makes me feel good about my life; my Life has a Purpose, and that Purpose has nothing to do with me at all. My Faith isn’t what I do or say, my Faith is WHO I AM. Because I Believe in every word of His Word, I already know that I was Chosen before the foundations of the earth to fulfill a specific Purpose He Created ME to fulfill. I understand that my Faith isn’t about me feeling warm and fuzzy or getting “enough sleep”- it’s all about Him and His Call on my Life to “Rise and Shine” every day so that others will see Him in me by the way I Live, Love, and Speak. Pleasing Him is my first priority, and He’s much more important to me than “sleeping in”.

If I Rise up and Speak up about the Love, the Hope, and the Power of my God despite opposition and persecution, then my Faith will take on a Life of its own, and my Faith will be unshakeable for all the world to see. If I Shine with Joy, Peace, Love, and Compassion as I go throughout my day, despite how I might be treated in return, then my Faith won’t be easily overlooked by anybody, and my Light has the potential to inspire others to want to know more about me and the God who makes me “different.” Unless I’m willing to Rise and Shine, then the Fruit of my Faith will be limited to how I feel on the inside and “what’s in it for me”…but it’s not about me. I don’t want to be like a selfish child not willing to share; instead, I want to Share everything about my God…every Miraculous Detail surrounding who I once was and how He’s Transformed me. My “business” IS their business when it comes to Sharing my Faith – so, I RISE and SHINE every day, and that’s just the way it will be until He calls me Home.

How about you?