Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The house is filled with grandkids this week, and “chaos” is filling up my world that has been quiet for decades…and I love it! What a treasure it is to be Blessed with a “next generation” to love and to nurture…and to create memories with! Having the grandkids at the farm is a whole lot like watching these geese trying to find their formation; it may look a little scattered for a little while, but eventually everything falls into alignment, and before you know it, you wish the beautiful formation would never end. Because there is so much to do and so little time this morning, I was inclined to hit the ground running without taking the time to Share the Message that the Lord shared with me…but the Living God would have no part of it. In a matter of seconds, He set me straight to Remind me that what I do, I DO FOR HIM, and in a matter of seconds, I was asking for forgiveness for my selfish Heart that could so easily have put busyness ahead of my Savior. It’s not as simple as “not having time” when the King sets you on a Heavenly Mission, and the human sacrifices don’t always come easy. But if I don’t want to “lose” the Gift that’s been poured into me, then I need to be sure to Follow Directions. Paying it forward is what I do for the Most High God, and striving to Please Him is what keeps me going. As long as I Walk in the Spirit and not in my flesh, I can do anything! Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy for us to pick and choose for ourselves where we’ll spend our time, and we easily follow the heart even when it doesn’t always make sense. Some people have mastered the game of shuffling from one thing to another like a never-ending game of ping pong, and they’re so busy chasing their pleasures that they never really accomplish anything at all. Some people prefer to live on “Easy Street” and they would never consider taking on the tough things as long as they can avoid them. Some people live in limbo, never committing to anything just in case something better comes along. Some people are too afraid to step up, while others don’t even know what stepping up looks like. It’s human nature to migrate toward what brings us the most pleasure, and it’s the nature of man to justify why we’re not paying attention to the other details while we chase our own pleasures. We walk through this life looking for perpetual picnics and where we’ll have the most fun. But the only Genuine Pleasure to ever be had comes when we Walk in the Spirit, instead of in the flesh. It exhausts me to think about what it would be like to live a life driven by my own agenda and only for my own pleasure, and it breaks my heart to see so many lost in the web of selfishness. Living for ourselves and only for our own pleasure is an empty place, and it never ends up for Good when we do. It’s impossible to Serve the Living God while we’re busy serving ourselves – we only begin to Live for Him when we’re willing to die to ourselves. This is the key to fulfillment, contentment, and peace!

Some people have no idea about what it is to “walk in the Spirit” and it’s impossible to explain what it’s like to someone if they’ve never experienced the Journey for themselves. Some roll their eyes and consider it all nonsense. Some see the Fruit that comes by Walking in the Spirit and they are inclined to credit talent or theatrics…even the ones that should know better. Some see the Light of someone else Walking in the Spirit, and they get jealous because of the Benefits that come with the Job. Some are so critical that they’ll look for an underlying “agenda” because they don’t understand supernatural Gifts and talents when they see them. Some people are so selfish that they can’t digest the idea that anybody could ever really be selfless, OR why they would want to be. Some confuse the Light with limelight, and they can’t see the beauty while too busy judging the Purpose of the Light.

I understand what these people are like because I used to be one myself…UNTIL God called me out of my selfishness and Equipped me to Work just for Him. All those things I worried about giving up were overshadowed by Beauty, and all those things I fretted over wanting to accomplish just for myself were Out-shined by my Work for Jesus Christ instead. I’m serving Him even when it isn’t easy…even when it’s chaotic…even when it looks a little disheveled like the geese trying to find their way… and I’m loving every minute of the Journey.

How about you?