Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Master as He woke up the world on this cool October morning from inside the farmhouse, and I’m already missing my time on the front porch as the season sets in. This morning, my Heart was overflowing with Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me and for how He has sustained me for such a time as this. It’s always busy around the farm, that’s for sure. It always has been and always will be, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But sometimes, when you add just one more thing to the equation, I need a long pause before I get back on my feet. This morning, as I paused, my Heart refused to stop Celebrating the Blessing of watching His Plans for my Life come TO life right before my very eyes. All these years I’ve breathed Living Waters into the Heart of my family, first my children and then my grandchildren, and now I get to Celebrate that “I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain”. One by one, they’ve accepted Christ as their Savior, and now one by one I’ve had the honor of baptizing my grandchildren in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He never ceases to amaze me at how He shows and moves every Heart if we’re just Willing to walk in His Will and not our own. His Name truly is Wonderful.

My Life is living proof that God can take a broken vessel and mend it into a Mission. It doesn’t matter where I’ve been in the past or how many times I’ve failed, He can still use me to Glorify Himself if I’m just willing to Walk in His will and not my own. When I’m in His will, “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength”. When I’m in His will, I know that if I “have faith the size of a mustard seed,” I can move mountains. When I’m in His will, my lack of natural talent transforms me into an “expert” in ways that amaze me. When I’m in His will, I can find supernatural strength to endure any storm. When I’m in His will, I am unshakable. When I’m in His will, I can forgive any wrong. When I’m in His will, I can love the “unlovable” because I know they were made in His image and He doesn’t want anyone to perish. When I’m in His will, I find just the right words at just the right time to minister to a broken heart. When I’m in His will, I can do all things because He is the one who will Produce the results if I’m just willing to plant seeds. When I’m in His will, my life shines with Purpose, and it’s when I step out of His will that I fall and I fail.

Making sure that I’m walking in His will isn’t always easy, even though I know firsthand the beauty that comes by way of Obedience. But I can so easily surrender to my own will and my own thoughts, and when it “feels” right, I can put God’s name on it and label it His will if I’m not careful. But walking in His will doesn’t always make sense, and it isn’t always smooth sailing for me or anybody else. Sometimes it requires that we stretch far outside of our comfort zone, and sometimes the direction makes no sense to the human mind…but that’s what Faith looks like. Sometimes walking in His will makes no sense at all when we’re looking through the eyes and not the Heart, and if we’re not careful, we’ll refuse to walk at all because we’re too busy attempting to rationalize the Journey. Walking in His will produces Joy, and walking in His will is where miracles happen! So it’s His will I seek and not my own, and I will always be Victorious because of it. His will is Perfect, and His Name is Wonderful.

When the rest of the world was focused on getting their children to be the best athletes, to win the most trophies, or to get the best grades, I was focused on the Living God and getting my children onto the Jesus Team. It didn’t make sense to so many people watching from the sidelines back then, but I’m pretty sure it makes sense to them now! The Rewards my children (and grandchildren) will receive One Day will far outshine any of their accomplishments here on earth. Sadly, those earthly accomplishments will fade away faster than they will despite the time and effort that went into achieving them. Because of Him, my kids are confident THEY CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES THEM STRENGTH. It’s no secret that I got a lot of things wrong in my life, and I’ve fallen more times than I care to admit, but the Greatest Part – the Eternal Part – the Part where we’re called to raise up a godly generation…I got that part right!

I’m walking in His will in every area of my Life, even (especially) when it makes no sense to me. After all, it makes absolutely no sense from the human perspective that “a wretch like me” could be Refined by the Hand of Jesus Christ to raise up a godly generation. His Name is Wonderful and I’ll be following Him all the days of my Life. After that, I’ll be spending Eternity with Him AND all the kids and grandkids will be there too!

To God be the glory for my Faith-filled family – a family that could have ended up in an entirely different direction IF NOT for the Promise Keeper who Sustains me…and for my Obedience to His will over my family.

We are Victorious because His Name is Wonderful!

His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

He is the mighty King; Master of everything

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

He’s the great Shepherd;

The Rock of all ages

Almighty God is He

Bow down before Him; Love and adore Him

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord