Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a glorious day in Virginia. The nights are cool and the days are warm, and I’m enjoying every minute of my favorite Season. I could feel the sun on my face as I was praying in this new day from the front porch, and when I opened my eyes, what I saw took my breath away. The sunbeam in this photo reminded me of my Journey of Faith – bright, beautiful, and “hovering” between my Final Destination and my Temporary Assignment. What an amazing God to speak to my Heart through a sunbeam. When I turned in last night, I was longing for a good night’s sleep, but what I ended up with was naps sandwiched in between prayers throughout the night. I’d fall asleep, and the Lord would wake me up to bring someone to mind, and then I’d stay awake long enough to Intercede on their behalf. What may sound like misery to you was an honor to me that my God would see fit to take me from my slumber to the Sonbeam to pray. My heart was a little heavy, but not for myself…it was heavy for a few others desperately in need of the Touch of the Master’s Hand – even though they don’t know it – and I can feel their pain as surely as if it’s my own. As I woke countless times throughout the night to enter into the Presence of the Source of Hope, I appealed on their behalf, AND I thanked God for what He’s already doing to Restore. I Praised Him for Victory without even seeing it yet, I thanked Him for answering my Prayers before I even heard of them being answered, and I thanked Him for waking me up. Isn’t that the way you Intercede on behalf of others, too?

God Refined me through fire a long time ago, and He Tenderized my Heart for the Journey. He taught me about my Journey on the Sonbeam and the urgency that surrounds my Journey between my Final Destination and my Temporary Assignment. He’s given me the kind of Heart it takes to look beyond the circumstances, flaws, or the “past” of someone else so that I can SEE the God Potential with 20/20 Vision. I can see them on the Mountain when they’re still in the valley. I can see them walking the straight line of Faith even when they’re zigzagging right now. I can see them turning from their “wicked ways” even when they’re still wallowing in them. I don’t care what they’ve done in the past because I know what’s in store for their Future with just one Touch of the Master’s Hand. It’s not easy Loving this way sometimes, but it’s the way we’re called to Love, and the parable of the lost sheep is proof that we should never give up on the “lost” ones, no matter how far they wander off. If I don’t want God giving up on me, then who am I that I would give up on a brother or sister of mine?

I’m the kind of Friend you’d want on your side…the kind that will lose sleep to pray for you instead…But I need to warn you, while I’m at it, if there’s anything that troubles my Heart, it’s watching a life with Divine Purpose being squandered away as if there’s all the time in the world to waste. So, I’ll use the rod and staff of my Shepherd to help spur them on, and I’ll tap into Divine Wisdom to show them the way. I’ll love them as if it depends on me, and I’ll pray like it depends on God. I KNOW there’s potential for so much more in His Name, and I’ll pray like it…lead like it…and Love like it in hopes that One Day soon they’ll join me on the Sunbeam so that they can see themselves the way Christ does. Sometimes having a Heart that’s been Refined to feel Compassion for others is not an easy thing to bear…but when I think about what Jesus had to bear to take on all my sins, all in the Name of Love, it makes the Journey worthwhile.

I’ll “carry burdens” for my friends throughout this busy day, and I’ll be praying as I go because that’s what it looks like when you focus on the Sonbeam. I refuse to watch someone squander a life with Divine Purpose if there is anything I can do to turn them back to the Throne, so I’ll do my part to help them hunger for the Touch of the Master’s Hand, where the Victory is found.

After all, isn’t that really what Friends are for?