Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I had the most important meeting of any day with the Living God to give my thanks, my praise, and to make my requests known to Him. Although it’s destined to be another hot summer day in Virginia, the temperature this morning was 60°…perfection! We’ll be hosting the family tonight for dinner, and there is no doubt we’ll find our way to the front porch before it’s all said and done. Over the years, there have been all kinds of “meetings” that have taken place on this front porch. Sometimes it’s with the family, sometimes with a friend, and there have been plenty of business meetings hosted from the front porch too. No matter who I find myself spending time with on this old porch, the conversations always seem to evolve into discussions about my faith and my God. Peace lives here, and it can be felt by everyone who visits, whether for business or for pleasure. Although the great view from the porch gets a whole lot of credit for that, the farm isn’t the source of the peace at all.

Peace isn’t something we see…peace is something we feel. Although peace can be enhanced by a beautiful setting, peace erupts from within the heart, and it can fill the senses of others around the source of the Peace. Peace feels like a warm summer breeze and a breath of fresh air all at the same time. Peace prompts relaxation, and it often leads to a transparent heart because the heart feels safe to be in the presence of Peace. Peace always resonates with love, and peace can feel like the warmest embrace you’ve ever had because of it. Once you experience true Peace, you never seem to get enough of it. Like a moth drawn to light, others are drawn to the Peaceful ones. Peace is a treasure and a precious gift, but peace doesn’t come easily, and peace is something that needs to be guarded all the time. It’s when we don’t guard our peace that others will try to steal a little bit of it for themselves, as if taking yours away from you will grow theirs – but it doesn’t work that way.

This old farm in Virginia is a blessing beyond measure to me, my family, and to everyone who visits. It has flaws and unfinished projects in every direction, but that doesn’t seem to matter much to those who drop by. The Peace always seems to outshine the flaws, and before you know it, everything about this old farm is beautiful to them from the inside out. For those who already share my faith, they understand what’s behind the farm and where the Peace really comes from. For those who haven’t embraced my faith (yet), they’re still trying to figure out why they feel so good when they visit the farm, and that’s my open invitation to share Jesus Christ with them! He is the reason for the Peace I love and guard with everything within me. “Peace like a river”.

I’m one of the Peaceful ones, and although I’m always willing to share my heart, my Faith, the front porch, and anything else that I have…NOBODY has permission to disrupt my life or rob me of my peace. I’ve been criticized for rejecting a few “needy” ones along the way, but I know that it’s the enemy that comes to rob, kill, and destroy, and I see trouble coming from miles away. Peace will always come first because Peace is the center of my Relationship with the King of all kings.

I’ll be guarding my peace today like I do every other day of my life. I’ll turn all the troubles over to Him, because it makes no sense for me to “own them” when He’s the Lighthouse of my Life. I’ll look to fill the needs where I can, and I’ll do my share of loving and encouraging today. I’ll even toss out a little Wisdom while I’m at it! I serve the Prince of Peace, and I know what it feels like to live a Life filled with Peace…and it shows… especially from the front porch of this old farm. If anything or anyone comes along with the intent of taking my peace from me, I’ll just close the door and refuse to surrender it.

How about you?