Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Author and Perfector of my Faith painted a magnificent sky this morning; one like no other “artist” in the world could ever create on their own. The Master of the Universe brought the wind on this cool August morning and moved the clouds along to a place where they’ll bless someone else soon. The Great I AM can command the wind to stop with just a whisper and all of nature hears Him when He Speaks. Wow. I like to think that God smiles when He hears His Creation making joyful noises each morning and I like to think that He smiles when I meet with Him and I talk to Him too. More than those little prayers I whisper throughout the day, and more than the song I’ll randomly sing about the King, are the quiet moments when it’s just me and my God. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

It’s an amazing thing when you think about it – I get to meet with the Living God, the King of all kings, the Great “I AM”, the Alpha and Omega, the Prince of Peace, the Bright Morning Star, the Creator of all life, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who breathed life into me, the God who bought my Redemption with the life of His only Son, ANY TIME I want to. In fact, He longs for me to spend time with Him! He’s never too busy for me and He hears me when I speak. He loves me when I’m weak, and He loves me when I’m strong, and there is nothing He won’t forgive me of nor is there a limit to His protection. He knit me together in my mother’s womb. He knows every hair on my head. My prayers are like incense in Heaven to Him and He stores all of my tears in a jar. With all this in mind, why in the world would I NOT take the time to meet with Him each day just to tell Him how I love Him?

It’s sad how some people meet with God out of guilt or a sense of obligation. It’s sad how some people meet with God with a checklist of scriptures and a well-planned agenda. It’s sad how some people set a timer to be sure that God-time doesn’t interfere with their personal schedule. It’s sad how some people think that “meeting with God” in a church building on a Sunday morning should be sufficient for a Relationship with Him. It’s sad that some people never meet with God at all and their “relationship” is confined to a 911 call to Heaven should they ever need anything. I wouldn’t want anybody I care about treating time with me that way…giving me so little attention and so little heart…why would God be happy being treated that way either?

I like to nurture the most Important Relationship in my life as often as I can and spending Time with my God to Surrender each new day to Him is my greatest joy. Sometimes I have to pinch myself when I think about how I am Royalty because I’m a Child of the Living God. Sometimes I get goosebumps when I think about how “He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood”. Sometimes I weep when I think about how He already knew every dirty little secret about me when He gave His life to pay the price for my sins. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed when I think about the Power that is at my fingertips all because of Him. Sometimes I get frustrated because most people don’t Know Him the way I do. There is no limit to all the “sometimes” I feel when it comes to my Lord but ALL THE TIME I’m Grateful for Who He is and what He’s done for me. ALL THE TIME I’m Grateful that I belong to Him. ALL THE TIME I’m overwhelmed that I have the privilege of stepping into His Presence any time I feel like it because I’m Royalty!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool on this August morning but it won’t stay that way for long. Soon the sun will be scorching as the earth begs for rain. One minute it’s bearable and the next minute it’s not…just the way Life if is we aren’t careful. As I sat on the front porch this morning intent on meeting with my God in the quiet, my time was interrupted instead….by a driver making a delivery in the wee hours and then by a walker with no regard for the privacy of others. In an instant, my heart was filled with resentment and my peace faded away before my day could even get off to a good start. I felt violated and I was angry…BUT that was before God took me to the Spiritual Woodshed and got ahold of my Heart with a Firm Reminder that nothing has the power to steal my peace, it’s something that is surrendered instead. So, I repented of my hardened heart, I prayed for my enemies, I sent the one who set out to rob me back to Hell where he belongs, and I regained my Peace all over again. The Author and Perfecter of my Faith KNOWS the condition of my Heart at all times and IF I walk with Him, He’ll keep my path straight every time. Isn’t that the way your Journey of Faith is too?

Working against the flow is something that some people of Faith know a lot about. Some of us work against the flow of this dark world day in and day out and sometimes we’re persecuted for our Faith because of it. Some of us are willing to “take one for the Team” when we’re ridiculed and we’re called vile names just because of Who we Serve. Some of us have learned to Love the sinner even while we hate the sin and we’re ready, willing, and able to share our Faith at every opportunity presented by God. Some of us kick fear to the curb and we’ll stand up for Righteousness every time and in any audience, and if we do it according to Instructions by God, not only are we unshakable but we’re kind and gentle too. Some of us value Forgiveness and we’ve learned to turn the other cheek to those who wrong us…even if it happens over and over again. Some of us have learned not to judge others because we hold on to the Truth and we never forget about who and what we are without Him – we treasure our Redemption above all. Some of us have learned to love ourselves less while we Serve somebody else in His Name because we know what we do for them. we do for Him. Some of us get weary as we work against the flow day in and day out and if we’re not careful we could easily get discouraged. But some of us Understand that we aren’t the Source of our own Strength, so we run to the One Who is over and over again…just like I did this morning when I was allowing my peace to be stolen. No matter what happens in this Journey called Life, Peace, and Joy always comes down to choice….especially as we go against the flow.

Most people of Faith don’t know what it is to go against the flow and they’ve convinced themselves that their role is to mind their own business, to live peacefully, and to take up space on their favorite pew each Sunday morning. They think they’re doing well to be polite to the world (most of the time) and they think if they wear a cross around their neck for all the world to see they’ll be recognized as people of Faith without saying a word. Sometimes when I see how some of the cross-wearers behave, I wish they’d remove their symbol before they open their mouth so they don’t make a mockery of what we really believe or how we’re really called to live our lives. Some of these people of Faith believe that if you are living “the right way” you won’t have big problems in life and that the rest of the world just needs to behave to stop the suffering. Some of them somehow believe they ARE the judge and jury in this life as if God needs their help to balance the scales. Some of them justify their words and their actions as they set out for vengeance, even though they know that their God says “Vengeance is mine”. But what these people really want is to hear the echo of their own hateful words. They want to inflict pain in the name of Righteousness and they set out to demand justice because they’ve convinced themselves that they’re worthy of more. Unfortunately, some of the best opportunities to be a good Witness of our Faith is in how we react when we’ve been wronged…. but most of these will never know what that means at all. It’s sad to see so many people of Faith refusing to go against the flow while they busy themselves being sure to “fit in” with all of the rest.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the beauty of this new day for all that He is and all that He does for me. I’m grateful for being interrupted this morning so that God could reveal the hardening of my Heart and Remind me to RECAPTURE my Peace no matter what. I have the Power to reconcile things in the heavenly realms AND the choice is mine…to fight for my Peace or to willingly surrender it to the Thief. It’s impossible to be a usable Vessel for the King of all kings with a Heart that is hardened so Repentence will always be at the top of the Spiritual List for me. After my time in the Spiritual Woodshed, everyone I encounter today will be able to SEE Him in me by the Peace that flows through me. My Heart has been Prepared to live out my Faith with excellence today, and I’ll be going against the flow of this dark world no matter the consequences to me. I won’t need a cross around my neck to convince someone else that I’m a woman of Faith – they’ll see my Faith in my words and my Actions and through my Heart without any symbol at all.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I love having a front-row seat to watch the Master wake up the world and I love to hear the earth Rejoice a new day. The greatest experience on the planet for me is to be able to sit in the dark…just me and my God…as He unveils a new day. His Creation can be heard when it comes to life long before it can be seen, and when it becomes visible it’s as if God says, “Look at the work of my Hand!” The sun rises all over the world each morning but few people ever see it. Some won’t surrender a little extra time for sleep, and some hit the ground running without pausing to watch the Glory of God at work in nature. This morning I wondered how many people perch and wait on God with anticipation for the sun to rise, and how many people give Glory to the One who placed it in the sky like I do.

Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees, and sometimes people (or things) become so familiar to us that life loses its excitement if we let it. Familiarity can cause us to stop looking for the good and to stop being thankful for those routine things that happen in life – like the sun rising in the morning sky or even a whispered “I love you.” It’s not until the light dims, or when the “I love you’s” are no more, that most people realize the precious gift of all of those routine things that have been there all along. For most people, it’s not until the last breaths of life are being drawn that all of those precious routine things take on new meaning, and the regrets over not taking time to appreciate them are made clear. I imagine that when I’m drawing my last breath I’ll have a few regrets too, but savoring life and savoring love won’t be on the list. I embrace Life like a child on a Christmas morning and I NEVER take love for granted.

Plenty of people have commented on my “approach to life” and plenty have assumed that I’ve had a “close call” with death that gave me the eyes and the Attitude I have. I’ve had a “Close Call” alright, but not the kind they think it would take to Inspire me to embrace Life the way I do. My “Close Call” had consequences well beyond this life, and my “Close Call” is now the Reason I breathe. My “Close Call” opened my eyes and my Heart, and my “Close Call” Inspires me to have an appreciation for all that I have…the kind of appreciation that begins in the Soul and flows through my eyes, my mind, and my Heart…the kind of appreciation that is contagious.

Love and gratitude consume me because of my “Close Call” and I’m Reminded that every routine thing in my life is a Gift that I refuse to take for granted. My “Close Call” came Directly from Heaven. My “Close Call” came when my eyes were no longer focused on myself – they Focused on the King of kings and the Lord of Lords instead. Nothing has ever looked the same since my “Close Call” came along and THAT’S the reason I look at Life the way I do today…with excitement like a child on a Christmas morning and with Joy and Gratitude overflowing…facing each new day with anticipation for what HE has in store for me and how I can best Serve Him aka my “Close Call.”

I’ll be savoring this new day from sun up to sundown and I’ll be determined to Look at everything and everyone around me as if it’s the first time. The world is in shambles and the War is raging, but as long as I abide in my “Close Call” there’s nothing that can rob me of my Joy or dim the Light of my Future. I’m equipped because of my “close call” and I’m walking in the Light for Him.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s destined to be another hot day today with temperatures that scorch and humidity that chokes an already parched land. As I sat in the Presence of the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, I thought about how the scorching temperatures and choking humidity resemble America today. Tempers are rising and the Truth is being choked from one end of America to the other. A Country founded BY God and FOR God isn’t even recognizable today. The Living God can lower the temperature and remove the humidity with just one little Whisper from Heaven…but He can also bring hurricanes and tornadoes in His allotted time too. If there is one prayer heavy on my Heart these days, it’s for God’s people to set aside their own versions of truth and their own agendas to Trust the Hand of God…the God who allows temperatures to rise and humidity to choke for a season no matter what tomorrow brings. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

The Bible is filled with accounts of wars that I think most people like to overlook. All wars were brought on BY God and FOR God because people had turned away from Him and He was being replaced by idolatry. “Idolatry” isn’t just about bizarre statues built in the image of a powerless “god” – “Idolatry” is about trusting in something – ANYTHING or ANYONE- other than the Living God. God won’t tolerate idolatry forever, and when He’s had enough, He is ready, willing, and able to bring calamity upon any land…including America. America is guilty of idolatry. We idolize our money, our security, our own households, and our fun, and we’re willing to roll over and play dead – to go against the Living God just to keep it. We idolize the body as we are consumed by fear of sickness and death. We idolize our agendas that most of the time have little (or nothing) to do with the Living God. We idolize leaders who speak the language we want to hear…in and out of church. We idolize our hidden source of “knowledge” and our own version of “truth.” We idolize our “choice” to distort creation while we spit in the face of the Creator. We idolize sex and we defend our perversions. We idolize our freedom and we’re willing to fight for it AS IF the Living God guarantees freedom in this life – while the only Freedom that matters in the eyes of God is the Freedom that comes by way of Jesus Christ. When you look at it that way, no wonder God is displeased with a country once founded BY Him and for Him.

It’s not possible to be a humble Servant of the Living God and an idolater all at the same time. While so many of us are praying for God to heal our land – so few of us are humble enough to examine our own Hearts and to turn away from ANYTHING and ANYONE that isn’t in line with God Almighty Himself. Once upon a time, in a nation filled with idolatry (from idol worship to sexual perversion), God took matters back into His own hands the same as He can in America today – “Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” (2 Kings 21:12-13). WHEN GOD HAS HAD ENOUGH, HE’S HAD ENOUGH!

If we want the Hand of God to heal this land, we must be willing to humble ourselves in ways we never have before. We must be willing to Trust the Hand of God even when it gets ugly. We must be willing to stand up for God MORE than we stand up for our idols. When you look at it that way, we’ve got a LOT of Spiritual awakening of our own to do before God can (or will?) turn things around…IF THAT’S HIS PLAN. America is just a temporary address for God’s people – when we understand that part, we talk a whole lot more about our New Address (and our ONLY Leader) than we do about a broken land filled with broken leaders…a land God may OR may not be willing to heal.

My Heart is heavy for so many of my brothers and sisters much more focused on their idolatry and their own version of the truth than they are on the Living God and HIS Truth….the God who brings the temperatures to scorch and the humidity to choke. I hurt for the ones more passionate about speaking words of defeat and discourse than they are to Speak up about Jesus Christ…the ONLY Hope any of us ever have. It’s a Spiritual War and our “one nation under God” is riddled with idolatry we’re refusing to let go. Humility goes a LONG way with the Living God and it is the FIRST STEP for a land in need of healing by the touch of the Master’s Hand.

“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what He spoke against this place and its people and because you humbled yourself before Me and tore your robes and wept in My presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.” (2 Chronicles 34:27-28)

God bless America. The temperatures scorch and the humidity chokes but nothing will stop me from sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the dark world. I’m on Temporary Assignment and I’m just passing through – and my Focus is WAY BIGGER than just the United States of America…as it should be.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning had a mysterious look about it with the shade of the sun and the fog lingering on the fields, and this buck looked bold and beautiful…and alone. Somehow this scene reminded me of the Journey of Life. It’s a Beautiful Shade and it’s filled with so many things we can’t completely understand on this side of Heaven…and sometimes we feel all alone. Each day is a new day and it will have “enough trouble of its own” so meeting with the Living God to strengthen myself for the Journey is not optional…it’s critical, and turning to my Instruction Manual to find Wisdom for the Ride is the only way to Peace. It’s true what they say… when you’re a willing Vessel for the King and you boldly proclaim your Faith for all the world to see, you WILL face adversity and you are inclined to feel all alone in the field if you aren’t careful. I’m no stranger to adversity of all kinds of shapes and sizes – after all, I’m a Force to be reckoned with in the Spiritual World and I’m a threat to the darkness. If I were the enemy I’d try to stop me too! But my enemy doesn’t stand a chance if I’m Prepared to do the biggest kind of Battle of all…the Battle against Good and evil…that invisible one that goes on 24/7 in the heavenly realms…and I’m NEVER alone. Isn’t that the way you look at the battle too?

I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to refusing to do what God calls me to do. There have been a few times that I’ve ended up like Jonah in the belly of a big fish when I’ve ignored my Marching Orders from God. Sometimes I ignored them because I was scared, and sometimes I ignored them because I felt inadequate for the Job. Sometimes I let what I did and didn’t feel like doing get in the way of what God had in mind for me. Sometimes I purposely shut Him out so that I wouldn’t hear what He had to say, and sometimes I was too lazy to roll up my sleeves. But whatever the reason, it’s never a good idea to refuse to do what God calls us to do, and there’s always a big price to pay when we do. Sometimes we are thrown into misery to get our attention like Jonah was, and sometimes we leave this earth without having accomplished what we were born to do in the first place. I’d definitely choose misery over squandering my life away, never fulfilling my Purpose – so, I’ve learned to endure and I’ve learned to Persevere. I’ve learned how to be Strong and I’ve learned what it looks like to be Bold. Mostly I’ve learned how to be Victorious through every kind of adversity that I face ALL because I’m a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the Biggest Battle of all.

While it’s possible to run from God… it’s not possible to hide. We could hop on a ship headed for faraway places just like Jonah did to avoid our Marching Orders, but God will seek us out every time. He’s Relentless when He has a Plan that is intended to be fulfilled, and He’s been known to nudge His people with a Heavenly Cattle Prod to get us moving. But He won’t do it forever, though. If we continue to ignore what He wants us to do over and over again He’ll eventually leave us in the dust, and He’ll find a willing Vessel to take our place…someone willing to do whatever needs to be done to fulfill His Will. It’s painful enough for me to consider that I could live my entire life without fulfilling what He Created me to do, but worse than that is that I’ll have some explaining to do. when we are Face to face One Day. Now THAT will be painful as He reminds me of Lost Opportunities that could have had an entirely different outcome had I been Obedient to my Call. May it never be that He would walk away from me and Reassign Tasks that He intended for ME to accomplish to someone more willing than I am.

I’m a Willing Vessel and I love Jesus Christ with my whole heart. I want to serve Him all the days of my Life and I’m willing to Stand for Truth no matter what. So, I face adversity…the Price you pay for Obedience, and no doubt I’ll lose a few friends along the way who have different ideas about what God expects of us than I do. I get weary, and sometimes I’ll shed a few tears, but I WILL NOT quit and I won’t give up. You won’t find me swallowed up in the belly of a big fish because I refuse to run. You’ll find me on my knees and following Directions…and Repenting when I don’t. You’ll find me standing firm and not being intimidated into quitting by an enemy that has absolutely NO power over me. You’ll find me working my way through the fiery darts of adversity and you’ll find me laughing at the lame attempts that my enemy tries to use against me. But more than anything else, you’ll find me Victorious as I follow the Marching Orders set before me and as I walk through this Journey as a Willing Vessel for Him.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God long before the sun came up and I waited patiently to see what He has in store for this new day. Believe it or not, Fall is just around the corner and you can see the signs of nature preparing for what’s ahead. When I looked up at this black walnut tree I saw squirrels swinging from limb to limb at the highest points with no real purpose at all, while there were other squirrels on the ground gathering up food – some to eat now and some to bury for a future feast. Watching these squirrels reminded me of what Kingdom work looks like. Some are high up on branches swinging fast and hard with no real purpose at all, while lots of others are closer to the ground preparing for what’s to come. Isn’t it just like God to use a simple squirrel to inspire a Message this morning?

Kingdom Work can get pretty complicated (and competitive) sometimes when we lose our Focus, but it doesn’t have to be that way when the Intentions are clear and pleasing God is the ONLY thing on the Agenda. It’s sad to see some Kingdom workers intent on flying as high as they possibly can just to be sure that the world sees what they’re capable of. Unfortunately, many of them are more intent on being seen and heard than they are on pleasing God. But Kingdom Work isn’t a popularity contest and the Truth isn’t always easy to bear. So, some have learned to dilute the Message to appeal to the masses so that more and more people watch them jump on the high limbs. Although they haven’t fallen from the high branches (yet), they’ve fallen away from Truth. The Bible says “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Sound doctrine isn’t popular these days BUT Truth is what the lost world needs. I’m no “expert” but I’m confident that God doesn’t understand softening the blow to gain popularity regardless of what the Deceiver has to say.

Other Kingdom Workers are on the ground without a care in the world about being seen from the high branches. Many of them tirelessly serve the church and they stay busy preparing for what’s to come. They are the backbone of Kingdom Work! But mixed in with all those busy squirrels, working without the need to be seen, there are others who have convinced themselves that the harder they work, the more likely they are to make their way to Heaven. The Truth slipped by them somehow or their tickling ears prevented them from hearing it so they’re squirrels working like beavers and they may be unpleasantly surprised One Day when they hear “I never knew you”. Although there are LOTS of things behind the scenes that need to be done for Kingdon Work to succeed, there is NO GREATER “job” for anyone professing to be a follower of Jesus Christ than to share the Good News, and there is no escaping our God-given Commission no matter how hard we work.

Kingdom Workers are needed in all areas of Service and each one of us has a Purpose far greater than ourselves. Some stay high up on the branches as they work tirelessly to share the Good News with as many people as they possibly can, while others take on the harder tasks on the ground. No matter where God Calls us to Serve we’re all on Equal Ground and there is no gift more important than the other! No matter how hard we work behind the scenes none of us are off the hook because the Goal is One size fits all – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

No matter where God sends me or what He Calls for me to do, I’ll be working hard to gather up as many as I can to do my part to fill the Banquet Table before it’s too late. I’ll speak Truth into their Soul. I’ll Disciple them into Maturity. I’ll roll up my sleeves and I’ll be willing to do whatever He has in mind for me – whether it’s swinging on the high branches or gathering on the ground – either way, I won’t overlook the Agenda and I’ll never overlook my Purpose.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week and I spent my Time in the Presence of my God being made Ready for whatever He has for me. He “reads me like a book” when I spend time in His Word, and I’d be so lost without my Roadmap for Life. When I looked out across the fields I realized that no matter how long and hard I take in the view from the front porch, the beauty I see isn’t seen with the eyes at all but with the Heart instead, and it bubbles up for all the world to see just the way it does in the Journey of Faith. The more time I spend in His Presence…the longer I read His Word…the more my Faith bubbles up from the inside out and it’s impossible for the world not to see. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

It can be so easy for people of Faith to set aside their Instruction Manual and one-on-One time with the Living God for Sunday mornings only – although I don’t understand how or why. When the Heart is filled with Love, how can anybody be satisfied with just a small dose of time now and then? How can the beauty of Faith bubble up for all the world to see if we fail to spend Time with the Author and Perfector of Faith…the Source of ALL Love? Far too many people rely on having their One Way ticket to Heaven because they believe the ticket will never expire and that it cannot be revoked. They see our Savior as a very generous guy in the sky and they don’t believe He looks for anything in return for Redeeming our “life from the pit”. So, they park themselves in a spiritual recliner and become spiritual slugs in the process. They don’t care much about building a RELATIONSHIP with the God of All Creation because they’ve been deceived into believing they don’t need to. The saddest part of all is that they stand the Risk of hearing “I NEVER KNEW YOU” One Day. Just the thought of that keeps me Bubbling my Faith all over my world every single day in hopes that I can share the kind of Truth that can Save them. These people expect God to reach down and fix this broken world without them having to lift a finger or Speak a Word of Truth – and although He CAN, He expects His People to do their part too. Sadly, lots of people wouldn’t Recognize the Truth if it hit them in the head because they haven’t tuned in LIVE with one-on-One Sessions with the Living God. If they did, He’d set keep their Path Straight the same as He has mine.

I’m in the Fall Season of Life and I’ll be here Working harder than ever before until I draw my last breath…and THAT’S when “the fun” begins! I’ll be with Him FOREVER AND EVER and I won’t be sitting back in a recliner or parked on a puffy cloud in Heaven – I’ll be busier than ever when the dress rehearsal here on earth becomes my Eternal reality. It all begins with the kind of Beauty that bubbles up on the inside and it’s only made possible by spending time with the Master of it all.

Psalm 103:4 – Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. By the time I finished meeting with the Living God this morning, it was pretty clear that it is destined to be a clear and beautiful day in Virginia. The sun was burning on my face while God was burning in my Heart, and the combination took my breath away. This image reminded me of how if the Light of my Faith is the Focus today, everything else beyond that will dim in comparison. My life is forever overflowing with things to do and if I’m not careful I could find myself attempting to lead instead of being willing to Follow. So, no matter what’s on my plate for this new day or how busy I know I’ll be, my first Priority is always getting ME prepared to do my Part ONLY according to His Will and not my own. Isn’t that the way you Prioritize your busy Life too?

Most people professing to be Christians today THINK they’re followers of Jesus, but I’m not so sure about that. I’m not questioning their belief system…I have no right to judge that at all. But believing in Christ is one thing, being a Follower of His is an entirely different story. While many may have convinced themselves that they are following Him, what they’re really doing is expecting Him to follow them. They call Him Savior, but do they treat Him as King? Do they ever really Surrender to His Will or are they too busy holding onto their own? Are they really ready to follow His lead, or do they refuse to “let go and let God? Are they ready to obey like a good Servant no matter what they’re told to do or where they’re told to go? Hmm…a new perspective for most. THAT’S what a surrendered Life looks like and what it means to be a Follower of the King. It’s ONLY when we Focus on the Light of our Savior that everything else dims in comparison, and Following Him becomes our greatest Joy…no matter where He leads us.

It’s human nature to want to take on the Leadership role in our Faith, and most of us feel better about life when we remind ourselves that He is always there. Some of us will drag Him around through life like our favorite toy and we brag about not going anywhere without Him. We want Jesus right there beside (or behind) us ready to Serve our Purpose or to fulfill our will when we call. Sometimes we may talk a pretty good game about our God, but when it comes down to it, are we truly allowing Him to Lead us, OR are we expecting Him to follow us so that He can take care of all of the needs in our lives while He’s at it? Jesus painted a very clear picture of what our lives “look” like if we are Willing to Follow Him. We feed His sheep – we Serve the needy – we Hunger to share the Truth – we mourn over lost people – we lay down our own lives so that we can Live for Him. It takes keeping the Light of the world blazing in our Hearts to be a Follower day in and day out. This is the Key to Purpose AND to Peace.

It’s pretty risky to ask God to “use me” because when you do, He’ll start preparing you, and you just never know what He’ll ask you to do or where He’ll tell you to go! Sometimes when He directs us to do something it makes perfect sense in the human mind, and sometimes it appears to make no sense at all from where we sit. If we’re leading the way in our Faith we’ll never do those things that make no sense to us. We might start praying about it, and some will say “I know what God wants me to do but I’m waiting for Him to work things out” but then they sit around and wait for things to make sense in the human mind before they’re willing to do what they “know God wants them” to do. These folks aren’t really willing to Follow at all…at least not unless it makes perfect sense in the human mind and unless God provides all of the puzzle pieces to snuff out their fear….the real reason behind why they won’t budge. But we can’t just pray as if things depend on God before we take action….we have to WORK as if it depends on us! It’s when we Follow His Lead AND work with all of our Strength that amazing things happen in His name!

I’m a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and I’m a Faithful Follower too. Sometimes I let doubt and fear get in the way just like everybody else does, but IF I determine for the Light of my Life to be my Main Focus each day, everything else will dim in comparison. I don’t want to find myself trying to live in MY Will…I want to remain in His Will all the days of my life instead. I’m determined to be a Faithful Follower of His and I’ll let Him do the Leading because when HE Leads miraculous things happen every single time, and when I lead, I stumble and fall.

How about you?

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” Matthew 16:24-25

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Alpha and Omega before the sun came up and I watched His Majesty unfold before my very eyes. It’s hard to fathom how anyone could fail to see the Hand of the God of all Creation if they’ve ever watched a morning unfold before their very eyes…but they do. It’s because I worship His Majesty that I see things with my Heart instead of just the human eye and I begin to sing “Majesty! Worship His Majesty” almost every time. The deer in this photo reminded me of the way so many people approach the Journey of Faith…a little timid…a little shy..and never willing to be the one to make the first move of Faith…all because they overlook His Majesty. Isn’t it just like God to thread a message in my Heart at sunrise using a simple deer?

God once said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” but we don’t have to SEE His face to SEEK His face. We don’t have to see His face to see Him in everything around us. He’s omnipotent. He’s omnipresent. He’s in the sunrise and He’s in the rain. He’s in the face of a child and He’s in the face of adversity. He’s the Keeper of Time and He’s the Creator of all. He’s the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He’s the Bright Morning Star. He’s the great “I am.” It’s when we focus on all that He is and all that He does that we’re Empowered to share Him with the world and we no longer tiptoe around the Journey of Faith like a timid deer afraid of its own shadow. When we Focus on His Majesty we know that “no weapon formed against me will prosper.” How sad it is to see so many people professing to have Faith in Jesus Christ scurrying around in fear…hiding in the shadows of life. Unfortunately, they’re living like that deer – skittish and fearful of danger…and they’ll have just the same impact on the Kingdom as our furry friends if they aren’t careful. Worshipping His Majesty is where Strength is born.

It’s not possible to lose “your first love” or to become “lukewarm” as long as you Worship His Majesty. His Might outshines everything on this earth and His Power is made Perfect in weakness. Psalm 91 says, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” – why would I hide like a deer afraid of its own shadow? If His Word says, “If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you” – why would I hide like a deer afraid of its own shadow? He says “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist” – why would I hide like a deer afraid of its own shadow? There is nothing too big for my God and no mountain too high to climb in His Name. He is Majestic. He is worthy to be praised. He’s the Source of my Strength. He’s my Purpose for Living. He expects me to rely on Him in all things and to Trust even those things I do not see. He has called me to fearlessly Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and there’s no shutting me up…and it all comes down to His Majesty. I’m so in awe of all that He is and all that He does that I’m Empowered to live for Him. You won’t find me hiding like a deer afraid of its own shadow, that’s for sure. I’m a Warrior are on the front lines!

I wish everybody could experience a morning from the front porch of my farm in Virginia, BUT more than that, I wish everybody would Worship His Majesty from wherever they are. The world would be so different IF all the people Professing to have a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ would stop hiding like a deer afraid of its own shadow. Some people proclaim that they would die for Him…but I don’t they don’t fool me. If they’re not willing to LIVE for Him…why in the world would they be willing to die for Him?

WORSHIP HIS MAJESTY!

Majesty, Worship His Majesty

Unto Jesus Be Glory Honour And Praise

Majesty, Kingdom, Authority

Flows From His Throne

Unto His Own

His Anthem Raise

So Exalt, Lift Upon High

The Name Of Jesus

Magnify Come Glorify

Christ, Jesus The King

Majesty, Worship His Majesty

Jesus Who Died, Now Glorified

King Of All Kings.

Jesus Who Died, Now Glorified

King Of All Kings.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The rockers lined up are a beautiful reminder to me that the front porch and the fields are always “open for business” around here – whether for the masses that come far and wide to visit the farm or a simple visit with a friend in need of Love and laughter. Whoever finds their way here, they’ll find God’s farm waiting for them along with a Steward with a Willing Heart and open arms. It won’t matter the purpose of our meeting – they’ll always hear about Jesus Christ one way or another. Whether it’s work or play, my Faith is NEVER hidden and it’s when I’m being the Boldest for Him that I face the MOST adversity. I know how this Battle rolls, and I know how easily I could be tempted to throw in the towel in my weakness. So, these days my time with the Living God is more about Securing my Armor for the Battle than anything else. I’m a Warrior, but I’m a woman too, and it could be so easy to stumble into discouragement. But as long as I do the most Important Part…as long as I’m Spiritually Strong..as long as I understand where adversity REALLY comes from, you won’t find me merely enduring the battle, you’ll find me Victorious instead. Isn’t that the way you deal with battles too?

It amazes me to consider how easy it is for most people to quit almost anything in life. They’ve somehow convinced themselves that if things were “meant to be” there wouldn’t be any challenges at all. When they hit a little bump in the road in their relationships or in their work, they easily use the bump as a “sign” that it’s time to move on. If they face a huge project and they get hit with challenge after challenge in the midst of it, they’re ready to call it a day as they label the challenges a “sign” that God must not want them to complete it. If they speak up about Jesus Christ and get shot down for it, they convince themselves that God wants them to live Peacefully without offending another, so they muzzle their Words instead of speaking the Truth. These people will often take the high road, silently praying in the background, while they watch a loved one fall into destruction of some kind, and they’ll camouflage their lack of Courage to endure the biggest Battle under the name of “tough love” – a Lesson Jesus didn’t teach. I’m not quite sure how so many people of Faith could possibly convince themselves that life as a Christian is always smooth sailing IF you’re “living right.” There’s no Truth to that at all. In fact, it’s when you’re Bold and “living right” that you face the most adversity because when you’re Bold “living right” you are a Big Threat in the Biggest Battle of all.

I’m a Warrior, but I’m a woman too. Some people have a long-distance view of me and my life and they see me as “tough” and “strong” from where they’re sitting. But I’m neither of those things. I’m just as inclined to curl up in a ball and have a good cry as any other woman ever born…and sometimes I do. I’m a bold Vessel for the King, but I’m human too. Sometimes I want to succumb to my weakness and I want to throw in the towel just like everybody else. If I’m not really careful, I can let fear sneak in and I’m inclined to hide under the bed and away from the world just like so many others. But I understand what’s REALLY behind the Battle I face, and I see the adversity for what it REALLY is. I understand where my Strength REALLY comes from and I know that when I am weak “He is strong!” I know that “His grace IS sufficient” for me and that “His Power is made perfect in weakness” and I know that He will take me “by the right hand” and lead me through it all. Most of all I know that because I REALLY live out my Faith for all the world to see, I’ll always be a Threat to our enemy and I’ll be doing Battle until I take my last breath. No matter what I face in this Journey of Life I WILL be Victorious AS LONG as I do my part to be sure I’m ready 24/7 to do Battle in His Name. I’m “locked and loaded” for Jesus Christ…the ONLY Hope this world has EVER had.

How about you?