Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I had a lot on my mind when I first opened my eyes this morning, and I was inclined to let the details of life stand in the way of my joy. But when I turned to the Living God and I gave Him my time and attention and I replaced the details with Praise instead; I found my Peace, and all those thoughts dimmed in His Presence. This little holly tree, framed in the shadows of bigger trees, served as a sweet Reminder to me this morning of how I might be inclined to think small, and I might feel overwhelmed with the details if I let myself be, but I’m always surrounded with Help and Hope by One much bigger than I am. Isn’t that the way you look at your Life too?

The mind is an incredible Design by the Hand of God and it’s the engine behind every step and every breath we take. But it can also be the Battle Ground that leads to discouragement and defeat if we aren’t careful. It can be so easy to see ourselves like this little holly tree. All alone and Smaller than all the rest… and vulnerable to the Wind and the Rain because of it. But when we’re willing to look closely, we can always find the shadows of Help and Hope IF we don’t let the mind consume the heart. Happiness isn’t necessarily a state of mind…it’s a state of the heart..but when happiness doesn’t come easy it’s always the Battle Ground of the mind that stands in the way. It’s the thought of sadness that has the potential to override the joy. It’s the thought of defeat that has the potential to override the victory. It’s the thought of weakness that has the potential to override the strength. It’s the thought of loss that has the potential to override the gain. It’s the thought of all those little details that have little significance in a Big Picture, that have the potential to override the Majesty of a Mighty God. I know with certainty that if I’d let all those details run wild in my mind this morning, I wouldn’t just lose sight of my Help and my Hope; I’d be a worthless Vessel for the Living God today. When I look at it that way, I can’t afford to become a Battle Ground that leads to my defeat…NOT if my first priority is to serve my God, that is.

We read in the Bible that in the midst of a bloody battle Moses went to the top of the mountain to raise his arms (and his staff) toward the Throne of God for Help and Hope. The battle went on for a long while, and Moses grew weary from raising his arms. Every time he lowered his arms in fatigue, the enemy began to take hold of the battle. But when his arms were raised up to the Source of his Strength; his army saw victory. Defeat isn’t optional when it comes to those things of God. So, God sent Moses Help and Hope (otherwise known as Aaron and Hur) and those two Faithful friends sat Moses down on a rock to rest, and they held up his arms FOR him because he was too weak to do it himself, and those Faithful friends held his arms steady until sunset. The same God that sent Help and Hope to Moses is MY God, and I know that He will always send Help and Hope to me too… as long as I Trust Him and I refuse to be defeated in the Battle Ground of my mind. When I’m weary from the journey, God will send me an Aaron and Hur too and He’ll have them stand beside me when I’m too weak to go-it-alone. I may feel like that little holly tree every once in a while, but I’m always surrounded by Help and Hope and I’ll NEVER be defeated…IF I don’t let my mind override my heart, that is.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and it’s windy and it’s spitting snow across the farm this morning. I’m thankful that the work that I had planned for this new day will all be done from home…where’s it’s warm…and peaceful…and safe…and fully equipped to do my work. My time with the Living God overflowed with thanks this morning and the thanks just wouldn’t stop flowing. I could sit before Him for the rest of my life and I’d never be able to cover all the things I have to be thankful for. I never got around to asking Him for anything because my heart was overflowing with gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me that it didn’t occur to me to ask Him for anything! Isn’t that what happens to you sometimes too?

The words of David from the Book of Psalms came to my mind this morning as I was giving thanks. David said “were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare” and that’s what it felt like for me. David was referred to as “a man after God’s own heart”, and I can’t think of anything sweeter than to be referred to as “a woman after God’s own heart” too…at least that’s the goal. Some people think about David and all they seem to focus are his “failures” and all the countless times he fell; but not me. I see his humanity and his humility and see how every time he failed or fell, he couldn’t wait to go before his God to ask for forgiveness…and I see how he had no doubt whatsoever that God would do just that because of David’s heart.

I see how David confessed his weaknesses over and over again and how He called out to God for strength. I see how he took his Spiritual Punches and the consequences to his wrongs like a man and not like a wussie. I see how he sometimes crawled into the presence of our God when he was weary, and there seemed to be nothing left in him to give; and I see how God restored him every single time. I see how bold he was in His requests and I see how he expected to be heard by God…and He trusted God to see him through. I see how he expected supernatural things from a supernatural God and he was eyewitness to many because of it. I see how he sometimes succumbed to fear of his enemies, and I see how he never surrendered to defeat because he trusted the battle to be fought by God Himself. No, I don’t see the bad in David…I see all the good. I see that His heart was Tenderized by the King just like mine has been and THAT’S why he was known to be “a man after God’s own heart”. David understood that there was no good thing in him apart from God…and so do I.

With a heart overflowing with gratitude it’s destined to be a good day. If I find myself struggling with circumstances today, I’ll be thinking about David. My “mentor” and my encouragement…an imperfect man that loved our God with his whole heart and I’ll be striving to be a woman “after God’s own heart” every step of the way.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Life is pretty full these days, and if I’m not careful I’ll rush through my time with the One I need the most to see me through. So, I make sure that I focus on Him first, and I clear my mind of everything else that will come AFTER we Meet. The fact that it’s not easy sometimes is enough to set me straight. After all, if every step, and every word, and every encounter, and ever provision will be sifting through His Hands before they ever reach mine; why in the world would I set Him aside until I have more time to spend with Him? Isn’t that the way you see your schedule too?

It’s funny how people are inclined to separate their work from His Work when it all goes hand in hand in His eyes. It doesn’t do a whole lot of Good for His Work to keep our Faith inside the home and inside the church and never take it to work with us at all. Our greatest platform for Him IS through our work because that’s where we spend most of our time and that where the “lost” people are…but it’s in the workplace that most of His “followers” remain silent. I haven’t always worked for myself where I’m free to do and say whatever I want in His Name without the risk of being fired. But even when I relied on employment for my income; I still fearlessly took a stand. Even though I sometimes feel like the birdhouse in this photo, standing tall and standing alone…I never deny Who I am in Christ…no matter who signs my check.

Back in those “employee” days, I had a Bible front-and-center on my desk and it wasn’t set aside for anyone of any faith or position. A few times when I was challenged to “put that away” I kindly offered to meet outside of my office, but I never put it away at their request. When I took a break I opened those pages to nourish my soul and I made no apologies when I was found in His Word. The people around me always saw me stop to pray before our meals no matter who was joining us for lunch, and eventually I was asked to lead the prayer for all. My Words were kind and my Spirit was peaceful and loving, and I refrained from speaking harsh words of judgment no matter what I saw or heard. I wasn’t always publicly acknowledged as being a Christian, but I was always acknowledged as being “nice”…and even a time or two I heard “she’s the nicest person I ever met”. I loved those moments! Not because it made me feel good to receive a compliment, but because it gave me the chance to give Him the Glory for all that I am.

Almost everyone we read about in the Bible had a job to put food on the table, and God didn’t tell them to stop fishing, or to stop administrating or to stop being a physician, or to stop farming or to stop being a merchant when they started Following Him; He told them to FOLLOW Him and to GO FORTH and tell the world instead. More than being an opportunity to create our income, our work is an opportunity to reach the world for Christ. There is no separation when it comes to the things of God. So, if you’re inclined to “behave” yourself in public and refrain from sharing Him with your world, you might have to answer for all those lost opportunities One Day. As for me, I might get ridiculed and “judged” every once in a while, but I don’t care much about what those people think of me…I care about what HE thinks of me instead. I’ll be working hard to put food on my table today and everyone I encounter will be another opportunity for me to bring my King Glory by sharing Him with my world.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and windy and the Hand of a Mighty God dusted the mountains with snow last night while I was sleeping. I spent my time with the Living God inside with a hot cup of coffee in hand, and although I gave thanks for the beauty all around me, I am especially grateful for the warmth of this home this morning. Someone once said that we don’t see the world as it is; we see the world as WE are. I believe there’s a whole lot of truth to that. The more time we spend with the Living God the more our perception of the world changes. And the more time we spend with the Master; the more we see beyond our life and our circumstances and we see things a more from His Perspective than we do our own instead. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

My “perception” of the world (on and off the farm) is a little different than how most people see it, and it’s all because of the quality and quantity time I spend with Him. I have “depth perception” and I’m “connected” with the Spirit of God and the world takes on an entirely different look when we walk through Life this way. I think a whole lot of people like to believe that I’m inspired by my surroundings and that it is easy to paint a pretty picture of this pretty old farm because of it. No doubt I’m lost for words when it comes to my gratitude to God for bringing this farm into my life and for trusting me to be a good steward of it. But it’s because I know who Owns the farm and the fields that my perception changes and that’s when I gladly share it with the world! It’s ONLY when people make their way to the farm that they truly understand that it’s not the outward beauty that moves them; it’s that can feel the Spirit of God here and all the Peace that comes with Him. Their perception changes.

I have “depth perception” and God gives me the Ability to share my world with the world…not for how it is; but from how I am with Him instead. As long as I am walking with His Spirit I’ll never see the world as it is; I’ll see the world for how I am instead and I’ll always see what it could be if it knew my God the way I do. If my heart is Right, I’ll see the beauty in almost everything…on and off the farm. When someone hurts me; I wonder what hurt they must have inside for it spill over onto me. When I encounter a mean, angry person; I wonder what’s going on in life that would cause them to lash-out at the world. When I see reckless behavior in a life; I wonder what they’re running from. When I see sick people; I see beyond their broken body and I long to help… and when the body is beyond help and they leave this earth, I make sure they’re ready for the Journey and I celebrate their New Life. When I see twisted morals and make-believe genders; I hurt for people trying so hard to change the rules just for their own desires and I know What they’re really searching for. When I see political nit-picking before, during and after an election; I realize that the world is clueless to Who calls the leaders into leadership in the first place. I know I must drive people crazy with my “depth perception” and sometimes I think they think that I don’t understand at all or that I make light of their circumstances; but that’s not true. With “depth perception” we see beyond the circumstances and we know where the Hope and the Peace and the Eternity is…no matter what.

We don’t see the world as it is; we see the world as we are.

How are 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 there’s a little mystery to sky this the morning…I’m not sure if the sun or the rain will win or how what the temperature might be. But I know the One who scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name, so whatever He decides to do with this day I know it will be magnificent. I spent a long time with Him focused on a few things that I refuse to give up on and I refuse to quit praying about. I know what His Word says, I know what Promises He’s made and I KNOW what He Plans to do in my life…at least when it comes to what I’m praying about So, instead of giving up on those things in my Future because they haven’t happened yet, I push harder and I pray harder and I won’t stop until I see the End Results. I’m not begging…I’m Believing! Isn’t that the way you pray too?

It can be so easy to get so stuck in reverence-mode that we forget to be bold with the Living God. No doubt, He wants to be praised and honored and He always wants to be Front and Center in our Lives But it’s not possible to read the Word of God and still Believe that we’re supposed to be wussies when it comes to prayer AND to Faith. There’s no place for “orderly” when we go before the Throne with passion and conviction, and I believe God loves to Witness our determination, and that sometimes He wants to see if we’ll throw in the towel because He didn’t do what we wanted Him to do when we wanted Him to do it OR if we’ll just push harder and pray harder because we actually BELIEVE that He’ll hear us. There are plenty of examples of people in the Bible who were “unconventional” or “disorderly” and God honored their persistence and their Belief. One time a prostitute took a break from street-duty and crashed an “orderly” gathering just to anoint the feet of Jesus with her finest perfume, and Jesus honored her heart despite the disruption and her “place” in life. One time a few guys desperately wanted Jesus to heal their friend, and when they saw a long line leading up to the place where He was, they cut a hole in the roof of that house and they lowered their friend into the room where Jesus sat. Despite their unconventional approach and the disorderly ways, they Believed that Jesus would heal their friend and they stopped at nothing because of it. I’m sure the homeowner wanted to rip them up for cutting a hole in his roof; but Jesus honored their heart, their conviction and their Belief. So, why would He hold it against me if I’m Bold, and Persistent and I pray like a Warrior, if I Believe that He’ll do what He said He’ll do too?

There’s nothing “orderly” or “conventional” about the way I pray; at least not from where most of the world sits. But when it comes to the Living God, I think He likes it when I pray with Belief and with Conviction and I’m pretty sure He knows that I won’t stop unless He stops me. Just like the woman we read about in the book of Luke that demanded time with the judge on behalf of her family…I might be driving God crazy too, but I won’t stop either. I know from His Word that He loves my heart and He loves it when His People pray AND Believe. Sometimes when I pray I pace the floors and I shout out my heart,and sometimes I fall before Him and I weep because I’m weary from the waiting. But I pray with Belief and He knows it, and I’m celebrating my Victory even before I see it! No, there’s nothing “conventional” or “orderly” about me when it comes to my God; that’s for sure.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up with excitement about this new day and I ran to meet with my God like a child on a Christmas morning. I couldn’t wait to sit in His presence and I couldn’t wait to pour out my heart to Him. I couldn’t wait to commit this new day to Him and I couldn’t wait to thank Him for all that He is and all that He does for me. What an amazing God I serve. Though He sets the earth on it’s axle and He knows every star in the sky by name…though He has plenty of Rules in place and He expects me to follow them…though He planted me here for a Big Purpose and I have a Long List of things to do in His Name; what He REALLY wants, is me and my heart. With the right heart everything else just falls into place. Isn’t that the way you look at your heart too?

It’s often said that “actions speak louder than words” and there is a whole lot of truth to that; especially when it comes to love. Saying “I love you” comes easy to most of us, but our actions often don’t measure up with the words. We’re selfish creatures by nature, and love easily goes to the back-burner when we focus more on ourselves and our own needs above the needs of another. When two people meet and fall in love, they can’t say “I love you enough” and they work so hard to express their love in every way imaginable…because the love is new and the heart overflows. But for most of those lovebirds, even though the words can continue to flow over time; all those expressions that helped drive the love-message home in the beginning are set aside for routine. They neglect to do those “special things” to express love, as if showing the other no longer matters at all. And for this one reason alone, there are far too many lovebirds that don’t sustain the journey. There may be only one word in the English language to describe the heart, but there are millions of things the heart leads us to do when the condition is right, and the heart is nurtured the way it’s intended to be….and the same is true when it comes to our love for the Living God. We can SAY we love Him all day long, but do our actions measure up with the words? “Actions ALWAYS speak louder than words”.

I love my God even more today than I did when I first Met Him; but that doesn’t happen just by accident with Him no more than it does with the lovebirds. I don’t set Him aside for routine things or for things I’d rather be doing than spending time with Him, and I’m always eager to please Him. I don’t take Him for granted as if He will always be there no matter what I do or say, and I strive to be the best that I can be for Him every single day. Our Relationship is a priority for me and it shows. I never want to risk it getting “old”, and I surely don’t want the love that I had for Him from the very beginning to ever fade. So, more than just telling Him I love Him, I show Him too. He knows He’s my priority and I work hard so that my actions measure up with the words I speak to Him. The same steps that it takes to sustain a couple of lovebirds for the long-run, applies even MORE to my God. I don’t just tell Him I love Him…I show Him I love Him because my actions will always speak louder to Him than my words.

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 or a new week and I’m Armed and Ready to do my part for the Journey no matter what I might face along the way today. It isn’t always easy to go “against the flow” and it isn’t always “drama free” to March to the Tune of my God. But I wasn’t Created to “fit in”, I was Created to stand out! I was born for a Big Purpose and I’m on a Big Mission for an even Bigger God, and I do my best to never lose sight of that fact ESPECIALLY when the going gets tough. When the wind came through the farm last night it blew one rocker off kilter from all the other rockers, and that simple image served as a sweet Reminder to me for the way I am to live my Life…not fitting in, but standing out! Isn’t that the way you want to Live your Life too?

When you look at my Life, you won’t see a whole lot of “normal” and you won’t find me just rolling-with-the-flow of what everybody else is doing. My Life didn’t start out to be “normal”, the events haven’t been “normal” and it won’t end on a “normal” Note. I’m not prone to latch on to fads and I don’t buy things just because everybody else does. I March to the Tune of a Big God and it shows in almost every area of my life! My Faith isn’t “normal” and my Prayers aren’t either. I have a Personal Relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and we don’t make “small talk”, we have Meaningful Conversations! My Convictions aren’t “normal” and the way I defend the Truth isn’t either. The Rules that I follow go against the flow of what the world likes to believe, and when I speak up with Truth; the reaction I get isn’t “normal” either. My parenting wasn’t “normal” as I set out to raise a Godly generation; not just well-rounded, well educated, well dressed kids. When it was time for a Life lesson, I dealt with my kids as their Sister in Christ, and not just as their Mom…there’s sure nothing “normal” about that! My heart isn’t “normal” and the Love I feel isn’t either, because my heart has been Tenderized by the King and He used pain to mold me into a Willing Servant. Just like that rocker on the porch that is a little off kilter from all the rest; I’m a little off kilter from what the world considers to be “normal” and I don’t roll-with-the-flow. The fact that I refuse to be “normal” is not a sign of rebellion…it’s an outward Sign of a Life that has Purpose…that’s just what it Looks like when we understand Who Created us and Why. We were created for Greatness and we’re intended to Stand Out…a little off kilter from the rest of the world.

There are more “normal” people of Faith than the world could possibly count. People that care more about fitting in than Standing up and people that would do anything to avoid being noticed. They’ve convinced themselves that to be a “good Christian” means that we live out our lives peacefully…we mind our own business…we don’t get involved…and we stay home and pray…as if that’s ever been (or will ever be) okay with the Living God. Nobody was Created to be a stay-at-home Silent Partner…but it takes a willingness to not be “normal” to get out and do something Bold in His Name. My Life has been set aside by my God and I was Created for His Purpose and I know it….I Live like it! I am happy not being “normal” and I’m overjoyed that my Life isn’t “normal” either. I’m a child of God, I’m Royalty, I’m here for His Purpose and I’m on a very Big Mission. I won’t be “normal” for as long as I live and if you’re looking for me; you’ll find me a little off kilter from all the rest.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s sunny, and it’s going to be a lot warmer today, and although I met with my Wonderful Counselor inside a warm kitchen; the outside helped prepare my heart for this new day. He’s a Big God and He can do ALL things but sometimes the “Little” things, like bringing forth a warmer day in the middle of winter, is like a Gift to see me through and encourage me….at least it feels that way when I thank Him for it. I think it’s the appreciation for the Little things right along with the Big things that is a good indicator of whether we truly walk with Him or not. When we’re consumed by the Living God it’s nearly impossible to miss the millions of Little things that He does for us every single day. Isn’t that the way you see your Life too?

It’s human nature to take people and things for granted; even the Living God if we’re not careful. We can become so complacent that we’re more like robots scooting through this life, than living breathing Creations placed here by the Hand of God for a Big Purpose. It’s when we overlook the blessing of all those Little things that we have trouble believing that He cares about the little things in our lives too. And it’s when we become numb to the Little things; even His Hand in the Big Things begins to dim. It’s nearly impossible to comprehend with the human mind that God is everywhere, in everything, every second, of every day and that He gets pleasure out of showing His Love to His People…with Big things and Little things too. It takes a Relationship with Him to “get it”, and anything short of a Relationship is failure to walk with Him. I can’t presume to know the Mind of my God but I have to believe that when we pause to thank Him, for even the tiniest little things, that it pleases Him. After all, we want to be shown appreciation for even for those tiny little things that we do for others…why would God be okay with settling for less?

My God cares about my heart, my Life, my family and every tiny little thing in between. Without Him I have nothing and with Him I have everything. I see His Hand in everything around this old farm, and I see Him in everyone I meet. I see His Hand when He closes a door in my Life, and I see His Hand when He opens another. I see His Hand when He brightens up the world with a sunny day, and I see His Hand in the wind and the rain. I see His Hand in the “chance meeting” of people everywhere I go, and I see His Hand when He sets boundaries around me so that I don’t get hurt by another. I see His Hand every time the furnace kicks on in the winter, and I see His Hand in the warmth. I see His Hand in the Gifts that He gives to me so that I can Fulfill my Purpose, and I see His Hand in the correction I need sometimes. I see His Hand of Protection every time I get behind the wheel of my car, and I see His Hand of Provision with every bite I eat. There is no end to the blessings and no end to the thanks for the Big Things and for the millions of Little Things that He does for me. I walk with Him and I talk with Him, and I make sure that He knows just how much I love Him…through the good…through the not-so-good, and through everything in between.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I crawled into the presence of a Mighty God this morning like a weary traveler looking for rest, and I found it in no time at all. How strange that I can sometimes go from slumber to stress almost as soon as I open my eyes, with no rhyme or reason at all. But I know where those thoughts of doubt come from, and I know what resides in the “darkness”, so when I’m feeling weary; I run to the source of my Strength. And as quickly as those feelings consumed my first few minutes on this new day; they went running for cover after I Armed myself with the the source of my Strength and my Hope and my Peace and my Joy. Hallelujah! Isn’t that the way you get control of your Life too?

It would be so easy to succumb to dark thoughts, and it would be easy to surrender to “hopelessness”…UNLESS we know where to go for Help, that is. Some people wonder how (and why) a person of Faith would struggle with these things in the first place; as if people of Faith skirt through this Life trial-free. But I know the Bible is filled with people just like me and they had to fight before, during and after Christ just like I do. I know that I’m a force to be reckoned with in the Spiritual world, and I understand who my enemy is. I know that the bolder I am as I proclaim the Power of a Mighty God for all the world to see and hear; the bigger the battle becomes. My enemy would love to see me sit down and shut up. My enemy would love to see me fall. My enemy would love to see me consumed with dark thoughts, and my enemy would love to see me succumb to them. My enemy would love to see me paralyzed with fear, and my enemy would love to see me throw in the towel. But none of those things will ever happen to me as long as I remember where to go for my Help. Each time I tighten up my Armor and battle my way to Victory; my enemy runs off like the wussie he really is and he sets out to devour another not as equipped to do Battle as I am. I don’t struggle because I’m weak…I struggle because I’m strong!

My Life has been filled with battles and I know there is no end to them until I take my last breath. It only takes sharing a story or two of my big battles and my bigger Victories for most people to shake their heads in disbelief and they stand in awe of the Journey. Some people like to believe that I struggle because I’m weak…but I know that I struggle because I’m STRONG. My God knows that after I fight and I win the battles; I ALWAYS give GLORY to Him…for my Strength…for my Victory AND for the battle itself. Because when I recount the battle and the Victory with another; I’m a living testimony for Him. I’m pretty sure that my God is pleased with me every time I share the stories of where I was…and where I am…and where I’m going, and I’m pretty sure He never wants me to stop. Doing battle is just part of the Journey for every Bold Believer. The battles have not just made me strong; they have equipped me to be a force to be reckoned within the Spiritual world, and I give thanks each and every time my enemy runs off like the wussie he really is.

How about you?