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 this morning, and I lingered past the sunrise because it was too sweet to rush. The beauty of any new day is almost too much for me to take in, and it makes me wonder about what Heaven will be like. This morning, it was as if everything I heard had a voice…from the birds singing to the leaves rustling in the trees, to the sounds the flags made as they blew in the breeze. It was like a God-given orchestra in Surround Sound, and it was a sweet reminder to me that everyone has a voice that needs to be used for Good. Each voice can be a part of the God-given orchestra, and we can all be heard in this dark world in Surround-Sound if only we’re willing to speak the Right Words with the Right Purpose.

We live in a noisy world filled with debaters (in and out of the Church), and it’s not likely they’ll hear in Surround Sound because of it. News programs pay top dollar for nice-looking commentators hired specifically to debate and (talk over) someone else with a different opinion of “truth. The Internet spreads lies and hate faster than you can say “amen” and churches are dividing every day as they debate their own “versions” of Truth. (The Truth doesn’t have versions, but apparently, their Knowledge of the Truth is too weak to understand that). Some Christians have convinced themselves that it’s their “job” to debate the dark world (and each other) even though the Bible they claim to know so well warns against that kind of foolishness. When it comes to God’s people, there is only One song that needs to be sung…Only one song that will make a Difference…only One song we’re commanded to sing…only One song that has Power of its own…Only One song that leads to Good…and only One song that has the potential to reach the world in Surround Sound – and that’s the song of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

They say that the average female speaks 20,000 words a day and the average male 13,000. I can’t help but wonder, of all of those words spoken each day by each gender, how many of those words were GOOD words…ENCOURAGING words…UPLIFTING words…LOVING words and how many of them were Words used for the PURPOSE of Good? If we rattle off thousands of words each day and most of those words are NOT positive and uplifting words used for Good Purpose, how in the world can we expect our own world to be filled with Good either? It’s impossible to fill ourselves with negative things and expect Beautiful things back in return. The power of Life and death is in the tongue, and our words are indicators of the Condition of the Heart and the mind. If we want LOTS of those 20,000 words we speak to be Good ones with Good Purpose, then it all begins on the inside. Garbage in…garbage out.

People around me often hear me say that “speaking about my Faith is as natural to me as breathing,” and it wouldn’t be possible for me to stifle my voice to snuff Him out of my conversations at all! I am His Child, and He is my God, and He is a part of all that I am and all that I do. But even though I speak out (and often), I can’t help but feel shame when I consider how many of those 20,000 words were actually glorifying Him. How many times was my voice heard yesterday, and how many of those 20,000 words included a mention of a Mighty God…my HOPE and my REDEEMER? It boggles my mind when I hear someone of Faith say something like “Wow…I just found out he/she is a Christian!” after having spent time with them in the past. I think it’s pretty obvious that if either one of them were using some of their 20,000 words a day to mention Jesus Christ, they would have come to that realization long before they did. If we fail to use our voice to speak up about our amazing God, how can others hear about Him, and how can we consider ourselves to be a Good Witness of our Faith if we’re silent?

I’ll speak my words today with Purpose, and I’ll be sure not to squander an Opportunity to be a LOVING Light for Him by using a bigger portion of my 20,000 words. My Voice won’t be silenced today because my desire to Honor Him is much bigger than my desire to be part of the noise. The mention of my amazing God will flow through my conversations as naturally as blood flows through my veins.

How about you?

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead”

“You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up”

“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was in awe of the Touch of the Master’s Hand the moment I stepped outside this morning, and after my time with Him, there is no doubt I’ll be in awe of Him all day long. Just a few days ago, the temperature was in the 80s, and this morning there is frost on the fields. You have to be prepared for the unexpected throughout the Springtime in Virginia. Some people will be caught off guard because they packed away their warmer clothes the minute the temperatures began to climb. Others will continue to wear their winter clothes until summer because they don’t “trust” what the weather will bring on each new day throughout the Spring. The way we respond to weather surprises is a good indicator of the way we respond to our God…He’s FULL of surprises, and nobody knows His thoughts. Trying to figure out God and His next move is a complete waste of time because He’s already told us what to expect, and He’s already given us our Marching Orders, and yet, so many prepare more for the weather than they do for His Return. Only God Knows what each new day will bring, and the only way to truly be Prepared is to Trust Him. It rains when He opens the Heavens. It frosts when He lowers the temperature. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciples, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me,” and yet, they fell asleep like spiritual slugs despite His desperate plea because they weren’t prepared for what was about to happen. The disciples wouldn’t stay awake for Jesus even when He needed them the most because in that moment, sleep was more important to them. If you want to hear people squeal like little piglets, just take away a few hours of sleep and watch what happens. With all that in mind, why in the world should it surprise us that so many professed Christians today refuse to “stay awake” at this hour despite what the Word of God warns us about? Sleeping through an occasional call from God in the middle of the night is one thing – sleeping through these dark times when the world needs to Hear about Jesus is an entirely different Story. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

It’s a sad thing to see how places of worship have evolved over time. Humble little sanctuaries with an organ and not-so-soft pews have been replaced by cushy concert halls with theatre seats, lights, fog, and coffee shops, all in the name of “changing times” and “comfort”. I’ve done a whole lot of looking, and so far I haven’t found even one verse in the Bible that says that God’s people need to be comfortable AND willing to modify the house of the Lord to make it easier and more appealing to the flock. It takes all kinds, that’s for sure. As for me, I like barns and not-so-soft pews. It reminds me of how Jesus was born in a manger, and it keeps me humble during our worship time together as I consider how and where the early church used to meet. When it comes down to it, all the pretty things that the “modern” church offers are just a matter of personal preference. If people believe they can draw closer to God only when the music is good and the coffee is hot, that’s between them and God. The saddest part to me is that while priorities have changed to please the crowds, the message of the Cross has been whitewashed to please them too – something they’ll all pay the Price for One Day.

As for me, I don’t worry much about comfort because the way I see it, Hell is the MOST uncomfortable place EVER, so my focus is more on being a Reflection of the Son than an entertainer in an attempt to “save even one.” I don’t worry much about the music or whether or not it will entertain the flock because the way I see it, no music has ever been written that can compare to the beauty of the Music in Heaven, so I keep striving to be a Reflection of the Son in hopes that more people will hear it along with me One Day. I don’t worry too much about “offending” with the Truth that has been softened to fit the modern church, because the way I see it is if I’m a Reflection of the Son, then I should Love enough to Speak the Truth because I don’t want anybody to perish. Paul said, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some,” and I’m taking my lead from him. People like us aren’t here to entertain. People like us don’t succumb to insults, and we aren’t afraid of threats. People like us don’t make excuses for speaking the Truth, and people like us are already “up at sunrise” seeking His Face. For people like us, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our greatest Honor until He calls us Home – AND at the top of the list of what God expects from each one of us…sunrise or not.

I’m a work in Progress and a diamond in the rough. I have a very full life, and I don’t concern myself with popularity. I’m unshakable. I’m unstoppable, and I’m Relentless when it comes to Sharing Jesus Christ. But the main thing…the one thing I am that separates me from many others these days is that I am laser-focused on being a Reflection of the Son, and I’m willing to be Uncomfortable for Jesus Christ. The Day will come soon enough when I’ll see Perfection…the Timeless Throne of a Mighty God. I’ll look upon the beauty of Jesus, and I’ll fall to my knees because He’s much more beautiful than I could even imagine. His Spirit can get the Job done, and His Word can do the Teaching. All I ever need to concern myself with is being a Reflection of the Son…to Live and Love like Jesus. Will I perfect my Reflection? Not even close – no matter how many “sacrifices” I make. That’s the Goal, and it makes me uncomfortable when I consider all the ways I fall short. So…I keep speaking the Truth that might just make someone else uncomfortable as they consider the wages of their sin and the consequences of unbelief…because that’s what Jesus would do.

Are you willing to be uncomfortable for the King?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Spring has sprung in Virginia, and things are beginning to bloom. Before you know it, the trees and everything around this farm will come to life…and I can’t wait. As I sat before the Throne of a Mighty God this morning, He used the fields around this old farm to remind me that you “reap what you sow” in Life – especially when it comes to the Heart. There are lots of things that go into the making of a green field that will be rich for harvest one day soon, and there’s a whole lot that has to go into me too if I want to be Rich for Harvest and a Vessel that can be used by God. It’s understanding what it takes to grow the Good Fruit that makes all the difference in the End Result. Isn’t that the way you look at your Life, too?

Plenty of trees around the farm will bud out soon, and lots of them weren’t planted here by man at all. Nature did the planting, and God did the Nurturing, and somehow, without any help from me, they thrive year after year. There is plenty of green in the fields near the farm, too, and when it’s left to grow, it will soon be harvested for horses and cows. But farmers don’t just cut down long grass and weeds to feed to their herds…at least the good ones don’t. They do their part to nourish the soil, too, so that what grows in the fields is rich, abundant, and healthy for the herd.

God makes sure to water the fields, and He brings forth the sun to help it grow. But without a little effort on the part of the farmer, what is produced out of the field would be of little use to him and his herd at all…and the same is true for you and for me. God is always ready to do His Part to grow us into Vibrant Vessels for Service, but He won’t do all the Work it takes to get there. We have to be sure to add all those other things it takes to grow nourishing Fruit that is rich, abundant, and healthy too. IF we do nothing to ensure that we produce Good Fruit, all we can expect to grow is weeds. If “weeds” are of no real benefit to a farmer, what good are Weeds when it comes to the Living God? He doesn’t just want “green” sprouting up uncontrollably…He wants GOOD fruit that will be beneficial to His Flock, too… and it takes a little work to achieve that.

Weeds are strong and resilient, and they aren’t easily controlled. Weeds can grow in every nook and cranny, and weeds grow like wildfire. Some weeds are pleasing to the eye, and if we don’t know the difference, we’ll easily mistake a weed for a flower. But it doesn’t take long to see that the weed doesn’t produce the fragrance of a real flower at all, and it cannot Produce Good because of it. Weeds grow in every direction with no rhyme or reason, and when left unattended, they can snuff the life out of whatever good stands in the way…and so it is with people of Faith. When people of Faith become lazy and refuse to do their part to Grow Good, they invite the weeds to take up residence in the Heart, and eventually the weeds will consume the Good in them, too. When the weeds take over in a person of Faith, they end up doing a whole lot more harm than Good in the process, and they have the potential to snuff the Life out of whoever stands in their way, too. It doesn’t take any effort on our part to grow weeds. Anybody can do that! But growing Good Fruit is an entirely different story. Just like the farmer…it takes nourishment, and hard work, and diligence, and commitment, and determination to do whatever it takes to Produce Good fruit that will bring about Good things in His Flock.

I may not be able to control all the weeds around this old farm, but I CAN control the weeds in my Heart, and when I do my Part, God ALWAYS does His. I’m doing my Part to be sure that my Life is filled with Good Fruit so that I can be pleasing to the King AND used by Him to do Good for as long as there is breath in my body.

How about you?

By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:16-20

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I had a rich meeting with the Living God this morning, and He spent some time Refining my Heart. The One who Created me is Kind and Gentle, but when He is doing business on the Heart, He doesn’t pull any punches. He shone a Heavenly highlighter over a few of my weak spots, and He reminded me of His Strength. Part of my Lesson this morning made me weep with shame, and some of the Message made me overflow with joy – but none of the Message would have been possible, nor would it have any impact on my Life whatsoever, had I refused to be willing to be Molded by my Maker again this morning. When it comes to things like Heart and Character, there’s no such thing as being “complete”…at least not on this side of Heaven. There’s always room for improvement, and I’m driven to be all that I can be for Him. Isn’t that the way you look at your Lessons, too?

There are lots of reasons why most people don’t continue to Grow in their Faith for as long as they live, but I think the biggest reason is pride. It’s often said, “pride cometh before the fall,” but that’s a spin-off from Words in Proverbs that drives the message home a little deeper… “pride goes before destruction, a haughty (arrogant) spirit before a fall”. Pride is what prevents us from being willing to be transparent, and pride is what keeps us from sharing our Trials and Victories. Pride is where we convince ourselves that we’re something we’re not and that we’re bigger and better than we really are. Pride is what makes us run from the Spirit of God when it’s Lesson Time, and pride is what stands in the way of revealing our weaknesses. Pride is what prompts us to judge someone else, and pride is what makes us lie to ourselves about who and what we really are. Pride drives greed, and pride drives lies. It’s pride that will stop us from helping the helpless, and it’s pride that leads us to lose our identity in wealth. A prideful heart refuses to admit when it’s wrong, and pride stands in the way of forgiveness of another. There’s no end to the destruction that pride brings with it, and eventually, pride will build a shell around the heart that it is so hard that we’re no longer Recognizable as God’s People and we’re useless to the King. There’s no room for pride if we want to grow. Unless we get a handle on pride, we can’t find humility.

I’ve been slapped around by people of Faith more often than I can count when they hear me confess my weaknesses or when I share my trials or temptations. Their pride drives them into believing that if you are a person of Faith, all those things are “in the past” and they shouldn’t be shared with the world. But I have no pride when it comes to being a Vessel for the Living God, and I know that the more I share about my own Life, the more inclined God will be to use me to help someone else. My Life isn’t just a big ball of mess…even though it’s felt that way sometimes…my Life is a Powerful, Living, Breathing Testimony, and I’m not too proud to share it. Every single piece has Grown me, and every pain has made me Stronger. But most of all, I know that ” in all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to HIS purpose” …so ALL of it has been used for Good in my life too. My Life has Purpose, and I’m humbled to be used by the King. So, whenever pride tries to sneak in…the kind of pride that would have me withhold what God has done in my life and the kind of pride that would lead me to take credit for things in my life that I have no business owning at all…it’s time for a Lesson on Humility straight from the Throne of the Living God.

I may not like it much when it’s Lesson Time, but I’m Ready and Willing to be Molded by my Maker so that I can be ALL that He intends for me to be for as long as there is breath in my body.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was warm enough for time on the front porch, but the winds were fierce, so I met with the Alpha and Omega from inside. I could have taken steps to endure the wind on this new day, instead, I took the steps necessary to Reinforce my Journey so that I’m Equipped for all things. He’s the Beginning and the End and the only way to find Peace in a “windy” world riddled with turmoil. I know that, along with this new day, will come a new set of challenges, because my adversary stays busy trying to thwart the Plans God has for us all. But my adversary is well aware by now that I’m a Force to be reckoned with in this Spiritual War, and I’m a bold Warrior for the Kingdom of the Living God. That’s only possible because I straighten up my Armor and I Prepare for the new things each new day. It isn’t easy sometimes, BUT I’m Unstoppable, and I’m always Victorious because of Him IF I make sure to Prepare for what I may face. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

I can’t think of anything worse than to be a coward at such a time as this, a time of turmoil where the world NEEDS JESUS CHRIST MORE THAN EVER! I can’t think of anything worse than refusing to mention His Name out of fear of the consequences. I can’t think of anything worse than denying Him in this dark world by remaining silent, and I can’t think of anything worse than losing my Voice for Jesus Christ. I can’t think of anything worse than hiding my Bible in a Bible app on my phone that no one else can see, rather than carrying it around like a statement of Faith everywhere I go. I can’t think of anything worse than refraining from sharing the Gospel because I “don’t know what to say” or relying solely on prayer when I could easily have taken action in His Name. There is only one thing worse than going to Hell, and that’s taking someone with you. Just the idea of these “worse” things keeps me on my Spiritual toes and more Determined than ever to walk out my Faith boldly, no matter what. This is the Key to Victory.

Unfortunately, many people have convinced themselves that they won’t “fold” under pressure for their Faith, but if it could happen to Peter, it could happen to you or me. Peter thought he’d be willing to go to prison or die for Jesus, but all it took was a little pressure from the dark world, and Peter denied even knowing Him. It’s when we stop focusing on Jesus and start focusing on the dangers around us that we fall every single time. Surrounded by uncertainty, Peter sat around the campfire with the locals, trying to fit in with the crowd to avoid being associated with Jesus at all, and he lied three times to save his own skin. We know the rest of the story – Peter repented, and Jesus not only Restored Him, BUT He transformed Peter into the “rock” that would preach from the Heart and tirelessly feed His sheep. Peter’s Journey had a “happy ending,” but it was that part where he wept violently, and shame overtook him at just one “look” from the Master. So when I’m Preparing for the new day and whatever it might bring, I think of Peter, and I fix my eyes on Jesus so that denial isn’t even in my vocabulary. This is the Key to perseverance at such a time as this.

It’s a new day, and I’m ready for it all…the sweet Victories that I am confident will come my way AND the fiery darts from Hell that set out to destroy me. Without Him, I’m powerless – with Him, I’m Victorious! When you look at it that way, why would I ever NOT take the time to Prepare in His Name?

How about you?

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The temperature this morning says it’s still Winter, the foliage says it’s Spring, and the sky says something sinister is happening in the dark world around me. Off in the distance, I saw a deer resting in the field, completely oblivious to everything around it. A deer intuitively understands that there is safety in numbers and that having other deer around means having an alarm system for danger. None of that seemed to matter to the deer – it was a peace all alone in the field, and apparently it couldn’t care less about imminent danger. God used that lone deer to drive a Message home to me. A lot is going on in this dark world, and, although I’m not completely oblivious to “danger”, I’m at peace just like that deer is. I can “walk through the “shadow of the valley of death and fear no evil” because “thou art with me”. “fire” of danger all around me, and I am confident because I know that “thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”. But when it comes to my “peace that surpasses all understanding” despite the chaos surrounding me there is MORE to it than that. I Focus more on the Most High God than on anything else, and THAT’S how I find peace in the chaos. “Be still and know that He is God” – today, tomorrow, and forever more. Isn’t that the way every Child of the Living God should be living at such a time as this?

I don’t think that what’s going on in the world is nearly as troubling as what people of Faith are saying about it. We don’t know the mind of God, and we don’t know His Plans. We’re told how to live while we’re here and what to Focus on 24/7. We’re told that we’re aliens in a foreign land…that our lives are just like vapor…and we know How the Story ends. But somehow, for some reason, man needs to conjure up theories based upon their limited vision of “reality”, and man has an insatiable appetite for conspiracy theories. Sadly, no amount of warnings from the Bible slows them down, and no amount of Truth is as appealing to them as the lies. People like me don’t waste time speculating on the Hand of God…we just Trust it. When the prophet Habakkuk asked God about what He was doing, God responded, “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” I’m no expert, but that sounds to me like God doesn’t feel obliged to let us in on His next move. I’m no expert, but it sounds to me like God doesn’t like it when WE attempt to speak FOR Him. In the book of Job, God said, “Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?” So I’m pretty sure God isn’t okay with us pretending to be “in the know”. ONLY God knows what’s going on today, tomorrow, and forevermore. This is the Key to Peace.

Plenty of people have spent countless hours “studying” conspiracies, and they’re ready to pounce on anyone who will listen to them. But I’m like that deer. In the field before the Throne of my God, and I won’t surrender my Peace to anyone. There are plenty of Bible verses to “combat” just about any of the conspiracy theories out there, BUT the Bible says, “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will”. That pretty much sums it up. This is the Key to Peace.

If you’re looking for me, you’ll find me in the field with peace that “surpasses all understanding”. You’ll see that I’m as bold as a lion but as gentle as a lamb. You can witness my “confidence” that is actually Faith in my Father’s eyes. If you want what I have at such a time as this, reach out to me! My Job is to Share with as many people as I can before He Calls me Home – NOT USELESS CONSPIRACIES about the government or stripes in the skies, or the war with Iran. Nope…my job is to SHARE JESUS CHRIST – our HOPE – our REDEEMER – with the dark world while there is still time.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Just a few days ago, we were enjoying temperatures in the 80s °, and this morning we had freeze warnings. This time of year, it’s nearly impossible to predict the weather, despite what the “experts say”. So I’m just along for the ride in this Journey of Faith, and ready to accept whatever the Master of the Universe has in mind. It can’t be simpler than that! No matter how hot or cold the air is on this new day, it is a spectacular day, and I am confident it will overflow with Blessings. No artist could ever capture the beauty I see with my eyes, and no orchestra could hold a candle to the sounds I heard. The best way to describe it is that it was as if nature was celebrating the God I Serve right along with me. By the time the sun filled the sky, I was already filled with awe over the Work of the Master’s Hand in my Life from this porch. Sometimes I study my Instruction Manual. Sometimes I sit in silence. Sometimes I fall at His feet. Sometimes I just weep. And sometimes, like this morning, all I can do is Praise Him for His Majesty. “If the stars were made to worship, so will I.” Isn’t that the way it is for you, too?

Some people believe that all I do is sit around on the front porch taking in the view, but that’s not true. My life is busier than most people know, and most of what I stay busy with isn’t outside at all. I understand the Importance of Time with the Living God, and I understand the Value of Peace…AND I guard both with everything I’ve got. I know what Life looks like when it’s consumed by things of this world, the loss of Peace and Trust in the Plans of the Most High God is not a place I’m willing to go or a price I’m willing to pay. I don’t “question” what He’s up to because I Trust in His Master Plan. I don’t “tell Him” what’s going on in the dark world because He’s the One to allow it. I don’t cry out for Him to reckon with the evil in my country because He already sees it, and He’s letting it roll for this Season for His Purpose. Sometimes I wonder if He’s allowing it all to see what His People do. Will they focus on the dark world and how they’re going to “fix it?” Will they rant and rave to anyone who will listen to be sure the message gets through? Will they sprinkle a little “God” into what they do and say to validate their hate and agenda? OR will they fall to their knees in Surrender to the One with the Master Plan? Will they Praise Him no matter what’s going on?

It’s not that I don’t care about what’s going on in the world around me, it’s that I know I can’t “serve two masters” – the more time I give to the dark world and its agenda, the LESS Time I give to the One who Created it. Garbage in, garbage out. It’s not possible to fill up with a good dose of all the horrific things going on in the world and fill yourself up with Praise for the Living God at the same time. Of all the things we could say or do to make the world a better place, NOTHING can hold a candle to the Love and Light of Jesus Christ. That’s what the world needs more of, and that’s what God’s People are Called to do. The more we talk about all the injustices, the less we talk about the Living God…the only Hope any of us really have. The more we talk about the dire future of America, the less we talk about Heaven! We only exist to Glorify God, and we’ve all been given the same Great Commission…the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ…the ONLY message that can make a difference at all. Things can’t get better “in the White House” unless God’s House is in order…and right now, there’s garbage coming in and garbage going out. Oh, how my God must mourn to be taking the back seat for Time and Attention as His people chase the darkness instead.

I began this new day Praising God for who He is and what He does for me. I accept my Assignment of the Great Commission, and I do my best to live it out each day. Just so you know, if you want to talk politics and/or the deterioration of this wonderful nation of ours, I won’t be engaging. Not because I don’t care. Not because I don’t think it’s impacting life in America, or that I don’t believe our freedom is being lost and The End is drawing near. But because I know that HE IS FREEDOM and I can’t serve two masters…this dark world and all of its ugliness and the One with the Master Plan. I’ve got Peace that surpasses all understanding at one of the worst times in the history of the United States…and I’ll have Peace every step of the way because my focus is on Him. My Trust is in Him, and my Role is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many as I can before it’s too late.

How about you?

“If the stars were made to worship, so will I

If the mountains bow in reverence, so will I

If the oceans roar Your greatness, so will I

For if everything exists to lift You high, so will I

If the wind goes where You send it, so will I

If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I

If the sum of all our praises still falls shy

Then we’ll sing a hundred billion times again.”

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One who “knew me before He formed me in my mother’s womb”…the One who “set me apart before I was born” at sunrise, and the mere thought of Him knowing me so well before I ever even set foot into this world overwhelmed me. Nobody knows me like He does, and I don’t want to know anybody better than I know Him! His Word says, “for then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” – and that one verse puts Life in Perspective for me. I came from nothing, and I’ll return to nothing again one day. The ONLY significant thing about me (or anybody else) is my Soul….and THAT’S why I give the work on my Soul more attention than anything else in this Journey of Faith. Isn’t that the way it is for you, too?

If we could just remember that life begins with “dust” and ends with “dust,” while the soul goes rushing off to the One who gave it, death sure would be a lot easier to handle. It’s odd how we cling to this life with everything we’ve got, as if this life is where we find our rewards and our Joy. It’s sad how we hold on to the ones who have gone before us as if it’s “unfair” that their spirit went rushing into the arms of Jesus before we were ready to let them go. Some people spend the rest of their lives memorializing a loved one who departed sooner than they expected…but when the Spirit goes rushing off to the One who knew them BEFORE they were ever born, it’s a beautiful thing to Celebrate and not a “curse” to talk about until we return to dust ourselves. Returning to “dust” is hard on the ones left behind, that’s for sure…but the minute the dust settles, the Spirit of the one we mourn is already in the arms of Jesus to live for all Eternity…IF they Belong to Jesus, that is. Only God knows when the day comes that He’ll call each one of us Home – until that time we live this life to the Fullest and we strive to know HIM better than anybody else we know!

Who knows why the One who gave us life calls us Home when He does? Who knows why some “die” young and some “die” old? Who knows why some “die” a miserable death while others just “die” in their sleep? Who knows why some take life into their own hands and they “return to dust” when they’re ready? We don’t have the answer to any of those questions, but we DO know one thing for sure….the body may return to the dust, but the SPIRIT NEVER DIES. The One who made a life out of dust and who gives the Spirit its Home already knew when the last day would come, and He already knew how it would end. Although we’re always caught off guard when the dust returns to dust…we also know that the One to give Life has good reason to call them Home…even if we weren’t ready….and the REAL comfort comes through knowing that they didn’t really “die” at all! The biggest part of us will live FOREVER, and life just begins after the dust returns to dust. The Promise of Heaven for those who Believe is a Gift, and the assurance of Hell is for all those who choose to deny Christ. When you look at it that way, it’s easy to understand that everything in between the dust is Preparation for Forever, and the sting of death isn’t nearly as painful as it is when we long for the dust to return.

I started this day off feeling overwhelmed by the One who set me apart before I was ever born, and I spent a while considering my Life between the dust. My Spirit is the essence of me, and it will last Forever…long after I do. I’m on Temporary Assignment, and my time here on earth is as fleeting as a vapor. All the more reason I make sure that I’m Ready for whenever I return to dust, and I do my best to share Jesus with as many people as I can while I’m here so that when they return to dust they’ll be in the arms of Jesus too! Knowing Him better than I know anybody else is the Key to my Joy and it’s the Preparation I need before He calls my Spirit Home to be with Him forever. From ashes to ashes…from dust to dust…and THEN to Eternity with the One who “summons” me by name!

How about you?