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There’s No Other Way…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The beauty of the Fall in Virginia defies words and it’s my favorite season, for sure. It’s almost as if God uses colors to lift my spirits to tide me over before everything becomes brown and bare for the Winter. I met with the Auther and Perfecter of my Faith this morning with an agenda of my own, and I flipped through the pages of my Instruction Manual looking for direction. But my agenda was not His Agenda, and in no time at all, He changed the Course of our Time. His Agenda opened my eyes. His Agenda penetrated my Heart. His Agenda revealed much more than I was looking for. His Agenda brought me to tears and His Agenda restored my soul. Even though I sometimes go before His Throne with an agenda of my own, as long as I’m just willing to meet with Him, He will bring His Agenda into focus every time. Isn’t that the way it works for you too?

As a Child of the Living God, I know that my life is not my own… and that’s okay with me. He has an Agenda for my Life and my agenda will always take the backseat to His. As a child of the Living God, I know that He knit me together in my mother’s womb and that He continues to breathe life into my body for His Purpose and not merely for my pleasure. As a child of the Living God, I know that I have the ability to bring Him pleasure too IF I’m doing what He Created me to do to fulfill the Purpose of my Life – but my existence without obedience can’t bring Him pleasure at all. Just the thought that I can bring pleasure to the One who died for me, the One who gave me Life, the One who Created the heavens and the earth and everything in between, brings Joy to my life that I would NEVER know if my Life belonged to me. You might have trouble considering what it would be like for you to live a Life that’s not your own and to trade your agenda for His, but it’s a beautiful thing to be living out the Purpose of your Life and it’s the most fulfilling of all.,

As a child of the Living God my past, my present, and my Future are not my own either and they are intended to be an open book for all the world to see. Each time something amazing comes my way it’s a chance to give Him praise for His Goodness and His Faithfulness and His Provisions for all the world to see. For those times that I stumbled and I fell and I managed to make a huge mess out of my life, it’s a chance to give Him Praise, NOT ONLY for seeing me through but for giving me a stronger Testimony of the Power of my God and a tenderized heart willing to share with the world about His Greatness and His Forgiveness through it all. My pain and my trials have Prepared me to tell others about how I’ve “been there and done that” and how He has used each transgression to transform me into a better version of me…a stronger Vessel for Him…ready, willing, and ABLE to Serve. My Future belongs to Him from this life and all the way to Forever. I know what Plans He has for me and I know that in my Future, there will be no more pain, tears, sickness, death, heartbreak, or anything that causes me to suffer here on this earth…and the best part is that I’ll be with Him for Eternity. Now THAT’s a Future to look forward to! With the Promise of a Future like that, how could I NOT Share it with the world?

Each piece of my past, my present and my Future has a tremendous Purpose in His Plans and only I can fulfill them. I know how special I am to the Living God…He sent His one and only Son to die for me…He Created me for His Purpose…He provides for all of my needs…He’s my Father…my God..my Savior and my King. He’s turned up the heat in my life more times than I care to count to REFINE ME into something Precious…His Treasure…His Vessel…His Child…more precious than gold to Him AND one so eager to Serve because of it. No, my Life is not my own and I wouldn’t have it any other way! My past, my present, AND MY FUTURE all belong to Him and they are an open book to share with the world…they are ALL part of my Purpose for living…and they are all Preparing me for my Forever.

How about you?

Are You Settling?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was warm enough on this first day of November to spend time outside so I settled into my favorite seat on the porch to meet with Jesus before the sun came up. It won’t be long before settling in outside isn’t an option so I’m savoring every minute I can before Winter sets in. At first, I sat there in the dark and I prayed. Then I read His Word and I contemplated my Purpose, but I wasn’t feeling anything in my Soul at all! I could have given up but didn’t. Instead, I turned my Eyes toward the eastern sky where I know He’ll be coming back for me One Day and I watched as He unfolded this New Day. Just looking at His Magnificence in the morning sky, and thinking about how His Beauty will surpass what I see with my eyes this morning, SET MY SOUL ON FIRE, and before you know it, I was weeping with Joy and Overwhelmed by my God all over again. I could easily have “done my time” this morning while chalking it up to “just one of those days” but that wasn’t good enough for me. I sought Him out the way He Sought me out years ago and I wasn’t giving up until my Spirit was filled with Him on this new day. Isn’t that the way you determine to spend your Time in His Presence too?

It’s amazing how people are inclined to “settle” in this life, but they lose out on genuine Joy when they do. They’ll “settle” for allowing their relationships to go stale while never looking for more as if not being alone is the only thing that matters – and when they do… there’s a train wreck around the corner just waiting to happen. They’ll “settle” for 3 square meals and an iPad for their kids as if that defines a family, and before you know it there’s a train wreck around the corner just waiting to happen there too. They’ll settle for bland (and meaningless) time with the Living God and they’ll check it off their list as if it’s a duty they fulfilled instead of a missed Opportunity to feel the Presence of a Mighty and Merciful God. Living a fulfilled life in all these areas takes determination and a Commitment to Excellence…every single day. It takes Persistence and Perseverance and a whole lot of Love. Sometimes I wonder if it’s even possible for people to understand what kind of Relationship with the Living God is possible for them as long as they’re willing to settle for less in every other area of life. When we’re okay with the status quo in Life not only do we miss out on an Extraordinary Journey with the Living God, but we’re already dead…we just haven’t been buried yet.

I’ve learned to be content in this life (not easy to understand because of my journey) but contentment should never be confused with a willingness to “settle.” The Apostle Paul said ” I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul learned to be content no matter his circumstances but he NEVER settled and he NEVER gave up. He never quit Striving for More. He never quit Trusting. He never stopped Seeking the face of his Savior. He never got in a rut and he never threw in the towel. He never lost His excitement for the Living God. He never “settled.” Instead, He determined to be Persistent and to Persevere and to make the most out of His Journey while He had time to Serve the One who Sought Him and Bought Him too. There is Joy beyond measure when we determine to Live that way too. Never “settling”…not with our Relationship with the King of Kings or anybody else in our lives.

I began this new day with a beautiful view and a numb Heart, but I’m Energized and Ready for this New Day now, and I’m overwhelmed with Love – all because I refused to settle for anything less than Excellence with the Love of my Life. I’m not settling for less in ANY area of my Life and I’ll never be content with following in the footsteps of all the others who are already dead but not buried.

He’s worth it…I’m worth it…every relationship I have is worth it…the Journey is worth it…Life is worth it and Love is worth it.

How about you?

Peace Isn’t Stolen…It’s Surrendered Instead

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. By the time God turned the Lights on this morning, the fog was beginning to lift and I watched it slowly make its way over the mountain. There’s something peaceful about fog to me…the way it lingers…the way it slowly reveals what it was “hiding”. I give thanks for many things when I meet with the Living God – morning or night – foggy or clear – but one of the most prevailing Requests I put before His Throne, and one that I boldly Proclaim for my life, is Peace. When I have Peace everything seems to flow easily. When I have Peace I can handle it all. Having Peace doesn’t mean that everything is smooth sailing around me, and my Peace doesn’t come without effort. I WORK hard to guard my Peace day after day and year after year and I refuse to allow it to be stolen from me by anyone or anything. Maintaining my own personal peace is necessary for my joy and contentment but it’s more than that. I Know that if I can be a Reflection of Peace amid a world in absolute turmoil, then I can be a living, breathing example of my Faith for all the world to see. Without it, I’m a poor Witness of the God of the “Peace that surpasses all understanding.” Peace is non-negotiable to me. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

We can see the Spiritual War being played out right before our very eyes in Living Color and it would be so easy to surrender my Peace and get sucked into the battle if I didn’t know how to Guard what belongs to me (as the Bible defines it). The Bible tells me not to worry…no matter what. The Bible tells me that I’m protected by the King of all kings and that I don’t have to battle on my own so I don’t worry about the “boogie man” coming to my door to cause harm. The Bible tells me that the “righteous will never go hungry” so I don’t worry about a day when there is no food (or toilet paper). The Bible tells me to take His hand and to lean on Him so why would I try to maneuver through the land mines on my own? The Bible tells me that there will be “wars and rumors of wars” so I’m not surprised to see what I see around the world today. The Bible tells me that there will be “scoffers” in the end, so I’m not surprised to be hated for boldly speaking up about my Savior. The Key to Peace in a world at war is to Know the promises of God and to cling to the only Truth we really have. We don’t “lose” our Peace…we surrender it instead.

We live in a hate-filled world that refuses to live in peace because the battle we see cannot be rationalized or negotiated – it is the battle between Good and evil. Sadly many are being deceived just like the Bible says they will so they don’t recognize it for what it is. It boggles my mind to see professed Christians jumping into the fight and being so willing to roll around in the mud with the best of the Evil ones as if their voice can make the difference in the battle between Good and evil. But what they’ve been convinced is the “right thing” to do, the Devil finds very pleasing because immature Christians are so easily manipulated to participate in his agenda. There’s nothing like being blind to the enemy and falling right into his hands. Evil is fighting so hard to instill fear and to rob us of peace…and evil is winning plenty of battles because the weaker ones don’t know how to Fight and they are surrendering their peace at will. It’s not possible to lose Peace UNLESS we surrender it on our own b because we CANNOT be robbed of the promises God has made to each who Belongs to Him…period.

The Peace around this old farm is so thick it’s almost tangible, but it isn’t that way by chance – or because of the beautiful view or the character of the front porch – or because I’m “lucky”. Peace can be felt by everyone at the farm because I GUARD MY PEACE and the spiritual realm knows I can’t be robbed! I Proclaim my Peace to the Prince of Peace every single day, and I refuse to surrender it to the Devil. It always comes down to choice. If you start talking defeat in my presence I’ll correct you every time because I won’t let you surrender your own peace in my presence if there is anything I can do to stop it. But if you refuse to stop talking against the Victory we have in Jesus, it won’t be long before we part company because I know that if I entertain conversation that goes against Good then I’ll be vulnerable to all the ways of the wicked one too. I’m an Expert Peace Guarder!

I Serve the Prince of Peace and it shows. Peace is the Source of the Brightest Light of my Faith and the fact that I Reflect it in a dark work is the greatest Witness to the One I serve. In a land that is in turmoil and a future unknown, I guard my Peace like the Warrior I am, and my Peace can be seen AND felt all around me because of it.

How about you?

The Shadows of Doubt…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. With a book light to illuminate His Word and a hot cup of coffee to warm my body, I set out to meet with the Light of the World in the dark as I waited for Him to wake up the world. The same God who Lights up the world is the One who Lights up my Heart, and when both of these happen at the same time, it’s a feeling that cannot be described. I had allowed doubt to creep into my head somehow, but when I turned to my Instruction Manual it was all washed away. I needed the help of a book light to read my Instruction Manual this morning but the Word of God has a Light of its own – one that’s bright enough to reach every corner of my Heart. I was given a Message of Hope to encourage me for the Journey, and a swift God-like kick as a Reminder that nobody lacks anything they need to Accomplish what He Created them to do. By the time the sun had fully risen, my Spiritual shoulders were Squared again and I was following the “Lifter of my head” with every beat of my Heart – And NOW I’m off to shed some Light on this dark world without a shadow of doubt within me. Isn’t that the way you deal with your doubts too?

It can be so easy to surrender to doubt if we don’t “take captive every thought” and if we’re not careful, doubt will cripple our Walk and hijack our Journey. It takes a little more effort these days to defend ourselves against the attack on our thoughts because we’re surrounded by the unknown and the Enemy is raging. But if we allow the Enemy to use circumstances (or people) to get inside our heads to feed our doubt, it won’t be long before we’re Living and Leading with our minds instead of our Hearts. Doubt doesn’t come from a good place, and doubt sets out to Destroy. There is no place for doubt in the Life of a child of the Living God and no justification for living out our faith with our head instead of our Heart. Doubt causes us to wait until we’re ready to move, instead of moving when God wants us to. Doubt causes us to keep our mouths shut about things like Salvation and Righteousness because we doubt we’ll have the “right words” or we doubt that others will still like us when we do. Doubt can stop the best of us in our tracks, and doubt will lead to destruction. To proclaim that we Believe, but then doubt the One we say we Believe in, only makes us hypocrites with churched-up words. To proclaim that we Believe, and then doubt that He will carry us through no matter what He’s asked us to do in His Name, only makes us hypocrites with churched-up words. The tongue and the mind can be two-edged swords, and each one can easily reflect a Fractured Heart when we fail to put in the Work to be sure that we walk the walk that we talk about every single day. When we forget what “fiery darts” look like, and we forget that they come from the darkest place, things like doubt can easily creep into our thoughts. The Shield of our Faith in the Light of the World is the ONLY remedy for doubt…but it takes work to remain Strong for the Journey…something many people of Faith aren’t willing to do.

These are the Words from my Instruction Manual that removed my doubt and refreshed my Soul this morning in no time at all -“When they saw the courage of Peter and John AND REALIZED THAT THEY WERE UNSCHOOLED, ORDINARY MEN, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Two “unschooled, ordinary men” performed miracles in His Name…they proclaimed Hope in His name…they risked their lives and their freedom in His Name…they changed thousands and thousands of lives in His Name. Did they have courage? Of course, they did! They were walking in Faith where Courage is found! There was no doubt living inside of them and no doubt holding them back! Two “unschooled, ordinary men” walking in Faith…and we’re still Learning from them today. Some might argue that these guys were chosen by God and therefore they had an extra measure of everything they needed – BUT God chose you and me as surely as He chose them, and He has already given us everything we need to Serve in His Name too…without a doubt. There is more Power and Strength available to every Child of the Living God than they could possibly imagine, all because they doubt the Living God and His Word. Doubt has no place in the Life of a Child of the Living God. When we allow doubt to creep in, our actions will follow every time…and destruction is just around the corner…guaranteed.

I needed a firm Reminder about my Heritage this morning and I found it in His Word at daybreak. I’m a Child of the Living God and there is no longer any doubt within me. I’m Royalty. I was hand-picked by the Master to do His Work. I’ve already been Equipped with everything I need for Success. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is my God. As long as I do my Part to be sure that I don’t let things like doubt creep into my head and my Heart, this “unschooled, ordinary” woman will do astonishing things in His Name, and everybody I come in contact with will KNOW that I’ve “been with Jesus.”

How about you?

“Bless me, O my Savior, bless me as I sit low at Thy feet

Oh, look down in love upon me – let me see Thy face so sweet

Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus, make me holy as He is

May I prove I’ve been with Jesus who is all my righteousness”

The Heart to Please…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was cold this morning but nothing that a hot cup of coffee and a warm blanket couldn’t handle, so I ventured outside for a few minutes to say “good morning” to my God and to fill my lungs with fresh country air. One day soon it will be too cold for comfort and we’ll be doing all of our morning meetings inside. Until then, I’ll go to extremes to Meet with Him outside even if for just a few minutes. This morning I gave Him my Praise, I gave Him my Thanks, I gave Him my Requests and then I ventured into His Word to see what He has for me…and He was Full of Surprises. The same Words that I’ve read so many times before took on New Life today because that’s the way His Spirit speaks to my Soul! A willingness to Meet, coupled with a Heart to Please equates to Messages that nobody else on this planet could ever get across to my Heart. Isn’t that the way it is when you Seek what He has for you too?

It’s a Blessing to have a Life full of family and friends who have your best interests at heart, but nobody offers Advice and Direction t he way God does. He sometimes uses His people to Confirm what He has in mind, but He Speaks for Himself if we just ask Him to (and believe He will). He can Heal a hurt, Remove fear, Reveal the Truth, Mend a Broken Heart, and force us to make U-turns in the blink of an eye, and He’s Ready to do all these things when we are Willing to Meet with Him with a Heart to Please. There is no place for doubt in the Life of a person of Faith, but sometimes when we turn to people for the advice we should be getting from God, we can become consumed with doubt based on their man-made input. If we feel the need to ask family and friends for approval for what we “think” God wants us to do, then it’s time to go back to the Drawing Board and build a Stronger Relationship with Him to be SURE about what He wants. When we have the Heart to Please Him, He gets First Priority, and we’ll push against the flow of our family and friends regardless of how hard they push back. When we have the Order of Business right, and we have the Heart to Please, we can count on Him to send a Messenger to Help us in the Journey, and when that Messenger Speaks we know it came from God and not from the opinion of man. It’s pretty amazing how God Works the relationships out and how He uses everybody for His Purpose WHEN we’re willing to Meet with Him for Direction and we Have the Heart to Please.

It’s impossible to make everybody happy, and sometimes we find ourselves working hard to please the world around us instead of having the Heart to Please Him instead. We look for approval from everybody else and we easily forget what Pleases Him when we do. We strive to “keep the peace” but until He comes back there is no real Peace. We pick and choose what part of His Character we’re willing to take on, and we kick all the difficult pieces aside for comfort. We rub elbows with lost people every day and we keep our mouths shut about Hope all because we fear what they might think of us when we do…and they’ll often die before they find Hope because of it. As people of Faith, we WILL find ourselves working against the flow of the world if we’re doing the Work of the Lord, and we’re inclined to settle into “comfortable” when we do. But when we’re diligent about Meeting with Him and we have the Heart to Please…sitting back is never an option and the opinion of the world dims in comparison to what He Calls each one of His Children to do. When He gives us Marching Orders He will open doors and pave the way – He’ll give us the Help that we need to do His Work – He’ll surround us with Protection – He’ll give us the Right Words and the Strength to do whatever it is He’s called us to do…if we have the Heart to Please Him, that is.

I wish I could make everybody in my world happy but it is not possible. I live out my Faith with Love and Compassion and I’ll extend Kindness to everybody He sends my way…with no regard for their status in life and no matter what they might think of me when I do. It Pleases Him when I “love thy neighbor as thyself” and it Pleases Him when I go about my Father’s Work trying my hardest to do my Work reflecting His Character within me. The Willingness to Meet and the Heart to Please can produce the Miraculous in the Mighty and Merciful Name of Jesus. Imagine that.

Is there any other way for a child of the Living God to live?

Seasons of the Heart…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Fall is my favorite time of year and it’s impossible for me not to shout for Joy for all that He is and all He does for me while I take in the crisp, cool air and the vivid colors surrounding me in the Fall. The Bible says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” and the longer I live the harder it is to understand why everybody doesn’t see God in everything the way I do. I marvel at the Hand of God and how He has a Purpose and a Perfect Plan for each of the Seasons – from Spring to Summer to Fall and then to Winter with each one bringing beauty and blessings of its own. No two days are alike and no two Seasons are the same. To me, they just keep getting better and better while God Himself orchestrates the crescendo of Life that builds upon each new Season along the way. Wow! Isn’t that the way the Journey of Life is supposed to be for all of us?

I’m in the Fall season of my life and often joke with family and friends about being “old”, but I’m not old. I’ve been Seasoned by the King for such a time as this and I’m just getting revved up in my Journey. My Heart has been softened over time through the Trials and the Tribulations of Life, and my mind is filled with Wisdom that has been given to me abundantly every time I’ve asked for it… just the way God promises to do. I have Fire in my belly for the Living God and a Passion for my Journey and it shows in my eyes and it can be heard in my laughter. No amount of wrinkles or saggy skin can take away from the ME inside because of it.

My Priorities have been put into Perspective in the Fall season of my life and my Workload has increased as God finds me fit to do more and more work for Him. I’ve learned more about who my real enemy is in this Life, and I’ve put in the time to learn how to fight the fight that leads me to Victory every single time. I’ve never struggled with being Grateful for the Blessings in my Life, but the Fall season adds clarity to the Bigger Picture and I see well beyond my own life and far into Eternity…and for that, there are no words for my Gratitude.

The Spring of my life was filled with turmoil and uncertainty and I spent that Season living on the edge, hungry for success and thirsty for money. I managed to overlook good things in the Spring, and I made some mistakes that led to lifelong consequences. But the sweetest Gifts came to me in the Spring of my life despite myself – God gave me 4 children and it was through those children that I came to Know, to Love, and to Trust Him. I was softened in the Spring season of Life.

The Summer season was spent holding on tight to raise a family on my own and struggling to find the balance between my family and my work. My Faith was made stronger through the Summer as I held tight to the only Hope I had to see me through. I was “forced” to seek the Hand of God to help me lead my children to a Faith of their own…a legacy of Faith that will last for generations to come and with an Eternal Blessing that I can’t begin to imagine. I was strengthened in the Summer season of Life.

I don’t know what the Winter will bring for me. I don’t think about it a whole lot because I’m too busy savoring the Fall, but I DO know that if God has a Winter season planned for me, it won’t be wasted ON me. I’ll keep striving to be all the best that I can be for the Living God and I won’t squander even a single day. I’m pretty sure that you’ll see the Holy Spirit fire in my eyes and you’ll hear the belly laughter of Joy all the days of my life, and you can BET that I’ll be doing the Work of the King until He takes me Home. When I get to Heaven, I’ll be doing more of what He’s Prepared me for here! My Job Description has already been written, and My Name is written in the Lambs Book of Life! The Seasons so far are just a Dress Rehearsal for what’s in store for me One Day and THAT excites me. I was born for such a time as this and I’m in the “right” season and the Perfect moment in Time!

How about you?

Yesterday a Memory – Tomorrow A Dream

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up the way I always do…filled with Gratitude for another day to Serve the Author and Perfector of my Faith. Living is one thing…living with Purpose is an entirely different story altogether so I have Purpose in mind this morning. The Fall season has officially set in, and every day looks different than the one before while nature heads toward winter. As I sat there looking at the changes that have taken place since yesterday, I thought about Life and how each one of our days is different than the last as we head toward the “winter” too. Yesterday becomes a memory, and tomorrow becomes a dream. Today is all we really have to work with and our greatest opportunity to Live, to Serve, to Share..and to Love. Isn’t that the way you look at the new day too?

It seems to be so easy for people to live in the past or in the future while they squander away today – some are “stuck” in the past while others are so focused on the future that they forget about the blessings of Now. Today really IS like “the first day of the rest of your life” and today is all we have any control over whatsoever. We can’t change what we did or didn’t do yesterday, and since tomorrow is promised to no one, all the things we dream of for tomorrow should be focused on today. If there is any Unfinished Business like asking for forgiveness or making our peace leftover from yesterday, today is the day to make it right. If there is an unspoken “I love you” or a word of encouragement that could change the course of another, today is the day to speak. If there is anyone in our world that has never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, today is the day to Share it. If there is anything within us that holds us back from all the things the Living God has for us, today is the day to move forward in His Name. There’s no end to the things that should be reconciled on a new day and there is seemingly no end to the putting off. Yesterday is only a memory now and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to an Abundant Life in all the ways that matter.

Some people have a “near-death” experience that puts things in perspective for them…at least for a little while. But every day is a near-death day for all of us because tomorrow is promised to no one AND YET, we have so little regard for the frailty of life that we’ll put off the important things as if we have all the time in the world. When you look at it that way, how can any of us dare to squander even one day? There is a past that needs to stay in the past and a future to dream about. The Bible says “Without a vision the people perish” and that “hope deferred makes the heart sick”, so looking forward with longing is a good thing for the heart and soul. It’s when we linger in the thoughts of tomorrow while squandering the today’s that we stand the chance of NOT living long enough to see what the Heart has been longing for. Yesterday is a memory and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to living Life to the fullest in all the ways that matter.

I’ve been on top of the mountain and deep in the valley and every place in between…but my past is now in the past where it belongs. The only piece of the past that has any Value for today is the Wisdom I gained in the Process. The “bad” has been Forgiven and the Trials have become my Testimony which is shared with the world today with Purpose. I have Dreams for my future and I take steps to fulfill them every day BUT my future isn’t here yet so I Focus on Today. Today will be the most spectacular day in the history of me! This day will be filled with Gratitude and countless surprises straight from the Throne of a Mighty God. The past has become but a memory and the future is only a dream, but I have TODAY to do Good in His Name and I can’t imagine a better way to spend any day allotted to me.

How about you?

The Best Part Of Me (and you)….

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped out onto a cold front porch this morning with a hot cup of coffee, a hunger for His Word, and a desire to be Taught by the Author and Perfecter of my Faith. It’s a new day of a new week in this Journey called “life” and if I want to be ALL that He Created me to be, then I need to put my Relationship with the King of all kings above all else. It’s almost as if I could hear the voice of my Father as the world around me scurried around looking for sustenance. The birds need food for each new day – they can’t store provisions away like the squirrels can and they always seem happy to find what they find as they continually search for more. I think we stand to learn a few things from the birds when it comes to living each new day for what it is without a focus on what we’ll have tomorrow. Undoubtedly we’ll find a whole lot more Peace in the process when we rely on the Living God for it all.

Humans are much more capable than our feathered friends but our lives are similar in many ways when you think about it. We have a sense of security as we approach each new day even though there are very few things that we can actually bank on. We know that the sun will come up and the sun will go down and if we’re still breathing, we’ll enjoy them both…at least one more time. We know that we’ll experience a lot of happy days throughout the journey of life and we know that we’ll experience some sorrow. Most of us know that we’ll have food on the table and a roof over our heads today, but there are no guarantees that we’ll have these things tomorrow. We can store up our food for the winter the same way the squirrels do around the farm, but there is no guarantee that it will be there for us tomorrow when we need it. We are loved and we love back, and it’s those things of the Heart that bring the greatest joy in this life…but there are no guarantees that the ones we love will be there tomorrow for us to love so we need to Treasure the time we have today. It’s only when we consider how frail (and how brief) our lives really are that we learn to live each day to its fullest and we learn to appreciate what we have today without much worry about tomorrow…just like the birds.

We know for sure that one day life on this earth will cease to exist for each of us and that our days are Determined by the One who gave us this life to live. Life could cease on this very day, or it could cease decades from now, but it will cease for all. One day we’ll be here, and the next day we won’t, and if we live our lives with any Depth at all there will be a void when we cease to exist here on earth. But the part of us that will die is the LEAST of us, and although it will get buried or burned one day, THE BEST OF US will go on forever. We know for sure that the Choice we make for the Best of us will determine where we’ll spend our Forever. Some people see their lives like the birds of the air – here today, gone tomorrow and when it’s over it’s over…and even though that makes no sense at all, it makes me sad to see how shallow their perspective is. Some people live on the edge, and even though they know that the choice they make for the Best of them needs to be made, they’d rather take their chances and roll the dice that they’ll be able to make the Decision to Surrender before they draw their last breath. Some of us Understand what this life on this earth is really all about, and we Know with absolute Certainty what Life will look like for us for all of Eternity based on our Choice for the Best of us. We look at Life a whole lot differently than the rest of the world does, and we Understand that what we have today may be gone tomorrow because “the Lord gives and takes away”. We Live out our lives like those carefree birds at the farm…we give it all we’ve got to give on each new day and we don’t try to plan too far ahead. We Understand where our Sustenance really comes from, and we don’t fret about our provisions because we Know that “the righteous will never go hungry”. We have “Peace that surpasses all understanding”, we have Joy no matter the circumstances, and we have a Lifetime Guarantee that will be honored for all of Eternity. When you look at it that way, how could anybody NOT make a choice for the Best of them?

I will enjoy every second of this new day and I’ll do my best to make it my best. I am confident about the Best part of me and I’ll be ready and waiting to explain my Lifetime Guarantee to anybody He puts in my path today. Some of them may fly away and they won’t give a second thought about the Best part of themselves BUT there will always be some that want what I have, and when I tell them about the Master Plan, they’ll make the Best Choice for the Best of them too. I’m just a soul wrapped in a package. Although the outside of me will weather and age and one day it will wear out for good, my Soul aka known as the Best Part of me will live on for Eternity.

How about you?

There’s Only One Battle Plan…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s finally dipping into near-winter temperatures in the morning so I won’t spend as much time outside at daybreak until Spring. The bad news is that it’s too cold to linger – the good news is that the sunrises are magnificent in the Fall. I focus a lot on what goes on in the sky from the sunrise, to the harvest moon, to zillions of stars I can’t begin to count AND I’m looking out for Him in the sky every day. The “key” to all the disturbing things we see in this dark world today can be found in the heavens – NOT in a political party or a fit or unfit candidate. No amount of “reporting” can reflect the mind or the Will of my God and no amount of fighting will change the Outcome. I like to think that IF the warriors in this battle against good and evil could bleed, the sky might look something like this because my God can turn anything ugly into something Beautiful…and I already Know Who wins the War. More than ever before I am being Reminded (and comforted) that what the Bible tells us about our struggle is NOT (ever) against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms and that the Battle I have been forwarned about is being played out right before my very eyes. With my mind, it’s troubling to consider the future of America BUT with my Heart for the Living God and what He’s already warned us will come before He does…now THAT excites me!

From where I sit, there are only about eighteen inches between Heaven and Hell…the distance between the head and the heart. Knowing who Jesus is and being able to quote Chapter and Verse of the Bible is meaningless unless (or until) Faith is driven so deep into the Heart that it is Unshakable. At the first sign of trouble, the intellectual ones will begin to speak their own commentary on things they can’t begin to explain because they don’t know the Mind of God, and without realizing it they become pawns of the Devil when they do. When Daniel faced the lion’s den he didn’t waste his breath trying to talk his way out of his circumstances – instead, he trusted the outcome to God. When the disciples were beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus they considered it an HONOR to be found “worthy to suffer” in His Name. Unfortunately, far too many (professed) Christians are attempting to fight the Spiritual War based on their intellectual perspective and they’re falling right into the Devil’s schemes because of it. They seem to have no idea that they are powerless because they insist on “using” weapons that have absolutely no power over the battle in the spiritual realms. Intellectualizing what we see with our eyes doesn’t impress the One Who died for the Heart. He wants us to look toward the Heavens and not focus on the world ESPECIALLY when things are troubling. He wants us to Focus more on His Word than all the other words from all the other sources combined because what they say doesn’t hold a candle to what He says. He wants us to be Stronger (and braver) than ever before and to have “peace that surpasses understanding” at such a time as this so that the world will see where we place our Trust. He wants us to put on our Full Armor and Fight the way He taught us to. He wants us to face evil and to laugh in its face because the Power we have when we battle in the name of Jesus will send the evil one(s) running back to Hell. How can we feel threatened, scared, or weak when we are empowered at the mention of the name of Jesus?

As the world gets darker I spend much more time with Him than I do in this world to be sure that I’m Armed and Ready at all times. I know how to Fight in the name of Jesus Christ and, with Him, it’s not possible to lose. Although I have an opinion (and a preference) just like everybody else does in terms of this election, the winner will be who the God of all Creation allows to rule for a season…period. Nobody tricks Him, nobody steals from Him, nobody surprises Him, and nobody cheats or beats Him. He’s the ONLY Commander in Chief to hang your Heart on, that’s for sure. More than anything else at such a time as this, every professed Christian should be more Focused on God’s next move much more than the political moves designed to spin our circumstances. God holds the world in Palm of His Hands…He always has and He always will no matter who you vote for. Keep in mind that while recruiting people to vote in this critical election is a very good (and necessary) thing, it doesn’t hold a candle to Recruiting for Jesus Christ and the “results” go way beyond a few years of good or bad leadership…the Results are eternal.

How about you? Is your faith unshakeable?

I Refuse To Live a Mediocre Life!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s bright, beautiful, and so full of color this time of year as Fall prepares the earth for Winter in Virginia. Everybody blessed enough to experience four seasons has a favorite season and I’d be inclined to say my favorite is the Fall if I’m pushed to pick one over the other. But truth be told, I determine to see the Beauty in them all. From the grays of the Winter skies that (hopefully) lead to snow to all the colors of the rainbow when flowers bloom in the Spring…I love it all and I love the uncertainty that comes with each one. Nothing in life is consistently bright and beautiful and the Heart will sometimes follow outward circumstances surrounding it if we aren’t Careful. It all comes down to the Condition of the Heart and how we are inclined to rely on the warm and fuzzies to find our joy. If I dare to meet with the Living God with a Heart that isn’t sad but isn’t happy either, rest assured I will be given a firm Reminder straight from the Throne of a Mighty and Merciful God of the dangers of having a Heart that is somewhere between light and dark….a lukewarm heart. My God doesn’t make mediocre days and He doesn’t like a lukewarm Heart. After all, lives don’t get changed by lukewarm, and Compassion can’t be fueled by it either. If I want to be Instrumental in changing lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then I can’t “afford” to be lukewarm. Can you?

Sometimes I wonder how God tolerates watching so many of His people coasting through this Journey called Life in mediocre mode. As for me, I refuse to live a mediocre Life because I serve an Extraordinary God who Excites me beyond words and Blesses me beyond measure…how could I ever be content with mediocre? How in the world did it come to be that so many people are content for one day to just blur into the next without much excitement at all? Apparently, people enjoy getting stuck in routines because that’s where they settle and that’s where they stay and they’re influenced by everything from the weather to the world because of it. They get up…go to work…come home…eat dinner…watch TV….and go to bed…and then lather rinse repeat. They manage to get excited every once in a while when they experience pleasure of some kind, but that excitement dwindles away as quickly as it came, and before you know it they’re right back to lukewarm mode all over again. It boggles the mind how even a single day can be taken for granted – but those stuck in the rigidity of routine will take each one for granted if they aren’t careful. Each day was uniquely designed by the Hand of God, and every day we’re given is a precious Gift, but we take it for granted anyway, and we look at life as mediocre. It’s only when we choose to live FOR God instead of just WITH God that Life takes on an entirely different “look” and we aren’t content with lukewarm because we understand the risk of staying there. We’re no longer driven by routine. We’re no longer stuck in the mud. We are determined to fight against lukewarm and we are willing to do the hard work. It takes a daily Meeting with the King of kings and a daily dose of His Spirit to wash away the mediocre and Light the Heart on fire. This is the key to being a Vessel overflowing with Love that He can use to Represent Himself, and it’s the safeguard method to stay clear of lukewarm in every area of life.

There is no doubt that God wants us to have joy in this life. He surrounds us with beauty…He puts people in our lives to thread it with love… and He takes good care of His children. His Word says that there is nothing better for a man than to “eat, drink and be merry”. But mixed in there with all the pleasures we enjoy from pets to pizza, is also the expectation that if we’re eating, drinking, and being merry we need to be Living for Him while we’re at it. He IS the Purpose of Life and He gets the credit for every breath we take, and yet somehow people are satisfied with lukewarm…BUT God will never be satisfied with His people lounging around in lukewarm mode…as in the days of Noah. When He was addressing the condition of the Heart of the churches in Book of Revelation, He had this to say: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth”. Something has to be pretty vile to spit it out of your mouth, and the thought that God could possibly feel that way about me and my Heart sends chills down my spine and propels me toward having a Heart that He can use instead. This is the key to living FOR Him…not despite Him.

I’ve put in the Time and I’ve been Energized by my God and there will be absolutely NOTHING lukewarm about me today. When God sends me off in a New Direction, you can count on me to leave every routine imaginable behind. When the world sees me coming it will recognize that there is something Different about me, and when it gets a chance to feel my Love and Compassion it will be eager to Know more. A mediocre life with a lukewarm Heart has absolutely no attraction to the lost world at all, and it doesn’t have enough passion to make a difference. Today I’ll be making a difference for Him.

How about you?