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 so far I’ve spent my morning more Focused on Him than anything else…as it should be. There is a lot of excitement over this new day and millions of people will have their eyes focused on the heavens all at the same time as the moon covers the sun in a rare solar eclipse. Schools are closing and businesses pausing to make sure that nobody misses out on the moment. Some people are as prepared as they’ll ever be and they’ll be on watch all day long because they want to be found ready for this rare event. It’s interesting to see so many people – of all walks of life and every size and shape – all focused on the same thing….just a glimpse of the wonder in the sky. As I considered all the excitement over this solar rarity, I couldn’t help but wonder how many people have even a fraction of the excitement over the Future Happenings in the sky when the King comes back for His people and how many of them will be as Ready for Him as they are ready for the eclipse today.

It’s fascinating to watch how quickly people will dive into the deep end with their own version of truth at the first sign of something unusual happening when all they have to do is read their Bible. If a solar eclipse is this exciting to them, just imagine how much more excited they’ll be when they turn to the Truth for answers! Everything you ever wanted to know about the sun, moon, and stars can be found within the pages of the Word of God, written by the Creator of all. Some people believe that this will be the last day of the world. Some people believe that Jesus will be arriving on the tail end of the eclipse as if He needs a special solar Introduction. It’s obvious that people have a built-in need to understand what goes on around them and they’ll easily grab onto nonsense sometimes to make sense out of something that doesn’t. The only sense worth Focusing on is God Almighty who “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name”. Now THAT is something to be excited about!

I’m excited to have the chance to witness a rare solar eclipse today, but not nearly as excited as I am about the One who will be Orchestrating it all. I don’t presume to know the mind of God and I don’t try to “guess” what He’s up to on any given day. His Word is my Instruction Manual for such a time as this and His Spirit is my Guide. I look to the heavens OFTEN, and I’m not searching for a rare solar happening when I do…I’m on watch for Jesus Christ because He’s coming for me One Day soon. I’m not sure I’m ready for the solar eclipse and if not for a very dark sky, I might be inclined to miss it if I get busy around the farm. One thing I am sure of is that the solar eclipse will happen one way or the other with or without me and because I know exactly when it’s coming to a sky near me, I won’t be caught off guard. But that’s not the case when the King comes calling for me. That Day will be the Biggest Surprise in the history of the world and nobody knows the day or the hour so I’ll be Watching AND I’ll be READY whenever the day comes. It makes me sad to think about people so focused on the solar eclipse who don’t give the King of all kings a second thought because He’s coming…ready or not!

The same God who created the heavens and the earth is my God. The same God who scattered the stars in the sky is my God. The same God that caused the sun to stand still in the sky for hours is my God. The same God who opens the floodgates of Heaven to bring forth the rain and the snow is my God. The same God who gives the sea its boundaries is my God. The same God who will shield the sun with the moon today is my God. I marvel at the Work of His Hands every single day, and I look to the heavens in hopes that TODAY is the day I’ll see Him. The solar eclipse will be fun to see and I’ll be wearing glasses to shield my eyes but when the King returns I’ll have my eyes and my arms wide open!

How about you?

“And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven” Deuteronomy 4:19

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s windy and cold this morning and although it LOOKS a lot like Spring, it’s far from feeling like it today. But what it “feels” like doesn’t make it so, and what I see with my eyes doesn’t make it “truth”. It will begin to look and feel like Spring when God says it’s time and not a minute too soon or too late. He has always been, and will always be, a just-on-time God. It IS wise to know a little bit about what’s going on in this dark world, however, these days far too many people are focused on “the real meaning” behind the recent earthquakes and the upcoming solar eclipse of the sun as if there is one giant conspiracy theory behind it all. It’s the One “behind it all” that shakes the earth thousands of times each year and it’s the One “behind it all” Who “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name” that will cause the sun to be hidden for an eclipse. The One behind it all tells us about the things that will take place before He comes Calling BUT IT’S HIM we’re supposed to be looking for whether the sun shines tomorrow or not. Isn’t that the way YOU look at this Journey of Faith too?

Any good thief knows that if you can create a distraction, you can easily rob another. Any good military leader knows that if you can create a distraction, you can easily overcome the enemy. Any person intent on causing harm to a child knows that if you can just create a distraction, you can easily steal them away. The Devil knows that if he can just create a distraction big enough the world will be focused much more on current events than the Return of the King, and many people will be left behind because of it. I wonder if we have access to too much information by the way it is sent and received through cyberspace and then spun into theories meant to be shared with the world. After all, it was the Internet that people used to create a toilet paper panic, and it was the Internet where photos circulated of tens of thousands of people who had (allegedly) dropped dead in the streets from COVID-19. It’s bad enough that the Devil is B U S Y, but what makes it worse is that so many “Christians” are buying into His lies and distractions. We are told to be aware of the signs BUT TO LOOK FOR THE KING….and it looks like lots of people have that a little mixed up. As for me, I’ll stick with One Version of Truth and I’ll remain Focused on the King and not all the nonsense from what people say is leading up to it.

War might come today, but I’m not worried. The earth could shake underneath this old farm today, but I’m not worried. The earth could open up completely and swallow it all up, but I’m not worried. The sun could disappear in a solar eclipse and never be seen again, but I’m not worried. The President of the United States can be re-elected and propped on a pillow throughout the next term, but I’m not worried. These things make for interesting conversation for some, but they are just noise in the universe to the God of all Creation. He’ll be coming for us when He’s ready and until He does, my Focus will be on the heavens and I anxiously await my King. In my Life there is One Truth…One Authority…One Way…and One worth Sharing with the world. He’s a just-on-Time God and I’m ready for Him whenever He’s ready for me.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s not raining this morning…at least not for now…and the sky looked like it was celebrating the chance to shine after so many rainy days. I stepped out onto the front porch to fill my lungs with morning air and I thanked the Living God for good health. I looked up toward the heavens to fill my eyes with the sunrise and I thanked the Living God for eyes to see. I listened to the sound of the birds filling their space with song and I thanked the Living God for ears to hear. I considered a world in turmoil, and I thanked the Living God for what He is about to do and how I fit in. I thought about how I’m missing my family and I thanked the Living God that they are all well. From where I sit there is always room for Gratitude and since I Know that “there is no good thing apart from Him”, there is no room for pride or arrogance in my Life. Everything I am…everything I have is only made possible because of Him. Isn’t that the way you see things too?

It’s amazing how arrogant some of God’s people can be and it’s perplexing that most of the time they don’t even see it. Some are quick to tell the world what they do and don’t deserve as if they deserve more from the world because of who they are…but that’s not true. Some whine and cry about their circumstances as if God has forgotten to provide the rose garden they think they deserve as a Child of God…but He doesn’t promise Easy Street to His people. Some folks are quick to point out the wrongs they see in the lives of other people while overlooking their own as if they’ve been appointed the Judge and Jury just because they Believe. Some could talk for weeks on end about the corrupt political system as if God is a liar and He doesn’t ordain our leaders like He says He does, while others speak like they have some sort of secret source of information that (apparently) God doesn’t even know about. God hates pride, arrogance, and an ungrateful heart. Just look at what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar when he puffed up and took credit for his kingdom. Even though he was warned about what would happen “if” he still strutted around and flaunted “his accomplishments” to show the world how great he was building a shiny kingdom. God ripped the king of everything he had just like He said he would and He sent him off to live like an animal in the wilderness for seven years UNTIL Nebuchadnezzar finally confessed that there IS no good thing apart from God and that God is the source of all blessings. That’s what Humility looks like.

These days lots of people of Faith find comfort in 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” and for some reason, they’re focused more on the praying part than anything else. YES, we are supposed to pray and BELIEVE what we’re praying…but what about the HUMBLE part and the turn from your wicked ways part? What about the part that acknowledges that THERE IS NO GOOD THING apart from Him? What about that part that continues to give thanks no matter what’s happening in this dark world? What about the part where we Celebrate being born for such a time as this because we Know God has a Plan for us through it all? What about the part where we put our TRUST in the Creator of the Universe instead of hoping someone in office will bail us out of the troubles we’ve created? It takes Humility to take responsibility.

Without humility, prayers are just noise in the heavens. Without humility, we never truly seek His face. Without humility, we don’t turn from our wicked ways. How can we EXPECT Him to “heal our land” if we can’t even Humble ourselves to the One who died for all or Trust Him with the Outcome?

It begins with humility and it ends with arrogance.

Which one are you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I spent my time in the Presence of the Most High God and my Soul was nourished by His Word. It’s raining..still…but the rain is an answer to my prayers for a parched land so instead of complaining, I’ll give thanks for every drop. Rain does have a way of making things feel dreary though, so as I give thanks for the rain, I do business on my Attitude too. It’s the week after the celebration of the Resurrection and I can’t help but wonder…was it dreary in the days that followed His Resurrection OR was it business as usual the way it is with us today? Did they dress in black to mourn His death while missing the fact that He conquered death, hell, and the grave…a Truth so many miss today? We can’t know for sure on this side of history – all I know is that the Living God used a dreary day to drive home a Message into my Heart. Is that just like Him to use the simplest things to make His Point to His people?

They say that Easter Sunday is the most attended day of the year in the church in America. That’s shocking when you first hear it but not so difficult to understand when you dig a little deeper. People who otherwise wouldn’t be caught dead in church on a Sunday morning somehow make it to church on Easter Sunday. I’m not sure if they show up to appease a loved one or if they’re trying to make themselves feel better about where they are spiritually. I wonder how many claim to be Christians just because they make it to church on Easter Sunday as if they’re renewing a Membership card? I’m pretty sure some are anxious to show off their new Easter “bonnet” while others want to be sure to show off their (once-a-year) well-dressed kids to the world. I wonder how many people understand that they are actually standing on Holy Ground and the aisle is a path to the Alter and not a fashion runway? I wonder how many will take Communion on that one day of the year without giving it a second thought or caring about the condition of their heart before they do? I wonder how many rush out the door after Easter service to be sure they’re not late for family pictures or family dinner because the activities far outweigh the reverence surrounding Resurrection Sunday.

“Back in the day” people felt the earthquake – they saw the sky go dark – they saw the dead raised from the grave – AND they saw the 80-foot temple curtain rip in two like tissue paper when Jesus surrendered on the Cross…and yet, most of them went back to business as usual. Some saw Him raise the dead. Some saw Him heal the sick. Some saw Him walk on water. Some heard Him calm the sea. Some saw Him deliver people from under the influence of the devil. Some saw Him cause the blind to see. Some watched Him die…and yet, most of them went back to business as usual. An eye witness to the Miracles of God one minute…business as usual the next. No, I don’t think people are a whole lot different today than they were back then whether they claim to be Believers or not. They hear, they see, they claim to Believe and they’re flying high one minute as they proclaim Him to be the Master of their life and the next minute it’s as if He never existed (to them) at all.

Some people see and (proclaim to) Believe but if they really did, it wouldn’t be possible to revert back to business as usual. If they really comprehend that HE DIED for them, it would be impossible for them not to LIVE for Him. Some people have mastered the mourning process and all they can see is sadness on the Cross – but Jesus wasn’t a victim – He is a victor! Some people look at death as robbery because they can’t accept the Will of God no matter when or how they die. But Jesus said “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down instead” and He made a way for all of us to live out Eternity in Heaven…IF we Believe. The Bible says “Narrow is the gate that leads to Heaven” and that’s easier to understand when you see how so many people are living out their Journey in business-as-usual mode instead of a non-stop Celebration of Victory on the Cross! Some people look for the world to tell them how great they are, but when you focus on the Cross all you can think about is hearing Him tell you “Well done, good and faithful servant”. For us, “business as usual” doesn’t exist. This is the Key to Eternity with Him.

It’s a dreary day but my Heart is filled with Joy and Hope all because He gave His life for me. I’ll NEVER forget the price that was paid to set me free. I’ll NEVER get tired of the “Easter” story. I’ll never walk away from the Cross and I’ll NEVER live a Life in business-as-usual mode.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I’m ready for this new day after my time with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, a good dose of His Living Word, and a hot cup of coffee. It’s not so cold but raining this morning and my heart is missing the sunshine so since I can’t enjoy the warmth outside, I’ll enjoy the warmth of the flowers instead. I determine to enjoy each new day…rain or shine…hot or cold and my glass is usually half full. This time of year it can go from the feeling of a warm summer day to frost on the fields and then back again from one day to the next. I am confident that the sun is always waiting just behind the clouds to warm things up and that nothing is predictable in the Spring in Virginia…and such it is with Life. When you think about it, Isn’t that just the way it is in this Journey of life?

Some people don’t look for the sunshine because they enjoy having frost around their hearts. They refuse to allow the warmth of the Son to melt it away the cold as if they’ll somehow lose their strength if they let it go. They strut around with a cold heart as if it’s something to be proud of and they have every excuse for why they refuse to let go of the offense. These people can hold on to something someone did to them like a snapping turtle year after year, refusing to let go as if refusing forgiveness will (in some twisted sort of way) get even with the one who wronged them. Their emotions can flare up in a heartbeat as they recount the wrong and they relive it as if it was yesterday. Some even wish for horrible, hurtful things to happen to the one who caused them pain. They carry the weight of unforgiveness around like a sack loaded with rocks and no matter how weary they become from the weight or how injured they become from the stress, they refuse to let it go. Unfortunately for these people, their glass is always half empty, and they would never know what it means to be content with a few flowers in place of the sun.

I know that when I go before my God and ask for forgiveness for my wrongs, they are as far as the East is from the West. The Ultimate price was already paid for me and my sins and I find indescribable comfort in knowing that as soon as I confess them, they’re forgiven. Remembering this is the key to being able to forgive others too. I’ll NEVER forget what a “wretch” I was before Jesus found me, and I’ll never grow tired of embracing the Price He paid for my Sins. I didn’t earn it. I didn’t deserve it. I could never have paid it on my own. So, if He could save a wretch like me…if He could lay down His life to pay the Price I couldn’t pay myself…if He could meet me where I was and Love me just as I am, WHO DO I THINK I AM TO WITHHOLD FORGIVENESS? The Key to being able to extend forgiveness to people you don’t believe deserve it is to NEVER lose sight of the price He paid for YOUR forgiveness. His Rules are pretty simple – if you want His Forgiveness then you better be willing to extend it to someone else no matter what they’ve “done” to you.

I’ve experienced some serious wrongs in my life and I’ve been labeled a “doormat” as I pick myself back up and then “let it go” over and over again. I’ve heard every reason on the planet for what I “should” do to make the wrongs right…instead, I leave the reckoning up to God. The Bible says, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” so I can’t think of a better way for the wrongs to be made Right than to trust the Living God with the outcome. He knows it all and He will have the ultimate say and it’s His forgiveness that matters the most.

I’m an imperfect woman striving to live a Life that is a good reflection of my King. I’m determining to look at the Bright Side, and my glass will remain half full all the days of my Life. I’ll do my best to “plow my own field” instead of concerning myself with the “fields” of others. I won’t carry a grudge or refuse to forgive someone that wrongs me today and I’ll do everything in my power to let the Light of my Faith on this rainy day. I’ll be satisfied with a beautiful jar full of flowers in place of the sunshine and I’ll be focusing on the Nourishment these flowers had to grow into something beautiful. I want to be like the flowers – clinging to the basic things to find Nourishment, Strength, and Growth. As long as I keep reaching for the Son, I’ll find everything I need.

Just think…He reached my Heart with just a few flowers. Imagine what He can do for you.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. As I prayed over the farm and its boundaries this morning, I imagined what it would look like if I could SEE the Lord’s Protection over it. I wonder how many Angels show up when I’m doing battle and I wonder if they have swords? I wondered if they stand side-by-side or if they hover majestically over the farm. The Bible says “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” I don’t need God to “prove” Himself to me – He already did that on the Cross. What He says, I believe without question. What I can see with my eyes overwhelms me, that’s for sure, but what I CAN’T see overwhelms me even more. There is a host of angels doing battle every single minute of every single day and God has assigned a few to you and to me. When the big battles come, so does an army of angels, and if I could SEE them doing battle on my behalf, I’d never be anxious. Isn’t that what the Journey looks like for you too?

Of all the spiritual “mysteries” that will keep us wondering until we reach Heaven, I think the “mystery” of angels is most often confused AND abused. Some people think that when we die we become angels to hover around watching over our loved ones…but that’s not true. Our loved ones already have angels assigned to them and when we get to Heaven there’s no coming back in any form or fashion. Some people believe in “angels” but they don’t believe in the Living God. I’m not sure where their “angels” are coming from OR who is commanding them – but they won’t be coming from a Good Place if the Creator of ALL things is denied. Some people “pray” to angels as if they can bypass God, and sometimes it looks like they worship the angels too. I don’t understand ALL the mysteries on this side of Heaven but I DO understand that the angels have been here since the beginning…they were Created by God…they are subject to Jesus Christ…they were made to last forever…and that God Almighty can summon them at will and Assign them where they need to be for me and you. After that…who cares what I don’t know now?

Some people believe that angels are mystical beings and that they can never be confused with man….but that’s not true. Every once in a while they “show up” in “human form” to do the work of their Father. In fact, we’re told – “do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Angels showed themselves to Abraham when they told him to expect a child, they showed up to warn Lot to get out of town. Angels brought Elijah bread and water and told him to regain his strength. There are countless times angels have “shown themselves” on God’s behalf even for someone like me. I believe I had an encounter with an angel years ago when a “mysterious” man showed up at just the right moment in time (and seemingly out of nowhere) when I was (unknowingly) in the presence of a man who was soon to be arrested for being a serial killer. God can summon the angels anytime He wants to, and sometimes we can see them with our eyes!

One time Elisha was facing a battle and things were looking grim. His servant was overwhelmed by fear so Elijah prayed that God would open his eyes so that his servant could see what Elisha already KNEW was there – “then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” If we could all SEE with our eyes what takes place in the Spiritual Places it would blow our minds and we’d never fear again! To see the evil ones working hard 24/7 to devour would drive us to our knees in prayer, and to see the fields filled with His Army ready to Protect what belongs to Him would send us into Perpetual Praise mode! What takes place in the “heavenly realms” is a much bigger deal than what we see with our eyes here on earth…and remembering that is the Key to Faith through it all!

God’s hand of Protection is over my Life, my family, this old farm, and the Ministry He’s called into being. When I pray, I BELIEVE because praying without Faith would be nothing more than chatter. I don’t need to see the heavenly host to be confident that they show up when God commands them my way because I’ve experienced Victory over and over again. I can’t see them with my eyes, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. I’m pretty sure that if God would “open my eyes” so that I could see the way Elishah’s servant did, I’d see “the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around” – me and this old farm surrounded by angels ready to Protect what Belongs to Him.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week and there is frost on the trees on this Spring day. As much as I was longing for warmth, God had cold in mind, and I Accepted His Will with a Grateful Heart. As I entered the Presence of the Most High God this morning, it began the way it usually does…with Praise for who He is and what He does for me. I cried out “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, who is to come!” and I imagined what it must be like to hear that praise 24 hours a day in Heaven. Next, I began to Thank Him and it was as if I couldn’t stop. I sat there for what seemed like forever, weeping with a Heart so full of gratitude. I eventually got around to making a few Requests…but the One Who stands on the Right Side of the Throne of a Mighty God knows my Heart AND He knows my needs without me ever speaking a word. His Word says, “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear” and it brings me indescribable Peace to Know that He is already in tomorrow and that He Knows my needs even before I do. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It doesn’t take much effort for people to shout out a “thank you” to God when things are running smoothly, but it isn’t so easy for some to thank Him in the storm. It’s almost as if all the Good He does day after day is diminished when His people go through a season of suffering. They’ll beg Him to hear their prayers and plead with Him to fix things RIGHT NOW. But do they THANK Him for what He is doing IN the storm…those things they cannot see? Do they Trust Him with the Purpose behind the suffering or do they spend time questioning Him for why He isn’t fixing things the way He’s supposed to? Are they willing to Surrender to His Will ESPECIALLY when they don’t know the rest of the story? His Word is clear when it comes to the trials – “And we know that ALL things work together for good for those who love Him and are all called according to His Purpose.” It’s when the storms show up that He does His BEST Work and it’s when the storm shows up that He can be Glorified the most! Thank Him for what He’s doing in the storm!

Most people know who God is and many proclaim their faith in Him -but even the demons know who God is and they shudder at the sound of His name. Some people are admirably faithful to ritualistic prayers day after day and some are in the church every time the doors are open. But there’s much more to the Journey of Faith than these things. I’m sure those things don’t go completely unnoticed by the Living God, but what He wants more than anything is a Heart that hungers for Him. A Heart that Trusts His Will. A Heart surrendered to Him. He wants a Heart that can’t get enough of Him…one that can’t wait to spend “quality time” with Him…one that Trusts…and Honors…one that never grows tired…one that is Faithful through thick and thin…one that never overlooks the Good to focus on the bad. It’s funny how people can easily define what it takes to have a “good relationship” with someone here on earth, while they overlook the beauty – the Characteristics – the necessity – of having a Relationship with the Living God. The King of kings and the Lord of lords wants to have a Relationship with you and me and the mere thought of that should send you to your knees and give you spiritual goosebumps! It sure does me.

The morning is cold while I was hoping for warm and the world around me appears to be in a tailspin, but that’s okay. I have profound Faith in the One who says “Before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear”. My God is Faithful. My God has a Master Plan that is Perfect and I Trust Him. I love Him. I Praise Him, and I Thank Him. We have a Relationship more beautiful than anything here on earth and my Heart thirsts for Him. I’m His child…He’s my God…through thick and thin. With a Relationship like ours, how could I ever be anything less than Thankful no matter what’s going on around me?

How about you? Do you have a Relationship with Him?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Today is the 2nd day of Spring, but the calendar doesn’t mean much of anything to the Living God. It’s 29 degrees this morning and it could just as easily snow as it can to shine. When He tells the sun to shine through the clouds it does. When He commands the snow to fall in the Spring, it comes forth. The unpredictability of the weather is a sweet reminder to me this morning of the unpredictability of Life…there is rarely rhyme or reason in the Journey at all. I look for the Good the same the same way I look for the sunrise each morning, but I have found my Contentment in the unpredictable Seasons of Life, and I no longer fight against it. Isn’t that the way you look at your life too?

The source of disappointment always comes down to things not going the way WE expect them to go, or when people don’t behave the way WE expect them to behave. But there’s rarely rhyme or reason and most of the time these things are completely out of our control. There are times when we go into overdrive as we attempt to make someone else be what we want them to be, or to feel what we want them to feel, or to behave the way we expect them to behave, and most of the time we do irreparable damage to the relationship when we do. People don’t change any part of them unless they want to change, and we have no control over the heart of someone else. How many precious hours of Life are wasted by pondering “if only” this or “if only” that over things and people completely out of our control? We trade our peace for all the “what ifs” instead of doing what WE need to do to change our own Hearts or our own circumstances. Sadly, lots of people choose to spend the rest of their lives in “if only” mode. No amount of “if only’s” could change the outcome of this day, and the “if onlys” ONLY lead to disappointment and heartache. The surest way to find Peace when people and things aren’t what we expect them to be is to Trust the Living God with the Road Map and to Believe that He’s got a Plan through it all. IF ONLY most people could reach that point…the world would be a more Peaceful place to live until He calls me Home.

Every person of Faith must reach a point where they’re willing to “die to” themselves because that’s the core of what it means to be a Christian. That’s not a place of sacrifice, neglect, or abuse, that’s the first step in Peace and Joy! We don’t become “Stepford” people when we give our Heart to Christ, BUT we learn to stop fighting against things we know we can’t control! It’s when we stop trying to anticipate the Next Move, that we learn to accept the Journey and we appreciate it every Step of the way. It’s when we strive to be Christ-like that we learn to love unconditionally…ESPECIALLY those people who aren’t so easy to love. It’s when we realize that we can’t control people, places, or things, that we stand a little taller and we REFUSE to accept less for ourselves because we KNOW that we are worthy. Instead of trying to change the ones that aren’t what WE expect them to be, we move on in Peace. It’s when we finally accept that God is Orchestrating Life and that our circumstances ALWAYS have a Purpose bigger than ourselves, that we learn to look past the details and the personalities that WE become Better through it all.

There’s no good rhyme or reason for why the temperature in Virginia is below freezing on this Spring day, but there’s no real rhyme or reason to this Life at all. So, I surrender to my Circumstances, and I always remember that the conflict I have with someone else has nothing to do with them at all…it has to do with what I EXPECT of them…things that I may or may not ever see in my Lifetime. I kick my expectations to the curb…and sometimes I move on to Peace instead of trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I’ve learned to “die to” myself, and I understand my Journey even though it doesn’t have much rhyme or reason from where I’m sitting because it ALL has Perfect Rhyme or Reason from where the Living God sits. He’s got my Full Attention no matter who or what I encounter on this 2nd day of Spring. Because I choose to die to myself and to live for Him, it doesn’t need to have rhyme or reason because everything and everyone else dims in comparison… and because I KNOW that “all things work together for Good for those called according to His Purpose”. I don’t sweat the small stuff.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One who “laid the foundations of the earth while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy”. How could I NOT be excited about this new day when I pause to consider the Power and Might of my God? Today marks the first day of Spring, and although we’re seeing signs of new life at the farm, the morning temperature is still too low for me to spend Time with the Living God outside on the front porch at sunrise. It won’t be long now before it actually FEELS like Spring at the farm and when it does, the world around me will come alive as I spend every morning watching the Master wake up the world at sunrise. It can’t come soon enough for me, but I’ve learned (the hard way) the importance of trusting in God’s Timing in all things. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

I know what it is to wait for God and although I occasionally cry out to Him to speed things up on my behalf, I know that those things He has promised to walk me through will come when He thinks I’m ready…not when I think He should be ready to take me there. I’ve been guilty of saying “I think God wants this” or “I think God wants that” but if I’m walking in the intimacy of our relationship, I still won’t know His Mind…but He’ll make His Will known to me. There is no doubt that my Father “knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” and it’s because I Trust Him, that I don’t worry about the little things. I walk with Him every day and I live a Life of Peace because of it. I don’t stop at every single turn and look for approval for every word and every step. What kind of Faith is that? Instead, I use the common sense God gave to me, and when I’m sure my Heart is open to His Spirit, He’ll turn me around in a heartbeat if I begin to head in the wrong direction. This is the key to boldness in Faith.

I pity some people who stay so wrapped around the axle about God’s will that they take no action at all, or they stay silent until they see a lightning bolt or some other “sign” that will confirm His Will to them….even for the smallest steps in life. Many of them appear to be in spiritual-pause mode and they seem to have stopped short of the intimacy to be had in a relationship with God. They claim that they want to be in His perfect Will in all things while they put things off and make excuses for not moving forward at all. I wonder what kind of relationship they have with the Living God if they need to rely on some visual sign of God’s Will, instead of the prodding of His Spirit? When we truly Walk with Him instead of just acknowledging His existence, “He’ll keep our paths straight” and He’ll “make the boundary lines fall on us in pleasant places”. Just like the sheep being led by a shepherd, they don’t look for guidance with every single step they take, but they trust the shepherd to keep them on the right path, and when He puts His staff in motion to set them straight they obey. Our Faith really isn’t complicated at all IF we have an intimate relationship with our God that leads us to being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. This is the key to Peace and Joy.

I’m facing this day with Peace and Joy and I’m moving forward full speed ahead as I patiently wait for it to FEEL like Spring in Virginia. You won’t find me stopping until God stops me, but you WILL find me seeking His Face 24/7.

How about you?

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.