Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Lord brought the rain last night and it was as if the earth whispered a “thank you” in the early hours of this new day…and so did I. When I first woke up it was painfully obvious that I needed to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” because my thoughts were overflowing with things outside of my control…things that needed to be Surrendered instead of “managed”. If the Living God is gracious enough to bless me with a new day, it’s time to get busy taking captive every thought! Being Mature in my Faith doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle with my thoughts, it means that I recognize a Heart Problem when I see it and I set out to correct it with the King as fast as I can! To allow thoughts to take ME captive instead of me taking THEM captive would be to squander a new day and to lose an opportunity to Serve. That’s not an option for me. Is it an option for you?

The Journey of Faith is not always easy, and sometimes the trials can cause people to Stumble and Fall. For some reason, people convince themselves that once they step into their Faith Life is going to be easier…but that’s not true. The Bible says that in this Life we will “have trials of many kinds” and that the purpose of the Trials is to test our Faith! Life is filled to the brim with trials and tribulations for me the same as it was for all the Saints before me – and they are my Encouragement to Finish the Race no matter what! Daniel didn’t avoid the lion’s den because he was a man of Faith; instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. David didn’t avoid being hunted down like an animal because he was a man of Faith; instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. Jonah didn’t avoid being swallowed up by a big fish just because he was a man of Faith; instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. Nobody avoids the trials and tribulations just because they’ve come to their Faith, they just learn to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” and they Trust the One they Serve. This is the Key to Perseverance through it all.

Self-pity, self-centeredness, fear, and pride are always what’s behind those thoughts that need to be taken captive – but there’s no place for any of these things in the Heart of a Child of the Living God. He’s more aware of my circumstances than I am and He’ll see me through as long as I “take captive every thought to make it obedient” to Him. I don’t need to worry about whether or not He’ll do His “part” – all I ever need to worry about is doing mine. My “job” is to be a Light in the world…salt of the earth…a Vessel willing to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ…and a Witness for all to see the Power and Might of my God. So, when I “take captive every thought” my fear subsides, my Heart rejoices, my Strength returns, my Hope is renewed, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.” Then, and only then, can I be a Vessel that’s ready, willing, and able to do the work of the King.

Let it be said of me; “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.”

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 gives “orders to the morning and shows the dawn its place” and I watched Him unfold this new day. It’s reason enough to celebrate a new day when we stand in the Presence of the One who made it, but there is even more cause to celebrate when the morning comes into play right before my very eyes from this old farm. The One who Breathes life into each new day is the same One who Breathes Life into me, and I don’t want to ever lose sight of that… even for a second. This morning His Majesty took my breath away and just knowing that I was standing in His Presence of the Most High God moved every part of my soul. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

It can be so easy for most people to overlook the Majesty of the Living God in the rush of everyday life, but I don’t think it’s possible to appreciate Who He is unless we do. It’s one thing to consider that He is the Force behind your life and to Believe that you’re Destined for Heaven One Day, but it’s an entirely different story to understand the Majesty of the God who Orchestrates every single piece of this life, every second, of every day, How could we NOT be overwhelmed by a God that “orders the morning and shows the dawn its place”? How could we NOT be overwhelmed by a God that “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name”? How could we NOT be overwhelmed by a God who “shut up the sea behind doors to give it boundaries” and Who said, “Here is where your proud waves halt”? How could we NOT be overwhelmed by a God that “has the wisdom to count the clouds” and “who can tip over the water jars of the heavens to bring the rain”? How could we NOT be overwhelmed by a God who “laid the earth’s foundation” and who “stretched a measuring line across it while the morning stars sang together and all the angels should for joy”? Just thinking about His Majesty overwhelms me day after day and my Heart is like those stars singing together and angels shouting for joy! When I consider all that He is, it’s impossible NOT to feel excited about my Life. God doesn’t Create anything “just because”…He Creates with Purpose…including me. Just like the heavens and the earth and everything in between He planned with Purpose, He has a Purpose for my Life too! He’s Majestic and He’s my God…and I have the honor to stand in His Presence any time I want to! Excited? There aren’t words for that kind of excitement!

His Majesty humbles me. His Majesty excites me. His Majesty brings me to my knees. His Majesty makes me shout for joy. His Majesty prompts me to surrender. His Majesty overwhelms me. The very same God that “showed the dawn its place” this morning, cares even MORE about me that He does all those stars He scattered in the sky, and He Knows my name too! He’s Majestic. He’s the God above ALL things, and He’s MY God. He loves me. He has a Purpose for me. He has a place for me in Heaven. I’ll be worshiping His Majesty all day long…from the time I watched Him give “the dawn its place” this morning until He calls “the darkness to reside” tonight…and I’ll never stop as long as there is breath in my body. My Majestic God has a Purpose for me and I’ll be making sure to Fulfill whatever it is until He calls me Home because He is Worthy.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was thirsting for God this morning the way the earth is thirsting for water and I couldn’t wait to enter His Presence and pour my Heart out to Him. There is a lot going on in my life and there are a million moving pieces. There are a few strained relationships that need healing so I’m inclined to “own” these things and let stress overcome me if I’m not careful, so I turn to my Source of Life, to the One who has the Power to make everything alright. He’s my Rock. He’s my Fortress. He’s my Deliverer. He’s my Strength. He’s the One Constant in Life. He’s the One that will never leave me nor forsake me! He never disappoints. He never stops loving. He never stops forgiving. He always has time for me. He cares about every aspect of my life. He’s Jehovah Shammah – the One who is always there! Most of the time just thinking about Who He is in my Life sets my Heart in Praise-mode, and when I’m in Praise-mode what I want from Him pales in comparison to Who He is to me. That’s what Love looks like.

I could write a prayer list that would wrap around the entire state of Virginia of all those things…those requests…those people in need of His Hand. I could go to the War Room and pray for days upon days for all those things in my own life and in the lives of others. I could pray from sun up to sundown and I’d never cover it all. Sometimes I wonder what they did years ago when prayer requests were made known. Did they take the time to chisel the requests into stone to be sure they wouldn’t forget or did the Request get chiseled into their Hearts instead? I pray throughout the entire day for lots and lots of things chiseled into my Heart. When someone asks me to pray I take it seriously and those Requests become chiseled into my Heart so there’s no need to write them down. The Heart is where Love and Compassion are found and God hears every thought. But it all begins with Praise for the One Who hears the prayers of His people. When we draw near to Him – He draws near to us! Without that, a prayer list becomes more like a wish list handed over to the Author of Life.

I know God counsels me “even when I sleep” and it comforts me to Know that He doesn’t just “watch over me” but that He’s inclined toward me day and night because I love Him and He loves me. When someone “pops into my head” I begin to pray because I don’t believe the “pop into my head” was coincidental at all. When someone “just happens” to show up – I begin to pray because I don’t believe in chance meetings. When some random thought about something going on in life “pops into my head” I don’t dismiss it – I pray. My children and grandchildren “pop into my head” all day long each time they do, I pray. I have a Time with the Living God set aside each morning…a Time to Praise…to give Thanks..and to make my Requests known to Him…but my Time with Him doesn’t end there. I commune with Him all day long no matter what’s going on around me. I pray throughout my day for people who are chiseled into my Heart – and because He’s chiseled into mine – He knows every thought, every prayer, every need without referring to a list at all.

I woke up parched and thirsting for Him this morning and He filled my Heart to overflowing as I gave Thanks for Who He is. My Heart is inclined toward Him and His is Inclined toward me. I’ll be praying throughout this entire day and into the night… and even when I sleep He’ll counsel me. What a Mighty God I serve!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The skies are clear and the sun is bright and beautiful, but it’s contrasted against the scorched brown fields so I’m working hard to focus on the beauty I see in the sky above all else today. Summer hasn’t been what it usually is around here – lush and green and hard to maintain, and unless God chooses to open up the heavens to bring the rain, we’ll slide right into the Fall season without much color at all. In the book of Job, we read: “He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. At His direction, they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish people or to water HIS EARTH and show His love.” Now THAT’S a God to revere AND to fear! The Living God has the Power to change the course of Life with just a whisper, The Great “I am” has the Power to open up the heavens…or not. When you look at it that way, only a fool with refuse to “work out Salvation with fear and trembling”. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

There aren’t enough words in the English dictionary to adequately describe the Beauty of my God and there aren’t enough words known to man that can define my Gratitude for who He is and what He does for me. BUT mixed in with all the overwhelming beauty of my God is a Reverence for Him and an Acknowledgement that the God who “gives and takes away” could so easily flip my life upside down if He wanted to for Reasons of His own. So, when a “strike” seems to come out of nowhere…I pause to examine my Heart. When someone goes against me and speaks things against my character….I pause to examine my Heart. When someone believes I’ve intentionally wronged them even though they should know better…I pause to examine my Heart. When I’m accused of things that go against the very Core of who I am…I examine my Heart. When someone lashes out with insults…I pause to examine my own Heart…not theirs. I pause to examine my Heart even when I don’t fully understand the circumstances at all – not because I’m afraid of man or that I squander time worrying about what man thinks of me, but because I am working out my Faith with fear and trembling and it matters more to me how God sees me than how man perceives me. God is ALWAYS the One to balance the scales of justice so I can’t go wrong no matter what the world thinks of me IF I Focus more on what God thinks of me than anything else. This is the Key to Spiritual Maturity.

If there was a club called the “Yeah, But Club” I think most of the world would be members. These are the ones to justify bad behavior and cruel words toward someone else with a “yeah, but” as if God overlooks the offense as long as they have a good excuse. But when God changes the course with His Whisper, He doesn’t care about our excuses and the “yeah, buts” can AND WILL be held against us One Day. “Working out our Salvation with fear and trembling” means that we FIRST examine our own Hearts and we let vengeance be His if that’s what He wants, because we KNOW it’s never ours to administer. Working out our “Salvation with fear and trembling” means that we are quick to hit our knees to make sure that there is no wrong resting in our own Hearts and that we’re in Alignment with His Will. We understand that Forgiveness is a two-way street and that if we want it from God, we extend it to man. We have no control over how we’re treated or how we’re “wronged” and we’re not supposed to take it upon ourselves to inflict some sort of pain when we are. What we DO have control over is our mind which has the ability to conjure up the worst of the worst – our mouth, which has the potential to spit out venom – and our Heart which has the potential to go against our God if we aren’t careful. This is the Recipe for Peace for those who understand what it looks like to “work out our Salvation with fear and trembling.”

The sky is blue and the earth is brown but my Heart is filled with the Color of Gratitude after being tended to by the God who can flood the earth or withhold it for a Purpose. As for me, I won’t question Him and I sure won’t critique His Work. Instead, I’ll be working out my Salvation with fear and trembling all the days of my Life. I gave up my membership to the “Yeah, But Club” decades ago and I’m not going back.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I tossed and turned a good part of the night and I impatiently waited for morning. By the time the morning came, I couldn’t feel it on my face fast enough. I like to savor life, not rush it along, but all throughout the night I couldn’t wait for morning. I needed to feel the sun on my face long before the sunrise and I hungered to meet with Him outside at the beginning of this new day. But no amount of impatience on my part rushed the sunrise along because God had already ordained this sunrise before the foundations of the earth. And, so it is with Life. Although God has given us “dominion” over the earth and everything in it, He’s the Keeper of all Time and we have no control over it whatsoever. That’s where Trust comes in…Trusting that He always knows best and that His timing is always Perfect. It’s when we attempt to rush things along and take matters into our own hands that we step outside His Will and we risk squandering the Beauty found in His Perfect Plans. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

It’s His Perfect Timing that sets the sun in the sky at just the right moment in time for the season, and His Perfect Timing numbers the minutes of daylight given to each new day. His Perfect Timing provides just the right light to nourish the plants, and His Perfect Timing brings forth the water they need to grow. His Perfect Timing orchestrates the conception of each new life, and His Perfect Timing brings forth birth. His Perfect Timing causes paths to cross at just the right moment in time, and it’s His Perfect Timing that kindles the sparks of love. It’s His Perfect Timing that puts just the right person in place at just the right moment in time when there is a need to be met, and it’s His Perfect Timing that sparks Hope because of it. It’s His Perfect Timing that numbers the years allotted to each one of us, and it’s His Perfect Timing to call us Home. It’s His Perfect Timing that allows for hardship and heartache, and it’s His Perfect Timing that will give birth to a Mission to help others based on our experiences that led to a Testimony. If not for His Perfect Timing life would cease to exist, and if not for His Perfect Timing my life would have no meaning at all. Understanding that He makes no mistakes and that He is the keeper of Time (for every area of Life) is the key to Peace and Contentment – but we have to make the choice to Trust Him…or not.

There have been plenty of train wrecks throughout my Journey of Faith and they ALL came down to me trying to rush things along and attempting to take matters into my own hands. The train wrecks weren’t a lost cause or “waste of time” because it’s through the havoc that I’ve learned to Trust Him in all things and I no longer try to drive the train. I’ve learned to be patient and I’ve learned to Trust. I’ve learned that it is just as likely that He is Protecting me through delays as it is that He is waiting to Ready me for whatever it is. I’ve learned that I’m not the reason the world goes around, and I’m not significant enough to question the Hand of God. I’ve learned that His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are not my thoughts, and no amount of human rationalizing can “make sense” of God sometimes. I’ve learned that my Life has Purpose beyond myself and that every second of my Life was already ordained before the foundations of the earth. I’ve learned that each breath I take is a Blessing, and I’ve learned that Glorifying Him with each breath is the most essential part of my Journey of Faith. Understanding His timing and willingly surrendering to it is the source of my Joy, my Hope, and my Peace.

I’m facing this new day with confidence that every step, every word, every encounter, and every experience will come at the Perfect Time and I won’t be impatient when it doesn’t LOOK like the timing is perfect to me. He’s the Keeper of Time – the Author and Perfecter of Faith – the Great I am – the Bright Morning Star – the God worthy to be Praised with every breath…and I Trust Him.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and clear this morning in Virginia and there isn’t a sign of much-needed rain in sight. As Virginia grows dryer and fire truck sirens are heard more often, I hold out Hope that the Lord will be merciful to the land soon. No matter what, whatever we face in Virginia today (or tomorrow) won’t have me fretting or complaining, because my Heart is much more inclined toward the trials of others than it could EVER be toward myself and our lack of rain. I’m not a martyr, and I’m definitely not a saint…I’m just a woman Living for the King…a King who was Known to become overwhelmed with Compassion over the pain and suffering of others. Sometimes it was over people who were hungry and thirsty…sometimes over the loss of a loved one…sometimes over trials and tribulations…sometimes over a hardened heart…ALWAYS because He could feel what they felt. Whatever we face in Virginia won’t hold a candle to what’s going on in the world, and my Heart is heavy over over it all.

The Bible says to “carry each other’s burdens and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ” but that’s easier said than done because it is the direct opposite of the nature of man – it takes the Nature of Christ to pull that off. It’s not easy to “carry” the burdens of another, but that is one sure way to propel us into prayer and to kick us into Action that we otherwise wouldn’t take unless we were Spiritually and emotionally carrying their burdens right along with them. Carrying the burdens doesn’t necessarily mean that we fill every need they have. Most of the time that’s not even possible! But it does mean we are in Spiritual agony over their hurts, and that alone drives us to weep on their behalf and to appeal to the King of all kings to bring them Comfort as only He can. Christ-like Compassion doesn’t discriminate – it kicks in for all people from all walks of life – people who share our Belief System and people who fight against us. Color doesn’t matter – class doesn’t matter – the fact that they have been kind (or not) to us or not doesn’t matter either. Christ-like Compassion loves all people because they were all made in the image of Him and He died for all. It’s that simple.

As the Time draws near, and the world experiences the “birth pains” we’re warned about in the Bible, the weight is almost unbearable if you have a Heart that longs to be like Him. People are living in fear and the freedom we’ve loved is fading away right before our very eyes. There are wars and rumors of wars on every corner of the earth – there are earthquakes and floods – there are children being violated and killed – there are churches not willing to speak the Truth for fear of offending the ones who don’t want to hear it – and plenty of churches that shut the doors because they were too afraid to stay open never opened their doors again. The church in America is just beginning to experience persecution, and the ones who dare to speak up are being labeled as “terrorists.” NONE of this comes as a surprise to those who know the Truth. There is plenty to be sad about…plenty to complain about…and plenty to fight over if we allow it…but none of that serves a Purpose in the Bigger Picture because NONE of that resembles a Heart like Christ. The Burden we should all be carrying has little to do with this life at all – it’s the Life that comes after this one that matters the most…and how many people will be left behind because so many others are too focused on their own life, their own needs, their own opinions, their own suffering, to care enough to Share the Truth far and wide. Now THAT’S a heavy burden to bear!

The Bible says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” so you won’t find me worrying today. What you would find if you were here with me is a very heavy Heart as I “carry the burdens” – and feel the pain – of others…a Heart driven to share the gospel of Jesus Christ more than anything else before it’s too late for the lost ones…an imperfect woman who LONGS to be like Jesus. As for the ones I can’t help physically? No worries, I’m praying almost as much as I’m breathing and I’m Trusting the King of all kings to comfort – to restore – to provide for – and to extend mercy to…and to send someone to share the Truth before it’s too late. I’m “feeding sheep” and going about “my Father’s business” today and every day, and I’m Unstoppable.

How about you?

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

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

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

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

How about you?

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

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

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

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

How about you?

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

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

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

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

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

How about you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How about you?