Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning had a mysterious look about it with the shade of the sun and the fog lingering on the fields, and this buck looked bold and beautiful…and alone. Somehow this scene reminded me of the Journey of Life. It’s a Beautiful Shade and it’s filled with so many things we can’t completely understand on this side of Heaven…and sometimes we feel all alone. Each day is a new day and it will have “enough trouble of its own” so meeting with the Living God to strengthen myself for the Journey is not optional…it’s critical, and turning to my Instruction Manual to find Wisdom for the Ride is the only way to Peace. It’s true what they say… when you’re a willing Vessel for the King and you boldly proclaim your Faith for all the world to see, you WILL face adversity and you are inclined to feel all alone in the field if you aren’t careful. I’m no stranger to adversity of all kinds of shapes and sizes – after all, I’m a Force to be reckoned with in the Spiritual World and I’m a threat to the darkness. If I were the enemy I’d try to stop me too! But my enemy doesn’t stand a chance if I’m Prepared to do the biggest kind of Battle of all…the Battle against Good and evil…that invisible one that goes on 24/7 in the heavenly realms…and I’m NEVER alone. Isn’t that the way you look at the battle too?

I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to refusing to do what God calls me to do. There have been a few times that I’ve ended up like Jonah in the belly of a big fish when I’ve ignored my Marching Orders from God. Sometimes I ignored them because I was scared, and sometimes I ignored them because I felt inadequate for the Job. Sometimes I let what I did and didn’t feel like doing get in the way of what God had in mind for me. Sometimes I purposely shut Him out so that I wouldn’t hear what He had to say, and sometimes I was too lazy to roll up my sleeves. But whatever the reason, it’s never a good idea to refuse to do what God calls us to do, and there’s always a big price to pay when we do. Sometimes we are thrown into misery to get our attention like Jonah was, and sometimes we leave this earth without having accomplished what we were born to do in the first place. I’d definitely choose misery over squandering my life away, never fulfilling my Purpose – so, I’ve learned to endure and I’ve learned to Persevere. I’ve learned how to be Strong and I’ve learned what it looks like to be Bold. Mostly I’ve learned how to be Victorious through every kind of adversity that I face ALL because I’m a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the Biggest Battle of all.

While it’s possible to run from God… it’s not possible to hide. We could hop on a ship headed for faraway places just like Jonah did to avoid our Marching Orders, but God will seek us out every time. He’s Relentless when He has a Plan that is intended to be fulfilled, and He’s been known to nudge His people with a Heavenly Cattle Prod to get us moving. But He won’t do it forever, though. If we continue to ignore what He wants us to do over and over again He’ll eventually leave us in the dust, and He’ll find a willing Vessel to take our place…someone willing to do whatever needs to be done to fulfill His Will. It’s painful enough for me to consider that I could live my entire life without fulfilling what He Created me to do, but worse than that is that I’ll have some explaining to do. when we are Face to face One Day. Now THAT will be painful as He reminds me of Lost Opportunities that could have had an entirely different outcome had I been Obedient to my Call. May it never be that He would walk away from me and Reassign Tasks that He intended for ME to accomplish to someone more willing than I am.

I’m a Willing Vessel and I love Jesus Christ with my whole heart. I want to serve Him all the days of my Life and I’m willing to Stand for Truth no matter what. So, I face adversity…the Price you pay for Obedience, and no doubt I’ll lose a few friends along the way who have different ideas about what God expects of us than I do. I get weary, and sometimes I’ll shed a few tears, but I WILL NOT quit and I won’t give up. You won’t find me swallowed up in the belly of a big fish because I refuse to run. You’ll find me on my knees and following Directions…and Repenting when I don’t. You’ll find me standing firm and not being intimidated into quitting by an enemy that has absolutely NO power over me. You’ll find me working my way through the fiery darts of adversity and you’ll find me laughing at the lame attempts that my enemy tries to use against me. But more than anything else, you’ll find me Victorious as I follow the Marching Orders set before me and as I walk through this Journey as a Willing Vessel for Him.

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 Living God long before the sun came up and I waited patiently to see what He has in store for this new day. Believe it or not, Fall is just around the corner and you can see the signs of nature preparing for what’s ahead. When I looked up at this black walnut tree I saw squirrels swinging from limb to limb at the highest points with no real purpose at all, while there were other squirrels on the ground gathering up food – some to eat now and some to bury for a future feast. Watching these squirrels reminded me of what Kingdom work looks like. Some are high up on branches swinging fast and hard with no real purpose at all, while lots of others are closer to the ground preparing for what’s to come. Isn’t it just like God to use a simple squirrel to inspire a Message this morning?

Kingdom Work can get pretty complicated (and competitive) sometimes when we lose our Focus, but it doesn’t have to be that way when the Intentions are clear and pleasing God is the ONLY thing on the Agenda. It’s sad to see some Kingdom workers intent on flying as high as they possibly can just to be sure that the world sees what they’re capable of. Unfortunately, many of them are more intent on being seen and heard than they are on pleasing God. But Kingdom Work isn’t a popularity contest and the Truth isn’t always easy to bear. So, some have learned to dilute the Message to appeal to the masses so that more and more people watch them jump on the high limbs. Although they haven’t fallen from the high branches (yet), they’ve fallen away from Truth. The Bible says “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Sound doctrine isn’t popular these days BUT Truth is what the lost world needs. I’m no “expert” but I’m confident that God doesn’t understand softening the blow to gain popularity regardless of what the Deceiver has to say.

Other Kingdom Workers are on the ground without a care in the world about being seen from the high branches. Many of them tirelessly serve the church and they stay busy preparing for what’s to come. They are the backbone of Kingdom Work! But mixed in with all those busy squirrels, working without the need to be seen, there are others who have convinced themselves that the harder they work, the more likely they are to make their way to Heaven. The Truth slipped by them somehow or their tickling ears prevented them from hearing it so they’re squirrels working like beavers and they may be unpleasantly surprised One Day when they hear “I never knew you”. Although there are LOTS of things behind the scenes that need to be done for Kingdon Work to succeed, there is NO GREATER “job” for anyone professing to be a follower of Jesus Christ than to share the Good News, and there is no escaping our God-given Commission no matter how hard we work.

Kingdom Workers are needed in all areas of Service and each one of us has a Purpose far greater than ourselves. Some stay high up on the branches as they work tirelessly to share the Good News with as many people as they possibly can, while others take on the harder tasks on the ground. No matter where God Calls us to Serve we’re all on Equal Ground and there is no gift more important than the other! No matter how hard we work behind the scenes none of us are off the hook because the Goal is One size fits all – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

No matter where God sends me or what He Calls for me to do, I’ll be working hard to gather up as many as I can to do my part to fill the Banquet Table before it’s too late. I’ll speak Truth into their Soul. I’ll Disciple them into Maturity. I’ll roll up my sleeves and I’ll be willing to do whatever He has in mind for me – whether it’s swinging on the high branches or gathering on the ground – either way, I won’t overlook the Agenda and I’ll never overlook my Purpose.

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 I spent my Time in the Presence of my God being made Ready for whatever He has for me. He “reads me like a book” when I spend time in His Word, and I’d be so lost without my Roadmap for Life. When I looked out across the fields I realized that no matter how long and hard I take in the view from the front porch, the beauty I see isn’t seen with the eyes at all but with the Heart instead, and it bubbles up for all the world to see just the way it does in the Journey of Faith. The more time I spend in His Presence…the longer I read His Word…the more my Faith bubbles up from the inside out and it’s impossible for the world not to see. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

It can be so easy for people of Faith to set aside their Instruction Manual and one-on-One time with the Living God for Sunday mornings only – although I don’t understand how or why. When the Heart is filled with Love, how can anybody be satisfied with just a small dose of time now and then? How can the beauty of Faith bubble up for all the world to see if we fail to spend Time with the Author and Perfector of Faith…the Source of ALL Love? Far too many people rely on having their One Way ticket to Heaven because they believe the ticket will never expire and that it cannot be revoked. They see our Savior as a very generous guy in the sky and they don’t believe He looks for anything in return for Redeeming our “life from the pit”. So, they park themselves in a spiritual recliner and become spiritual slugs in the process. They don’t care much about building a RELATIONSHIP with the God of All Creation because they’ve been deceived into believing they don’t need to. The saddest part of all is that they stand the Risk of hearing “I NEVER KNEW YOU” One Day. Just the thought of that keeps me Bubbling my Faith all over my world every single day in hopes that I can share the kind of Truth that can Save them. These people expect God to reach down and fix this broken world without them having to lift a finger or Speak a Word of Truth – and although He CAN, He expects His People to do their part too. Sadly, lots of people wouldn’t Recognize the Truth if it hit them in the head because they haven’t tuned in LIVE with one-on-One Sessions with the Living God. If they did, He’d set keep their Path Straight the same as He has mine.

I’m in the Fall Season of Life and I’ll be here Working harder than ever before until I draw my last breath…and THAT’S when “the fun” begins! I’ll be with Him FOREVER AND EVER and I won’t be sitting back in a recliner or parked on a puffy cloud in Heaven – I’ll be busier than ever when the dress rehearsal here on earth becomes my Eternal reality. It all begins with the kind of Beauty that bubbles up on the inside and it’s only made possible by spending time with the Master of it all.

Psalm 103:4 – Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. By the time I finished meeting with the Living God this morning, it was pretty clear that it is destined to be a clear and beautiful day in Virginia. The sun was burning on my face while God was burning in my Heart, and the combination took my breath away. This image reminded me of how if the Light of my Faith is the Focus today, everything else beyond that will dim in comparison. My life is forever overflowing with things to do and if I’m not careful I could find myself attempting to lead instead of being willing to Follow. So, no matter what’s on my plate for this new day or how busy I know I’ll be, my first Priority is always getting ME prepared to do my Part ONLY according to His Will and not my own. Isn’t that the way you Prioritize your busy Life too?

Most people professing to be Christians today THINK they’re followers of Jesus, but I’m not so sure about that. I’m not questioning their belief system…I have no right to judge that at all. But believing in Christ is one thing, being a Follower of His is an entirely different story. While many may have convinced themselves that they are following Him, what they’re really doing is expecting Him to follow them. They call Him Savior, but do they treat Him as King? Do they ever really Surrender to His Will or are they too busy holding onto their own? Are they really ready to follow His lead, or do they refuse to “let go and let God? Are they ready to obey like a good Servant no matter what they’re told to do or where they’re told to go? Hmm…a new perspective for most. THAT’S what a surrendered Life looks like and what it means to be a Follower of the King. It’s ONLY when we Focus on the Light of our Savior that everything else dims in comparison, and Following Him becomes our greatest Joy…no matter where He leads us.

It’s human nature to want to take on the Leadership role in our Faith, and most of us feel better about life when we remind ourselves that He is always there. Some of us will drag Him around through life like our favorite toy and we brag about not going anywhere without Him. We want Jesus right there beside (or behind) us ready to Serve our Purpose or to fulfill our will when we call. Sometimes we may talk a pretty good game about our God, but when it comes down to it, are we truly allowing Him to Lead us, OR are we expecting Him to follow us so that He can take care of all of the needs in our lives while He’s at it? Jesus painted a very clear picture of what our lives “look” like if we are Willing to Follow Him. We feed His sheep – we Serve the needy – we Hunger to share the Truth – we mourn over lost people – we lay down our own lives so that we can Live for Him. It takes keeping the Light of the world blazing in our Hearts to be a Follower day in and day out. This is the Key to Purpose AND to Peace.

It’s pretty risky to ask God to “use me” because when you do, He’ll start preparing you, and you just never know what He’ll ask you to do or where He’ll tell you to go! Sometimes when He directs us to do something it makes perfect sense in the human mind, and sometimes it appears to make no sense at all from where we sit. If we’re leading the way in our Faith we’ll never do those things that make no sense to us. We might start praying about it, and some will say “I know what God wants me to do but I’m waiting for Him to work things out” but then they sit around and wait for things to make sense in the human mind before they’re willing to do what they “know God wants them” to do. These folks aren’t really willing to Follow at all…at least not unless it makes perfect sense in the human mind and unless God provides all of the puzzle pieces to snuff out their fear….the real reason behind why they won’t budge. But we can’t just pray as if things depend on God before we take action….we have to WORK as if it depends on us! It’s when we Follow His Lead AND work with all of our Strength that amazing things happen in His name!

I’m a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and I’m a Faithful Follower too. Sometimes I let doubt and fear get in the way just like everybody else does, but IF I determine for the Light of my Life to be my Main Focus each day, everything else will dim in comparison. I don’t want to find myself trying to live in MY Will…I want to remain in His Will all the days of my life instead. I’m determined to be a Faithful Follower of His and I’ll let Him do the Leading because when HE Leads miraculous things happen every single time, and when I lead, I stumble and fall.

How about you?

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” Matthew 16:24-25

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Alpha and Omega before the sun came up and I watched His Majesty unfold before my very eyes. It’s hard to fathom how anyone could fail to see the Hand of the God of all Creation if they’ve ever watched a morning unfold before their very eyes…but they do. It’s because I worship His Majesty that I see things with my Heart instead of just the human eye and I begin to sing “Majesty! Worship His Majesty” almost every time. The deer in this photo reminded me of the way so many people approach the Journey of Faith…a little timid…a little shy..and never willing to be the one to make the first move of Faith…all because they overlook His Majesty. Isn’t it just like God to thread a message in my Heart at sunrise using a simple deer?

God once said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” but we don’t have to SEE His face to SEEK His face. We don’t have to see His face to see Him in everything around us. He’s omnipotent. He’s omnipresent. He’s in the sunrise and He’s in the rain. He’s in the face of a child and He’s in the face of adversity. He’s the Keeper of Time and He’s the Creator of all. He’s the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He’s the Bright Morning Star. He’s the great “I am.” It’s when we focus on all that He is and all that He does that we’re Empowered to share Him with the world and we no longer tiptoe around the Journey of Faith like a timid deer afraid of its own shadow. When we Focus on His Majesty we know that “no weapon formed against me will prosper.” How sad it is to see so many people professing to have Faith in Jesus Christ scurrying around in fear…hiding in the shadows of life. Unfortunately, they’re living like that deer – skittish and fearful of danger…and they’ll have just the same impact on the Kingdom as our furry friends if they aren’t careful. Worshipping His Majesty is where Strength is born.

It’s not possible to lose “your first love” or to become “lukewarm” as long as you Worship His Majesty. His Might outshines everything on this earth and His Power is made Perfect in weakness. Psalm 91 says, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” – why would I hide like a deer afraid of its own shadow? If His Word says, “If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you” – why would I hide like a deer afraid of its own shadow? He says “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist” – why would I hide like a deer afraid of its own shadow? There is nothing too big for my God and no mountain too high to climb in His Name. He is Majestic. He is worthy to be praised. He’s the Source of my Strength. He’s my Purpose for Living. He expects me to rely on Him in all things and to Trust even those things I do not see. He has called me to fearlessly Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and there’s no shutting me up…and it all comes down to His Majesty. I’m so in awe of all that He is and all that He does that I’m Empowered to live for Him. You won’t find me hiding like a deer afraid of its own shadow, that’s for sure. I’m a Warrior are on the front lines!

I wish everybody could experience a morning from the front porch of my farm in Virginia, BUT more than that, I wish everybody would Worship His Majesty from wherever they are. The world would be so different IF all the people Professing to have a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ would stop hiding like a deer afraid of its own shadow. Some people proclaim that they would die for Him…but I don’t they don’t fool me. If they’re not willing to LIVE for Him…why in the world would they be willing to die for Him?

WORSHIP HIS MAJESTY!

Majesty, Worship His Majesty

Unto Jesus Be Glory Honour And Praise

Majesty, Kingdom, Authority

Flows From His Throne

Unto His Own

His Anthem Raise

So Exalt, Lift Upon High

The Name Of Jesus

Magnify Come Glorify

Christ, Jesus The King

Majesty, Worship His Majesty

Jesus Who Died, Now Glorified

King Of All Kings.

Jesus Who Died, Now Glorified

King Of All Kings.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The rockers lined up are a beautiful reminder to me that the front porch and the fields are always “open for business” around here – whether for the masses that come far and wide to visit the farm or a simple visit with a friend in need of Love and laughter. Whoever finds their way here, they’ll find God’s farm waiting for them along with a Steward with a Willing Heart and open arms. It won’t matter the purpose of our meeting – they’ll always hear about Jesus Christ one way or another. Whether it’s work or play, my Faith is NEVER hidden and it’s when I’m being the Boldest for Him that I face the MOST adversity. I know how this Battle rolls, and I know how easily I could be tempted to throw in the towel in my weakness. So, these days my time with the Living God is more about Securing my Armor for the Battle than anything else. I’m a Warrior, but I’m a woman too, and it could be so easy to stumble into discouragement. But as long as I do the most Important Part…as long as I’m Spiritually Strong..as long as I understand where adversity REALLY comes from, you won’t find me merely enduring the battle, you’ll find me Victorious instead. Isn’t that the way you deal with battles too?

It amazes me to consider how easy it is for most people to quit almost anything in life. They’ve somehow convinced themselves that if things were “meant to be” there wouldn’t be any challenges at all. When they hit a little bump in the road in their relationships or in their work, they easily use the bump as a “sign” that it’s time to move on. If they face a huge project and they get hit with challenge after challenge in the midst of it, they’re ready to call it a day as they label the challenges a “sign” that God must not want them to complete it. If they speak up about Jesus Christ and get shot down for it, they convince themselves that God wants them to live Peacefully without offending another, so they muzzle their Words instead of speaking the Truth. These people will often take the high road, silently praying in the background, while they watch a loved one fall into destruction of some kind, and they’ll camouflage their lack of Courage to endure the biggest Battle under the name of “tough love” – a Lesson Jesus didn’t teach. I’m not quite sure how so many people of Faith could possibly convince themselves that life as a Christian is always smooth sailing IF you’re “living right.” There’s no Truth to that at all. In fact, it’s when you’re Bold and “living right” that you face the most adversity because when you’re Bold “living right” you are a Big Threat in the Biggest Battle of all.

I’m a Warrior, but I’m a woman too. Some people have a long-distance view of me and my life and they see me as “tough” and “strong” from where they’re sitting. But I’m neither of those things. I’m just as inclined to curl up in a ball and have a good cry as any other woman ever born…and sometimes I do. I’m a bold Vessel for the King, but I’m human too. Sometimes I want to succumb to my weakness and I want to throw in the towel just like everybody else. If I’m not really careful, I can let fear sneak in and I’m inclined to hide under the bed and away from the world just like so many others. But I understand what’s REALLY behind the Battle I face, and I see the adversity for what it REALLY is. I understand where my Strength REALLY comes from and I know that when I am weak “He is strong!” I know that “His grace IS sufficient” for me and that “His Power is made perfect in weakness” and I know that He will take me “by the right hand” and lead me through it all. Most of all I know that because I REALLY live out my Faith for all the world to see, I’ll always be a Threat to our enemy and I’ll be doing Battle until I take my last breath. No matter what I face in this Journey of Life I WILL be Victorious AS LONG as I do my part to be sure I’m ready 24/7 to do Battle in His Name. I’m “locked and loaded” for Jesus Christ…the ONLY Hope this world has EVER had.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I looked across the fields this morning, it was as if what I saw with my eyes matched what I felt in my soul. It was beautiful and calm. It was peaceful and rich and my Heart savored it all. There is no such thing as an average morning OR night in the Life of a follower of Jesus Christ. I took a few catnaps throughout the night and I prayed in between each one. By the time the sun came up, I was ready to begin the day in His Presence all over again. There’s a big difference between your typical sleepless night and Times when the Master of the world wakes you up to do Heart Surgery…and I pray I always know the Difference. Today will be a busy day as usual and if I focused on my flesh -on my human needs – I may have been inclined to wrestle for more sleep at some point – but the King came calling and I obeyed Him instead. I know that when I Focus on Him, I’ll have everything I need today despite a little physical fatigue. His Word says: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” With the Great “I am” as the anchor for my soul, how could I possibly long for anything else?

It’s sad to see so many people wrestling with things of this world the way we sometimes wrestle through a sleepless night; tossing and turning as we attempt to will something into happening that just isn’t happening. It’s normal to want things to “get back to normal”…whatever “normal” is. People want America to be “great again” – they want the manipulation and the political agendas to stop – they want sickness to go away – they want crime to disappear – and they don’t stop talking about all of it as if keeping the mess on the radar will ever change a thing. I don’t know everything, but I am confident of this; as long as God’s people wrestle with the things of the world, the source of all evil is winning. So, instead of wrestling with things completely outside of our control (no matter how vocal we are about them), I think it’s time for a little Heart Surgery by the One who promises to be “hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Wake up Church.

Psalm 40:5 says “Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are MORE THAN than I can count” – so, focusing on His Wonders is a great way to anchor the soul. BUT we’re also told to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” so the Journey is not all fluff. It’s only when we make it our Mission to NEVER forget that not everybody who knows His Name will be joining in Him in Heaven that we work out our salvation with “fear and trembling.” It’s when we never forget that there will be people who have gone through the motions of working hard in His Name that will hear “depart from me – I never knew you!” that we check the Condition of the Heart routinely and we’re willing to undergo Heart Surgery whenever He comes Calling. It’s when we never forget that He died so that we might Live, that we do what He commanded us to do and we Share the Good News with Joy and Excitement…even with our “enemies.” When you look at the Journey of Faith with Truth, you Understand that nothing going on in this dark world is worthy of one single thought – and you turn to the “anchor of our soul” instead.

I lost a little sleep to spend Time with the Living God and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He loves me enough to Seek me out to do Heart Surgery in the middle of the night, and I Love Him enough to be Willing. While most of the world is cooperating with an agenda set forth by the evil one, I’ll be clinging to the “anchor of my soul” – I’ll be working out my salvation “with fear and trembling” – I’ll be singing His Praises and doing the Work He created for me to do – AND I’ll share the Good News with everybody who still has a heartbeat so that they have the change to Know Him too.

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 couldn’t be a better way to welcome it in than in the Presence of a Mighty God. It’s here where I get my Instructions and it’s here where I Grow. It’s here where I count my Blessings and it’s here where I receive my Marching Orders. Stepping into His presence each morning from this old farm isn’t my habit or my “routine”. It isn’t what I do because it’s what I’m supposed to be doing. It isn’t what I do out of a sense of obligation or legalism. It’s what I do out of Love for Him. He’s my Father and I’m His child and there aren’t words to describe the richness that comes to my Heart because of our time together. I miss my loved ones when we’re apart, that’s for sure, but nothing compares to how much I miss the Living God when I don’t have time with Him. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It’s easy to proclaim that “God is there” and to rest on that assurance in life as if speaking it is enough. He IS always there. He’s a part of everything we are. He’s omnipresent and He’s omnipotent. He’s the Beginning and the End. But even though we acknowledge that “He is always there”, there is no comparison and no replacement for building a Relationship with Him by giving Him our Time and Attention. It’s in those quiet times that He shows His love in a more personal way, and it’s in those quiet times that He illuminates His Word. It’s in those quiet times that we hear His voice deep within the Soul and we feel His Promptings for our Direction. It’s in those quiet times that the Heart is humbled and the wrongs revealed, and it’s in those quiet times that we get them made right with Him. It’s in those quiet times that our wounds are healed and it’s in those times that we learn to forgive. It’s in those quiet times that His Word moves from just being a “good book” to being the only Book that can read us because it has Supernatural Life. It’s in those quiet times that we weep over the condition of our lives or we weep with Joy over our Purpose. It’s in those quiet times that we find our Humility and it’s in those times that we’re reminded of His Might. It’s in those quiet times that we find our Peace and our Comfort and our Joy. When you consider all the Spiritual Benefits of “investing” Time with the Living God, how could we EVER fail to give Him what He wants from us?

It can be so easy for so many to make excuses for why they “don’t have time” to spend with the Living God but it’s not time they lack at all. What’s lacking is that kind of Rich Relationship that makes it almost too much to bear if we DON’T spend Quality Time with the Living God each day. Sadly, failure to put Time into Love can be seen in every area of life. Some people are either too busy (or too selfish) to spend quality time with their own children and they’ll pay the price for it all One Day. Plenty of relationships fail because people refuse to spend the time that’s needed to nurture love day after day and year after year. Then there are some that seem to have found the most amazing balance – they are attentive to their mate and attentive to their children and their lives are a mirror image of Ozzie & Harriet…BUT they just can’t seem to find time to spend with the Living God while they work toward perfection at home. But when life gets a little rocky and things aren’t going well, or when tragedy strikes the family, they all come running to God to fix things. If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny to think about how parents take offense when they’re taken for granted by their children too; children who refuse to spend time with them BUT they don’t hesitate to come running when they have a need. Why would the Living God be any different when it comes to showing Him Respect and Love by spending time with Him instead of just expecting Him to jump into Heavenly action whenever He’s needed?

I could travel far and wide to see all the wonders of the world but my favorite place will always be on the front porch in the Presence of the Living God. Nothing and no one can top what my Heart feels with Him. I’m Comforted…I’m Strengthened…I’m Overwhelmed with Love and Gratitude…and my Excitement cannot be contained. I’ve been given a Good reminder of how Powerless I am without Him in the driver’s seat of my Life. The most important time I’ll ever spend in my life is with Him, and as long as I have my Priorities Right, every single area of my Life will be in harmony because of it. “Rise and Shine” takes on an entirely different meaning when we determine to keep Him at the top of the list of our “priorities” every day. As for me, I’ll be rising and Shining all the days of my life until He calls me Home because I gave Him the first (and the best) of me.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I stepped out onto the porch this morning the air was cool and it was comfortable and I enjoyed it while I could. It didn’t take long for the morning sun to begin to blaze and I went from comfortable to UNcomfortable in just a matter of minutes. There’s no way of knowing what the morning will look like until it actually breaks and there’s no way to describe the beauty when it does. There’s no way of knowing what’s in store on any given day and there’s no way to predict how God will use me. I love my God and all the “unknowns” in the Journey called Life because I am certain that “all things work together for Good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose”. So, I make sure to Ready myself to be used by the King of all kings. I do whatever I need to do to Purify my Heart so that I can see others the way HE sees them, AND so that I can love them as HE does. Isn’t that your goal for each new day too?

The Bible says “The greatest of these is love” – “Love your brother as yourself” – “Love never fails” – “We love because He first loved us” and a host of other things about love, but I think love is the one thing people of Faith struggle with the most. It’s easy to love the loveable – loving the “unloveable” is an entirely different story. Unfortunately, many people of Faith seem to have no problem justifying a hard Heart when it comes to people not like them. They’ve got no problem casting stones all in the name of Righteousness. They’ve got no problem pulling out convenient Bible verses to defend their personal opinion of others or to justify their behavior. Maybe they’ve forgotten about how “unloveable” THEY were before Christ came along too. Maybe they’ve forgotten that He paid the price for ALL. Maybe they’ve been given Authority to judge and God forgot to tell us. Or maybe, just like the Grinch that stole Christmas – they have Hearts that are a few sizes too small. Since the God of All Creation cares more about the condition of the Heart than anything else, I’d get to work on that part if I were them.

I’ve got more flaws than I can count and I find myself asking Him for forgiveness countless times throughout any given day. BUT I’ll never stop being Grateful for the Cross and for a Savior willing to die so that I might live, so I give Him everything I’ve got and I don’t justify my sin. I’m committed to keeping my Priorities straight, that’s for sure, and I find favor with a Mighty God because of it. I strive to have a Heart like His….a Heart that is able to love others the way HE loves them and to see them the way He sees them. Sometimes it’s not easy, BUT “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength”

How about you?

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up with a lot of things on my mind this morning and I couldn’t get into the Presence of the Living God fast enough because of it. All of those thoughts about all of those things whirling around in my mind had the potential to consume my day and cause doubt in my mind if I’m not careful. No amount of human intervention can manage all of those things in my mind, and no amount of thinking them through will make them any less challenging to bear. But no matter how cluttered my mind can be with a zillion tiny pieces floating around, I know the Living God has control of it all and that all I ever need to do is Trust Him. Isn’t this the way you Manage the Journey called Life too?

Trusting isn’t always easy, especially for those who have been hurt. Sometimes all it takes is a little sting from someone who disappoints us with their words or their behavior, and we withdraw faster than you can say “amen.” From that point forward we’re happy to either give them the cold shoulder OR we remind them over and over again about why they aren’t worthy of our trust. Sadly, more often than not, we never extend trust to them again. Instead, we hold it reserves for a time when we might have the chance to strike back for all the ways they’ve hurt us. We take “an eye for an eye” to the emotional level until it becomes a cancer of the Heart and the Soul. It’s not a pretty sight to encounter people with “trust issues”. They can talk until they turn blue about all the things that have been “done to them” and all the reasons the world is not worthy of their trust, and their bitterness shows from the inside out. Some will fly off the handle at the slightest hint of something that reminds them of a time of “betrayal” and they live life armed and ready to do battle. No kindness, compassion, or love can be seen in these people as they fester over the wrongs that others have committed against them…refusing to let go. Trusting is a choice, and refusing to trust again after we’ve been wronged has more to do with Forgiveness (or the lack of it) than anything else.

It’s ONLY when we can look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to put things like Trust and Forgiveness in Heavenly Perspective. When we look through a Spiritual Set of Eyes we’re able to look at ourselves with 20/20 vision and we can see ALL of our own Wrongs that have been Forgiven and covered with Unconditional Love. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to turn the other cheek, and we learn to extend Grace. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we realize that the one doing the wrong against us will be dealt with by the Hand of God without any help from us at all, and it’s when we look at things that way that we learn to extend Compassion. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we understand that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” and we know who the REAL enemy is AND we realize that if we aren’t Armed and Ready, we have the potential to do the same wrong against someone else! When we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes it’s impossible NOT to remember the BIGGEST BETRAYAL of all times. When Jesus was betrayed and sent to die in the most painful and shameful way imaginable, He found the strength to say what was on His Heart; “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we understand that if we fester with Unforgiveness in the Heart and we refuse to trust because of our pain…it’s impossible to Trust Him or to truly Understand the Sacrifice He made for all of those wrongs we’ve committed against Him too. To Forgive and to Trust is a CHOICE.

I had some things whirling around in my head this morning and my thoughts were as scattered as stars in the sky. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that all of those thoughts were a Sign of my lack of Trust in the Living God, and after a little time in the Spiritual Woodshed, I’m looking at Life with a Spiritual Set of Eyes all over again.

How about you? Do you REFUSE to extend trust and forgiveness and do you live your life like you’re the one in charge of Balancing the Scales for all those Wrongs? If so, reach out to me. I’ll sit you down and explain what Forgiveness really looks like and I’ll explain the consequences of refusing to Trust, and when I’m done with you, Grace will be your middle name and you’ll be turning the other cheek faster than you can say “Amen” too.