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?

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.