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.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and overcast on this new day and there’s a chance we might get the rain we so desperately need around here. The first order of Business for me on any new day is to give the Living God the Praise and Thanks He deserves. The next thing on the Agenda is to share what’s on my Heart. I make my Requests…I Confess my wrongs…and I ask for answers to things I sometimes can’t understand and can’t seem to find in His written Word. And then…I repeated the process all over again as if by repeating my Search I’ll somehow be able to understand the mind of God. I’ll bet the Living God smiles sometimes when we determine to make sense of Life from our viewpoint and not His own. I didn’t find the answers I was looking for this morning, but I found my Peace instead – and it’s that Peace that sees me through even when I don’t have the Answers. Passing through this Life with head knowledge doesn’t get us very far at all. It’s the passing through this Life with Heart knowledge that matters the most. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

If there is one thing I’ve learned in this Journey called Life, it’s that when the Heart is where it’s supposed to be the rest of me will follow. If my Heart is Kind and Compassionate, you won’t have to utter a word and I’ll be able to feel your pain. If my heart is Calm and Ready, you won’t have to say a thing and I will be able to sense your fear. If my heart is Humble and Selfless, you won’t have to tell me about your needs, I’ll be busy filling them before you can. If my Heart is filled with Gratitude, you won’t have to worry about me passing judgment on you no matter what’s going on in your life. If my Heart is Patient, you can count on me to be there to help you work your way through….over and over again. If my Heart is Readied with Wisdom, you won’t have to ask twice and I’ll have the Words you need to help you find your way. If my Heart is filled with Joy, you won’t stand a chance of holding onto bitterness or a bad mood in my presence. When my Heart is Readied by the King of all kings, I’m equipped to Serve anybody, anytime, and anywhere. I don’t need to have the answers and I don’t need to be better at anything before I go to Work to serve Him. My Heart is the only part of me that He can use….so the condition of my Heart gets the most time and attention from me.

It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their head Knowledge than they are on the Heart. They can put the best of us to shame as they quote Scripture on-demand for any circumstance, and they’re always ready to remind the world that those Words are what we need. But if they rely on head knowledge of the Word and they don’t have a Heart like Christ, they can’t be used by the King at all. God doesn’t need us to (just) recite His Word…He needs us to LIVE it. It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their “reservation” for Heaven than they are on the lost people around them. They live as if they believe they were smart enough to “get it” and it’s not their problem if others don’t get it too. But if they rest on the Promises of Heaven and don’t do their part to get as many “travel partners” as they can, they can’t be used by the King either and there’s a good chance they might hear “I never knew you” on the Big Day.

It’s easy to spot Christians who are filled with arrogance and judgment as if they’ve been assigned the Judgment Seat right here on earth. Somehow they’ve forgotten that Christ died for them too and that without Him they’d be a pitiful (and eternal) mess, and yet they lack Compassion and they never seem to grow tired of judging others. All of these outward signs are a SURE sign that the Heart is not in the Condition it’s supposed to be in.. that is, IF being a Light in this dark world and a Vessel worthy to be used by the King matters to them at all. The Heart is the only part of us that He can use.

I began this new day determined to find some answers but I was put in my Place by the One who matters the most, and NOW my Heart is ready for Service. Instead of looking for answers to things I’ll probably never understand, I’ve set aside my need for head knowledge and I’m focusing on my Heart instead. My Heart is the only part of me that matters to Him.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It didn’t take much to put a smile on my face this morning as I watched nature respond to the touch of the Master’s hand on this glorious new day. With a Heart overflowing with Gratitude, I could spend the rest of my life giving thanks and I’d never run out of things to thank Him for. So, I Praised Him and I thanked Him for it ALL. By the time I was ready to get to work, I was Readied from the inside out. I enjoy a little adventure and I love spontaneity in life here and there, but I love some of my routines as well. The routine of stepping out into the world each new day from an old farmhouse filled with the aroma of fresh coffee is just about as good as it gets to me, and there’s no place I’d rather be. For as long as I live I will never take for granted the Blessing of each new day or the simple pleasures of the world around me and that has nothing to do with how much or how little I have…it has everything to do with a Heart filled Gratitude for Who He is and what He does for me…no matter how big or how small! Isn’t that the way you look at the Journey of Life too?

It can be so easy for some people to wake up to a new day without a single thought about the Blessing of waking up in the first place, and they surrender their Joy and Peace in the process when they do. There is no Gratitude in their heart whatsoever because they’re too busy focusing on what they think they deserve to have in this life. Some people have an insatiable appetite for bigger and better and they won’t be satisfied until they get it. They don’t realize that “getting it” is directly tied to a Heart of Gratitude. If we can’t be genuinely Grateful for what God has already given us, why in the world would He Bless us with more? Some people roll out of bed and the first thought is the aches and pains that go along with getting up. Some people wake up hungry, and their first thought is what they’ll eat for breakfast. Some people wake up and are so far away from appreciating the Solitude of a new day that they turn on the TV or take to the Internet just minutes after their eyes open to catch up on the filth of the world. Some people wake up with a mind riddled with all kinds of things that need to be done on that particular day as if the checklist in their mind never shuts off during the night. Some people wake up mad, some people wake up scared, some people wake up worried, and some people wake up lonely. All of these things are clear indicators we have somehow put ourselves FIRST in this Journey called Life, and when we do, it’s impossible to have a Heart filled with Gratitude for a new day to Live, to Love, and to Serve.

Some people have already quit living and they say they want the Lord to take them Home soon as if they’re being punished by having more Life to live. They’ve completely forgotten about Purpose and they surrendered their Joy and Peace in the process. Unfortunately, they’re already dead, they just haven’t been buried yet. Little do these people know that the Joy and the Peace they see in the Life of other people around them has nothing to do with a perfect day or a perfect life without struggles. The Joy and the Peace they see have nothing to do with God showing more Favor on one life over another….although they attempt to justify their attitude about where they are (or where they aren’t) in life. Joy and Peace are not a sign that nothing “bad” happens to other people! After all, they could easily focus on their aches and pains and trials too. Joy and Peace are present through thick and thin ONLY when we turn to the Source of Life…to the One gracious enough to grant another day to Live…to the One who has Plans and a Purpose for each one of us…to the One who knit us together in our mother’s womb…to the One who takes our hand EVERY TIME we reach out for His…to the One who has the entire world in the palm of His Hands…to the One who is big enough and Powerful enough to handle any problem IF we’ll just turn to Him…especially at the beginning of each new day. This is the ONLY way to have Joy and Peace no matter what’s going on in life. It all comes down to being willing to die to ourselves so that we can Live for Him.

The view from my front porch IS picture-perfect, but my Life isn’t always that way. I’ve been in valleys deeper than most people can imagine and I’ve lost my way a time or two. Did I have a Heart of Gratitude in the storm? Absolutely! And I made sure to let Him Know how Grateful I was despite my trials and tribulations because that’s what Gratitude looks like. Only a spoiled child would forget all the Good things a father has done for them just because of a few bumps in the road! As for me, I fight for my Joy and Peace and I refuse to surrender until He calls me Home. Until then, I am absolutely confident that He has Purpose for my Life and I’m not going to squander even a day because I don’t want to die without fulfilling what I was born to do. I want Joy Peace and Strength for the Journey and I know what it takes to have it! It all begins with a Heart that Overflows with Gratitude for the King of Kings…the One who died for me…the One I Live for. Because I determine to Live for Him, He’s the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing on my mind at night. Everything in between is the Journey I have been Destined to live since the beginning of Time.

How about you?

The road to the farm was built between these two oak trees…not just to preserve nature, but because these trees are rumored to be “Anniversary Oaks.” Years ago, Anniversary Oaks were planted in honor of a newly married couple as a symbol of strength and longevity. The roots of an oak tree are deep, and the wood is strong. Oak trees have the ability to withstand even the strongest wind. They bend, but they don’t break, and they live for a very long time where they’re planted…the way marriage is supposed to be when it has good roots.

When oak trees are planted close to one another, it’s important to allow for enough space for each one to grow independently – strong and healthy, but close enough to shield each other from the elements. What a beautiful picture of relationships in life. Whether a marriage, a relationship with a child, or even a close friend, it’s important to have just the right amount of space for each one to grow independently, strong, and healthy, while being close enough to shield and protect….and so it is with the Living God.

Years ago one of the oaks failed to leaf and it succumbed to the journey soon after. There was only a stump left behind where the strong oak once stood. Every once in a while when I drove between them, I’d think about the couple who planted these oaks to symbolize their love and I’d get sad when I thought about how hard it must have been for one to stand on their own without the other. These oak trees were over 100 years old – I don’t know how old the Anniversary couple was – but it’s likely there was one left standing long after the other one succumbed. Today there is only a memory of where those oaks used to stand proud and tall but they still bring a smile to my face when I think about them.

God Almighty knew us before the foundations of the earth, He planted the seed of life in our mother’s womb, He knows every breath we take and He collects every tear we shed in a jar. He is the Master of it all and yet He allows just enough space for us to grow Healthy and Strong in Him. He “planted us” just where we are and He’s there to Protect us and to Shield us from “the elements” all the days of our lives. God doesn’t just sit in the Heavenly realms and orchestrate life, He longs for a Relationship with you with me…one where we learn to stand tall and Strong in His name…just like the Anniversary Oaks.

Give your relationship with Him all that it needs to grow and He’ll be your “Anniversary Oak” for all of eternity…just enough space to allow for Growth and Strength and ALWAYS your Shield.

“For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12