Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was on the run yesterday morning and I missed my time on the front porch entirely so today felt like Christmas morning when I made my way back. The Bible says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands” and I love to watch Him work as the skies proclaim the work of His hands that no meteorologist can adequately define. He’s my God and I’m His child. He promises to never leave me nor forsake me BUT I need to do my Part to strengthen the Relationship I have with Him so that it will continue to mature. I need to do my Part to confess anything in my life that could thwart the Plans He has for me. I need to do my Part to chase after Him with a Heart thirsting for more. God never fails, but man sure does as we attempt to run the Show for God. So, I cling to the “One who began the good work within me and I’ll continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

God promises that He’ll never leave me nor forsake me but He doesn’t say He won’t “remove” Himself should I forget Who He is. We’ve seen the Spirit of God “removed” from a church body thousands of times when man took control and attempted to put God in a nice, neat little box. The sad thing is that most of the time the leaders in the church didn’t even realize that the Presence of God was no longer there because they were too caught up in running a well-oiled machine called “church” or bickering back and forth to notice. When you remove God it’s not like there is just a void where He was…man and the enemy work hard to fill that void as fast as they can and destruction comes soon after. Funny thing, in all the times I’ve seen a church fall into destruction, never once have I heard the church confess that it was man who kicked God out by trying to make God conform instead of allowing Him to make things “messy”. When God moves it can get messy – in the church and in the lives of its members…a good, beautiful kind of “messy” we should all be hungering for. Being willing to let God move to a point where things get “messy” is the Key to seeing the Glory of God!

I’m just a simple woman living a simple life in Virginia but there’s absolutely nothing simple about my Walk with Jesus. I’m willing to get my hands dirty when I need to. I’m willing to suffer persecution when I speak up. I’m willing to teach Truth at the “risk” of hurting others because I love them enough to tell them about the consequences. I’m rolling up my sleeves and I’m on my knees ready and waiting for the Glory of God to fall upon my Life and The Well…and I BELIEVE I will experience Him in supernatural ways because He says so. No detail, no inconvenience, and no schedule will ever tempt me to put God in a box.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s raining and cool today and a short visit on the front porch was just what my heart needed. This time of year I begin to long to be outside at sunrise and the “cloud” of wintertime begins to take its toll. I cling to the fact that one day soon the Lord will lift any signs of Winter and Spring will officially take its place. That’s a promise I am confident I can stand on because I’ve seen it so many times before. But as surely as I long to see the Living God lift the signs of Winter, I long, even more, to see His Glory as He pours out His Spirit for all the world to see. Now that is a day I long for! But I don’t just talk about it like I do the weather, and I don’t just pray about it like so many do. I’m longing and I invite Him in the same way as Moses did when He said ““Please, show me Your glory”…and God did. I’m Believe in those things I haven’t even seen with my eyes yet because His Word says so. I am CONFIDENT I will see the glory of the Lord manifest in my Lifetime and that I’ll be an eye-witness to things I used to criticize and doubt. Isn’t that the way you look at the Last Days too?

Over 100 years ago revival broke out in a barn in California and it rocked the entire world when it did. When people heard about the revival (by way of the Los Angeles Times) they came from all over the world to witness in real-time what they’d only read about in the Bible. The glory of God showed up and the fire of the Holy Spirit could be seen coming off the roof of that barn. History tells us that the fire department was called to put out the fire on the roof of that old barn several times…but the fire department can’t put out the fire of God…man does that instead. Fifty years ago another revival broke out in another barn in South Carolina…and man snuffed it out over time too. Today, revival has broken in Asbury University in Kentucky for the second time in history, and there seems to be no end to what the glory of the Lord is doing on campus…until/unless man gets ahold of it, that is. Criticism and warnings are spitting out across the globe by people who have their own man-made opinion of what revival is supposed to look like because they don’t believe the Holy Spirit still shows up today the way it did during Pentecost. The Bible tells us to be aware of such people who “have a form of godliness but deny its power” so I don’t let the deceived impact what I believe…not anymore. Revival is here. He’s pouring out His Spirit. The glory of God will be seen by many and felt by all…and we’re going to see it in this old barn in Virginia.

If you don’t expect to see miracles, you won’t. If you don’t believe the Holy Spirit works through people in miraculous ways today, you won’t experience it for yourself. If you don’t expect to see revival, you won’t. If you don’t believe that the glory of God (Shekinah Glory) will ever be experienced by man again, you are going to be very surprised. Many things will lead up to “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess” and I have to believe part of that will be because of the ones who once doubted begin to see how wrong they were along for putting God in a box. I used to be one of them myself. I listened to the doctrine of man and denied the power of the Holy Spirit for today. I don’t care much about doctrine anymore, and I don’t listen to man when it comes to what the Bible really says about such things. Instead, I have the Last Word for the Last Days coming state from the Bible. I have the Ultimate Teacher of His Word through the Holy Spirit. And I already have a Spiritual Authority a whole lot Higher up than man. Because of these things, I no longer put God in a box. I believe in miracles. I am confident that I will see His Spirit poured out and I expect to see His Glory in my lifetime from an old horse barn in Virginia.

I’m praying for Revival but not in the way you might think I am. I’m not praying for it to begin…it’s already beginning just the His Word says it will. Why would I doubt and continue to pray for Revival when I already know it will come before the King returns? I’m not just praying and I’m not expecting God to do all the “heavy lifting”. I’m warning others. I’m preaching Truth. I’m celebrating what I don’t see. I’m praying with BELIEF and I’m reverently praying against the ones desperately trying to put out the fire just like man has done so many times before. I’m praying for the fire of God to be seen from the rooftops on and off the farm…so clearly that neighbors call the fire department! I’m INVITING the Holy Spirit in and I’m asking God to show us His Glory…and when He does…nothing about the old barn will ever be the same again. I’m waiting for the miraculous Hand of God and I’m already thanking Him before I ever see Him manifest His glory for me to see with my eyes.

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 this morning with a Teachable Heart and a Spirit in need of Refreshment, and that’s precisely what I Received straight from the Throne of my Mighty God. If I’m going to have a Teachable Heart, then I need to be ready, willing, and able to take Correction from my amazing God, amen? I’ve been in agony over the trials of someone in my Life and I’ve gone to the Throne on their behalf countless times. But what He showed this Teachable Vessel this morning, is that my Heart needs to be purified and Compassion needs to replace my desire for things to be different. Compassion isn’t just feeling sorry for someone, Compassion is feeling pain WITH them and it can’t just be brushed away to go tend to everyday life. So, this morning was Recharging time with my God to ready myself for this New Day and for whatever He has in store for me so that my Heart is strong enough for the Journey. Without Him, my Compassion would dim, and without Him, I couldn’t carry the burdens at all. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It can be so easy to hear about the suffering of someone else and say “I’ll be praying for you” without having heartfelt Compassion at all. Some people think that a whispered prayer once or twice and they’ve fulfilled their duty to Pray. No doubt those prayers are Treasured in the Heavens just like all the rest, and the Living God doesn’t have a “quota” on prayers before He’s willing to Answer, but when the Heart is moved with Compassion it’s not enough to whisper a prayer here and there. Christ-like Compassion will drive us into Action and onto our knees faster than we can say “Amen” because we feel their pain and suffering. Countless times Christ was “moved with Compassion” and He took care of Business every time. He didn’t just pause to whisper a prayer once or twice…that’s not enough for a Heart filled Compassion. I’m pretty sure Christ wouldn’t have rested unless He filled the need because that’s what Compassion does to a soul. That word for “moved” describes a physical response to the pain of another…Christ felt it deep within His gut where real Compassion lives and THAT’S the kind of Compassion He wants His people to have too!

It wasn’t always some horrific tragedy or disease that caused Christ to be “moved with compassion.” When He looked out into a crowd of thousands of people who had gathered to hear Him teach, Christ was moved with Compassion as He considered that they’d been tuned in all day for Spiritual food but had no food for their physical needs. He could so easily have ignored something as simple as growling stomachs during a long “church meeting”, but He was MOVED with Compassion for their needs, and when you’ve been moved like that, NOT filling the need is NOT an Option. It’s beautiful to consider all the miracles Christ performed because He was MOVED with Compassion and it’s overwhelming to see that when Compassion like that kicks-in MIRACLES begin to happen. Christ-like Compassion coupled with the Belief that the same God that performed miracle after miracle so long ago STILL performs them today is the difference between a whispered prayer here and there and a Heart MOVED into action on behalf of someone else!

I’ve shed many tears over this situation and I know each one has been stored in a jar because He loves me…and He hears me. I’ve prayed LOTS of prayers over this situation and I know that each one is like incense in Heaven to Him because He loves me and He hears me. But I’ve also shaken my fist in “righteous indignation” as I watched circumstances that could so easily be remedied with Love instead be sprinkled with hate. I’ve watched with a Heart ready to burst with Compassion as the love that is supposed to keep no record of wrongs keeps throwing salt onto deep wounds…and then I repent so that I can make my way to Heartfelt Compassion all over again instead. It’s sometimes Lather, Rinse, Repeat with the human Heart with each step drawing us closer to Him IF WE HAVE a Teachable Heart. The important thing is to be more focused on our Relationship with the Living God than we are on the circumstances of others that are sometimes unbearable to watch. But I can’t “fix” the circumstances, I can only fix myself. That is the Key to Spiritual Maturity.

My Heart is inclined toward the ones I know, but I’ve shed plenty of tears for strangers too. I don’t have to carry their burdens, that’s for sure…but a Compassionate Heart drives me into action and it drives me to my knees for friends and total strangers alike. If I were to define the Compassion of Christ – I think it would look something like that.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I see the Majesty of God in a simple sunrise and it’s as if the light illuminates my Time in His Presence and it makes me hunger for more. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to some people…especially those sleeping through the sunrises in life…but that’s the way it works for me. I praise. I pray. I hunger for more of Him every day. As I thought about my hunger for more this morning, I was Reminded of a woman so long ago who knew that if she could just touch the hem of the garment of Jesus, she would be made whole. If I want to be all that He Created me to be, it takes a Heart like that…a Heart with unshakable Faith and a Heart desperate for more. So, I reached for His “hem” like never before this morning, and He filled me with everything I need for the Journey of Life today. Isn’t that the way you seek Him too?

It can be easy to overlook the Power available to all those who Belong to Jesus Christ because we live in a world riddled with lies and deceit…but we miss out on the Miracles if we do. It’s not much different today than it was so long ago when that woman found her way to His hem in a massive crowd of people surrounding Jesus. I’m sure some in the crowd were around for the ride, while others were there just to see what Jesus could do. There must have been some who just thought it was cool to see Jesus in action as if they needed to be entertained! But this woman was there because she KNEW Jesus was her Hope. It wasn’t a surprise to HER that she was instantly healed the moment she touched His hem. No doubt she had prayed countless prayers for healing throughout the twelve years she suffered. No doubt she cried a million tears living as an outcast because she was labeled “unclean” and therefore unworthy to be around others. Even her own family had rejected her. But when this woman heard about Jesus she didn’t “hope” He could heal her…she KNEW He could heal her if she just got close enough to touch even the hem of a garment. There was no magic in the garment itself, the “magic” was that she Believed…absolutely, positively, without a doubt. Lots of people follow Him and plenty claim to be His child, but far too few actually Believe that if they could just “touch the hem of his garment” they would be healed…absolutely, positively, without a shadow of a doubt. Is it any wonder people don’t see Miracles for themselves if they don’t believe they’re possible in the first place?

I began this magnificent new day hungering for more. I Believe in Him and I Believe in Miracles…absolutely, positively, without a shadow of a doubt. I serve a supernatural God and I expect supernatural things as part of my Journey of Faith. His Word isn’t a history book to me, and it can never become obsolete. God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, and the same Jesus who healed that woman so long ago stands at the right side of the Throne of God today, ready, willing, and able to perform Miracles in the lives of all who Believe. My Faith is unwavering…I’m unshakable…and because of that, I’m Unstoppable too. I’ll be reaching for the hem of His garment all the days of my Life and nothing can stop me from sharing the God of Miracles with the world.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One Who died for me from inside the house looking out and I gave thanks for it all. I thanked Him for who He is and what He’s done for me. I thanked Him for choosing me to be His own. I thanked Him for making my Purpose clear. I thanked Him for my family. I thanked him for my health. I went on and on with all those things my Heart is thankful for and I never even got around to a request. He’s the Most Important thing in my Life and I want to make sure He knows it. As I sat at the window looking at this deer (seemingly) all alone and grazing on whatever there is to eat this time of year, I thought about how horrible it would be to NOT have God…to be knocking around through this life all alone and to NOT have the promise of a Future in Heaven. I considered how dark the world would be without His presence in it at such a time as this and it made me cry. Isn’t it just like my God to burn a Message in my Heart stemming from a photo of a simple deer?

There is plenty of darkness to go around these days and sometimes it feels as if the darkness is “winning” the Spiritual War…IF that were even possible. BUT just imagine what this world would look like without a remnant of God in it whatsoever. Complete and utter darkness. Total chaos. Hate like you’ve never experienced before. No boundaries on anything or anyone. Vile, filth, death. No hope, no joy. Nothing good. No morality. No acts of kindness, and no compassion. The earth would be second only to Hell if the world had no Light whatsoever from the Living God and His people. God’s people serve a big Purpose in the Big Picture and we’re instructed to be a Light in the dark world and the salt of the earth. It’s too bad more people professing to Know Him don’t act upon the instructions given to us all because we’d definitely see more Light in this dark world if they did.

It’s bad enough to think about how dark the world would be with all the Light removed, but what’s even worse to me is thinking about what MY life would be like without Him in it. Everything would be dark, and I really would be “alone.” My Life would be without Purpose and I would have no boundaries at all. Morals would go out the window and I’ve have no hope, joy, or love to consume me anymore…and none to share with another. I would have an insatiable appetite to be satisfied with money and all the things that can’t buy happiness…and I wouldn’t care what I had to do to get it, as long as I did. I would have hate in my heart and compassion within me would cease to exist. When you think about it, a Life without Him paints a picture of what Hell will be like for so many who don’t Believe. There is nothing good there and there will be ETERNAL torment because of it. To be separated from God must be THE WORST, most indescribable and unimaginable thing and the darkness and torment that is waiting for those who don’t believe defy words. I wouldn’t wish my worst enemy into Hell to be separated from God forever which is what keeps people like me busy SHINING MY LIGHT, being the SALT OF THE EARTH, and sharing the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST with the world.

I love Jesus Christ and I make it my Goal to shine the Light of my Faith in the darkness. After all, the only thing making this dark world bearable is the little bit of Light still shining and refusing to be snuffed out. I do my best to encourage the sleeping church to WAKE UP, and I do everything in my power to shed Light on the dark world while I give credit to Jesus Christ for it all. I can’t imagine anything worse than a Life without Him in the center of it or a world without any Light at all. Yep…that sounds like Hell to me!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold this morning but it will be warming up soon and as much as I’d like to see it, there’s no possibility of snow. I looked out onto the horizon being lit up by God and I gave thanks for it all, but as I was trying to let the sunrise soak in, my eyes kept shifting to the limbs and the twigs on the trees as if I was seeing them for the first time. Each one is unlike all the others and each one has a allotted time for when it will fall to the ground and become part of what used to be. Isn’t that just like people? Some of them will cling to the Tree of Life all the days of their lives, while others… the “weaker” ones… will just give up and fall to the ground and become part of what used to be. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

It can be so easy for us to clump all the “people of Faith” together as if we’re all the same…but we miss out on the Majesty of His Creation when we do. Each one of us was knit together in our mother’s womb at the Perfect moment in Time and there’s no such thing as a mistake or bad timing in His eyes. Each one of us has a unique Purpose in this Journey called Life…whether we ever get around to fulfilling it or not. Each one of us Knows the God of all Creation and most of us have been Taught the same Lessons. The biggest difference is that some of us will desperately cling to the Tree of Life while plenty of others are content to fall to the ground where they’ll get mixed in with all the rest and their uniqueness will fade away in the shuffle. We all have the God of Creation in common, but that’s not all we have in common. One day each one of us will succumb to our weakness and we’ll fall to the ground just like all the limbs and twigs do, and the opportunity we had to Cling to the Tree of Life in the time we were Allotted will be over. When that happens we DO get clumped together for all of Eternity. The desperate ones who clung to the Tree of Life on one side and all the others content to fall to the ground to be part of what used to be on the other. This is the Key to the importance of sharing the Message of Truth with ALL the world…in and out of the church.

There’s a big difference between being determined and being desperate. Some people walk out their Journey of Faith determined to be God experts and they aren’t afraid to let you know how smart they are. They believe the more head knowledge they have the stronger their faith so they study and study and they judge and judge. Sadly, most of what you hear from them comes from the head and not the heart. These same people have THE REASON for why people sin and suffer and they probably can’t even spell HUMILITY or COMPASSION. Those poor souls don’t realize that they’ve already fallen to the ground like many before them because they’re lost in their quest for knowledge. It doesn’t take knowledge to desperately cling to the Tree of Life, it takes Heart…the kind of Heart that may not have all the answers but one that clings to every Word anyway. The kind of Heart that knows how helpless and hopeless it is without Him so it clings even more each day. The kind of Heart that overflows with Compassion for all those lost people and for the others that somehow went from clinging to becoming part of what used to be. The kind of Heart that understands the finality of the fall and the kind of Heart Desperate to Share the Truth because of it

I marvel at the One who Commands the sun and moon and that He would send a Reminder to me in the twigs and the limbs this morning. You won’t find me clumped together like an everyday card-carrying Christian and you won’t find me fallen on the ground becoming part of what used to be. You’ll find me celebrating my Uniqueness and embracing my Purpose. I once was a tiny twig and now I’ve grown into a strong limb. You’ll find me desperately clinging to the Tree of Life all the days of my life, and when it comes time for me to fall to the ground, I’ll be clumped together with my brothers and sisters in Heaven instead of becoming a dim reflection of what could have been. The Heart for Christ is a Desperate Heart and that’s the only kind of Heart I want to have. The only determination on my radar is the kind of determination that makes me want to be all that I can be for Him and a determination to Boldly Share the Truth with all the ones who have fallen to the ground.

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 Author and Perfecter of my Faith on this new day of a new week looking out at fields that are being warmed by the sun – a sharp contrast to the temperatures we had in the teens just a few days ago. The weather can be unpredictable this time of year and sometimes the temperature will fluctuate as much as 30 degrees in a day. One minute there is warmth in the air and the next minute it’s cold as ice – and it’s not always easy to adjust either way. As I thought about our reaction to drastic changes in the weather, I realized that’s just the way it is in the Journey called Life too. As long as we know how to Prepare for the changes, and as long as we understand Life is Destined to change…even overnight sometimes…we don’t fight against the flow of the Hand of God. We aren’t promised smooth sailing all the days of our lives but we ARE Promised an easy ride if we cling to the Will of a Mighty God and Trust Him. Isn’t that the way it is with you look at your Journey too?

It’s funny how much people have to say about the weather…good, bad, or ugly. Next to politics, people seem to talk about the weather more than anything else! When you think about it, there are some similarities in how people handle something as simple as the weather and how they handle Life. Virginia has four beautiful seasons and I wouldn’t trade them for one-season state for anything in the world. I like the drastic differences in each one and the beauty each one brings makes me appreciate it even more while its challenges make me long for the next one. It’s as if God designed the timing of each season so that just when we think we’ve had enough, we switch to a new one with its own unique beauty…AND its own unique challenges. When it comes to this Journey called Life, the only constant we have is the Living God. He’s the same “yesterday, today and forevermore” – thank you, God! – but everything else is subject to a drastic change in the blink of an eye. Life can go from warm and cozy to cold as ice faster than we can say “Amen”- and it’s only when we accept that God Almighty has a Master Plan through it all that we can find our Peace no matter the Temperature.

Some people cringe at the mere thought of freezing temperatures as if they’d be forced to sleep outside, while some people begin to sweat at the mere mention of higher temperatures as if they’d be forced to scorch in the sun. Some people run from the rain and others run from the snow and most of the rest are thrown for a loop when they experience a drastic change in either direction. I think if we pause to consider how we handle something as unpredictable as the weather, we’d see some similarities in how we handle our Unpredictable Life too. Some dread the changes before they ever happen. Some lie awake at night imagining the worst. Some run and they try to hide, while others are thrown for a loop when things drastically change overnight as if they thought things would always be the same. But nothing is the same…except God Almighty… and He’s ALWAYS changing things around for His Purpose. He brings the storms to raise our Core Temperature and He’ll make it rain in our lives for as long as He thinks He needs to! But just like the four seasons in Virginia…just when we think we’ve had enough, God brings the new season along with its own Beauty and its own set of Challenges. It’s a Wonderful Life when we understand that it comes with Drastic Changes and we accept the Will of an Amazing God…no matter the Temperature.

God used a change in the weather to Remind me that He’s the ONLY constant in my Life. He’s the same yesterday, today AND FOREVERMORE and He’ll be there for me through it all. When my Life goes from warm and cozy to cold as ice I won’t whine or run, because I’ve lived through His Changes countless Times and I Trust His Plans for me. Just when I think I’ve “had enough” He’ll change the Season in His Time…a Season with beauty of its own and a whole new set of Challenges.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold but beautiful, and if I didn’t see it for myself, I might have doubts that this was the sunrise over the farm on this wintery morning. I expect to find beauty in each day, and I do. When I stepped into His Presence this morning I expected that He would supernaturally speak to me through His Word and He did. When I pray, I pray BELIEVING in Supernatural results from a Supernatural God! I Believe in miracles and I’m not afraid to ask for them because I serve the God of Miracles. I Believe that sometimes the Holy Spirit will “manifest” in His people and that we can see Miracles up close and personal. The Bible says faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” and that pretty much sums up my Life. I experience so many things that many miss out on because I Believe in what I do not see and I anticipate the Miraculous! Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

The older I get, and the deeper into my Faith I walk, the more I wonder why One Version of Truth isn’t enough for all of God’s people. Instead, there are different denominations that contradict all the others because they each have their version of the Truth based on what man concludes. They argue and divide over their own interpretation of His Word as if God has enlightened them more than everybody else. But the God I Serve is more than able to shed Supernatural Light onto His Word so that ALL His people can be “of one accord.” Instead, we divide over words and launch a new church down the street that “got it right” so that we can set everybody straight on what we believe God meant to say in His Word instead of what He says. I Believe that my One True God could Supernaturally Instruct us with One True Word and that the Holy Spirit could guide us ALL in the same Direction using the Same Bible IF WE ALL relied on the Supernatural Power of the Holy Spirit to show us. Unfortunately, so many people live as if they don’t believe the Holy Spirit has any power today whatsoever because that’s what they’ve been taught. Who would want to walk a PowerLESS Journey of Faith?

I keep things simple. I Believe what the Word of God says and what the Holy Spirit teaches over any man no matter how long he’s been teaching or where he became indoctrinated…and I always will. I “test the spirit” as I’m instructed to do and I don’t accept every word I hear in blind faith. I run from “false teachers” and “false prophets” because they have no place in my Journey. I don’t believe in an ala carte approach to Truth and I never will. The Bible tells me to “have nothing to do” with those who “have a form of godliness but deny its power” so I step away from them and pray that one day their veil will be lifted. It all comes down to this…I don’t know everything, but I know Who does. I’m no expert, BUT I know Who is. With a soul that longs to Know Him and a Heart that Trusts Him to teach me, I can’t go wrong.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I’m so grateful to have met with the Living God in the warmth of this old farmhouse, and although I stepped out onto the porch to take in a breath of winter air and snap this photo…that was enough for me. It’s just like the God I Serve to use those few seconds of “pain” to send a Firm Reminder to me this morning that it takes stepping into the uncomfortable to make a Difference in the Bigger Picture of Life. There is Peace in my home and warmth for the coldest of days…thank God. But unless I’m willing to step into the uncomfortable in the Name of Jesus Christ, all those things are just blessings that never make a difference at all. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Life too?

It can be so easy to settle into our lives and become dependent on our creature comforts – and we seem to have every excuse imaginable for why we stay put. It’s a blessing to have a warm home and a wonderful family, but complacency is born when we focus all our attention on things inside the walls where we’re the most comfortable while refusing to step out for Him. When Christ calls us to Himself, He doesn’t call us just to be warm and safe and comfortable within the confines of our homes. He makes sure that we know that our family is the first priority as we raise up a Godly generation…but He never intended for us to sit back while He Works. In fact, His Instructions are just the opposite – we’re told to GO FORTH! Yes, He wants good things for us! After all, He’s the Provider of the home and our warmth. But warm couch potatoes don’t serve a Purpose in the Kingdom and they can’t have an Impact on the world UNLESS they’re willing to get uncomfortable for Him.

Not everybody is intended to serve in the mission field in places I’ve never even heard of, but EVERYBODY claiming to be a “follower of Jesus Christ” is expected to be Serving in some way. Not “busy work”…just doing nice things that make us feel good…but doing Bold things in His Name so that we can be sure to shine the Light where it’s needed the most. Jesus spent some quality time with people along the way…from the disciples to His closest friends, and He was a guest in many homes where fine food and wine flowed freely. I’m sure He spent some time teaching when He was inside and I’m sure He had a little fun too. But that’s not where His Greatest work was done and Jesus sure didn’t stay put. He went to where the hurting people were and He ministered to them in His Name. Jesus set the example for all of us! First, He met their practical needs with Compassion SO THAT HE COULD open the door to minister to their spiritual needs…the most important part of Serving others. Jesus didn’t beat around the bush. He didn’t leave them with “God loves you.” He made sure that each one knew where to place their Trust and how to find their Hope. How much of that are we doing these days?

What good purpose does it serve to “minister” to the needy or to meet a practical need of a suffering soul if we NEVER MENTION JESUS CHRIST in the process? Handing the homeless a pair of boots in the middle of a winter storm is a very nice thing to do. But sharing the Message of Hope is a whole lot nicer and it will last a whole lot longer than the boots. Saying “God loves you” is one thing – sharing the MESSAGE of Salvation is another. How many lost opportunities do each one of us have to answer for one day? How many times have we failed to mention the Greatest Hope of all to a total stranger? How many times have we cowered down because we cared more about what someone thought of us than we did about their Eternal life? Of all the things that we can do to help someone in need, the Greatest Gift we could ever give to them is to share the Gospel…the Gift of Life. How sad that Jesus gave us one job to do while we’re here drawing breath on earth – but we’re so comfortable in our warm homes that we refuse to do it?

The cold air was painful enough for me at daybreak but the Reminder I got felt like ice water to wake me up all over again. Jesus IS coming…and He’s coming soon. There’s no time for us to sit back in a warm home and REFUSE to share Hope with the world. I don’t have to “get out” as much as I need to REACH OUT and you’ll NEVER find me ASHAMED of the Gospel of Jesus Christ or being too much of a coward to Share Him. I’ll meet every practical need that I’m able to meet, but you can be sure that when I do the Focus will ALWAYS be on how to fill the biggest Need of all forever and ever. A warm pair of boots is one thing. The Gospel is another.

Will you be sharing Him today?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and still outside this morning and when I stepped onto the front porch to see what kind of day God made, I could have heard a pin drop. I like to see for myself what’s in store for the day and I don’t pay much attention to man-made predictions even if they’re made using man-made technology. Some people will intently wait to see what a stinkin’ groundhog says today about the timing of Spring as if that creature has the ability to predict Spring. It’s amazing how the human heart can’t seem to bear to “wait and see” and it is forever chasing some version of the truth to satisfy its thirst to know. As I sat in the Presence of the Greatest Truth Teller and the only One able to accurately Predict upcoming events all the way into Eternity, I thought about how many people lose their way as they long to live in tomorrow before it ever gets here. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

The Bible is the best-selling Book of all time and it is packed full of 4,000 years of Truth about what has been and what will be. The Messiah is mentioned in all 66 books of the Bible and His birth was prophesied hundreds of years before He was ever born. We know when and where He was born. We know how many years He lived. When know He was crucified and rose again on the 3rd day and we know He’s coming back. The “problem” is that we don’t know when. Jesus said, “Nobody knows the day or the hour when all these things will happen. Only God the Father knows when they will happen. The angels who are in heaven do not know. Even the Son (Jesus) does not know” and that’s the part that makes people crazy. Some come up with all kinds of Biblical “theories” using numbers and stars to predict His coming but they aren’t anymore able to do that than the groundhog can predict the Spring. Some people don’t worry about the “when” part and they live as if they have forever, while others throw out the entire Bible and call it nonsense because the day and hour of the Biggest Appearance of all times have not been made known to man.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” so I don’t need a groundhog, a scientist, or some sort of (evil) psychic to tell me when the King is coming back…I’m sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see. Since I don’t know if He’ll come back in the next hour OR a thousand years from now, I LIVE and LOVE (and repent) as if it’s today. I don’t wish I knew any more than He wants me to know and what He wants me to know is so beautiful that it blows my mind. I know He’s already “prepared” a place for me even though I’m not sure when I’ll move there. I know that I’ll never shed another tear and I’ll suffer no more pain. I know my loved ones will be there with me too – at least the ones who Know Him as I do will be. I know I’ll get a new body that will never be sick and die. And the best part is that I KNOW Jesus will be there waiting for me and He’s going to welcome me Home himself. When I know this much with absolute certainty, why in the world would I concern myself with knowing the day or the hour? Besides, because I DON’T know, it keeps me on my toes Preparing for the King every day!

How about you?