Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. God dusted the fields with snow overnight just as predicted by the weather “experts.” It’s not even enough snow to fully cover the grass and yet schools prepare for a blizzard…just in case. One little news clip about one little inconvenience and the world sets out to prepare for catastrophe and yet there’s a Bible filled with promises of things to come…guaranteed…”catastrophic” things and most of the world is coasting along with no thought of preparing at all. As surely as the snow covers most of the grass, there is a veil that hasn’t been lifted for them to see, and people like that keep people like me busy as I encourage them to Prepare. Isn’t it just like the God of the Universe to use a little dusting of snow to drive home a message for His Vessel to share today?
Human nature boggles my mind. A dusting of snow can cause panic in grocery stores and school cancellations as if the end of the world has come. People get busy preparing so they won’t be caught off guard over a simple snowstorm but they fail to prepare for the Biggest “Storm” of all as if the “consequences” aren’t as important as the inconveniences of a dusting of snow. How can it be that (IF) so many people know what’s in store for those who Believe (and they know about the eternal torment for those who don’t) they refuse to utter a word of warning to their family and friends about the biggest Storm ever known to mankind so they can Prepare for that too? There is a Word Written that warns us about what lies ahead for all mankind and no meteorologist can hold a candle to the accuracy in terms of predictions. There’s always a possibility that a snowstorm will catch me off guard if I fail to prepare as warned, but there’s not a snowball’s chance in you-know-where that I won’t be Prepared to meet the King of all kings when He returns and I’ll keep “warning” others every day of my Life in hopes that they’ll be prepared too. That’s what Love looks like.
It’s sad to consider how many people take up pew space in a local church and yet they fail to Focus and Share. It’s sad to hear people dismiss me about Heaven as they shrug and tell me that they’re a “good person” as if they have nothing to fear because of it- but Hell will be filled with “good people” that never Knew the king. There are many moving parts to my life and I struggle sometimes to accomplish all that I set out to accomplish as a result. But of all the things I do in this Journey called Life, THE most important thing is Sharing Hope with the lost world, and helping people Prepare for what’s coming. This little dusting of snow is just a minor blip on the radar…but the second coming of the King of all kings…now that’s an entirely different story and the most important thing to Prepare for. When the King comes back, He’ll find me Ready and longing to hear “well done, good and faithful servant”…something those who fail to Share (and warn) will never hear.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and the skies are gray and I’m ready for a little sunshine, but I’ve had my meeting with the Leader of my Life from inside looking out and my heart and soul are prepared for this new day. No matter what it looks like on the outside, it’s warm and Compassionate on the inside of me, and that’s all that really matters in the Bigger Picture. Each day I read a Proverb that correlates with my calendar so this morning it was Proverbs 31. If there is any scripture that paints the picture of what a Christian woman should look like it’s this one. Although it describes a “wife of noble character” it hit home for me long before I became a wife. It is my heartfelt desire to be a woman of noble character in the eyes of the Living God and the eyes of my family…and now in the eyes of my husband. Shouldn’t we all turn to Words that inspire us to be the Best that we can be for HIM instead of disregarding the Truth that we don’t think applies to us?
It would have been easy to disregard the words of Proverbs 31 completely as I walked through the Journey of Life without a husband…but being a woman of noble character is a beautiful thing in AND OUT of marriage. There is no such thing as a good excuse to choose to be less than what God calls for us to be no matter our marital state. We can’t pick and choose the Rules throughout the Journey of Faith nor can we discount all of the Instructions we find on how to be the best that we can be for God…it doesn’t hinge on marital status.
Although many people take to the streets to “fight for equality of women”, there’s nothing “equal” between the genders by God’s design, and that’s a beautiful thing! What a “woman of noble character” brings to the table is priceless and “worth far more than rubies.” What we bring to the table a man can’t bring (and vice versa) and although we sometimes do the work of a man, we’re still wired to be the soft one, the compassionate one, and the one who gives without limitations day after day after day.
The Christian community sometimes gets things twisted up by way of doctrine and the division between what God expects of a man and what He expects of a woman can so easily get modified to suit a belief system. A man is a man and He is supposed to provide for his family along with a host of other things God calls for him to do. But some are quick to judge women who work outside the home even when they have no husband at all. The woman of noble character described in Proverbs 31 clearly did her part financially too and she did it without checking into a 9-to-5 job. She didn’t just feed the family and clean the home and then attempt to equally distribute the household duties while leaving all of the finances up to him. She did her part in more ways than one. She did it to make her home a better place. She did it to be sure that her children (AND HUSBAND) had what they needed. She did it to “cut the budget.” She did it to bless her husband and to lessen his load. That softer one, the compassionate one, the one who gives without boundaries is also a very strong force to be reckoned with and one who blesses her family far more than she takes. As a result, in the end, “her children arise and call her blessed” and (if she has one) her “husband praises her” too. Now THAT’S what I call a payday!
I celebrate being a woman and I worked hard to be a woman of noble character even in my unmarried state. I painted the picture of marriage for my children and taught them what being a godly wife or husband should look like in the eyes of our God even in my unmarried state. I’ve never been paid less than a man in the workplace just because I’m a woman, and I’m not an underdog in life because of my gender. Paul said “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” so I celebrate who I am in Christ and I embrace my value as a woman. I’m a teacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and I share the Gospel often – even though some Christian circles don’t believe a woman has the “right” to ever share with a “mixed” audience…but I answer to God and not man. If we’re all ONE in Christ, sharing the Gospel isn’t a right extended only to man, but a responsibility for ALL who claim to Know Him as Lord and Savior. Just sayin’.
There are so many things a woman of noble character can bring to the table and countless things a man can bring to the table that a woman can’t…and so it is by God’s design. I don’t turn to gender to define who I am in Christ because WE ARE ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. Ladies, it’s time to celebrate who you are and strive to be a woman of noble character no matter what. It’s not a competition, it’s a beautiful “God-thing”..it’s by Design.
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God surrounded by beauty and all I seemed to be able to do was give thanks. No search for answers. No plea for mercy. Not even a whole lot of time in His Word. Just Gratitude for it all. The flags on the front porch fly most days and through all kinds of weather. Every once in a while I see that they’ve gotten tangled up on a rough edge and beaten up on the journey. I often find them clinging to the rough edges that frayed them in the first place and it’s not always easy to release them…and so it is with the Journey of Faith. I can’t fly freely or do what I was Designed to do if I allow myself to cling to any rough edges that have the potential to cause me harm…nor should I hold onto those things that caused “damage” in my life. I can easily release a flag from the rough edges as surely as God can Release me from mine…IF I let Him….and when I do, there’s nothing more Bold and Beautiful than my Life flying for all the world to see. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey too?
Life happens to all of us. There are ups and downs, heartache and heartbreak, tragedy and death, sickness and health, and everything in between. We all get beat up along the way just like this old flag did…nobody flies forever without hitting a few rough edges. It’s the good AND the “bad” that defines a Life and it’s how we look at the rough edges that define character and Faith. Some people seem to cling to those rough edges as if they want to be sure they never forget…and even though they don’t see it that way…the rough edges define them. Though the wind blows to bring in the new season, and though it wouldn’t take much to let go of the rough edges to fly freely again, plenty of people would rather hold on than let go.
Some people let go of those rough edges as fast as they can but before you know it they get tangled up again in the very same way! They let go but they rushed the whole process and did nothing to repair the damage brought on by the rough edges. So, they’ll continue to be vulnerable in exactly the same place until they face the fray. The rough edges will always be a part of life – unless you mend the damage that was done the last time you got snagged by them, you’ll get caught up every time you fly by the rough edge. When we hit the rough edges and endure a little “damage” in the process we have a choice; we can remain torn and vulnerable OR we can take action to be sure that we don’t get hurt in the same spot over and over again. Unless we repair the Heart Damage, we will ALWAYS be subject to the same rough edges and we’ll repeat the same painful pattern until we do.
The flags on the porch take a beating and they eventually succumb to the rough edges. They begin to fray and before you know it they’ll hit that rough edge and get caught up all over again until they are released. The damage gets worse each time they pass the rough edges and eventually they’ll get replaced. Had I taken the time to mend flags, they could keep flying freely to share their beauty for all the world to see for a very long time. What’s true for the flag, is true for my Life too. I know I’ll hit rough edges for as long as I have breath in my body, but unlike the flag that could have used a little mending from me, I’ll turn to my Heavenly Mender. I’ll be Focused on the Flawless One…the One Ready to mend my Heart and give me Wisdom so that I never hit the same rough edge again. I’M FREE!
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I made my way outside to see what the Lord is doing today and I filled my lungs with cold, fresh air to get me going. These scattered clouds were illuminated by the sun and they seemed to hover right over the farm like they were waiting for God to finish coloring them before they moved on. As I was reading my Instruction Manual to be Filled with Wisdom and Truth, it occurred to me that I’m just like the scattered clouds this morning. I pause long enough for Him to “color” me in ways that only He can before I move on to any new Day. It’s only when I pause to receive my “color” that I can be readied for the Journey of Life and it’s that “color” that will make me stand out like a sore thumb in the dark world. Isn’t that the way you prioritize your Journey too?
It can be so easy to get caught up worrying about what the world sees when it looks at us if we aren’t careful, BUT that’s the biggest waste of time and the surest sign of displaced priorities. When I was young, I made sure to focus more on my tan than I did on the sites while on vacation so that my world could see my fun without me saying a word. Today, we can buy a tan in a bottle and fool the world into believing we’ve actually been outside. Some people talk about their color palette as if they’ve found the secret to beauty and they refuse to wear anything but what someone told them they’d look best in. It’s mind-boggling how much attention the average person gives to what they look like to the world. I like to look my best just like so many women do, BUT what I care about the most is what the world sees as a result of HIM coloring me instead of focusing more on coloring myself.
It’s impossible to be a Reflection of the “color” God has for each one of us unless we pause just like those clouds appeared to do this morning. It takes time to nourish the Soul and it takes Quality Time to build the Relationship. It’s when we move too fast or rush things along that we lose the perfect Timing to add the color of our Faith and when we fail to pause, we’ll often dissipate just like your average cloud. The Bible says that “the skin of his face shone” after Moses had been in the presence of God and I like to think that the world can SEE I’ve been with Jesus after my time with Him too. There is no color on the palette as beautiful as the Color of Faith and no sweeter Words ever spoken than His Word.
I’ve been accused so many times of having a “colorful personality” and I take that as a compliment, BUT the greatest compliment I can ever receive is to hear “there is something different about you” because I know they’re seeing my Jesus when they look at me all because I pause to be filled with color by the Touch of the Master’s Hand each day. The old gray mare ain’t what she used to be BUT she’s more colorful than ever these days. I’m a child of the Living God and a usable Vessel for the Kingdom and it all comes down to the pause.
How about you?
Charm is deceitful and beauty fades, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. Reward her for her work—let her actions result in public praise. Proverbs 31:30-31
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and gloomy and they’re calling for a “wintery mix” today but that doesn’t matter much to me. Morning news of an impending storm will always take the back seat to time with the Living God and the only real Warnings I concern myself with are those I read in His Word. The latest updates on the stock market or the debt ceiling are things people allow themselves to worry about… stuff they have absolutely no power to control any more than I can control the “wintery” mix. Jesus asked, “who of you by worrying can add a single hour to this life?” When you look at it that way you realize how useless it is to fret over things we have no power to control. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Life too?
It’s wise to prepare for things when we know about them in advance, that’s for sure…BUT only God ever really knows the outcome. Whether it’s a “wintery mix” or a record-breaking blizzard, only God knows for sure, and worrying about it won’t change the course of the storm. The fact is, when we prepare for what we KNOW is coming, there’s a whole lot less to “worry” about! Joseph put a masterful plan in motion when God let him know there was a devasting famine on the horizon, and because Joseph put a plan in motion, his country had enough food for the masses to sustain the famine. It will probably be a while before I have a conversation with Joseph in Heaven, but I’m absolutely confident he didn’t worry and he didn’t concern himself with what people thought of him because of it. It’s only when we surrender each day to Him and we Trust that He knows best that we can find Peace in through any storm…no matter the size.
People often tease me about my failure to prepare for emergencies all because I don’t stock up on groceries over a “wintery mix” and I don’t turn on the TV to see what’s going on. The way I see it, the same God that “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name” is MORE than capable of taking care of me so there’s no need to worry. There’s only one thing I have Advance Notice of that I need to Prepare for…the only thing I ever really “concern myself” with and that is that THE KING IS COMING! Now, for that, I want to be sure I’m found Ready and Worthy for Him. Beyond that, I’m not giving any day a chance to rob me of “the Peace that surpasses all understanding”. I won’t allow the liar from Hell to whisper fear into my soul no matter what going on in my life or in this great Country of ours. Instead, I’ll focus on the Living God. I’ll cling to His every Word. I Praise Him through the storm. I’ll refuse to worry.
How about you?
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matthew 6:34
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up this morning grateful for another day and eager to Meet with my CEO for Wisdom and Direction. There was nothing spectacular about the sunrise this morning because it was muted with clouds – but everything else about the day itself will be spectacular if my Vision is Laser Focused and my Heart is ready to Receive. I Rely on the Living God for everything – but what I “make” of any given day is entirely up to me. It’s through my Time with Him that I’m reminded that my Life has no boundaries, and the Possibilities are endless. Who would overlook Time with the CEO when you look at Life that way?
It’s interesting how some people struggle with the Trinity – the fact that God is Three in One. He’s one God with 3 parts – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and the wonder of it all is hard for some to grasp. Some want to believe that there’s more than one God because the Bible says ” Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” – but there’s just One God with three unique Parts – and it takes all of it – the Father – the Son – and the Holy Spirit to Define the “Great I am.” Some things we won’t fully understand until we’re Face to face with Truth in Heaven and some things we accept as Truth because we Believe…” Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Without God, nothing would exist at all – from the earth to all the inhabitants. Without the Son, none of us would have any Hope whatsoever and Heaven wouldn’t be Prepared for us. Without the Holy Spirit – the One who dwells within us – we’d be like a ship lost at sea with no rudder to guide us Safely Home. He’s everything – He’s the “Whole Package” – it’s understanding the Trinity that completes our Faith and it opens our eyes to all things ONLY made possible through Him.
What’s even more interesting to me is that while people have a hard time Understanding and Accepting that God is Three in One – they have no trouble at all compartmentalizing their own lives as ONE INDIVIDUAL with three unique characteristics. In their eyes they are one-part family/friends, one part business/work, and one part Believer… and they separate them all very well…each one getting a small glimpse of the other but never blending them all into one. To some, children are an asset and although they’re carted off to Sunday School each week, they aren’t sprinkled with Truth every day. To others, their work has become their source of self-worth and they don’t believe being a “Light unto the world” is an option in the place where their money is “found.” Understanding that each one of us is ONE unique soul on a Unique Journey is the KEY to living out our Purpose and making an Eternal Difference in a dark world. As surely as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are ONE GOD with 3 unique “characteristics” we are ONE soul with different characteristics of our own. It’s the BLENDING them all together that equates to a fulfilled life. Sprinkling the Truth into every corner of our lives is how we let our Light Shine for all the world to see, and when we insist on separating a ONE SOUL Life into neat little compartments, we cannot fulfill our Purpose.
I am ONE soul made up of a million tiny pieces and they’re all blended together for the Journey. The Three in One is my biggest priority, and every compartment of my world knows it. I sprinkle my faith over my family and friends, and I sprinkle my Faith throughout the workplace. I AM a Light in a dark world but not because I’m special…because I Understand why I exist in the first place and I’m Honored to tell the world about my Three in One God…the Great “I am”…the Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End…and THAT is what a Purpose Driven Life looks like.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s windy and cold outside but you’d never know it by what my Heart feels after a good dose of the Living God this morning. I turned to my Instruction Manual for Truth and Wisdom and I’ve been readied for this new day. I linger in His Presence a little longer than some, and I turn to His Words for the Journey, but you won’t find me sitting back in this Life…I’m ready to GO instead. Without all the pieces…without being able to see into the future…I keep moving toward the goal in His Name and I Trust Him with the Details. When it comes to walking out our Faith, being willing to GO is 90% of the battle. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey too?
It’s amazing to hear people of Faith make excuse after excuse for why they aren’t ready to GO yet. Some are waiting for a “sign” or written Instructions and a GPS system before they’ll take even one step in the Right Direction. Some are assuming they’ll need to be “financially secure” or formally educated before they’ll take even one step in the Right Direction. Some are waiting for retirement when they’ll have “more time” even though their Instruction Manual never mentions retirement; while others are waiting to get the kids raised as if they can play no part in the Service. There are countless reasons why people sit back and “wait for God” but even more reasons why God isn’t likely to rush to Use them simply because they aren’t “ready” to GO. Anybody can say they’re ready when God is ready but it takes the kind of Faith that can “move mountains” to be willing to GO when you have no idea what the outcome will be in His Name.
Plenty of people write plenty of checks to support the efforts of others who are willing to GO…and that’s a good thing…but not the only thing. Many of those same generous ones wouldn’t consider visiting the homeless or feeding the poor at their dinner table… or allowing them to sleep in a bed in their home…even though the Words says, “whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me”. It’s easier to write a check than it is to make a sacrifice…but that would require that they GO. I don’t recall my Instruction Manual saying that some will be called just to financially support and they’re off the hook when it comes to GO because of their generosity. Every person of Faith has been given the same Job Description…to GO forth and tell the world the Good News, and yet surveys report that less than 10% of the people of Faith ever share it because they refuse to GO.
It’s never “Ready, set, GO” when it comes to the Living God…it’s always GO…set…ready! When you’re willing to GO in Faith, God will work out all the Details in ways that will curl your toes. But as long as you’re waiting for written instructions, a GPS system, and enough time or money…you can’t be used by Him. FAITH is being willing to Trust Him enough to GO even though you can’t see His Plans for 2023 and beyond. If there’s ever a prime example of what faith DOES NOT look like, it’s when His people are only willing to GO if He works out all the details first. Perpetual “I’m praying about it” mode won’t propel you into Service to the Greatest King the world has ever known.
Are you ready to GO?
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Matthew 25:23
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s warm for this time of year so I stepped outside to enjoy the sunrise with my God. The world around me was quiet and peaceful at sunrise…from the squirrels to the deer…but the skies told an entirely different story. As I looked up into that beautiful morning sky riddled with planes flying in every direction, I couldn’t hear them because they were flying too high, but I could only see them because I was on watch at sunrise. As I stood there looking at the riddled sky, I wondered how many people would notice danger in the sky at all, and I was reminded of the days of Noah. The Bible says: “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.” I won’t be taken by surprise, that’s for sure because I am on High Alert for the Son of Man’s return every day. In the meantime, I’ll spend every day the Lord gives me warning others about what’s coming just as Noah did. How about you?
Human nature is too bizarre to fully understand sometimes. Some people don’t want an interruption in their self-centered life at all so they defiantly ignore the warnings of danger and shrug it off as nonsense. Others are afraid of their own shadow and they’ll hide under the bed over something as simple as a good dose of the evening news. Some people take things above and beyond and they’ll presume to know the Mind of God while they paint a prophetic picture of the strangest things…and they’re filled with excuses when their prophecy isn’t fulfilled. There will be some that will focus on this photo I shared only caring about the “chemtrails” left behind by military aircraft…but that’s like being more afraid of a raindrop than you are of a flood. As for my human nature, I’m focusing on the King of all kings and I won’t be taken by surprise when He returns. Matthew 24:42 says, “Therefore keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” and that’s precisely what you’ll find me doing. Focused on Him, longing for His return, and warning others to GET READY.
It doesn’t matter to me that many people think I’m a lunatic because I stay busy warning the world to get ready for His coming. The Bible says there will be “scoffers” in the Last Days and I’m sure plenty of people thought Noah was a lunatic too. Things didn’t turn out well for them and they won’t turn out well for those who ignore the warnings now either. I don’t warn to hear my own head roar. I don’t warn because I think I’m more informed than everybody else. I don’t warn to scare or threaten people into believing what I Believe. I warn them because I’ve been warned about the consequences for NOT warning and I am more “concerned” about doing what the Living God tells me to do than I am about what the “scoffers” think of me and my warning. There is a price for disobedience that I’m not willing to pay. This is the Key to Standing Strong in the Last Days.
The King is coming and I’ll be watching for Him with excitement all the days of my Life. I don’t know when He’ll be back…nobody does. Until then, I’ll be like a “watchman on a hill” – a Willing Vessel doing the work of the King until He takes me Home. I’ll warn whoever He puts in my path to warn and I’ll be fearless. Just like in the days of Noah, most people will be more focused on their life on earth than their Life in Eternity and they’ll be oblivious when the Time comes. But that won’t stop me from trying to warn them. If they refuse to hear, that will be on them for all of Eternity. If I refuse to warn, it will be on me.
How about you?
Ezekial 3:18-19 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
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 with the Best Seller of all Times and a hot cup of coffee to give Him my Praise and my Thanks. I made a few Requests and tossed a few things at the foot of the Cross like I always do, but mostly my Heart was filled with Gratitude for the Peace and Protection over my life, my family, and this old farm. This view from my kitchen window put a smile on my face…it was like a hug from God after our time together. The stripes in the sky are traces of the jet streams of ones policing the skies to protect the world around me. Big sacrifices are made by the ones tasked with policing the sky, but nothing like the sacrifice of those Stripes of the One who paid the Ultimate Price for me. I don’t know the details of what goes on “behind closed doors” when I’m not looking….and I don’t want to know… but I do know that I live in the greatest country in the world and I serve the One who “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name” …so I have no cause to fear at all! The Greatest Protection is there, and He never leaves the Throne. Hallelujah! Isn’t that the way you’re looking at this crazy world too?
It’s pretty amazing how so many people of Faith have the need to know as many of the details as they possibly can before they believe anything. Like doubting Thomas – unless you prove to them what God is up to, they refuse to believe it and they’ll write their own version of “truth.” Some people see God as a “show and tell” God, and if He doesn’t cough up the details when they want them, they’ll make them up on their own. Some people put their trust in another god…or a man with the version of “truth” they choose to believe in… and they ride the rumor train as fast and as hard as they can! Some buy into radical details shared by radical strangers and they busy themselves riding the radical train spreading their own truth as if it’s the gospel. For some reason LOTS of people can’t seem to kick their Faith into High Gear to that place where they Cling to Him much more than they cling to the world…to that place where spreading the Gospel is much more important than spreading their version of the news…to that place where lost souls are far more important than a lost election in the United States…to that place where they TRUST the Living God with all the details and where they’ll accept His Truth no matter what…good or “bad”…easy or not. Unfortunately, the stars and stripes message today is outshining the One Who bears the Stripes…and when that happens, it doesn’t make sense for us to believe that the Living God is pleased at all.
When Habakkuk pleaded with God to fill him in on His Plans, not only did God refuse to tell Habakkuk – he said, “if I told you what I’m about to do you wouldn’t believe it.” God has a Plan that was put together before the foundations of the earth and He’s not about to change His Plans just because we don’t like what He’s doing. He gives and He takes away. He brings Peace and He allows calamity sometimes. Although it’s possible to KNOW HIM intimately, we don’t know His Plans outside of what has already been written. But we DO know that “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” and with Him “ALL things work together for good for those WHO LOVE HIM and are called according to His Purpose.” IF we sincerely believe that… who needs step-by-step or blow-by-blow details?
I don’t know what’s going behind the scenes in America (or anywhere else) today, but I don’t need to know. No matter how many stripes I see in the sky…a sure sign of protection…I’ll focus on the healing Stripes instead…the Creator and Protector of all. After all, I Serve the One Who wrote the Book -and He already knows how the story ends. I’ll put ALL my trust in the One Who died for me…not just the one(s) who fought for me. I know that no matter what God does with the greatest nation in the world, He has a Plan…and He’s always Victorious…so, I’ll be sharing the Gospel with this lost world like never before, and I’ll be praying for my brothers and sisters to kick their Faith into high gear too…before it’s too late. The world needs Jesus…the world needs Hope. The Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End…is the Greatest Leader the world has ever known, and nobody will outshine Him in the end.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The day is still young and yet I’ve already seen the Hand of my God in so many ways. Naturally, I see His Hand in the beauty around me. His Word says that man is “without excuse” because His Majesty can be seen everywhere in the heavens and on the earth. I saw His Hand as He guided me to Truth in His Word this morning…Truth that my Spirit needed to see and Lessons that can only be taught by Him. I saw His Hand in prayers answered precisely as I prayed them and I saw His Hand when this confident (yet humble) Servant thanked Him for hearing and intervening in the Life of another in ways I never could. As I look across the porch to the oak tree this morning I see that it still has a few relentless leaves hanging on to the branches and it reminded me of the Journey of Faith. Many have already fallen away but there are some of us looking for His Hand in everything and Relentlessly hanging onto His Promises with everything we’ve got. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey too?
Sometimes it’s not easy hanging onto the Branches when the world is riddled with darkness because our one true enemy is just as relentless in his goal to drop us to the ground as we are to hang on. He has the ability to throw darts at all the leaves and he never stops whispering lies to defeat us. Sometimes he comes around huffing and puffing like the wind, giving it everything he’s got to shake us loose, BUT Jesus can even rebuke the wind so his attempts are lame when we look to Jesus for help. Our enemy comes by way of division too, and I’m pretty sure he’s overjoyed at the “disjointed” and divided state of the Church these days. Sadly, only the leaves relentlessly hanging onto the Branch fully understand the battle and who is behind it and we KNOW what His Word says about the way we treat one another – “By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.” When we determine to love one another there is no division because we are all of “one accord. Lastly, our enemy loves F E A R but the “spirit of fear” doesn’t come from God and fear isn’t just a feeling…it’s a spirit from the pit of Hell set out to destroy and the enemy knows that people hiding under the bed are powerless. BUT the leaves relentlessly hanging onto the Branch know that they have the power to rebuke any spirit at any time…and we do.
Unfortunately, there are many leaves on the ground that just didn’t hang onto the Branch. Some didn’t believe they could hold on during the storm so they fell under the pressure because they lack the Strength and Confidence that can only come from the Branch. Some didn’t think it was that big a deal to be a leaf on the ground as opposed to one relentlessly hanging onto the Branch, and their eternal destiny will reflect their lukewarm Heart because of it. And then there are some that have been so deceived that they wouldn’t know the Branch from a butterfly…they never knew the Branch at all. It doesn’t matter what excuse the leaves have for letting go of the Branch, all of them need people like me. They need someone to relentlessly pray for them to be able to hang on and they need a Word of Encouragement straight from the Throne of the Living God. As for those who didn’t think it was a big deal to hang on…well, the Bible gives us insight on them too when it says, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” Whatever the “cause”, leaves not relentlessly clinging to the Branch need Truth, Prayer, Patience, and Love…they need people like me.
I don’t know exactly how this day will unfold but it’s been pretty amazing so far. All I really know is that I am relentlessly clinging to the Branch just like these oak leaves are and I’m never letting go. I’ll be praying that when the downcast see me clinging with everything I’ve got, they might want to Know my Secret…the Source of my Strength, the source of my Confidence, the source of my Joy and, and the Source of my Faith…it calls from Jesus Christ…the same yesterday, today, and forevermore!
“For you, oh Lord, are a shield around me; you’re my glory and the lifter of my head” Psalm 3:3
My Front Porch 
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