Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped outside this morning with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and the Holy Word of a Holy God to meet with the One who died for me. The Bible says “draw near to God and He will draw near to you” and that’s what my Time with Him is always about. It’s never about just showing up…it’s about drawing near…and to pull that off I need to enter His Presence with a Humble and Grateful Heart AND I need to be willing to have my Heart Examined each day by the Lord of all. Sometimes it’s a sweet Time and sometimes it’s a tough Time but it’s always a Good Time when I draw near to Him and He draws near to me. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Life too?

It can be so easy to find ourselves in that place where we wonder where God is and if He’s even listening to our prayers…but it doesn’t have to be that way. If we’ll just do our Part to draw near to Him He will ALWAYS draw near to us, but sometimes we stand in the way of that Quality Time because of the condition of our own Heart. No relationship can thrive just by being in the same room, and it’s not possible to “draw near” to another human being if we rely on the fact that we’re “together” physically while the Heart is not Prepared for the journey at all. Why would it be any different with the King of all kings?

The Living God doesn’t just want us to show up, He wants us to DRAW NEAR instead, and that is where the “work” comes in. It isn’t possible to genuinely draw near to Him if there is unfinished business in the Heart, and it’s not possible for Him to draw near to us if we meet with Him just to see what He can do for us or how fast He can settle a crisis in our lives. Drawing near to Him takes Humility to confess whatever in our lives or our Heart is not pleasing to Him and it takes a Heart that hungers to be all that He created us to be. Drawing near is more about what we can do…and who we can be…to be found pleasing to the Lord of all Creation that it could ever be about what He can do to please us. The child of God is Royalty and it’s an Honor to enter His Presence any time we want to, but it matters to Him how we show up and He can’t draw near if we insist on living a Life that’s not pleasing to Him.

Having a Rich Relationship with the King of all kings isn’t nearly as complicated as folks like to think it is. A Rich Relationship isn’t reserved for just a select few and it isn’t withheld from any willing heart…but it does take Effort on our Part. It takes drawing Near to Him with a hunger to be found Pleasing in His eyes and with a willingness to let Him Work within the crevices of the Heart…a Heart that will need to be Refined every day until we find our way Home. I met with Him wrapped in a blanket on the front porch of an old farm in Virginia this morning with a Heart that longed to draw near. I need Him more than I need breath in my lungs and we both know it. As long as I draw near to Him, He will draw near to me.

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 Perfector of my Faith before the sun came up and I read His Words by lamplight. Today was one of those days that I couldn’t get enough of Him. Every verse I read was illuminated by His Spirit and I kept pausing to let Him pierce my Heart with Truth. Words I’ve read so many times before were revealed to me with New Life and they reached the places in my Heart where Truth was needed to Propel me toward more. All I could do was Praise Him for loving me enough to meet with me and for never failing to Grow my Willing Heart. Sometimes I wonder if our tears water the Seeds He plants in the Soul because the tears flow like a river at Planting time. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

Some people cry at the drop of the hat while others could count on one hand the number of tears they’ve shed in a lifetime. For some of us, emotion bubbles up over sad things and beautiful things and we wear our Heart on our sleeve for all the world to see – while others experiencing the same things show no emotion at all. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to tears, that’s for sure, but I like to think that when Jesus plants Seeds deep within the Soul of a Willing Heart the spirit of man is inclined to melt and the tears are likely to flow. One Day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and I am confident that although there will be lots of Hallelujahs shouted out in unison… there will be lots of tears flowing too. Tears of Love…Tears of Gratitude… Tears of Humility…every emotion known to mankind will spring forth as we bow before the King of all kings on that Day.

There is a lot of focus on the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ this time of year as we approach the Easter season. Most of us will pause to consider what the King endured on our behalf as we recount the brutality man inflicted upon Him. We’ll imagine His flesh being ripped off His body with every strike of the cat of nine tails. We’ll imagine Him hanging on the cross with nails piercing His feet and hands. We’ll think about the crown of thorns placed on His head as he was mocked for being “king of the jews.” We’ll think about the sword that pierced His side and we’ll think about how He said “it is finished!” just as He drew His last breath. I’m not sure how it’s humanly possible to consider what our Savior endured to pay the price for our sins without shedding a tear…it’s not for me for sure. But the one thing that puzzles me even more than the lack of tears is how the focus of His shed blood, His suffering, His Sacrifice…ALL that He so lovingly Surrendered so that we might have everlasting life is reserved for this one time of year. The blood of Jesus is our Hope and our only way to Salvation…a message that should bring each one of us to tears every day of every year.

I’m not sure what’s in store for me on this new day, but I do know that He Prepared my Heart at sunrise and I cried like a baby in His Presence. I’ll NEVER lose sight of the Sacrifice He made for me, and because I don’t, I am compelled to Share His Love with the world day after day and year after year. He’s my Hope and my Future and there is no good thing in me apart from Him. How could I NOT cry tears of Joy?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Majesty of God this morning took my breath away and it opened the way to Rich Time in His Presence for me. I praised, I prayed, I confessed, and I hungered for more at every turn in my Instruction Manual. 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, 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 so easy to overlook the Power available to all who Believe 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 crowd of other people surrounding Jesus. In the sea of people, I’m sure some were around for the ride, while others were there just to see what Jesus could do. There must have been some who just that it was cool to see Jesus in action! But this woman was there because she Knew that Jesus was her Hope and that suffering woman was healed the instant she touched just the hem of His garment. No doubt she had prayed countless prayers for healing throughout the 12 years she suffered, at least most people would no matter what their belief system. 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 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. 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 day 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. It’s below freezing again this morning, and the little bit of snow that fell a week ago is still lingering on the ground. As I sat in the Presence of the Most High this morning, I thought about how sometimes just a little dusting of sin or adversity can fall upon life and if we’re not careful it can linger for way too long too. That small layer of snow and ice can cause more problems for us than a foot of snow ever could because it appears to be so harmless and yet it’s nearly impossible to find your footing. What an amazing God I serve that would use a layer of ice and snow to drive home a Message about how anything standing in between me and my God is always a problem, no matter how harmless it appears to be on the surface. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Life too?

It’s interesting how man is inclined to gauge sin like the weatherman gauges the accumulation of snow and ice. Many people deny that sin is sin to One we Serve, and that a “little white lie” is no different than murder in His eyes. The “big sin” isn’t always easy to hide, and if it’s big enough the world will have a front-row seat to watch the journey. There isn’t usually much debating over “big sin” because the offense is crystal clear to all. But when it comes to those “little sins” – the countless things that can stand in the way between us and our God, now that’s a different story to many of God’s people. They’ll excuse away things like an angry heart, a bitter tongue, judgment, or gossip as if they’re somehow superior to a drug addict or adulterer in the eyes of the Lord. But they’re only fooling themselves, Those thin layers can be a slippery slope that can linger for a long time…sometimes an entire lifetime…and they definitely stand in the way between us and our God…until we repent and turn away, that is. If we want to be pleasing to the God of all Creation, we need to care as much about doing away with the thin layers as we do the blizzards. They ALL stand in the way between us and our God.

There’s a lot that goes into a Rich Relationship with the Living God…time, praise, service, etc., but the way to true fulfillment isn’t what we do on the outside, it’s the willingness to Examine our own Hearts every step of the way. It’s when we Examine our own Heart where we’ll see those layers for what they really are, and when we see them (to the extent possible) the way God does, we can’t get rid of them fast enough! We see the long-term ripple effect of our harsh words. We see the damage we do by pointing out wrongs to our loved ones as if we’re the judge and jury. We see what a bad Witness we are in this dark world by behavior we excuse away as if it doesn’t matter…but every layer matters to Him. Pride and arrogance have to be buried for us to be willing to Examine our own Hearts. Those thin layers of ice don’t usually melt away over time, they need to be forced away instead. If we want to be pleasing to the God of all Creation, we must be willing to Examine our Hearts for anything standing in the way of the Rich Relationship He wants with every child.

I might need to take action over the thin layer of ice and snow still on the ground around the farm, but when it comes to my Heart and my Rich Relationship with the One Who died for me, I won’t be buying time hoping thin layers go away on their own like the ice on the ground will eventually. I don’t want ANYTHING standing between me and my Amazing God and I’m willing to face whatever I need to face and to repent of whatever I need to repent of so that I can have the Rich Relationship with Him I long to have. After all, the King of all kings died for me, it only makes sense that I would Live for Him!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold outside and I’m grateful for a warm kitchen to spend my time with the Living God inside looking out today. I woke up with a heavy heart this morning and it took a little Work for me to find my Joy. But when you have the Right Foundation, and you know how to Follow the Instructions for Life, Joy can be found no matter what’s going on in life. So, my heart went from heavy to overflowing in no time at all. As I looked out at this old walnut tree at sunrise, God used it to remind me of the importance of having a Firm Foundation. A hundred years or so after this tree first took root, it has a firm foundation with hundreds of limbs of growth drawing on its strength today. What a Sweet Reminder straight from the Throne of a Loving God this morning that because of my Strong Foundation hundreds of Limbs will draw from the Strength of my Faith over my Lifetime. Isn’t that the way you look at your life too?

It can be so easy to get caught up in circumstances that make the heart heavy, but we surrender our Joy when we allow that to happen, and we show signs of a weak Foundation. If this old walnut tree lacked a firm foundation, even the tiniest breeze could potentially make it fall. But its roots run deep, and the foundation is strong, and the tree has the strength to endure the storm because of it. Life is like this walnut tree. Sometimes we experience a strong wind and once in a while, we’ll even lose a limb or two in the process. But if the Roots are Deep and the Foundation is Strong, we might waiver here and there when the winds pass through, but we will never Fall. The root system is the source of the strength and longevity of this old tree, and it’s the roots that can’t even be seen with the eye that is forever digging in deeper. It’s through the root that the tree receives its nourishment, and if the roots get compromised it will cease to bear fruit and grow limbs, and eventually, it will fall. The same is true for you and me. Jesus Christ is the only way to a Strong Foundation that can endure all that life brings our way, and it’s the key to leaving a Remnant behind that will last long after we’re gone just like this old walnut tree. His word says; “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

One day this old walnut tree will have had enough and it will die as surely as I will. Nothing lives forever on this earth. There’s no way of knowing how many meals it provided to the squirrels or how many birds found refuge on its branches. There is no way of determining how many other walnut trees around this farm were planted from this one or how many strong limbs it has managed to sprout. There’s no way of counting all the prayers that were prayed over this old tree or how many times thanks were given for its beauty. There’s no way of knowing how many people sat in its shade or how many limbs have fallen over time. With a foundation strong enough to last over 100 years, it’s impossible to calculate what it has produced during its lifetime. I know that if I have a Firm Foundation and a Deep Root System, the same will be true for me and my life. There won’t be any way of calculating how many branches took Root on their own all because of my Firm Foundation, or how many new trees were planted because of mine. I won’t know how many people took refuge in my Branches or found refuge in my Shade… or how many prayers were prayed for me in my lifetime. But I DO know that the Foundation of my Faith will bear fruit for generations to come…if I stay Strong and if I’m diligent about making sure my Root is Deep enough to withstand even the strongest storm.

God used this old walnut tree to touch my heart this morning and I went from feeling downcast to Celebrating because of Him. I’ve put in the Work to secure my Foundation and my Roots are growing deeper every day. I may not get 100+ years on this earth like this walnut tree, but the Impact that my Faith will leave behind will last for all Eternity…one Branch at a time.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s too cold to spend my mornings on the front porch these days, but not too cold to step outside to see how God has painted this new day. As I sat in the Presence of the Living God I thanked Him for all things new…a new sunrise…a new day…a new chance to Serve…a new Word for such a time as this….it was a long list of new things. But along with those new things I thanked Him for in my own life, I thanked Him for the New that several of my friends are a part of today….friends that have drawn their last breath here on earth but are now in the New of Eternity. The sting of death isn’t easy for family and friends to endure, that’s for sure. But behind the tears of mourning, there is a Heavenly Celebration of the New Life for those who Know and Love Jesus Christ. Without the Promise of a New Beginning, life would be meaningless for us all and the sting of death unbearable..but with Jesus, the Future is New and Bright and Beautiful forever and ever, for those who Believe! Isn’t that the way you look at death too?

Mourning is a natural process and it can’t be rushed along. Parting from a loved one is excruciatingly painful and the emptiness they leave behind is felt forever. There is no right or wrong way to mourn. In the days of Moses, the Israelites had a 30 day mourning period. In the Jewish culture, loved ones are buried the same day they die – in Bible times there was a 7-day mourning ritual that sometimes included “mourning musicians” to help in the process and a tearing of their clothes to express their agony. Back in the day, widows were required to wear black for two years as a sign of respect for their dead husband and to let the world know she was off-limits until the time of mourning had ended. Some funeral homes employ a nurse to be present during a funeral service to assist the emotional loved ones with medical attention for their hysterical reaction to death. There is no right or wrong. But no matter what the mourning looks like or what kind of “rituals” people practice, it doesn’t matter how long it takes the human Heart to heal, there is a Celebration in Heaven for those who Know and Loved Jesus Christ that no amount of earthly mourning can dim. Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

We often hear “may they rest in peace” and we see R.I.P. on almost every headstone in the graveyard, but not everybody will be resting in peace. There is Eternity waiting for each one of us and it won’t a dormant, “peaceful,” lifeless, forever the way some people think. For those who Trust in Jesus, the Bible says “No eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him” and I celebrate for my friends and loved ones who now see and hear what they longed for in this life. For those who don’t Trust in Jesus, the future isn’t bright, and they’ll be gnashing their teeth in torment forever. Now that’s something to mourn! For those who don’t put their Trust in Jesus, this world…this life…is as good as it gets for them. But for all the rest of us, death of the body is just the Beginning….our Victory only comes through death. Jesus struggled with death – just the idea of being beaten and crucified caused Him to sweat blood. But was His Father’s will for Jesus to die, and it’s His will for all the rest of us to die one day too! Death was the only way to achieve God’s Redemption Plan! Jesus had to die so that we could have Victory over sin…and each one of us has to die to Receive our Victory! Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

The stakes are high and the Results everlasting which is what keeps Christians like me busy sharing the Truth that Saves with the world. I don’t want even one person to die without knowing the Truth! The ones to die without Trusting Jesus…now THAT’S something to mourn about – the others we Celebrate! There are no words for how blessed I am that everyone – my family members and my close friends – who have already gone before me Trusted in Jesus and they instantly entered into a Heavenly Celebration that will last forever! What joy and peace I have! Will I cry? Of course. Will I miss them? Absolutely! But you won’t find me wishing they were still here no matter how much it hurts on this side of Life. The day that they lived for is finally here and THAT’S something to celebrate through the pain!

Do you Know and Trust Jesus?

Are you absolutely sure of what your eternity will look like OR are you hoping just to rest in peace forever?

If you have doubts, I’m here to help. Don’t let even another minute pass until you find the Peace that leads to Victory.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I began this day just like all the others – I came down the steps from my time of rest and I headed straight out the front door to see what kind of morning the Lord has painted today. Sometimes it’s still dark. Sometimes there is a glimmer of the sun. Sometimes it’s raining and sometimes it’s cold, but it always feels fresh and new no matter what. As I stood there breathing in the morning air and thanking the Living God for another day to Serve Him, I thought about how my Journey with Him is a lot like my journey to the front porch. I step into His Presence the very first thing, and each new day is a New Beginning with the potential for Greatness. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot or cold – rainy or snowy – or all-around “miserable” weather – there is Greatness lingering behind what I see on this side of Heaven and all I have to do is to be willing to step into it. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Life too?

Lots of people dodge “miserable” weather and they wouldn’t dream of stepping out onto the front porch unless they absolutely had to. They look for those ideal days – anything outside of that becomes a roadblock to their gratitude or a topic of conversation with someone else as they complain about the new day. When you think about it, those same people live their entire lives that way – avoiding what they don’t want to deal with and whining about the “miserable” weather to others as if the new day has no potential for Greatness at all. These people are lovers of themselves – anything less than ideal in their book isn’t worth the time and trouble. They’re busy looking for their own satisfaction in life and they whine about life not measuring up to their liking as if they’ve been left out of greatness. I’d like to introduce those guys to Greatness – to the Great “I AM” – to the Creator of all – to the Author and Perfecter of Faith. With a Big dose of Greatness, they’d quickly see how insignificant they are without Him, and their selfish whining would transform into Praise before you could say “Amen.” Until then…until they accept the Greatness of God…until they embrace Jesus Christ as “the way, the truth, and the life” they are lost people with a not so bright future. If they’re unhappy with this life and all the “miserable” things that come with it, they’ll be blown away by the misery of Hell!

Lots of people have stepped out for a front-row seat of the “miserable” weather all across America these days, and they’re occupying their time complaining about who’s to blame and who’s going to fix it OR they are busy as beavers spreading “misery” as fast as they possibly can. The first thing they look for in the new day is a news update about these perilous times so they know what to whine about and they have poison to share with their friends. Each new day is a lather, rinse, repeat pattern of doom and gloom that they can’t wait to spread from one end of the country to the other. They are so focused on the circumstances surrounding each perilous day in America that they fail to see the potential for Greatness and they can’t be bothered to look for it. I’d like to introduce these guys to Greatness too…the Greatness that parted the sea…the Greatness that made the sun stand still…the Greatness that ordered war and bloodshed when it was time…the Greatness that has ordained every leader since the beginning of time…the Greatness that sent our only Hope of Redemption to die so that we might live…the Greatness that never leaves His Throne…the Greatness that could pull the plug on all the challenges IF that’s His Will…the same Greatness that has prepared a place for the ones who Believe and Trust in Him. Until then, these guys are being used by something other than God to spread defeat and lies intended to instill fear, and they’ll answer to Greatness one day for the part they’re trying to play in a Picture MUCH bigger than they are. I am Confident in the Greatness Behind this new day and I’ll stay busy trying to Introduce Greatness to the lost ones whenever God brings them to me. There are plenty of them who think they already Know Greatness…and maybe they do – they’re just desperately in need of a Refresher Course…BUT their actions tell a different story and they’re trusting is in the wrong things. Until they Accept Greatness and Trust His Plans instead of the manmade ones they talk about, they’re playing a very active part in the perilous days and they don’t even see it coming. As for me, it’s a New Day with the Potential for Greatness and I’ll be giving it all that I’ve got. The Greatness I Serve and Share can snuff out the “miserable” with ease…IF that’s His Will. Until then, I’ll be about my Father’s business – I’ll be feeding sheep – I’ll speak the Truth even though the world hates me for it – I’ll share the Gospel of Jesus Christ as far and as fast as I can.

Greatness is coming soon.

Will you be ready?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. A little time with God Almighty, a little time digging into the Instruction Manual for guidance, a little coffee, a little breeze, a little sunrise to take the breath away, and a very Grateful Heart – the way each new day begins for me. Without attention given to this full list of my morning’s firsts, would my heart be grateful this morning? Not a chance! If I don’t keep my priorities straight, the Journey of Life begins to look “too big” and the next thing you know, my courage wavers and my Heart becomes heavy. Keeping my priorities straight at the start of each new day Equips me to be all that God has for me to be and I am forever reminded that I have a Purpose in this life far greater than myself. My priorities are non-negotiable.

Just like anything else in life, it takes commitment to keep my priorities in check. A busy schedule can easily rock the boat and I might be tempted to rush into my work without a second thought to my Priorities. If I want that busy schedule to go smoothly, I’d better be equipped for the day. I could easily get distracted by the needs of others around me rallying for my attention, and I might be tempted to set aside my own priorities to put their needs above my own. So, if I want to have what it takes to give them the Best part of me, then I’d better be Equipped for the ride. I could easily be distracted by the little things in life, and I could change my schedule so that my priorities are addressed after my chores, my errands, my work, or my home. But if I do that, my priorities are no longer a Priority and they take a back seat to so many other things of less importance. If I want to accomplish all of the little things in His Name, then I’d better be equipped for the Journey. My priorities are non-negotiable.

I often hear people comment about how they don’t have the “luxury” of setting aside time for these priorities in life. But I just wonder…if we don’t have a little time to give to the Living God, the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Prince of Peace, the Bright Morning Star, why in the world would He make our needs a priority either? The Living God isn’t merely looking for performance, He’s looking for Relationship! When the King returns One Day, plenty of people will be listing out all the things they did in His Name…and plenty of people will hear “I NEVER KNEW YOU” – Relationship is what will make the Difference between Heaven and Hell for all of us. As for me, I NEED for Him to “Keep me as the apple of His eye” and to “Hide me in the shadow of His wings” and for as long as I live, He will be my Biggest Priority. That’s non-negotiable for me.

My Priorities are straight and I’m equipped for this new day after my Time in the Presence of the Living God. There are many things for me to “manage” today, but everything will fall into place because of my Time in the Presence of the Living God. I’ll give the very Best of me to my family, my friends, and to the stranger God puts in my path today, all because of my Time in the Presence of the Living God. With God, ALL things are possible and my Time with Him is non-negotiable.

How about you?

I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the Lord – Psalm 104: 33, 34

18Lisa Malinosky Alligood, Cynthia Scott Halverson and 16 others7 Comments1 ShareLikeCommentShare

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My mood matched the weather this morning as I stepped out onto the front porch with my coffee in hand…a little cool…a little foggy…a little quiet…but with the potential to be incredible no matter what. After my time with the Living God this morning I know that He will be keeping “my path straight” and I know that He provides “my daily bread.” I know that the “boundary lines will fall on me in pleasant places” and I know that He will “keep my lot secure.” Cool, foggy, or even quiet doesn’t change my Purpose at all, and the Sunshine in my heart will override the clouds in the sky all day long as I do my work for Him. Isn’t that the way your life is too?

I wish I was as brave as some people think I am, but it’s not bravery they see. I wish I was as confident as some people believe me to be, but it’s not confidence they see. I wish I was as bold as some people think I am, but it’s not boldness they see. I wish I was as creative as some people give me credit for, but it’s not creativity they see. I wish I was as knowledgeable as some people believe that I am, but it’s not knowledge they see. I wish I was as carefree as some people think I am, but it’s not carefree they see. I wish I was as resilient as some people think I am, but it’s not resilience they see. When people look at me and they “see” these Characteristics, it’s not “me” that they see at all. What they see is a Life that has been Surrendered to the King and one that is driven by His Spirit. They see a Willing Vessel and they see a Joyful Servant. They see what a weak woman looks like when God is running the show. They see the results of answered prayers and they see Characteristics beyond my flesh. They see Him.

I wish I’d never stumble and I wish I’d never lose my way, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never do something wrong that I’d later regret, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never lack compassion, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never feel like giving up, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never want to pull the covers over my head, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never want to shut out the world, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never feel fear, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never feel hurt over the way I’ve been treated, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never feel alone in life, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never need a good cry, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never question God, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never want for things that I don’t have, but sometimes I do. I wish I’d never disappoint another, but sometimes I do. When I’m feeling any of the things that I wish I didn’t feel, I know that this weak woman has gotten a little too far away from the Living God and those Characteristics that can usually be seen in me have dimmed…so it’s back to the source of my Strength all over again. Although I am “only human” it’s not okay to live that way…and if I draw everything I need from Him, it shows.

I may have begun this new day feeling cloudy and cool and quiet and I may have been inclined to let my mood follow that path all day long…but it’s an entirely different story after my time with Him. Today I’ll be Strong and I’ll be Unstoppable and I won’t be walking through this day like any “weak” woman you’ve ever seen in your life. If I stumble today, I’ll make it right as fast as I can by asking Him for forgiveness and strength. And if my stumble is a bad reflection of my Faith to someone else, I’ll be making it right with them too so that others may see what humility looks like. There is no good thing in me apart from Him…all that I am…all that I do…it’s all for Him. When you live like that, it shows – and if others can see Him in me, I pray they want to know Him and love Him as I do. That’s the goal.

How about you?