Press on!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s one of those perfect mornings destined to have clear skies and a cool breeze and nature is coming alive all around this old farm. It’s as if everything around me is Celebrating, not just the arrival of Spring, but the fact that it endured the long winter. Endurance doesn’t mean to merely survive. Endurance is the pressing on through those tough things with a determination to see it through. As I consider the endurance of nature around me, I am reminded of the importance of endurance in my life too. If I want to see Victory, I have to do a whole lot more than just ride out this Life…I need to PRESS ON. Isn’t that the way you look at Life too?

It doesn’t take a whole lot of strength or stamina to ride things out when adversity strikes in life. Some people take to things that will distract them from their troubles while some go into denial. Some people get mad when things get tough and they kick and stomp like a toddler as if they don’t deserve to suffer; while some surrender to depression and hide from the world. Some people easily lose hope and in their weakness, they don’t believe that things will get better one day soon; while some people walk away in an attempt to abandon the trials completely. None of these reactions are surprising at all when you consider the difference between “getting through” and “pressing on.” Unless life is snuffed out in the process, anybody or anything can “get through” the hard times. But it’s the endurance…the pressing on…the determination that sees us through AND GROWS us through our adversity.

Endurance requires faith, patience, and an unwavering Belief that the Great “I Am” is much bigger than the adversity and that He has a Master Plan that will lead to Victory IF we just keep pressing on.

Sometimes people wonder why my life has been so filled with adversity and they’ll sometimes point a finger in judgment as if to say “you brought this on yourself.” But what they don’t see is that the minute adversity strikes my Life I hit my knees just like David did. Not to beg to be delivered from the adversity itself – although there is a time and a place for that -instead, I appeal to my God to show me the Lesson He has for ME through it all. Because I know God refines His people through FIRE, I’m ready to learn and to grow no matter what. I ask Him for the Strength to endure – but MORE than that, I press into God more than ever, and I press on through the fire with everything I’ve got – and before you know it, the sea has calmed and my Faith has grown and I can see the Beauty in the pain. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing.”

When people comment on my Strength it makes me laugh because I’m not strong at all…I’m just determined to press on to finish my race well. God says “My grace is sufficient for you and my Power is made perfect in weakness” and He’s proven that to be true hundreds of times in my Life. Anybody can sit back and ride out a storm but not everybody will fight to endure or look to grow through the pain. I’m a walking testimony of the power of a Mighty God and it took a whole lot of endurance to PRESS ON to tenderize my heart for the “job.”

How about you?

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus – Philippians 3:14

Beautiful Reflection of Christ

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I began my time with the Living God inside in the warmth of an old kitchen, but as soon as the sun crept up I made my way to the porch. As I sat there giving Him my Praise, my Thanks, and seeking His Will for my Life, I saw the reflection of the sun on the pond and it reminded me of my Deepest Desire….to be a Reflection of Him. He’ll always be Bigger and Brighter than I could ever be, but as long as I Stand in His Presence, His Reflection will transform me into something beautiful…usable…humble. What an amazing God to use a pond at sunrise to Speak to my Heart this morning.

It’s amazing how so many people long to be like someone else. Sometimes they long to be like someone smarter or richer…or someone who’s had smoother sailing through the Journey called Life than they have – but not me…I just want to be like Jesus. Sometimes they long to look like someone else because they believe that someone else is more pleasing to the human eye than they are – but not me…I just want to be like Jesus. Sometimes they long to be younger than they really are or to be able to force their body to do things younger bodies do with ease – but not me…I just want to be like Jesus. Sometimes they long to have a personality like someone else, or a sense of humor to entertain the masses – but not me, I just want to be like Jesus. If you could take all those things some people long to be like…if you could somehow clump all the smart, rich, beautiful people together and wrap them all up in a perfect human package, it wouldn’t even come close to the Beauty of the Reflection of Jesus Christ. There are no words to describe the Beauty when you see Jesus in the eyes, the Heart, and the Life of a human being. This is the definition of “Christian” – to strive to be Christ-like in all those ways that matter.

Sometimes people who long to be like someone else will go to extreme measures just to be like them. They’ll dress like them. They’ll talk like them. They’ll cut their hair or wear their make-up like them. Some people will attempt to mirror the work habits of someone else and others will go so far as to succumb to surgery to look more like them too…while the others will sit back and envy all those things they aren’t. It’s a Mystery why people can’t be satisfied with the way God made them, from skin color to personality, and it’s even crazier why they can’t be satisfied with the life they’ve been given to live. If they only knew how Special they are in the eyes of the Living God their Perspective would be a whole lot different and instead of trying to be like somebody else with a less-than-perfect life, they’d long to be like Jesus just like me.

I love my family and I love my friends. I love my life and I love who I am. There are countless things I still need to improve upon to be the woman God Created me to be…but the only goal…the only thing that really matters in the Journey called Life, is for me to be like that pond…a Beautiful Reflection of a God too amazing for words.

How about you?

Direct Access To The Throne!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I had my Priority meeting with the King of ALL Kings this morning and I placed my Requests before His Throne to be heard. As a Child of the Living God, I am Royalty too, and I can approach Him 24 hours a day! “No one comes to the Father except by” Him – He stands “at the right hand of the throne of God” and He intercedes on my behalf! No man, pastor, priest, or scholar can stand between me and my God, and although they may pray FOR me – and I’m sure their prayers will be heard the same as mine are – they can’t intercede on my behalf…only the King of ALL Kings can do that! So, this woman of Royalty met with the King of ALL Kings this morning because it’s my birthright…I praised Him…asked for forgiveness and I handed Him my Requests. He died for me, He intercedes for me…He’s the One I live for. Isn’t that the way you look at your Life too?

It seems to be pretty easy for people to turn to man for all the Answers instead of approaching the King of ALL Kings like the Child of Royalty they are. Sometimes they live as if there’s an added step between them and the King…but there isn’t. Sometimes people feel relieved when a pastor or priest is willing to pray for them as if their prayers are heard a little louder than ours are…but that’s not true. The King died for ME and YOU and He has given us direct access of our own to be heard by Him 24/7 – NOBODY can replace our direct access! How can we expect to EVER have a genuine Relationship with Him if we leave it up to the “experts” do to the talking without ever “owning” our Birthright as Royalty?

Sometimes people have a tendency to idolize a “man of God” and they believe that everything he says must be true. From televised messages to churches of every shape and size, people search for the “feel good” messages, and sometimes those “feel good” messages aren’t filled with Truth at all! It’s not difficult to spot the Truth when we weigh what we hear against the Word of God. He says “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” When we know the King of ALL Kings well…when we Know what His Word says…when we walk with the Holy Spirit, THEN we can detect a counterfeit when we see one! We’re not the judge or the jury, and “men of God” deserve to be honored, that’s for sure – but there are plenty of people leading thousands of people astray ONLY because the people forget to do their part in the Journey of Faith too!

I met with the King of ALL Kings all by myself this morning and I approached His Throne like the Royalty I am. I’ll be filled with Truth by a few called by God today, and I’ll recognize the Truth because I know His Word so well and I rely on His Holy Spirit to guide me. I have a genuine Relationship with the Living God and I long for others to have it too…and THAT’S why I’m passionate about what I do…all in the Name of the King of ALL Kings…Jesus Christ….my Redeemer…my King…my Intercessor…my Guide…and my Friend.

How about you?

Draw Near…

May be an image of sky and tree

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?

Tears Water the Seeds…

May be an image of sky, nature, twilight and tree

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?

PRAY LIKE YOU BELIEVE IT…

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The minute I saw the sunrise this morning my heart skipped a beat, and it was as if my Soul lit up with the morning sky. I went before the Throne of the Living God and I praised Him for Who He is, I thanked Him for all that He does, I confessed my Wrongs, and I placed countless requests before Him. Some of my prayers have been repeated for decades, and some of my prayers pertain to new things, but all of my prayers have Power and they’ll ALL be answered one day. I know that every single one of my prayers is a treasure to God, no matter how small they appear to be or how often I repeat them, and I know that if I pray, but don’t believe what I pray for is possible, they have no Power at all. Isn’t that the way you look at your prayers too?

It’s as if some people believe that when they utter a prayer it just floats around in the heavens somewhere, and if they get really lucky God will catch it. Some people believe that God is so busy that they can only HOPE that He has time to hear from them and they’re meek and weak in their requests because of it. Some people repeat their prayers for a little while and when they don’t see the answer they assume God didn’t hear them OR that He has no intention of answering them at all. Some people think God needs all the details before He’ll hear the request. These people spell out the circumstances to God as if He isn’t aware of them already, and they use the first, last, and middle names of whoever they pray for as if God might get them mixed up with somebody else unless they did. Some people are prayer wussies, and they’re too afraid to ask God for big things, while some prayers are so generic that it’s nearly impossible to understand what the request is about at all. But no matter the prayer or who whispers it God hears each and every one and He treasures them all. Prayer is the way we talk to our God, and how we pray is a big indicator of the condition of the Heart. Do we believe that He’ll hear them and do we Trust that no prayer goes “unanswered”? This is the Key to Faith.

Sometimes I get emotional as I consider each prayer that I’ve prayed over my children (and now my grandchildren) and how my prayers will last for generations that I won’t even live to see. Every single one of my prayers is like “incense” in Heaven…a sweet aroma to the Living God. My prayers are permanent! God never gets tired of hearing my prayers, and the bolder they are the more beautiful to Him. He knows that when I pray, I pray with belief and I’m confident that I never pray in vain. I’ve seen the Hand of a Mighty God in my family as He gave me the Wisdom to guide them, and He opened and closed doors that they never dreamed were possible. I’ve marveled as I’ve watched Him unveil His answer to my prayers, and sometimes the solution was well beyond anything I could have imagined for myself…and sometimes the answer was “No”. Some prayers have been prayed by me for a very long time, and I’m not inclined to stop. He hears me, and He’ll send the Answer along when He’s ready with the Right one. No matter how long I have to wait, I won’t stop praying AND I’ll never stop Believing in the outcome. I Trust Him. I love Him. I Believe.

It’s easy to stand tall and to be bold when you actually Believe that God has you by the right hand and that He’s leading you. It’s easy to pray with excitement day after day when you know that the One that created the heavens and the earth loves you and He hears every single prayer…AND He treasures them. I pray with boldness, not just because I know I’m heard, but because I KNOW that my prayers have Power.

How about you?

Luke 18:1-8
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally, he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The Hem of His Garment…

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?

Layer of Ice

May be an image of tree, sky and nature

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?

Lessons From A Walnut Tree

No photo description available.

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?

The “Sting” of Death?

May be an image of tree, twilight and outdoors

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.