Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God long before the sun rose in the morning sky, and He took me to the Spiritual Woodshed for a little Talkin’ to. One minute I’m praising Him and placing my Requests before His Throne, and the next minute I’m hanging my head in shame over some things that need to be made right. We are more precious than gold to Him, and the only way for those things to ever be made right is if we are willing to spend time with the Refiner and we’re willing to endure His fire. When He reveals these things to us; He’s ready to take us “by the right hand and Lead” us and He’s ready, willing and able to Forgive whatever it is. So off to the Spiritual Woodshed I went, and I’m more pleasing in His eyes now because of it. Isn’t that the way it works for you too?
I think it’s pretty sad that most people of Faith either don’t believe any Refining is necessary for them OR they refuse to talk about the Woodshed for fear of anybody else knowing they aren’t quite as perfect as their world thinks they are. As long as the heart is content with things “just the way they are”, and as long as we refuse to strive to be ALL that we can be for Him, we can’t expect to grow into all that He Created us to be. He shapes and molds AND Refines those He loves, so the Woodshed is a necessary step to transform our Lives into something that will use to Glorify Himself. “No pain…no gain” is more true for our Spiritual fitness than it is for our physical fitness but it’s hard for some to believe that God allows a little pain for His own gain…but He does. The closer we draw to Him the hotter the fire to Refine us because He wants His “Gold” to be pure. I don’t like going to the Spiritual Woodshed and it would make me a whole lot happier if I never needed to, but I sure do like to know that He loves me enough to Refine me and that I’m more pleasing to Him when after my Visit. This is the key Spiritual growth.
It’s a dangerous thing when Christians say “nobody’s perfect” or “everybody sins” or “God loves me anyway”. All these things are TRUE but they’re more of a Spiritual cop-out than anything else. It somehow makes these guys feel better about their Flaws if they remind the world that God is still there and He’s always ready to forgive. Although forgiveness is the Biggest part of the Spiritual Equation; it’s not the ONLY part of the equation. If He took on the role of Redeemer and He’s already paid the price for every wrong we’ve ever committed or ever will, and if our hearts are sincerely Grateful for the Price he paid for us; then desire to please Him comes automatically and all those excuses for our wrongs are just lame attempts to mock His gift to us. I know that there is absolutely NOTHING I can do that could push the limit on His forgiveness…He paid the Price for it ALL on the Cross. But when I think about what He’s done for me even though I didn’t deserve it; I want to please Him and serve Him and be all that He created me to be. This is the key to Spiritual Maturity.
I’m a grown-up woman and a grown-up Christian but I’ll be busy working on my Maturity every single day that I draw breath into this old body; because I want to please Him. When He needs to take me to the Spiritual Woodshed; I won’t run and I won’t hide because I know that whatever it is that He’s calling attention to…I need to make it right. How about you? Do you like things “just the way they are” and do you refuse to Mature because you buy in to the lie that it’s not necessary to endure a little Spiritual pain if we want to have the Biggest gain? If so, reach out to me. I’m happy to set you straight on the Journey and I’m happy to show you how God uses pain for His Glory every single time, and when I’m done with you; you’ll spend a little more time with the Refiner and you’ll be eager to be considered His Gold too!
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me” 1 Corinthians 13:11
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The cool Fall mornings are my favorites of all, and my time with the Living God at daybreak is even richer when my outer world is pleasing to me. We had a little Business to do on my Heart this morning, and as I called out to the One who Created me; I wept. Everything that came to my mind and my heart made me cry. Happy tears and sad tears and tears of doubt and tears of shame. When I looked up to take in the beauty of the morning, I saw dew dripping down the Christian flag just like those tears dripping down my face. What a sweet reminder from a loving God that my Walk through this Life and the boldness of my Faith will sometimes comes with a few tears. But as surely as His Warmth will dry this flag after just a little time in sun; His warmth will dry my tears too if I linger in His Presence long enough. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I met with the Master as He woke up the world this morning, everything about it seemed muted. From the sky to the colors to the sounds and if not for the cool breeze, there wasn’t a whole lot of “life” to feel at daybreak at all. My naked eyes focused on the fields around me and my focus was on the flaws and all the work that needs to be done to “perfect” my surroundings. But no matter what the morning or my surroundings look like with the naked eye, I KNOW that there’s immeasurable beauty when it’s looked the the eyes of the heart instead. What a sweet reminder from the Living God for me to look past what I see on the outside so that I can focus more on what’s “behind-the-scenes” in in everyone and everything I encounter today. Isn’t that your goal in life too?
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up feeling the pain of my laborious weekend, and my mood was inclined to follow what my body feels this morning. I didn’t feel like getting up and I didn’t feel like sitting on the front porch. I didn’t feel like welcoming in the new day and I didn’t feel like filling my soul. But I forced myself into motion to do what I do each day, and after just a little time with the Living God and a little time pondering my Instruction Manual and now; my body may be in slow motion this morning but my soul is full-speed-ahead and my aches and pains won’t hinder what the Master has for me today. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Fall is definitely in the air, and as I met with the Living God on the front porch this morning I watched nature in-tune with the season. The nearby horses are a little more vocal when the temperatures drop and the deer get busy working on the herd. The squirrels are scurrying to get as many walnuts stashed away for winter as they possibly can and the trees are beginning to shed some leaves. All of nature knows that the time is near for change and they intuitively prepare for what’s coming. What a beautiful reminder for me to do all that I can do to stay tuned-in Spiritually so that I am prepared for What’s coming too.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. As surely as God Almighty is changing this morning sky, He’s changing the direction of my plans, and when He does; I need to be as willing to move as freely as the clouds do when He changes their course. It’s not easy for me to shift in another direction sometimes….especially when my work is dedicated to Him. I’ll keep forcing against all odds and I’ll keep the creative juices flowing as if I’ll somehow force a square peg into a round hole until eventually; I surrender. It’s when I surrender to whatever He has Planned for me and my Life that I find the peace I’ve been looking for all along. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?
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 cloudy…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 provide “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, cloudy 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?
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Master at the break of dawn but the sun was hidden by the clouds and it’s destined to rain again today. It doesn’t take a whole lot of rain to cause the creek to rise, and as I considered the water’s journey and all of the obstacles it goes through along the way; it reminded me of my life. There have been lots of twists and turns and lots of obstacles along the way, but as long as I persevere; none of these things can stop me if I keep moving toward the larger body of water…the Living Water….my Ultimate Destination. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s back-to-work after a season to celebrate our labor and as I met with the Living God at sunrise this morning, I considered the importance of the work of my hands and I gave thanks for it all. Some of my work is to earn my living and some of my work is to take care of my home. Some of my work is dedicated to my family and some of my work involves ministering to suffering souls….but ALL of my work is done with Him in mind and I never forget that I’ve “been called according to His Purpose”. Isn’t that the way you look at your work too?
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It looks like there’s a battle going on the sky this morning between the sun and the clouds, each one leveraging for position this morning. This picture reminded me of the world we live in today…a never-ending battle over good and “bad” and a never-ending battle for position. While today has been declared a National Day of Prayer for those poor people dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey…prayers of hope and prayers for restoration and strength…there’s another storm brewing for “bad” as one group is scurrying around to gather up funds for “emergency” abortions for the storm victims that may be at risk of running out of time to terminate life within the legally allowable limits. The never ending battle over good and “bad”….
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