The Spiritual Woodshed…no Pain, no Gain!

Image may contain: sky, cloud, tree, twilight, outdoor and natureGood 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

The Purpose that Matters the Most

Image may contain: sky, tree, outdoor and natureGood 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?

I believe that the biggest turning point in our Faith comes when we embrace the fact that we were ONLY Created for His Purpose. That’s the source of our Peace and the source of our Joy and it puts all of the pieces of Life together…it’s the ONLY thing that makes our lives make sense at all. But most people don’t “get it”. They somehow have convinced themselves that life is all about what they can get out of it for as long as they live, and they somehow believe they exist for their own joy. They question everything that happens and they fight against the Flow and they determine to make things be the way they believe they should be instead of considering His Plan and His Purpose in it all. When good things happen they easily shout out a “Hallelujah” but when bad things happen they question His Will. My greatest Joy is knowing that my life has been stamped by His Hand for His Purpose and that every single piece of it belongs to Him. Some pieces make me cry and some pieces bring me profound sadness but EVERY piece has a Purpose beyond my ability to comprehend. This one significant piece of my Faith is the source of my Peace, my Joy, my Contentment, my Strength and Unconditional Love. I was Created for His Purpose and I’m Destined for Greatness. Why would I try to “own” all of the pieces of life when I can find my Peace only by accepting His Purpose for my Life every step of the way?

Sometimes I cry when I don’t have the answers, but I know that if I stay in His Presence and I ask Him for Wisdom; He’ll provide it to me every time. Sometimes I cry out of frustration over my circumstances, but I know that if I stay in His Presence and seek His Will; He’ll always put me on the right path. Sometimes I cry because I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me because I know that I don’t deserve it; but He gives His love to me freely and unconditionally no matter what. Sometimes I cry because I’m humbled by the Work that He places in my Hands because I don’t believe that I can measure up; but EVERYBODY measures up in His eyes, and all He ever looks for is a Vessel willing to live out Life according to His Purpose and not their own. Living out Life with only His Plan in mind may look like the loss of freedom for those people who don’t “get it”. But living out Life according to His Purpose and His Plan is the ONLY Freedom that matters at all and it’s the ONLY way to find True fulfillment and Peace in life at all.

I shed a whole lot of tears this morning but every single one of them has been dried by His Warmth and my heart is singing for Joy as I set out to fulfill His Purpose for this new day. How about you? Will this new day be about YOUR Plans or will this new day be about HIS Plans for you?

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His Purpose” Romans 8:28

Through the Eyes of the Heart…

Image may contain: tree, grass, plant, sky, outdoor and natureGood 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?

It’s so easy for us to pass judgement or to make assumptions by what we see with the naked eye. From people, places or things, we’re quick to draw our own conclusions by what we see with the naked eye and we often dismiss anything else of value that is behind-the-scenes merely based on what we see. It’s for this reason that people get bullied and it’s for this reason that potentially precious friendships will never develop. It’s for this reason that suffering souls are left to their own demise and it’s for this reason many will be destined for hell. It’s for this reason that the glass of life is often considered half empty instead of half full, and it’s for this reason that the character of another can be destroyed by just a few words. It’s for this reason that lots of people give up on life in the midst of their darkest hours and it’s for this reason that beautiful old people, places and things are destroyed and replaced with new. But just like this muted morning in Virginia that has little appeal to the naked eye; there is more beauty behind-the-scenes of every living thing in this world than the mind can begin to comprehend…when we look with the eyes of the heart instead of the naked eyes.

If it weren’t so sad it would be comical to consider the critical ones and how they can’t seem to find the beauty in anything. They could rip apart Heaven if given the chance and there isn’t a human being that has ever been born that has the ability to measure up in their eyes. The critical ones could walk into a mansion and find it’s flaws and they’d send their meal back to the kitchen for improvement even in the finest restaurant in the world. No new day will ever meet with their approval…it will be too hot or too cold or too cloudy or there will be too many bugs in the air every single day of their lives. There’s always room for improvement in their eyes and the critical ones like to refer to themselves as “perfectionist”. But it isn’t perfection they look for at all. They zero in on the imperfection in this life and they see it as an opportunity to be heard. They’re driven by an unbridled determination to be the special one to point out all of the flaws in other people, places or things just to be sure that the world sees them too. I feel a little sorry for the critical ones but I run from them as fast as they can before they have the opportunity to make me feel bad about who I am or how I look or this old farm in Virginia that I love. I know that One Day they will meet Perfection face-to-face and when they do; they’ll fall to their knees just like the rest of us and they’ll finally be able to see their own Imperfections like never before.

This new day looked muted through my naked eyes but after a little time with the Master at daybreak, I know that there will be nothing ordinary or muted about the day at all. I’m looking for the beauty in everything and everyone around me and I’ll be putting blinders on my naked eyes if I’m inclined toward criticism. How about you? Does it bring you some sort of pleasure to point out the imperfections in people, places and things around you while you overlook your own flaws and do you brag about being a perfectionist as if that is something to be proud of? If so, reach out to me. I’ll introduce you to True Perfection and I’ll help you see how your own imperfections look like to Him and the price He paid for them all long before you met Him, and when I’m done with you; you’ll never brag about being a “perfectionist” again and you’ll be straining your naked eyes to look for the beauty in everyone and everything too!

Never Too Old to Serve the King!

Image may contain: people standing, tree, sky, outdoor and natureGood 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?

I love being older and wiser but there are some things about getting older that aren’t fun. The body begins to rebel a little bit and our strength and stamina aren’t what they used to be. What used to be effortless can become a major undertaking and what used to take minutes can take much longer. We lick our wounds a little more when we’re older and if we aren’t careful we’ll stop doing those things that test the body altogether because we’re not willing to pay the price or to take the risk. Although we can only do so much to turn-back-the-clock for the body, being “old” is really a state of mind. The mind is much stronger than the body is and so much of what we excuse away and we stop trying to do has more to do with the state of the mind than it does with the frailty of the body. The mind can propel forward and the mind can cheer us on OR the mind can stop us in our tracts. The mind can convince us that we’re “too old” to do this or that, and the mind can override the fears of age. It’s when the mind and the heart are willing, that the body will follow too, and although it may not be able to physically keep up the same as it did in the old days; we keep moving forward for Him.

Our Purpose doesn’t fade with old age although most people embrace the concept of doing less as they get older. It may be a little more difficult to do what we did years ago, but when we’re willing; our wisdom makes up for the loss. So many of the Saints that we read about in the Bible like Noah and Abraham and Moses were called into service in their senior years, and I’m pretty sure they had aches and pains too. But when Faith is foremost and the heart is focused on pleasing our God, fear of age takes a back seat, and when the heart is willing; the body will follow…even if it’s tired or achy. It’s when we slow down to lick our wounds or we convince ourselves that service is for younger people that life has already ended for us; we just haven’t stopped breathing yet. Our days are allotted to us with great Purpose, and each day is a gift from God. Not just for us to be around to enjoy the view from the front porch of a farm in Virginia or to play with the grands, but to serve Him. Is it possible to be “too old” for that?

My body may be feeling the pain of my efforts, but my mind and my heart are ready for this new day and I’ll continue to do the Work of the King no matter what. I’ve been blessed with long years and I’ve been blessed with good health and I’ve been double blessed with Wisdom that came with the journey, and I’m not willing to take stop working or to take any of these things for granted…not even for one day… even if it “hurts”. How about you? Do you allow the limitations of age to limit your Heart too and are you sitting back licking your wounds while you expect somebody younger do the work? If so, reach out to me. I’ll write a list that will wrap around Virginia a few times of examples of people given the Strength to do His Work with no regard for age, and I’ll explain the dangers of surrendering your Purpose because of your years, and when I’m done with you; you’ll keep Moving toward the Goal despite your age and your aches and pains and you’ll Serve the King all the days of your life with a body that may be tired, but with a Heart that refuses to stop singing too.

Are you Prepared to Prepare Another?

Image may contain: people standing, sky, tree and outdoorGood 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.
 
It would be so easy to get caught up in all the crazy things going on in the world if we’re not careful. There is tragedy and heartbreak from one corner of the earth to another, and you can almost cut immorality with a knife. Unspeakable things are happening around the clock and we’re made aware of them in real-time any time we want to access the news. There are happenings that frighten us and happenings that enrage us and happenings that are so bizarre that they become part of our every day conversations. When tragedy hits, most people tune-in to their favorite news source to watch the unfolding of events as if it’s entertainment. When there’s a accident on the freeway, it’s not the accident that causes the most challenge, but all those people wanting to get a good look at someone else’s crisis. And if they see blood and guts and twisted up vehicles, they can’t wait to tell everybody they know that they were eye-witness to the tragedy. It’s a strange (and sad) world we live in today, and it has become a distraction for most of the world. But it’s that distraction…that fixation on those bad and sad things…that determination to digest every negative event with finite detail, that will cause more Permanent damage than most people understand, and if they aren’t careful; they won’t be Prepared for What’s coming for them too because of it.
 
I don’t keep my head in the sand, and I’m honored to hit my knees on behalf of every single suffering soul I know about. But I have some filters on and I have Spiritual blinders on, and I can’t afford to get consumed with the details. The more consumed I am with the details, the less I’ll do my Part. As surely as nature knows that winter is coming; I know the King is coming too. There’s nothing that can be done to stop the winter from coming and there’s nothing that can be done to change the Plans of God that have been set in motion since the beginning of time. My focus needs to be on preparing for what’s coming, and my attention should be given to all those poor people who have no idea how to Prepare. One day, the One who created the Heavens and the earth and everyone and everything in it will say “enough is enough”, and when the Time is right, nobody will escape the Truth. Some of us will be overjoyed and some of us will tremble with fear and some of us will continue to mock Jesus even when they see Him with their own eyes when He return for His people. No matter how horrible the circumstances or how tragic the events, absolutely NOTHING compares to what will happen to all those people who fail to see the Truth, and as sad as it is; most of the Truth Tellers are too busy focusing on this life to worry about the After Life for all. Now THAT’S something I can do something about and THAT’S the Biggest something every Christian is supposed be doing relentlessly. This is the meaning of the Great Commission.
 
I’m ready for what’s coming one day, and I’m doing my part to be sure that my world knows the Truth. It’s not my job to force them into my way of thinking; it’s just my Job to tell them about the Truth. It’s not my job to pack their bags for the Trip; it’s my Job to give them Directions. It’s not my job to decide who deserves to spend Eternity in the presence of my God; it’s my Job to tell them what’s possible for them. There’s a whole lot to be done to prepare for What’s coming, so you won’t find me locked into the news or chattering about how bad things are all around me; you’ll find me Preparing and doing my part to help others Prepare for What’s coming too. How about you? Are you fixated on tragedy and chatting-it-up about how bad things are all around you, and will you ignore all of those people that have no idea about What’s coming next? If so, shame on you. You KNOW what you’re supposed to be doing and you KNOW that One Day we’ll account for our efforts in sharing the Truth. We have our Marching Orders and we have the Roadmap for the journey…it’s time to use it.
 
If I were you, I’d turn off the news and tune-out the tragedies and I’d get REAL busy getting myself Prepared and my world Prepared for What’s coming next. What a glorious day that will be for some of us. Amen?

When God Changes the Course of the Plans

Image may contain: cloud, sky, tree, outdoor and natureGood 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?

When God changes the Plans that man facilitates, it’s not always easy to see His Hand. Sometimes we’ll keep forging ahead despite the adversity while we’re convinced that every roadblock can be credited to warfare. But sometimes those roadblocks come from Him, and sometimes He has a different idea than the ones we believe are being played out in His Name. Being strong and courageous in the midst of the trials as we step into those plans is one thing. Listening to His voice and accepting His ways is another. It’s when we refuse to pause and we refuse to allow Him to show Himself in the midst of the facilitating that we can cause the most painful of circumstances. But when we get to that point…that breaking point…that need to change the course point from the way WE envisioned things would be to the way He envisioned them to be that the true beauty begins to unfold.

I fought hard for my plans and I wrestled with changes mostly because I was afraid of disappointing other people; as if changing the way things look on the outside changes the Power of my God. I fought hard and I wrestled over the headcount of people that would experience His Plan; as if a smaller crowd dims the Glory of my God. I fought hard and I wrestled with things that were distracting people away from my plans and into the hands of the plans of others; as if God doesn’t know who is supposed to be where. I fought hard and I wrestled with the opinion of others as I set out to fulfill His Plans; as if their opinions have any impact on my God and His Plans at all. I fought hard and I wrestled with the perception of “failure” as things shrunk into a manageable size; as if it’s possible for anything anointed by God to fail at all. I fought hard for Him day after day and I stayed on course UNTIL He made the change of plans a necessity. And now I am filled with peace and excitement about what my God is about to do with what He has put before me to help facilitate in His name. I’m not sure what it will “look” like exactly, but I know that for reasons of His own He had a different idea of how He wanted things to be and it’s my honor to Serve Him no matter what. His Plans are always Perfect and I know that the “changes” will lead to beauty beyond my ability to comprehend. Hallelujah!

I’ve been tried and stretched and I’ve fought hard and wrestled but NOW I am Peace and I’m so excited to see what He has in store. I know that there will be some people that will fail to see His Hand in the changes, but that’s okay because I know that those who are present to see His Hand at work…the ones that are set out to experience His Plans no matter the shape and size of the venue He uses will be shouting from the mountaintops when they see Him work it out. Glory to God. Isn’t that what it’s ALWAYS about?

Does the World See His Characteristics OR Your Own?

Image may contain: people standing, sky, grass, outdoor and natureGood 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?

I wish I was a 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 care-free 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’s 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 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 disappointed another, but sometimes I do. When I’m feeling any one 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. I may be “only human” but it’s not okay to live that way, and if I draw everything I need from Him; it shows.

I may have started out feeling cloudy and cool and quiet this morning 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. How about you? Do you lack those King-Sized Characteristics that you wish you had, while you refuse to put in the time and effort to be more like Him? If so, reach out to me. I’ll show you what Life looks like WITH Him and I’ll warn you about what life can look like WITHOUT Him too, and when I’m done with you; you’ll see yourself as a weakling just like me and you’ll realize that your Greatness will come when you let the world see Him instead of you, and before you know it you’ll be running to the source of your Strength every day to sharpen your King-Sized Characteristics too!

Living Water…the Journey of Life!

Image may contain: tree, plant, sky, outdoor, nature and waterGood 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?

When you think about it, it should come as no surprise that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as “Living Water” over and over again. Without water, all life would cease to exist. Without a healthy water source, all life would suffer the consequences and eventually succumb to disease. Water is unstoppable and sometimes it’s relentless in its journey. No mountain, or rocks or any man-made means can stop water completely because nothing can get it’s way of the ultimate goal. It might hit a few obstacles along the way and it might just have to re-route because of it; but it’s unstoppable and it keeps moving toward its ultimate destination. Water is the most powerful solvent and it can “chip” away at anything that stands in it’s way. It’s also the most important nutrient for the human body and when the body goes without it; it suffers. When water sits still it becomes “dead” and stagnant and it is no longer of good use to any life, so “flowing Rivers” is key to get the full benefits of water. The earth is covered with plenty of sea water but if we consume too much salty sea water it leads to death…not life. Every living thing on the earth needs water for life…water that flows freely and water that’s unstoppable…and the Living Waters is the Source of it all… in more ways than one.

Just like riving flowing, life is filled with obstacles but if we focus on our Ultimate Destination, we’ll be unstoppable too. As long as we keep moving we’ll chip away at everything that stands in our way. We’ll sometimes have to re-route in order to keep moving, but re-routing doesn’t mean we lost the battle or that anything had the potential to stop our journey…it just means we had to adjust. If we sit still and we stop moving toward our Ultimate Destination we become stagnant and we are no longer of good use to others. If we allow our journey to add too much salt into life, it’s possible for the bitterness of the salt to take over, and we stand the chance of dimming the True Benefits of the Living Water because of it. As long as we allow the Living Waters to flow freely through us, we can be fierce when it’s needed…but we can be full of life and beautiful too. When others see the Living Waters flowing freely through us; they’ll want to take a little time to enjoy the Peace that comes with it, and it’s when they see the beauty of the Living Waters flowing through us…they’re inclined to want to have Living Water flowing through them too.

Jesus said ” Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” I have Living Water flowing through me and I’ll “never thirst again”. I’ll continue to work my way around every single obstacle I encounter and I’ll keep moving toward my Ultimate Destination as surely as the rivers flow.

How about you? Do you have Living Waters flowing through you? If not, I’ll show you the way. Remember, Living Water is the most powerful Source of all and you’ll never thirst again. Does it get any better than that? Not in my book!

The Work of Our Hands

Image may contain: people standing, sky, cloud, tree, outdoor and natureGood 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?

It’s human nature to attempt to compartmentalize our lives. One piece belongs at the office and one piece belongs in the home. One piece belongs in church and one piece belongs to recreation. But ALL of the pieces of our lives should have a common denominator…it all should be with HIS Purpose in mind and not in our own. To most people, our work is a merely a symbol of our success and a means of making our wealth and we raise our children to chase the biggest paycheck and the most impressive title in the workplace. The inclinations or nature desires that our children have to do something that doesn’t pay as well, or that doesn’t impress the world, are discouraged and labeled as a “waste of time” by their parents who long to brag about their successes. But if we’re doing what God calls us to do; how can we NOT be successful? We are taught to squash out those God-given gifts and talents and to chase fame and fortune instead, and when we do; we get in the way of the Plans that God has for each one of us that have been “called according to His purpose”. The greatest joy in life comes to us when we are fulfilling HIS PLANS for our lives and not our own.

It’s easy to resent our work when we’re doing something that doesn’t bring us joy and when we overlook the true Purpose behind our work. It’s when we consider that He will place us precisely where He wants us to be (if we let Him) so that we can accomplish what we were CREATED to accomplish that we find our contentment…and our EXCITEMENT for each new day. When we finally get the Big Picture life is more like an adventure that the “hard work” so many people complain about, and it’s only THEN that we understand our Significance…no matter the size of the paycheck or the title on the door. Our job is one of the greatest opportunities to be a Witness to the world of our character and of our integrity and our love and compassion that ONLY come from the Living God. Whether it’s 8 hours or 10 hours or 12 hours or more that we spend in the office; it’s ALL time that truly belongs to Him and there is a Purpose much bigger than your paycheck to be there! If that doesn’t excite you…nothing will!”

I’m giving thanks for the work of my hands in every corner of my life and I’m on the “look-out” for what He wants me to do today. He IS my World…so everything around me from my family to my work will be savored and loved and “dealt with” according to His Purpose…and not my own. That’s my REAL job and He’s the only “Boss” that matters to me. I’m excited to get to work! How about you?”

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Will You Stand-up For Truth?

Image may contain: cloud, sky, outdoor and natureGood 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”….

Christians get in a whole lot of hot water for speaking-up for Truth…at least those of us bold enough to speak, that is. When we speak-up about things like abortion or homosexuality or any other modern-day “right” the world fights over, our words are twisted and turned and we’re painted into being judgmental and opinionated fools. But we’re just Ambassadors for the One Who set the Rules in place, and we’re just the Messengers of Truth on His behalf. Oh…there are some Christians that point fingers and beat people over the head with Bibles with no love or compassion at all, and I can’t say that I blame the world for not listening to the Truth when they do. But there are plenty of others with Christ-like compassion willing to spread the Truth with love and kindness that get thrown under the bus with all the rest. At this time when life is in absolute turmoil for so many people in the aftermath of Harvey…a time where we gather to pray on their behalf…a time when we’ll do what we can to help them rebuild their lives and we’ll shed tears over their circumstances….is also a time that “bad” attempts to squash out the good with a focus on ending human life to spare them from the woes of this world. The never-ending battle over good and “bad”…

There’s no such thing as “choice” when it comes to taking the life of another human being and there’s no such thing as a “fetus” that has feels no pain or that has no soul. There’s no such thing as an accidental pregnancy when you understand Who creates life in the first place, and there will never be a need for “emergency abortions”. There’s no such thing as “safe” abortions and there’s no such thing as preventing “back alley” abortions just because they can be performed in a clinic these days. To some, abortion is still considered shameful and they’ll opt for a back alley abortion to keep their secret “secret” over signing into the clinic for a legal one every time. So far there have been over 60 million lives lost to abortion by legally allowable means since abortion became legal. We have no way of knowing how many other secret abortions have taken place. But 60 million people will never be a voice in America and 60 million people will never make their mark. These 60 million people will never fill our schools or the workplace or churches of even the government and they’ll never vote. They’ll never work to pour money into our economy and they’ll never stand up for good or “bad”. The only way to endure the thought over what we’ve allowed to happen to these innocent lives, is by knowing that the God that knit them together in their mother’s womb welcomed them Home to Himself the second the “bad” snuffed the life out of them; emergency abortion or not.

I’ve been praying for the Harvey victims and for all of those selfless people working so hard to help them, and I’ll be praying for them long after this National Day of Prayer is over. And while I’m praying for Good for the people of Texas and Louisiana, I’ll be praying against the “bad” that is trying so hard to creep into a vulnerable situation to prey on the weak and “helpless” people. There’s a battle going on between “good” and bad and I’m doing my part to Fight!

Are you willing to stand up for Truth and to Fight back with prayer and your voice EVEN IF it means you aren’t so popular when you do?