Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The hint of winter is in the air and it was too cold for me to sit outside for long this morning. But in just the little time I weathered the cold, my soul was warmed beyond measure. My life has been chaotic for weeks and although my time with the Living God never ceases, the time to savor the world around me took a back seat to my busyness and I’ve been feeling the loss. But after just one morning to savor, one more day to take it all in, one more day to focus on His creation, one more day to ponder His Majesty and I am refreshed and revived and full of hope and joy all over again. Isn’t that what savoring Him does for you too?

It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and it’s easy to lose time to savor when we do. Like hamsters racing on a wheel, we can run and run to accomplish those things on the to-do list and we don’t slow down long enough to look beyond the wheel to savor the Greatest things. We can get so caught up in preparing the perfect meal for our family and friends that we never look beyond the work of our hands to savor the hearts of those we serve. We can get so caught up in the routine of shuffling kids off to bed for the night that we never look beyond the exhaustion to savor the moments that pass so quickly. We can get so caught up in our daily lives and our work that we never look beyond the surface of all of those people we encounter to savor the chance to share a smile or a kind and compassionate word. We can get so caught up in all of the madness of the world and all of the bad that we see that we never look beyond the tragedies to savor our own peace and well-being. There’s a whole lot that we lose out on when we stay so busy that we neglect to savor but the Greatest of all is our Peace and Purpose.

I’ve become a master at savoring the Master and the work of His Hands but it all began long before I knew Him. I’d rather sit down and share a cup of coffee and a good conversation with someone than to rush off to take in the finest museum or a good movie. There’s a whole lot more entertainment there for me that comes from savoring those precious moments that I know may never pass my way again. I’d rather hear their words and savor their laugh than to rush off to take in the sounds of a symphony or to be part of a concert. I’d rather listen to the sounds of a child attempting to read a book at bedtime than to tune in to any other audible book option on the planet. I’ve been accused of being an “old soul” countless times but I’m not an “old soul” at all. I’m just a woman who loves to savor the moments in life and it shows. People in my world know that I care and because I take the time to savor; they know who to turn to when they need to be heard. I wear my Faith on my sleeve and I’m wrapped in Compassion from Christ and it shows. When people think of me, my Faith is the first thing that comes to mind. I savor my King…I take time with my Lord…and it shows. This is the key to walking the Walk and talking the Talk.

I’ll be savoring lots of things on this beautiful October morning but it all begins by savoring the Living God and the work of His Hands for me. When I consider all that He is and all that He’s done for me I get excited and I can’t wait to share Him with my world. I’ll savor every moment and every encounter today and you can be sure that His Name will come up in every conversation as naturally as I breathe…with love, and kindness and Christ-like compassion. The world will see Him in me as I savor His Plans and His Purpose for me today.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. All of my senses came alive when I met with the Master this morning. The fields were cut yesterday and the smell of fresh cut hay was heavenly. I watched a few deer run across the fields as if they were protesting the cutting of their hiding place. I could hear the cries of a mourning dove and the other birds sounded as if they were trying to keep of with that beautiful sound. If all I did this morning was to give thanks for the Hand of my Creator and all of His splendor it would have been enough for me. But we always have a whole lot more Heavenly business to do especially over things in my life that aren’t so beautiful; so to His Throne I went. Acknowledging the Good is one thing; being willing to seek His Face and to abide by His Instructions over the not-so-good is another. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

It’s a blessing to be content in life, but finding true contentment is a choice and it takes a lot of work. Every life has trials and tribulations and plenty of heartbreak. Being content doesn’t mean that we’ve slipped by without those things, it means that we see them as Steps in the Right direction instead of seasons to make us miserable. We see them as an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to improve. We see them as having a multi-faceted Purpose instead of a direct hit on our world. We see them as a chance to make our character stronger and our hearts softer. Sometimes we see them as “taking one for the Team” so that our experiences can be used to walk someone else through the same thing one day. There is no place for pity parties if we want to find true contentment in life because nothing we experience is intended to be against us; it’s intended to be FOR us and for His Purpose for our Lives. It’s when we overlook the Hand of God and we refuse to Trust His Will for us that we lose our peace and we toss our contentment into the abyss.

Every single person we read about in the Bible went through the Fire of Trials to build their Character into one that could be used by the King AND one that was worthy to share with the World. These are our role models and our mentors. From the murderers to the rapists, from thieves to the harden hearts and the broken hearts…there are lessons of Victory (and comfort) that comes from each one of them, and it was the Trial that transformed them into people “the world was not worthy of”. Most of us require a lot of trials to build our Character, but trials require that we be willing to put ourselves “out there” and most people are too cowardly or to vain to do that so they choose to hide in a foxhole instead. Living in a foxhole is a safe place to be, and you probably won’t see a lot of turmoil if you stay there; but there is no life and no joy and no growth and no Purpose in a foxhole. Some of us go through unbelievable Trials, but when we get to Victory; we refuse to share with the World. Withholding His Work out of pride or arrogance serves no Purpose at all, because it’s the getting-to-Victory-part that is an opportunity to give Glory to the Mighty God who sees us through. True contentment comes by understanding the Journey and being willing to run the Race through it all.

I enjoyed His Splendor from the front porch this morning and I refused to dwell on the imperfections of this old farm. It’s a perpetual work in progress just like I am, and somehow all of its flaws remind me of mine. Some of the “flaws” are War Wounds and some of them signs of a little wear and tear necessary on the Journey to Victory. But all of the “flaws” are signs of Living outside of a foxhole and they are proof of true Contentment that can only be found when we mix the Good with the not-so-good and we never stop chasing the Victory.

Find your contentment today.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I don’t think it’s possible to see a mediocre sunrise or sunset ESPECIALLY in the Fall of the year and I’m savoring each one as if it’s the last I’ll ever see. I don’t have a morbid obsession with death nor am I counting down the days I have left; but I am acutely aware of the frailty of life and I refuse to waste any of it at all. I’ve always been one to savor life and I’ve never been one to lose precious moments that can easily be captured if I anticipate them. But the older I get and the closer I draw to the Living God; the more beautiful life around me becomes and the more I want to savor ALL of it with ALL of me. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It’s so easy to take life for granted if we aren’t careful. We fail to look up (or to get up) to capture a sunrise and, more often than not, a television show takes the place of the sunset. We roll out of bed and scurry off to begin the new day and most of the time we don’t think twice about being physically able to do so. We throw the kids in the backseat and rush off to wherever it is we need to be and most of the time a TV monitor in the back seat or a cell phone conversation in the front seat replaces those little voices and all their sweetness that can only be heard when listen for them. Family meal time has become a thing of the past and instead of sharing a meal together at the same table at the same time, one is here and one is there…one is texting and one is watching television and the opportunity to hear about what’s going on the life of the other is lost forever.

I don’t want to wake up one day and wonder what happened with my life and I don’t want to squander my time. I don’t want to trade conversations and belly laughs for television and I don’t want to miss out on all of those precious little moments that come when you anticipate them. I anticipate great things because I serve a Great God and I treasure the beauty because it’s all a Gift from Him AND because I am acutely aware of the frailty of life. I can only imagine what Heaven is going to be like but I anticipate going there too. With an earth filled beauty that is impossible for me to capture in pictures or describe with words; Heaven is going to blow my mind. When I get to Heaven I’ll be busy doing the Work that He’s been preparing me for all along, but when I get there time will stand still and I’ll be there forever. I guess it’s possible for some people to go to Heaven and to spend eternity on the sidelines…but not me. I know that if I savor what He has for me here,and I work with His Plans and His Purpose in mind; I won’t be on the Sidelines…I’ll just be doing a Heavenly version of His Work intended just for me. With that in mind, who in the world would take Life for granted or be willing to squander their time?

This new day was beautiful when it first began and it will be beautiful until it ends too. No doubt I’ll savor all that I can and you won’t find me squandering. Instead you’ll find me ANTICIPATING Great things and when you look for Great things from God; you see them every time. How about you? Are you so caught up in that life of yours that one day blends into another while you squander the Gift of it all and are you at risk of spending Eternity on the sidelines? If so, reach out to me. I’ll introduce you to my Glorious God and I’ll show you a side of His Creation you’ve apparently never seen before AND THEN we’ll have a little chat about the frailty of Life and what’s expected of you on the Journey, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be anticipating Great things and you’ll be savoring the moments like never before!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The fog is heavy on the fields this morning and it looks a little mysterious because of it. As I met with the Living God this morning I considered the mysteries in life and how difficult the journey would be if I couldn’t trust beyond what I can see. As surely as I know that there is a pond and there are trees somewhere beyond the fog over the fields, I know that there are Plans unfolding for my life and there are results from my efforts for Him far beyond what I can see. What a sweet reminder straight from the Throne of a Mighty God that I need to Trust His Plans and I need to keep persevering through the fog regardless of what I see.

Sometimes it feels like we’re working so hard and we get discouraged when we don’t see the results of our labor. But our labor is never fruitless and the results of our labor will often be seen somewhere down the line when the fog clears. Sometimes it feels like we give our heart to another and we get discouraged when we don’t see the results of our efforts. But a heart is never wasted when it’s given sacrificially and the results of the gift is often seen after the fog clears. Sometimes it feels like we share our Faith over and over again and we get discouraged when we don’t see results. But planting seeds of our Faith is never wasted even when it seems to fall on deaf ears and those seeds will often take root after the fog clears. Sometimes it feels like we share wisdom in times when it’s needed and we get discouraged when the wisdom is ignored. But Wisdom is never wasted and the results of the gift will often be seen only after the fog clears. None of our efforts should be gauged by the results that we see on this side of the fog. When we look for the results to be “right here and right now”, we miss the beauty of what God does with all of those seeds that were planted and that are hidden in places we cannot see. This is the key to perseverance.

It takes trust in the Master Plan to be able to find our peace when things don’t go the way we believe they should go or when we long to see the fruit of our efforts right away. But every single thing we do FOR Him and every single thing we do WITH Him has Purpose, and all of those seeds that we plant will take root in His time… if we refuse to quit planting and we learn to Trust through the fog to the results that we may not see on this side of Heaven.

I’m planting seeds and I’m trusting beyond the fog to the Master of all Life and I’ll keep persevering EVEN IF I don’t see the fruit of my labor in this lifetime. How about you? Are you so results driven that you can’t rely on the Living God for those things you cannot see and do you give up when things don’t happen when and how you think they should? IF so, reach out to me. It sounds like you need a Good Lesson in those Eternal Plans that we can’t see and you might need a reminder of what Faith looks like, and when I’m done with you; you’ll never quit planting seeds and you’ll stop gauging the value of your efforts only on Results that you can see with your own eyes too!

“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.” Jeremiah 17:8

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?

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

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?

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!

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?

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.

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?

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?