Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The front porch was overflowing with conversation and laughter just a few short hours ago and now; it’s just me and my God. No matter who shows up or how enjoyable the time is, there is no comparison to one-on-one time with the Master as he wakes up the world. No joy can match the Joy I feel in His presence and no conversation can compare to our Talks. No amount of wisdom that is shared with me can hold a candle to the Wisdom He is ready Share any time I ask for it. I’m so grateful for a family more precious than gold and for love that’s bigger than life, but nothing on the planet is as important to me as my God. Isn’t that the way you love Him too?

It’s pretty easy to put God above all else in life when you consider that He’s the source of it all. I’d lay down my life for the people I love but without Him; they wouldn’t exist at all. I am a very proud Mama (and Grandma) but without Him; there wouldn’t much to be proud of. Had His Plans not been designed to knit them together in my womb, no plans of my own would have made that happen. Had He not heard my cries for Wisdom and strength to raise up 4 children alone; the outcome and their Character would been a whole lot different than it is today. Had He not orchestrated the friends He fills my life with, no amount of effort on my part would have put our lives together at just the right time in History. If He didn’t intervene on my behalf those people so eager to rob me of my Peace and so ready to fill my world with doubt might have a shot at turning my world upside-down, but He shields me from it instead. When He’s the center of Life, ALL life takes on new meaning and there is no way of measuring the gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me.

God orchestrates my Life for me, but I have to be willing to do my part too and that’s the piece that so many people miss. The more I focus on Him and the more I’m willing to let Him guide me through this Journey, the more the blessings flow. That doesn’t mean that He loves me more or that He’s more willing fill up my life while He leaves the rest of the world out-in-the-dark. It doesn’t mean that my life is perfect or that I don’t have trials and tribulations just like everybody else does. Most people couldn’t begin to bear the burdens I carry, but I don’t try to carry them on my own and I never allow myself to forget that there is a great Purpose behind the journey… so I’m ready to grow through it all. The fact that I don’t wring my hands in distress or whine about the condition of my life doesn’t mean I’m on Easy Street. It means that I NEVER lose sight of the fact that He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me, and because of that; I love Him enough to give Him my life. I’m a willing Vessel for Him and there is no measure for my Gratitude and no limitations on what I’ll do to serve Him. And THAT’S why my life is so full. Not because I’m more special than anybody else; but because I know from whom the Blessings Flow!

My heart overflows with gratitude this morning and I’m recharged and ready for this new day. I spent the first part of my day with the Most Important One in my life. I’m ready, willing and able to do with this day what He wants me to do with this day, and I’ll be giving Him thanks every step of the way. After all, without Him I wouldn’t be still drawing breath on this new day of this new week. How about you? Do you strut around through life taking credit for your family and the condition your life, and do you whine when life isn’t smooth sailing while you refuse to do your part? If so, PM me. You might need a refresher course on what it looks like to put God First in your life, and you might need a good reminder about how you don’t have one single person or one single thing in your world that can’t be credited to the Hand of God, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be a good example of “humility” and you’ll be racing to do YOUR PART to put Him front-and-center in your Life too!

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow”, amen?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God at the break of dawn and as the sun made its way over the farm; the fog burned off the fields and it became pretty clear that it is destined to be a hot day in Virginia. The sun was burning on my face while God was burning in my heart, and the combination took my breath away. My life is overflowing with projects right now and if I’m not careful I’d be doing more leading than I am Following. So, no matter what’s on my plate for this new day or how busy I know I’ll be, my first priority is always going to be getting ME prepared to take care of my part according to His Will. Isn’t that the way you prioritize your busy life too?

Most people claiming to be Christians today THINK they’re followers of Jesus; but I’m not so sure about that. I’m not questioning their belief system; I have no right to judge at all. But believing in Christ is one thing; being a Follower of His is an entirely different story. While many may have convinced themselves that they are following Him, what they’re really doing is expecting Him to follow them. They call Him Savior, but do they treat Him as King? Do they ever really surrender to His Will or are they too busy holding on to their own? Are they really ready to follow His lead or do they refuse to “let go and let God? Are they ready to obey like a good Servant no-matter-what they’re told to do or where they’re told to go? Hmm…a new perspective for most. THAT’S what a surrendered Life looks like and what it means to be a Follower of the King.

It’s human nature to be inclined to take on the Leadership role in our Faith, and most of us feel better about life when we remind ourselves that He is always there. Some of us will drag Him around through life like our favorite toy and we brag about not going anywhere without Him. We want Jesus right there beside (or behind) us ready to serve our Purpose or to fulfill our will. We may talk a pretty good game about our God, but when it comes down to it; are we truly letting Him lead us OR are we expecting Him to follow and to take care of all of the needs in our lives while He’s at it?

It’s pretty risky to ask God to “use me” because when you do; He’ll start preparing you, and you just never know what He’ll ask you to do or where He’ll tell you to go! Sometimes when He directs us to do something it makes perfect sense in the human mind, and sometimes it appears to make no sense at all from where we sit. If we’re leading the way in our Faith; we’ll never do those things that make no sense to us. We may start praying about it, and some will say “I know what God wants me to do but I’m waiting for Him to work things out”, but then they sit around and wait for things to make sense in the human mind before they’re willing to do what they “know God wants them” to do. These folks aren’t really willing to Follow at all…at least not unless it makes perfect sense in the human mind and unless God provides all the puzzle pieces to snuff out their fear…. the real reason behind why they won’t budge. But we can’t just pray like things depend on God before we act…. we have to WORK like it depends on us! It’s when we Follow His Lead AND work with all of our Strength that amazing things happen in His name!

I’m a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and I’m a Follower of His. Sometimes I let doubt and fear get in the way just like everybody else does and when I do; I’m no longer Following His Lead in my Life at all and that’s when MY will begins to take over. But I’m determined to be a Faithful Follower of His and I’ll let Him do the leading. Because when He leads; miraculous things happen every single time. How about you? Do you SAY you believe but refuse to Follow and are you keeping Jesus in your back pocket like a “good luck charm”? If so, we NEED to talk. I’ll show you in Black & White what it means to be a Follower of His and I’ll reveal to you the beauty behind Surrendering to His WiIl and not your own, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be willing to Follow the King of Kings even when it makes no sense in your human mind at all AND you’ll be soaring in your Walk with Him like never before!

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” Matthew 16:24-25

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. These rockers lined-up are a reminder to me that the porch and the fields will soon be filled with people that are coming from far and wide to visit this old farm. Whether it’s work or it’s play, my Faith is NEVER hidden and it’s when I’m being the boldest for Him that I face the most adversity. I know how this Battle rolls, and I know how easily I could be tempted to throw-in-the-towel in my weakness. So, these days my time with the Living God is more about securing my Armor for the Battle than anything else. I may be a Warrior, but I’m a woman too, and I can be so easy to fall into discouragement. But as long as I do the most important part…as long as I’m spiritually strong..as long as I understand where adversity REALLY comes from; I won’t just endure the battle; I’ll be Victorious instead. Isn’t that the way you deal with battles too?

It amazes me to consider how easy it is for most people to quit at almost anything in life. They’ve somehow convinced themselves that if things were “meant to be” there wouldn’t be any challenges at all. When they hit a little bump in the road in their relationships or in their work, they easily use the bump as a “sign” that it’s time to move on. If they face a huge project and they get hit with challenge after challenge in the midst of it; they’re ready to call-it-a- day as they label the challenges as a “sign” that God must not want them to complete it. If they speak up about Faith and get shot down for it; they convince themselves that God wants them to live Peacefully without offending another, so they muzzle their Words instead of speaking the Truth. These people often take the high road while they watch a loved one fall into destruction of some kind, and they’ll camouflage their lack of courage to endure the biggest Battle under the name of “tough love”. I’m not quite sure how so many people of Faith could possibly convince themselves that life as a Christian is always smooth sailing IF you’re “living right”. There’s no Truth in that at all. In fact, it’s when you’re “living right” that you face the most adversity because when you’re “living right” you are big threat in the Biggest Battle of all.

I’m a Warrior, but I’m a woman too. Some people have a long-distance view of me and my life and they see me as “tough” and “strong” from where they’re sitting. But I’m neither of those things. I’m just as inclined to curl up in a ball and to have a good cry as any other woman ever born…and sometimes I do. I’m a bold Vessel for the King, but I’m human too. Sometimes I want to succumb to my weakness and I want to throw-in-the-towel just like everybody else. If I’m not really careful, I can let fear sneak in and I’m inclined to hide under the bed and away from the world just like so many others. But I understand what’s REALLY behind the Battle I face, and I see the adversity for what it REALLY is. I understand where my Strength REALLY comes from and I know that when I am weak “He is strong”. I know that “His grace is sufficient” for me and I know that He will take me “by the right hand” and Lead me through it all. Most of all I know that because I REALLY live out my Faith for all the world to see; I’ll always be a threat to my enemy and I’ll be doing Battle until I take my last breath. No matter what I face in this journey of mine; I WILL be victorious AS LONG as I do my part by making sure I’m ready 24/7 to do Battle.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God and I took in His Creation with a cup of coffee in hand and a willing heart to learn. I’ll never be old enough or smart enough to stop searching for what God has for me or for ways that I can become more of what He Plans for me to be. A Light in a dark world and a willing vessel is one thing. To have the mind and the heart of a child, excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up” is another. So, I meet with Him with humility and I search His Word with no agenda of my own except to hear what He has for me today and to stay on course with His Plans that were set in place before the foundations of the earth. Isn’t that the way you see your walk too?

The world is filled with lots of “know-it-all’s”, but when it comes to God’s people; there’s no room for that. Some have become Bible scholars and they can point us in the direction of just the right Scripture or application without even thinking about it. The Word of my God is embedded on the hard drive of their mind and they have instant recall at will. But if the Bible scholars aren’t careful, they’ll live life like a walking encyclopedia and the more they rely on their intellectual side, the farther they seem to get from that place of humility and they no longer have the heart of child…eager to learn and excited to spiritually grow up. There are others who seem to be stuck in Bible student mode and they’re in every Bible study they can fit into a busy schedule. The Word of my God is highlighted and tabbed and notes fill up all the empty space on the tattered pages. They have the heart of a child, excited to learn and eager to spiritually grow up, but so often they stay in student mode and they never take the step toward application. There’s always something else to learn before they believe they are strong enough to serve Him. But when we live like “a child” we’re not only excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up”, we’re fearless too. We learn to trust our Father to lead us beyond His Word and into Action so that we can fulfill the Plans He has had for us since before the foundations of the earth.

It takes the heart of a child to follow His Lead even when we’re scared, and it takes the heart of a child to find humility. It takes the heart of a child to be willing to surrender and to be obedient to the Voice of God. It takes the heart of a child to understand that there are consequences for our wrongs that can’t be negotiated or intellectually reasoned through. It takes the heart of a child to understand that we don’t know-it-all and that we never really will on this side of Heaven. It takes the heart of a child to believe that when the Father says something; it’s true and it isn’t questioned. It takes the heart of a child to live outside of fear so that we don’t just read about “how to ride a bike” but we actually get on the bike and we ride. And if fall here and there; that’s okay too, because the falling here and there makes us better and stronger mastering the art of “bike riding”. It takes the heart of a child to cry and to admit that we’re Powerless on our own. It takes the heart of a child to easily extend forgiveness and it takes the heart of a child to love unconditionally. It’s that childlike heart that keeps us in excited to learn and eager to grow-up mode and it’s when we live more like a child and less like a know-it-all we please our Heavenly Father….the one and the only Know-it-All.

I’ve spent years in the Word of my God and it shows. But my head knowledge doesn’t do me a lot of good unless I take it from my head to my heart and apply it to every area of my life. I’m excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up” but in the midst of all of that learning, and all the head knowledge; I strive every day to have (and to keep) the heart of child when it comes to my God. How about you? Are you all puffed up with your head knowledge of the Living God and so busy throwing scripture in the face of every hurting soul that you’ve forgotten how to love unconditionally or to Walk what you Read? If so, reach out to me. It will be my pleasure to point you in the Direction of Truth and Humility, and I’ll show you the way to what our God really wants from His children, and when I’m done with you; you’ll find your own humility and although you will have the Truth embedded in your head to recall whenever you need it, you’ll be living like the Child that you are too.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was away from the farm for just a few nights but it sure feels good to be back on the front porch to meet with the Master at daybreak. Stepping into His presence each morning from this old farm isn’t my habit or my “routine”. It isn’t what I do because it’s what I’m supposed to be doing. It isn’t what I do out of a sense of obligation or legalism. It’s what I do out of love for Him. He’s my Father and I’m His child and there aren’t words to describe the richness that comes to my heart because of our time together. I miss my family and I miss my friends when we’re apart, but nothing compares to how much I miss the Living God when I don’t have my time with Him. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It could be so easy to proclaim that “God is there” and to rest on that assurance for life. He IS always there. He’s a part of everything we are. He’s omnipresent and He’s omnipotent. He’s the Beginning and the End. But even though we acknowledge that “He is always there”, there is no comparison and no replacement for building a relationship with Him with our time and attention. It’s in those quiet times that He shows His love in a more personal way; and it’s in those quiet times that He resonates within the heart. It’s in those quiet times that we hear His voice within the soul and we feel His direction for our Future. It’s in those quiet times that the heart is humbled and the wrongs revealed and it’s in those quiet times that we get them made right with Him. It’s in those quiet times that our wounds are healed and it’s in those times that we learn to forgive. It’s in those quiet times that His Word moves from just being a “good book” to being Words with supernatural Life. It’s in those quiet times that we weep over the condition of our lives or we weep with Joy over our Purpose. It’s in those quiet times that we find our humility and it’s in those times that we’re reminded of His Might. It’s in those quiet times that we find our Peace and our Comfort and our Joy. With that in mind how could we ever neglect to take the time to spend with Him?

It’s that genuine relationship with Him that is lacking that makes people neglect the time to be with Him, and sometimes that failure to put the time into Love can be seen in every area of life. So many people are far too busy to spend time with their children and they pay the price when they’re grown. So many relationships fail because people refuse to spend the time that’s needed to nurture love day after day and year after year. Then there are some that seem to have found the most amazing balance and they are attentive to their mate and attentive to their children and their lives are a mirror image of Ozzie & Harriet; but they just can’t seem to find time to spend with the Living God while they work toward perfection at home. But when life gets a little rocky and things aren’t going well, or when tragedy strikes the family, they all come running to God to fix things. If it wasn’t so sad it would be funny to think about how parents take great offense over being taken for granted by children that refuse to spend time with the family but they keep running back for more of whatever they want when they want it. Why would the Living God be any different when it comes to showing Him Respect and Love by spending time with Him instead of just expecting Him to jump into Heavenly action whenever He’s needed?

I’m settled in at home and I’m back on track with the way I like my mornings to begin…with just me and my God on the front porch of this old farm. I’m comforted and I’m strengthened and I’ve had a Good reminder of how powerless I am without Him in the driver’s seat. The most important time I’ll ever spend in my life is with Him. How about you? Are you so busy running life like a rat running a race that you just don’t have time to meet with Him before you begin your day? If so, reach out to me. I’ll introduce you to the Time Keeper and I’m happy to explain to you why you NEVER seem to have enough time and why your life is lacking Peace, and when I’m done with you; “Rise and Shine” will take on a whole new meaning and you’ll be jumping out of bed to meet with the King of Kings too… and your days will never be the same again because of it.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up with a lot on my mind this morning and I couldn’t get into the presence of the Living God fast enough because of it. All of those thoughts about all of those things whirling around in my mind had the potential to consume my day and cause doubt in my mind if I wasn’t careful. No amount of human intervention can manage all of those things in my mind and no amount of thinking them through will make them any less challenging to bear. But no matter how cluttered up my mind can be with all of those things going on in my life; I know the Living God has control of it all and all I need to do is Trust Him.

Trusting isn’t always easy, especially for those who have been hurt. Add a little sting to life by someone who disappoints us with their words or their behavior and we withdraw in a quick minute. From that point forward we’re happy to remind them over and over again about why they aren’t worthy of our trust, and more often than not; we never extend trust to them again. Instead we hold it reserve for a time when we might have the chance to strike back for all the ways they’ve hurt us. We take “an eye for an eye” to the emotional level until it becomes a cancer of the heart and the soul. It’s not a pretty sight to encounter people with “trust issues”. They can talk until they turn blue about all the things that have been “done to them” and all the reasons the world is not worthy of their trust, and their bitterness shows from the inside out. They’ll fly-off-the-handle at the slightest hint of something that reminds them of a time of “betrayal” and they live life armed and ready to do battle. No kindness or compassion or love can be seen in these people as they fester over the wrongs that others have committed against them refusing to let go. But trusting is a choice and refusing to trust again after we’ve been wronged has more to do about forgiveness than anything else.

It’s ONLY when we can look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to put things like Trust and Forgiveness in perspective. When we look through a Spiritual Set of Eyes we’re able to look at ourselves with 20/20 vision and we can see all of our own Wrongs that have been Forgiven with unconditional Love. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to turn the other cheek and we learn to extend Grace. It when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we realize that the one doing the wrong against us will be reckoned with without any help from us at all,and it’s when we look at things that way; we learn to extend compassion on them. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that understand that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” and we know who the real enemy is AND we realize that if we aren’t Armed and Ready; we have the potential to do the same wrong to another. When we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes it’s not possible to forget about the BIGGEST BETRAYAL of all times. When Jesus was betrayed and sent to die in the most painful and shameful way possible; He found the breath and the strength to say “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we understand that if we fester with unforgiveness in the heart and we refuse to trust because of our pain; it’s not possible to Trust Him or to understand the sacrifice He made for all of those wrongs we’ve committed against Him either. To Forgive and to Trust is a choice.

I had some things whirling around in my head this morning and my thoughts were as scattered as the hay in the field. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that all of those thoughts were a sign of my lack of Trust in the Living God and after a little time in the Spiritual Woodshed; I’m looking at Life with a Spiritual Set of Eyes all over again. How about you? Do you REFUSE to extend trust and forgiveness and do you live your life like you’re the one in charge of Balancing the Scales for all those Wrongs? If so, reach out to me. I’ll sit you down and explain what Forgiveness really looks like and I’ll explain the consequences of refusing to Trust, and when I’m done with you; Grace will be your middle name and you’ll be turning the other cheek every chance you get too!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I headed out to the front porch in the wee hours of this new day with my coffee in hand… determined to find some answers I’ve been looking for. I poured out my heart to the Living God and I shed a few tears. I turned to my Instruction Manual and I dug for Truth. And then I repeated the process all over again. I’ll bet the Living God smiles sometimes when we determine to make sense of Life from our viewpoint and not His own. I didn’t find my answers this morning, but I found my Peace instead, and it’s that Peace that sees me through even when I don’t have the Answers. Passing through this Life with head knowledge doesn’t get us very far at all. It’s the passing through this Life with Heart knowledge that matters the most. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

If there is one thing I’ve learned in this Life-of-mine, it’s that when the heart is where it’s supposed to be; the rest of me will follow. If my heart is kind and compassionate, you won’t have to utter a word and I’ll be able to feel your pain. If my heart is calm and ready, you won’t have to say a thing and I will be able to sense your fear. If my heart is humble and selfless, you won’t have to tell me about your needs, I’ll be too busy filling them before you can. If my heart is filled with gratitude, you won’t have to worry about me passing judgment on you no matter what’s going on in your life. If my heart is patient, you can count on me to be there to help you work your way through….over and over again. If my heart is readied with wisdom, you won’t have to ask twice and I’ll have the Words that you need to help you find your way. If my heart is filled with Joy, you won’t stand a chance holding on to bitterness or a bad mood in my presence. When my heart is readied by the King; I’m equipped to Serve anybody, anytime and anywhere. I don’t need to have the answers and I don’t need to be “better” at anything before I go to work to serve Him. My Heart is the only part of me that He can use….so the condition of my Heart gets the most time and attention from me.

It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their head Knowledge than they are on the Heart. They can put the best-of-us to shame as they quote Scripture upon Scripture on-demand for any circumstance, and they’re always ready to remind the world that those Words are what we need. But if they rely on head knowledge of the Word and they don’t have a Heart like Christ; they can’t be used by the King at all. God doesn’t need us to recite His Word…He needs us to LIVE it. It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their “reservation” for Heaven than they are on the lost people around them, as if to send a message that if they were smart enough to “get it”, then it’s not their problem if others don’t as well. But if they rest on the Promises of Heaven and don’t do their part to get as many “travel partners” as they can; they can’t be used by the King at all. It’s easy to spot Christians who are filled with arrogance and judgment as if they’ve been assigned the Judgment Seat right here on earth. Somehow they’ve forgotten that Christ died for them too and that without Him they’d be a pitiful (and eternal) mess, and yet; they lack compassion and they never seem to grow tired of judging others. All of these outward signs are a SURE sign that the Heart is not in the condition that it’s supposed to be in.. that is, IF being a Light in this dark world and a Vessel worthy to be used by the King matters to them at all. The Heart is the only part of us that He can use.

I may have begun this new day determined to find some answers but I was “put in my Place” by the One who matters the most, and NOW my Heart is ready for Service. Instead of looking for answers for things I’ll probably never understand, I’ve set aside my need for head-knowledge and I’m focusing on my Heart instead. How about you? Do you spend your time doing nothing because you don’t have all of the answers you THINK you need in order for you to move forward for Him, and is your Heart your LEAST priority because of it? IF so, REACH OUT TO ME. I’ll be happy to sit you down and introduce you to the finest Heart Expert the world has ever known, and I’ll show you the way to your REAL Role Model, and it won’t be long before you see that the HEART is the ONLY part of you that He can use. And while I’m at it, I’m happy to remind you that it took a WHOLE LOT OF HEART to be willing to die for you and for me, and when I’m done with you; you’ll become a LOT more serious about the ONLY part of you that He can use too!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It didn’t take much to put a smile on my face this morning as I watched the Master turn on the lights to this glorious new day. I may enjoy a little adventure in life here and there, but I love some of the routine as well; and the routine of stepping out into the world each new day from an old farmhouse filled with the aroma of fresh coffee is just about as good as it gets to me. For as long as I live I will never take for granted the blessing of each new day or the simple pleasures of the world around me. Isn’t that the way you look at life too?

It could be so easy for any of us to wake to a new day without a single thought about the blessing of still having days to wake up to. Some people roll out of bed and the first thought on their mind are the aches and pains that go along with rising. Some people wake up with hunger in their belly and the first thought is what they will eat for breakfast. Some people wake up and they are so far away from appreciating the solitude that is there to savor in the morning but they turn on the TV just minutes after their eyes open to catch up on the tragedies of the world. Some people wake up with a mind full of all of all kinds of things that need to be done on that particular day as if the computer of their mind never shut off during the night. Some people wake up mad and some people wake up scared and some people wake up worried and some people wake up lonely. All of these things are signs of the tendency to put ourselves first and foremost at the beginning of each new day, and when that’s what we do; we fail to be grateful for a new day to live…challenges and all.

Little do any of these people know that the Joy and the Peace they see in the Life of another has nothing to do with a perfect day or a perfect life without struggles. The Joy and the Peace that they see has nothing to do with God showing more favor on one life over another….although they’re quick to point out how YOUR life isn’t like THEIR life as they attempt to justify their attitude about where they are (or where they aren’t) in life. The Joy and the Peace is not a sign that nothing “bad” happens in their lives or that they couldn’t easily be inclined to focus on the aches and the pains and the trials too. The Joy and the Peace shows up no matter the circumstances when they turn to the Source of Life…to the One gracious enough to give them one more day to live and to the One who has Plans and a Purpose for each one of them…to the One who knit them together in their mother’s womb…to the One who holds their hand EVERY TIME they reach out for His, to the One who has the entire world in the palm of His Hands, to the One who is big enough and Powerful enough to handle any problem and any emotion IF they’ll just turn to Him…especially at the beginning of each new day. And WHEN they do: they’ll find Joy and Peace no matter what’s going on in their lives too.

I’m going through a few bumps in life right now and I could easily give time and energy to these things at the beginning of each new day…but I know better. I want Joy and Peace and strength for it all and I know that it all begins with me and my willingness to begin the day with the King of Kings. How about you? Do you tell yourself that you don’t have time for this “nonsense” because your life is full of turmoil and your day is too busy for God? If so, PM me. I’ll set you straight on how little you have to do with the outcome of anything you’re dealing with and I’ll point you in the direction of Peace that you can have through it all, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be rolling out of bed and running to spend your time with the Living God too, and before you know it you’ll have “Peace that surpasses all understanding” no matter what just like I do!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was cool and gray at daybreak, but the sun has broken through the clouds and it’s destined to be a beautiful day. As I met with the Living God from the front porch this morning, I considered how He takes those things that are seemingly “broken” and He transforms them into something beautiful that He can use for His glory…and so it is with my life. I’ve been just about as broken as any human can be, and I’ve walked through adversity that most can’t imagine. But because my focus has been more on what He was doing in my life than on my seemingly disastrous circumstances; He has transformed my life into something beautiful and now I can be used by the King. Isn’t that the way you look at your brokenness too?

It gets a little old hearing people say “I don’t know what God wants for my Life” or “I don’t know why I’m in this mess” or “I don’t have anything to offer God like you do”. It’s those people more focused on the “what’s and the why’s” that never seem to break through the brokenness at all. They want answers before they’ll make an effort or take a step and they’re more focused on themselves and their circumstances than they are on the King of Kings. They see themselves as broken and useless and as long as they believe that they are; they are. It’s not until we see (and sincerely Believe) that God has a Plan for every single life He creates and that He has a Purpose in ALL circumstances,that we begin to focus less on our brokenness and more on Him. It’s the Belief in these things that gives us Strength and Hope and it’s Understanding that we are a Child of the Living God that gives us 20/20 vision from His Perspective. It’s understanding that HE ALWAYS uses broken people because the transition from the brokenness to being a Vessel for Him ALWAYS brings Him glory. And it’s those broken people that will eventually shout from the mountaintops about what an Amazing God we serve…and He Knows it. There is more beauty in brokenness than any of these pour souls can imagine and until they “get it”; they’ll remain broken and useless to the King.

I don’t want to roll back the clock of my life for even one second and I refuse to fall into the trap of “regrets”. I am precisely where He wants me to be in this Life, I’m laser focused on Him and I’m eager to do His Will. I may not sign-up to repeat the cycles of brokenness all over again, but I sure am grateful for it all. Sure, there are plenty of things that I regret and plenty of mistakes I’ve made along the way, and I’m sure that there will be more before I take my last breath. But living out my Faith doesn’t mean that I’m perfect; it means that I’m Forgiven and Living for the King doesn’t mean that I won’t stumble every once in a while; it means that I won’t fall…that I’ll continue to get back up…that I’ll continue to seek His Will and His Purpose in it all and that I’ll love Him with everything I’ve got all the days of my Life. There is no secret to surviving the brokenness and there isn’t a recipe for the Peace that I have. It’s all about putting Life in Perspective and putting Him first… no matter what. It’s ditching the need to understand the “what’s and the why’s” and it’s turning the focus away from Self and to the King instead. It’s being willing to live for Him and to give Him thanks no matter what a pitiful mess you life looks like today. And IF…and ONLY IF… you surrender it all to Him, He’ll transform your brokenness into something so beautiful (and useful) that you’ll be shouting from the mountain tops and giving Glory to Him through it all too.

God ALWAYS uses broken people. Will you let Him use you? PM me if you want to understand more about my God and if you’re ready to LIVE FOR HIM instead of living for yourself!