Complacency Has No Place in the Kingdom

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I love beginning a new day outside on the porch because God always has a surprise for me. This morning, it was these twins that felt safe enough to approach the front porch the same way I feel safe enough to approach the Throne of the God of all Creation. Looking out across the fields, I thought about how even though they change with the seasons and they’re graced with something “new” each day, the fields are still the fields. I know what things will look like from the front porch in each season, but there’s always something…some sort of God surprise that makes each day a little different than all the others. God used this simple observation to remind me to look below the surface of the fields of this crazy world of ours…one that is changing for the worse at lightning speed…not just for the Wisdom to see things the way He sees them, but to clarify my Marching Orders to do His Will before it’s too late. A New Day is coming soon, and it’s the Season to share the Good News like never before. Mine is a Voice to be heard. Is yours?

It’s amazing how most people think the world has changed abruptly, but the world has been spiraling downward for a very long time. Plenty of people blame the changes on politicians or other people in “power”, but politics and powerful people are just the distraction our adversary uses to win. Because we’re distracted and deceived, things just keep spiraling down. Over fifty years ago, we gave the green light to murder babies in the womb – one of the most savage acts in the history of the world. The mere thought of killing babies in the womb should have driven every Christian in America to the streets in protest…but the church slept instead. Today, we’re standing by as innocent children are being sexually mutilated in an attempt to change their birth gender…but that’s not possible, and God makes no mistakes. This kind of perverse abuse of a child should have sent every (sanctity of life) Christian in America to the streets in protest a LONG time ago…but the church slept instead. It’s been over fifty years since prayer in schools was labeled “unconstitutional” in the “One Nation under God”. That should have been enough to drive every Christian in America to the streets to defend our God and our rights…but the church slept instead. Sexual immorality and perversion have become the norm, and we’ve surrendered to “accepting” unspeakable things…things considered to be vile in the eyes of God. Just the hint of legal measures being put in place to protect the rights of things that mock the Hand of the Creator should have driven every Christian in America to the streets in protest to defend what we know is Truth….but the church slept instead. America isn’t the problem…the Church is the “problem” as it sleeps away these last days and refuses to stand up for Truth…despite the cost.

The Bible warns us about the condition of the Church in the book of Revelation. The church of Ephesus had lost its first love – God was no longer front and center. The church of Pergamos was a compromising church; doctrine was twisted to fit their own desires. The church of Thyatira was an adulterous church – immorality was perfectly acceptable to them. The church of Sardis was the dead church. The church of Laodicea was lukewarm…they were neither hot nor cold…so God said, “I’m about to spit you out of my mouth” – they were financially wealthy but spiritually deprived. If you look closely, you’ll find these flaws in the Church today in one degree or another, and if you look closely at the condition of our world, you’ll see that the problem isn’t with this dark world; the problem is that the Church is asleep. As long as God’s people insist on riding things out from their spiritual recliners, you can’t expect God to “heal” our land.

Many professed Christians lean on 2 Chronicles 7:14 for their hope – “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land….but it ALL begins with humility. The kind of humility that seeks the Truth. The kind of Humility that accepts responsibility. The kind of humility it takes to repent of our own “wicked ways” instead of spending our time highlighting the wicked ways of the world. We’ll know when Humility has hit God’s people when they stop blaming the world and everything in it for our problems, and they begin to Repent for what they did and didn’t do that got us here. It’s time to stop quoting the Scripture of hope and to start living it out instead. Just sayin’.

I spent my time in the Presence of the Most High God this morning, and I’ve been Strengthened and Readied for His Work. I’m a Voice for the Living God, and I don’t think He’ll be silencing me any time soon because my Heart desires to Please Him. My Instructions (and yours) have been clearly defined and written in black and white. I have my Marching Orders, and my Purpose has been Defined by the Hand of God. The King is coming, and this dark world needs the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ more than ever. My tongue praises Him, so I’m not going to “curse” others made in His image. I have ONE ENEMY behind ALL the mess, and I fight him with Spiritual Weapons and not insults. When I speak the name of Jesus…and I do it often…I am empowered and protected. When I speak His name, every demon in Hell knows where I stand, and they know that they have absolutely no power over me. You won’t find me sleeping, I’ve got too much Work to do! You won’t find me settling because I serve a God that doesn’t Compromise Truth. You won’t find me afraid of this world because my God HAS NOT given me a spirit of fear. You won’t watch me weaken because “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.” I was born for such a time as this, and I’m Readied for battle each time I Meet with my Master.

I’m a Voice to be heard, a Spiritual force to be reckoned with, I’m a Willing Vessel and an Ambassador for Jesus Christ.

How about you?

The Most Significant Thing…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My first thought when I opened my eyes this morning was of the Living God – because He’s my first Biggest Priority in this Journey called Life. He’s the Author and Perfector of my Faith. He’s the CEO of my Life, and His Word is my Instruction Manual. The Holy Spirit is my Guide. Considering all that He is to me, is it any wonder that I cannot wait to enter into His presence each morning? Time with the God of all Creation is the most Significant thing I’ll do today, and it will set the Course for the Purpose of this new day. Being willing to spend time with Jesus shows Him just how much I Love Him. It’s not possible to feel “small” or “insignificant” when we are “still” before the Most High God and when we are “still it doesn’t take long to begin Praising the One Who Created me for His Purpose…the One Who Calls me by name! Hallelujah! Just like everybody else in the world, there are plenty of other things I could choose to be doing in the early hours of any new day, but NOTHING compares to being in His Presence. His Word says to “be still and know that I am God,” and it’s that “still” part that feeds my soul the most. It’s when we’re “still” that He can drive a Message home, and it’s when we’re “still” that He can Speak directly to the Heart of His people with no outward distractions at all. So, “still” I am, day after day. Isn’t that the way you Prioritize your Life, too?

It’s interesting to hear how some people define their “quiet time” with God. Some people have a Bible reading plan to help them stay on track to read the entire Bible in a year, and they never venture off track on their own. Some people put on Christian music while they prepare breakfast for the family, and somehow, in the middle of morning chaos, they believe they’ve had quiet time with the King. Some people read a page or two from a devotional and call it a day. Some people dedicate time to homework for a Bible study they’ve committed to, and they label that as “quiet time” instead of extra credit. Some people read a chapter or two from a book written by a Christian author, and that becomes “quiet time” for them. Some tune into a sermon on TV or on the Internet, and they’ve sold themselves on the quality of their quiet time from their recliner. Some people multitask by listening to a spiritual message while they work out at the gym or take an early morning walk or run, and some pray on their way through rush hour. There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of these things because each one is an effort to fill the mind and the soul with Good things. BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS can be defined as “quiet time,” and none of them leave room to “be still” before the Living God. None of them make room for those miraculous moments when God unexpectedly “shows up” in the quiet. Although God is always with us, and I’m sure He likes some of those attempts we take to fill our world with Him, I believe He likes it best when everything else in the world is set aside and tuned out and He gets some SERIOUS one-on-one time with His child in the quiet. Why would the God of all Creation be “content” with taking the backseat in our lives?

I’m just an average woman with an above-average Faith in the Living God, and the Priorities in my very busy Life are in order. He’s my FIRST priority, and it shows in all that I am and all that I do! It’s because of Him that I know how to Love others. It’s because of Him that my Faith is Unshakable. It’s because of Him that I Persevere no matter what. It’s because of Him that I hurt for the Lost ones, and I do my part to “save” them. It’s because of Him that I have a Future laid out for me that is more beautiful than the mind can imagine – a place where there is no more sickness, sadness, or pain. With all that said, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I NOT make time to sit in silence before the Throne of a Mighty God?

There is no doubt about Who my Heart belongs to, and there’s no competing with my time because my world Knows that He always comes first. I always have a mile-long list of things to do, and I’m (at least) as busy as the next guy, BUT before I get busy on any new day, I get “still” in His Presence, and in those “still” moments the world isn’t even a blip on my radar screen. He gets the One-on-one time that He tells me I need to live the Life He Created me to Live.

The King of all kings WANTS to spend time with His child, and there is no greater Joy in my Life because of it. I’m being still!

How about you?

Don’t Get Lost in the Fog! Focus on the East!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Things cooled down a little overnight, and when the cool air met with the warm earth, the fog began to roll in. One minute, I could see the trees off in the distance, and the next minute, they were masked in fog. I didn’t just watch the fog roll in at sunrise, I could feel the heaviness in the air too! The longer I sat there observing the fog, the more it reminded me of what it feels like to navigate through this dark world at such a time as this. One minute you can see things so clearly, and the next minute life is “masked” by oppression that is so dark and so thick you could almost cut it with a knife. As a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I don’t focus on the fog – I don’t fret over what’s masked – and I sure don’t scramble around in the “dark” or blame the politicians for the Spiritual state we’re in. I am certain of what we’re up against and I am Confident in how the Story ends, so I focus on the Eastern sky – rain or shine, fog or clear – because that’s the Direction Jesus will come Calling from for me One Day. The Time is near, and I have just a few goals as I live out these perilous times on earth. First, to be sure that I’m READY to meet my Maker, AND next I need to be sure to Help get as many souls as I possibly can Prepare to meet Him One Day too! Despite the insults thrown around the world right now, despite what you think someone deserves (or not), the King doesn’t want anyone to perish…although sadly, many of them will. There’s no time to linger in the fog when there’s Kingdom Work to do! Isn’t that the way you see these last days too?

The Bible says that in Hell there will be eternal “weeping and gnashing of teeth” for those who don’t believe – imagine that – torment with no ability to find rest or peace ever again. I’m sure it’s much worse than anything we can imagine, but I think we’re getting a small glimpse of Hell today. There is no rest in our world. There’s no end to the “gnashing of teeth” as the battle over “good and evil” goes on. There’s no end to the shaking of fists in anger. There’s no end to the violence. There’s no end to the lies. There’s no end to the immoral acts. There’s no end to the tactics some use to be heard. There’s no end to the greed. There’s no end to the selfishness. There’s no end to the violence. There’s no end to the harm that’s being done to “these little ones.” There’s no end to so many things that can discourage the Heart because of this small glimpse of Hell we’re seeing today, as the battle between “good and evil” goes on right before our very eyes. BUT I know the rest of the story. I Know that the Devil hasn’t been unleashed yet and that the Light of the world is the only thing holding him back. We need more Warriors – we need more Light and Salt in the world! Fortunately, I KNOW Who Wins and I Know how the story ends…and it ends well for those who have Surrendered to Jesus. Until then, I’m doing my own kind of fighting to share the Good News with this dark world so that the glimpse of Hell doesn’t become an eternal reality for them. This is the Key to living out our Great Commission…before it’s too late. This is the Key to being found worthy by the King!

The Bible says that “no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him,” and I’m looking forward to Heaven. I’m going to that Place where there’s no more sadness or sickness – a place where there are no more tears….EVER. A place where “evil” doesn’t exist, and Peace is Everlasting. Though I can’t imagine it, I long for it, and I want everybody else to long for it too! I am confident that “greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world,” so I’m Living out my Faith with boldness. I refuse to take part in debates over meaningless things that make no difference in the Bigger Picture of eternity. Instead, my Light will be shining brighter than it ever has before in the middle of a dark world getting foggier every day. I KNOW Who wins…and I’m on the Winners Team, so I can’t partake in that “glimpse of Hell” – I can only outshine it with Him – and FOR Him. Darkness can’t exist in the Light, and I know that if more people Believed in my God the way I Believe in my God they’d be shining their Light in this dark world too…instead of partaking in the war against “good and evil” on earth – so, I’ll be busy trying to (re)ignite their Faith while I’m at it. I’m looking East and I’m longing for Heaven. This is the Key to walking through the Journey of Faith with Peace in ALL circumstances. When I have Heaven on the horizon, why in the world would I focus on the fog?

There’s so much going on in the foggy world, but you could never prove it by the Peace I have within me. To some, it looks hopeless on the outside, but it’s not hopeless at all! To some, the main goal is to save the most amazing country in the world – to me, it’s to save the Heart of the Lost. Ready or not, the King is Coming, and when He does, believe it or not, EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! I mourn for the ones who aren’t ready to meet Him. Yes, even the crazy ones who have taken to our streets to “rob, kill, and destroy”. Hmm…looks like their “agenda” is the same as the Devil’s, and there is only One Way to fight him and win! To be Ready for the journey through the fog, we need to be sure that we are Strengthened for Spiritual battle every single day, and we need to focus more on the Eastern sky where the King will appear than on the condition of the dark world or the latest word on politics. Those things are just a distraction the enemy uses to keep us in the fog! It doesn’t work on me – will you let his tactics continue to work on you?

I’m busier than I’ve ever been in my Life Serving the King, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can easily cut through the fog with the Word of God, and I Receive my Direction from the Holy Spirit. He’s my Strength. He’s my Shield. He’s my Deliverer. I’m looking to the East with great anticipation! Fog? What fog?

How about you?

Thanks for the Journey…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Every morning as I meet with the Living God from the front porch I have plenty of things to give thanks for – another day to Serve…a farm to steward…an amazing tribe from top to bottom…a life overflowing with friends…a strong and healthy body…and (especially today) for a father who taught me how to savor a sunrise and what it looks like to love unconditionally. It’s my Dad’s birthday today, and I’m missing him a little more than I usually do. I don’t focus on when he died – or how he died – I focus on when he was born and how he lived instead. The legacy should never get lost over time. So today, I’m giving extra thanks to my God for choosing “O’Neal” to be my Dad, and I thank Him even more that I am absolutely, positively sure there IS a Heavenly Reunion coming one day soon. Isn’t it how you think of your loved ones, too?

I could make a list that would wrap around Virginia a few times about the drama surrounding my childhood. I could blame all my bad decisions and all the trials of life on how I was raised. I could talk until I turn blue about what it was like to be abandoned over and over again by a Dad who was a runaway alcoholic. I could make a grown man cry to hear what it felt like to be shuffled from house to house more times than I can count, and how uncertainty was part of daily life throughout my childhood. But it’s when we know that we know that God Handpicked our parents before the foundations of the earth for a PURPOSE much greater than ourselves, that we Learn to Trust that all things REALLY do work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose. I am certain that all the uncertainty and heartbreak brought on by a man consumed by his addiction (and overwhelmed with remorse each time he stumbled) had a Big Purpose. It didn’t define me or my life, and it sure didn’t make me weak – it made me strong instead. It taught me to love unconditionally. It taught me to be compassionate toward the “weaker ones,” and it taught me not to judge the man (or woman) based upon their mess. It made me loving and kind. It taught me how to forgive over and over again, and it prepared me to put the needs of others before my own. When I think about my Daddy on his earthly birthday, I give thanks for the ENTIRE journey and how his heart for me was so much bigger than his battles…and I look forward to our Eternity together. He knew how to laugh. He knew how to love. He knew how to talk for hours with his little girl and make her feel like the most important person on the planet in the process. The beautiful side of my childhood prevails every time BECAUSE I trust in the Purpose and I “consider it pure joy”.

I wouldn’t wish my Daddy back to this life for anything in the world because I know he’s found his Forever Home and he’ll be waiting for me to join him one day. Things on this earth don’t matter anymore, and there’s no more uncertainty for either of us. Through his weakness, I became strong…through his love, I learned to love unconditionally… and through His character, mine was refined. His journey prepared me for mine! How could I possibly have regrets when all the pieces have been threaded into Good just like God says it will be? The “bad times” will NEVER out-shadow the good times, and my Daddy’s legacy will NEVER be lost in the process.

Happy birthday, Daddy!

 James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

From Black & White to Living Color…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning started out a little slow for me, and it was as if I woke up in a fog. Not feeling bad and not feeling good. Not feeling happy and not feeling sad. Not feeling energetic and not feeling weak. It was as if I had little feeling for this new day at all as I made my way to the front porch for coffee. My time this morning began more out of routine than out of eagerness, and I had no expectations because of it. But when I saw the morning God had unfolded today, off to the Throne I went with not much of me to give, and before you know it, I came Alive from the inside out. This New Day went from black and white to Living color before I could say “amen!” If I do my part even when I “don’t feel like it,” He always does His Part. Isn’t that the way that it is with you?

It’s easy to treat the Living God just like everybody else if we aren’t careful. Out of sight…out of mind. When we don’t feel like talking, we refuse to answer the door or pick up the phone. If the plans aren’t thrilling, we go begrudgingly, and we’ll even complain to the one who convinced us to participate in the first place. When the conversation is entertaining, we’re all in, and if it’s not, we tune it out or we walk away. We only want the “good” things and the good times in life, and we kick and stomp like a 2-year-old over the “bad” things and the bad times, and we rarely see the Purpose in it all. We’re stuck in “if it feels good, do it” mode, and we have a need to be entertained around the clock…even when it comes to the Living God. If things are going well, we’ll thank Him. When things aren’t going well, we’ll appeal to Him. But when things seem to be coasting along and we’re walking through the fog, we live like we have no need for Him at all. It’s in that numb place that we need Him the most…ESPECIALLY when “we don’t feel like it”. When we’re in the fog, we’re the most vulnerable, and when we’re feeling numb, we are the weakest. It’s when we meet with the Master of the Universe, even when we “don’t feel like it”, that He shows up in Living Color and He’ll Refresh and Revive the soul in a quick minute. He’s the lifter of the fog and the “lifter of my head” and He says “When you are weak; I am strong” and “My Power is made perfect in weakness”….BUT unless we do our part – unless we seek His Face – unless we Thirst for Him – He can’t do His. Meeting with Him even when we “don’t feel like it” is one of the truest signs of our Devotion to Him, and it leads to some of the most amazing God moments…if we don’t treat Living God just like everybody else, that is.

It’s fascinating when you think about it. Most of us so easily serve our loved ones day after day, even when we don’t feel like it. We get up early in the morning to prepare breakfast and to send the kids off to school, even when we don’t feel like it. We head out to work to earn our living so that we can feed the family we love, even if we don’t feel like it. We’ll go shopping or to a particular restaurant or to see a movie we don’t care to see just to please the one we love, even when we don’t feel like it. There seems to be no end to what we’ll do (even when we don’t feel like it) for the people we love the most in this life. But meeting with the Living God, even when “we don’t feel like it,” is an entirely different story for most people. He gets set aside UNLESS things are really, really good or when things are really, really bad. Outside of that…We put Him on a shelf right along with a dusty Bible until we feel like spending time with Him again. He’s the MOST High and the MOST deserving of our time and our attention, but instead of giving Him our time and our attention day after day, even when we “don’t feel like it…we set Him aside until we need Him again. Just because the Living God is out of your sight and out of your mind, don’t fool yourself into believing that He’s okay with that. He’s a forgiving God, and although He’s already paid the Price for all of your sins, no matter what you do, He’s your Father and He wants your time and your attention ESPECIALLY when you don’t feel like it. He wants you to be AT LEAST as devoted to Him as you are to the rest of your world. This is the key to a rich Walk with Him.

I was in a bit of a fog and a little numb when I first faced this new day, but it’s an entirely different story now after my time with the Lord of my Life. I met with Him with no excitement, no expectations, and not much feeling at all, and He turned my Heart around, lifted the fog, and just like that, my “view” went from black and white to Living color. He “put a new song of Praise on my lips” and NOW I’m armed and ready for whatever this new day brings.

How about you?

When Brokenness Transforms Into Testimony…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I approached the Throne of the Living God to offer my Praise, my thanks, and to make my requests known, I began to weep over where I’ve been and where I am today. I thought about the brokenness that has washed over my Life and I saw a clear Picture of how that brokenness shaped me for my Service to Him today. When God Decides to do a deeper Work in our Lives, Brokenness is always part of the Process, so He’ll bring Circumstances to drive us to our knees. BUT God doesn’t force us to a place of Brokenness…and we can’t force our way there on our own…we CHOOSE to Surrender to it instead. What an Amazing God I serve who Loves me enough to Grow me to a place where I can see the Power behind the Brokenness. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

It’s mind-boggling to consider the brokenness people go through without ever reaching that point of Surrendering to Him by choice. Oh, plenty of people will Proclaim that God saw them through a tough time – or that He was always there – but very few ever PROCLAIM that they reached the absolute end of themselves and that they willingly Surrendered to the God of all Creation for a Purpose much greater than themselves. We’re more inclined to brag about being “survivors” instead of Proclaimers of Victory…because of the Brokenness, NOT despite it. Paul had to be led to Brokenness on the road to Damascus…that place where we stop excusing or rationalizing…that place where we KNOW He is EVERYTHING and we Surrender our all to Him. Joseph had to be taken to that place when He was thrown into a pit and left to die. Jacob had to be taken to Brokenness when He left his homeland a destitute and needy man. Every single beautiful Vessel we read about in His Word – every beautiful Vessel we’re fortunate enough to meet in this Journey of Life, has reached the place of Brokenness, and they CHOSE to Surrender. This is where Powerful Testimonies and rich Work for the Lord are found.

If I had to guess the reason WHY so many people have been led to Brokenness and yet REFUSE to be Broken for the Lord, I’d say it’s P R I D E. We would rather take credit for how strong we are than take credit for how Broken we have become in the Process. We’d rather hold onto the reins as we desperately try to control our lives than to drop those reins in the dust and Confess that we are absolutely Powerless without Him. We’d rather tell Him what we want the future to look like than to “blindly” Trust Him with it…and to be Excited without even knowing the Details. We’d rather move on from the Brokenness and live as if it never happened than to shout from the Mountaintops about the God who loves us enough to Break us. Brokenness is how He Builds His Vessels – but His people ALWAYS choose to be broken OR they blow it off as merely a “tough time.” Brokenness is where Powerful Testimonies are threaded together in His Name. Brokenness is where Strong Vessels are shaped and ministries are born. The Greatest Work of our Lord comes through His people WILLING to be Broken and then built back into something Beautiful. This is the Key to being Refined for the King, and yet, P R I D E keeps so many people from shamelessly sharing the Work of the Lord in their lives.

I wouldn’t trade the Brokenness experience in my Journey for anything in the world, and I’m glad I Surrendered my all to Him. When I share pieces of my life…and it’s been a wild one…sometimes people are shocked that I share without shame as if it has no Purpose now that it’s in the past. But Jesus paid the Price for my sin and my shame, so why would I still be carrying it around? Jesus Christ allowed me to be Broken to Glorify Himself! He Knew before the foundations of the earth that One Day I would crawl out of the valley and climb to the mountaintop to PRAISE HIS Holy Name to the world. Pride went out the window a long time ago when I made the choice to be Broken so that I could be Built back up into a Usable Vessel for the Lord Jesus Christ. I KNOW that there is “no good thing in me apart from Him,” and I KNOW that I am absolutely Powerless on my own. Freedom, Love, Joy, Peace, Strength, and Victory are ALL the result of having been taken to the breaking point and CHOOSING to be Broken.

What about you?

I Have High Expectations! Do you?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped out onto the front porch to enjoy a hot cup of coffee with a Heart filled with Gratitude and High Expectations about this new day with the Living God. This isn’t just any old day – it’s a New Day of a new week – and I’m not just any old Servant – I’m a Willing one with High Expectations about the Journey. My God has no boundaries, and it shows in my Life as He continues to use me in ways I could never have imagined could be possible…IF I look at my Life with my mind instead of my Heart, that is. As I stumble through the Journey called Life – as I fall down and get back up time and time again, I KNOW HE KNOWS my Heart for Him and I KNOW He’ll use me all the days of my Life because I Love Him. I am a Willing Vessel with High Expectations about doing the work of my God. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey, too?

These days, it seems to be so easy for people to lose hope in the face of adversity, but that’s because they don’t have High Expectations for the Journey of Life. Sometimes we focus on the surface of Life that can often resemble a train wreck with a million broken pieces – but that doesn’t slow down the God of no Boundaries, and He’ll always work it for Good IF we let Him. When we have High Expectations about the Work of His Hands, we Understand that there is always something Beautiful going on behind the scenes, and we look through the RUBBLE for the RUBIES every time. When we have High Expectations about His Purpose for us, we don’t allow ourselves to think that things are impossible, because we Know that ALL THINGS are possible with Him, so we Celebrate the Victory long before we see it. When we have High Expectations, we’re quick to hit our knees to ask for Forgiveness because how He sees us is FAR more important than how the world does. We Understand the importance of getting rid of anything in the Heart that has the potential to damage our Relationship with the King of all kings, and that if we want to be found Worthy to be used by the King, Humility is a Key Characteristic. With High Expectations, we don’t put God in a box and we NEVER quit believing in Miracles.

I don’t know ALL the ways my Redeemer will be using me here on this earth until He calls me Home – all I Know is how He’s using me right NOW. I’m an “alien in a foreign land”, and I’m here on Temporary Assignment on behalf of the King. I have High Expectations because I’m a Willing Vessel (with limited time) and I’m Ready to go where He tells me to go, and do what He tells me to do. I won’t be afraid, and I’ll never feel inadequate, no matter what He Calls me to do – not because I’m confident or capable – but because I have High Expectations for the Journey and I’ve already been Tenderized for the Job. I found the RUBIES in the RUBBLE, and it shows in my Life. I’m “pressing on” and I’m running “in such a way as to get the prize!” just like Paul did. When I receive my crown (reward) for what I’ve done in His Name during my time here on earth, I’ll be tossing it at His feet as fast as I can because it’s my HONOR to Serve Him and NONE of it would be possible without Him. What I do for Jesus Christ can’t be measured by human standards, and my Rewards won’t be seen on this side of Heaven. What I do for Him is done out of Love…and it’s that Love that keeps me going with High Expectations.

How about you? Do YOU have High Expectations for your Journey?

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Gratitude in the Simple Things…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My porch time has been cut short lately because of the heat wave, and I’ve been hungering for my early morning Meeting with the King of all kings outside. A thunderstorm passed through last night, bringing cooler temperatures, so this morning, I crawled out of bed as the sun was rising, and when I stepped outside and onto the porch, it was as if I was seeing it for the very first time. That’s what Gratitude looks like. No matter where I go or what I see in this journey called Life, nothing beats time with just me and my God at sunrise from this front porch. It’s there where I find my Solitude and my Peace. It’s there where I Receive my Greatest Lessons. It’s there where I bask in His glory. It’s there where I shed my tears. It’s there where I reckon my wrongs. It’s there where I sing praises to Him. A front porch…a beautiful sunrise…a willing woman…and a Mighty God – could there be a more perfect combination? Sometimes it’s the simplest things that have the utmost impact on me. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

There is so much to see and so much to do in this journey through life, and sometimes people have wondered why I don’t see and do more. I’m adventurous…I’m inquisitive…and I love to learn and love. But of all the things I’ve seen and all the places I’ve gone, the simple things bring me the most pleasure in life. I can be more entertained by sharing a cup of coffee on the porch with a friend or ministering to a suffering soul than I could ever be by visiting any other place in the entire world. I’d much rather look into a set of eyes than see any other sight there is to see. I’d rather tune in to the voice of someone I love (or of someone God sends my way to love) than hear any concert by any artist in the world. I’d rather belly laugh on the front porch with my family or friends than visit any comedy club on the planet. I’d rather wipe away the salty tears of someone else than tip my toes in the salt water of any of the oceans in the world. I’d rather discuss History from the point of Creation and ponder my God than visit any museum of history or art or any place else in the world. My Life isn’t as simple as it is Rich, and from where I sit, everything is beautiful to me because I savor this Journey of Life. BUT my Joy could leave as quickly as it came, IF ever I allow my life to become dull.

I’m not exactly sure how this new day will unfold, but I won’t be idle, and it won’t be “boring.” One thing I DO know for sure is that my day will be Shared with others…some of them my family, and some of them my friends, and some of them I’ll see for the very first time, and that each one will be certain of how Special they are to me. I’ll probably tune into a sermon spoken by someone Called to Speak it, and I’ll hear a few words of Wisdom along the way. It’s going to be another long day at the farm, and I’ll be making the most of every minute. You won’t find me looking for fun or striving to be entertained. You won’t find me whining about being bored or disappointed over something that wasn’t “fun” or people who weren’t my cup of tea. Instead, you’ll find me walking through this day with Excitement no matter who or what comes along, because I know that this day and everything in it has been Ordained by the Living God and that His Plans for me on this new day beat anything else I could ever have added to my own agenda. He’s a God of Perfection, and He’s the Master of my Life, and as long as I keep Him in First Position, every “simple” little thing will always have a huge impact, and those “simple” little things will always cause my heart to overflow with Gratitude and Joy.

My life is filled with simple things, but there’s nothing simple about my Life on or off the front porch of this old farm. I see my Life as an Adventure and my steps as a Journey, and I want to be sure that I savor the “simple” things until I draw my last breath because it’s the simple things about me that mean the most to Him.

How about you?

Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

All it Takes is a Courageous Mockingbird…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I set out to spend my time with the Master of all Creation this morning, but I didn’t last long outside because of the scorching sun. The heat wave in Virginia is taking its toll, so I’ve gotten serious about praying it out of here soon. In the meantime, I thank God for cooler places. From this photo, you can’t tell it’s scorching hot, and it looks so calm and quiet, but don’t always count on what you see with your eyes. A relentless crow was giving it all it had to give from a limb high up in the tree, and for a while, all I could think about was the noise. It cawed and cawed as if it was telling the world to sit up and take notice, that is, until a mockingbird – a fraction of the size of the crow – ran it off. One little attack from the much smaller bird, and that old crow ran off like a wussie. As I watched the exchange, I thought about the Journey of Faith and how the Enemy likes to make a lot of noise in an attempt to stake his claim too. But all it takes is the Courage of a mockingbird to send him running off like a wussie, just like the crow. Isn’t that the way you see the Battle too?

We are living in the state of “lawlessness” the Bible warns us about, and the Devil is raging. We’re living in the days “when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear”, and the Devil is raging. We are living in the days of Noah, where “man exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator”, and the Devil is raging. We’re experiencing the Written Warning, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”, and the Devil is raging. We’re living in the days where, “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law”, and the Devil is raging. There’s no end to the things we’ve been warned about that are playing out right before our very eyes, and there’s no doubt that the Devil is raging. It’s sad to see so many people wrongly believe that the Devil is gaining territory and that he has the ability to crush us at will…but that’s not true. He’s no different than the big black crow that parks itself in high places to threaten the world with its cawing. He’s big, and he makes a lot of noise, and to some, he even sounds scary. But all it ever takes is a Courageous “mockingbird” to chase him away and put him in his place. All it ever takes is a Fearless one who Understands that “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world” and that the Devil DOESN’T have power or dominion over Creation, even when it LOOKS like he’s winning. All it ever takes is a Mockingbird who Knows the Word of God so well that it can repeat what it’s heard a million times before, and before you know it, the Devil runs off like the wussie he is. This is the Key to Victory.

God used a relentless crow and a (not so) sweet mockingbird to speak to my Heart this morning. The Battle is real. The Warnings are spot on. The Time is near. The King is coming…SOON. He won’t find me hiding when He comes calling for me. Instead, He’ll find me fighting the battle like the Courageous Mockingbird I am. I’ve been Trained for Battle. I’ve already Claimed my Victory. I Know the Word of God, and I use it often to send the Devil packing. He might rage…But he doesn’t win. He has NO dominion over me or my family, and I’ll be Fighting until the End to keep it that way.

It might be hot in Virginia today, but otherwise, it’s just another day in Paradise for me.

How about you?

Tune out the World…Tune in the King!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s going to be another scorching day in Virginia today, and my Time on the front porch was brief because of it. That’s okay – although nothing replaces being on the front porch, I’ve prayed over every inch of this farm for decades, so I can “see” it even with my eyes closed. I’ve been an eyewitness to nature being obedient to His Call as He wakes up the world thousands of times, and I can visualize play by play because of it. I’ve walked this Journey hand in hand with the Master of the Universe, and no matter how many times I see a sunrise, I’m in awe of Him, and because I am, I want to be Obedient to His Call. At the sound of His voice, the earth was formed. At the sound of His voice, the land was separated from the sea. At the sound of His voice, Adam was put into a deep sleep, and Eve was formed from his rib. At the sound of His voice, the stars were scattered in the sky. At the sound of His voice, the sun stood still. At the sound of His voice, the sea parted. At the sound of His voice, the rain was withheld for years. As I considered the Power of the sound of His voice and how nature so easily responds, I thought about how often man…the most Valuable Creation of all…willfully ignores the sound of His voice, and we struggle with Obedience when we do.

It can be so easy for us to tune out the Voice of God, especially when He Instructs us to do something that makes no sense to the human mind, but we miss out on the Opportunity to Serve and to Please the God of all Creation when we do. Somehow, when the rational mind kicks in, we convince ourselves that God would never Instruct us to do something that doesn’t make sense to us. But if it makes sense to God Almighty, that’s all that ever matters. God’s ways are not our ways, and His ways don’t need to make sense to us for us to be willing to be Obedient. I’m pretty sure not much made sense to Moses, or Elijah, or Daniel, or Joshua, or a host of other saints we read about. But the biggest Miracles the world has ever seen were born out of Obedience to things that didn’t make sense to the human mind- and the same is STILL true today. Being willing to be Obedient to His Instructions, ESPECIALLY when they don’t make sense to the human mind, is the KEY to a Rich Relationship with the God of Miracles. The surest Sign of Trust is Obedience through it all.

The Bible says, “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” – this isn’t referring to age, but to Maturity instead. Most of the rules we teach a child make no sense to the young human mind, but when they’re taught to listen to the voice of their father and mother and they see the rewards of obedience, they mature into rule-following people able to accept authority, and they don’t hesitate to do what they’re told to do. If only people Walking through the Journey of Faith would do the same when they Hear the Voice of the Master of all Creation! IF only they would “let go and let God” the way they claim to! If only they would step out in Faith when God Instructs them to do something that makes absolutely no sense to the human mind. If only they could Trust Him. This is the Key to being a Willing Vessel – a Participant in the Master Plan that might not make a whole lot of sense to the human mind on this side of Heaven, but one that makes Perfect sense to the Perfect God.

When I was a child in my Journey of Faith, I “passed” on plenty of things because they didn’t make sense to my human mind. Today is a different story – today I’m Mature. At the sound of His voice, I’m Obedient and I Trust what He wants to do through me. My world sees the God of all Creation work in my Life in ways that sometimes leave them breathless – but what they see in my Life over and over again has nothing to do with me. What they see is the Hand of God working Miracles…Miracles born out of Obedience. Every single day, I work on “dying to myself” – to set aside my own will so that I can do His instead. Every single day, I ask Him to examine my Heart to see if there is anything inside that I need to purge and repent of. I can’t hear His voice if I have sin in my Heart (and neither can you!) I listen to His Voice with an open Heart and I set out to Serve the One Who died for me, ESPECIALLY when it doesn’t make sense to me at all. That’s what Trust looks like!

How about you?