Every Day With Jesus…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up this morning with aches and pains fitting for someone my age BUT with a Heart soaring for Jesus and, spiritually, I’m as eager to get going as a child on a Christmas morning. There is an old hymn titled “Every Day With Jesus Is Sweeter Than The Day Before” and when I hear it I wonder if the writer got the idea for the song by looking into my Heart. Every day with Jesus IS sweeter than the day before and it’s impossible to have enough Time with Him with a Heart that Loves Him like the way mine does. I can’t imagine how anyone could question the existence of my God or that anyone could convince themselves that each morning happens all on its own. But the Bible says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” so I marvel at the work of His Hands every single day and in every single little thing that passes through my Life. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

I guess some people give credit to “nature” or to “science” because they can’t fathom that the earth was formed by the Hand of God alone…but they don’t Know my God. They don’t believe that He placed all of the stars in the sky and that He knows them by name…but they don’t Know my God. They can’t believe that He separated the water from the land and that He gives boundaries to the waves or that He once flooded the entire earth to destroy what He had created just to start over again…but they don’t Know my God. They can’t imagine that He opens the heavens to bring forth the rain and the snow and that He withholds them all for His purpose too…but they don’t Know my God. They can’t believe that the earth rattles and shakes and that volcanoes erupt with just one word from the Living God…but they don’t Know my God. It’s hard for me to understand how and why others don’t Believe what I Believe…but that’s where I come in, AND it’s the possibility of Introducing someone to Jesus that keeps me as excited as a child on a Christmas morning. So many people trying to navigate this life without Hope breaks my Heart AND it propels me into Action in His Name. This is the Key to Living out your Purpose in this Journey called Faith.

It’s easy to Praise God from sun up to sun down when you see Him with a Heart like mine. It’s easy to look upon this imperfect farm and to see the beauty in every single thing when you See with eyes like mine. I stand in awe of the Majesty of the Living God every single day and It “shows” in my Life. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to live here on this beautiful farm, but it’s not beautiful real estate I share with the world – it’s a picture of God from the front-row seat of my Faith that captures the photos and the hearts from this front porch in Virginia. It’s easy for me to give credit where credit is due because “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”.

I’m marveling at the majesty of the Living God this morning and I’m giving thanks for all that He is and all that He does for me. He chose me before the foundations of the earth and I chose to follow Him when He came calling. Even my surrendered Heart was ordained by God Almighty and now He’s the Author and Perfecter of my Faith. There is no limit to the things God gets credit for when you Believe that He is who He says He is. He’s the great “I AM” – He’s the Alpha and Omega – He’s the beginning and the end – He’s the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and He’s my God and I love Him with everything within me!

How about you?

Beware of Hoarding and Squandering!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s bitter cold and snow is on the way again and I can’t wait to see God blanket the farm with His glory. The Living Waters Farm is Holy Ground…not because of me or anything I do here…but because it was given over to the Living God a long time ago to do with what He wants to do. It belongs to Him and not to me and it’s because I don’t claim it as my own that He has poured out more blessings than most people can even imagine. Each day is a new day filled with new beginnings and I’ve handed my Time over to the Living God all over again this morning. Nothing belongs to me! I have plenty of goals and good intentions, but if I take on any day with just ME in mind, it’s bound to not work out so well. No doubt the Master of my Life wants me to dream – and He tells us to never quit- but the things I’d chase in my own will aren’t necessarily what He wants for me – so, He wakes me up to a New Day filled with New Beginnings and I give it all back to Him. That’s the ONLY way I can be a usable, flexible, unstoppable Vessel for the Love of my Life! Isn’t that how you look at your New Days filled with New Beginnings too?

Everybody is given the same 24 hours a day despite how many people claim to “not have time” outside of their daily routine. They seem to have an allotted time to eat, sleep, work (and play), but there is no “allotted time” for the Living God, and “sacrifice” isn’t even in their vocabulary. When God attempts to shake things up for them by putting a need in their path that would require them to step outside of themselves to serve someone else…they refuse. “I’m too tired” – “I’m too busy” – “I don’t know how” – “I’m too old” – and “Let someone else” but the Most High God already Knows these things and when He comes Calling and He expects us to Serve Him (sacrificially) anyway. I don’t see any room for excuses when Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me”. Not only did Jesus not care who was tired, or busy, or missing their favorite TV show, He said, “Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” to those too busy serving themselves to serve the needs of others. I’m no expert but I don’t think the Master of all Creation has tolerance for the selfish excuses we make for squandering life away while refusing to Serve the One who died for us. When (if) we have a Heart for the King, we’re not just “willing” to serve…we’re Honored to serve and THAT’S what giving it back to the King looks like.

It is so troubling to consider how much of our time is squandered despite knowing that the Bible says, “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away”. When you think about it, we really don’t have much time here on earth to Complete the Plan God has for each one of us…yet most people willingly and knowingly squander it away. How much of what we have – from time and attention to material things – can (and should) be given to someone else and yet we hoard it for our own pleasures? How much time spent parked in front of a television could be selflessly given to someone else in need? How much time scrolling through social media searching for the latest lies could be shared with someone needing a hug or a shoulder to cry on? How much of the leftover meal was tossed into the trash instead of being shared with someone in need? How much of what you have in the bank will be directed toward “investing” in your future or satisfying your own desires? The list is long and the excuses are lame, that’s for sure. But One Day “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” and we’ll all go face-to-face with the Living God. When an account of Life is given, do you really believe that the Alpha and Omega will listen to all the lame excuses for why we chose to serve ourselves and our own pleasures instead of Serving the King? Giving it all back to Him is the Key to a Fulfilled life with more Joy than any amount of money could ever buy.

I don’t have any more time than anybody else – in fact, I have less than most people and not because “I’m busy” but because I give it all away to the King. When you’re Willing to turn the New Day filled with New Beginnings over to Him and His Will (and not your own), you’ll be blown away by all the Work that He’s had for you to do in His Name all along. Serving the King of all kings is the greatest Honor of all and the more you Give away, the more Fulfilled you are. When it comes to Kingdom work, no squandering is allowed. I have Time and a Heart conditioned for the King and I’m excited about ALL that He has for me on this New day of New Beginnings.

How about you?

The Wind Chill Factor…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I spent my morning time with the Living God inside looking out with a hot cup of coffee and the best-selling Book of all times. The winds have been fierce around the farm lately and the wind has a way of making cold feel even colder than it is – what’s called the “wind chill factor”. The front porch takes a beating when the fierce winds come through and the flags become tattered and torn over time because of it. Sometimes rugs and furniture on the porch become displaced by the wind and most of the time the yard is filled with twigs and limbs from the trees that God pruned. Life can be like the wind…unpredictable and fierce with pieces that seem to fly all over the place. But it can also be as gentle as a summer breeze. It all comes down to how we see with the Heart…our very own “wind chill factor” gauge. The Key to Peace, when the winds pass through, is to NOT focus on the “wind chill” and all the tiny pieces getting blown here and there – instead, Focus on the One who brings the winds and who holds each Life in the Palm of His Hands…messes and all. It is fruitless (and damaging) to fret about the “messes” in Life on any given day because God is always behind the wind and He’s always in control of the “messes”. As for me, I choose to keep my eyes on Jesus at all times…”messes” and all…because I know that WITH Him, I can do all things and that WITHOUT Him I am powerless. Isn’t that the way you prioritize the winds in your life too?

I’ve never liked the wind much. I don’t like the hassle of having to secure my world from harm and I don’t like having to hang on to things around me to keep them from blowing away. I don’t like my hair blown over my eyes making it impossible to see and I don’t like sand blown into my eyes. I don’t like snow drifts that can make a little snow a big hassle or a little rain that can be impossible to contain. But regardless of how I feel about the wind myself, I’ve learned to have respect for it, and I know that it has many purposes when it comes to the Living God. It takes wind to blow the seeds across the fields and beyond so that God can plant them anywhere He wants to. It takes the wind to blow the clouds around so that He can make it rain where it wants it to rain. It takes the wind to dry the land after a heavy rain and it takes the wind to prune the trees. It takes the wind under the wings of the most amazing birds to keep them in the air and it takes wind to blow new weather my way. My flesh doesn’t like the wind so much but my soul embraces the will of my God in it all.

I can see and feel the wind around this old farm but the winds of life are an entirely different story. Just the same as God can kick up the wind around this old farm, He can kick up the wind in my Life too and I rarely see it coming at all. One minute everything is calm and the next minute something blows through that has the potential to rock my world and rob me of my peace IF I let it. Those winds could so easily do a lot of damage to my life if I didn’t know how to Secure my world from harm. Those winds surprise me, and they can temporarily knock the wind out of the sails of my Heart if I don’t understand where they’ve come from and if I don’t take cover. But just the same as I set aside the “damage” the wind can cause around the farm UNTIL after I meet with the Keeper of the Winds, I take my refuge in the presence of my God, and when I do those winds settle down and they change direction every single time.

It’s a little windy outside this morning and it’s a little windy in my world too, but I’ve got everything I need to take cover and to be Sustained through it all. I Serve the Creator of the wind. I Serve the One who scattered all stars in the sky and knows them each by name. I serve the One who Knows every hair on my head and Who treasures every tear I’ve ever shed. I Serve the One who Commands the clouds to open up to bring the rain and snow…the same One who can take Command over every cell in my body and call it into Submission to His Will. I Serve the One who can calm the storm with just the sound of His voice. I Serve the One who made the sun stand still. I Serve the One who caused the earth to shake and the Tabernacle curtain split when Jesus took His last breath. I Serve the One who is in control of the Care and Feeding of every little bird in the sky…how much more so for me? I Serve the One who chose me even before the foundations of the earth. I Serve the One who has a Job laid out just for me that will Prepare me for my Job in Heaven one day. I Serve the One who died for me and who has my Future all Planned out. I Serve the One who planted me in my mother’s womb at a precise moment in time to Fulfill His Purpose for me…and the One who already Knows when He’ll take me Home. With all that said, why in the world would I fret over the millions of “messes” brought on by the winds in this Journey called Life?

How about you?

Are You Whining To The King?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It snowed yesterday and throughout the night and what I saw this morning as the Master woke up the world was nothing short of heavenly in my eyes. I usually roll with the flow when it comes to the weather because I Trust God’s hand in it all. I don’t mind the rain or the snow because I know God is nourishing the earth. I don’t whine about the winds that sometimes rage through the farm because I Know that God is either drying things up, pruning trees, scattering seeds or all the above. Why would I “bite the hand” of the One who feeds me by whining about His Work? However, every once in a while I do have a weather Request from the God who “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name” and yesterday was one of those days. I prayed for Him to hold back the snow for a specific period of time and for a specific Purpose…and He did. He held back the snow. He held back the winds. He gave me everything I asked for – NOT because He wanted to please me but so that He would be Glorified through it all. My God is an awesome God.

It’s mind-boggling how easily God’s people can whine and complain about things they have absolutely no control over AND miss out on countless Blessings when they do. The Bible says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” so we have an open invitation to make our Requests known to the same God who caused the sun to “stand still”…but I don’t think He has much tolerance for whining because whining equates to saying that He’s not doing a good enough job in your eyes. Who do you think you are to criticize the Work of His Hands without even an ounce of Gratitude for all the other Blessings in the Journey of Life? Be careful what you wish for or whine about you might just get an abundance of what you’ve prayed for as a consequence of your selfishness. The Israelites learned a hard lesson about just that and they paid the price for their whining (while ignoring countless blessings). “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, but for a whole month—UNTIL IT COMES OUT OF YOUR NOSTRILS and you loathe it”. Oops. God can be pushed too far and He won’t always tolerate whining from His people. Trusting His Will – Believing that He always Knows best – that He never makes mistakes – is the Key to a Surrendered Life.

I’m an imperfect woman living an imperfect life and I’m pretty sure I whine every once in a while without even realizing it…at least not at first. But the Closer I’ve drawn to Him the more I Trust His Will in all things and I enjoy just going along for the Ride. He’s my Protector. He’s my Provider. He’s my Deliverer. He’s my God, and as His Child, I know He only wants what’s best for me…not to be confused with something my flesh wants for me. Sometimes I make a “selfish” request so that I can do a Selfless thing in His Name and my God not only hears my prayers but honors them too. But if He hadn’t held back the snow yesterday as I Requested I still wouldn’t have whined. Instead, I would known with absolute certainty that the God of all Creation had Good Reason not to hold it back and I would have been Satisfied with His Will. “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”.

I’m of “full age” – how about you?

The Frozen Flags of Faith…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was warm and windy for a few days last week and the Lord removed all signs of our recent snow..but things can change overnight. This morning the flags on the front porch were frozen and each little breeze caused them to crack. One day they’re blowing in the breeze and the next day they’re inhibited by ice. The drastic temperature differences in Virginia aren’t always easy to adjust to but I wouldn’t have it any other way. As I met with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith this morning, the drastic changes from warm temperatures to frozen flags on the porch kept running through my mind and I realized that this is the way it is with Life. One minute it’s warm and cozy and the next minute it’s cold as ice and that’s not so easy to adjust to either. But as long as we know how to prepare for the changes, and as long as we know Life is Destined to change overnight sometimes, we don’t fight against the flow of the Hand of God. We aren’t promised smooth sailing all the days of our lives but we ARE Promised an easy ride if we cling to the Will of a Mighty God frozen flags and all. Isn’t that the way it is with you sometimes too?

It’s mind-boggling how much people have to say about the weather. Second to politics (these days) they seem to talk about the weather more than anything else…including God. When you think about it, there are similarities in how people handle something as simple as the weather and how they handle Life. Virginia has four beautiful seasons and I wouldn’t trade them for a one-season, constant-temperature place for anything in the world. I like the drastic differences of the seasons, and the beauty that each one brings makes me appreciate the others even more. It’s as if God designed the timing of each season so that just when we think we’ve had enough, we switch to a new one with its own unique beauty…AND its own unique challenges. When it comes to this Journey called Life, the ONLY constant we have is the Living God. He’s the same “yesterday, today, and forever more” but everything else is subject to drastic change in the blink of an eye. Life can go from warm and cozy to cold as ice faster than we can say “Amen”- and it’s only when we accept that God Almighty has a Master Plan that we can find our Peace no matter the Temperature.

Some people cringe at the mere thought of freezing temperatures as if they’d be forced to sleep outside. Some people begin to sweat at the mere mention of higher temperatures as if they’d be forced to scorch in the sun. Some people run from the rain and others run from the snow and most of the rest are thrown for a loop when they experience a drastic change in either direction. I believe if we’d pause to consider how we handle something as unpredictable as the weather, we’d see some similarities in how we handle our Unpredictable Life too. Some dread the changes before they ever happen. Some lie awake at night imagining the worst. Some run and try to hide, while others are thrown for a loop when things drastically change overnight as if they thought things would always be the same. But nothing is the same except God Almighty, and He’s forever changing things around for His Purpose. He brings the storms to raise our Core Temperature and He’ll make it rain in our lives for as long as He thinks we need it. But just like the four seasons in Virginia…just when we think we’ve had enough, God brings the New Season along with its own Beauty and its own set of Challenges. It’s a wonderful Life when we understand that it comes with Drastic Changes and when we’re willing to surrender to the Will of an Amazing God no matter what.

God used the drastic change in the weather to Remind me that He’s the ONLY constant in my Life. He’s the same yesterday, today, AND FOREVERMORE and He’ll be there for me through it all. When my Life goes from warm and cozy to cold as ice I won’t whine or run, because I’ve lived through His Changes countless Times and I Trust His Plans for me. Just when I think I’ve “had enough” He’ll change the Season in His Time…a Season with beauty of its own and a whole new set of Challenges.

How about you?

No Weapon Formed Against Me Will Prosper!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I began to do Battle the minute I woke up and I couldn’t get into the Presence of the Living God fast enough this morning. No battle exists that I can’t Win as long as I remember who I’m battling with and I turn to my Weapons that ALWAYS get the job done. The Bible says, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” but he’s barking up the wrong tree with me because I’m armed and Ready, Proclaim the power of might of Jesus Christ he has no choice but to depart from me. I’m not surprised that I have to do serious Battles every once in a while, but since I have Everything I need to Win I’m never afraid. I will Forever be amazed at how fast temporary torment can turn to Praise when I do what I’m supposed to do, and when I trust God to do what He Promises to do. Life isn’t easy sometimes, but it’s ALL Good when you know you can’t lose. Isn’t that the way you see your battles too?

It can be so easy to surrender a perfectly good day to thoughts of defeat, fear, heartbreak, or anything else on the planet, but it never has to be that way if we know how to Fight. Thoughts are just thoughts and the ones set out to destroy are the most likely to cripple us and they are the easiest kind to kill. They’re the ones that go against every Promise that comes from Heaven and they’re the ones that contradict the Truth. Knowing the Word of God is our greatest Weapon because the liar from Hell can’t fight against it. The Word of God is like kryptonite to the devil and it brings him to his knees every time. I doubt anything brings the enemy more pleasure than to fire darts at my thoughts to distort the truth, and nothing would make him celebrate more than to watch me fall because of it. But I know the Truth and I recognize a lie so all I need is the Word of God and to take the thought captive and “send it” back to hell where it belongs.

I’ve heard people pray asking God to help them control their thoughts especially when they’re struggling with fear. But it’s not up to God to do that part. He tells us to take every thought captive ourselves and He tells us to control our own thoughts by thinking of Good things. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. This is the Key to Peace in the storm.

God has already given us every Weapon we need to Win, but if we don’t take the time with Him to learn how to use them, it’s our fault (not His) when we succumb to the battles. How many times do you need to hear “I’ve got this” straight from the Throne of God to finally believe it? How many ways does God need to say “I’ll take you by the right hand and lead you” before you accept that He will? How many times do you need to hear the story of the Crucifixion of Christ who died for every sin you ever committed before you were ever born to believe that Freedom is yours for the asking? How many ways can He show you how Precious you are to Him before you accept that it’s true? Knowing the Truth INSIDE is the Key to battling those thoughts of torment and when we do our part – we have CONFIDENCE that we will ALWAYS win. This is the Key to Victory.

I had a mild case of temporary torment that could have destroyed a perfectly good day if I let it – but I recognize a Battle and I’ve got everything it takes to Win. A little time with my Commanding Officer and a little time reading my book of Strategy for War and I’m flying higher than you would ever dream could be possible. I’ve taken captive my thoughts and my enemy ran off like a wussie (“Resist the devil and he will flee”) when I tapped into the Power ALREADY given to me. I KNOW the Truth, and I’ll always Win because of it…If I do my part today and every day of my Life to prepare for war. I’m a child of the Living God. I’m Royalty! I win.

How about you?

The ONLY Truth That EVER Matters!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s bright, beautiful, and unseasonably warm (55°) this February morning in Virginia and I could have stayed on the porch all day. Once again the Living God lit up the farm with Majesty, and no matter how many times I witness the Work of His Hand, I am in awe of Him. When I went before the Throne of the God of all Creation this morning He did a good Work in me…work that I desperately needed for the Journey. I’m troubled by this troubled world but not for reasons most people are. I’m troubled to see SO MANY of my brothers and sisters far more interested in speaking out about the troubled world than they are in speaking to the troubled world about the Good News of Jesus Christ and I find myself whispering “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” more and more each day. This magnificent sunrise was a firm Reminder to me to focus on His Majesty…the Light of the world…and to be a Testimony through it all – NOT just for the lost – but to my brothers and sisters too. Isn’t that the way you see you Purpose too?

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” are the words spoken by the Savior of the world when he was wrongly accused and ultimately murdered by the rulers of the land. If anybody ever had the right to speak out against the political wrongs it would be Jesus Christ…the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. If making sure the troubled world heard about its wrongs was of any importance to Him at all, He would probably still be hanging on the Cross to get the final accusations out. Instead, His heart broke for them and He cried out to His Father to forgive them “for they know not what they do.” Jesus died for ALL including the ones who hung Him on a cross like a common thief. He died for the thieves, the rapists, the abusers, the abductors, and all the politicians the world whines about today. The final words of Jesus were beautiful words…Compassionate words…words of Love, Hope, and Forgiveness. That’s the story of Jesus Christ; the one whose very nature we are called to take on. “Be holy as I am holy”! It’s not humanly possible to be without sin like He was, but it IS humanly possible to care a whole lot more about the Final Outcome than we do the troubled world itself, and having the “last word”…words of Love, Hope, and Forgiveness is always a choice.

Sometimes I close my eyes and try to imagine what it would be like if my brothers and sisters, so determined to spread what they believe is happening behind the scenes would begin to spread the Good News with the same passion and conviction! I wonder what it would sound like to hear “Jesus is Coming!” or “Have you heard what Jesus did?” a whole lot more than we hear character assassinations in every shape and size. I wonder what the world would be like if it could hear personal Testimonies of what Jesus Christ has done in our lives instead of a repeat of the latest political rhetoric and how we’ve been wronged by man. I wonder what it would be like if we longed to see Heaven a whole lot more than we long to see justice here on earth. I wonder what it would be like if God’s people would cry out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” instead of shouting out insults at those they hate as if God gave them special permission. I wonder what it would be like if my brothers and sisters understood that they’re being used by the enemy – like pawns of Satan – just as surely as their enemies are, and they’re not messengers for the Living God the way they think they are because they fail to speak Love, and Forgiveness right along with all their “truths.” Hmm…

Watching how so many of my brothers and sisters are weighing in on the world breaks my heart…it is one of the saddest times of my life, for sure. But there’s more. Watching them trade Fellowship with their brothers and sisters for a remote control sermon as if all they need is entertainment sure explains how we got where we are. The flipping back and forth between their favorite pastor and their favorite news channel must be challenging at times for those who don’t understand that God is a “jealous God” and there is NO CONTEST for time with Him. Sometimes I wonder if we read the same Bible or serve the same God at all, but more than that, I find myself whispering “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” more and more each day…a prayer for all those lost people too ignorant to know what they’re REALLY doing, and for my brothers and sisters who ought to Know better but choose to be caught up in the war.

As surely as God brings the sun each morning, I’ll do my best to make sure that the Light of my Faith outshines the darkness around me and I’ll DETERMINE to be the Witness He’s called for me to be. Oh, and because I LOVE HIM, I’ll continue to feed His sheep too. He’s my Priority. He’s my Good News. He’s my Savior. He’s my Rock. HE IS THE TRUTH and that’s the ONLY TRUTH this troubled world needs to hear about.

Amen?

Complacency Has No Place…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I’m so grateful to have met with the Living God in the warmth of this old farmhouse, and although I stepped out onto the porch to take in a breath of winter air and snap this photo…that was enough for me. It’s just like the Author and Perfecter of my Faith to use those few seconds of “pain” to send a Firm Reminder to me this morning about how it takes stepping into the “uncomfortable” to make a Difference in the Bigger Picture of Life. There is Peace in my home and warmth for the coldest of days…thank God. But unless I’m willing to step into the uncomfortable in the Name of Jesus Christ, all those things are just blessings that never make a difference at all. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy to settle into our lives and become dependent on our creature comforts as if the Living God wants us to sit back and be fat, dumb, and happy. The more comfortable we become the more excuses we make for staying put. It’s a blessing to have a warm home and a wonderful family, but complacency is born when we focus all our attention on things inside the walls where we’re the most comfortable while refusing to step out for Him. When Christ calls us to Himself, He doesn’t call us just to be warm and safe and comfortable within the confines of our homes. He makes sure that we know that our family is the first priority as we raise up a Godly generation…but He never intended for us to sit back while He Works. In fact, His Instructions are just the opposite – we’re told to GO FORTH and He doesn’t discriminate for age and sex…we are without excuse. Yes, He wants good things for us! After all, He’s the Provider of the home and our warmth. But warm couch potatoes don’t serve a Purpose in the Kingdom of God and they can’t have an Impact on the world UNLESS they’re willing to get uncomfortable for Him.

Not everybody is intended to serve in the mission field in places I’ve never even heard of, but EVERYBODY claiming to be a follower of Jesus Christ is expected to be Serving and sharing the Gospel. God doesn’t call us to do nice things that make us feel good. He calls each one of us to Bold things in His Name so that we shine the Light where it’s needed the most. Jesus spent some quality time with people along the way…from the disciples to His closest friends, and He was a guest in many homes where fine food and wine flowed freely. I’m sure He spent some time teaching when He was inside and I’m sure He had a little fun too. But that’s not where His Greatest work was done and Jesus sure didn’t stay put. He went to where the hurting people were and He ministered to them in His Name. Jesus set the example for all of us! First, He met their practical needs with Compassion SO THAT HE COULD open the door to minister to their spiritual needs…the most important part of Serving others. Jesus didn’t beat around the bush. He didn’t leave them with “God bless you.” Instead, He made sure that each one knew where to place their Trust and how to find their Hope. How much of that are we doing these days?

What good purpose does it serve to “minister” to the needy or to meet a practical need of a suffering soul if we NEVER MENTION JESUS CHRIST in the process? Handing the homeless a pair of boots in the middle of a winter storm is a very nice thing to do – but sharing the Message of Hope is a whole lot nicer and it will last a whole lot longer than the boots. Saying “God loves you” is one thing – sharing the MESSAGE of Salvation is another. How many lost opportunities do each one of us have to answer for one day? How many times have we failed to mention the Greatest Hope of all to a total stranger? How many times have we cowered down because we cared more about what someone thought of us than we did about their Eternal life? Of all the things that we can do to help someone in need, the Greatest Gift we could ever give to them is to share the Gospel…the Gift of Life. How sad that Jesus gave us one job to do while we’re here drawing breath on earth – but we’re so comfortable in our warm homes that we refuse to do it?

The cold air was painful enough for me at daybreak but the Reminder I got felt like ice water to wake me up all over again. Jesus IS coming…and He’s coming soon. There’s no time for us to sit back in a warm home and REFUSE to share Hope with the world. I don’t have to “get out” as much as I need to REACH OUT and you’ll NEVER find me ASHAMED of the Gospel of Jesus Christ or being too much of a coward to Share Him. I’ll meet every practical need that I’m able to meet, but you can be sure that when I do the Focus will ALWAYS be on how to fill the biggest Need now and forever. A warm pair of boots is one thing. The Gospel is another.

Will you be sharing Him today?

I’m Not Budging Without a Heavenly Action Plan…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s still cold outside right now, but it promises to be warmer again today, and just the mere thought of warmer temperatures makes me smile. I’ve spent some time with the Living God this morning “drawing circles” around a few things in my life that I need Solutions for, and I refuse to budge from this circle of prayer until I have an Action Plan that was Designed in the Heavens for my circumstances. I’m not daring God and I’m sure not testing Him. Instead, I’m making sure that He sees my Commitment to finding the Right Solution, and I know for sure that He hears me… because He always does. I don’t know how long I’ll be in this “circle” but I’m willing to wait for as long as it takes and I’m Trusting in the outcome before I ever see it. I believe. The Bible says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. I have absolute confidence in what I “hope for” – now all I need is to patiently wait for the Perfect Solution He has! Isn’t that what your Relationship with the Living God looks like too?

I’m not one to pray simple prayers and I certainly don’t just pray sweet ones. I have BIG Requests of the Living God so I don’t approach His Throne like a wussie and I don’t approach Him with doubt. I’ve been taught how to pray by the Master Himself, and I’m a Warrior when it comes to prayer. I know that my prayers need to begin with Praise to a Mighty God, so when it comes to that part, that’s where I spend the beginning of my time with Him. “Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name” means that His Name is HOLY and we need to be sure to declare it and to Believe it. I know from His Word that the Heavens praise Him 24 hours a day with “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty Who was, Who is, and Who is to come”. When I think of how beautiful that must sound as the Heavens declare the Majesty of my God I weep. One Day I’ll hear those Praises myself when I enter into Heaven with Him. Wow. After I praise Him, I thank Him for all that He is and all that He does for me and my family. I could spend 24 hours a day for all of eternity on that part alone because His wonders are “too many to declare”. After I’ve spent my time Praising Him and then Thanking Him it’s time to ask for Forgiveness. No matter how hard I try, or how well I live, there’s always something that I need to be Forgiven of…He already knows whatever it is and He’s always ready to Forgive me BUT He still wants to hear it from me and He wants to see my Humility as I stand before Him. Then, AFTER ALL THAT, it’s time to make my Requests known to the “Great I am”. One thing I am sure of is that it takes entering His Presence with the Right Heart for either of us to be prepared to talk about Requests. It’s ONLY after I Praise Him for Who He is and I thank Him for all that He does for me and I address my Wrongs, that I can approach His Throne with Confidence and a Faith that can move a mountain.

I know His Word pretty well and I’m not afraid to say so when we Meet. I know Who He is and I know What He says. I know that He will never leave me nor forsake me, and I make sure that He knows that I Believe it. I know that He says that I don’t have to worry about anything at all because if He cares about “the birds in the air”, surely He will provide for me and I don’t have a single doubt that He will. I know that He’s the One that has given me a soul-winning, saint-spurring Ministry and I’m not afraid to ask Him to “enlarge my territory” so that I can reach more. I know that He says that He will “take you by the right hand and lead you” so as long as I’m willing to surrender to His Leadership everything is going to be alright. BUT I also know that if I stand before my God like a wussie, and I pray without Believing my own words, I should have no expectation at all that my prayers will be heard at all. I pray with boldness and I Believe in the results long before I see them because His Word says, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do”. When you think about it, how could ANY child of the Living God pray without actually believing what they’re praying for?

I Declare Victory over the challenges in my Journey of Faith every day. I don’t just ask Him if He’ll help see me through (AS IF I don’t want to be a bother to Him) because there is no comparison between “surviving” and absolute Victory. I make sure that He Knows that I’m Armed and Ready for Battle, I don’t hide under the bed and ask Him to fight the Bully for me, I use the Tools He’s already given to me for Battle and I follow my War Instructions well. I don’t spend time begging God for things to be “His Will”, and I don’t address Him with meekness. I refer to His Promises and I Declare His Majesty instead and when I pray, I BELIEVE. I don’t always get what I ask for because what I ask for isn’t always within His Plans for me…at least for now. But I could spend the rest of my Life making a list of ALL of my Requests that have been Honored by the Living God and all of the Miraculous things He’s done in my Life. I stand on His Promises and I Believe…and I always will.

I’ve drawn a “circle” around a few things in my Journey of Faith and I know that Jehovah Shammah (“God is there”) is hearing every Word I speak and He knows everything within my Heart. I know that HE knows that I won’t budge from the “circle” until I hear from Him – until he provides the Solutions that I’m praying and Believing in. The Bible says, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” so I Know that God doesn’t mind my Relentless approach to things I’m praying and Believing in. I’m a Child of the Living God. I’m a Warrior. I don’t quit. I’m unstoppable and unshakable. Most of all, I Believe.

How about you?

Desperately Looking For Hope…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. They say it is going to be 50° and windy today which should finish off the lingering snow and dry the ground. My God thinks of everything. I had a dream a few nights ago and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to shake the image of what I saw. In this dream, I got out of bed and raised the shade to my bedroom window that faces the barn, and what I saw took my breath away! The snow was deep and there were people for as far as my eyes could see…all of them headed to The Well. They weren’t the usual bright and beautiful faces I see on Sundays, these people were tired, sick, hungry, scared, and broken – each one desperately looking for Hope. In my dream, I didn’t hesitate to get dressed on a cold winter morning and head down to the barn to help those desperate strangers. No doubt some needed food. Some needed shelter. Some needed rest. Some needed love but they ALL needed Jesus and I was just the one to Share Him with them. As I continue to ponder that dream, it has become clear to me that the God of all Creation painted an image of everyday life on this earth. Each one of us is surrounded by tired, sick, hungry, scared, and broken people looking for Hope. What we do with them paints a picture of the Depth and Degree of our Faith. “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy to look the other way – especially in a world of tight schedules and more distractions than we can shake a stick at, but we miss out on what Jesus has for us (all) when we do. In my dream, when I saw all those faces desperate for Hope, I was immediately overwhelmed with compassion and, to the extent possible, I could FEEL their pain and fear. I didn’t stop to think through anything whatsoever, instead, I rushed to Serve them just the way Jesus would. I didn’t think about the fact that they were all “strangers” – and desperate ones at that – the Bible says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it”. I didn’t think about how some of the desperate ones might be “criminals”, instead, I remembered what the Bible says, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering”. I didn’t worry about how I would feed them because the Bible says “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them”. I didn’t have one single fearful (or doubtful) thought, I was Focused on Love instead and I Knew that He brought them here for a Purpose. I Knew in my Spirit that God would Provide for all the physical needs no matter how many people showed up. My “job” was to show them unconditional Love and to tell them about my Jesus and I was confident that He would take care of the rest.

There is no doubt that God uses me (and countless others) to warn the world about the consequences of not following Him and the high stakes of ignoring the needs of the desperate ones. Some people stay clear of me because they get sick of hearing it but as long as the Bible isn’t sick of “saying” it, I won’t be shutting up. Some people roll their eyes when I quote (for the millionth time) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever YOU DID NOT DO for one of the least of these, you DID NOT DO FOR ME.’ Some people laugh in my face and tell me to “lighten up” but that’s never going to happen. Jesus doesn’t want anybody to perish so if my fellow Believers think they won’t have a price to pay for refusing to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the dark world or for refusing to “do for the least of these” I’d say they might want to spend a little time in His Word. He will set them straight…hopefully before they hear “Depart from me, I never knew you”.

I’m very grateful for that dream because it served as a reminder to me of my Purpose and what the Living God expects of ALL of His people. The tired, sick, hungry, scared, and broken ones are everywhere but even the churches don’t see them…or they refuse to look. The desperate ones are on every corner…school…office…restaurant…gym…and though their needs vary, the Solution is all the same. They need Jesus. I don’t need to go looking for the desperate ones (nobody does), He’ll bring them to me instead and when He does I can choose to serve them and love them just the way Jesus did OR to ignore them completely and take the chance of hearing “I NEVER KNEW YOU”. The desperate ones may not be lined up here as far as the eye can see and they probably won’t be walking through the snow to get to The Well but one by one I’ll serve them all the same because the One who died for me said, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me” and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my Jesus. He died for me…I live for Him.

How about you?