Worried? Get Out of the Cheap Seats!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped into the Presence of the Most High God and tossed all my cares at the foot of the Cross just as the sun was coming up this morning. I don’t exactly know how many things I prayed for this morning or how many people were placed on my Heart, but I am confident that each prayer I whispered to the God of all Creation was heard, AND I trust Him with the outcome of it all. His Word says, “Let us then approach the Throne of grace with confidence” – so it doesn’t make much sense to pray without confidence that we’ve been heard AND with confidence in the outcome even before we see it. After all, that’s what faith looks like. When I look out at this twisted world filled with desperate people attempting to live in chaos without Hope, I am MORE confident than ever that ALL they really need is the touch of my Master’s Hand, and everything can be made Right. Their state of hopelessness keeps me going day after day and year after year as I strive to share my Hope with them. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

It’s sad to see so many people living in fear and lacking confidence in the future, especially the ones who claim to Know the King of kings the way I do. From the bleachers of Life, they see calamity and uncertainty, and they have very little confidence in the future because of it. But from the Bleachers of Heaven, things don’t ever look the same as they do in this life! The God I Know “gives and takes away” – but when He decides it’s time to take away, He always has something Beautiful to replace it with…I am confident.

The God I know says, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things” – but when He creates disaster, it will always have a Beautiful outcome too…I am confident.

Most of the time, I have no idea what the Living God is up to, and I’ve learned not to lose sleep trying to figure Him out BECAUSE I am confident. His thoughts are not my thoughts, and His ways or not my ways – AND I’M GLAD I can’t see what He sees. Though my view from the Bleachers is not the same as His, I Know Him and I Trust Him completely.

He’s a God of the most amazing Surprises….the kind of Surprises that can take your breath away and leave you speechless. But He is also a God that allows things to happen that (sometimes) look hopeless if we gauge them by what we see with our eyes from the cheap seats…and THAT’S where most people get lost. Sadly, far too many people don’t approach “the Throne of Grace with confidence,” and they don’t Believe they have a shot at being heard. To make things worse, many believe they’re “sending prayers up” to the heavens like helium balloons while overlooking the honor of approaching the Throne of the Living God with confidence! I wish the ones reacting to life’s circumstances based solely upon their view from the cheap seats could know that with just One Touch of the Master’s Hand, and every twisted piece of life will be made Right again…I am confident.

I entered the Throne of Grace with confidence today, and I have “peace that surpasses all understanding” because of it. I am confident in the Lord of lords…the King of kings…the God of all Creation…the Prince of Peace…the Wonderful Counselor…Almighty God..The Great “I Am”…Jehovah Shammah, no matter what the view looks like from the bleachers, because I am confident in my Future with Him! I see what I see and I hear what I hear, BUT with eyes and ears more focused on Him than the latest headlines, I have no fear.

How about you?

The Care and Feeding of a Tender Heart

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May be an image of fog and grass

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I’ve spent a little extra time with the Living God focused on Refreshing my Heart and my Soul, and I’m finally ready to face the day after a little Heavenly pampering. My Heart has been tenderized by the King, and it’s a rare kind of Heart because of it. Though I’m strong and I’m courageous, and I’m the kind of gal you want on your side to fight on your behalf, my Heart is tender and it can easily fracture if I’m not careful. It’s important for my Journey of Faith that I guard my Heart as best I can, so I make sure to go to the Great Physician when it needs a little patching up for the journey. After all, He wrote the Book on the Care and Feeding of a Tender Heart, so when my Heart is hurting, I know where to go for my nourishment.

Strong and courageous people are often seen as the ones who need the LEAST amount of care and feeding, but that’s SO far from the truth. Hearts that have been tenderized by the King have been put through a tremendous amount of adversity to get them in just the right condition to be used for Great things. They’re the bold ones not easily ignored, and they’re the ones you’ll see on the front lines of Battle. They’ll come to your defense in a quick minute, and they’re inclined to guard the underdogs when nobody else will. They’re often seen as the tough and capable ones, but they actually need a little more care and feeding for the Heart than the average person. They’re seen as the “survival type” and although they’ll rarely crumble for others to see, they crumble when nobody’s watching.

The tenderized heart will give and give until there is nothing left to give if they aren’t careful, or if they aren’t stopped by another who understands their Heart and who doesn’t hesitate to protect it. The strong and courageous ones often push beyond where the average person goes, but they dig deep to get there, and they’re fueled by a Heart tenderized by the King. Since it’s the Heart that leads the way for the bold and courageous, it’s the Heart that gets the most wear and tear in the process.

If you’ve been tenderized by the King, you’ll need to be sure that you guard your Heart even if nobody else does. As rare as it is to encounter a tenderized Heart, it’s just as rare to encounter others who see beyond the surface and into the Hearts of these bold ones. It’s that rare kind of Heart that’s the most likely to break when it’s not protected, but it can easily be repaired when we follow the Instruction Manual on the Care and Feeding of a Tender Heart.

If you’ve been blessed with the rare gift of having a tenderized heart in your life, be sure to exercise proper Care and Feeding if you want to benefit from all of those things a tenderized Heart brings to the table. They’ll be your strength and your courage, and they’ll propel you to great things, and if you’re willing to exercise proper Care and Feeding of their tenderized heart, they’ll keep going and giving like the Energizer battery.

I’m bold and courageous, and I’ve been tenderized by the King of all kings! I wouldn’t trade my Hard Lessons for anything in the world because those Lessons made me who I am in Christ today. The Bible says that “All things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” and I because I LOVE Him and I’ve been “called arrording to His purpose” I’m a good case study for the Care and Feeding of a tender Heart and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Lord Knew precisely what it would take to transform me into a usable Vessel for Himself, so my primary Goal is to never let Him down. I’ve been strengthened this morning by the One who wrote the Book on the Care and Feeding of a Tender Heart, and now my Heart is overflowing all over again.

How about you?

“Go Forth and Multiply!”

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. We’ve had just the right amount of rain and sunshine this Spring, and everything is rejoicing because of it – from the trees to the wildlife…to me. The beauty I see as I watch the earth being “multiplied” by the touch of the Master’s hands defies words. When it comes to God, anything can be multiplied, and I know that even that glimpse of sunlight this morning was somehow multiplied for Good. Multiplication is not just a mathematical fact – it’s a Spiritual Truth and one that keeps me on my toes throughout my Journey. I don’t need to understand everything about the Creator of Life, I just need to understand that He Loves me…That He died for me…and that He’s my Shepherd. I just need to live FOR Him, and if I do that…Everything good in my Life is multiplied too! The “stakes” are high in the Journey of Faith and the Road can sometimes be rough, but when I consider all that He is and all that He does for me, I don’t chase after Him because He multiplies the Good, I chase after Him because He’s my Shepherd and the Provider of all. Isn’t that the way it is in your Journey of Faith too?

This time of year, the idea of multiplication is easy to understand because we see it everywhere. The birds are busy feeding their little ones, and the bunnies are training their young. The foxes have cubs hidden away in a safe den to protect them from harm, and the deer will soon be dropping their spotted fawns. Saplings are sprouting all around the mature trees, and many of the plants have dropped seeds and multiplied too. Multiplication is everywhere, and it is a magnificent sight to see. But of all the good things that are multiplied in Life, the greatest of these is Love. Love can light a fire too big to contain when it’s “fed and watered” by God, and the Harvest will be Multiplied every single time. After all, it was love that fueled the multiplication of the fishes and the loaves because when Jesus looked out at thousands of hungry Followers, He was moved with Compassion to help them. Of all the beauty I embrace from the front porch, absolutely nothing compares to the beauty of Love, and it’s Love that will have me Chasing after my Savior and Sharing the Good News of love all the days of my Life!

Multiplication isn’t specific to Love…it is true for “bad” things too! Hate will eat its way through an entire generation like a moth when it’s left unchecked. All it takes is one bad seed to destroy an entire family, and all it takes is one instance of unforgiveness to rot relationships from one end of a tribe to the other. All it takes is one set of parents who refuse to command respect from their children, and generations of rude will be born while rude is multiplied over and over again. Gossip can eat away until there’s nothing Good left, while the Devil can use those hurtful words to whisper lies for generations. When sin was multiplied in ways unacceptable to God, He flooded the entire world for a “do-over,” and when just one city was overrun with sexual sin, God destroyed it too. Nothing but Good comes out of Multiplying Love…but Consequences for multiplying “bad” will wreak havoc in an entire family and fill up Hell faster than you can say “amen.”

I’m embracing the Beauty of Multiplication this morning, and my Heart is ready to Love. The fields of Faith are ripe and ready for Harvest, and I’ll be working the Fields for Jesus all the days of my Life because I Love Him. Am I blessed? Of course, I am! Do things in my Life multiply? Of course, they do! The condition of my Life has nothing to do with being “special” or “favored” – it all comes down to Multiplication. Jesus used barley loaves to multiply a feast for the multitudes when barley (at that time) was used to feed the animals, so I know that He can multiply anything into Good if I just give it to Him the same as the boy gave his fish and loaves. I’m Multiplying Love, Faith, Joy, Peace, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How could my Life not overflow with Good things that have been Multiplied by the touch of the Master’s Hand?

How about you?

ESPECIALLY When it Doesn’t Make Sense!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day guaranteed to be filled with New Beginnings, and I’m excited to see what the Living God has planned for me today. I spent my time on the front porch and watched as everything around this old farm began

celebrating the new day…especially me. I don’t know what He has in mind for me today, but I’ll be doing His Will no matter what, and if He tells me to do something that doesn’t make sense to another living soul, I’ll do it anyway because I Love Him. I can’t begin to comprehend how He paints the beauty of a sunrise, and I don’t always understand His Ways in my Life…but it isn’t up to me to understand…it’s up to me to Trust and Obey. Isn’t that the way you look at the Journey of Faith, too?

,

It is fascinating to watch people exhaust themselves trying to understand God and His Ways even though God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”. It doesn’t come down to whether or not God’s Plan makes sense – it comes down to whether or not we’ll Trust and Obey even when it doesn’t. It made absolutely no sense to convert a worn-out horse barn into a place of worship, but that’s what God wanted. And now, just as it says in Haggai 1:8, “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.” Without a doubt, God is pleased with this old barn-turned-church and how He is glorified every step of the way. None of this would be possible without a ton of Trust and a whole lot of Obedience…especially when it didn’t make sense.

God gave man intellect above all other living creatures, and sometimes that intellect gets in the way of being willing to Trust and Obey. We analyze, evaluate, moderate, and rationalize when He prompts us to go in a Direction that makes no sense to the human mind whatsoever, as if we need to help the Living God make sense of His Plans! Some people live their entire lives doing absolutely nothing for the Living God because they don’t have the trust of a gnat. Sadly, they’ll likely die without fulfilling their Purpose all because what God had for them needed to make perfect sense to the HUMAN mind before they’re willing to Serve. The Truth is that stretching the intellect has no place in Trust and Obey because it always comes down to Faith. Humans can diffuse a Miracle faster than they can say “amen,” all because they went looking for logic in His Will. His Plans won’t be changed just because we need to “prove” to ourselves that God wants them completed – He’ll just find another Vessel that knows how to Trust and Obey – and THAT Vessel will have the Honor of being part of a God-size Plan that makes little sense to the intellectual mind.

Countless people have gone before me as Examples of what it looks like to Trust and Obey when it doesn’t make sense to the human mind, and I choose to follow their Lead. Joshua was told to march around the walls of Jericho seven times to crumble the walls around the city of his enemy, and that warrior did what He was told because of Trust and Obey. Noah was told to build an ark to prepare for a flood when he’d never seen a drop of rain, and that old man did what he was told because of Trust and Obey. Peter was told to go fishing and to pull a gold coin out of the mouth of the first fish he caught so that it could be used to pay their taxes. Peter did what he was told to do because of Trust and Obey. A penniless widow was told to gather up jars, fill them with oil that flowed out of “nowhere”, and then sell the oil to sustain her family financially, and she did what she was told to do because of Trust and Obey. I like being a Vessel that can be used by the Living God, and it all comes down to Trust and Obey…ESPECIALLY when it doesn’t “make sense” to the human mind.

I’m kicking off a new day in my Journey of Faith with a willingness to Trust and Obey no matter what. If you’re the kind of person who needs a detailed plan and a written guarantee from God before you are willing to move forward, you won’t want to hang out with me. Some say I fly by the seat of my pants, but that’s not true…I fly with absolute Confidence about when and where He tells me to fly, and I don’t need to know what’s ahead to be willing to move forward in His name! I won’t waste any of my God-given intellect trying to figure out if His Plans make sense to me, that’s for sure. Instead, I’ll go where He tells me to go and I’ll do what He tells me to do whenever He tells me to do it! I LOVE Him and I choose to Trust and Obey all the days of my life because of it. Now THAT makes perfect sense!

How about you?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

What Surrender Looks Like…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God in the wee hours of this new day, and I turned to my Instruction Manual hungry for Truth like a deer panting for water. When I looked out across the fields this morning, its beauty almost took my breath away…all over again. This old farm holds its own when it comes to beauty, that’s for sure, but what makes it breathtakingly beautiful really comes down to Surrender more than anything else. It’s in that place of Surrender that we find the Greatest Rewards. It’s as if the more we turn things over to the Living God, the more He fills our lives to overflowing…not with tangible things but with Himself! His Word says, “I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go” – and that’s what He’s done for me. He is my God, and I am His child…beyond that, nothing in this Life really matters! Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey, too?

It seems to be so easy for people to claim their prizes in life, from tangible things like a farm in Virginia to children to bank accounts – but that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Oh, plenty of people thank Him for the prizes they receive – but the Treasures are found when we do more Surrendering than we do just thanking. He is the Prize Giver…the Author of it all. He doesn’t just flood us with blessings to make us happy, He floods us with blessings to Surrender instead, and the more we’re willing to Surrender, the bigger the Blessings flow. Once we get to the point of total surrender to Him, we become the Delighted Ones, filled with so much Peace and Joy that it cannot be contained. It’s at that point…that place of total Surrender…Surrender without limitations…THEN He gives “your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” What a Mighty God I serve!

I’ve Surrendered my life and everything in it to the One Who died for me, and He has given my life to me as a Prize. I Live for Him and I strive to Love like Him – not much matters to me beyond that. I know that no harm can come to me because He has placed a “hedge of protection” around me and my Life…the Life I’ve already surrendered. No harm can come to this beautiful farm because “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” – the place I’ve already surrendered. Surrender is where the Heavenly Prizes are unveiled…so, Surrender it is for me…day after day…Everything I have and all that I am. You won’t find me clinging to things of this world, that’s for sure, because apart from Him I have “no good thing.”

How about you?

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight

Heart Therapy for a Downcast Heart…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a spectacular new day in Virginia, and my life overflows with blessings. I’m alive and I’m well. I have my health and a sound mind. All is well with my family, and I have the best view on the planet. Despite all the Blessings, my Heart was downcast this morning, so I rolled up my Spiritual sleeves and got to work. It’s not possible to have a downcast Heart without first having a “downcast mind”, so to turn things around in my Heart, I needed to get control of my mind. Like the rudder on a big ship, the mind can turn us in any direction whatsoever (with a little help from the Enemy), BUT the good news is that we’re not powerless when it comes to the mind and the Heart. It’s only when we allow the mind to head in directions it shouldn’t go in that we find ourselves with a downcast Heart badly in need of Restoration. There’s good Reason the Bible tells us to “take captive every thought,” so to get my downcast Heart back where it belongs, I had to evacuate some things from my mind that have absolutely no business being there – And sure enough, once I got control of my thoughts, my Heart followed, and NOW my Heart overflows with Joy and Gratitude, and I’m ready to take on this new day like the Warrior I was born to be. I’m strong. I’m ready. I’m filled with Hope. Isn’t that the way you deal with your heavy Heart, too?

It’s so strange how we perceive people of Faith and how quickly we are inclined to criticise when we see a glimmer of their human frailty, like mine this morning. A few tears or a downcast Heart, and we’re ready to pass judgment and take them to the Spiritual woodshed. But everybody on the planet has had to struggle with feelings of discouragement at some point or another, and it doesn’t make one less of a Christian to confess it. David, “a man after God’s own heart,” was overwhelmed and downcast more often than I can count. He cried out to God with everything within him as He shared His heart in real ways…human ways…But he didn’t stay there long, and you and I don’t have to stay there long either. There once was a man named Job, and God referred to him as the “most righteous man” on earth at the time. When Job went through “hell on earth,” his shortcomings were made clear straight from the mouth of a Mighty God. God told Job to “brace yourself like a man” right before he highlighted where Job had gone wrong. Poor Job was so overcome with grief and shame that he cursed the day he was ever born! There are countless other people of Faith we read about in the Bible who were far from perfect, too. But the people who Knew where to turn for help with their downcast Heart were restored each and every time…and so am I.

When we cry out to God with a downcast Heart, He has compassion on us, and when we turn to Him for Heart Therapy, He delivers it every time. The world around us might expect to see “perfection” because we are people of Faith, but God knows better, and He’s there to help us through all of our trials IF we just reach out to Him and confess our weakness before His Throne. It’s a good thing that He’s our judge, and not all of those people around us who look for “Stepford Christians” and who are always so ready to pounce and to judge us over our weaknesses, especially other people of Faith. But being Christian doesn’t mean that all of our troubles miraculously disappear…it means that we just know where to go for our Help and our Hope. Being Christian doesn’t mean that we’re never weak….it means that we know where to go for our Strength. Being Christian doesn’t mean that we don’t stumble and fall…it means that we know where to go to get picked back up again….the source of our Straight Path. Humility isn’t a sign of weakness…it’s a sign of Strength, and honesty always leads to stronger relationships…especially when it comes to the Living God.

I may have begun this day with a downcast Heart, but it’s an entirely different story now after I confessed it to my God, I took captive every thought, and I turned to the Living God for some much-needed Heart Therapy. Now I’m Strong. I’m Ready. I’m Teachable. I’m Unstoppable. I’m Unbreakable. I Know where to find Truth, and I know the tactics of the Deceiver and his strategy to defeat me failed once again.

What about you?

Stop Hoarding and Start Sharing!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My time on the front porch with the Living God at sunrise was as perfect as this new day. It was clear, calm, and graced with the sounds of music that came from all different kinds of birds from every direction. Those birds made me think of what Heaven will be like when all the “different kinds of birds” sing Praises to the King at the same time! Wow – just imagining the Heavenly choir is so beautiful that it makes me cry. Even though what I imagine Heaven to be like brings me to tears, my imagination can’t hold a candle to what’s in store for me One Day. God says, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him,” and THAT’S what makes me want everybody to have what I have, to Hear what I hear, and to Know what I know. Isn’t that what your Journey of Faith is like too?

I’m not sure why some people have a Passion to Share Good things with the rest of the world, while some want to hoard all the Good for themselves. It’s a mystery to me. The same “hoarders” that don’t hesitate to show off a new house, or a new car, or to brag about an exotic vacation or an accomplished kid, never even consider “showing off” the Greatest Gift of all. The Treasures of Heaven will make the treasures on earth look like Romper Room one day – but still, SO MANY of the “ones who love Him” never utter a word to the lost about the Greatest Gift of all. It’s hard to watch “the ones who love Him” so easily storing up their own treasures on earth, and yet, they’re blinded to the lost ones destined to lose out on “what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.” Could it be that arrogance leads them to believe that the lost ones need to either “sink or swim” all on their own? Or maybe they don’t want to “offend” them by talking about such things, BUT from where I sit, Hell is pretty offensive and it will be that way for Eternity.

Perhaps it takes an added measure of Gratitude for the Promise of Heaven one day to Inspire us to share the Good News. Or maybe it takes Genuine Excitement for what is in store “for those who love Him”. Or it just might take understanding what Hell will be like for the lost. I can do my best to describe Heaven from just a few things I know based upon the Description in His Word…and my Passion is usually enough to make a lost person at least a little curious about what I have. But if there is anything I wish I could SHOW a lost person, it would be a video of what Hell is like. For as much as we can’t begin to imagine Heaven, we can’t begin to imagine Hell either. Hell is a place of torment and “gnashing of teeth” like none of us can begin to imagine…and the torment will go on for eternity. There isn’t a “bad” person that I’d ever wish Hell upon, and there isn’t a “bad” person that I want to leave behind if I can help it. That’s what the Compassion of Christ looks like and THAT’S why I do what I do.

It was heavenly at sunrise, that’s for sure, and I savored the Glory of my God while I basked in the beauty of this old farm. The Beauty I see defies words! But more than anything else on this beautiful new day, I did my best to imagine what Heaven will be like, and what I imagined made me WEEP WITH JOY. I won’t be keeping to myself what I know about Heaven for those who believe, and I’ll never hoard the Truth from the lost world. I don’t deserve the Greatest Gift…none of us do. I didn’t do anything to earn it – It’s Free, it’s PRICELESS, it’s ETERNAL, and IT’S MINE, and THAT’S why I want EVERY lost person to Know what I know so that they can look forward to Heaven with excitement too!

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

How about you?

What Are You Willing to Sacrifice in His Name?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was in awe of the Touch of the Master’s Hand the moment I stepped outside this morning, and after my time with Him, there is no doubt I’ll be in awe of Him all day long. Yesterday was Easter Sunday, and my Heart is still full as I recall the beauty of our sunrise service at The Well. Just a handful of Bold Believers braved it to the barn at sunrise while the others couldn’t (or wouldn’t) make the Sacrifice even for one day. It reminds me of the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus told His disciples, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me,” and yet, they fell asleep like spiritual slugs despite His desperate plea. It’s hard to imagine that they would trade Time with the Messiah for a little more sleep, but people easily make that trade all the time! (“The spirit is often willing, but the flesh is weak”) The disciples couldn’t (or wouldn’t) stay awake for Jesus, even when He needed them the most. With that in mind, why in the world should it surprise me that so many professed Christians today refuse to stay awake at this hour despite what the Word of God warns us about? Sleeping through a sunrise service is one thing – sleeping through these dark times when the world needs to Hear about Jesus is an entirely different Story. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

It’s fascinating (and sad) to see how the church has evolved over time…humble little sanctuaries with an organ and not-so-soft pews have been replaced by cushy concert halls with theatre seats, lights, fog, and coffee shops all in the name of “changing times” and “comfort”. I’ve done a whole lot of looking, and so far I haven’t found even one verse in the Bible that says that God’s people need to be comfortable AND willing to modify the house of the Lord to make it easier and more appealing to the flock. It takes all kinds, that’s for sure. As for me, I like barns and not-so-soft pews. It reminds me of how Jesus was born in a manger, and it keeps me humble during our worship time together as I consider how and where the early church used to meet. When it comes down to it, all the pretty things that the “modern” church offers are just a matter of personal preference. If people believe they can draw closer to God only when the music is good and the coffee is hot, that’s between them and God. The saddest part to me is that while priorities have changed to please the crowds, the message of the Cross has been whitewashed to please them too – something they’ll all pay the Price for One Day.

As for me, I don’t worry much about comfort because the way I see it, Hell is the MOST uncomfortable place EVER, so my focus is more on being a Reflection of the Son than an entertainer in an attempt to “save even one.” I don’t worry much about the music or whether or not it will entertain the flock because the way I see it, no music has ever been written that can compare to the beauty of the Music in Heaven, so I keep striving to be a Reflection of the Son in hopes that more people will hear it along with me One Day. I don’t worry too much about “offending” with the Truth that has been softened to fit the modern church, because the way I see it is if I’m a Reflection of the Son, then I should Love enough to Speak the Truth because I don’t want anybody to perish. Paul said, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some,” and I’m taking my lead from him. People like us aren’t here to entertain. People like us don’t succumb to insults, and we aren’t afraid of threats. People like us don’t make excuses for speaking the Truth, and people like us are already “up at sunrise” seeking His Face. For people like us, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our greatest Honor until He calls us Home – AND at the top of the list of what God expects from each one of us…sunrise or not.

I’m a work in Progress and a diamond in the rough. I have a very full Life and I don’t concern myself with popularity. I’m unshakable. I’m unstoppable and I’m Relentless when it comes to Sharing Christ. But the main thing…the one thing I am that separates me from many others these days is that I am laser-focused on being a Reflection of the Son, and I’m willing to be Uncomfortable for Jesus Christ. The Day will come soon enough when I’ll see Perfection…the Timeless Throne of a Mighty God. I’ll look upon the beauty of Jesus and I’ll fall to my knees because He’s much more beautiful than I am capable of reflecting here on earth…but it’s not about me!!! His Spirit can get the Job done, and His Word can do the Teaching. All I ever need to concern myself with is being a Reflection of the Son…to Live and Love like Jesus. Will I perfect my Reflection? Not even close – no matter how many “sacrifices” I make. That’s the Goal, and it makes me uncomfortable when I consider all the ways I fall short. So…I keep speaking the Truth that might just make someone else uncomfortable as they consider the wages of their sin and the consequences of unbelief…because that’s what Jesus would do.

Will I see you at sunrise?

YOU Take Captive Every Thought!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I got out of bed with no aches or pains and more energy than most people my age only dream of having, and I gave thanks to the Living God for a body still willing to cooperate wth my Heart. But it’s not having an able body that matters the most – it’s having a Sound mind and a Willing Spirit too – and that’s where my morning time with the King of all kings comes in. When we meet, my Heart overflows with Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me; and when we meet, it’s time for us both to work on the Condition of my Heart. But the condition of my mind is an entirely different thing – it’s my Responsibility to do that part on my own. If I allow destructive thoughts to take up residence in my mind, I can easily destroy all the Work that has been put into my Heart! Destructive thoughts can easily thwart all the Plans He has for me today…and even for the rest of my Life! He shields my body and gives me Strength. He nurtures my Heart and Tenderizes it for Good, and I make sure to do my part with my mind. Isn’t that the way the Journey of Faith is for you, too?

It doesn’t do much good to work on the Heart, only to leave the mind on autopilot, which gives our Adversary a free pass to torment the mind. He’s always ready to whisper thoughts of defeat, failure, heartbreak, judgment, criticism, bitterness toward someone else, or bitterness over our circumstances – ALL these things work against the flow of a Mighty God and His Plans for each of us. The mind is like a digital recorder that can conjure up the worst memories and the most discouraging or destructive thoughts in the blink of an eye, and when it does, all of the Work that we put into the Heart can be slowly snuffed out. God doesn’t just watch our Actions, He sees inside the heart AND the mind, and He knows our thoughts without us speaking at all. It’s not His fault if we have a head full of junk, and He’s not going to be the one to fix it. It’s our job to do our part on the mind, to be sure that the Heart can do all the Good that He has Planned for us. This is the KEY to the sound mind God has given to each one of His children! “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

How many times have we heard someone say, “I can’t help it” or “I can’t get it out of my mind”, but that’s not true! We have the POWER to “take captive every thought” and clean up the mind this very minute. How many times have we heard someone say, “I’m asking God to help me with my thoughts”? – but He CAN’T control your thoughts – YOU have to do that part on your own. The good news is that the more time we spend in His Presence of the Most High God and the more Time we spend on the Heart, the more manageable the mind becomes. Eventually, we begin to recognize dangerous and destructive thoughts the minute they come knocking, and we take immediate ACTION to evict them before they take up residence. This is the Key to Strength and Growth.

There are countless examples in the Bible of the importance of our thoughts, and it’s pretty clear that WE are expected to control them. We’re instructed to FOCUS on good thoughts – “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. We’re offered encouragement about how everything CAN change IF we do OUR PART on the mind – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is”. We’re even warned about how our thoughts reveal the truth of who we really are – “As a man THINKS in his heart; so is he”. We’re shown the way to Hope – “With minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the Grace to be brought to you”. And we know that the heart follows our thoughts “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The List could go on and on and each example that we’re given is ABUNDANTLY clear that WE are responsible for our thoughts and nobody else is to blame for what whirls around in the head.

I rejoice over strength, stamina, and a healthy body. My heart is consumed with love for the Living God, and I’m ready to do battle within my mind so that I can be ALL that He created me to be and so that I don’t become my own “worst enemy”.

I’m laser-focused, tenderized by the King, and ready to do battle..beginning with me.

How about you?

While the Dew is Still on the Roses…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I stepped outside to take my first breath of fresh air for the day, it was only in the 30s, BUT it was magnificent. Every day, I see more of the trees budding out, and pretty soon, Virginia will be in full bloom. As I sat there taking it all in, I noticed that the ground was covered in dew, and I smiled when I considered how God had watered the earth even without the rain. That’s my God for you! He thinks of everything. By the Time I stepped into the Presence of the One who gives Instructions to the dew, I was eager to be Taught. The first order of business is ALWAYS to examine my Heart to be sure there is nothing within me that could grieve the Holy Spirit. It takes Humility to ask the God of all Creation to look inside your Heart – especially when we know He will see it all…good, bad, and ugly – But that’s the ONLY way to draw nearer to Him each day. So, here I am again, Ready and Willing to be Molded by my Maker so that I can be all that He Created me to be. Isn’t that the way your Relationship with the King of all kings is, too?

There are lots of reasons why people don’t continue to Grow for as long as they live, but I think the biggest reason is pride. It’s often said, “pride comes before the fall,” but that’s just the “Reader’s Digest Version” of the Words in Proverbs that drive the message home – “pride goes before destruction, a haughty (arrogant) spirit before a fall”. Pride is what prevents us from being willing to be transparent (even to the Living God), and pride is what keeps us from Sharing our Trials. Pride is where we convince ourselves that we’re something we’re not, and that we’re bigger and better than what we really are. Pride is what makes us run from the Spirit of God when it’s Lesson Time, and pride is what stands in the way of revealing our weaknesses. Pride is what prompts us to judge someone else, and pride is what makes us lie to ourselves about who and what we really are. Pride drives greed, and it drives lies. It’s pride that prevents us from helping the helpless, and it’s pride that leads us to find our identity in wealth. A prideful heart refuses to admit when it’s wrong, and pride stands in the way of forgiveness of another. There’s no end to the destruction that pride brings with it, and eventually pride will build a shell around the heart that it is so hard, that we’re no longer recognizable as God’s people and we’re useless to the King. There’s no room for pride if we want to grow, and unless we get a handle on pride, we can’t find Humility.

I’ve been slapped around by people of Faith more often than I can count when they hear me Confess my Weaknesses or Share my Trials or temptations as if Christians live a flawless Life. Long gone are the Testimonies we heard in church – in part because the Church no longer makes time to hear what God is doing within the flock – but also because they don’t think the “imperfections” should ever be discussed. Their pride drives them to believe that if you are a person of Faith, all those things (including sin) are just things of the past. They stifle the Holy Sprit by choosing to remain silent about what God is doing (and has done) in their lives. They’ve been lied to by the Father of ALL lies into believing that it’s best to remain silent about what God is doing in our lives…good, bad, or ugly. But isn’t that what a Good Testimony is? From where I sit, I believe these people reject the idea of sharing a Good Testimony because they might be asked to Share their Story one day too…something they’re far too prideful to do. As for me, I have NO pride when it comes to being a Vessel for the Living God. He saved a wretch like me, and I want the world to Know it. I am confident that the more I Share about my own Life, the more inclined God will be to use me to help someone else. It hasn’t been pretty, but it has absolutely “worked together for Good” because I LOVE HIM AND I’VE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE”.

My Life hasn’t been a “big mess”, even though it’s felt that way (and may have looked that way too) sometimes. My valleys have been deep, BUT my mountaintops are glorious, and the Molder of my Faith never stopped providing the dew even when it refused to rain. My Life is a Living, Breathing Witness to the Power and Might of my God, and I’ll NEVER be too proud to Share it. Every experience has Grown me, and all the pain has made me Stronger. But most importantly, I Know that “all things God works for the good of those who LOVE HIM, who have been CALLED according to His purpose”…so ALL of it has been used for Good- Hallelujah! My Life has Purpose, and I’m Humbled to be used by the King. So, whenever the spirit of pride tries to sneak in, and I’m inclined to take credit for things in my life, it’s time for a Lesson in Humility straight from the Throne of the Living God. I invite Him to look inside my Heart and to show me ALL my flaws so that I can make things right before the One Who died for me. I may not like it much when it’s Lesson Time, but I’m ready and willing to be Molded by my Maker so that I can be ALL that He intends for me to be for as long as there is breath in my body.

How about you?