Designed & Managed By The Hand of God…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I met with the Living God on this last day of January, I confessed to Him that I was already weary of the Winter and that I was already longing for Spring. I confessed to Him that sometimes my Soul is downcast over something as trivial as the weather. I whined a little about needing to see the beauty of His Creation in living color…the brown replaced with green, and the cold replaced with warmth. And right in the middle of my whine session before a Mighty and Merciful God – when He had every right to take me to the Spiritual Woodshed of the Ungrateful – He spun the most beautiful Reminder to me instead, and He taught me a Lesson like only a Father can. At this very second, there are countless miracles and endless details taking place in the “background” to prepare for all those things I’m longing for…every single detail of my Life (and the world around me) is already in place by His Hand, and my Future is already Written even though I can’t see or feel it yet. Now THAT’S something to celebrate on a gloomy-looking winter day!

It can be so easy to want to rush things along sometimes, and it’s even easier to whine about things that we have absolutely no control over if we’re not careful. But the same God who plants the seed of life in a frozen ground to prepare it to sprout in the Spring is the God who already has all of the Details of my life Planned out, too! The same God who plants the seed of Life in the womb of a woman is the same God who already knows all the Details of that new life, AND He knows the final Destiny even before we know to take a pregnancy test. Life doesn’t exist by accident, and it doesn’t thrive by fate. Whether that life is a tree, a bug, or a precious child…the Living God Created it ALL, and He makes no mistakes. Every single intricate Detail of everything in our world was Designed, and will be forever Managed, by the Hand of a Mighty God. What does the God of Wonder think of His children when we find something OR someone to whine about while surrounded by the Majesty of the One who scattered the stars in the sky and Knows them each by name? “What is man that You are mindful of him?” It’s only when we dig below the surface of our selfishness that we learn to die to ourselves and exchange whining for Celebrating a Future we can’t even see yet. This is the Key to Faith.

As surely as I know that Spring will come again soon, I know the Plans He has for me too, even though I can’t see all the Details unfolded yet. I am confident that the daffodils will sprout from the ground one day soon, and I’m confident that I’ll be sitting in the sun in no time at all. I know the trees will bud when the leaves are ready to fill the branches, and I know I’ll see the offspring of nature all around the farm in just a matter of weeks. I am Confident that He knew Precisely when I would be born into this world, and He knows precisely when I’ll leave it. He already knew that I would Love Him and that I’d be a Willing Servant through this Journey of Faith…AND He knew how to Mold me into His Vessel to be used for Eternal things. He already Knows each time I’ll falter and every time I’ve failed, and He already Knows I’ll shout out my Victory Story for all the world to hear after He sees me through the Trial.

Every single Detail of my Life is already in the Works. So, how can I NOT Celebrate what God has in store for me, even though I can’t see or feel it yet?

How about you?

One Year Ago Today…Worth Repeating!

/ 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?

Peace That Surpasses…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The world seems so quiet when the earth is blanketed in snow, as if the world has gone off the radar. You could almost hear a pin drop without all the usual sounds heard on an average day here at the farm. But then again, there is no such thing as an average day in the eyes of the Creator of all. As the Master shed light on the farm this morning, I marveled at the twists and turns of the snow all around me, no doubt about that, but the one thought that wouldn’t leave me on this bitterly cold ice-covered day is all those poor people who have no warmth to turn to. Maybe they are sleeping on the streets – maybe they’re inside, but with inside temperatures being close to what it is outside because they have no heat. It’s 13° at the farm right now, and temperatures are expected to stay low for several more days…and Virginians are whining. We might be challenged by 22 acres of snow covered with inches of ice, and we might even get frustrated when we can’t get it moved out of here as fast as we’d like to, BUT we are very much aware of how blessed we are to be warm and tragic it is for the cold. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

It has taken lots and lots of hard lessons in my life to get me to a place of Surrender to the Living God…warm or cold. It’s not so much that I was more confident in myself with the outcome than I was Him it’s just that I was accustomed to taking care of everything and everyone around me, and I didn’t pause long enough to even consider to ask for Help for myself. Every once in a while, God would allow paralyzing Circumstances to come my way, and He must have grown so frustrated with me while He waited for me to Surrender my Circumstances to Him. I am living proof that He is a Compassionate and patient God. He cares about everything in my life. He Knows every hair on my head. He Knows about every tear I ever shed. He Knows the days He has allotted to me, AND HE KNOWS IF I’M WARM OR COLD. I don’t know why some people go hungry and cold and why God doesn’t FIX IT, but I do know that He doesn’t love me more than He loves them, and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, God scatters the cold and hungry around just to see what the others will do about it. “Whatever you did for the least of these of mine, you did for me”. The question is how many people will remain focused on their own snow shoveling while “the poor among us” freeze to death? The funny thing about dying to yourself and guarding your peace is that once your selfish eyes turn away from your own agenda, YOU SEE THE SUFFERING, and you have no peace until you do what you can to help. Look at God!

For some God-like reason, the patterns of snow reminded me of my darkest hour. If you’re a regular reader of my posts, you know that I OFTEN refer to my darkest hour! Not because I want to savor my suffering but BECAUSE I NEVER want to forget what God has done for me! How much praise is enough praise to God for what He’s done for us? So…I had reached the end of myself. I was completely overwhelmed by my circumstances, and I had lost all hope. The world seemed so dark, and my circumstances seemed irreparable, and I no longer had the strength to put one foot in front of the other. I didn’t want to die – I just didn’t have the strength to live anymore. I was completely and totally broken. I couldn’t pray, and I had no joy. One morning I cried out to the Living God in total despair, and I confessed that I couldn’t go on. Even my body succumbed to my grief as I crumbled to the floor in my brokenness, and it was at that very moment…that time of total despair…the time when my hope and my strength were completely gone that God spoke to me and He taught me a lesson about surrender that changed my life forever. He reminded me that He is my God…the great “I AM”. He assured me that He would deliver me, and He made it very clear that I couldn’t control my circumstances “any more than you can hold back the waves of the sea”. My circumstances didn’t change in that moment, but I sure did. An indescribable weight was supernaturally lifted from me as I considered how ridiculous it was that I was attempting to “hold back the waves of the sea”. I surrendered all in that moment, and that is the secret to my peace.

It might be easy for some people to read these God-inspired morning posts each day and to marvel at my Peace and my Joy, but rest assured, my life isn’t perfect, and I’ve paid a BIG PRICE for my Peace. I guard my Peace like the good Warrior I am, and I don’t allow it to be stolen from me by anybody. Some people think they somehow DESERVE to have it, and some people accuse me of not being a very good Christian because I REFUSE to give away BUT truth be told, the Most High God IS Peace and He’s the ONLY ONE who can pass that along to another.

I’ve learned to surrender, and I go before the Throne of God each morning to seek His Will for me. I don’t have to carry the load anymore, and I don’t attempt to control my circumstances. This is the secret to surrender. I’m letting God be God in my life today, and I have indescribable peace with my imperfect life.

How about you?

Filled With Excitement For The Unknown…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The fields are blanketed with snow this morning, and all is well at the farm after the threat of the “most dangerous snowstorm in decades”. No harm here…no drama, no lost electricity, no worries whatsoever. I’m not one to ponder all the “what ifs” in this Journey of Life, but I’m definitely one to Praise my God when I consider what could have been. With a God who beautifies the fields with one snowstorm and then illuminates the sky with the colors I saw this morning, why in the world would I ever worry about tomorrow? After taking in the beauty, I met with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, and I waited with anticipation for Him to speak to my Heart on this new day of a new week, even though I’m snowed in for now. I’m still grateful for another day of Life and I can’t wait to get on with it to see what the Lord has for me today and every day. It’s a beautiful thing to live with Great Anticipation for what God has in store, and it’s that anticipation that creates a sense of excitement for each new day. No matter what’s on the horizon for this snowed-in new day, it all begins with a Heart that’s been Prepared for the Journey and a Belief that I exist solely for His Purpose. When you have a Life you KNOW has been touched by the Master’s Hand, anticipation is a natural part of the Journey. Isn’t that the way you see each new day, too?

It can be so easy to get excited as we anticipate events that take place in everyday life…that’s just one of the pleasures of living. We get excited about love. We get excited about a new baby. We get excited about the holidays. We get excited about a new job or an upcoming vacation. We get excited to spend time with our loved ones. There’s no end to the things that excite us in the Journey called Life and no way of measuring our anticipation for each one as the time draws near. Anticipation for those good things on the horizon can swing the mood of a new day from ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY faster than you can say “amen,” and that’s a beautiful feeling. It’s one thing to be excited and filled with anticipation for things you’re SURE will take place soon…it’s an entirely different story to be filled with Excitement and Anticipation for a new day filled with the Unknown. It’s only when we wrap our Hearts around the Truth and we accept our Unique Purpose in this Life that we are filled with anticipation about what the new day will bring according to His Plans…and we’re excited about how we’ll be called upon to Serve. This is the Key to Joy in the Journey.

I’m filled with anticipation about any new day, and how my Amazing God might call upon me to Serve, that’s for sure. But what excites me more than anything else…the ONE THING I anticipate more than everything else is the Day the King comes Calling for me. He’s already told me in Black & White what I can expect my Future to be like, and I know it’s only a matter of time before I’ll be there with Him forever. He’s already told me in Black & White how I am to spend my Time…and how I’m supposed to Live and Love…and how I’m supposed to Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everybody I can so that they can anticipate their Future too. It troubles my soul, but I can see why so few people of Faith share the Gospel with the dark world. After all, if THEY aren’t excited…if they aren’t filled with Great Anticipation, then why would they bother to share with anybody else? This new day excites me, but the New Day overwhelms me with Joy, and I anticipate the Time when I will be with the One who died for me more than anything else on the planet. This is the Key to the Excitement it takes to accept (and to do your part to fulfill) the Great Commission.

I have no idea what this new day will bring, but I know I’ve been Readied for the Journey. I won’t overlook a broken soul or someone walking around in the dark, whether the fields are covered with snow or not! I won’t miss an opportunity to do “for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine” because I know what I do for them, I’m doing for Him. I’ll be sure to Reconcile any wrongs in my Life so that I can be forgiven AND so that I can be a better Testimony of His Grace. Just another day? Not on your life! When you’re a child of the Living God…an Heir to Jesus Christ…Royalty….a Life breathed into existence at the precise moment in time for His Purpose…a Vessel to be used to Complete His Plans…how can I NOT be filled with anticipation for every new day?

How about you?

I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW

I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain:
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

Have You Entered The Storehouses of The Snow?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s the day before the “biggest blizzard in decades” arrives in Virginia, and whether that’s true or not, remains to be seen. No matter what man says, or how many ways he tries to create panic, I always wait on the God of all Creation, who says, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail?” Only God knows how many snowflakes will fall and how long the snow will last. Only God knows if He’ll add ice to the equation or if He will raise the temperature and cause it all turn to rain. He’ll do whatever He wants to do whenever He wants to do it…and I trust Him. Sometimes I wonder if the Most High God ever laughs when He sees man trying so hard to predict His next move. No matter what comes, I’m as prepared as anybody can be, BUT my preparations won’t be what will be credited for what “saves me” in the storm – it will be the Hand of God and His Protection that will sustain me through the snow, hail, rain, or sunshine, and I’ll Praise Him through it all. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

When you Trust the Will of God in all things, you don’t allow the noise of the crazy dark world to penetrate the Heart. In fact, you GUARD YOUR HEART with everything you’ve got from all those distractions NOT intended for Good as some would like you to believe. Predictions about catastrophic storms or the overthrow of the government, a swamp filled with corruption, or a secret “cabal” don’t even enter your mind because NONE of those things glorify the God who holds it all in the palm of His Hands! Sadly, I don’t think people even realize that when they spit out facts and theories AS IF God has filled them in, they’re actually spitting in the face of God while they boast about His next move they know nothing about. My God Sees all things. My God Knows all things. My God Controls all things. My God ordains ALL the leaders, and my God causes nations to rise and to fall. My God “gives and takes away” and He numbers the days of each Life. When Habakkuk the prophet questions God about injustice and violence, God said, “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even IF you were told”. One thing I am sure of, NOBODY knows the future and NOBODY knows the Mind of God. With that said, why would I worry my “pretty little head” about all those crazy predictions that only God has control over? You want peace? That’s how you get it!

I guess I should have more patience with all the ones buying into all the madness. Some simply don’t know the Truth, and some are determined to write their own version of it. It should come as no surprise, after all, God said, “Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.” That pretty much explains where we are today in terms of all the crazy predictions NOBODY really knows anything about…only the Most High God with a Master Plan NONE OF US would believe EVEN IF He told us.

We might get a blizzard that will blow my mind, or we might get rain. Either way, the earth is thirsty in Virginia, and every flake or drop will be a blessing. Only God knows for sure what’s coming. The wise prepare but never wonder “what if” as if God has left the Throne temporarily. If He cares about the birds of the air, HOW MUCH MORE does He care about you and me?

God is enough for me…He always has been, and He always will be.

How about you?

Sitting at The Feet of Jesus…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and busy Wednesday in Virginia, and there are lots of things on my to-do list around the farm today, BUT the first thing on my list is always to meet with the Living God. I take my time when we meet…I always have and I always will. When I still had a houseful of kids and a zillion distractions, I made it a priority to rise and shine long before they did, just so that I could have my Time with the Author and Perfector of my Faith. It’s not about how busy you are, it’s about how Willing you are! Sometimes my Time with Him is short, sometimes it’s long, and SOMETIMES I get so lost in Him that I don’t even know what time it is at all! He’s not on my schedule like all of those other little things in my life…He IS my life. I don’t make time for Him…I TAKE time for Him instead, and somehow, the less I care about the time and the other things on my “list”, the more time I seem to have! It’s almost as if He multiplies it because I gave the first and best of what I had to give to Him. Is that the way it is for you, too?

It’s so easy to get caught up in things we THINK we’re supposed to do, or things we believe are “expected” of us, even when it comes to God. Sometimes we’re like hamsters on a wheel, and we run and run, and before you know it, we’re worn out by doing things that have no real meaning at all. There is a story of two women in the Bible who had the privilege of having Jesus in their home as He was passing through. Can you imagine? One of them went to work like a beaver in the kitchen to prepare a feast for Jesus and His disciples. She wanted to please Him in practical and tangible ways. The other woman sat at His feet, hungering for time, and she seemingly couldn’t get enough of Him because of it. I doubt it even occurred to her to leave His presence to go prepare a meal! One was working hard to serve Him…the other sitting at His feet “doing nothing”. When the busy one whined to Jesus about how hard she was working, and she appealed to Him to get the other woman to help her, too, His response was beautiful. “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
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I used to search for things to do to serve, and I’d roll up my sleeves and work like a beaver in an attempt to prove my love to Him…but not anymore. Now I sit at His feet, and I give Him my time, my Heart and my attention, and somehow He points me in the right Direction to those ways to serve that are of the most “value” to Him. Sometimes it’s writing a few words that He puts on my Heart. Sometimes it’s getting tangible things into the hands of someone in need. Sometimes it’s helping someone laugh through their pain. Sometimes it’s sharing a little wisdom that God gave to me when I asked for it. Sometimes it’s Shepherding His flock. Sometimes it’s just loving someone else when the rest of the world seems to have trouble loving them. Whatever it is, I’m ready to serve. I don’t have to do busy-work to “prove” that I love Him, although I’m willing to do it all when He tells me to. In the meantime, I’ll be doing what He loves best – I’ll be sitting at His feet without a care in the world, and I’ll be loving every minute of it, no matter what time it is or how much is on my plate.

How about you? Do you work like a beaver to “prove” you love the King while you refuse to sit at His feet for as long as you can just to be in His presence? IF so, reach out to me. I’ll tell you about people who stay really busy trying to prove things to the King without the Heart to back it up, who will be shocked to hear “I never knew you” one day, and when I’m done with you, you’ll slow down and take your time sitting at the feet of Jesus, too.

El-Shaddai…Always There…Always Able!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and quiet on this new day of a new week, and all is well with my family, this farm, The Well, and the world around me because El-Shaddai (God Almighty) protects it ALL. It’s no small thing to call out to El-Shaddai for help, and it’s no small thing when He Answers. As I sat in His Presence this morning, I was overwhelmed by His Might. I feel His Love and Protection every hour of every day, and I’m forever grateful for Him, BUT when I pause to consider His Might, it’s an indescribable feeling. When I pause to consider the Power of the Living God, it doesn’t make me feel small in comparison to Him…instead, it reminds me of just how much Power is at my fingertips ALL because of El-Shaddai. Isn’t that the way you look at yourJourney of Faith, too?

It can be so easy for people of faith to lose sight of the Power of a Mighty God because they tend to take matters into their own hands more than they place matters into His. But our Power doesn’t come by our own actions, and no matter how resourceful we think we are, we’re never the ones to “fix” whatever it is that’s wrong. It’s always the amazing El-Shaddai at work, even for the most “trivial” things. There are plenty of horrific things going on all around the world these days, and it would be easy to get caught up in them, but El-Shaddai sees it all…cares about it all…is with us through it all…and He’s got it all in the palm of His Hand. There’s a tremendous sense of Peace and Power that comes just by knowing that El-Shaddai is ALWAYS there and ALWAYS listening. The best part is that He doesn’t need social media to speak to His people, and nobody can twist His arm or thwart His Plans. There is Power in His Name.

The Bible says, “You believe that there is one God? Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.” Even the evilest of evil shudder at the mention of His Name, and yet we hear His name mentioned more in vain than we do in Praise these days. Believing He exists is one thing – Living as if you Believe is an entirely different story. When you Believe, you understand the Power that is within you. When you Believe you call upon His Name for everything. When you Believe you fearlessly mention His name, and you’re excited to share Who He is with the world. When you Believe it’s easy NOT to become overwhelmed…even over the simplest of things…because you see His Hand in everything and it’s overwhelming to know that El-Shaddai…the God of all…the Prince of Peace…the Great “I am”… is there with you through it all. When you Believe the tears flow freely at the mere thought that El-Shaddai will never leave you nor forsake you. When you Believe you KNOW there is Power within you, and that all you ever need to do is tap into it. There is Power in His Name.

I spent Quality Time with the Most High God this morning, and I gave thanks for His Power and Might. The more I considered how “big” He is, the Stronger I began to feel. ALL things are possible through Him and I know He doesn’t grow tired of me asking for the “impossible” and Believing those things will come to pass…all because of El-Shaddai – my Mighty God…the omnipresent and omnipotent God of my Life that sees it all…cares about it all…is with me through it all…and Who has it ALL in the palm of His Hand.

How about you?

What Are YOU Doing to Prepare?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. By this time of year, I’m already longing to spend time with the Living God OUTSIDE on the front porch, but the beauty of the snow definitely helps lift my spirits while I wait for Spring. As I sat in the Presence of the Author and Perfecter of my Faith this morning and thanked Him for all things, I considered the snow and how that one simple act of nature can sometimes turn the world upside down. Just one little snowflake can inspire people to take action and prepare for the very worst, doing their part to ensure they stay safe and warm. Many people consider a good snowstorm the event of the year, and they prepare accordingly – all the while, the Biggest Event since the Creation of the world will take place One Day soon, and preparing for that Event never seems to enter their mind. Even though The End is coming beyond a shadow of a doubt…and the Projections are fierce…people put more time and energy into preparing for the snow than they ever do for the Return of Jesus Christ. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

One scary news report about a “possible” snowstorm will empty out the shelves in the grocery stores within a matter of hours as people scurry through like termites. They panic over the idea that they might run out of food, and they buy as if it will be their last meal. They’re afraid of being stranded…they fear they’ll be without electricity…they cut wood and fill up bathtubs as if the end of civilization as we know it is near. Most of the time, even a heavy snowstorm only holds us up for a day or two, and yet plenty of people prepare as if they’ll be facing the Apocalypse instead of a dusting of snow. I wonder how it’s even possible that the threat of one little snowstorm can inspire the masses to prepare for the worst, while they seem to have no interest in Preparing for the End of all Time. “As in the days of Noah”…

The King is coming back as surely as I breathe, and absolutely nothing will stop Him. The Creator of the World set the Plan in motion a long time ago, and our Warning to Prepare has been issued for centuries. There may still be time to grab a few groceries even after the snow begins, but once the King comes back… there’ll be no turning back and no amount of begging will change the course or alter what is already Written. Being prepared for the Event of all Time is the most significant Preparation ANY of us can do…and IF we’re Prepared…we’ll go to the Place where there is no need to ever plan for any kind of catastrophe again! NO MORE PAIN OR SADNESS OR SICKNESS OR TEARS EVER AGAIN! Now THAT is something worth Preparing for!

I lean toward the practical side over things like snowstorms, and I don’t panic over the possibilities because the God who brings the snow is my Provider and Protector too! When the snow falls, I know that there will be enough food in the house for a few days, no matter how empty my cabinets appear to be. I know that I’ll be warm, and if the electricity should go out, we’ll have a fire to keep us warm. Sometimes I drive people crazy with my “carefree” approach to the disasters the world warns us about because they think I don’t take these things as seriously as I should. But when it comes to the Major Event for all mankind, I’M NOT CAREFREE AT ALL. It’s NOT ENOUGH FOR ME THAT I’M PREPARED…I want to be sure to help as many people as I possibly can be Prepared too! It’s not okay that I have all that I need to Spend Eternity in a Place so beautiful that my mind can’t begin to visualize it…I want to fill that Place up with as many people as I can WHILE I can. My Journey is Sealed, and I can’t lose my One Way Ticket, but there’s still plenty of Preparation I need to do…every day…until the End. Preparation of my own Heart to be sure that it’s Readied and Preparation to help others along is my Mission in this Journey of Faith. The outcome for the ones who don’t prepare for THAT “storm” will make every natural disaster they’ve ever worried about look like child’s play…and it will LAST FOREVER! So, I stay Busy every day making sure that I’m as Prepared as I can be, and I reach out to the world in hopes that I can help them Prepare too.

There’s just a little dusting of snow at the farm, and whether there is more coming or not, I sure won’t be panicking over something so simple when there’s a Major Event coming that needs my Time and Attention. It’s a nice thing to help someone through something like a snowstorm…it’s Life-Changing to help them Prepare for the Major Event of all Time…the Return of the King of all kings!

Amen?

The Journey Through Grateful Eyes…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The air may be cold, but the sunrise this morning has the potential to add warmth to ANY Soul…IF they look for it, that is. A cup of hot coffee…a little one-on-one time with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, and I’m good to face the Spiritual Battle all over again. I was born for such a time as this, and I’m Unstoppable! I choose to look at my Life with a pair of Grateful eyes, and I never grow tired of watching the dawn of a New Day. Isn’t that the way it should be with life?

I could watch the sun rise a million times, and each one would be uniquely different than any one before or any one after. No sunrise is ever the same. The sun may rise from the same direction over this farm every morning, but this moment in time will never come my way again, so I choose to savor each sunrise all the days of my Life. Each one is a precious gift and a miracle to marvel at, and I’ll never grow tired of watching the dawn of any new day because it’s how I Perceive the New Day that will Determine how I Live it out.

I could watch a smile cross the face of my child or grandchild a million times, and each one is uniquely beautiful to me. A smile from the same face, but for different reasons than all of the other smiles before or all of the smiles after. I could never grow tired of watching their smiles or the way their eyes join in on the joy of the moment. That moment in time, that reason to smile will never come my way again, and I’ll savor each one all of the days of my life because of it.

I could hear belly laughing echoing off the walls of this old farmhouse a million times, but I’ll never grow tired of that sweet sound. The kind of laughter that is contagious to another and the kind of laughter that can soften the sting of Life in an instant. Each laugh comes for a unique reason…a moment in time that will never pass my way again, so I choose to savor each one all of the days of my life.

I’m looking at my Life with a pair of grateful eyes this morning, and I refuse to take any Gift for granted. One Day I’ll witness my last sunrise of this Journey called Life and that could be a very sad thought IF I didn’t Know what’s in store for me after my last earthly sunrise. On that Day, I’ll step away from the earthly sunrise, and I’ll immediately step into the Presence of the Most High GOD. I’m no expert (yet), but I’ve got a feeling that when I stand in the presence of the Glory of the Lord, He will made alll sunrises look like muted sparks. Hallelujah.

How about you?

He Will Always be Credited for the Outcome!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I kicked off my day with a meeting with the CEO of my life, and I’ve received Wisdom and Direction from my Instruction Manual. It’s when I get myself Prepared from the inside out for what the day might bring that I feel the excitement about what lies ahead, and my Heart sings with joy regardless of my own circumstances. I am a child of the Living God, and He’ll use me today IF I let Him. I’m a child of the Living God, and I’ll be victorious today no matter what IF I let Him lead. I’m a child of the Living God, and if I can just set my own wants, desires, and needs aside and Focus on Him instead, I’ll have immeasurable Joy and the kind of Peace that surpasses all understanding at such a time as this. Isn’t that the way it is supposed to be for every Follower of Jesus Christ?

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t do battle of some kind. That’s just the way it is for someone like me shouting from the mountaintops about my amazing God and His Grace. Sometimes the battle is an attack just because of the boldness of my Faith, and sometimes the attack hits me right between the eyes and rocks my world temporarily because I wasn’t Prepared for the “punch.” Sometimes it gets old, and sometimes it’s a challenge. Sometimes it’s a fleeting moment and just a word or two, and sometimes it’s a Season I must endure in His Name. Sometimes I feel strong enough to overcome it all, and sometimes I feel weak and stumble a little. But like a heavyweight champion in the boxing ring fighting for a win, I refuse to give up or to give in because I know that I’ll be Victorious because of Him every single time. This is the key to Strength.

Some of us are faced with “trials of many kinds,” and the world might wonder why we “suffer” at all if we put our trust in God. Sometimes, even professed Christians go into judgment mode, and as they wag their spiritual fingers in the face of our suffering, they suggest that IF we were living a righteous life, we wouldn’t have battles at all. But there’s no truth to that. It’s when we ignore our Instruction Manual, and we lose sight of the Bigger Picture, that we can ALL be inclined to wonder why bad things happen to good people. God does His best “Work” when He can turn around the circumstances in such a way that ONLY He can be Credited for the outcome. God does His best “work” when the storms of life are raging, and He shows up to calm the sea. God does His best “work” when we give Him the reigns no matter what our circumstances look like, and we do our part in the journey. And when we can stand strong and continue to Praise Him and to give Him Glory, no matter what’s going on in life, His Majesty shines for all the world to see. Hallelujah!

Things look good from the front porch of this old farm every single day, and I am blessed beyond measure that “the boundary lines have fallen on me in pleasant places.” Peace can be felt here, but that peace has nothing to do with me and nothing to do with geography. The Peace comes from Him. All that I am, all that I do, every word that I speak, every action that I take, every battle I fight, every Victory I celebrate is ONLY because He is my God, and I am His child, and I live each day FOR Him. I am now, and will forever be Victorious – HE IS WHERE I find my Strength to fight whatever battles come my way.

I’ll keep shouting from the mountaintops about my amazing God, and I’ll be armed and ready for the battle EVERY day. I won’t worry about the outcome because I already Know that He Holds it EVERYTHING in the palm of His Hand. I may have to do a little more Battling than most people, but that’s okay. God knows that I will Glorify Him no matter what, and that I’ll BOLDLY Share my Journey with the world without pride or shame so that they can see how amazing my God is too!

How about you?