Good morning, world. Things are looking good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia this morning. Watching the Master wake up the world is one of life’s greatest pleasures for me and one that I rarely miss out on if I can help it. I savor each morning as the gift that it is, and the sunrise is like the unveiling of this magnificent journey called “today”. As the sun peeks through on the horizon, I wait for enough light to read the Words God has for me today with anticipation. Waiting on God to move isn’t always as easy or as enjoyable as sitting on this front porch waiting for the sunrise in the sky. Sometimes waiting on God can be the truest test of my Faith, but I’ve learned the hard way not to rush things along in life. I’ve learned to wait on God. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?
Though I know that everything I have, all that I am, my every breath, my everything comes from Him, and I know that He loves me enough to have sent His only Son to die for me, I can’t presume to know the mind of God. Even though I know that He hears my every prayer and they are like “incense” to Him in Heaven, I can’t presume to know the mind of God. Even though He stores up my tears in a jar, savored and treasured by the King Himself, I can’t presume to know the mind of God. Even though He says that He’ll never leave me or forsake me, and yet sometimes He feels so distant to me, I can’t presume to know the mind of God. Even though He says He knows the Plans that He has for me, I can’t presume to know the mind of God. Even though He has unveiled Plans for my future that haven’t come to completion yet, I can’t presume to know the mind of God. The One who set the stars in the skies and calls each one by name has a Plan for my life, and I’ve learned to trust Him with the reins EVEN when I sometimes ache to see Him work in MY timing and not His. I can’t presume to know the mind of God.
Waiting on God sure isn’t easy sometimes, but it beats the alternative. Every single time I’ve taken action of my own to speed things up in my life, I’ve paid a very high price for my actions. God wants me to wait on Him, to trust Him, and to keep Him in the driver’s seat in my life. Through hard knocks and heartbreak, I’ve learned to surrender to Him and His timing. I “let go and let God”. This is the secret to my Peace and my contentment. I can’t presume to know the mind of God, even IF I tried. Besides, who in their right mind would insist on carrying all the burdens of this Journey called Life when there is a God of all Creation ready, willing, and able to manage every detail without help?
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was thirsting for God this morning the way the earth thirsts for water, and I couldn’t wait to enter His Presence and pour my Heart out to Him. It’s Labor Day today, and this year we’ll be exchanging a holiday cookout for a day of rest and peace…and that’s just what is needed. A lot is going on in my life (as usual), and there are a million moving pieces. There are a few strained relationships that need healing, so I’m inclined to “own” these things and let stress overcome me if I’m not careful. So, I turn to my Source of Life, to the One who has the Power to make everything alright. He’s my Rock. He’s my Fortress. He’s my Deliverer. He’s my Strength. He’s the One Constant in Life. He’s the One who will never leave me nor forsake me! He never disappoints. He never stops loving. He never stops forgiving. He always has time for me. He cares about every aspect of my life. He’s Jehovah Shammah – the One who is always there! Most of the time, just thinking about Who He is sets my Heart in Praise mode, and when I’m in Praise mode, what I want from Him pales in comparison to Who He is to me. That’s what Love looks like.
I could write a prayer list that would wrap around the entire state of Virginia a few times of all those things…those requests…those people in need of His Hand. I could go to the War Room and pray for days upon days for all those things in my own life and in the lives of others. I could pray from sun up to sundown, and I’d never cover it all. Sometimes I wonder what they did years ago when prayer requests were made known. Did they take the time to chisel the requests into stone to be sure they wouldn’t forget, or did the Request get chiseled into their Hearts instead? I pray throughout the entire day for lots and lots of things chiseled into my Heart. When someone asks me to pray, I take it seriously, and those Requests become chiseled into my Heart so there’s no need for me to write them down. After all, being asked to pray is an honor and therefore not something I need reminding to do. The Heart is where Love and Compassion are found, and God hears every thought. But it all begins with Praise for the One Who hears the prayers of His people. When we draw near to Him, He draws near to us! Without that, a prayer list becomes more like a wish list handed over to the Author of Life.
I know God counsels me “even when I sleep,” and it comforts me to Know that He doesn’t just “watch over me” but that He’s inclined toward me day and night because I love Him and He loves me. When someone “pops into my head” I begin to pray because I don’t believe the “pop into my head” was coincidental at all. When someone “just happens” to show up – I begin to pray because I don’t believe in chance meetings. When some random thought about something going on in life “pops into my head” I don’t dismiss it – I pray. My children and grandchildren “pop into my head” all day long each time they do, I pray. I have a Time with the Living God set aside each morning…a Time to Praise…to give Thanks…and to make my Requests known to Him…but my Time with Him doesn’t end there. I commune with Him all day long, no matter what’s going on around me. I pray throughout my day for people who are chiseled into my Heart – and because He’s chiseled into mine – He knows every thought, every prayer, every need without referring to a list at all.
I woke up parched and thirsting for Him this morning, and He filled my Heart to overflowing as I gave Thanks for Who He is. My Heart is inclined toward Him, and His is Inclined toward me. I’ll be praying throughout this entire day and into the night… and even when I sleep, He’ll counsel me. What a Mighty God I serve! He says, “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name, AND THAT is why all is well with my Soul no matter what’s going on around me.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I headed to the front porch to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and what I saw from the window was like the open arms of the Living God inviting me to join Him…and I couldn’t wait to be in the Presence of the Love of my Life. It’s there where I find my Strength for my Journey. It’s there where I receive my Wisdom. It’s there where I feel Love like no human being has the capacity to show. It’s there where I find my Peace. I “pay my dues” to have a Faith like mine – it doesn’t “just happen,” and it wasn’t always this way. I won’t reach Perfection until I go Home, but as surely as I am Strong today, I know I’m inclined to be weak too IF I don’t do what I need to do to remain Strong. Isn’t that the way you work out the Journey of Life too?
Faith is a process that takes a lot of Work, but if we refuse to put in the time and effort, we can’t grow. No seed can be planted and then left alone to thrive or not…at least not if you planted the seed intent on seeing it bear fruit. Just like anything else we set out to master, it takes lots of time and commitment to perfect. We try, and we fail. We take a step forward and then three backward. Like a toddler learning to walk, we stand up, and then we stumble over and over again. But with a whole lot of falls, and even more persistence, the toddler becomes a walking expert, and before you know it, the toddler learns to run. What’s true for the toddler is true for the Journey of Faith – it takes time, persistence, and a whole lot of stumbling and falling to become an Expert. This is the Key to Perseverance.
It’s easy to see how so many People of Faith are stuck in the past, and many of them haven’t grown much at all since they first Believed. Some are still living like toddlers – they keep stumbling, never perfecting the Walk. Sometimes they continue to do the same things they did before they saw the Light because they failed to put in the Time to Grow. They say the right Words most of the time, but their Lives don’t Reflect their Belief because neglect has thwarted their Growth. Sometimes people are stuck because nobody helped Guide them to the Truth and they were left on their own to sink or swim. Unless they learn to Build their Strength for the Journey, they’ll likely sink and spend their days below the Surface of what’s possible for them. Unfortunately, we’re quick to judge people of Faith who don’t Reflect their Belief, but instead of trying to Show them the way to Grow we leave them to their own demise.
People of Faith who have never learned to Grow don’t always know that what they’re doing or saying goes against the Living God UNLESS we lead them to the Truth with Love. “Tough Love” has no place in the process because it’s not fair to apply tough lessons to those who have not even matured enough to understand the wrong! That’s like stomping on a seed because it isn’t growing or taking it out on a baby with no ability to reason yet. To Christ, there’s no such thing as a “big” sin or a “little” sin…it’s all the same to Him…He died for ALL. It’s in His Presence where we learn to remove the plank from our own eyes, and before you know it, contempt and complacency get replaced with Compassion. This is the Key to becoming a Faith Expert.
I’m an imperfect woman living an imperfect life, but I serve Perfection, and I seek His Face every day. Because I’m Mature in my Faith, I usually see my wrongs fairly quickly, and I can’t wait to ask for Forgiveness and make my peace when I do. I won’t be leaving anyone in the dust if I can help it, and I’ll be a Reflection of what Faith should look like so that others see Him in me…and hopefully, they’ll be Inspired to become a Faith “expert” too…that’s the Goal.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week, and I refuse to squander it because there will never be one just like this one again. I’ve looked toward the east every morning for decades now, and I’ve never seen a sunbeam shining near trees that are so dear to me…and I may never see it again! Since I won’t have the chance to relive this day, I’ll be sure to give it everything I’ve got when it comes to what the Living God has Planned for me, and I won’t let the sun go down with regrets. As long as I do what He wants me to do, and I live my Life the way He tells me to Live it, this day will go down as a day to remember for all Eternity. Isn’t that the way you look at each new day too?
It can be so easy for most people to let each day blend into the next without noticing much difference between them (outside of the weather), but that’s because they don’t understand the Significance of each one AND they don’t accept that each day has a Unique Purpose of its own. How bizarre for people to think that the God of all Creation would roll out a new day that has no significance at all… but most people live as if that’s the case. How bizarre to think that the Author of Life would create people just to knock around through life for however many days they’re allotted, without a Unique Purpose for each one…but most people live as if that’s the case. The saddest part is that most people live their entire lives that way UNLESS they’re taken to the place where genuine Gratitude is found.
Usually, overflowing Gratitude is found when we face GREAT adversity OR when something happens to threaten our number of days. Without a “push” from the God of Love, most people don’t get to a place of Understanding the Significance of Life and how their Life plays into God’s Bigger Picture…and sometimes they run out of allotted time before they ever Fulfill what they born to do.
It may seem strange to us that God would use Pain to Prepare His servants for Greater Service, but that’s just the way God works. God created all, and He knows our nature well. He KNOWS that without a little “push” to wake a Servant up, most of us would do nothing Significant at all. God knows that the human heart is incapable of voluntarily stepping into situations that take us beyond our comfort zone, and He understands that we’re inclined to take the easy way out in Life. So, He intentionally brings us into Hard Places to Refine us – to build our Dependency – and to drive us deeper into His Grace. Paul was blinded on the road to Damascus, and when God opened his eyes (in more ways than one), you can bet Paul understood the Significance of each day from that day forward. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace and supernaturally protected from harm. You can bet they understood the Significance of each day after that too! I was thrown into a deep pit of adversity, and my life was turned upside down in ways most people could never imagine. My understanding of my Significance and my Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does was refined through my pain. So, if you ever find yourself wondering how I can consider each day a Unique Gift with a Unique Purpose of its own, that’s because the God of all Creation chose to Refine ME for a Purpose far greater than myself, and it required turning up the heat and breaking me down to get me to that place where Gratitude is found and Purpose is Fulfilled. Hallelujah!
This day might look like others you’ve seen before in the photo in this post, but you can bet I don’t see it that way. I’ll Live out this new day like the Gift I know it is, and I won’t leave any stone unturned. I’ll be looking for what He has for me, and I’ll be Willing to step up when He tells me to….and THAT is how and why each new day stands out from the countless others I’ve lived. I found Gratitude the hard way, and I Live like it.
Don’t forget that this is a day that the Lord has made – when it’s over, it’s gone forever, and tomorrow is promised to no one.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s one of those cool, late-summer mornings, and the Fall is beginning to show itself in the sky little by little. I took my time in the presence of the One Who died for me, and I’m savoring every single bit of this New Day from the inside out. What I feel on the Inside sometimes makes its way outside, and I’ve been known to SHOUT “Glory!” or “Jesus!” as if the Love for my Savior is being released so that my Heart won’t burst. I’m EXCITED about my God and what He’s doing, and it shows in how I Live, how I Love, how I pray, and how I “shout”. When I looked at these mushrooms, they reminded me of me. These mushrooms have taken a beating by the mower, by kids, and by the weather, and who knows what else, but they refuse to stop growing. They can’t express excitement of any kind, but I can, and when you mix resilience with excitement for Jesus Christ, it’s a game changer in the life of a born-again Believer. I like to imagine what it would be like if the Church got so excited about the imminent return of Jesus Christ that the ground shook and the walls rattled. THE MOST exciting Day of all time is getting closer by the minute, and the mere thought of that Day inspires me to make a little noise of my own. Today is just another day to most of the world, but not to me. This Day is getting my undivided attention like all the ones before it because I know that One Day soon I’ll look up to see the Son of God, and He’ll be looking for me! Isn’t that the way you consider the Day that draws near, too?
It’s pretty amazing to live in a time when things like hurricanes or a solar eclipse can be predicted, and the whole world can be put on notice long before they take place. With a hurricane, we’re told where to take shelter, and with a solar eclipse, we’re told to use protective eyewear because the eyes can’t endure what it sees without it. The time of arrival for a hurricane or solar eclipse can be narrowed down with precision, and there’s no question about what time of day these things will happen. The news channels buzz for weeks beforehand, and the virtual highway gets loaded up with photos, predictions, and fear-mongering. People stock up on food and water and double-check generators before a hurricane, and some people have block parties to witness a solar eclipse. The “wows” over something like a solar eclipse on a clear night can be heard from one corner of the world to the next by way of the virtual highway, and in some places, maybe the excitement even tips the Richter scale. It’s amazing to see the human reaction to the Hand of God, even when He doesn’t get acknowledged for who He is at all. But One Day, He will show up out of “nowhere” in the blink of an eye, and despite all the warnings to Prepare for that Day, many people will be caught off guard, unprepared, and left “in the dust” all the same. Warning them to Prepare is what keeps people like me Busy in the Journey of Faith. Like a watchman on a hill, I KNOW what’s coming, and because we don’t know the day or the hour, being Prepared every minute of every day will be the Key to Victory.
One day, in the not-so-distant future, it won’t just be nature rattled by the changes it sees in the sky; the entire world will be too when the Son of God shows up without any warning at all. No meteorologist or astronomer will be able to predict the day or the hour, and the world will not be put on notice by the local news. No priest, pastor, or one who claims to know the future will be able to predict the time of His coming – even the Son of God doesn’t know that – He’ll just show up without warning at all. The Son of God won’t be showing up to entertain the world with His Presence, and no special eyewear will shield the world from Him OR help them see Him more clearly. The world will be watching when He shows up to gather His people, and in the blink of an eye, people like me will cease to exist on this earth at all. At that very moment, there will be planes without pilots, cars without drivers, classrooms without teachers, and families without loved ones. No amount of shouting and screaming that takes place when a good play is made in a sports arena can hold a candle to what the world will sound like when the Son of God shows up to gather His Own. Like a father ringing the dinner bell to call his children home, the Son of God will sound a Trumpet that will make the Richter scale feel like child’s play to call His Children Home to be with Him forever, and no amount of doubting in the world will change the fact that this Day will come without warning. All the doubters and all the mockers will have something in common eventually…every single one of them will bow to their knees in His presence and declare that He is Lord one day.
I’ll be ready when the greatest “solar” miracle in the history of the world takes place, and I’ll be looking toward the Heavens in anticipation of the Son of God coming back for ME. We may not know the day or the hour of His coming, but we’ve been told about a few things that needed to happen before He’s ready to come back, and they’ve all taken place at record speed. I’m Excited about His Coming because I’m Ready. I’ve been resilient, and I’ve taken a beating in this Journey of Faith, much like those mushrooms…I don’t give up or give in because I KNOW what’s in store for those who Persevere. Sadly, lots of people won’t be so excited when they realize that they missed out on Preparing for the Day, and it will be too late for them to be a part of that Miracle.
I’m ready and waiting…how about you? Will you be prepared to see the Son of God with no warning at all? If you’re not sure, reach out to me. I’m happy to introduce you to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I’ll help you find your way to the Truth that will set you Free and lead you Home. Before you know it, you’ll be a lot more excited about the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ than you ever could be over something like a soccer game or a solar eclipse, and you’ll be doing your Part to tip the Richter scale right along with other people like me!
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day in my Journey of Faith, and I spent my Time in the Presence of my God being made Ready for whatever He has for me. He “reads me like a book” when I spend time in His Word, and I’d be so lost without my Roadmap for Life. When I looked out across the fields, I realized that no matter how long and hard I take in the view from the front porch, the beauty I see isn’t seen with the eyes at all but with the Heart instead, and it bubbles up for all the world to see just the way it does in the Journey of Faith. The more time I spend in His Presence…the longer I read His Word…the more my Faith bubbles up from the inside out, and it’s impossible for the world not to see. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?
It can be so easy for people of Faith to set aside their Instruction Manual and one-on-One time with the Living God for Sunday mornings only – although I don’t understand how or why. When the Heart is filled with Love, how can anybody be satisfied with just a small dose of time now and then? How can the beauty of Faith bubble up for all the world to see if we fail to spend Time with the Author and Perfector of Faith…the Source of ALL Love? Far too many people rely on having a one-way ticket to Heaven because they believe the ticket will never expire and that it cannot be revoked. They see our Savior as a very generous guy in the sky, and they don’t believe He looks for anything in return for “redeeming our life from the pit”. So, they park themselves in a spiritual recliner and become spiritual slugs in the process. They don’t care much about building a RELATIONSHIP with the God of All Creation because they’ve been deceived into believing they don’t need to. The saddest part of all is that they stand the Risk of hearing “I NEVER KNEW YOU” One Day. Just the thought of that keeps me Bubbling my Faith all over my world every single day in hopes that I can share the kind of Truth that can Save them. These people expect God to reach down and fix this broken world without them having to lift a finger or Speak a Word of Truth – and although He CAN, He expects His People to do their part too. Sadly, lots of people wouldn’t Recognize the Truth if it hit them in the head because they haven’t tuned in LIVE with one-on-One Sessions with the Living God. If they did, He’d set their Path Straight, the same as He has mine.
I’m in the Final Chapter of Life, and I’ll be here Working harder than ever before until I draw my last breath…and THAT’S when “the fun” begins! I’ll be with Him FOREVER AND EVER, and I won’t be sitting back in a recliner or parked on a puffy cloud in Heaven – I’ll be busier than ever when the dress rehearsal here on earth becomes my Eternal reality. It all begins with the kind of Beauty that bubbles up from within, and it’s only made possible by spending time with the Master of it all.
How about you?
Psalm 103:4 – Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I had the most important meeting of any day with the Living God to give my thanks, my praise, and to make my requests known to Him. Although it’s destined to be another hot summer day in Virginia, the temperature this morning was 60°…perfection! We’ll be hosting the family tonight for dinner, and there is no doubt we’ll find our way to the front porch before it’s all said and done. Over the years, there have been all kinds of “meetings” that have taken place on this front porch. Sometimes it’s with the family, sometimes with a friend, and there have been plenty of business meetings hosted from the front porch too. No matter who I find myself spending time with on this old porch, the conversations always seem to evolve into discussions about my faith and my God. Peace lives here, and it can be felt by everyone who visits, whether for business or for pleasure. Although the great view from the porch gets a whole lot of credit for that, the farm isn’t the source of the peace at all.
Peace isn’t something we see…peace is something we feel. Although peace can be enhanced by a beautiful setting, peace erupts from within the heart, and it can fill the senses of others around the source of the Peace. Peace feels like a warm summer breeze and a breath of fresh air all at the same time. Peace prompts relaxation, and it often leads to a transparent heart because the heart feels safe to be in the presence of Peace. Peace always resonates with love, and peace can feel like the warmest embrace you’ve ever had because of it. Once you experience true Peace, you never seem to get enough of it. Like a moth drawn to light, others are drawn to the Peaceful ones. Peace is a treasure and a precious gift, but peace doesn’t come easily, and peace is something that needs to be guarded all the time. It’s when we don’t guard our peace that others will try to steal a little bit of it for themselves, as if taking yours away from you will grow theirs – but it doesn’t work that way.
This old farm in Virginia is a blessing beyond measure to me, my family, and to everyone who visits. It has flaws and unfinished projects in every direction, but that doesn’t seem to matter much to those who drop by. The Peace always seems to outshine the flaws, and before you know it, everything about this old farm is beautiful to them from the inside out. For those who already share my faith, they understand what’s behind the farm and where the Peace really comes from. For those who haven’t embraced my faith (yet), they’re still trying to figure out why they feel so good when they visit the farm, and that’s my open invitation to share Jesus Christ with them! He is the reason for the Peace I love and guard with everything within me. “Peace like a river”.
I’m one of the Peaceful ones, and although I’m always willing to share my heart, my Faith, the front porch, and anything else that I have…NOBODY has permission to disrupt my life or rob me of my peace. I’ve been criticized for rejecting a few “needy” ones along the way, but I know that it’s the enemy that comes to rob, kill, and destroy, and I see trouble coming from miles away. Peace will always come first because Peace is the center of my Relationship with the King of all kings.
I’ll be guarding my peace today like I do every other day of my life. I’ll turn all the troubles over to Him, because it makes no sense for me to “own them” when He’s the Lighthouse of my Life. I’ll look to fill the needs where I can, and I’ll do my share of loving and encouraging today. I’ll even toss out a little Wisdom while I’m at it! I serve the Prince of Peace, and I know what it feels like to live a Life filled with Peace…and it shows… especially from the front porch of this old farm. If anything or anyone comes along with the intent of taking my peace from me, I’ll just close the door and refuse to surrender it.
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One who died for me, and I invited Him to examine my Heart for anything that might be in the way of my relationship with Him. I want to be ALL that He Created me to be, so if there is anything in my Heart that is displeasing to the Living God, I need to purge it. Some people challenge me about the intensity of my faith, and they often suggest that I need to relax and enjoy the ride. If they only knew just how much I’m enjoying my walk with Jesus, they’d choke on those words. The root of their problem is that they don’t understand my God, and they’re in the dark because of it! My God is the definition of compassionate, loving, generous, kind, and patient. He is a zillion Wonderful things I strive to be, BUT the one thing He is NOT is tolerant. The Bible says that “it’s a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” – and we’re told to “work out salvation with fear and trembling”. The Author and Perfector of my Faith is so beautiful that there aren’t even words to describe Him, but He’s not one to “mess with”. Tolerance has no place in the Life of a Believer in Jesus Christ. Isn’t that the way you see it too?
It boggles the mind how so many professed Believers in Jesus Christ have been deceived into believing that God will put up with anything. He’ll FORGIVE anything – and He’ll forgive over and over again (thank you, Jesus), but God will not tolerate the things that go against Him forever. After all, He flooded the entire earth to destroy all those people determined to go against Him. He will NOT be mocked. We’ve changed the heart of an entire nation by pushing tolerance as if that’s what good people do. But “good people,” aka God’s people, are taught to “love the sinner but HATE the sin,” NOT to love the sinner and tolerate the sin. The true “test” of our relationship with Jesus Christ is to walk out the Journey with enough Love for others that we can genuinely love them while we hate the things they do against our God. The Living God expects us to warn them about the consequences of sin! We will not find the favor of God by tolerating all those things we KNOW go against Him. “Choose this day whom you will serve.”
If you know your Bible, then you know that God separated people out by tribe to avoid corrupting His Words and His ways. He ordered people not to marry into a tribe that worshipped other gods, and when His people ignored His warnings, there was a horrible price to pay. He’s the One True God, and He’s a jealous God. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, and although there is no limit to the sin He will forgive, we must repent and acknowledge the wrong before the Throne of a Mighty God. He will NOT tolerate our romance with people who serve other Gods…period. “Choose this day whom you will serve.”
We (God’s people) have gotten far off the mark of righteousness, all in the name of tolerance – tolerance for things that God does not and will not tolerate EVER. Don’t confuse His patience and His desire that none would perish with tolerance. We like to believe that all religions can live peacefully despite the fact that we don’t worship the same God, but that’s not true. Our jealous God will show Himself in a mighty way one day soon, and the dark world won’t even know what hit it. Sadly, many professed Christians will get caught up as they strive to be liked by our enemies, but not me. The Word says, “they will hate you because of me,” so the way I see it is that if I stand strong for Truth and I refuse to be a part of a popularity contest that embraces sin, then I’m going to be pretty hated while I’m still here. “Choose today whom you will serve.”
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God as the sun made its way over the farm, and as cool as it was in the early hours, it’s destined to be a hot day in Virginia. The sun was burning on my face while God was burning in my Heart, and the combination took my breath away. My life is always overflowing with “projects,” and if I’m not careful, I’d be doing more leading than I am Following. So, no matter what’s on my plate for this new day of a new week or how busy I know I’ll be, my first priority is always going to be getting ME prepared to take care of my part according to His Will. Isn’t that the way you prioritize your busy life too?
Most people claiming to be Christians today THINK they’re followers of Jesus, but I’m not so sure about that. I’m NOT questioning their belief system – I have no right to judge at all. It’s pretty simple, though – believing in Jesus Christ is one thing; being a Follower of His is an entirely different story. While many may have convinced themselves that they are following Him, what they’re really doing is expecting Him to follow them. They call Him Savior, but do they treat Him as King? Do they ever really surrender to His Will, or are they too busy holding on to their own? Are they really ready to follow His lead, or do they refuse to “let go and let God? Are they ready to obey like a good servant no matter what they’re told to do or where they’re told to go? Hmm…a new perspective for most. THAT’S what a surrendered Life looks like and what it means to be a Follower of the King.
It’s human nature to be inclined to take on the Leadership role in our Faith, and most of us feel better about life when we remind ourselves that He is always there. Some of us will drag Him around through life like our favorite toy, and we brag about not going anywhere without Him. We want Jesus right there beside (or behind) us, ready to serve our Purpose or to fulfill our will. We may talk a pretty good game about our God, but when it comes down to it, are we truly letting Him lead us OR are we expecting Him to follow and to take care of all of the needs in our lives while He’s at it?
It’s pretty risky to ask God to “use me” because when you do, He’ll start preparing you, and you just never know what He’ll ask you to do or where He’ll tell you to go! Sometimes when He directs us to do something, it makes perfect sense in the human mind, and sometimes it appears to make no sense at all from where we sit. If we’re leading the way in our Faith, we’ll never do those things that make no sense to us! We may start praying about it, and some will say, “I know what God wants me to do, but I’m waiting for Him to work things out”, but then they sit around and wait for things to make sense in the human mind before they’re willing to do what they “know God wants them” to do. These folks aren’t really willing to Follow at all…at least not unless it makes perfect sense in the human mind and unless God provides all of the puzzle pieces to snuff out their fear (the real reason behind why they won’t budge). But we can’t just pray, as things depend on God before we take action… we have to WORK, as if it depends on us! It’s when we Follow His Lead AND work with all of our Strength that amazing things happen in His name!
I’m a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I’m a Follower of His. Sometimes I let doubt and fear get in the way, just like everybody else does, and when I do, I recognize that I’m no longer Following His Lead in my Life at all, and that’s when MY will begins to take over. But I’m determined to be a Faithful Follower of His, and I’ll let Him do the leading all the days of my life. Because when He leads, miraculous things happen every single time.
How about you? Do you SAY you believe but refuse to Follow and are you keeping Jesus in your back pocket like a “good luck charm”? If so, we NEED to talk. I’ll show you in Black & White what it means to be a Follower of His and I’ll reveal to you the beauty behind Surrendering to His WiIl and not your own, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be willing to Follow the King of Kings even when it makes no sense in your human mind at all AND you’ll be soaring in your Walk with Him like never before!
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” Matthew 16:24-25
Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God with a cup of coffee in hand and a Heart willing to learn. I don’t have frills or formality when it comes to meeting with my God, because I’m His student, He’s my Teacher, and He loves me just the way I am. I’ll never be old enough or smart enough to stop Searching for what God has for me or for ways that I can become more of what He Plans for me to be. Being a Light in a dark world and a Willing Vessel is one thing…to have the mind and the HEART OF A CHILD, excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up” is another. So, I meet with Him with Humility, and I Search His Word with no agenda of my own whatsoever EXCEPT to Hear what He has for me today, AND to stay on Course with the Plans that were set in motion before the foundations of the earth. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?,
The world is overflowing with know-it-alls, but when it comes to God’s people, there’s no room for that! Some people have become Bible scholars, and they can point in the Direction of just the right Scripture without even thinking about it. The Word of God is embedded in the hard drive of their mind, and they have instant recall at will. But if the Bible scholars aren’t careful, they’ll live Life like a walking encyclopedia, and the more they rely on their intellectual side, the farther they seem to get from that place of Humility. They’ll no longer have the Heart of a child – eager to learn and excited to spiritually grow up. Others seem to be stuck in Bible student mode, and they’re in every Bible study they can fit into a busy schedule. The Word of my God is highlighted and tabbed, and notes fill up all the empty spaces on the tattered pages. They have the Heart of a child, excited to learn and eager to grow up, but they so often remain in perpetual student mode, and they never take the step toward Application. For the perpetual Bible student, there’s always something else to learn BEFORE they believe they’re ready to “go forth and tell”. The interesting thing about living like a child is that not only are we eager and excited to learn all the days of our lives…we’re fearless too! We learn to Trust our Father to lead us in ways that no man is Qualified to lead and to Trust Him, especially when it doesn’t make sense.
It takes the Heart of a child to follow His Lead, even when we’re scared, and it takes the Heart of a child to find Humility. It takes the Heart of a child to be willing to Surrender and to be obedient to the Voice of God. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that there are consequences for our wrongs that can’t be negotiated or intellectually reasoned through. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that we don’t know it all and that we never really will on this side of Heaven. It takes the Heart of a child to Believe that when the Father says something, it’s true…and it is never questioned. It takes the Heart of a child to live outside of fear so that we don’t just read about “how to ride a bike”, we actually get on the bike and ride – and if we fall here and there that’s okay too, because the falling here and there makes us better and Stronger as we master the art of “bike riding”. It takes the Heart of a child to cry and to admit that we’re Powerless on our own. It takes the Heart of a child to easily extend Forgiveness, and it takes the Heart of a child to Love unconditionally. It’s ONLY when we live and Love like a child that we can please our Heavenly Father…the Teacher, the Redeemer, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith…the ONLY ONE who Knows it all.
I’ve spent years in the Living Word of my Living God, and it shows. I understand that head knowledge doesn’t do me any Good unless I move it from my head to my Heart and apply it to every area of my life. I’m excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up.” I’ll strive to have (and to keep) the Heart of a child when it comes to my God, all the days of my Life, that He might be pleased with me.
How about you?
Matthew 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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