He Fills Up My Senses….

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This was the first morning of this year that I’ve lingered on the front porch long enough to watch God wake up the world despite the cooler temperature, and it was glorious! The sunrise wasn’t as bold and beautiful as it is sometimes, BUT I’m still flying high after the magnificent moon I saw from the front porch last night, so that’s just fine with me. As God turned on the light of the sun, nature began to celebrate, and my Heart overflowed to be front and center on the front porch at sunrise one more time. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, so when I wake up on a new day, I give thanks to the One Who gives me life. This morning, I gave thanks for everything I saw and heard and for the blessing of sight to see and ears to hear. Every little creature seemed to remind me of a Bible verse, so I’d open up my Bible to read the Words that God put on my heart using His creation, and all my senses came to life. I’ve missed my time outside with Him, that’s for sure. To me, there’s just something more Powerful about His Presence when I can witness His Majesty for myself at sunrise, and it’s impossible to describe what my Heart feels when I do. Isn’t that the way you greet a new day of Life, too?

It’s interesting to consider our God-given senses and how often we just tune in to one or two of them ONLY when we need them, and we leave the rest behind until we do. Sometimes we touch, but we don’t feel. Sometimes we see, but we don’t hear. Sometimes we hear, but we don’t look. Sometimes we smell, but we don’t taste. There’s no end to how we tap into one of our senses without even thinking about it, but we often make no attempt to use the others unless we’re forced to. It’s when we lose one of our senses, or when it becomes impaired, that other senses kick in to pick up the slack for the loss without us trying at all. It’s when hearing becomes impaired that sight becomes even more important, and it’s when sight becomes impaired that we learn to navigate with fine-tuned hearing. It’s amazing to see how the body will naturally do what it’s designed to do without any effort from us at all! But when we learn to slow down – when we allow ourselves to take all the blessings of Life in – when we ponder the Majesty of a Mighty God – and when we savor the circumstance we’re in the middle of at that very moment in time – EVERY SINGLE THING within us can come alive through our senses, and when it does, it takes the Appreciation for the Hand of the Living God to an entirely different level.

My Dad lost his eyesight later in life, and I was blessed to have the chance to became his eyes. I described (in great detail) everything I saw so that he could “see” it too. Everything from the clouds in the sky to a good play in a little league baseball game, I did my best to paint a picture for my Dad. Not once in his 20 years of blindness did I EVER hear him complain or question God for taking his sight away. Instead, I heard him give thanks for all the other senses that were “workin’ just fine”. Not once did I hear him whine about not being able to do all those things he used to be able to do. When he could have said, “I wish I could see your smile,” he’d say, “I love to hear you laugh” instead. My Dad LOVED God’s creation, and I learned how to appreciate it all through him. It wasn’t easy watching his sight fade away, that’s for sure, especially because of how he loved to take in the beauty of each new day as it unfolded, too. But the more his sight faded, the more enhanced his listening became, and he lived life to the fullest all the days of his life here on earth because of it. That’s what Gratitude looks like, and I’m blessed to have learned the greatest lessons on Gratitude for my Heavenly Father from my earthly one. His “loss” was my gain.

When I have the chance to meet with God on the front porch at sunrise, I’m NOT taking in the scenery like a sightseer, although the view is magnificent from where I sit. When I meet with the Living God from the front porch, it’s a Spiritual time for me, and ALL of my senses come alive, and I can see the Miracle of His Creation in everything around me. I can hear the birds and the wind. I can smell fresh cut grass or hay and sometimes the faint smell of honeysuckle or lilacs close by. I can taste the sweetness of Heaven, and I can almost touch the Hand of the Master as I allow Him to take me by the hand and lead me every day. It all begins with a Heart that is Surrendered to the King. Unless (or until) that happens, the Heart is blinded to the Beauty all around – in the good times and the not-so-good times – and no other sense can pick up the slack for a Heart that fails to See.

There’s no question this old farm is a beautiful place, and sitting on the front porch is a Treasure. But what brings this old farm to life has nothing to do with the view from the porch! What makes this old farm so special is the Peace of God that can be felt by everyone who pauses here. I invite Him here. I meet with Him here. I celebrate Him here. I surrender to Him here, and I guard my Peace like the gold at Fort Knox – nothing and no one will be taking that away. I ASK for His Peace and Protection here as I pray over every inch of the farmhouse and every acre of the land every single day, and every single one of my God-given senses come alive to Worship Him here with everything within me.

I am His child…He is my God…and this is His farm.

Victory is Mine…Always

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Alpha and Omega first thing on this new day, and I took the steps necessary to Reinforce my Journey so that I’m Equipped for all things. He’s the Beginning and the End and the only way to find Peace in a world so riddled with turmoil. I know that along with this new day will come a new set of challenges too because my adversary stays busy trying to thwart the Plans God has for us all. But I’m a Force to reckon with in this Spiritual War, and I’m a bold Warrior for the Kingdom of the Living God. That’s only possible because I straighten up my Armor and I Prepare for the new things each new day. It isn’t easy sometimes, BUT I’m Unstoppable, and I’m always Victorious because of Him IF I make sure to Prepare for what I may face. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

I can’t think of anything worse than to be a coward at such a time as this, a time of turmoil where the world needs Jesus more than ever. I can’t think of anything worse than refusing to mention His Name out of fear of the consequences. I can’t think of anything worse than denying Him in this dark world by remaining silent, and I can’t think of anything worse than losing my Voice for Jesus. I can’t think of anything worse than hiding my Bible in a Bible app on my phone that no one else can see rather than carrying it around like a statement of Faith everywhere I go. I can’t think of anything worse than refraining from sharing the Gospel because I “don’t know what to say” or relying solely on prayer when I could easily have taken action in His Name. Just the idea of these “worse” things keeps me on my Spiritual toes and more Determined than ever to walk out my Faith boldly no matter what. This is the Key to Victory.

Unfortunately, many people have convinced themselves that they won’t “fold” under pressure for their Faith, but if it could happen to Peter, it could happen to you or me. Peter thought he’d be willing to go to prison or die for Jesus, but all it took was a little pressure from the dark world, and Peter denied even knowing Him. It’s when we stop focusing on Jesus and start focusing on the dangers around us that we fall every single time. Surrounded by uncertainty, Peter sat around the campfire with the locals trying to fit in with the crowd to avoid being associated with Jesus at all, and he lied three times to save his own skin. We know the rest of the story – Peter repented, and Jesus not only Restored Him, BUT He transformed Peter into the “rock” that would preach from the Heart and tirelessly feed His sheep. Peter’s Journey had a “happy ending,” but it’s that part where he violently wept and shame overtook him with just one “look” from the Master. So when I’m Preparing for the new day and whatever it might bring, I think of Peter, and I fix my eyes on Jesus so that denial isn’t even in my vocabulary. This is the Key to perseverance at such a time as this.

It’s a new day, and I’m ready for it all…the sweet Victories that I am confident will come my way AND the fiery darts from hell that set out to destroy me. Without Him, I’m powerless – with Him, I’m Victorious! When you look at it that way, why would I ever NOT take the time to Prepare in His Name?

How about you?

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

An Attitude of Gratitude Goes a Long Way!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was a little too cold to sit outside on this magnificent front porch at sunrise, and I can’t wait for the time when it’s warm enough to be filled with love and laughter again. The front porch is my place of peace. It’s my solitude, and in so many ways, it’s my sanctuary because it’s there where the Lord speaks to me. No matter the season, all I have to do is look at the rockers lined up on the front porch, and my heart sings with gratitude and memories. When the Master lights up the world each day, I see everything around this old farm come to life…including me. Sometimes, it’s as if the birds sing what my Heart feels, and the entire Experience drives me into the arms of the One who died for me every single time. I set out to ask for Wisdom for my plans on this new day and to make a few Requests for my Life, but I ended up in a place of Praise and Gratitude instead. It’s amazing how a place of Gratitude can override every “burden” and fill the Heart with Joy no matter what’s going on or how big the Requests are. When it was all said and done, I was too overwhelmed with Gratitude to ask Him for a single thing this morning. Isn’t that the way it is for you when you focus on Gratitude too?

It would be impossible to list all the good things God has done since the Beginning of all time – David says, “Were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” His Righteousness cannot be measured, and His deeds can’t be counted, that’s for sure. If I were to sit on the front porch making a list of His Good Deeds for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t begin to make a dent in the list of His Goodness. Despite His neverending Good deeds, it can be so easy for most people to put Gratitude on the back burner while they race through the Journey called Life…forgetting to give thanks in the process. One little roadblock…one little “setback”…one little bit of “bad news” and Gratitude goes out the window while they beg for Him to fix those things they THINK are broken. Gratitude is the Key to Peace and Joy, and Gratitude is what propels us forward for Good, no matter how bad things appear to be on the surface – all because we are Confident that the One Who died for us is up to something Good if we’ll just allow Him to Work in our lives. This is the Key to Peace through it all.

I talk a lot about my Trials and Tribulations, all those things that I’ve endured so that my Heart could be Tenderized by the King and so that I could become a Stronger (and more usable) Vessel for the Living God. Today, I’m a Witness of Hope in a dark world and an Encourager to my brothers and sisters in Christ. ALL the trials have “worked together for Good” because I LOVE Him, and I’ve been “called according to His Purpose”, and I am able to recall each turbulent Season with Joy. When you get to the other side of trials and tribulations, Gratitude overflows, and it’s easy to shamelessly share the “bad” that it took to get there because the Victory is always so sweet! I have been Victorious when things appeared to be hopeless, more than most people could imagine. But if I were to be asked about my Blessings…all those things that I have to be Grateful for in this Journey called Life…” there would be too many to declare” too. If I were to sit on the front porch making a list of all the things I have to be Grateful for, the list wouldn’t end until I do. There can be no Peace without Heartfelt Gratitude for the Living God…for all that He is and all that He does for each one.

I set out with my own plans in mind today, but I ended up with a Heart that is feeling what the birds were singing this morning. I’m overflowing with Gratitude for yesterday, today, and forevermore, and I can’t think of anything at all except my Mighty, Merciful, Miraculous God who sent His Son to die for me. The One “who scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name” knows my Name too, and He has it written in the Book of Life. And because of that, I’ll have an Attitude of Gratitude all the days of my Life, and my Blessings and all the Victories will always be “too many to declare!”

How about you?

Birds of a Feather…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a whopping 32° this morning, and the wind is blowing, so it feels even colder than it is. Spring in Virginia is unpredictable and full of surprises – one day it’s hot and the next day it’s cold until FINALLY, Summer arrives and there will be no more bath and forth. In addition to my “normal view” from the front porch, occasionally, I’ll get to see a flock of peacocks running free, and we are blessed to see them when they pass through. I’m not sure how many there are for sure – 5 or 6, maybe more? – but interestingly, we’ve never seen them all at once. The only consistent one we see in the flock is the male. The females come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and they don’t appear to be the same age. All I know is that they are flocking together, and really the only thing they seem to have in common is the fact that they’re all peacocks; peacocks on a mission to search for quality of life. Humans are a little different. We want quality of life too, but we’re only happy if we’re around people like ourselves, and we’ll sacrifice just about anything to find it. The rich want to hang out with the rich and the poor with the poor. The old want to hang out with the old and the young with the young. I’m no expert, but I believe the peacocks might have it right – they seem to laser-focus on their common goal with no concern whatsoever over their differences. Isn’t that the way the Church should be, too?

If there’s one thing Christian people tend to obsess over, it’s how old they’ll be in heaven and how we will recognize each other if we get a brand new, indestructible, eternal body. Instead of obsessing over the fact that Heaven is real and the Qualified get to spend eternity there with no more sickness, sadness, or tears (WOW) people obsess over how old they’ll be, what they’ll look like, and how they’ll recognize their friends and loved ones. Some people even lose sleep at night as they obsess over whether or not the family dog makes it to Heaven, AND some go as far as to say they don’t even want to go to Heaven if their furry friends aren’t going to be there. As much as people fuss over how they look here and how they’ll look in Heaven…as fixated as they can be about hanging out with people their own age…NONE of it matters at all because we’re all just a gift-wrapped Soul. So, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that what we’ll recognize in Heaven is the SOUL of our loved ones, no matter what the new packaging looks like. I’ll know you and you’ll know me because the essence of us isn’t how old we are or what we look like…it’s the Soul. So, when you boil it all down, the ONLY thing that matters (or ever has) is what the Soul looks like to the Living God and whether or not we’re Qualified to be with Him forever.

Nothing brings out our obsession over silly things like being with people just like us than church does. Unlike the peacocks that remain laser-focused on the Common Goal instead of what the others look like, how old they are, how many people flock there, and what’s in it for them, we tend to focus on the outward much more than the Inward. When it comes to the Soul, it doesn’t matter what kind of gift wrapping we’ve been given for our Journey here on earth. It doesn’t matter how old we are because the Soul is timeless (and eternal). Most importantly, the Soul NEVER focuses on “what’s in it for me?” because the Qualified Soul is too busy staying laser-focused on God and the Purpose of our Journey here. To me, it’s very sad to hear people talk about what they look for in a local church as they set out to search for a group of people most like themselves. The same age, the same likes and dislikes, the same music – you name it – and when (or if) they find a church that meets their criteria, they think they’ve found the (almost) perfect church. Some have lost sight of the importance of the Common Goal in the Journey of Faith, and they’re satisfied with remote control church as far away from the flock as they can get. And then there are people like me. I’m in the Soul business, so names, ranks, and serial numbers don’t matter even a little bit…what matters is the Soul. I want to stir Souls up and cause them to laser focus on the Common Goal more and more, and I want to inspire them to toss the personal preferences down the toilet so that they ONLY Focus on the Soul instead. Come to find out, that’s what makes the (almost) Perfect Church – a body of Believers much more interested in flocking together as they reach for the Common Goal than they are “what’s in it for me?”

I’ll be Heaven bound sooner rather than later and there isn’t much in this Life that thrills me the way being with a group of Laser Focused beautiful Flock of Souls does. It doesn’t matter the shape or the size. It doesn’t matter the tone of the skin. It doesn’t matter how old or how young – it doesn’t even matter the quality of Life because as long as we’re Laser Focused on our Common Goal we’ll have EVERYTHING we need to please the Living God through this Journey of Faith. Think about it – the Qualified ones will be “stuck” with each other forever in a place so wonderful that it defies words. With that in mind, who in their right mind even cares if the outside is different than yours? The outside is just a gift-wrapped package hosting the Soul that will live forever. Trust me, you’ll recognize me because my Soul will be all that you see. So, the only thing that REALLY matters is where the Soul will be spending eternity. Now that is enough to motivate me to flock with the others as we chase our Common Goal together…to me, that is what the (almost) perfect church looks like!

How about you?

The Closer You Get to the Cross, the Fewer People you see!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Countless things make this time of year beautiful to me, but absolutely nothing compares to the Time we set aside to Remember what Christ did for you and for me. When I look at this image of the mountain with trees mostly blooming closer to the ground and with just a few scattered green trees at the top, it makes me think about the day of the Crucifixion of Christ and the overall Journey of Faith. I’m sure the ground was filled with spectators that day, some of them salivating in anticipation of Jesus being Crucified right before their very eyes, while some watched in horror. No doubt, a few of them made their way closer to the top of Calvary, just like some of the green trees are closer to the top in this image. But the truth is, the closer we get to the Cross, the fewer people we see because so many professed Christians would rather be spectators than “defenders” of the Cross. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith at such a time as this too?

Soon it will be Good Friday, and I’ve often wondered how it got its name. The “good” is the end result of Jesus dying on the Cross so that we might have Hope and a Future, but there was nothing good about the way it came to be. Good Friday is a solemn day in my Heart each year as I consider the human side of what Christ did for me. He was brutally beaten to the point of being unrecognizable. He was flogged until the skin tore away from His body. He was spit on. His hair was torn out from His head and His beard. A crown of thorns was placed on His head as they mocked the “king” and the thorns pierced His skin. And then, there’s that long journey carrying His cross naked and bloody right through the business district for everyone to see until He was finally hung to die a slow and miserable death on the Cross. Solemn? That doesn’t begin to describe what my Heart feels, and I have a hard time referring to it as “Good” Friday even though the GOOD came ONLY because He was willing to endure what He did. I don’t want a place in the “cheap seats” in my Journey of Faith, and I’ll never be a spectator. I want to keep climbing my way closer to the Cross all the days of my Life. Sadly, the closer I get to the Cross, the fewer people I see.

I pity the ones so focused on Easter egg hunts and beautiful bunnies that they fail to teach their children about what Good Friday is all about. I feel sorry for the ones who gloss over His Crucifixion as if a child can’t understand suffering. I’m appalled by the ones who focus only on the Resurrection while they whitewash all He endured for mankind. Without Friday, there wouldn’t be a Sunday, and without Easter, there wouldn’t be a Christmas. Even our churches are shying away from being too descriptive about what Christ did for us to avoid “offending” anybody. I used to take my kids to a passion play hosted by a nearby Bible church every year at this time. People traveled far and wide to attend. It was graphic. It was so realistic that it wasn’t easy to watch. I can still remember my kids crying as they “nailed” the spikes into the hands of Jesus. Many adults left the sanctuary because they couldn’t bear to watch even a portrayal of what Jesus endured. The actor portraying Jesus was “bloody” and he groaned as he walked down the aisle being beaten. It was heart-wrenching. He was hung on the Cross and it looked so real…and then He was Resurrected! Yes, it was “scary” for my kids to see, that’s for sure, but it drove Home the message of the Cross within their Hearts, and none of them have ever lost sight of what Christ did for us. It was worth it to share with them. Sadly, today, that play is an entirely different story because all the “offensive” scenes have been removed. No miracles. No beatings or blood. No sign of the Price He paid for you and me. Today, it’s a whitewashed portrayal of the Greatest Event the world has ever known. Yes, the closer you get to the Cross, the fewer people you see, and sadly, some churches are taking multitudes with them to the cheap seats to teach them how to be good spectators instead of climbing closer to the Cross.

This is the most important time of year for me. It’s bigger than Christmas or milestone birthdays. It’s bigger than the celebration of new life or a new job. Nothing compares to this time of year! You won’t find me whitewashing what it represents with pastels and candy. I’ve got a front-row seat before the Throne of a Mighty God who sent His son to die for me, and I’m not budging! The closer I get to the Cross, the fewer people I see, and THAT’S what keeps me busy sharing Jesus Christ with the world all year long.

How about you?

My God STILL Performs Miracles!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s warming up a little in Virginia, and although I “suffered” through a few minutes outside this morning, I’m longing for warmer days when I can spend meet with my God on the front porch every morning. The Bible says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life”! When I met with the Living God at this morning, I thought about lots of other things I look forward to with longing. Some of those things are done-deals like entering the Gates of Heaven one day, while things look like “long shots” when they’re analyzed by the human mind…but with God, ALL things are possible. I long for a few long-shots even though they don’t seem possible to anybody else but me and my God, and I long for the day when Miracles are Revealed in Living Color. Don’t you long to see miracles, too?

It can be so easy for some people to express their own opinion of what God can or cannot do, and it’s even easier for others to believe that God doesn’t even perform Miracles today at all. Some people believe that Miracles are just things we read about and that the Bible is just an entertaining history book, and they miss the Glory of God because of it. Some people believe what they read about Pentecost, but the miracles are just things of the past we read about and nothing we could ever expect to see for ourselves. Why would the God of Miracles EVER quit performing them? He’s the same yesterday, today, and forevermore! To me, it’s very sad to see so many people deceived into believing that God’s power is limited and that Pentecost was just a time of show and tell for Jesus. As a result, some of them are just idling through this life with no Expectation of anything BIG from God at all. Hope deferred makes the heart sick.

Sometimes, people laugh when I share what I long for because they just can’t see God doing the things I talk about. But my God can (and WILL) Perform Miracles in my Life until He takes me Home. He’s been proven to be the Miracle Maker countless times, and He won’t stop as long as I Believe and my Heart is in the right place. Time and time again, people have seen God work in miraculous ways in my Life, and those Miracles have left them shaking their heads in disbelief. Yet STILL when I speak of the BIG things I long for with Conviction…things I KNOW will soon come to pass…those same people analyze my Life with the human mind and speak words of disbelief about the God of Miracles and what He’s willing ( or not) to do for me. One day they’ll be shaking their heads in disbelief all over again when they see what my God has done in my Life. When my longing is fulfilled, they’ll see the Tree of Life, that’s for sure, but I won’t be surprised because I Believed all along.

A long time ago there was a woman named Sarah who laughed when angels showed up to announce that she and Abraham would have a baby and that through that child, Abraham would become the “father of many nations.” Sarah laughed because she analyzed the message through a human mind instead of longing for what’s possible with God. I’m pretty sure that if Sarah shared that message with a few of her closest friends, they would ALL get a good laugh over the idea of a 90-year-old woman getting pregnant…but that’s exactly what happened because the God of Miracles made it be so. God has NO boundaries, and He hasn’t quit Performing Miracles…but if we allow the human mind to analyze them so that we can decide if they’re possible or not, then we quit believing in them all together. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

I’m longing for a few things that will soon come to pass one day and I will not waiver in my Belief even though I’ve been longing for a while. Sometimes, I confess to the Living God that I’m weary from the wait, but I NEVER doubt what He tells me, and I’m Confident that my longing will be fulfilled because He says so. When I tell Him I’m weary, the God of All Miracles is sure to nourish my soul for the Journey the same as He did for Elijah. “He is the same yesterday, and today, and forevermore” – OF COURSE He still “performs” Miracles! Nothing is too big for my God – but my God is way too big for some when they fail to Believe that all things ARE possible with Him.

You (Lord) are my Sonshine, my ONLY Sonshine!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I’m ready for this new day after my time with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, a good dose of His Living Word, and a hot cup of coffee. It’s cold and overcast this morning, and my Heart is missing the sunshine, so since I can’t enjoy the warmth outside, I’ll enjoy the warmth these beautiful sunflowers (a gift from my precious friend) bring me instead. I determine to enjoy each new day, rain or shine, hot or cold, and my glass is usually half full. This time of year can go from the feeling of a warm summer day to freezing temperatures and then back again from one day to the next. I am confident that the sun is always waiting just behind the clouds and that nothing is predictable in the Spring in Virginia. When you think about it, isn’t that just the way it is in this Journey of Faith too?

Some people don’t LOOK for the sunshine because they enjoy having frost around their hearts year-round instead. It’s as if they enjoy being “a victim,” and it’s their mission to put the world on notice that they were wounded at some point. They refuse to allow the warmth of the Son to melt the cold away as if they’ll somehow lose their strength if they let it go. They strut around with a cold heart as if it’s something to be proud of, and they have every excuse imaginable for why they refuse to let go of an offense. These people can hold on to something someone did to them like a snapping turtle year after year, refusing to let go as if refusing forgiveness will (in some twisted sort of way) get even with the one who wronged them. Their emotions can flare up in a heartbeat as they recount the wrongs, and they relive the events as if they just happened yesterday. Some even wish for horrible, hurtful things to happen to the one who caused them pain, while others stretch “tape” around their lives like a crime scene, daring anybody to cross the line. They carry the weight of unforgiveness around like a sack loaded with rocks, and no matter how weary they become from the weight or how injured they become from the stress, they REFUSE to let it go. Unfortunately for these people, their glass is always half empty, and they would never know what it means to be content with a few sunflowers in place of the sun.

I know that when I go before my God and ask for forgiveness for my wrongs, they are “as far as the east is from the west” because the Bible says so. The Ultimate price has already been paid for me and my sins and I find indescribable comfort in knowing that as soon as I confess them, they’re forgiven. Remembering this is the Key to being able to forgive others, too. I’ll NEVER forget what a “wretch” I was before Jesus found me, and I’ll never grow tired of embracing the Price He paid for my Sins. I didn’t earn it. I didn’t deserve it. I could never have paid it on my own. This is the way I see it – if He could save a wretch like me…if He could lay down His life to pay the Price I couldn’t pay myself…if He could meet me where I was and Love me just as I am, WHO DO I THINK I AM TO WITHHOLD FORGIVENESS? The Key to being able to extend forgiveness to people you don’t believe deserve it is to NEVER lose sight of the price He paid to forgive YOUR wrongs. His Rules are pretty simple – if you want His Forgiveness, then you better be willing to extend it to someone else no matter what they’ve “done” to you. I wouldn’t want to be you if you refuse to forgive, that’s for sure.

I’ve experienced some serious wrongs in my life, and I’ve been labeled a “doormat” countless times as I’ve picked myself back up and then “let it go” over and over again. I’ve heard every reason under the sun for what I “should” do to get even – always under the guise of “making the wrongs right” as if God has exceptions to His own Rules about forgiveness. Those advisors may be able to fool themselves when they “justify” hateful thoughts and deeds, but they can’t fool God. What I don’t understand is why they would lift a finger to make things right when they can leave the reckoning up to a Mighty God instead. The Bible says, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” so I can’t think of a better way for the wrongs to be made Right than to Trust the Living God with the outcome. He already knows it all, and He will have the ultimate say. His forgiveness is the ONLY forgiveness that ever really matters.

I’m an imperfect woman striving to live a Life that is a good Reflection of my King. I’m determined to look at the Bright Side, and my glass will remain half full all the days of my Life. I’ll do my best to “plow my own field” instead of concerning myself with the “fields” of others. I won’t carry a grudge or refuse to forgive someone who wrongs me today, and I’ll do everything in my power to let the Light of my Faith shine on this overcast day. I’ll be satisfied with a beautiful jar full of sunflowers in place of the sunshine, and I’ll be focusing on the Nourishment these flowers needed to grow into something beautiful. I want to be like the flowers – clinging to the basic things to find Nourishment, Strength, and Growth. As long as I keep reaching for the Son, I’ll find everything I need.

Just think…He reached my Heart with just a few sunflowers; imagine what He can do for you!

How Important is Religion to you?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was windy and chilly this morning, and even though I didn’t stay there for long, I stayed long enough to take a deep breath of fresh air and to thank the Living God for another day of Life and Service to the King. It’s a typical Virginia Spring, that’s for sure. One day, I’m savoring the view from outside on the warm front porch; the next, I’m dodging the cold and opting for comfort and warmth inside instead. It’s a small price to pay to be willing to endure the cold for any length of time outside with the Living God, but the Journey of Faith isn’t always a comfortable thing. Sometimes I’m stretched, and sometimes I’m tried, and sometimes I am uncomfortable as I Walk this walk with Him – but those tiny little things in a much bigger Picture make every sacrifice worthwhile as He Grows the Faith of this Willing Servant. Isn’t that the way it is for you, too?

I laugh when people refer to me as “very religious” because I’m not religious at all. I’m ready, willing, and able to serve my God whenever He’s ready for me, and I’m always listening out for the Call. I’m no expert, but from where I sit, the Flexible ones in the Bible – the ones ready to Follow His Instructions no matter where it took them or even if it made sense to them at all – they had the favor of God, while the ones riddled with rituals and obsessed over the “rules” were ridiculed by Him. That’s enough for me! So, I remain flexible and free, and I’m not bound to “tradition” or ceremonial things that define so many others. I learned a while ago that it doesn’t matter what denominational club I might belong to – it doesn’t matter what “religion” I believe in; the ONLY thing that matters is what Truth I believe in, and from where I sit, there is only One Truth.

Faith is a strange thing when you think about it, and it can’t be understood or defined in the flesh. It’s something felt from the Inside, and it is something that defies logic. The Bible says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” I’ve had some of the highest I.Q.s on the planet attempt to debate things written in the Word of God as if they’re trying to save me from my own stupidity. But they don’t understand Faith (yet), and their arguments are wasted on me. Not just because the Bible instructs me (us) NOT to argue about such things, but because I’m unshakable. I KNOW the Truth. Religion can always be debated, theologies can always be scrutinized, and people can be swayed in one direction or another when they focus on “religion.” If that were not so, there wouldn’t be hundreds of denominations in the world and churches on every street corner – a clear picture of what it looks like when man can’t agree on the Word of God. All I know is that when you KNOW the King of all kings…when you KNOW the one and Only Truth…when you Walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh…the only thing that moves you (or matters) is Him.

I’m fairly knowledgable about what the Bible says, and I can pull out the Truth whenever I need it – but that’s not a sign of my head-knowledge, that a “sign” of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me instead. My Faith is like that of a child…Trusting and awestruck and forever Leaning on One bigger than myself. If His Word says that Jonah was swallowed up in the belly of a big fish or that Jesus and Peter walked on the water, then I don’t doubt it for a single second, and I don’t need it explained to me. I Believe with my Heart and not with my head, and I am confident that God is pleased because of it. It’s a sad thing to see the human mind fight against the Spiritual things to make sense of them, and it’s a sad thing to see people blinded by religion while they lack the Spiritual entirely…the only way to a Relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter the “religion” or philosophy – no amount of debating over theologies or the latest and greatest “religion” being sold to the world…one day EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord whether they believe it (now) or not. My “job” is to share the Good News with as many people as I can so that they bow on their knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord while they still have time to Serve Him too! I don’t care about recruiting them to one religion or another – I care about recruiting them to the Jesus Team.

People from all walks of life (and belief systems) can sometimes be drawn to me like a moth drawn to light, but it isn’t because I’m religious that they’re drawn to me. It isn’t my personality that draws them to me, and it’s not my twisted sense of humor or my ability to thread a good story. People can be drawn to me NOT because I’m “very religious” but because I’m very Spiritual, and the Spirit of the Living God can be felt through me when they’re in my presence. They’re drawn because I am the “light of the world” and the “salt of the earth” just like the Bible says that I am, and as a Living Breathing Child of the Living God, it’s not so easy to ignore me. Being religious doesn’t minister to the heart at all, but being Spiritual, now that’s an entirely different story. Being Spiritual means taking on the nature of the One Who died for me, and being Spiritual means I love unconditionally and I refrain from judging the life of another. Being Spiritual means that I walk the Walk and I talk the Talk, and I love others enough to want them to have what I have. Being Spiritual starts on the inside and it permeates through every cell in my body…just the way Jesus says it should be. Being Spiritual involves a whole lot of Light and salt and very few rules and regulations. This is the Key to leading more and more people into a Relationship with Jesus Christ.

I don’t have a religious bone in my body, and I’ll keep it that way. I’ve worked hard on the Spiritual side of me this morning with a little sacrifice and with a childlike Heart and there is no doubt people will see Him in me today because of it. I’m a child of the Living God. I’m heaven-bound. I’ve been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. I’m on a Recruiting Assignment, and there’s not much time to get my Job done before He calls me Home – and THAT’S what I care about the most. Not manmade denominations or manmade rules, or manmade rituals…JUST HIM. It’s pretty simple – He died for me – I live for Him.

How about you?

Do you strut around so proud of your denomination or your local church as if you’re the only “good ones” in town, and are you so religious that you’ve lost sight of the Spiritual? IF so, reach out to me. I’ll tell you about the Pharisees…the “religious” experts of old times, and what Christ thought about their “religion” and I’ll explain Grace and Mercy to you in a way that maybe you’ve never heard…and when I’m done with you – you’ll be a whole lot less “religious” and a whole lot more spiritual too!

The Message of the Cross…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Spring is springing in Virginia, and it seems like even the birds are celebrating the way I am. I’ve had my most important meeting of the day with the One who died for me, and I’ve picked up some Wisdom and Direction from my Instruction Manual. Like a bird perched on the highest limb it can find, I’m on top of my World too. Life looks a whole lot Clearer from here, and I can see my Journey with 20/20 Vision when I’m Living Higher and when I’m reaching for the Son. What a sweet Reminder to me directly from the Throne of a Mighty God this morning. If He “keeps my path straight” and if I’m “the apple of His eye”, how could I ever be surprised when He sends the Sweet and Subtle messages my way?

The Sweetest Message ever known to mankind is the message of the Cross, and somehow, so many people manage to complicate it OR avoid it entirely. Lots (if not most) people of Faith stay pretty busy talking about God, and His Word, and “His Ways” and ALL of that is Good….but unless the Message of the Cross is loud and clear FIRST, none of it means much at all. The world is filled with “experts” on the Word of God but so many of them completely miss out on the Sweet salvation message, and they don’t mention the Message of Hope that is ONLY possible because of the Cross. No matter who is or who IS NOT bold enough to speak up for the sake of Salvation, the Core of our entire Belief system as Christians comes down to the Message of the Cross. Sadly, even countless pastors refrain from mentioning the Cross, or hell or sin for fear of offending the flock. But I’m thinking that a large portion of their flock will be pretty offended when they die not knowing the Message of the Cross and their destiny looks a whole lot different than they were told it would be from a pulpit. Just sayin’.

The Message of the Cross is the Most Significant message of all…and it’s one that ALL people are commanded to share!

It’s a Simple Message and it’s the ONLY Message of Hope. It’s at the Cross that the biggest Sacrifice was made for all of mankind….from the beginning of time and until the end of time… and it’s at the Cross that Love was Defined. It’s at the Cross where the burden of ALL of our Sin was “washed away” and all the consequences that go with it was taken on by Someone we’ve never “met”. It’s at the Cross where we meet Him, and we “thank Him” by accepting Who He is and What He did for you and for me…and it’s at the Cross where we find Hope and Freedom and a Future.

It’s pretty simple when you think about it…We either accept the Message of the Cross and the One who died to Pay the Price for you and for me that we might have Life Everlasting OR we reject it and have eternal damnation. The Message is Simple enough for anybody to share…and when Eternity is involved, it’s not optional to refuse to share it. This IS what we’re ALL commanded to do, but it’s the one thing that most people of Faith refuse to do. For the ones refusing, it might be time to evaluate the Simple Message of the Cross all over again…because if they don’t see the significance and they refuse to share…perhaps they need a Reminder of the Gift and the Price all over again themselves.

I’ll be sharing the Message of the Cross today, and every day, for all the days of my Life because without Him, I could do nothing…without Him I’d fail…without Him I’d have no hope…without Him I’d be lost…without Him I’d have a Future in Hell instead of in the Place He has Prepared for me. Because of the Cross, my Future is bright, and my life is eternal.

How about you?

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry”

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I made up for lost time with the Living God this morning – after a season of “quiet,” He spoke to my Heart in Overdrive today, and there are no words to describe what my Heart feels. My Instruction Manual tells me to “wait patiently,” but it’s not so easy to be patient when God goes quiet because I need Him more than I need air. I won’t understand why He goes quiet until I enter the gates of Heaven, but I’m sure He has Good Reason. One thing is for sure: when He goes quiet, I get busy examining my Heart to be sure I’m not the reason for the quiet. After that, I wait patiently for Him and He always shows up in His Time. Isn’t that what you do when He’s quiet too?

I’m not sure that most people know what it’s like when God goes “quiet” because they fail to settle down long enough to hear from Him in the first place. Perhaps they spend their time reading as if they’ve been given an assignment, or maybe they spend their time making requests. Some people set a timer to limit the Time spent as if God should fit inside a convenience box and as if He’s on their schedule instead of the other way around. It’s possible that some people have never even experienced what it’s like when God speaks to the soul, and they don’t know what they’re missing at all. When God Speaks to the soul, it leaves you breathless, excited, at peace, and always hungering for more. The mere thought that the God of the Universe loves us enough to Speak to each one when He’s ready is overwhelmingly beautiful in ways that defy words. I feel sad for the ones that don’t slow down long enough for Him to Speak.

God is God, and He goes “quiet” whenever He wants to and always for Good Reason…but when He’s quiet, we sure shouldn’t be! He never leaves His Throne. He never sleeps. He never takes a break. He never turns His back on one of His own. He hears every prayer. He counts every tear. He’s always there! Once you know what it’s like for God to Speak to the soul, you never want to leave His Presence, and it’s unsettling when He goes quiet. So, the first step is always to search the Heart for Good Reason for Him to go silent. In some ways, our relationship with Him isn’t a whole lot different from all the others. When a loved one goes quiet, we start scrambling to find out why – why would it be any different in our Relationship with God? Once we’re sure the Heart is in Good Condition and that we’re not the reason for the silence, it all comes down to patiently waiting for Him to “hear our cry”…and He always does. Needing to hear His Voice more than we need air is the Key to being willing to do whatever it takes on our part to “break the silence.”

My Heart is overflowing with Joy and Gratitude after God showed up and He spoke to my soul this morning. Day after day, I still crawl into His Presence…I praise Him…I thank Him…I confess my wrongs…and I seek His Face, ESPECIALLY when He’s quiet. As long as there is breath in my body, I’ll be doing my part to Please Him because I need Him more than I need air.

How about you?