The Shadows of Doubt…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. With a book light to illuminate His Word and a hot cup of coffee to warm my body, I set out to meet with the Light of the World in the dark as I waited for Him to wake up the world. The same God who Lights up the world is the One who Lights up my Heart, and when both of these happen at the same time, it’s a feeling that cannot be described. I had allowed doubt to creep into my head somehow, but when I turned to my Instruction Manual it was all washed away. I needed the help of a book light to read my Instruction Manual this morning but the Word of God has a Light of its own – one that’s bright enough to reach every corner of my Heart. I was given a Message of Hope to encourage me for the Journey, and a swift God-like kick as a Reminder that nobody lacks anything they need to Accomplish what He Created them to do. By the time the sun had fully risen, my Spiritual shoulders were Squared again and I was following the “Lifter of my head” with every beat of my Heart – And NOW I’m off to shed some Light on this dark world without a shadow of doubt within me. Isn’t that the way you deal with your doubts too?

It can be so easy to surrender to doubt if we don’t “take captive every thought” and if we’re not careful, doubt will cripple our Walk and hijack our Journey. It takes a little more effort these days to defend ourselves against the attack on our thoughts because we’re surrounded by the unknown and the Enemy is raging. But if we allow the Enemy to use circumstances (or people) to get inside our heads to feed our doubt, it won’t be long before we’re Living and Leading with our minds instead of our Hearts. Doubt doesn’t come from a good place, and doubt sets out to Destroy. There is no place for doubt in the Life of a child of the Living God and no justification for living out our faith with our head instead of our Heart. Doubt causes us to wait until we’re ready to move, instead of moving when God wants us to. Doubt causes us to keep our mouths shut about things like Salvation and Righteousness because we doubt we’ll have the “right words” or we doubt that others will still like us when we do. Doubt can stop the best of us in our tracks, and doubt will lead to destruction. To proclaim that we Believe, but then doubt the One we say we Believe in, only makes us hypocrites with churched-up words. To proclaim that we Believe, and then doubt that He will carry us through no matter what He’s asked us to do in His Name, only makes us hypocrites with churched-up words. The tongue and the mind can be two-edged swords, and each one can easily reflect a Fractured Heart when we fail to put in the Work to be sure that we walk the walk that we talk about every single day. When we forget what “fiery darts” look like, and we forget that they come from the darkest place, things like doubt can easily creep into our thoughts. The Shield of our Faith in the Light of the World is the ONLY remedy for doubt…but it takes work to remain Strong for the Journey…something many people of Faith aren’t willing to do.

These are the Words from my Instruction Manual that removed my doubt and refreshed my Soul this morning in no time at all -“When they saw the courage of Peter and John AND REALIZED THAT THEY WERE UNSCHOOLED, ORDINARY MEN, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Two “unschooled, ordinary men” performed miracles in His Name…they proclaimed Hope in His name…they risked their lives and their freedom in His Name…they changed thousands and thousands of lives in His Name. Did they have courage? Of course, they did! They were walking in Faith where Courage is found! There was no doubt living inside of them and no doubt holding them back! Two “unschooled, ordinary men” walking in Faith…and we’re still Learning from them today. Some might argue that these guys were chosen by God and therefore they had an extra measure of everything they needed – BUT God chose you and me as surely as He chose them, and He has already given us everything we need to Serve in His Name too…without a doubt. There is more Power and Strength available to every Child of the Living God than they could possibly imagine, all because they doubt the Living God and His Word. Doubt has no place in the Life of a Child of the Living God. When we allow doubt to creep in, our actions will follow every time…and destruction is just around the corner…guaranteed.

I needed a firm Reminder about my Heritage this morning and I found it in His Word at daybreak. I’m a Child of the Living God and there is no longer any doubt within me. I’m Royalty. I was hand-picked by the Master to do His Work. I’ve already been Equipped with everything I need for Success. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is my God. As long as I do my Part to be sure that I don’t let things like doubt creep into my head and my Heart, this “unschooled, ordinary” woman will do astonishing things in His Name, and everybody I come in contact with will KNOW that I’ve “been with Jesus.”

How about you?

“Bless me, O my Savior, bless me as I sit low at Thy feet

Oh, look down in love upon me – let me see Thy face so sweet

Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus, make me holy as He is

May I prove I’ve been with Jesus who is all my righteousness”

The Heart to Please…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was cold this morning but nothing that a hot cup of coffee and a warm blanket couldn’t handle, so I ventured outside for a few minutes to say “good morning” to my God and to fill my lungs with fresh country air. One day soon it will be too cold for comfort and we’ll be doing all of our morning meetings inside. Until then, I’ll go to extremes to Meet with Him outside even if for just a few minutes. This morning I gave Him my Praise, I gave Him my Thanks, I gave Him my Requests and then I ventured into His Word to see what He has for me…and He was Full of Surprises. The same Words that I’ve read so many times before took on New Life today because that’s the way His Spirit speaks to my Soul! A willingness to Meet, coupled with a Heart to Please equates to Messages that nobody else on this planet could ever get across to my Heart. Isn’t that the way it is when you Seek what He has for you too?

It’s a Blessing to have a Life full of family and friends who have your best interests at heart, but nobody offers Advice and Direction t he way God does. He sometimes uses His people to Confirm what He has in mind, but He Speaks for Himself if we just ask Him to (and believe He will). He can Heal a hurt, Remove fear, Reveal the Truth, Mend a Broken Heart, and force us to make U-turns in the blink of an eye, and He’s Ready to do all these things when we are Willing to Meet with Him with a Heart to Please. There is no place for doubt in the Life of a person of Faith, but sometimes when we turn to people for the advice we should be getting from God, we can become consumed with doubt based on their man-made input. If we feel the need to ask family and friends for approval for what we “think” God wants us to do, then it’s time to go back to the Drawing Board and build a Stronger Relationship with Him to be SURE about what He wants. When we have the Heart to Please Him, He gets First Priority, and we’ll push against the flow of our family and friends regardless of how hard they push back. When we have the Order of Business right, and we have the Heart to Please, we can count on Him to send a Messenger to Help us in the Journey, and when that Messenger Speaks we know it came from God and not from the opinion of man. It’s pretty amazing how God Works the relationships out and how He uses everybody for His Purpose WHEN we’re willing to Meet with Him for Direction and we Have the Heart to Please.

It’s impossible to make everybody happy, and sometimes we find ourselves working hard to please the world around us instead of having the Heart to Please Him instead. We look for approval from everybody else and we easily forget what Pleases Him when we do. We strive to “keep the peace” but until He comes back there is no real Peace. We pick and choose what part of His Character we’re willing to take on, and we kick all the difficult pieces aside for comfort. We rub elbows with lost people every day and we keep our mouths shut about Hope all because we fear what they might think of us when we do…and they’ll often die before they find Hope because of it. As people of Faith, we WILL find ourselves working against the flow of the world if we’re doing the Work of the Lord, and we’re inclined to settle into “comfortable” when we do. But when we’re diligent about Meeting with Him and we have the Heart to Please…sitting back is never an option and the opinion of the world dims in comparison to what He Calls each one of His Children to do. When He gives us Marching Orders He will open doors and pave the way – He’ll give us the Help that we need to do His Work – He’ll surround us with Protection – He’ll give us the Right Words and the Strength to do whatever it is He’s called us to do…if we have the Heart to Please Him, that is.

I wish I could make everybody in my world happy but it is not possible. I live out my Faith with Love and Compassion and I’ll extend Kindness to everybody He sends my way…with no regard for their status in life and no matter what they might think of me when I do. It Pleases Him when I “love thy neighbor as thyself” and it Pleases Him when I go about my Father’s Work trying my hardest to do my Work reflecting His Character within me. The Willingness to Meet and the Heart to Please can produce the Miraculous in the Mighty and Merciful Name of Jesus. Imagine that.

Is there any other way for a child of the Living God to live?

Seasons of the Heart…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Fall is my favorite time of year and it’s impossible for me not to shout for Joy for all that He is and all He does for me while I take in the crisp, cool air and the vivid colors surrounding me in the Fall. The Bible says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” and the longer I live the harder it is to understand why everybody doesn’t see God in everything the way I do. I marvel at the Hand of God and how He has a Purpose and a Perfect Plan for each of the Seasons – from Spring to Summer to Fall and then to Winter with each one bringing beauty and blessings of its own. No two days are alike and no two Seasons are the same. To me, they just keep getting better and better while God Himself orchestrates the crescendo of Life that builds upon each new Season along the way. Wow! Isn’t that the way the Journey of Life is supposed to be for all of us?

I’m in the Fall season of my life and often joke with family and friends about being “old”, but I’m not old. I’ve been Seasoned by the King for such a time as this and I’m just getting revved up in my Journey. My Heart has been softened over time through the Trials and the Tribulations of Life, and my mind is filled with Wisdom that has been given to me abundantly every time I’ve asked for it… just the way God promises to do. I have Fire in my belly for the Living God and a Passion for my Journey and it shows in my eyes and it can be heard in my laughter. No amount of wrinkles or saggy skin can take away from the ME inside because of it.

My Priorities have been put into Perspective in the Fall season of my life and my Workload has increased as God finds me fit to do more and more work for Him. I’ve learned more about who my real enemy is in this Life, and I’ve put in the time to learn how to fight the fight that leads me to Victory every single time. I’ve never struggled with being Grateful for the Blessings in my Life, but the Fall season adds clarity to the Bigger Picture and I see well beyond my own life and far into Eternity…and for that, there are no words for my Gratitude.

The Spring of my life was filled with turmoil and uncertainty and I spent that Season living on the edge, hungry for success and thirsty for money. I managed to overlook good things in the Spring, and I made some mistakes that led to lifelong consequences. But the sweetest Gifts came to me in the Spring of my life despite myself – God gave me 4 children and it was through those children that I came to Know, to Love, and to Trust Him. I was softened in the Spring season of Life.

The Summer season was spent holding on tight to raise a family on my own and struggling to find the balance between my family and my work. My Faith was made stronger through the Summer as I held tight to the only Hope I had to see me through. I was “forced” to seek the Hand of God to help me lead my children to a Faith of their own…a legacy of Faith that will last for generations to come and with an Eternal Blessing that I can’t begin to imagine. I was strengthened in the Summer season of Life.

I don’t know what the Winter will bring for me. I don’t think about it a whole lot because I’m too busy savoring the Fall, but I DO know that if God has a Winter season planned for me, it won’t be wasted ON me. I’ll keep striving to be all the best that I can be for the Living God and I won’t squander even a single day. I’m pretty sure that you’ll see the Holy Spirit fire in my eyes and you’ll hear the belly laughter of Joy all the days of my life, and you can BET that I’ll be doing the Work of the King until He takes me Home. When I get to Heaven, I’ll be doing more of what He’s Prepared me for here! My Job Description has already been written, and My Name is written in the Lambs Book of Life! The Seasons so far are just a Dress Rehearsal for what’s in store for me One Day and THAT excites me. I was born for such a time as this and I’m in the “right” season and the Perfect moment in Time!

How about you?

Yesterday a Memory – Tomorrow A Dream

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up the way I always do…filled with Gratitude for another day to Serve the Author and Perfector of my Faith. Living is one thing…living with Purpose is an entirely different story altogether so I have Purpose in mind this morning. The Fall season has officially set in, and every day looks different than the one before while nature heads toward winter. As I sat there looking at the changes that have taken place since yesterday, I thought about Life and how each one of our days is different than the last as we head toward the “winter” too. Yesterday becomes a memory, and tomorrow becomes a dream. Today is all we really have to work with and our greatest opportunity to Live, to Serve, to Share..and to Love. Isn’t that the way you look at the new day too?

It seems to be so easy for people to live in the past or in the future while they squander away today – some are “stuck” in the past while others are so focused on the future that they forget about the blessings of Now. Today really IS like “the first day of the rest of your life” and today is all we have any control over whatsoever. We can’t change what we did or didn’t do yesterday, and since tomorrow is promised to no one, all the things we dream of for tomorrow should be focused on today. If there is any Unfinished Business like asking for forgiveness or making our peace leftover from yesterday, today is the day to make it right. If there is an unspoken “I love you” or a word of encouragement that could change the course of another, today is the day to speak. If there is anyone in our world that has never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, today is the day to Share it. If there is anything within us that holds us back from all the things the Living God has for us, today is the day to move forward in His Name. There’s no end to the things that should be reconciled on a new day and there is seemingly no end to the putting off. Yesterday is only a memory now and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to an Abundant Life in all the ways that matter.

Some people have a “near-death” experience that puts things in perspective for them…at least for a little while. But every day is a near-death day for all of us because tomorrow is promised to no one AND YET, we have so little regard for the frailty of life that we’ll put off the important things as if we have all the time in the world. When you look at it that way, how can any of us dare to squander even one day? There is a past that needs to stay in the past and a future to dream about. The Bible says “Without a vision the people perish” and that “hope deferred makes the heart sick”, so looking forward with longing is a good thing for the heart and soul. It’s when we linger in the thoughts of tomorrow while squandering the today’s that we stand the chance of NOT living long enough to see what the Heart has been longing for. Yesterday is a memory and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to living Life to the fullest in all the ways that matter.

I’ve been on top of the mountain and deep in the valley and every place in between…but my past is now in the past where it belongs. The only piece of the past that has any Value for today is the Wisdom I gained in the Process. The “bad” has been Forgiven and the Trials have become my Testimony which is shared with the world today with Purpose. I have Dreams for my future and I take steps to fulfill them every day BUT my future isn’t here yet so I Focus on Today. Today will be the most spectacular day in the history of me! This day will be filled with Gratitude and countless surprises straight from the Throne of a Mighty God. The past has become but a memory and the future is only a dream, but I have TODAY to do Good in His Name and I can’t imagine a better way to spend any day allotted to me.

How about you?

The Best Part Of Me (and you)….

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped out onto a cold front porch this morning with a hot cup of coffee, a hunger for His Word, and a desire to be Taught by the Author and Perfecter of my Faith. It’s a new day of a new week in this Journey called “life” and if I want to be ALL that He Created me to be, then I need to put my Relationship with the King of all kings above all else. It’s almost as if I could hear the voice of my Father as the world around me scurried around looking for sustenance. The birds need food for each new day – they can’t store provisions away like the squirrels can and they always seem happy to find what they find as they continually search for more. I think we stand to learn a few things from the birds when it comes to living each new day for what it is without a focus on what we’ll have tomorrow. Undoubtedly we’ll find a whole lot more Peace in the process when we rely on the Living God for it all.

Humans are much more capable than our feathered friends but our lives are similar in many ways when you think about it. We have a sense of security as we approach each new day even though there are very few things that we can actually bank on. We know that the sun will come up and the sun will go down and if we’re still breathing, we’ll enjoy them both…at least one more time. We know that we’ll experience a lot of happy days throughout the journey of life and we know that we’ll experience some sorrow. Most of us know that we’ll have food on the table and a roof over our heads today, but there are no guarantees that we’ll have these things tomorrow. We can store up our food for the winter the same way the squirrels do around the farm, but there is no guarantee that it will be there for us tomorrow when we need it. We are loved and we love back, and it’s those things of the Heart that bring the greatest joy in this life…but there are no guarantees that the ones we love will be there tomorrow for us to love so we need to Treasure the time we have today. It’s only when we consider how frail (and how brief) our lives really are that we learn to live each day to its fullest and we learn to appreciate what we have today without much worry about tomorrow…just like the birds.

We know for sure that one day life on this earth will cease to exist for each of us and that our days are Determined by the One who gave us this life to live. Life could cease on this very day, or it could cease decades from now, but it will cease for all. One day we’ll be here, and the next day we won’t, and if we live our lives with any Depth at all there will be a void when we cease to exist here on earth. But the part of us that will die is the LEAST of us, and although it will get buried or burned one day, THE BEST OF US will go on forever. We know for sure that the Choice we make for the Best of us will determine where we’ll spend our Forever. Some people see their lives like the birds of the air – here today, gone tomorrow and when it’s over it’s over…and even though that makes no sense at all, it makes me sad to see how shallow their perspective is. Some people live on the edge, and even though they know that the choice they make for the Best of them needs to be made, they’d rather take their chances and roll the dice that they’ll be able to make the Decision to Surrender before they draw their last breath. Some of us Understand what this life on this earth is really all about, and we Know with absolute Certainty what Life will look like for us for all of Eternity based on our Choice for the Best of us. We look at Life a whole lot differently than the rest of the world does, and we Understand that what we have today may be gone tomorrow because “the Lord gives and takes away”. We Live out our lives like those carefree birds at the farm…we give it all we’ve got to give on each new day and we don’t try to plan too far ahead. We Understand where our Sustenance really comes from, and we don’t fret about our provisions because we Know that “the righteous will never go hungry”. We have “Peace that surpasses all understanding”, we have Joy no matter the circumstances, and we have a Lifetime Guarantee that will be honored for all of Eternity. When you look at it that way, how could anybody NOT make a choice for the Best of them?

I will enjoy every second of this new day and I’ll do my best to make it my best. I am confident about the Best part of me and I’ll be ready and waiting to explain my Lifetime Guarantee to anybody He puts in my path today. Some of them may fly away and they won’t give a second thought about the Best part of themselves BUT there will always be some that want what I have, and when I tell them about the Master Plan, they’ll make the Best Choice for the Best of them too. I’m just a soul wrapped in a package. Although the outside of me will weather and age and one day it will wear out for good, my Soul aka known as the Best Part of me will live on for Eternity.

How about you?

There’s Only One Battle Plan…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s finally dipping into near-winter temperatures in the morning so I won’t spend as much time outside at daybreak until Spring. The bad news is that it’s too cold to linger – the good news is that the sunrises are magnificent in the Fall. I focus a lot on what goes on in the sky from the sunrise, to the harvest moon, to zillions of stars I can’t begin to count AND I’m looking out for Him in the sky every day. The “key” to all the disturbing things we see in this dark world today can be found in the heavens – NOT in a political party or a fit or unfit candidate. No amount of “reporting” can reflect the mind or the Will of my God and no amount of fighting will change the Outcome. I like to think that IF the warriors in this battle against good and evil could bleed, the sky might look something like this because my God can turn anything ugly into something Beautiful…and I already Know Who wins the War. More than ever before I am being Reminded (and comforted) that what the Bible tells us about our struggle is NOT (ever) against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms and that the Battle I have been forwarned about is being played out right before my very eyes. With my mind, it’s troubling to consider the future of America BUT with my Heart for the Living God and what He’s already warned us will come before He does…now THAT excites me!

From where I sit, there are only about eighteen inches between Heaven and Hell…the distance between the head and the heart. Knowing who Jesus is and being able to quote Chapter and Verse of the Bible is meaningless unless (or until) Faith is driven so deep into the Heart that it is Unshakable. At the first sign of trouble, the intellectual ones will begin to speak their own commentary on things they can’t begin to explain because they don’t know the Mind of God, and without realizing it they become pawns of the Devil when they do. When Daniel faced the lion’s den he didn’t waste his breath trying to talk his way out of his circumstances – instead, he trusted the outcome to God. When the disciples were beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus they considered it an HONOR to be found “worthy to suffer” in His Name. Unfortunately, far too many (professed) Christians are attempting to fight the Spiritual War based on their intellectual perspective and they’re falling right into the Devil’s schemes because of it. They seem to have no idea that they are powerless because they insist on “using” weapons that have absolutely no power over the battle in the spiritual realms. Intellectualizing what we see with our eyes doesn’t impress the One Who died for the Heart. He wants us to look toward the Heavens and not focus on the world ESPECIALLY when things are troubling. He wants us to Focus more on His Word than all the other words from all the other sources combined because what they say doesn’t hold a candle to what He says. He wants us to be Stronger (and braver) than ever before and to have “peace that surpasses understanding” at such a time as this so that the world will see where we place our Trust. He wants us to put on our Full Armor and Fight the way He taught us to. He wants us to face evil and to laugh in its face because the Power we have when we battle in the name of Jesus will send the evil one(s) running back to Hell. How can we feel threatened, scared, or weak when we are empowered at the mention of the name of Jesus?

As the world gets darker I spend much more time with Him than I do in this world to be sure that I’m Armed and Ready at all times. I know how to Fight in the name of Jesus Christ and, with Him, it’s not possible to lose. Although I have an opinion (and a preference) just like everybody else does in terms of this election, the winner will be who the God of all Creation allows to rule for a season…period. Nobody tricks Him, nobody steals from Him, nobody surprises Him, and nobody cheats or beats Him. He’s the ONLY Commander in Chief to hang your Heart on, that’s for sure. More than anything else at such a time as this, every professed Christian should be more Focused on God’s next move much more than the political moves designed to spin our circumstances. God holds the world in Palm of His Hands…He always has and He always will no matter who you vote for. Keep in mind that while recruiting people to vote in this critical election is a very good (and necessary) thing, it doesn’t hold a candle to Recruiting for Jesus Christ and the “results” go way beyond a few years of good or bad leadership…the Results are eternal.

How about you? Is your faith unshakeable?

I Refuse To Live a Mediocre Life!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s bright, beautiful, and so full of color this time of year as Fall prepares the earth for Winter in Virginia. Everybody blessed enough to experience four seasons has a favorite season and I’d be inclined to say my favorite is the Fall if I’m pushed to pick one over the other. But truth be told, I determine to see the Beauty in them all. From the grays of the Winter skies that (hopefully) lead to snow to all the colors of the rainbow when flowers bloom in the Spring…I love it all and I love the uncertainty that comes with each one. Nothing in life is consistently bright and beautiful and the Heart will sometimes follow outward circumstances surrounding it if we aren’t Careful. It all comes down to the Condition of the Heart and how we are inclined to rely on the warm and fuzzies to find our joy. If I dare to meet with the Living God with a Heart that isn’t sad but isn’t happy either, rest assured I will be given a firm Reminder straight from the Throne of a Mighty and Merciful God of the dangers of having a Heart that is somewhere between light and dark….a lukewarm heart. My God doesn’t make mediocre days and He doesn’t like a lukewarm Heart. After all, lives don’t get changed by lukewarm, and Compassion can’t be fueled by it either. If I want to be Instrumental in changing lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then I can’t “afford” to be lukewarm. Can you?

Sometimes I wonder how God tolerates watching so many of His people coasting through this Journey called Life in mediocre mode. As for me, I refuse to live a mediocre Life because I serve an Extraordinary God who Excites me beyond words and Blesses me beyond measure…how could I ever be content with mediocre? How in the world did it come to be that so many people are content for one day to just blur into the next without much excitement at all? Apparently, people enjoy getting stuck in routines because that’s where they settle and that’s where they stay and they’re influenced by everything from the weather to the world because of it. They get up…go to work…come home…eat dinner…watch TV….and go to bed…and then lather rinse repeat. They manage to get excited every once in a while when they experience pleasure of some kind, but that excitement dwindles away as quickly as it came, and before you know it they’re right back to lukewarm mode all over again. It boggles the mind how even a single day can be taken for granted – but those stuck in the rigidity of routine will take each one for granted if they aren’t careful. Each day was uniquely designed by the Hand of God, and every day we’re given is a precious Gift, but we take it for granted anyway, and we look at life as mediocre. It’s only when we choose to live FOR God instead of just WITH God that Life takes on an entirely different “look” and we aren’t content with lukewarm because we understand the risk of staying there. We’re no longer driven by routine. We’re no longer stuck in the mud. We are determined to fight against lukewarm and we are willing to do the hard work. It takes a daily Meeting with the King of kings and a daily dose of His Spirit to wash away the mediocre and Light the Heart on fire. This is the key to being a Vessel overflowing with Love that He can use to Represent Himself, and it’s the safeguard method to stay clear of lukewarm in every area of life.

There is no doubt that God wants us to have joy in this life. He surrounds us with beauty…He puts people in our lives to thread it with love… and He takes good care of His children. His Word says that there is nothing better for a man than to “eat, drink and be merry”. But mixed in there with all the pleasures we enjoy from pets to pizza, is also the expectation that if we’re eating, drinking, and being merry we need to be Living for Him while we’re at it. He IS the Purpose of Life and He gets the credit for every breath we take, and yet somehow people are satisfied with lukewarm…BUT God will never be satisfied with His people lounging around in lukewarm mode…as in the days of Noah. When He was addressing the condition of the Heart of the churches in Book of Revelation, He had this to say: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth”. Something has to be pretty vile to spit it out of your mouth, and the thought that God could possibly feel that way about me and my Heart sends chills down my spine and propels me toward having a Heart that He can use instead. This is the key to living FOR Him…not despite Him.

I’ve put in the Time and I’ve been Energized by my God and there will be absolutely NOTHING lukewarm about me today. When God sends me off in a New Direction, you can count on me to leave every routine imaginable behind. When the world sees me coming it will recognize that there is something Different about me, and when it gets a chance to feel my Love and Compassion it will be eager to Know more. A mediocre life with a lukewarm Heart has absolutely no attraction to the lost world at all, and it doesn’t have enough passion to make a difference. Today I’ll be making a difference for Him.

How about you?

Just Let It Go!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning temperatures are dropping and Fall is in the air, but I’ll endure the colder temperatures as long as I can just to be able to meet with my Master outside before winter shows up. Like ointment for my soul, I hovered in the Psalms this morning, confident that my Heart could be Strengthened by David’s Heart, and I was right. I was feeling as if life was “pressing down” on me and I KNOW David felt that way plenty of times too…that is UNTIL He surrendered it all to God. So with a Sweet Reminder from David, I laid it all down too. God is always just a prayer away and Peace is always found in Surrender. The great “I AM” is much more capable of Managing my Life than I am, and I only fool myself into thinking I’m actually in “control” when I’m not in control at all. After years in this Journey of Faith, I Know what Surrender looks like and I Know where to go for my Nourishment. This morning I went from feeling envious of the deer because they seemingly don’t have a care in the world to relating to them because I Know that with God…I don’t either. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey too?

Some days the load seems heavy and the burdens look big, but I Serve a God who’s ready to carry the weight if I just turn it all over to Him. Some days are laced with adversity, but I Serve a God who can bring Peace to any situation as long as I turn it all over to Him. Some days are filled with sorrow and sadness, but I Serve a God who will wipe every tear away One Day, and He is always “near to the brokenhearted.” I Serve a God who treasures each of my tears so much that He stores them up “in a jar” because He loves me. Some days are filled with doubt and uncertainty, but I Serve a God who will “keep my path straight” and give me wisdom any time I ask for it. Some days are overwhelming, but I Serve a God who isn’t overwhelmed (or surprised) by ANYTHING and He is the Source of Peace. Some days feel like they’re out of control, but I Serve a God who holds the whole world in the palm of His Hands and He Controls it all. No matter the burdens we “carry”, pain is self-inflicted when we attempt to do what only God can do. My God is bigger! What a great reminder straight from the Throne of my Mighty and Merciful God this morning that all I ever need to do is to Turn to His Word for Direction and to the Holy Spirit for Guidance. This is the secret to Peace and Strength no matter what.

I’m Refreshed, I’m Strengthened and I’m Restored this morning despite the long list of things needing to be done ONLY BECAUSE I turned to my Source. Thank you, God. Thank you, David. All the “pressing down” I was succumbing to was self-inflicted AND from the pit of Hell intended to discourage me. But the liar from Hell doesn’t stand a chance with someone like me because my soul pants for the King like a deer pants for water and as long as I’m chasing after Jesus, I’ll always be Victorious.

How about you?

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91:14-16

He’s Mighty, Merciful, and Powerful…STILL

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s Sunday – the day I recognize the Sabbath – and I’ll be doing my best to “keep it holy” as I’m Instructed to do. Even though church time is just around the corner, Time with Him is the way I begin each day of the week Sunday or not. I met with the Living God outside where the air was cool and the fog was thick and I watched the Hand of God at work over this old farm. This time of year we can expect to see fog as the cool air meets the warm ground, and I never get tired of watching the fog lift off the farm in the Fall. Sometimes it remains low to the ground until it dissipates, and sometimes the fog covers the entire farm from low ground to high ground and beyond. As I sat there not only could I see the fog, but I could feel it all around me too and it reminded me of the Shekinah Glory (the manifested Glory of God) and what it will be like to see one day…and I will. Some people have closed their minds to the thought that God can still manifest today as He did in the Bible…but not me. I Believe in the Supernatural work of my Supernatural God. Isn’t that what your Journey of Faith looks like too?

Sometimes I wonder how it came to be that people decided that God belongs in a box. To some, the Bible is just a history book and all the things they read about are just entertaining stories from the past BUT not for today. If the Glory of God showed up they’d excuse Him away the same as they do for so many other miraculous things right before their very eyes. Is it that His Supernatural Works scare them because they can’t explain Him OR is there a conflict between the Supernatural and the intellectual faith that so many hang their hat on today? Either way, some have wiped away all the Supernatural works of God as if He’s a past-tense God even though the Word says that He’s the “same today, yesterday, and forever more.” It must make our Enemy very happy to see us “muting” the Works of a Mighty and Merciful God. It’s interesting (and sad) that some people have been taught NOT to believe in the Power of God at all, and if that’s the case, they might as well “worship” a statue. My God IS the same today, yesterday, and forever more, and I long to see His Glory…and I will. Who in the world would want to believe in a powerless God, and why would they want to keep Him in a box?

It’s painful for me to see so many “regular church attendees” walking around IN the fog when I know that all they need is a genuine Relationship with Jesus Christ, more time in His Word, and the Holy Spirit to Guide them. They laugh at people like me and they scoff at the Supernatural just the way the Bible says they will… and they settle into teaching that tickles their ears because they hunger to be entertained and to hear what they want to hear. Maybe they have a Bible app on their phone but it’s rarely opened or read outside of the church. Sometimes they might reach for a copy of the Bible in the pew ahead, but they can rarely find the verse in time to read along because they aren’t familiar yet. Jesus really does “love the little children of the world” but He expects them to grow up! In fact, He expects His Children to Learn and Grow every day. He expects His Children to hunger to be in His Presence every day all the days of their lives. He expects His Children to be so familiar with Him that they recognize the voice of their Shepherd without hesitation or doubt. He expects His Children to know His Word like the back of their hands, and He expects His Children to obey the “rules”. That’s what growing up (or maturing in Faith) looks like and it’s the ONLY way to be Confident and Capable when the fog settles in.

If it’s foggy today, that’s okay – I can see the beauty even with my eyes closed. If my Bible was taken from me today I’d be very sad because I love it so much and I love to spend Time in it with Him every day…but I wouldn’t be lost and I wouldn’t stumble around in a fog. I’ll always have the Holy Spirit to guide me and the Holy Spirit will illuminate the Words when I’m struggling if I ask Him to. My Heart knows what His Word says because I Know Him. I’m a grown-up Christian still in the works so I Work on getting Stronger and better every day. I appreciate the fog but I’ll never be walking in it…church or no church…Bible or no bible…I’ll always have His Spirit and I’ll always have His Word embedded in my Heart.

I’ve put in the Time and effort to Mature.

How about you?

Sweet and Simple…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This day came to life with a sunrise that looked more like a dimmer switch slowing being turned up than a sunrise, BUT the birds around me made sure to spice things up as they rejoiced over this new day. Sometimes the simplest things breathe Perspective into my Life, thanks to the Author and Perfecter of my Faith. As I sat on the front porch seeking the face of the Living God and struggling to keep my thoughts on Him and my focus on our Time together, I was Reminded of His Words about the sweet sounds of the birds around me – “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”. So this morning God used something as small as the sound of the birds as a gentle reminder of how much He loves me, and when He did, I wept with joy all over again. Isn’t that the way the Journey of Faith should be?

Most of the time, we feel the greatest love through the simplest of things. A scribbled drawing from a child or a hand-picked weed from the yard can make a mother’s heart overflow with love. A simple smile at just the right time moment in time can send a message of hope and compassion without saying a word. “That look” that says it all without saying anything at all. A simple laugh can lessen the stress and ease the sting of our circumstances. A sincere hug doesn’t require a spoken word at all if the arms are attached to the Heart. A surprise cup of coffee by someone just wanting to please. A simple compliment or a heartfelt “everything’s going to be OK” can lift the spirit of discouragement faster than you can say “amen”. It’s the simple things that send the loudest message of Love every single time IF we’re Leading and Living with the right Heart instead of looking for the “proof” of Love.

When it comes to love, actions always speak louder than words. I can say “I love you” until I turn blue, but if my actions don’t back up my words, it’s all meaningless. I can sit with you and talk for hours about how wonderful I think you are, but if I don’t show you with heartfelt actions, it’s all meaningless. I can tell you “I’m sorry” for the wrongs I’ve committed against you, but if I continue to repeat the wrongs, it’s all meaningless. The message of Love is best delivered through those simple things that impact the Heart in profound ways. There once was a woman so desperate to get in the presence of Jesus because she Believed He could heal her that she crawled her way through a massive crowd. When she managed to reach through the chaos to touch the hem of His garment she was instantly healed. She didn’t need to “prove” anything to the One who died for me. She didn’t need to “sell” Jesus on her Worth and there was no need to beg. Without speaking a word at all, Jesus could feel His power leave Him as she was being healed AND I’m pretty sure He could feel that desperate woman’s Heart too. All Jesus ever wants for any of us to for us to seek His face with everything within us and when we do, all the other pieces of our Faith fall in line with the Heart.

I think people complicate Love especially when it comes to our Journey of Faith. Some set out to memorize Chapter and Verse but if all they do is brag about cramming all the words into the hard drive of their mind and never recall the Words with Love, it’s meaningless. Some jump through hoops to “perform” for God (and to be seen by man) and they can needlessly work themselves into exhaustion because of it. But if all their works were performed out of a false sense of obligation or as a means to make it to Heaven, it’s all meaningless too. The One we Serve (and aim to please) wants our full attention…He doesn’t care if we memorize the Bible word-for-word because He doesn’t care about the intellect, only the condition of the Heart, and He can see that for Himself anytime He wants to. The Living God wants to spend Time with His children and He wants our Relationship to grow stronger each day. Sound familiar? It should. Although man is forever looking for “proof” of love, Genuine Love needs to be Expressed far more than it needs to be voiced – why would it be any different for the Living God? “Peter do you love me? Feed my sheep”.

I have a Changed Heart this morning and I can give credit to the simple singing of the birds around me as I sat on the front porch at sunrise. The Living God used something that most of us take for granted each day…a simple thing…to remind me in a big way that HE LOVES ME and the smile that He put on my face will last all day…. thanks to the Living God and for the simple gesture from the birds. I’m a complex woman savoring the simple things in life that send the greatest Message of Love.

How about you?