Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up this morning excited about being an Unstoppable Vessel for the Living God with a Purpose to pour into this dark world…a world that desperately needs to know the Truth. When I saw how the fog had blotted out the lower field where the creek flows this morning, it reminded me of how the world works hard to blot out any sign of Faith these days too BUT nothing can blot out my Heart for the Living God no matter how hard the Darkness tries. I know that “greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world” and I have everything I need for Victory. So, off to my Commander in Chief I went with an Eager Heart to Serve, and He filled me up with everything I need to Fearlessly pour back out into the dark world today. My life overflows with Blessings that’s for sure, but it’s not about what I have, it’s about what I GIVE AWAY. The Living God Blesses me and I pour it all right back to Him. He Called me to be one of His own and I give away all that I Know. He gives me Wisdom and I pour it out to the world in His Name. He gives me Compassion and I pour it all out to the world in His Name. Everything I have I give to Him, and when we pour out the Blessings to Him, there are no limits to what we can do in His Name.

I think it’s pretty easy for most people to accept Blessings from God…and they’re usually pretty good about thanking Him…most of the time. Giving Him credit for the Blessings is one thing, pouring them back out to Him is an entirely different story. I think it’s the lack of humility that is the leading cause of thanking Him without the Heart to pour it back. When we’re humble enough to accept that we don’t “deserve” ANY of the Blessings He gives…when we realize that there is no good thing in us apart from Him…then it’s easier to pour it right back out in Love. God does LOVE us and He DOES want good things for His children, but the Blessings aren’t a “given” and they’re certainly not ours to hoard – not our children, not our material things, and certainly not our Faith. When we pour out our children as a “love offering” to the Lord, we see Miraculous results. When we live the Life He calls us to live and we pour it all back in His Name, we see Miraculous things. When we pour out the blessing of Faith as a love offering to Him instead of a headcount of conversions, we see Miraculous things. It’s not about the Blessings we receive out of Love, it’s about what we’re willing to pour back to Him that matters the most.

The world is a dark place and it’s getting darker by the minute…just the way He said that it would. Unfortunately, many people are pouring back into the darkness with rants and opinions and they’re doing their part to Divide in the process. Sometimes people think they need to educate the world somehow or that their stand for “right” is making a difference – but that’s like pouring gasoline on fire instead. Darkness can only be blotted out with the Light. If only more people would pour out the Light instead of playing in the darkness, we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If only more people would talk about the Healing Power of Jesus Christ instead of the odds of dying from this or that, we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If only more people would sing His Praises instead of trying to hold court in Heaven (the way Job did), we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If only more people would SPEAK the Name of Jesus Christ throughout the day, every day regardless of “consequences”, we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If every demon in Hell shudders at the mention of the name of Jesus, I can only imagine what this dark world would look like if we poured Him out into the world. It doesn’t matter what we have, or what He allows to be taken away – the ONLY thing that matters is what WE give away…or pour out…in His Name.

I’m blessed beyond measure to have been chosen to be the mother to my four children. They’re kind, compassionate, beautiful, funny, smart, and everything Good in between. I did my part out of love, but the end result of a family of Believers all comes down to me being willing to pour them back to Him….four Blessings too wonderful for me to comprehend…blessings I did nothing to “deserve.” I am Blessed beyond measure to steward this beautiful farm but I did nothing to “deserve” it. Instead, I poured it all back to Him…a blessing too wonderful for me to comprehend…a blessing I didn’t “deserve.” A Saving Faith in Jesus Christ is a blessing too wonderful for me to comprehend too, so I pour it all back in His Name. I know my Destiny is secured ONLY by His blood (and nothing I do on my own), so when you hear me Sharing it with the world, you’ll be an eye-witness to what it looks like to pour it all back to Him…the Living Water…our only Hope. When you look at it that way, it’s hard to understand why people are hoarding their Faith as if it’s something they deserve, instead of pouring it out as a Love offering to the Living God.

Today will be like any other day for me in some ways. It won’t be about the Blessings I receive…although I’ll be grateful…it will be about what I’m willing to pour back to Him. He’s my everything so everything I have…everything I am..all gets poured out as a Love Offering to the Living Water…the One who died for me…AND THAT’S why my Life overflows with Blessings that I don’t deserve. I am, and I will always be, Victorious…no matter how dark this world gets before He calls me Home…as long as I pour it all out in His Name.

Wake up Church.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I began this new day in awe of the Living God and I marveled at the Work of His Hands just like I always do. But there’s nothing “ordinary” about any day He Creates. It’s only when we slow down and listen with a Heart that belongs to Him that we truly see the beauty and uniqueness of each new day. It’s one thing to feel the Living God Working inside your Heart, it’s an entirely different story to see Him Working out His Plans right before your very eyes. When God reveals Himself through His People, it’s enough to overwhelm even the hardest of hearts, and it’s a Blessing impossible to measure. So, this morning I wept as I considered all that He’s doing around my Life and this old farm in Virginia, I asked for the Wisdom to Know each Step of His Will over it all, and I gave thanks for allowing this humble Servant to see Him Work out His Plans with my very own eyes. Isn’t that the way you feel about your Journey of Faith too?

When Habbakuk asked God what the Plan was for moving through the Storm, God responded with “Watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.” I wonder if Habbakuk felt the same way as I do when I hear these Words – a little frightened over the unknown but overwhelmingly EXCITED to see what God is doing with my very eyes eventually. He IS doing something in my day that is utterly amazing even though I can’t see it yet and I’m grateful to be a Witness for Him at such a time as this. Today, the world is in turmoil, and the “labor pains” have begun and sadly many people have been shaken to the point of doubting God and His Plans. Oh, they would argue with me over that, but as they continue to put words into the mouth of God (as if that were possible) and as they continue to put their faith in man to fix what ails them, it’s painfully obvious that (in their eyes) God isn’t big enough for the job. God didn’t reveal to Habbakuk the “utterly amazing” thing(s) He was about to do and He went so far as to say “You would not believe even if I told you” and that’s good enough for me. I am CONFIDENT in what God is doing behind the scenes and I’m already in awe of the work of His Hands even before I see it! There’s no need to try to make sense of things OR to put words “in the mouth of God” – we just have to Trust Him as Habbukuk did in a world that makes no sense. This is the truest definition of Faith.

I’m grateful that I have a Heart that has been Tenderized by the King so that I easily recognize His Plans when I see them while I’m willing to wait patiently when I don’t. I’m glad to have a Heart that is sensitive to His Spirit so that I’m open to whatever He calls for me to do…especially when it doesn’t make sense. I’m grateful that I’ve been around the block a few times until I learned how to be Grateful for it ALL, and I’m glad He gives me a Voice that can shout from the mountaintops about how Great He is…my God of Miracles…My Protector…My Provider…My Leader…My Father..and my Friend. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever and HE IS STILL performing Miracles today as He Reveals His Plans and Calls His People into action. I’m in awe of the Work of His Hands!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was inclined to hit the ground running this morning without taking the time to Share what the Author and Perfector of my Faith shared with me, but He would have no part of it. In a matter of seconds, He set me straight to Remind me that what I do, I do for Him, and in a matter of seconds I was asking for Forgiveness for my selfish Heart. It’s not as simple as “not having time” when the King plants you in a Mission and the human sacrifices don’t always come easy. But if I don’t want to “lose” the Gift that’s been poured into me, then I need to be sure to Follow Directions. Paying it Forward is what I do for the Master of Life and striving to Please Him is what keeps me going. As long as I Walk in the Spirit and not in my flesh I can do anything! Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It can be so easy for us to pick and choose where we’ll spend our time, and we easily follow the heart even when it doesn’t always make sense. Some people have mastered the game of shuffling from one thing to another like a never-ending game of ping pong, and they’re so busy chasing their own pleasures that they never really accomplish anything at all. Some people prefer to live on “Easy Street” and they would never consider taking on the tough things as long they can avoid them. Some people live in limbo, never committing to anything just in case something better comes along. Some people are too afraid to step up, while others don’t even know what that looks like. It’s human nature to migrate toward what brings us the most pleasure and it is the nature of man to justify why we’re not paying attention to the Call on our Life while we chase our own pleasures instead. We walk through this Life looking for perpetual picnics where we’ll have the most fun – but the only Genuine Pleasure to ever be had comes when we Walk in the Spirit, instead of in the flesh. It exhausts me to think about what it would be like to live a life driven by my own agenda and only for my own pleasure, and it breaks my Heart to see so many lost in the web of selfishness. Living for ourselves and only for our own pleasure is an empty place, and it never ends up for Good when we do. It’s not possible to Serve the Living God while we’re busy serving ourselves. We only begin to Live for Him when we’re willing to die to ourselves. This is the key to Fulfillment, contentment, and Peace!

Some people have no idea what it is to “walk in the Spirit” and it’s impossible to explain what it’s like to someone if they’ve never experienced the Journey for themselves. Some roll their eyes and consider it all nonsense and they’re too busy thumping their Bibles to Know what it is to be Free. Some see the Fruit that comes by way of Walking in the Spirit and are inclined to credit talent or theatrics…even the ones who should know better. Some see the Light of someone else Walking in the Spirit and they get jealous because of the Benefits that come along with the Job. Some are so critical that they’ll look for an underlying “agenda” because they don’t understand Supernatural Gifts and Talents when they see them. Some people are so selfish that they can’t digest the idea that anybody could ever truly be selfless OR why they would even want to be. Some confuse the Light with the limelight and they can’t see the Beauty because they’re too busy judging the Purpose of the Light in the first place.

I understand what these people are like because I used to be one of them myself…UNTIL God called me out of my selfishness and Equipped me to Work just for Him. All those things I worried about giving up were out shadowed by Beauty, and all those things I fretted over wanting to accomplish just for myself were Out-shined by my Work for Him instead. I’m serving Him even when it isn’t easy, and I’m loving every minute of the Journey.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia this morning. It’s quiet here at the farm after a few days of chaos and I’m appreciating the gentleness of the morning a little more than usual because of it. for a gentle sunrise As I prepared my heart for time with the Living God and I took in the magnificence of the sunrise; I smiled at how I amazing God is and how He ALWAYS knows what’s right for me…especially when I don’t. Someday I hope that I learn to never say “never” when it comes to the Plans for my life.

I said I would NEVER have children, but God had different Plans for my Life. He planted the seed of life within me and Blessed me with four amazing children despite my hard heart and my own will. My children have been my biggest Ministry as I poured my Faith into each one and they’ve brought me my greatest joy. God knew what was best for me.

I said I would NEVER remarry but God had different Plans for my Life. After decades of flying solo He orchestrated a million tiny pieces to bring me and my (now) husband together in Covenant marriage and it all began with the planting of the willow tree you see in this photo. If God can use a willow tree to pull that off, He can use anything to make His Will be done. Almost overnight my tribe grew from 12 to 20 and sharing my family, farm, and ministry is overwhelmingly beautiful. God knew what was best for me.

I said I would NEVER be a part of the real estate industry but God had different Plans for my Life. He placed me in just the right place at just the right moment in time and I soared in ways I’d never dreamed of as a real estate auctioneer traveling from state to state to sell. The very thing I said I’d “never” do provided very well for my family and it brought me incredible success and happiness. God knew what was best for me.

I said I would NEVER live on a farm but God had different Plans for my Life. I moved to the country just to raise my kids in wide open spaces and I intended to move right back to the city when they left the nest. BUT the Living God planted the seed of love and appreciation within me for this old farm and today I can’t imagine being anywhere else other than right here on the front porch sharing my Journey with the world. God knew what was best for me.

There are countless other things that I’ve arrogantly proclaimed I would “NEVER” do but God has a way of putting me in my Spiritual Place. He never fails to show me that my plans don’t hold a candle to His Plans for me. He taught me how to Surrender the “nevers” and to Trust Him with all. Some of my “nevers” have led to the incredible Blessings I’ve shared with you this morning and some of my “nevers” have taken me down a path of adversity intended to open my eyes and Tenderize my Heart for the Journey.

God ALWAYS knows what’s best for me so I just step aside and allow Him to Lead. I’ve learned to NEVER say “never” in Life and to Trust God with the reins. Today I roll with the flow and I Trust whatever it is that He has for me…Especially when it doesn’t make sense. After all, it was the Hand of God that Threaded together the most amazing Life despite all my “Nevers”.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God off and on throughout the entire night and by the time our last meeting was over, the Lights were on in more ways than one. Sometimes I need to slow down to evaluate the Condition of my Heart so I spent time Confessing my weaknesses and asking for forgiveness for “owning” the Details of my Life – and He spent a lot of time reminding me that He’s God and that He has my Life in the Palm of His Hand. When I looked at this flag of Faith, blowing this way and that way in the morning breeze, it reminded me of how my life is. It’s only when there is absolutely nothing going on, nothing really good and nothing really bad, that the “flag” of my Life is still. Otherwise, there are never-ending twists and turns. Sometimes the flag of my Life blows gently, and sometimes it’s whipped around, but if I hold onto the Living God the way the flag “holds on” to the pole, I don’t just endure…I Thrive. Isn’t that the way it is in your Life too?

It can be so easy to overthink our circumstances when we face “trials of many kinds” and we easily lose our peace AND our Direction when we do. Life is filled with activities…and it’s laced with turmoil…and when we live Life for Him we can expect to be blown around in the process. It’s only when there’s absolutely nothing going on…nothing really good…and nothing really bad, that most people ever find their Peace. Some people like being locked away in their own world and they refuse to step out into His because they’re so comfortable. They don’t “sign up” for anything that has the potential to threaten their closed-off world. They watch the news filled with lies and conflict and they wonder what’s wrong with the world, while they never consider what part they could play in shining the Light of their Faith in the same darkness they’re so easily entertained by. They see turmoil happening in the lives of the Busy Ones, and they pass judgment and criticize the ones willing to Persevere for Him. These guys LIKE “nothing” going on, and they see each piece of “involvement” outside of their closed little life as a threat to their peace and comfort. When tragedy strikes them, they’re shocked to see it coming. After all, they live a “peaceful life” – they “mind their own business” – and they wonder what they did to deserve it. “Minding your own business” sounds pretty good when it’s used as an excuse with a Spiritual spin, but God doesn’t expect us to mind our own business, He expects us to be Minding His.

God says to “consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds”, not because He likes for us to suffer, but because He wants to make us Strong. It’s through the “testing” of our faith that we learn to Persevere. Perseverance is more than just surviving the wind, it has a Built-in Bonus that inspires us to keep going! He says “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”. The need for perseverance is foreign to the ones who fight to have nothing going on in Life at all because they’d rather have nothing going on than to be expected to put forth the Effort to Persevere. For others, Perseverance is a way of Life and they’re willing to fly the Flag of Faith to the world (and willing to take the consequences for it) because they Understand that “all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose”. When we learn to see the good and the bad as Part of the overall Journey of Faith with Built-in Benefits, we no longer overthink our Circumstances and we no longer whine about the Process.

I sometimes have to battle my own mind as I attempt to rationalize the circumstances and I’m inclined to look for Solutions of my own. It’s ONLY when I take the good and the bad TO Him so that He can do the Heavy Lifting FOR me and I let Him help me sort out my Life, that I find my Peace and Persevere no matter what good or bad is causing the Flag of my Faith to be whipped around. Through the Process, I become more Mature and Complete, and I lack for absolutely nothing in my Life. I understand the Journey, and I want to be the best that I can be for Him. Perseverance is my middle name because I’ve faced “Trials of many kinds” countless times AND I can see the Hand of God through them all. I’m Strong. I’m Unstoppable. I’m Unshakable… and I lack for nothing in the Process. You’ll always find me outside of my Comfort Zone “taking one” for the Team… and with Him holding the Flag of my Faith…I’ll persevere to the End.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God with a cup of coffee in hand and a Heart willing to learn. There are never any frills or formality when it comes to meeting with my God because I’m His student and He’s my Teacher and He loves me just the way I am. I’ll never be old enough or smart enough to stop Searching for what God has for me or for ways that I can become more of what He Plans for me to be. Being a Light in a dark world and a Willing Vessel is one thing…to have the mind and the Heart of a child, excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up” is another. So, I meet with Him with Humility and I Search His Word with no agenda of my own EXCEPT to Hear what He has for me today and to stay on Course with the Plans that were set in motion before the foundations of the earth. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

The world is overflowing with know-it-alls, but when it comes to God’s people but there’s no room for that. Some have become Bible scholars and they can point in the Direction of just the right Scripture without even thinking about it. The Word of God is embedded in the hard drive of their mind and they have instant recall at will. But if the Bible scholars aren’t careful, they’ll live Life like a walking encyclopedia, and the more they rely on their intellectual side, the farther they seem to get from that place of Humility. They’ll no longer have the Heart of a child – eager to learn and excited to spiritually grow up. Others seem to be stuck in Bible student mode, and they’re in every Bible study they can fit into a busy schedule. The Word of my God is highlighted and tabbed and notes fill up all the empty spaces on the tattered pages. They have the Heart of a child, excited to learn and eager to grow up, but they so often remain in student mode and they never take the step toward Application. For the perpetual Bible student, there’s always something else to learn BEFORE they believe they’re ready to “go forth and tell”. The interesting thing about living like a child is that not only are we eager and excited to learn all the days of our lives…we’re fearless too! We learn to Trust our Father to lead us in ways that no man is Qualified to lead and to Trust Him especially when it doesn’t make sense.

It takes the Heart of a child to follow His Lead even when we’re scared, and it takes the Heart of a child to find Humility. It takes the Heart of a child to be willing to Surrender and to be obedient to the Voice of God. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that there are consequences for our wrongs that can’t be negotiated or intellectually reasoned through. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that we don’t know it all and that we never really will on this side of Heaven. It takes the Heart of a child to Believe that when the Father says something it’s true…and it is never questioned. It takes the Heart of a child to live outside of fear so that we don’t just read about “how to ride a bike”, we actually get on the bike and ride – and if fall here and there that’s okay too, because the falling here and there makes us better and stronger as we master the art of “bike riding”. It takes the Heart of a child to cry and to admit that we’re Powerless on our own. It takes the Heart of a child to easily extend Forgiveness and it takes the Heart of a child to love unconditionally. It’s ONLY when we live and Love like a child that we can please our Heavenly Father…the Teacher, the Redeemer, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith…the ONLY ONE who Knows it all.

I’ve spent years in the Living Word of my Living God and it shows. I understand that head knowledge doesn’t do me any Good unless I move it from my head to my Heart and apply it to every area of my life. I’m excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up” I also Strive every day to have (and to keep) the Heart of a child when it comes to my God.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s delightfully cool on this August morning and somehow the cool air made my coffee better and the view more beautiful…at least it felt that way to me. I sought Wisdom and Counsel from my Instruction Manual and I entered His Gates with Praise. When I finally got around to approaching the Throne of a Mighty God to make my Requests Known to Him I found myself praying more for the United States and for Israel than for anything else. My appeals on behalf of our Country(s) didn’t just begin with this upcoming election and all the madness surrounding it. My appeals began years ago as I watched our Country begin to decline right before my very eyes as we turned farther and farther away from God while blaming somebody else for our problems. My appeals probably don’t sound like most people’s these days because my appeals are mostly for Forgiveness and Mercy for how far we (God’s people) have slipped away from Truth and for what we’ve allowed to happen to this Country of ours. I believe the Humility God looks for in His people is the kind of Humility that accepts responsibility for wrongs and then follows it up with genuine repentance…a foreign concept in our world today because we stay so busy blaming somebody else for our problems. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

A twenty-minute stroll through the Old Testament would be enough for anybody to see that our Sovereign God has no tolerance when His people turn away from Him to “worship” other gods and that He’ll stop at nothing to get their attention again. The same God who allowed enemies to overcome His people time and time again…who withheld the rain and brought famine to drive His people to their knees…the same God who brought forth a flood to wipe out the evil and who cursed Adam and Eve for disobedience…the same God who destroyed an entire city over sexual sin is the same God on the Throne today. He is to be revered AND feared…a novel concept within the church today. God Almighty doesn’t care about who is red or who is blue because He ordains ALL LEADERS for HIS own Purposes and it ALWAYS comes down to the Heart of His people and what it takes to get their attention. Sometimes the choice of leaders doesn’t always turn out so good when He’s trying to set things straight with His People. Even though God already knows how the Story ends, His people are busier than ever placing blame and shouting insults from the mountaintops rather than being Humbled to hit their knees REPENTING for allowing things to go this far. What we’re seeing today can’t be blamed on the Democrats or the Republicans…the blame belongs to us for allowing sin to dominate what was once a Christian Nation. Just like my furry friends in this picture, some people are determined to stand by and watch while they wait to point the finger of blame in one direction or the other – never assuming blame themselves.

Where were we when our government decided it was a matter of choice whether a woman murdered her unborn child or not? Where were we to tell the world that she DOES have a right to her own body, and (newsflash), that she’s not murdering herself…she’s murdering another life created by the Hand of God? It’s always been “he who screams the loudest wins” so why didn’t we take to the streets demanding the Righteouness of God? Instead, we roll out the red carpet and give the platform to murderers, blasphemers, adulters, sexual deviants, liars, and thieves, and THEN we expect our politicians to do something about it. It’s the “idol worship” of the freedom to do whatever is right in our own eyes that is one of the Greatest offenses to the God of all Creation. We’ve been ignoring God and we’ve refused to rock the boat by speaking up about what HE SAYS is “right” and “wrong” for years for fear that some of our idols might be taken away if we do. What do you expect from a Righteous God?

My destiny and the destiny of the United States of America is NOT in the hands of the Democrats or the Republicans…it’s in the Hands of the Author and Perfecter of my Faith who ORDAINS ALL leaders for His Purpose. He might have in mind for us to suffer in ways we’ve never suffered before as punishment for turning away from Him…God knows we’d deserve it. He might just squeeze us to our knees and wait for our Repentance and He can use anything He wants to use to get us to that point…to the point where He matters most of all…that He is first in our lives and the only One we worship. To that place where Righteousness matters much more party, policies, or a political race. To that place where we Surrender our Will to Him no matter what it looks like and we Trust Him with the outcome. As long as we continue to shake our fists and spit out insults at one side or the other it is a sure sign of pride and arrogance…two things God HATES. Just think, since God ordains the leaders, and He already knows who wins, all those insults and all that hate are actually being directed to the Living God…the Ultimate Decision Maker.

I mourn over what’s happened to America, and I wish my kids and grandkids could have what I had, BUT we (God’s people) are to blame for that. If there is any lesson to share with the next generations it is that we (Christians) should never have become complacent…we should never have accepted sin in the name of “tolerance”…we should never have been convinced to mind our own business when it comes to God’s business being “threatened”…that we should never have stopped praying in our schools even if it meant being kicked out and kicked on, that we never should have chased after white-washed sermons because they feel better than cold, hard, Truth…that we NEVER should have stop fearing God more than anything or anyone else…especially our government. David said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”. So, the choice is ours. We can learn that He is worthy to be Feared and that the Knowledge of the Holy One is where we find our True understanding…OR we can continue to stand around watching like my furry friends. I’ve never been much of a spectator in the Journey of Faith.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It didn’t take much to put a smile on my face this morning as I watched the Master bring the winds and the rain on this glorious new day. There are tornado watches all around and flooding in every direction…you won’t hear complaints from me. Why would I complain about the rain I’ve been praying to receive? Instead, I praised, prayed, repented, and searched for Wisdom in my Instruction Manual for Life just like I always do. By the time I was ready to get busy with work, I was Readied from the inside out. I enjoy a little adventure in life here and there, but I love some of the routines as well. The routine of stepping out to see my world from the front porch of an old farmhouse filled with the aroma of fresh coffee is just about as good as it gets to me …and there’s no place I’d rather be. For as long as I live I will never take for granted the Blessing of each new day or the simple pleasures of the world around me EVEN in the midst of the storms. Isn’t that the way you look at Life too?

It could be so easy for any of us to wake to any new day without a single thought about the Blessing of still HAVING days to wake up to in the first place. Some people have already envisioned their house being destroyed by a tornado or being washed away by the storm, and some have not stopped complaining about the rain they so desperately need. Some people roll out of bed and their first thought is about the aches and pains that are sometimes a part of the rising….but also a sweet reminder of life. Some people wake up hungry and the first thought is what they will eat for breakfast. Some people wake up and are SO FAR from appreciating the new day that they turn on the TV just minutes after their eyes open to catch up on the tragedies of the world. Garbage in…garbage out. Some people wake up with a mind full of all kinds of things that need to be done on that particular day as if the checklist in their mind never shuts off during the night. Some people wake up mad and some people wake up scared. Some people wake up worried and some people wake up lonely. All of these things are Signs of the tendency to be more focused on ourselves than anything else so at the beginning of their new day it’s not possible to be Grateful – little do they know that they are willingly surrendering their Peace and Joy to the liar from Hell in the process. No one (including the Devil) can steal our Joy or our Peace….that’s something we surrender instead.

Plenty of people can’t be grateful for their own lives because they’re too busy comparing theirs to yours. Some of them want the Lord to take them home soon because they’ve already quit living. They’re already dead, they just haven’t jumped into the coffin yet. Little do these people know that the Joy and the Peace they see in the Life of someone else has nothing to do with a perfect day or a perfect life without struggles. The Joy and the Peace they see has nothing to do with God showing more favor on one life over another….although they’re quick to point out how YOUR life isn’t like THEIR life as they attempt to justify their attitude about where they are (or where they aren’t) in life. The Joy and the Peace is not a sign that nothing “bad” happens or that the other couldn’t easily be inclined to focus on the aches and the pains and the trials too. The Joy and the Peace show up (no matter the circumstances) when they turn to the Source of Life…to the One gracious enough to give them the Blessing of one more day to live…to the One who has Plans and a Purpose for each one of us…to the One who knit them together in their mother’s womb…to the One who holds their hand EVERY TIME they reach out for His, to the One who has the entire world in the palm of His Hands, to the One who is big enough and Powerful enough to handle any problem (and any emotion) IF they’ll just turn to Him…especially at the beginning of each new day. IF they’re willing to do their part they’ll find Joy and Peace no matter what’s going on in their lives too…guaranteed. It comes always comes down to being willing to die to ourselves so that we can Live for Him.

The view from my front porch is picture-perfect tornado warnings and all, but my Life sure isn’t always that way. When I have thoughts of defeat I Know how to send the liar from Hell back to where he belongs because THOSE thoughts come from him! I fight hard for my Joy and Peace and I refuse to surrender until He calls me Home. Until then, I am absolutely confident that He has Purpose for my Life and I’m not going to squander even a day because I don’t want to die without fulfilling what I was born to do. I want Joy and Peace and Strength for the Journey every single day and I know that it all begins with me and my Willingness to start the day with the King of kings…the One who died for me…the One I Live for. Because I determine to Live for Him, He’s the first thing on my mind in the morning and the last thing on my mind at night. Everything in between is the Journey I have been Destined to live since the very beginning of Time. Why would I squander even one day when you look at it like that?

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and humid this morning and it won’t be long before the farm will be nourished by much-needed rain that is supposed to linger for days. I’ve prayed over every inch of this farm for decades and I see the Hand of God all over the place BUT one of my favorite God-given gifts at the farm is trees. I love trees. I like old majestic ones like these black walnut trees and sometimes I try to imagine what life was like here when they first took root. I like small ones and flowering ones and ones that bear fruit…I love them all! We’ve lost a few 300+-year-old oak trees at the farm, and we’ve lost a black walnut or two probably about the same age. Lightning has taken out a few others over the years and disease snuffed out a few as well. The black walnut trees that I see from my kitchen window are now hallowed out and, although they continue to leaf, it won’t be long before they succumb…and I’ll cry and feel the void. When the trees are gone, they’re gone for good and only the memory of their beauty is left behind….but that’s not true for me. When I’m “gone” I’ll finally be Home forever so as long as I’m here, I still have some lessons to learn from a tree.

When I look at a tree I think about what it took to grow so tall and how many storms it’s endured. I think about how much joy it brought to a child when they climbed its branches and I can almost hear the giggles if I try. I consider the shade it provided on a hot day and I think about how many years its beautiful fall leaves fell to the ground. I think about the refuge it provided for squirrels and how many birds made a home for their babies. I wonder how deep its roots are and how much water it consumes each day. I think about how it seems to reach out to the heavens when the sun shines and I wonder how much energy it takes to bud and bear fruit. I think about how many people have walked right past an old tree without ever noticing or pausing to take in the beauty. I think about how many people cut down trees every single day to make room for something else without blinking an eye and how new is much more beautiful than old to most people. No matter what we do, we can’t change the fact that there is a season for everyone and everything in the journey of life. When the trees go, some will notice and some don’t…and people like me will miss them forever. It’s that “permanent” stage of death that makes me so sad when I lose a tree but when it comes to man…”permanent” always comes down to Choice. Some poor people believe that death is permanent for everybody, but that’s not true. The only “permanent” in my future is Eternity and when I leave this world I’ll finally be Home for good.

I’m sure there are plenty of people who would think I’m crazy for how I love trees and for how much thought I’ve put into them over the years BUT that’s only because they don’t know what they’re missing. When I look at the trees I see the Hand of God and I’ll NEVER grow tired of that! The truth is, trees have taught me a lot about the Journey of Faith. I’ve learned to reach for the Heavens to find my strength and that Living Water is the source of my Life. I’ve learned that I become parched without Nourishment that I find in the Word of God. I’ve learned to offer “shade” to others when they need it, and I’ve shared a few branches to make room for others. If the time comes that I need to sacrifice a few branches to make a way for someone else, I’ll gladly do that too. I’ve made it my Goal to bear Good Fruit AND I’m willing to Share it with the world. I’ve learned that I can share Joy and Peace during ALL seasons and that it’s not easy to ignore the Beauty of Jesus Christ in me. I’ve learned to stand tall during the storms because I am a Child of the Living God and He sustains all Life. I’ve learned that life is frail and sometimes it’s over too soon, so I’ve learned to Savor it all while I can and to make it my First Priority to tell others what I’ve Learned so that they can Focus on Everlasting just like I do.

I shed tears over lost trees but that’s not because I’m greedy or selfish. I shed tears because a chapter closing permanently…whether it’s the life of a tree or the life of man…is the saddest thing I can think of AND the driving Force behind me Sharing the Good News of Jesus with every lost soul I can. I’ll always miss the trees but I’ll get over the loss eventually…BUT when it comes to a lost soul…that’s an entirely different story.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. God brought us an abundance of rain a few days ago and now everything around me is rich and green. I’m grateful for what I can see with my eyes but my Gratitude is much deeper than that. The minute I opened my eyes this morning my Heart overflowed with Gratitude and Love, and I felt the Power and the Presence of my God as surely as if He sat next to me on the porch. I set aside my Instruction Manual for a while and I just sat there enjoying the Living God and all that He is and all that He does for me. It’s no wonder I like to share this old farm with everyone I can because I am confident that others can sense the Peace of God when they’re here too…and I know they see Him in me. Sharing my God and my Life with someone else is the Greatest Gift of all. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey too?

It can be so easy for us to overlook the importance of Sharing, and we miss out on the Biggest Blessings when we do. From our Hearts to our homes and to everything in between, God looks to us to share what He graciously blesses us with…from time to tangibles. God never meant for any of us to be alone in anything that we do. He made Eve as a companion and helper to Adam when HE saw that “it is not good for man to be alone”. He brought Aaron to Moses because He saw that Moses needed to partner in the journey AND he needed another voice to speak for him. He gave Ruth to Naomi to lead the way to food and a Future. David had Jonathan. Paul had Silas. Even Jesus had an inner circle of friends to share the Journey with. They didn’t just walk around witnessing to the world, although that was the Biggest Role they played, they also traveled together and fellowshipped together too…breaking bread and living life…and I’m pretty sure they shared a laugh or two as well. Because Jesus had just a few guys in His inner circle, we know that a few of those guys were very special to Him, and He chose to share more with them than all the others. As for us, we need to share the Living Waters with the world, but we need to Share Life with others too (don’t forsake the assembly). If there was ever anyone who could probably survive just fine doing His work alone or living on an island by Himself, it would have been Jesus. But Jesus surrounded Himself with His friends, and He only went off alone when He needed to be Refreshed by some One-on-one time with His Father. After that…He went right back to His inner circle and right back to the business of Sharing.

There is a “danger” in isolating ourselves (whether we live alone or not) that most people don’t seem to see. Many people have built imaginary walls around their lives and “no trespassing” written on their Hearts. There isn’t much outside the four walls that interests them – and when they do venture out for something self-serving like food or appointments, they lock the doors and windows of the Heart and mind as soon as they return to their island. Lots of these people “do church” using the Internet and a remote control and they lie to themselves about the value of isolated Praise. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into years and eventually, they become useless Vessels to the Living God and oblivious to the needs of others. They don’t thrive because they don’t share, and they don’t Share because they choose not to. How many different ways can God explain the Value of a shared Journey? – “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work” and “iron sharpens iron”. There is no denying the Value of walking the Journey of Faith engaged with the lost world and encouraged by brothers and sisters walking the same Journey as we are. This is the Key to a Full and Fulfilled Life.

I work hard to make sure that I have a Heart that is willing to Share because the only thing that has any Value or any Significance in this Journey called Life, is not what we GET, but what we Share with someone else. I understand that there is “no good thing apart from Him” and that everything I have, from my family to the farm, belongs to Him. I shared my morning with the Living God, and now I’ve shared His Words with my world. I’ll share all that I can with my husband and my family today BUT I won’t be isolating myself from the world, that’s for sure. I will always have an Abundance of love to Share with someone else because that’s what the Living God has called ALL of us to do. If they need a meal…I’ll share it. If they need a bed…I’ll share it. Most of all, I’ll be Sharing Jesus…because EVERYBODY needs Him. Filling tangible needs is just a vehicle to reach the Heart just like Jesus did…a Truth the isolated ones have chosen to ignore. It’s not what we get out of the Journey of Faith…it’s what we Share instead AND THAT is the Biggest Blessing of all.

How about you?