Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I stepped out onto the porch this morning the air was cool and it was comfortable and I enjoyed it while I could. It didn’t take long for the morning sun to begin to blaze and I went from comfortable to UNcomfortable in just a matter of minutes. There’s no way of knowing what the morning will look like until it actually breaks and there’s no way to describe the beauty when it does. There’s no way of knowing what’s in store on any given day and there’s no way to predict how God will use me. I love my God and all the “unknowns” in the Journey called Life because I am certain that “all things work together for Good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose”. So, I make sure to Ready myself to be used by the King of all kings. I do whatever I need to do to Purify my Heart so that I can see others the way HE sees them, AND so that I can love them as HE does. Isn’t that your goal for each new day too?

The Bible says “The greatest of these is love” – “Love your brother as yourself” – “Love never fails” – “We love because He first loved us” and a host of other things about love, but I think love is the one thing people of Faith struggle with the most. It’s easy to love the loveable – loving the “unloveable” is an entirely different story. Unfortunately, many people of Faith seem to have no problem justifying a hard Heart when it comes to people not like them. They’ve got no problem casting stones all in the name of Righteousness. They’ve got no problem pulling out convenient Bible verses to defend their personal opinion of others or to justify their behavior. Maybe they’ve forgotten about how “unloveable” THEY were before Christ came along too. Maybe they’ve forgotten that He paid the price for ALL. Maybe they’ve been given Authority to judge and God forgot to tell us. Or maybe, just like the Grinch that stole Christmas – they have Hearts that are a few sizes too small. Since the God of All Creation cares more about the condition of the Heart than anything else, I’d get to work on that part if I were them.

I’ve got more flaws than I can count and I find myself asking Him for forgiveness countless times throughout any given day. BUT I’ll never stop being Grateful for the Cross and for a Savior willing to die so that I might live, so I give Him everything I’ve got and I don’t justify my sin. I’m committed to keeping my Priorities straight, that’s for sure, and I find favor with a Mighty God because of it. I strive to have a Heart like His….a Heart that is able to love others the way HE loves them and to see them the way He sees them. Sometimes it’s not easy, BUT “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength”

How about you?

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up with a lot of things on my mind this morning and I couldn’t get into the Presence of the Living God fast enough because of it. All of those thoughts about all of those things whirling around in my mind had the potential to consume my day and cause doubt in my mind if I’m not careful. No amount of human intervention can manage all of those things in my mind, and no amount of thinking them through will make them any less challenging to bear. But no matter how cluttered my mind can be with a zillion tiny pieces floating around, I know the Living God has control of it all and that all I ever need to do is Trust Him. Isn’t this the way you Manage the Journey called Life too?

Trusting isn’t always easy, especially for those who have been hurt. Sometimes all it takes is a little sting from someone who disappoints us with their words or their behavior, and we withdraw faster than you can say “amen.” From that point forward we’re happy to either give them the cold shoulder OR we remind them over and over again about why they aren’t worthy of our trust. Sadly, more often than not, we never extend trust to them again. Instead, we hold it reserves for a time when we might have the chance to strike back for all the ways they’ve hurt us. We take “an eye for an eye” to the emotional level until it becomes a cancer of the Heart and the Soul. It’s not a pretty sight to encounter people with “trust issues”. They can talk until they turn blue about all the things that have been “done to them” and all the reasons the world is not worthy of their trust, and their bitterness shows from the inside out. Some will fly off the handle at the slightest hint of something that reminds them of a time of “betrayal” and they live life armed and ready to do battle. No kindness, compassion, or love can be seen in these people as they fester over the wrongs that others have committed against them…refusing to let go. Trusting is a choice, and refusing to trust again after we’ve been wronged has more to do with Forgiveness (or the lack of it) than anything else.

It’s ONLY when we can look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to put things like Trust and Forgiveness in Heavenly Perspective. When we look through a Spiritual Set of Eyes we’re able to look at ourselves with 20/20 vision and we can see ALL of our own Wrongs that have been Forgiven and covered with Unconditional Love. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to turn the other cheek, and we learn to extend Grace. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we realize that the one doing the wrong against us will be dealt with by the Hand of God without any help from us at all, and it’s when we look at things that way that we learn to extend Compassion. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we understand that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” and we know who the REAL enemy is AND we realize that if we aren’t Armed and Ready, we have the potential to do the same wrong against someone else! When we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes it’s impossible NOT to remember the BIGGEST BETRAYAL of all times. When Jesus was betrayed and sent to die in the most painful and shameful way imaginable, He found the strength to say what was on His Heart; “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. It’s when we look at Life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we understand that if we fester with Unforgiveness in the Heart and we refuse to trust because of our pain…it’s impossible to Trust Him or to truly Understand the Sacrifice He made for all of those wrongs we’ve committed against Him too. To Forgive and to Trust is a CHOICE.

I had some things whirling around in my head this morning and my thoughts were as scattered as stars in the sky. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that all of those thoughts were a Sign of my lack of Trust in the Living God, and after a little time in the Spiritual Woodshed, I’m looking at Life with a Spiritual Set of Eyes all over again.

How about you? Do you REFUSE to extend trust and forgiveness and do you live your life like you’re the one in charge of Balancing the Scales for all those Wrongs? If so, reach out to me. I’ll sit you down and explain what Forgiveness really looks like and I’ll explain the consequences of refusing to Trust, and when I’m done with you, Grace will be your middle name and you’ll be turning the other cheek faster than you can say “Amen” too.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and overcast on this new day and there’s a chance we might get the rain we so desperately need around here. The first order of Business for me on any new day is to give the Living God the Praise and Thanks He deserves. The next thing on the Agenda is to share what’s on my Heart. I make my Requests…I Confess my wrongs…and I ask for answers to things I sometimes can’t understand and can’t seem to find in His written Word. And then…I repeated the process all over again as if by repeating my Search I’ll somehow be able to understand the mind of God. I’ll bet the Living God smiles sometimes when we determine to make sense of Life from our viewpoint and not His own. I didn’t find the answers I was looking for this morning, but I found my Peace instead – and it’s that Peace that sees me through even when I don’t have the Answers. Passing through this Life with head knowledge doesn’t get us very far at all. It’s the passing through this Life with Heart knowledge that matters the most. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

If there is one thing I’ve learned in this Journey called Life, it’s that when the Heart is where it’s supposed to be the rest of me will follow. If my Heart is Kind and Compassionate, you won’t have to utter a word and I’ll be able to feel your pain. If my heart is Calm and Ready, you won’t have to say a thing and I will be able to sense your fear. If my heart is Humble and Selfless, you won’t have to tell me about your needs, I’ll be busy filling them before you can. If my Heart is filled with Gratitude, you won’t have to worry about me passing judgment on you no matter what’s going on in your life. If my Heart is Patient, you can count on me to be there to help you work your way through….over and over again. If my Heart is Readied with Wisdom, you won’t have to ask twice and I’ll have the Words you need to help you find your way. If my Heart is filled with Joy, you won’t stand a chance of holding onto bitterness or a bad mood in my presence. When my Heart is Readied by the King of all kings, I’m equipped to Serve anybody, anytime, and anywhere. I don’t need to have the answers and I don’t need to be better at anything before I go to Work to serve Him. My Heart is the only part of me that He can use….so the condition of my Heart gets the most time and attention from me.

It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their head Knowledge than they are on the Heart. They can put the best of us to shame as they quote Scripture on-demand for any circumstance, and they’re always ready to remind the world that those Words are what we need. But if they rely on head knowledge of the Word and they don’t have a Heart like Christ, they can’t be used by the King at all. God doesn’t need us to (just) recite His Word…He needs us to LIVE it. It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their “reservation” for Heaven than they are on the lost people around them. They live as if they believe they were smart enough to “get it” and it’s not their problem if others don’t get it too. But if they rest on the Promises of Heaven and don’t do their part to get as many “travel partners” as they can, they can’t be used by the King either and there’s a good chance they might hear “I never knew you” on the Big Day.

It’s easy to spot Christians who are filled with arrogance and judgment as if they’ve been assigned the Judgment Seat right here on earth. Somehow they’ve forgotten that Christ died for them too and that without Him they’d be a pitiful (and eternal) mess, and yet they lack Compassion and they never seem to grow tired of judging others. All of these outward signs are a SURE sign that the Heart is not in the Condition it’s supposed to be in.. that is, IF being a Light in this dark world and a Vessel worthy to be used by the King matters to them at all. The Heart is the only part of us that He can use.

I began this new day determined to find some answers but I was put in my Place by the One who matters the most, and NOW my Heart is ready for Service. Instead of looking for answers to things I’ll probably never understand, I’ve set aside my need for head knowledge and I’m focusing on my Heart instead. My Heart is the only part of me that matters to Him.

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 nature respond to the touch of the Master’s hand on this glorious new day. With a Heart overflowing with Gratitude, I could spend the rest of my life giving thanks and I’d never run out of things to thank Him for. So, I Praised Him and I thanked Him for it ALL. By the time I was ready to get to work, I was Readied from the inside out. I enjoy a little adventure and I love spontaneity in life here and there, but I love some of my routines as well. The routine of stepping out into the world each new day from 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 and that has nothing to do with how much or how little I have…it has everything to do with a Heart filled Gratitude for Who He is and what He does for me…no matter how big or how small! Isn’t that the way you look at the Journey of Life too?

It can be so easy for some people to wake up to a new day without a single thought about the Blessing of waking up in the first place, and they surrender their Joy and Peace in the process when they do. There is no Gratitude in their heart whatsoever because they’re too busy focusing on what they think they deserve to have in this life. Some people have an insatiable appetite for bigger and better and they won’t be satisfied until they get it. They don’t realize that “getting it” is directly tied to a Heart of Gratitude. If we can’t be genuinely Grateful for what God has already given us, why in the world would He Bless us with more? Some people roll out of bed and the first thought is the aches and pains that go along with getting up. Some people wake up hungry, and their first thought is what they’ll eat for breakfast. Some people wake up and are so far away from appreciating the Solitude of a new day that they turn on the TV or take to the Internet just minutes after their eyes open to catch up on the filth of the world. Some people wake up with a mind riddled with 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, some people wake up scared, some people wake up worried, and some people wake up lonely. All of these things are clear indicators we have somehow put ourselves FIRST in this Journey called Life, and when we do, it’s impossible to have a Heart filled with Gratitude for a new day to Live, to Love, and to Serve.

Some people have already quit living and they say they want the Lord to take them Home soon as if they’re being punished by having more Life to live. They’ve completely forgotten about Purpose and they surrendered their Joy and Peace in the process. Unfortunately, they’re already dead, they just haven’t been buried yet. Little do these people know that the Joy and the Peace they see in the Life of other people around them has nothing to do with a perfect day or a perfect life without struggles. The Joy and the Peace they see have nothing to do with God showing more Favor on one life over another….although they attempt to justify their attitude about where they are (or where they aren’t) in life. Joy and Peace are not a sign that nothing “bad” happens to other people! After all, they could easily focus on their aches and pains and trials too. Joy and Peace are present through thick and thin ONLY when we turn to the Source of Life…to the One gracious enough to grant another day to Live…to the One who has Plans and a Purpose for each one of us…to the One who knit us together in our mother’s womb…to the One who takes our hand EVERY TIME we 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 IF we’ll just turn to Him…especially at the beginning of each new day. This is the ONLY way to have Joy and Peace no matter what’s going on in life. It all 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, but my Life isn’t always that way. I’ve been in valleys deeper than most people can imagine and I’ve lost my way a time or two. Did I have a Heart of Gratitude in the storm? Absolutely! And I made sure to let Him Know how Grateful I was despite my trials and tribulations because that’s what Gratitude looks like. Only a spoiled child would forget all the Good things a father has done for them just because of a few bumps in the road! As for me, I fight 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 Peace and Strength for the Journey and I know what it takes to have it! It all begins with a Heart that Overflows with Gratitude for 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 beginning of Time.

How about you?

The road to the farm was built between these two oak trees…not just to preserve nature, but because these trees are rumored to be “Anniversary Oaks.” Years ago, Anniversary Oaks were planted in honor of a newly married couple as a symbol of strength and longevity. The roots of an oak tree are deep, and the wood is strong. Oak trees have the ability to withstand even the strongest wind. They bend, but they don’t break, and they live for a very long time where they’re planted…the way marriage is supposed to be when it has good roots.

When oak trees are planted close to one another, it’s important to allow for enough space for each one to grow independently – strong and healthy, but close enough to shield each other from the elements. What a beautiful picture of relationships in life. Whether a marriage, a relationship with a child, or even a close friend, it’s important to have just the right amount of space for each one to grow independently, strong, and healthy, while being close enough to shield and protect….and so it is with the Living God.

Years ago one of the oaks failed to leaf and it succumbed to the journey soon after. There was only a stump left behind where the strong oak once stood. Every once in a while when I drove between them, I’d think about the couple who planted these oaks to symbolize their love and I’d get sad when I thought about how hard it must have been for one to stand on their own without the other. These oak trees were over 100 years old – I don’t know how old the Anniversary couple was – but it’s likely there was one left standing long after the other one succumbed. Today there is only a memory of where those oaks used to stand proud and tall but they still bring a smile to my face when I think about them.

God Almighty knew us before the foundations of the earth, He planted the seed of life in our mother’s womb, He knows every breath we take and He collects every tear we shed in a jar. He is the Master of it all and yet He allows just enough space for us to grow Healthy and Strong in Him. He “planted us” just where we are and He’s there to Protect us and to Shield us from “the elements” all the days of our lives. God doesn’t just sit in the Heavenly realms and orchestrate life, He longs for a Relationship with you with me…one where we learn to stand tall and Strong in His name…just like the Anniversary Oaks.

Give your relationship with Him all that it needs to grow and He’ll be your “Anniversary Oak” for all of eternity…just enough space to allow for Growth and Strength and ALWAYS your Shield.

“For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover him with favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and beautiful again this morning and if I didn’t know better I’d think we were in a different season altogether. Last week it was scorching hot and today it feels like Fall. As I sat there taking in the Magnificence of this new day, I thought about how we often get the Seasons of Life mixed up and our focus gets off-kilter when we do. The temperature this morning FELT like Fall but nothing looks like it. If I react to what I feel and not by what I see, I can easily be fooled into believing I’m in an entirely different Season. Sometimes we can’t go by what we feel or see, we go by what we Know instead. In terms of the season of the year, I know it’s summer – in terms of the Season of my Journey, I Know the time is near. My adversary would love for me to be fooled in every way and that’s why I do my best to remain Laser Focused on Truth. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

It’s only when I look in the mirror that I see that I’m in the fall season of my life. The years show on my face and this old mare ain’t what she used to be. But I don’t dwell on what I see, I live as if I’m in a season that is far behind me as I look ahead to what is to Come. My heart is young. My spirit is young. I still have the mind of a younger person even though my body can’t always do what I used to do I’m usually surprised when I can’t. But all in all, no matter what I see and feel, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

It’s sad to see so many people fooled by what they see in the mirror. They allow the adversary to convince them that now is the time to quit and they believe they no longer have something to offer the Kingdom because of it. Moses was called into Service at 80 years old – had he looked in the mirror and embraced his years, he never would have obeyed the Living God. What we see in the mirror has no relevance at all, it’s what God sees in US that matters the most. No matter how old or how young we are, NOW is the Season to Serve like never before. This is the Key to being found worthy to be used by the King of all kings all the days of our lives.

Some people consider the calendar years and they disregard what is possible for them because of it. The adversary will convince them that they’re too young to be so serious about the Journey of Faith and they put off Serving the Living God because of it as if they have all the time in the world to get Serious. Some are in the season of raising a family and the adversary will convince them that now is the season to focus on things like sports and GPAs instead of the only Season that matters in the Bigger Picture of Life. We have no way of knowing how many seasons the Lord will give us and we don’t know when we’ll draw our last breath. But what we DO Know is that IF we are Born Again, the Season to Share Jesus Christ with the world is now. When we remain Laser Focused on that Truth we cannot be fooled by what we feel or see with our eyes. It’s only when we Embrace what the Journey is all about do we set aside all the other seasonal distractions for the Season of the King. He’s coming back and neither young nor old will escape the Outcome when He does, and He won’t entertain excuses for why He died for us but we refused to Live for Him all because of the seasons.

I’m an imperfect woman living out the Final Season of life on earth. I’ve lived long enough to know what it’s like to be fooled by my adversary and I squandered my younger years because of it. Today, I don’t care about what the mirror reflects and I don’t care what the calendar says. I am determined to be Laser Focused on Truth until I draw my last breath AND I’m committed to sharing the Truth with as many people as I can before He calls me Home. My Heart is Strong. My mind is sound. My body is healthy. I’m working harder than ever before and I’m not stopping until He stops me no matter what season I’m in. I might need a staff like Moses carried just to hold me up before it’s all said and done, but I won’t quit. The Season to Serve the King of all kings is NOW and I won’t let the Blessing pass me by no matter what.

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 calm on this new day and after a little time in the presence of a Big God, my Heart began to feel on the inside what the day brought to the outside…cool and calm. This buck made his way across the field this morning with a small herd in tow, and it’s always a joy to have a front-row seat to watch them. His job is to lead, protect, to fend off enemies, and to increase the size of the herd each season. A few times I watched him turn to one of his herd to make a correction, just the way all good leaders do. There is no question who is in control in a herd of deer, that’s for sure. His very being sends a message to the animal world. Watching this buck with his herd reminded me of how my very Being should send a message to the dark world and there should be no mistake about who I am and what Herd I belong to. When someone stands in my presence they should see, feel, and hear about the One who died for me and my Presence should cause an unbelieving soul to experience “culture shock” because I don’t resemble things of this world. Isn’t it just like God to use a buck and his herd to speak to the Heart of His Servants?

It can be so easy for people of Faith to fall into the snares of this life if we aren’t careful but we can’t be a good Reflection of Heavenly things if we do. We can stomp and whine about the state of the world with the best of them, but we are supposed to be “in this world, not of this world” and there’s nothing “shocking” about the way we live when we join the crowd of complainers. We can hold a grudge against the ones who wrong us like the best of them, but holding a grudge is a refusal to Forgive and there’s nothing “shocking” about the way we live when we hate along with all the others. We can spit out insults and justify our beliefs like the best of them, but there’s nothing “shocking” about the way we live when “out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing.” It’s when we love especially when it doesn’t make sense…when we Forgive no matter the offense…when we refuse to speak hate to any one of God’s creations…that we stand out like a sore thumb in this dark world and the “culture shock” that lost people experience will often lead them to want to know what’s “different” about us. This is the key to living out “thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

I’m an imperfect woman living an imperfect life but I love the Perfect One with all of my Heart and I strive to Live the way He commands me to. My desire to please Him is far greater than my desire to tango with the darkness of the world. From politics to pedophiles I leave it up to God to exercise judgment and “vengeance.” With Him in control of it all, I know that when I speak out against what I see with my eyes, I’ve lost sight of the Master Plan altogether and I become a poor Reflection of the One I Serve. I want lost people to experience “culture shock” when they see my Supernatural responses to unnatural events. I want them to see Love when they “don’t deserve it.” I want them to see the “peace that surpasses all understanding” when outward circumstances paint a picture of turmoil and hate. I won’t rely on what I think with my head or feel in my Heart to be a Witness to the darkness…I’ll give it everything I’ve got to live a Life, to SPEAK the name of Jesus Christ, to Love unconditionally, to reflect the “fruit of the spirit” which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I want the darkness to experience CULTURE SHOCK in the Light of my Faith all the days of my Life…and THAT’S what God will use to add to His Kingdom if I remain faithful to the Faithful One.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This morning was crystal clear and beautiful…exactly how I want my Heart to be. I have no control over the weather, but I DO have control over the Condition of my Heart, so I entered His Presence…I opened my Instruction Manual…I sat in Silence and I listened for His Voice… and I asked Him to Forgive me of my wrongs. It didn’t take long for my Heart to become crystal clear and beautiful just like the morning sky because it’s been cleansed of anything that has the potential to get in the way of my Relationship with my God. All it takes is a little Humility mixed with Love, and I find my way to that place where I can be of Good Service to the King of all kings! Isn’t that your Goal in the Journey of Faith too?

I think it’s interesting how some people react when I talk about Repentance as if they’re shocked that I have anything to repent of at all. Of course, I do…and so do you! Even the “tiniest” wrong needs to be dealt with before the Throne of a Righteous God. That’s where Spiritual Maturity comes in. A Humble heart SEARCHES for things that go against the Nature of God and a Heart filled with Love for Him will easily Repent because of it. But a Heart that hasn’t Matured yet will overlook all kinds of things that go against God without a care in the world. That kind of Heart justifies behavior and is no stranger to inflicting pain upon other people without blinking an eye. That kind of Heart feels no compassion for the suffering as if they’re not suffering themselves because they’re somehow a little more entitled than all the others. That kind of Heart is the source of lots of heartbreak in the Journey of Faith and that kind of Heart is oblivious. By the way, that’s the kind of Heart our Adversary LOVES to have access to because when he does, he can create all kinds of turmoil in the church, in the family, and everywhere in between. Spiritual Maturity is the only way to please God and the only Route to being used as a Vessel for Kingdom Work. It’s time to grow up.

It takes Work to reach Spiritual Maturity – the kind of Work most people aren’t willing to do. It takes LOTS of Quality Time in His Presence, but most people can’t find the time. It takes reaching that place of Humility it takes to repent, but most people are too proud to do that. It takes Compassion, the kind of compassion that is developed ONLY through heartbreak of our own in our Journey toward Refinement, but most people never find it. It takes becoming Selfless so that the needs of others become far more important than our own, but most people are too focused on themselves to get that part Right. Last, but not least, it takes Love…the greatest AND the toughest of all. It’s not possible to Love the way we’re Called to Love with Immature Hearts and THAT’S why Time in His Presence is the Key to Spiritual Maturity. The Bible says; “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”…and, so it is throughout the Journey of Faith. It’s time to grow up.

I love Jesus Christ more than I love life…more than I love anybody or anything IN this life…and because I do, I’m Willing to do anything I have to do to be Spiritually Mature. I’m just passing through and my life is “like a vapor”. I’m on a Temporary Assignment and I don’t have forever to get it Right….and neither do you. My Focus is on the One who died for me and the Home that awaits me when it’s Time for my address to change. Until then, I press on. The Goal is Humility and Love and I work hard for both in hopes that He will find me to be a Worthy Vessel to do the work of the King of all kings all the days of my Life. I grew up.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s one of those perfect kind of mornings with clear skies and cool air before things heat up for the day. Part of me wishes it could be like this all the time, but if it was like this all the time I’d eventually take it for granted. Only God is “the same yesterday, today, and forevermore” while everything else in between changes. It’s the changing that keeps us on our toes, and it’s the changing that causes some of us to seek His Will a little harder than all the others. Some changes are good ones…some are bad ones…some seemingly without much relevance at all…at least from where I sit. Because I know that change comes to all of us, I determine to face each new day with a renewed Heart and an attitude of Gratitude while I Ready myself for whatever change I might face on this new day. Isn’t that how you look at change too?

It can be so easy to take things for granted in life if we’re not careful, but we miss out on the Purpose of Life when we do. We skip through life without a care in the world as long as things are running smoothly, and before we know it, we begin to take things for granted in the process. We live as if love will always be there – it’s when we take love for granted that it has the potential to fade. We live as if nothing in life needs to be nurtured, but nothing grows strong roots without nurturing. We live as if life never ends for anybody – it’s when we take life for granted that we forget to savor more moments. We live as if money will always be there – it’s when we take money for granted that we spend it recklessly OR we take for granted all those beautiful opportunities that can lift us out of poverty. We live as if good health is just a way of life – it’s when we take good health for granted that we forget to protect it. We live as if we have forever to do all those things we’ve always dreamed of doing…but it’s when we take our dreams for granted that we begin to perish. There’s no end to what we take for granted and no limit to our excuses when we do. It’s ONLY when we have a sincere Attitude of Gratitude for every sliver of life that we realize how precious (and how frail) life is and we make SURE to savor it all while we’re still here.

The Bible says that in the end times “men will be lovers of themselves” – no doubt taking things for granted is a very clear picture of what that looks like today. It’s the selfish heart of man that leads to taking things for granted – living for ourselves and tending to our own needs above all else. The hard Reality is that it’s not possible to be filled with an Attitude of Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does when we take so much for granted…we’re “lovers of” ourselves instead. It’s when we see the Blessing of it all…the Blessing of each one…the Blessing of every Ordained moment…the Blessing found in every up and every down…even the Blessing behind the changes…that we learn to savor it ALL and taking things for granted is Spiritually impossible. The Lord “gives and takes away” and I can’t help but wonder if He changes things up in Life to be sure that we don’t take it for granted.

I’m savoring this cool summer morning before it changes back to the norm and I’m overflowing with an Attitude of Gratitude even though my life isn’t “perfect” here on earth. Change comes to all of us and I’ve had my fair share just like the rest of the world. Sometimes I embrace it and sometimes I fight it, but I always Trust Him with the change. I don’t want to take one moment…one person…one change for granted and I want to overflow with an Attitude of Gratitude that can be seen far and wide…no matter what’s going on in the Journey called Life. May it NEVER be said of me that I was a “lover of” self.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Though it’s Saturday, every day is a busy day around here so I make sure to kick each one off with the most Important thing on my List of things to do – I meet with the Living God. He’s not just the CEO of my Life, He’s a Wonderful Counselor and the Source of Wisdom too. He knows my steps before I take them, and He knows what the end Result will be before it is revealed to me. He “keeps my path straight” if I should stray from His Plans for me. Everything I need to know about my Life and Ministry was written long ago. I refer to my Instruction Manual every single day for Divine Direction because these Words were Breathed into existence by the Living God to help me along. If I want to be successful in every area of Life it all begins with my Relationship with my CEO. As long as I have that part right, everything else will just fall into Place. Isn’t that the way you look at your relationship with your CEO too?

I can’t imagine what it’s like to hit the ground running on a new day without a Staff Meeting with the Living God to ensure my success, but plenty of people do just that. When things get in the way of my Staff Meeting…an unexpected interruption or a late start to a new day…I’m out of sorts all day and I don’t feel nearly as Prepared as I need to be for the Journey. I’m not sure why people refuse to spend time with the Living God, but I think most people don’t think it’s necessary…sad but true. If that’s the case, they’ve been deceived by the master deceiver! If you want the Day to end well, it all begins at the Beginning. If you long to be Promoted One Day, the kind of Promotion that will take you all the way to the Top, you’ll Invest Time to spend with your CEO each day too. If you want to Receive a Good Review…the kind that says “WELL DONE!” that depends on how much Quality Time you spend with your CEO. Your “success” all comes down to you and how much you Value your Position in Life and how much Time and Attention you spend with the Author of it all aka your CEO.

Some people were baptized as infants and they’re under the impression that the sprinkling was a Reservation for a place in Heaven…but that’s not true. Some people say a prayer every night before bedtime in the privacy of their own homes, and they think that satisfies the Living God…but ritualistic prayers don’t mean a whole lot to the Living God – He wants the Heart instead. Some people are pretty good about confessing their wrongs and they feel good about receiving “forgiveness” from man…but unless they genuinely confess the wrongs to the One who died for it all, it doesn’t mean a whole lot to the Living God. I feel bad for all the people who know who God is…but they don’t KNOW God because there is no Relationship between them. Every relationship of any kind takes TIME to build. Why would a Relationship with the CEO, the Living God, the Author, and the Perfecter of Faith be any different?

When I talk about these things I’m often reminded that I can’t judge the heart…and that is absolutely true! I’m not the Judge and I’m not the jury and there is no desire within me to be either one. But what I am is a Messenger on Temporary Assignment and I take my Instructions from the CEO of my Life seriously because there is so much at stake! I didn’t Write the Rules and I’m not the One to enforce them. My Role is to be sure that others understand that there ARE Rules and then it’s up to them whether or not they want a Relationship with the Rule Maker or not. When it comes to Truth and Recruiting, God expects us all to CARE ENOUGH TO SHARE! After all, a Messenger without a Message isn’t worth a whole lot no matter how you look at it. The CEO of Life has already given each one of us a Message that is Intended to be Shared with the world. Not Sharing the Message is non-negotiable for Followers of Jesus Christ…the CEO of Life. You’re either ON the Jesus Team or you’re NOT – if you are ARE then you care about your Job Description too!

With so much at stake in this Journey of Faith, I am sure to meet with Him each morning so that I’m Equipped with Love and Compassion, Boldness and Strength. He Expects me to Share His Message with Compassion so that I can be a Light of Hope in a Dark World. For me, there is no other way to Live and no Greater Purpose. I absolutely DO see a lot of beauty from where I sit on the porch each day, but THE MOST beautiful thing on the planet has nothing to do with geography or wildlife – it’s that Staff Meeting with the CEO of my Life that brings me Joy and Peace and it’s the Marching Orders He gives to me that gives me Direction. Why would I EVER not want to meet with the CEO before I begin a new day?

How about you?