Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. No matter how many mornings I step outside to watch the Master wake up the world, I see something new every day. No matter how many times I read through the Words breathed into existence by the Living God I see something new every time. No matter how many times we Meet for me to give my Praise and my thanks, I learn something new about my Journey each time. Every day is filled with New when you look at Life with a Heart for Him and no two days are ever the same. The only constant…the only thing that NEVER changes in my Life is Him…my God is the same “yesterday, today and forevermore”…He’s the “Beginning and the End.” When you have One Constant in a sea of New things how could anybody ever get bored?

It’s amazing to see how easy it is for most people to get bored in a Life filled with New, but they do. Some people need entertainment as much as they need air, and the only time they’re ever really satisfied is when something or someone “fun” is around to satisfy their need for fun. They want to be on the go as much as possible as if they’re running from something in life. Some people schedule activities from sun up to sun down and in their eyes, the weekends were invented just for their own pleasure. In between the activities, they’re on the phone or the television or radio is sounding off in the background because the thought of silence makes their skin crawl so they fill it all up with noise. Some people don’t believe it’s possible to have fun without alcohol, so their entertainment almost always includes an abundance of it. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be to work so hard to be entertained just to be sure there’s no chance of ever getting bored. But the saddest part to me is that the Sweetest Things in Life are found in those still and quiet moments that the “bored” ones are missing out on because of their need for self-fulfillment.

God doesn’t have a problem with fun, that’s for sure! His Word says “So I commend the enjoyment of life because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry”. The first Miracle Jesus performed was turning water into wine at a wedding when they ran out and Jesus clearly loved to break bread with His friends. I’m also sure that God didn’t mean for us to fill life up ONLY for our own enjoyment and I know He loves to meet with us in silence. Life is filled with beauty, fun, and amazing people, and I like to have a good time just like the rest of the world does sometimes. But if you want to see me REALLY entertained join me in the quiet places…without distractions…where conversations flow freely…where Trust is built…where wounds are healed… where laughter abounds…where every word is heard…where Hearts are fused together forever. Now THAT’S entertainment for me!

I watched the Master wake up the world the way I have a thousand times before…and I gave thanks for the New. I heard the birds singing a new song…and I gave thanks for it all. I read pieces of His Word that I’ve read countless times before….and I gave thanks for the new Message. Today I’ll hear from my family and friends that I’ve heard from a million times before…and I’ll give thanks for a new day to hear their voices all over again. Bored? NEVER! With the quality of Life that I have in the Silence, how in the world could I EVER be bored?

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cloudy, and they’re calling for rain later today, but it’s still perfect in my eyes. As I sat listening for the Call of My Shepherd, He entertained me with many things. A lone turkey crossing the field. A woodpecker feeding off a stump. A deer that had wandered away from the herd and one little Canadian goose flying solo. Each one looked healthy and strong but then again I can’t see the inside of them and they can’t speak to me. I’m pretty sure every living thing has aches and pains every once in a while but nature doesn’t stop to lick its wounds when it does – it keeps moving forward in survival mode instead. It’s not really about whether we have aches and pains or not that matters…everybody does at some point in life…it’s what we do despite the aches and pains that matters in the Journey of Life. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

The Bible says “Gray hair is a crown of glory” but most of the world doesn’t look at it that way. At the first sign of gray hair, they’re off to get it covered as if they will somehow look and feel younger if they do. At the first sign of wrinkled skin, they’re off to buy expensive miracle creams or to hire a plastic surgeon to make the wrinkles go away as if they will somehow look and feel younger if they do. At the first sign of an unexplainable ache or pain, they’re off to search for answers as if aches and pains only exist if something dreadful is going on. What is it about mankind that it wants to live a long life BUT it doesn’t want to see or feel the years? When David cried out to the Lord – “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come” – he was a lot more interested in having time to declare the Power of God to the world than he was about the years. Declaring the power of God to the next generation is the greatest Joy…through the gray hair, wrinkles aches and pains and THIS is the Key to a long, and fulfilling life.

I have the Heart of a young woman with a body that reminds me that I’m not IF I let it. I have enough aches and pains to keep me Humble BUT nothing will cause me to slow down to lick my wounds. I don’t conjure up scary things in my mind when I’m not feeling well and I don’t expect to take medications that I can’t even pronounce. Long years are a BLESSING and I’m going to Live like it, Love like it, and continue to run my race until I draw my last breath. Why? Because there is no greater Joy than to share the Power of my God with the next generation and beyond!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a perfect morning to step into the Presence of my Perfect God and to read His Perfect Word. The sky isn’t blue and the sun isn’t bright but that doesn’t make it any less perfect to me. It’s always Beautiful from where I sit in Life and every day is a Blessing. That part has absolutely nothing to do with geography and everything to do with where I choose to be in the Journey of Faith. But, with a view like the one from the front porch, it’s hard to imagine that bad things are going on in the world all around me, and it’s not easy to understand how and why fear is so prevalent among God’s people. The perfect view from the front porch DOES help in calming my soul, but absolutely nothing compares to being in the Presence of my Perfect God…the One who scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name. He calls me by name…I am His…how could I fear? In these tumultuous times, it’s more important than ever for me to spend time with Him…to Acknowledge Him in all my ways so that He can direct my path…to do my Part to reach the lost…and to Battle like the Warrior I was Designed to be for my Perfect God. Isn’t that how you look at your Journey of Life these days too?

When I look at all that has taken place in the world over the last few years, I realize just how weak the flock is and why Jesus refers to us as “sheep.” Sheep aren’t the brightest beasts in the kingdom and without a shepherd, they don’t have sense enough to find their way without help. They’re jumpy and scared, and defenseless on their own – very similar to their human friends today. Although they don’t know much about survival, it’s when they hear the shepherd’s voice they instinctively know they are being watched over and they take notice because they’re too afraid not to – unlike their human friends today. What we’re seeing take place in the world today should come as no surprise to the Flock, but instead of listening out even MORE for the Voice of our Shepherd, we’re trading Truth for what we want to believe and we’re scattered (and divided) as a result.

In this divided world, each side is clinging to the truth they want to believe instead of the Perfect Truth of God’s Word, while each side points a finger at the other as they shout “liar!” The Future has already been written and the End is already Planned. All of it is being Managed by the God who sits on the Throne. He doesn’t make mistakes and He doesn’t change His mind but He’s always compassionate. He’s already told us what to Expect. We’ve already been warned about the trials and tribulations. His Word already told us that we would be divided while people exchange Truth for a lie! But we don’t need to be afraid like a furry sheep afraid of its own shadow because WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN EVERYTHING we need to fight the Battle. This is the Key to Peace and Perserence in the tumultuous world today.

I can see how it’s possible for people who THOUGHT they were headed to Heaven to hear “I never knew you” when they face the Perfect Sheperd One Day because I see how easily some have traded listening out for the Voice of the Shepherd for listening out for their manmade version of the truth. On that day those people will say “But Lord, we prophesied in your name…we healed your name” as if they can negotiate the terms of their Eternity. But the Sheperd knows the Heart of His flock and He sees behind the scenes. He sees when His sheep are filled with fear and He sees when they’re leaning on outside sources. He sees how His sheep hunger for the latest conspiracy update far more than they hunger for His Perfect Word. He sees when His sheep Bless and curse out of the same mouth those people made in His image, and He sees the hate fueling their belief system. Those poor sheep are just as pathetic as their furry friends in the field…completely lost and scattered and desperately in need of the Voice of the Shepherd. The biggest difference is that sheep KNOW the voice of their shepherd while the Perfect Shepherd’s flock is lost and His Voice has become so foreign to them that they don’t even recognize it anymore.

The sky isn’t blue and the sun isn’t bright this morning but it’s absolutely Perfect to me! I wish everybody could have what I have; a Peaceful beginning to a new day, an Unshakable Belief System, Unwavering Faith in the Perfect Shepherd, and Peace that surpasses all understanding in a lost world. Having what I have is not (just) a Blessing, it’s a choice. I choose to get my Predictions from the Word of God and I choose to take my Direction from His Spirit. I choose to stay laser-focused on the Perfect Word and my Perfect God and I choose to tune out all those set on stirring confusion and hate. I choose to do my Part to reach the Heart of the flock and I choose to share the Perfect Solution with the lost ones before it’s too late. He’s my rock. He’s my redeemer. He’s my hope. He’s my future…forever and ever, Amen!

How about you?

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

It’s Mother’s Day, and as I looked across the front porch this morning, these four rocking chairs all lined up reminded me of my four amazing children. Each one is unique, and each one with a personality of their own. None of them are in perfect alignment with the others, and none of them are concerned about being in precisely the same place where the others are in life. They “rock” in their own direction and at their own pace, but they never rock too far away from the farm or away from each other. When they’re seated in the rockers on this old porch, there is laughter, love, and an endless supply of memories to share, and when one of the rockers is empty, the other ones feel the void. They are strong enough to bear the burdens of this life and yet they are gentle enough to rock a baby to sleep. They’ve endured the wind and the rains of life together, and although every once in a while a strong wind will scatter one in the opposite direction, the others stay right where they are, and before you know it the scattered one finds its way back to the line-up.

My heart was filled with love and gratitude this morning as I considered my “rockers” and all of those answered prayers for them over the years, AND for a family filled with so much love, it’s almost tangible.

There’s no doubt that I’ll hear words of love and appreciation on Mother’s Day, but every day feels like Mother’s Day to me. If there are any “thanks” to be dished out, it’s ME who should be doing the thanking.

Thanks to a Mighty God who honored the prayers of this Mom over and over and over again.

Thanks to a God who chose me to be the vessel to bring these four amazing creatures into the world, and Who trusted me to bring them up in His ways and not my own.

Thanks to a God who gave me wisdom abundantly any time I asked for it, and One who gave me strength when I was tired and weary from the journey.

Thanks to a compassionate God who was the “Father to the fatherless” and Who led this family every step of the way.

Thanks to a God who has kept them healthy and safe day after day, and for a God who planted the Seed of Faith in each one of them.

Thanks to a God who taught me to die to myself and One who used the opportunity to soften my heart through my children so that I would be softened for the King of all kings.

Being a Mom has been, and will forever be, the greatest and the most significant thing I’ve ever done and the source of so many spiritual lessons for me. The fruit of my labor overwhelms me and I know that the legacy of love, laughter, and Faith will go on from generation to generation.

I’ll never know on this side of Heaven just how far-reaching that legacy will be but thinking about it makes me smile. So on Mother’s Day…it’s ME who gives thanks for it all. For my four beautiful “rockers” and for the God of it all.

My kids are grown, but my role as “Mom” won’t end until I take my last breath. I’ll be around whenever they need me and I’ll still savor every single moment I have. I’ll long for the days for these rockers to be filled back up, and I’ll wait patiently in between those times. Mostly I’ll be praying without ceasing just like I have since the day they were born, and I’ll be sharing a legacy of love, laughter, and Faith while I plant a few seeds in the next generation too.

Happy Mother’s Day to me and to you!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a clear and cool day in Virginia so I wrapped a blanket around myself and met with the Master outside where my Heart is happiest. I began to focus on what He’s doing in the world around me before we examined my Heart. I’m not sure if God gets impatient with me when that happens or not, but I get impatient with myself sometimes when I allow my mind to overrule my Heart because I know I’m in control of my mind! This morning I kept focusing on the trees that have recently been set free from vines…invasive vines that had the potential to completely choke them out. If I didn’t know better, I’d think they are standing taller and stronger these days because they’ve been set free! Isn’t that just the way it is in our Journey of Life too? The trees are strong but they can have the life choked out of them if the vines are allowed to continue to grow…and so can my Heart! What an amazing Reminder straight from the Throne of a Mighty God who Speaks to my Heart even when my mind wanders. Isn’t that the way He speaks to your Heart too?

It can be so easy for us to believe that we’re bigger and stronger than we really are, or that we’re immune from being snuffed out by the vines because we’re “mature”…but that’s not true. One little vine in the Journey of Faith that’s allowed to grow unchecked and we lose our strength faster than we can say “amen.” It takes years for a tree to reach maturity but it takes no time at all for a vine, and as “innocent” as the vine looks on the outside, it has the “power” to snuff the life out of the tree. Vines are persistent and resilient and they won’t go away on their own, and that’s precisely the way it is with the vines in Life too. Even the strongest “tree” can succumb to the vines if we don’t take Action of our own to snuff out the vine before it snuffs out the Heart. I know how to battle the vines on the trees but more importantly, I know how to battle the ones that creep into my mind too! Though God Nourishes my Heart and Soul, He expects ME to “take captive every thought” so that I can address the vines all on my own. So, I do what I’m told to do – “Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” There’s not a vine in the universe that can survive that kind of Weed Control!

I did a little Spiritual Weed Control this morning and now that the vines are no longer creeping into my mind – they are no threat to me whatsoever. Had I let those vines go unchecked, I would become bitter and cold and these things have no place in the Life of a Follower of Jesus Christ. Of all the “tools” I could use to tackle the vines in my mind, Humility is the greatest Weapon of all. After all, it takes Humility to admit that sometimes we let the vines creep into the mind in the first place! I’m Strong and I’m Mature…Mature enough to know that even I can fall subject to the “vines” if I’m not careful…and Mature enough to know how to do MY part to remove them. I’m taking “captive” every thought that is intended to discourage me and I’m Victorious…again. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, I’m standing taller and Stronger just like the trees are because I’ve been set FREE!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was slow in getting going this morning and by the time I entered the Presence of my Most High God to offer my praise, my thanks, and to lay a few requests at His Feet, I struggled to put into words what my Heart felt and I found myself sitting in silence instead. As I looked across the front porch at the rockers this morning I thought about half of them will be filled up tonight with family and an empty place will remain where the rest of the family should be. It’s crazy…but beautiful…that every time I look across at these rockers I think about people who have come and gone from the front porch and from my life. Some have only gone for a season, and some of them have made it Home before me. None of them are “lost” and none of the memories fade because I refuse to let them. If I close my eyes I can still see them and if I sit in silence I can hear the sound of their voice and their laughter. What a blessing to Serve a God who has given me a precious family, countless friends, and a mind Designed to recall in Living Color.

We all deal with loss in our own way. Some people mourn a loss for the rest of their lives because their heart refuses to mend. Some people get angry when family and friends don’t fill up a rocker often enough, and some get angry at God when He calls a loved one Home. Some find comfort in visiting a gravesite and somehow the visit and a one-sided conversation make them feel close to the one who is no longer here. Sometimes conflict is the reason for an empty rocker and too often the conflict is never resolved due to pride and stubbornness…but love should “keep no record of wrong.” Some people recall the anniversary date of the passing of a loved one as much (or more) than a birthday…while some still celebrate the birthdays of the ones no longer here. There is no right or wrong way to deal with loss but there is only One Way to endure it, and that’s with the Peace and Comfort that only comes through a Relationship with Jesus Christ and when we have that part Right, all those sweet memories can be Recalled in Living Color at will because He made it so.

There is a season for everything under the sun. Sometimes people step away from our lives only because the season has ended. It might sting at first, but it’s the kind of thing that heals over time as another sits down in their rocker. But it’s never easy to face the end of a Season on earth when someone we love is called Home before we are. We can’t imagine life without them here on earth and there’s a void where they used to be. But when we know that the Record has been Set Straight and we’re confident that they left this earth to go Home, there is a Peace that surpasses all understanding and Joy in knowing we can see them again in a place that has no tears or sadness.

I want everybody to have that kind of “blessed assurance” – to KNOW where they’re headed and to KNOW where their loved ones will be waiting for them…and THAT’S what drives me to share my Faith day in and day out! There IS a place more beautiful than man can imagine and there is a place we can call Home forever. All it takes is Accepting Jesus Christ as the Savior – to accept that He died for us all so that we might have eternal life too…so that we have a Place called Home! That’s the Big Piece of a life puzzle that must be Set Straight in order to have the kind of Peace I have.

I had a Family Reunion this morning with just me and my God. My Heart lept with joy as I recalled the voices and the laughter of the ones that have gone Home before me. One day we’ll be together again – that’s the Blessed Assurance when Jesus is yours. If you aren’t sure where you’re headed when you draw your last breath then we need to talk. If you aren’t sure where your loved ones will be headed when they draw their last breath then YOU need to talk. Jesus is ours and Home is our destiny for those who love Him. Hallelujah!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine O what a foretaste of glory divine

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blessed

Watching and waiting, looking above

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week and already God has put a new song in my heart – a song of Praise, a song of Thanksgiving, a song of hope, and a song of EXCITEMENT for His Plans for my Life today and beyond. I’m not sure how anybody endures this Journey called “Life” without a similar song in their own heart, and I feel sorry for all of my friends of Faith who lack Excitement as they pass through this life. I KNOW that I have a Purpose much bigger than anything I can wrap my head around, and I don’t need step-by-step Instructions to be willing to keep moving toward the goal. Don’t you get excited about the Master Plan designed just for you too?

It can be so easy to fall into thinking in shallow terms when it comes to this life, and it’s even easier to fall into to the trap of routines if we aren’t careful. When we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of routines in any relationship, with no room for spontaneity, the relationship begins to die without us even realizing it. What’s true for relationships is true for our Journey of Faith too because our journey IS a Relationship with the God of all Creation! It’s only when we Determine to keep our eyes and our Hearts Fixed on the Excitement of the Future as we live out His Plan that all of those shallow and routine things seem to be a whole lot less significant to us in the end. This is the Key to hearing from God!

I’ve known a few people (and a lot of churches) that would be rattled to the core if their routine was shaken because God had the nerve to “show up” unannounced. If the Holy Spirit moved in their church and delayed their visit to the all-you-can-eat buffet line, there would be “a price to pay” on Monday, that’s for sure. They aren’t prepared to let Him “Work” whenever He’s ready to Work, and if He isn’t on the schedule it ain’t happen’. These people can easily excuse away their response to the Interruptions by defending the need for “law and order” or by preaching about time and responsibilities, but they stay so focused on their need for schedule and their fixation on the routine that they wouldn’t recognize a visit from the Master if He hit them over the head.

Sometimes I wonder if these people are reading the same Instruction Manual that I read, or if they are just inclined to consider it to be more of a history book filled with things of the past than one filled with Life that still applies today. You don’t have to read too far into my Instruction Manual to see that when God “showed up” He didn’t sit around and wait until He could be squeezed into the schedule. Instead, people Responded to Him at the most inconvenient times and their Blessings were immeasurable because of it. But those who chose to ignore Him instead paid a big price….and so will you.

Oh, I’ll take care of my responsibilities today and I’ll be following a few routines too. But more than anything I’ll be listening out for the voice of my God and not the voice of my calendar. When God comes calling everything else pales in comparison in my book. I’ll get busy doing the Work of the One I Love the most without a worry at all about all of those shallow, routine things getting done because when I Obey Him somehow there’s plenty of time and energy within the day to do it all. If He brings a suffering soul my way today, I won’t make them wait until a more convenient time when I’m not so busy. If He makes room for a conversation with someone trying to figure out Life, I won’t hesitate to squeeze them in and I’ll drop what I’m doing and get busy doing the work of my Master. If He calls for me to speak up and to Share my Faith with a lost person today, I won’t make excuses for why it isn’t a good time or place to do the sharing. Whatever He calls for me to do today I pray that I’ll do it without reservation, and I pray that those shallow, routine things don’t blind me to His Plans for me on this new day of a new week.

I’m filled with love for the Love of my life today and I’m very excited about what He might have me do in His Name. When He “shows up” I’ll drop everything else to serve Him, and I know that all of the other things on my plate will be managed with Heavenly efficiency because of it.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The sun crept up in a semi-cloudy sky and the sounds of nature celebrating this new day would warm even the coldest heart. The view from the front porch is a glorious setting to approach the Throne of a Glorious God, that’s for sure. Rain fell over the farm last night and the evidence is seen in the rich colors all across the fields of this old farm. As I sat there taking it all in, God spoke to my Heart about the rain…something most people complain about…and yet a necessary part of the process of becoming Rich and Green. What’s true for the foliage, is true for us too. Without the rain, we can’t Grow to Maturity and we can’t be Covered with the Rich Color that the world needs to see in us. Isn’t that just like God to use a morning after the rain to Speak to my Heart?

It’s interesting to see how people complain about simple things like the rain because they don’t want to suffer through the inconveniences in life. It’s a good thing they aren’t in Charge of the weather because if it were up to them not one little drop of rain would ever fall from the sky again. They’d trade almost anything for clear skies, sunshine, and just the right temperature to satisfy their human desires – but that’s because they don’t appreciate the Purpose of the rain. That same bad attitude about the minor inconvenience of things like a simple rainfall almost always carries over into the Journey of Life too. When God allows a little rain into Life, there’s always a Good Purpose for it too. Sometimes the Purpose is to force us to take our eyes off ourselves, and sometimes it Serves to Wash away the outside to expose some things Inside that need to Mature. Sometimes He opens the floodgates to the point where we feel like we’re treading water…the Purpose of that kind of rain is to see what it takes for us to Call upon His Name and to Trust Him with those “inconveniences” we have no control over at all. Understanding that there IS a Purpose for the rain is the Key to a Life of Peace, Joy, and Maturity.

Some people hear about a “chance of rain” and throw in the towel immediately. To them, a chance of rain is a done deal and they begin to whine and change their plans because of it – but only God knows for sure IF it’s going to rain and how much will fall to the earth when it does. That same negative attitude spills over into their Journey of Life too. The First Sign of rain falls over their Life and they assume the worst. If the rain is falling over the Life of someone they know and love, they begin to critique and condemn instead of Rejoicing in the Purpose of the rain. If they hear about a serious illness, they begin to nail the coffin shut instead of Trusting the Great Physician to Heal. If they hear of a Relationship on edge because of sin, they’re quick to advise divorce instead of Trusting the Source of Forgiveness. They’re quick to assume the worst in their own lives and in the lives of those around them so they’d rather just change their plans to avoid the inconvenience of the Rain instead of Trusting the Rain Maker with His Master Plan. Assuming the worst has no place in the Heart of a Child of the Living God…at least not the Mature ones who Understand the God of all Creation….the One who brings the Rain for Good.

I’m celebrating this new day and I’m giving thanks for the rain…the rain that fell from the skies in Virginia last night, and the Rain that has fallen over my Life too. I’ve Matured through the Rain and I’ve become Rich and Green because of it – a Vessel that has been Washed Clean by the blood of Jesus Christ, and one willing to be taken through the Rain just so that I can be Pleasing to the God I love with all my Heart.

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 Author and Perfecter of my Faith looking out at gray skies again but after my Time with Him, the day looks much brighter in my Heart. More rain is on the way and the colors are muted, but nature doesn’t miss a beat rain, snow, or shine. The birds are still singing their hearts out and the deer are still wandering around looking for nourishment. Usually, the deer take shelter from the storms in a place just across from the front porch. It’s a small patch of land that goes untouched. Countless people have suggested that I clean up “the mess” where the deer bed down but all it takes to change the mind is just one glance of the deer taking shelter from a storm there or watching a newborn fawn all wet and wobbly as it takes its first few steps, and any idea of clearing the “mess” goes out the window. What we see with the eyes LOOKS like a mess sometimes but nothing is what it appears to be on the surface. There is ALWAYS beauty to be found behind the mess in Life IF we look at Life through the eyes of God. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

Changing my way of looking at the kind of mess that provides shelter for the deer is one thing, changing the way we look at other things in life that aren’t so pleasing to the eye is an entirely different story. It can be so easy to look at someone with tattered, dirty clothes and turn away in disgust. It can be so easy to have thoughts about how they should get up, get a job, and clean themselves up without ever considering their true circumstances or the damage they’ve incurred through the storm. But I serve a God that ALWAYS looks beyond the mess and HE sees the beauty in everyone! Without a refuge from the storm, survival isn’t easy for the tattered and torn, the broken and the lost. Some need practical help but they ALL need Jesus Christ…and that’s where I come in! It’s only when I (choose to) look at others with my Heart instead of just seeing them with my eyes that I embrace the Truth – the Living God loves the tattered and torn just as much as He loves me and He wants good things for them too. Changing my way of looking at them puts a whole new perspective on life. Instead of thoughts of wanting to clean up the brush, I focus on the Shelter from the Storm instead. This is the key to Compassion.

We’re surrounded by the tattered and torn…suffering souls physically, financially, mentally, and spiritually and there’s never been a better time to extend Compassion or to share the Truth. It isn’t nearly enough to say “I feel sorry for them” or “I pray for them” and it isn’t acceptable to the Living God that we leave their troubles for someone else to take care of…or not. Back in the “old days” the Church took care of so many of the needs and it (the Church) was the first to step up with Compassion. Today the Church mostly relies on the government to do its part and they miss the opportunity to reflect the Compassion of Christ while they’re at it. It all comes down to looking at the tattered and torn with a Heart like Christ and not just with the eyes. It’s when we look at others with the Heart that we’re Compelled to move from sympathetic words into Action. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me.” Walking away from the poor, the dirty, the broken, the lost, or even the “crazy” isn’t an option if we are determined to Serve the Lord with Honor. Who did He ever pass by? Who did He refuse to feed? Whatever we do for them, we do FOR HIM. I feel sorry for the Church when it passes the buck because it no longer believes that’s the role of the Church. After all, when it comes to the tattered and torn, it isn’t as much about sustenance as it is about Salvation.

This new day looks a little muted on the outside…and it might just look like that all day long…but there’s NOTHING muted about my Heart or the way I’ll be looking at the world. The Great “I AM” picked me up out of the messy brush years ago. He brushed me off, cleaned me up, and Prepared me for His Purpose! If He can do that for me, He WILL do that for anybody who turns to Him.

I’m looking at this new day with my Heart and not just my eyes, and instead of running from the tattered and torn, the broken and the lost, I’ll be looking for opportunities to Serve them by doing whatever I can do in His Name. I’ll refrain from judgment because that’s not mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to bring comfort.., but more than that I’ll look at each encounter as an Ordained Moment so I’ll be sure to Introduce them to my God. Every opportunity I have to Serve is a chance to Share the Truth! After all, whatever I do FOR them, I’m really doing FOR HIM.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s another cool and cloudy Spring morning and we’re not likely to have clear skies for a few days. The weather doesn’t seem to slow down nature’s Spring celebration…not just the arrival of warmer weather and fresh food, but the fact that it endured the long winter. Endurance doesn’t mean just “getting by” or merely surviving by the skin of our teeth – Endurance is pressing on through those tough times with a determination to see it through. As I consider the endurance of nature around me, I am reminded of the importance of Endurance in my life too. If I want to see Victory, I have to do a whole lot more than just ride out this Life…I need to PRESS ON. Isn’t that the way you look at Life too?

It doesn’t take much strength or stamina just to ride things out when adversity strikes in life. Some people turn to things that will distract them from their troubles while some go into denial. Some people get mad when things get tough and kick and stomp like a toddler as if they don’t deserve to suffer – while some surrender to depression and hide from the world. Some people easily lose hope and in their weakness, they don’t believe that things will get better one day soon while others walk away in an attempt to abandon the trials completely. None of these reactions are surprising at all when you consider the difference between “getting through” and “pressing on.” Unless life is snuffed out in the process, anybody or anything can “get through” the hard times. But it’s the endurance…the pressing on…the determination that sees us through AND GROWS us in the face of adversity. Endurance requires Faith, patience, and an unwavering Belief that the Great “I Am” is much bigger than the problem and that He has a Master Plan that will lead to Victory IF we just keep pressing on.

Sometimes people wonder why my life has been so filled with adversity and they’ll sometimes point a finger in judgment as if to say “You brought this on yourself.” But what they don’t see is that the minute adversity strikes my Life I hit my knees just like David did because I’m an imperfect woman after God’s own Heart too. Being Refined is much more important to me than being “right.” I don’t beg to be Delivered from the Adversity itself – although there is a time and a place for that – instead, I appeal to my God to Show me the Lesson He has for ME through it all. Because I know God refines His people through FIRE, I’m ready to Learn and Grow no matter what it takes on my part. I ask Him for the Strength to endure but MORE than that, I press into God more than ever, and I PRESS ON through the fire with everything I’ve got – and before you know it, the sea has calmed and my Faith has grown and I can see the Beauty born in pain when I get to the other side. Paul said it best in 2 Corinthians: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”

When people comment on my Strength it makes me laugh because I’m not strong at all…I’m just determined to PRESS ON to finish my race well. God says “My grace is sufficient for you and my Power is made perfect in weakness” and He’s proven that to be true hundreds of times in my Life. Anybody can sit back and ride out a storm but not everybody will fight to Endure or look to Grow through the pain instead of just getting through it. I’m a walking testimony of the power of a Mighty God and it took a whole lot of endurance to PRESS ON to Tenderize my heart for the “job.”

How about you?

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus – Philippians 3:14