I WROTE THESE WORDS IN 2018 – THEY’RE WORTH REPEATING!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The sun won’t rise for a while yet, and I’ve been up for a long time. Sometimes I surrender to fatigue, and I look for my rest well before midnight, and when I do I’m up to face the world in what most would consider to be the middle of the night. So, with a rested body and a lot of darkness to go, I set out to work on my heart in the presence of a God who never sleeps. When I opened my eyes in the “middle of the night” I was inclined to stay in bed for a little while longer, but as surely as I breathe I heard Him say “COME MEET WITH ME!”. The God of all things, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End was eager to meet with His child. Who could ever resist an Invitation like that straight from the Throne of the Living God? Isn’t that how you feel when He wants to meet with you too?

It can be so easy for people to trade time to spend with the Living God for many things. Sometimes it’s a busy schedule and sometimes it’s a little self-indulgence, but most of the time it’s because He’s “out of sight” in their Lives, and therefore He’s “out of mind” too. As surely as I hunger for time with family in this empty-nest phase of my life, He “hungers” for time with me too. We have a Relationship…not just an obligation to meet every once in a while, and as the years pass by we draw closer and closer. Relationships are “give and take” and in genuine relationships there is transparency. In relationships of any kind, there is never enough time, and we always seem to hunger for more. Whether it’s our children or someone else we love when we have a good relationship, we have the DESIRE to be in their presence as much as is humanly possible…and we never seem to get enough time. The very second my loved ones leave my presence, I begin to miss them all over again. Relationships take work, time, and a willingness to “sacrifice” our own needs for the needs of the other. It’s the Relationship part that makes me Hunger for God and it’s the Relationship part that prompts Him to say “COME MEET WITH ME” in the middle of the night.

I can understand why so many people miss out on what their Relationship with the Living God could (and should) be like because there are a whole lot more broken relationships in the world than there are “healthy” ones. Parents with no time for their own children, or parents scrambling for ways to keep their children entertained by something other than themselves. People that spend a whole lot more time looking at a Smartphone than in the eyes of the ones they’re with and those they claim to love. Couples that would rather tune in to television than to each other, and that have convinced themselves that merely learning to exist in the same house year after year without killing each other is some sort of accomplishment to be proud of. As surely as any one of these scenarios will take its toll in the long run because there is no genuine attempt to have a “healthy” relationship, a Relationship with the Living God will too. It’s when we trade Him in for other things that our Relationship begins to suffer, and with each day that passes by we grow farther apart. But a Relationship with the Living God is the ONLY ONE that we’ll ever have that can be mended in a split second with no long-term damage at all. His Word says “Draw near to Me, and I’ll draw near to you”…and He does…every single time. God will always welcome us with open Arms, no matter how long He’s been waiting, and no matter how long we’ve ignored Him, and He’s always eager to “pick up where you left off” to build a stronger Relationship with His Child.

There are countless things that I fall short on in Life…I’ll always be a Work in Progress. But one thing I know how to do, and I do it well; I know how to love and I know how to have good relationships. My family will always have my time, my attention, my love, and my forgiveness and if we ever hit a rough spot in the road, it won’t be allowed to fester. I give my loved ones UNDIVIDED attention, and they know that they’re a priority for me. But the One I give the most to, my biggest Priority of all, the best Relationship I’ll ever have, is my Relationship with the Living God. He deserves ALL of me. He wants my time and my attention. He wants me to be genuine and transparent with Him. He can see right through my attempts to “fool” Him, and He doesn’t let me get by with it because He loves me. Once in a while, He makes Himself known in a Mighty way when He says “COME MEET WITH ME”, and when He does I come running into the arms of the One that loves me the Most.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The Author and Perfecter of my Faith was already speaking to my Heart long before my feet hit the ground this morning and my Time with Him felt more like a Warrior Preparing for battle than Humble Servant looking for Truth. I’m a Perpetual student of the Word of God and I thank Him daily for a sound mind to learn more, a strong and healthy body to Serve bigger, and an Assignment fit for the King. It’s not enough for me to just “have Faith” because we’re instructed to “add to” our Faith… and that’s where the Sacrifice and Commitment part comes in. Anybody can sit on the sidelines…churches are filled with spectators unwilling to do what it takes to please Him. I know that I’m not called to be a martyr…I’m called to be a Warrior, and a Good Warrior needs Strength to endure the Journey. So, most of the “work” I put into living out a Life for Jesus Christ comes down to me. After all, it takes a Warrior to be willing to “add to” daily, to go to the Front lines, and to walk the Journey of Faith in a world filled with sorrows. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey too?

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard “You’re a Christian, you’re supposed to…” I would have retired long ago. It’s never a good idea to critique a Warrior with notions of what YOU think a Christian should or shouldn’t be doing because a Warrior takes Direction from God. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that I’m at the beck and call of everyone who needs help, and it doesn’t mean I’m supposed to attempt to fix circumstances that only God can fix. It doesn’t mean if I don’t take action to remedy their circumstances the way they believe I should that I’m any “less” Christian at all…in fact, it’s a really Good indicator that I take my Lead from the One I Serve instead of being guilted into trying to twist His Will to fit their lives. Nevertheless, some people judge people of Faith based on what they DO and who they help as if Christians are responsible for fixing all the problems they encounter…but that’s not what it looks like for a Warrior at all. Warriors understand the Battle and they don’t lose sight of Who they Represent or what’s Expected of them. Warriors know that the Role of a Christian is pretty simple…we’re supposed to strive to be a Reflection of Jesus Christ in all that we do, and we’re told to share the Good News with as many people as we can…AND we’re expected to “add to” our Faith for the rest of our lives. When you look at it that way, it only makes sense that the Hard Work always comes down to a Heart that is Readied for the Journey, so a Good Warrior puts more time into being readied than they do trying to “fix” a broken world.

In 2 Peter we read, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The last thing I would ever want to become is “ineffective and unproductive” in my Journey of Faith…so this Warrior makes “adding to a Priority” every day. It’s a BIG list BUT I’m a committed Warrior. It’s a BIG list BUT I serve a BIG God. It’s a BIG list BUT if I strive to “add to” I’ll be a better Servant to the One Who died for me and prayerfully I’ll hear “well done” One Day. When you look at it that way, how could I NOT strive to do whatever it takes to “add to” for Him? I’m a readied Warrior for the Living God!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This old porch was filled with love and laughter yesterday and although the rockers are empty this morning, my Heart is still overflowing with Joy and Gratitude. When I watched the Master light up the world I saw everything around this old farm come to life…including me. It was almost as if the birds were singing what my Heart was feeling and the entire Experience drove me into the arms of the One who died for me. I set out to ask for Wisdom surrounding my plans on this new day of a new week and to make a few Requests for my life, but I ended up in a place of Praise and Gratitude instead. It’s amazing how a place of Gratitude can override every “burden” and fill the Heart with Joy no matter what’s going on or how big the Requests are. I was too overwhelmed with Gratitude to ask Him for a single thing this morning. Isn’t that the way it is for you when you focus on Gratitude too?

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

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

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

How about you?

It was undoubtedly a dark and gloomy day in the hearts of the family and friends of Jesus the day after His crucifixion. After all, they had just witnessed the most horrific act of torture known to mankind that led to the death of someone they deeply loved! Today, He would be resting in His tomb. Today His mother, friends, and followers would be mourning His death. But tomorrow? Oh, tomorrow is an entirely different story! Tomorrow will be glorious for them! Tomorrow, they’ll find that He’s missing from the grave. Tomorrow they’ll understand that He DID conquer death. Tomorrow Mary will see angels standing where her Lord’s body had been. Tomorrow the Messiah will show His Resurrected self to the one who weeps outside His tomb. Tomorrow they’ll celebrate the RISEN KING and so much of what He tried to teach them will finally make sense. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God…Jesus Christ, the Risen King! Our Hope. Our Redeemer. Our Deliverer. Our Lord.

Celebrate the King!

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

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

I pity the ones so focused on Easter egg hunts and beautiful bunnies that they fail to teach their children about what Good Friday is all about. I feel sorry for the ones that gloss over His Crucifixion as if a child can’t understand suffering. I’m appalled by the ones who focus only on the Resurrection while they whitewash all that He endured getting there for you and me. Without Friday, there wouldn’t be a Sunday and without Easter, there wouldn’t be a Christmas. Even our churches are shying away from being too descriptive about what Christ did for us to avoid “offending” anybody. I recently attended a Passion play that I took my kids to see every year as they were growing up. People traveled far and wide to see the incredible depiction of the life and death of Jesus. It was graphic. The actor portraying Jesus was “bloody” and he groaned as he walked down the aisle being beaten. It was heart-wrenching. He was hung on the Cross and it looked so real…and then He was Resurrected! Yes, it was “scary” for my kids to see, that’s for sure, but it drove Home the message of the Cross within their Hearts and none of them have ever lost sight of what Christ did for us. It was worth it to share with them. The play today is an entirely different story because they removed the “offensive” and it’s been modified “for these times.” No miracles. No beatings or blood. No sign of the Price He paid for you and me. Today it’s a whitewashed portrayal of the Greatest Event the world has ever known. Yes, the closer you get to the Cross, the fewer people you see, and sadly some churches are taking multitudes with them to the cheap seats to teach them how to be a spectator instead of climbing closer to the Cross.

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

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I had my most important meeting of the day with the Chief Executive Officer of my Life and He called my Attention to my Instruction Manual to Highlight a few things I have been overlooking lately. Those Reminders are intended to keep me on Track. The Rules never change, but sometimes I’m inclined to if I don’t make sure to Refer to my Instruction Manual over everything in my life with a Heart willing to be Corrected. As His Ambassador for Jesus Christ, I can’t afford to do things that aren’t in Unison with Him, so I work each day to become ALL that He needs me to be, and when I’m off-track in even the slightest of ways, I do what I need to do to fix it…not out of fear…but out of Love and Respect for my CEO. Isn’t that the way you Live for the CEO of your life too?

It seems to be so easy for most people to attempt to “slide by” through this Journey called Life as if the CEO won’t notice if they do. One little “white lie” or one “minor offense” is no big deal in their eyes, and they never spend the Time to receive the correction they deserve. A few extra miles over the speed limit as long as nobody’s watching, or too much change in the check-out line is labeled as “harmless” by far too many. One little bad joke made at someone else’s expense or one insult intended to sting, and most people take the entitlement route when they defend what they said as “truth.” One refusal to help someone in need when they have the means to help or a little hatred spit out to “get a job”, and the arrogant believe they have the right to ignore the poor. One cold shoulder and a refusal to forgive, and the Forgiven will take the high road as if the god they serve agrees with their hardened heart. There’s no end to the “bending of the rules” over zillions of “little” things” – but none of those “minor offenses” are minor in the Eyes of God. He knows we won’t be perfect – that’s the reason He sent His Son to die – BUT He expects us to Strive to be the Best for Him…to follow the Rules…and to Care when we don’t instead of convincing ourselves that the “minor offenses” don’t matter to Him at all.

The Living God is Good for His Word and He never changes even if we do. He’s not a rule-bender and He’s not okay when His people pick and choose what they’re willing to Obey. When He says He’ll do something…He’ll do it. When He says He’ll show up on time…He will. When He says “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you”…He won’t. When He says He’ll forgive no matter what…He will. When He says “I’ll lead you”…He leads. When He says He’ll provide…He provides. When He says He can mend brokenness…He does. When He says He’ll be there…He always is. When He says He’ll dish out wisdom when we ask for it…He will. When He says He’ll provide a way when there seems to be no way…He does. When He says there is NO other CEO…He means it. When He says “I’m coming back”…He will. When He says there is room in Heaven for His children…there is. When He says we’ll never cry again…we won’t. When He says we’ll live forever with Him…we will. My CEO is the ONLY one to NEVER waiver on His Word and the Promises He makes to me can be “taken to the bank”. Why would I NOT be eager to please the One who Loves me like that by trying to be the Best I can be for Him?

I got taken to the Spiritual Woodshed this morning over a few things I’ve somehow overlooked lately – “minor offenses” that I could easily have justified. But when you go Face-to-face with the Living God with a Heart that is eager to Please – you have to be Ready for Correction! He’ll show you all the “little” things you overlook…and He’ll show you with Gentleness and Compassion…and a Heart ready to Forgive. What an Amazing God I serve! OF COURSE, I want to Please Him by correcting my “minor offenses” too!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s the first day of a new week and although it was too cold for comfort on the front porch this morning, I spent a few minutes outside embracing the Gift of this new day. I “praised His Holy Name” – I “proclaimed His righteousness” – I “made a joyful noise” – I allowed Him to “search my Heart” – I lifted up my hands “to the Holy place” and I blessed the Lord. Without another living soul around, I had church with just me and my God from a front porch in Virginia. Nothing compares to the quiet Time I spend with the King of all kings when He and I “have church” on our own. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It can be so easy for people of Faith to rely on the formality of a church service to do their heavy Spiritual lifting, but it’s not supposed to be that way. Preparing the Heart for all that God has for us, in and out of the church, is the Key to fulfillment and Growth and that’s something we must do on our own. Having a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ is just that…it’s personal. It’s during those times, when it’s just you and your God, that He will do the Heaviest Work on the Heart and it’s those times that Prepare the Heart for the more we Receive in a gathering at church.

The Bible tells us “do not forsake the assembling” – but our “assembly” time is intended to Strengthen us, Encourage us, and Grow us for the Journey we should be striving to walk on our own. The people we assemble with are intended to love us, encourage us, and yes, hold us accountable…never just a social circle of nice people in a country club environment. The songs we sing and the music we hear is intended to get our Hearts in a place of Praise for the King so we’re ready to Hear His Word…not to entertain us in concert style…and it shouldn’t be subject to critique. The Word we receive from an Anointed one is intended to reinforce the Journey for us…not spoon-feed us with the ONLY Truth we ever hear. It’s our reliance on the King of all kings and our Personal Relationship with Him that matters more than anything else and that isn’t “found” in a church, it’s Found in the Heart.

I had an amazing Spiritual Time at daybreak with the One who died for me and our Time together was too Rich for words and my Heart has been Prepared for whatever I face today. I had church with the King this morning and my Personal Relationship with Him is Stronger than ever before. I’ve done my part…now it’s time for me to Live on the outside what I Know on the inside!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I snapped this photo of the sun this morning, little did I know I’d “see” my Savior and His crown of thorns in the image. But then again, when you’re on High Alert for Jesus, you see Him everywhere! The King of all kings traded a crown of thorns when He took His place at the right hand of the Throne of God and the Price He paid made Victory possible for me too. He conquered death and, as a child of the King, I will too! I’m Royalty and I’m a Kingdom Builder and I can approach Him 24 hours a day! Wow! The Bible says, “No one comes to the Father except by Me (Jesus)”- He stands “at the right hand of the throne of God” and He intercedes on my behalf! No man, pastor, priest, or scholar can stand between me and my God, and although they sometimes pray FOR me, I’m sure their prayers will be heard the same as mine are – they can’t “intercede” on my behalf…only the King of ALL Kings can do that! So, this woman of Royalty met with the King of ALL Kings this morning because it’s my Birthright. I Praised Him. I asked for Forgiveness and I tossed my requests at the foot of the Cross. He died for me, He intercedes for me…He’s the One I Live for. Is it any wonder I “see” Him in everything?

It seems to be pretty easy for people to turn to man for all the Answers instead of approaching the King of ALL Kings like the Children of Royalty they are. Sometimes they live as if there’s an added step between them and the King…but there isn’t. Sometimes people feel relieved when a pastor or priest is willing to pray for them as if their prayers are heard a little louder than ours are…but they aren’t. The King died for ME and YOU and we have direct access of our own to be heard by Him 24/7 – NOBODY can replace our Direct Access! How can we expect to EVER have a genuine Relationship with Him if we leave it up to the “experts” do to the talking without ever “owning” our Birthright as Royalty?

Sometimes people have a tendency to idolize a “man of God” and they believe that everything he says must be true. From televised messages to churches of every shape and size, people search for the “feel good” messages, and sometimes those “feel good” messages aren’t filled with Truth at all! It’s not difficult to spot the Truth when we weigh what we hear against the Word of God. He says “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” When we know the King of ALL Kings well…when we Know what His Word says…when we walk with the Holy Spirit, THEN we can detect a counterfeit when we see one! We’re not the judge or the jury, and “men of God” deserve to be honored, that’s for sure – but there are plenty of people leading thousands of people astray ONLY because the people forget to do their part in the Journey of Faith too!

I met with the King of ALL kings this morning and I “saw” His crown of thorns in the sun. I considered the Price He paid so that I can approach His Throne like the Royalty I am. I’m on High Alert so I’ll see Him in everything and everyone today. I’ll be filled with Truth by a few “chosen ones”, and I’ll recognize the Absolute Truth because I know His Word so well and I rely on His Holy Spirit to guide me. I have a genuine Relationship with the One the world tried to shame with a crown of thorns and I long for others to have it too…and THAT’S why I talk about the Cross and the crown of thorns all year long “so that I might win a few”. Everything I do, I do in the Name of the King of ALL Kings…Jesus Christ….my Redeemer…my King…my Intercessor…my Guide…and my Friend.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s looking more and more like Spring around the farm but it’s not feeling much like it this morning so my “visit” to the porch was short and sweet. When I met with the Creator of all things to give my Praise and my Thanks for Who He is and what He’s done for me, I found myself distracted with thoughts of time. The older I get the more often I hear about the death of someone I know…some I knew well, and some just casually…but over the last couple of years a dozen or so have left this life before me. It’s impossible not to think about time when you hear that someone’s time is up, and it’s impossible not to compare notes when we do…at least for me. Did I do enough? Did THEY do enough? And for so many, I wonder if I’ll ever see them again. That’s a question no one likes to think about and one that keeps me Serving and Sharing as fast and as hard as I can before it’s too late for me and for them. Isn’t that the way you’re walking out your Journey of Life too?

The Bible says that life is like a “vapor” – we’re not here long at all before we cease to exist on this earth, and when you look at it that way, you realize that there’s not much Time to make an Eternal Difference at all. One day the time will be up for each of us and it’s what we did with the time allotted to us that will Determine our Eternity…AND possibly the Eternity of someone else. Obviously, only God Knows the Heart and only He Determines the Path, but on the surface of Life and from the outside looking in, the Destiny of some doesn’t look so promising. Some talked about God a lot and they could quote scripture far better than I can BUT they lived a life in horrific bondage to sin…never overcoming through Jesus Christ…a life more focused on sin than on Fruit and one that never really understood (or proclaimed) the Power of God…a God so much bigger than their bondage. Will I see them again? I have absolutely no idea BUT when we chew on the Word of God long enough, we realize that Salvation is more complicated than just professing to believe that Jesus died for our Sins AND THAT’S what keeps me busy Spurring others along.

A few of my friends lived a quiet life and only God Knows what was really inside when they died. They may nod in agreement in a conversation about Christ and once in a while they might even say “amen” BUT they lived a life with absolutely no evidence of their Faith for the world to see and they never seemed to hunger for more. They weren’t the Salt and they weren’t the Light and they didn’t seem to care one way or another if anyone else ever came to a Saving Faith in Jesus. When I’ve been bold enough to ask a professed Believer about why they don’t talk about Jesus, they’ll usually let me know that they’re just “quiet about such things”. I can’t say for sure, but I think if they ever bit into the finest steak the world has ever known, you wouldn’t be able to shut them up from sharing the good news of good food. Did they love the Jesus they kept on the shelf? Did they EVER Hunger and Thirst for more? Will I ever see them again? I have absolutely no idea BUT Salvation is more complicated than just professing to believe that Jesus died for our Sins…HE WANTS US TO LIVE FOR HIM…AND THAT’S what keeps me busy Spurring others along with Love.

I’m not the judge or the jury, thank God. I’m just a Humble Vessel with a Heart for Jesus and enough Love and Compassion to Speak the Truth. I don’t want to face my Maker one day and be held accountable for all those people who SAID they knew but didn’t. I want to do my Part. I want to leave no stone left unturned. I want to be Bold enough to ask, and Compassionate enough to share so that when their time is up – or when mine is – I won’t have to wonder. God says, “When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and YOU DO NOT WARN THEM OR SPEAK OUT to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood”. That pretty much sums it up for those who follow Jesus Christ.

Most people will say “may they rest in peace” or “they’re in a better place now” – and those are kind and comforting things to say even if it’s not true for all. So, as long as I have breath in my body, I want to do what God expects me (and you) to do – to have enough Compassion and Love to speak the Truth – to warn them – to Introduce them to Everlasting Peace, to Describe the Better Place and what it takes to see it for all of eternity. My Life is only a vapor just like everybody else’s is but I’m determined to Live For Christ and to do what He tells me to. I’ll do my Part because I love Him and He’ll do His part because He loves us all enough to die for us and He doesn’t want anyone to perish.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It doesn’t feel much like Spring this morning but Spring is definitely in the air and the farm is slowly coming to life for the season. When I met with the One Who “summons me by name” I thought about all the “treasures of darkness” and all the “riches stored in secret places” that He’s sprinkled into my life to drive home the fact that He is the Lord of my Life and the One with all the Answers. It’s not possible to look at the Journey of my Life and NOT see that HE sustains me, and it’s not possible for me to refrain from Praising Him because of it. The trials have Good Purpose in His Eyes and if it took an abundance of Trials for me to be Shaped into a Vessel to be used by Him, it’s all been worth it. Isn’t that the way you look at your trials too?

Sometimes the world gets the wrong impression of people of Faith because we “consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds” because they miss the underlying Purpose. Only a deranged mind would jump up and down and celebrate the trials and tribulations we face! But there’s a BIG difference between being happy that we’re in pain and being Joyful because we know that we’re being Refined through fire to be used by the King. God can’t use “wussies” in His Army, so He’ll make sure that the ones He “summons by name” get Strengthened through the Boot Camp of Life…IF they’re willing. He tests their endurance and their loyalty over and over again. He makes sure they’ll be obedient Soldiers so that when He Speaks they listen without question. Sometimes He uses every Exercise imaginable to strengthen them in ways they never dreamed of, and He’s inclined to repeat the process if there is any doubt they’ll succumb to “torture” by the enemy. The Lord’s Army DOES “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” People of Faith don’t celebrate the trials…we celebrate the VICTORIES in “heavenly places” instead.

Once in a while, it feels like we get sabotaged when the trials and tribulations catch us off guard and they seemingly come out of nowhere! Poor Job lost everything from his children to his wealth in a matter of minutes. If anybody would be inclined to believe they’d been forgotten by God and unfairly attacked by the enemy it would be Job…”the most righteous” man on earth. But God always has a Plan for the pain – “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” Job was thrown into that fire in ways you and I don’t even want to think about, but he knew that God was the source of everything in his life, and although he wasn’t happy with the journey He considered it “pure joy.” In the end, Job was restored with a double measure and God was glorified through the mess – all because Job NEVER gave up…he was strengthened and readied and he persevered – “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking NOTHING.” If there’s a measure of how we finish the race in this Journey called Life, it will be found in the Trials. It’s easy to give God the glory for the daffodils in the Spring – it’s an entirely different story to give Him Glory through the pain, but it’s through the pain that we learn to Persevere and it’s IN the pain that we are reminded that “I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

I can’t begin to count the Treasures in my life – the sweet ones that bring me joy in my time on this side of Heaven – and all those treasures that came “in the darkness”…those “riches that were stored in secret places” …the Journey that made me Strong…the Journey that pushed me into Persevere-mode…the Journey that Refined me by fire so that I could be a Vessel worthy of being used by the King. I consider it Pure Joy.

How about you?