Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was warm enough for me to spend a little time outside this morning although it probably wouldn’t be considered to be warm enough for the average person. Then again, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be considered an “average” person though…at least not in the eyes of the Author and Perfecter of my Faith. I’ve been Refined by the King of all kings through Seasons of intense “heat” and it’s through my Trials that I have become a Determined woman of God….desperate to watch Him wake up the world and to give Him the “first fruit” of my day…thirsting to spend time in His Presence. I’m not just willing, I’m EAGER, to be counseled by the King and led by the Master of all Creation today. There’s nothing average about my God, why would there be anything average about me or my Faith?

I’m not the only one who thinks there’s nothing “average” about me and my Faith…I hear it all the time. People see a heart “like no other” and wisdom beyond what they can even wrap their heads around…and they turn to me often because of it. They’ll comment on my ability to extend Compassion to a suffering soul and my willingness to love one that isn’t easy to love. They know I have a low sin tolerance BUT that I can love the sinner to Restoration no matter how long it takes to get them there. They’ve been eye-witnesses as I’ve faced indescribable Trials and Tribulations with an Unshakable Faith. They’ve heard me wage war with the devil and they’ve watched me “put him in his place” when I’m struggle with distractions meant to get my eyes off of the King. They’ve heard me share the testimony of my Life without shame over who I was or what I did because I Know that Jesus DIED to take away my shame. Instead, they hear me brag about the God who Supernaturally turned things around and brought me to where I am today…a usable Vessel for the King of all kings. Nope…there’s nothing average about me and my Faith.

No doubt there are plenty of people out there who will read these words and judge me for being prideful and arrogant because I refer to myself as not being an average person with an above average Faith, but that’s because they don’t understand the “rest of the story”. Maybe they’re missing the fact that I Know that God knit me together in my mother’s womb and chose me before the foundations of the earth to be a woman on the “Jesus Team.” I KNOW that He’s worked hard to Refine me into a woman He can use for His Purpose for such a time as this. They might not understand that “He sought me and he bought me through His Redeeming blood” and although I could do nothing to deserve the Gift He gave to me, He gave it to me anyway. Nope…I’m a child of the Living God, the King of Kings, the One who died for me and there’s absolutely nothing “average” about that.

Some people might wish for a Heart like mine from time to time but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t sign-up to get one of their own. They probably wouldn’t be willing to endure what I’ve endured to get it as God Almighty has turned up the heat over and over and over again to Refine me. It takes high-temperature heat to refine precious metal and it took Fire from Heaven to bring me to my knees and to Refine me for His Purpose. But without extreme heat metal isn’t refined and it never reaches the full potential of its Beauty without it. The process is rough and painful but the Rewards have no words to adequately describe the Beauty of the Vessels He creates through Fire.

I’ve been refined by the Living God and there’s absolutely nothing “average” about that. I don’t necessarily celebrate the pain I’ve endured, but I’m always ready to “take one for the Jesus team” when God is ready to take me to the next step of my Faith and there’s nothing “average” about that. Then again, there’s nothing “average” about the God I serve either so I’ll do whatever it takes to Become all that He Created me to be.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When God turned on the lights this morning I could see that much has bloomed since this time yesterday and the fields are looking more alive every day. Even the young deer were playing in the fields as if they were as excited as I am about the Spring day. One, in particular, was running back and forth to and from the herd and she was working so hard to get the attention of the others – away from the grazing and off to the fun. Eventually one or two did follow her but it took several minutes and some serious persuading. But there were a few others that found fresh growth on some brush and absolutely nothing could tear them apart from their feast. They were unstoppable. God used the beautiful scenery to drive home a message to my Heart this morning that there will always be some who just want to “play” their way through Life – much more focused on entertainment than growth. But there are some…too few and far between…that will remain focused on New Life and Nourishment above everything else.

It takes work to stay focused especially in the world we live in today. Sometimes the “fun” things come along and there always seems to be someone working hard to persuade us to “lighten up” and “have a little fun”. Although the Bible says that there is “nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be merry” there’s a lot to be said about being “alert” and “on guard” too. Even my furry friends understand that if they take their eye off of the nourishment they’ve discovered, another will rob them of the feast. There will always be someone that will try hard to distract us from our Focus on Nourishment but it’s only through our Nourishment that we’ll have what it takes to endure until The End and to “finish the race” well. There will always be someone there to (attempt to) rob us of our Peace and they seem to work hard to make sure that they do. But nobody can rob us of our Peace…we surrender it (or not) instead. Even my furry friends understand that when they’re feeling threatened by someone or something that wants to rob them of their peace they run away as fast as they can. When God is orchestrating the Heart, we sure can learn a lot by watching a few furry friends from a front porch.

I’m a very focused woman and I’m not inclined to “lighten up” on this side of Heaven. I know how to “eat, drink, and be merry” and I can belly laugh with the best of them. Nobody knows more bad jokes than I do and most people only dream about seeing things I’ve seen or going places I’ve been. BUT when it comes to my Focus…the kind of Focus that keeps me chasing after Jesus…the kind of Focus that keeps me passionate to share what I have with the world…the kind of Focus that will help me “finish the race” and finish it well…I’m Unstoppable AND I’m having the Time of my Life.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I headed to the front porch with a hot cup of coffee and a blanket and I was serenaded by the birds that sound like they are just as eager to see Spring as I am. By the time I opened up my Instruction Manual for Life, my Heart was singing too. I know how blessed I am to be chosen to be the steward of such a beautiful farm but it’s more than merely being Grateful that the world sees. My Heart longs for the Master, it thirsts for His Word, and my Life is dedicated to giving Him Glory for it all. Now THAT’S something that’s hard NOT to see! The Spring is special to me…not just because of the beauty that buds in every direction or how the wildlife responds to the warmer weather. The Spring is special to me because it is a Reminder of New Life and how Beautiful that New Life will be One Day. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey too?

Seasons come and seasons go and outside of commenting about the temperature, most people don’t even notice. Some people live in “seasonless” places and they’re happy to have a constant temperature to count on all year along with landscaping that never changes. They don’t look for “new” because nothing ever gets “old” in their eyes. Day in and day out they rise and shine without much thought about New. Maybe it takes the dramatic changes in seasons for most of us to appreciate each one…I don’t know. But I DO know that I’d gladly endure even harsh winter months just to experience the New that follows in the Spring. The drab winter months cause me to think about what the world would be like without Jesus…colorless and cold. The Spring reminds me of the New Life all because of the Price He paid for you and me…bright, beautiful, and flawless…except for His scars, that is.

Some people will celebrate the Easter bunny and some will (for some odd reason) hang colorful eggs in their trees. Baskets will be filled up with candy and kids will hunt for plastic eggs filled with more. Lots of people will flock to church for their obligatory Easter visit and to be seen in their new Easter clothes, but most of them are going through the motions to make a family member happy when they do. It doesn’t take a Spiritual giant to pause to celebrate the Risen King on Easter Sunday. After all, even the demons know that He lived and that He has Risen from the tomb. It doesn’t take a Spiritual giant to fill up baskets and buy pretty new clothes for the kids. It doesn’t take a Spiritual giant to cook an Easter feast for the family. The “Giant” comes in when we pause every day to Celebrate the Risen King – never forgetting the Price that was paid for you and me. When we graduate to “Giant” size Faith, we see Him in everything. We long for the Master…we thirst for His Word…and we dedicate our Life to bringing Him Glory…every day of the year. I’m on Temporary Assignment and I’m just passing through. I’m an “alien in a foreign land”! There’s a New Home waiting for me and I’m excited to Move when the Master says it’s time. It was all made possible when He died to MAKE it possible and the Spring is a reminder of the New Life with Him. When you look at it that way, EVERY DAY is Easter!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped outside to see what the Lord is up to this morning before the sun even made its way to the horizon. There was just a sliver of light from the sun rising in the east, and yet the mountain in the west was illuminated with the most beautiful color just by a little exposure to the sun so far away. When I sat down to spend time with the One Who died for me, I couldn’t stop thinking about that beautiful image and how even without the full benefit of the risen sun, the other side of my world was glowing. And so it is with our Faith. Just a tiny bit of color from the One Who died for me and people from far and wide can see the Beauty of my Faith. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth and it SHOWS when we live like it. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey too?

It’s amazing how people of Faith look for the big things as if the big things are proof of Good things. They look for a big church..a big praise band…a big pastor with a big voice…and a big agenda of fun things to do. There’s no end to the list of big things many people want to find in a local church. We are drawn to big and we tend to base our idea of success on the big things we see with our eyes. But all it ever takes is just a little bit of Jesus. Just a little Light from the King and the color of everything around us can change and just a little salt of our Faith and the flavor of the world is enhanced. At just the mention of His name the demons shudder, and they’ll run off squealing like wussies if we command them to in Jesus’ name. Proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ is so powerful that even some who don’t really Know Jesus at all will see the miraculous when they mention His Name. In fact, some people will be fooled by their own pride and ignorance when they hear “depart from me, I never knew you” because they were able to see Big things when they mentioned the name of Jesus. But those Big things had nothing to do with a big Faith at all. Of all the things I can do in His Name, I wouldn’t want to do any of them UNLESS I Know Him by way of a Personal Relationship. Without that part, what I do is meaningless and without that part, I’d never spend Eternity with Him.

The older I get the less interested I am in doctrine and the more focused I am on being taught by His Word and His Spirit. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” SO, the way I see it, I can’t go wrong if I rely on the God in the Beginning and His Word. His Word has a lot to say about us being the Light and the salt, and it has a lot to say about the Spiritual battles we face and how important it is to call upon the Name of Jesus to win the war. I Serve a supernatural God. I believe in supernatural things. Who would want to serve a God with no power and who would want to be placed in an army without Powerful weapons? Not me. So, I do my best to let my Light shine so that the world can see me coming from far away. I do my best to be the salt of the earth so that my words, my Heart, and my entire countenance Reflect Jesus Christ and enhance anything and everyone I encounter. I’ll call upon the Name of Jesus Christ often and I’ll see miraculous things when I do. How do I know? Because His Word says that even with Faith the size of a mustard seed, I can move a mountain!

The reflection of the sun in the east illuminated the mountains in the west but even more than that, the One Who died for me illuminated my Heart and threaded this message for the world. He speaks and I type because I Love Him. I know where my Strength comes from. I know where my Power comes from. I know Who holds my Future and I have no “risk” of hearing “depart from me, I never knew you.”

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 just as the sun was beginning to rise and by the time I could see it in the sky it was almost as if I could hear Him say “GET TO WORK!” My Heart has been Tenderized…my Soul has been Revived…and my Mission for this Journey called Life has been made clear for this new day. But of all the things that will “equip” me to do the work I was born to do – today, tomorrow, and until He calls me Home, it’s having a Heart that mourns for lost people that so desperately need the Hope. So I “get to work” to Share before it’s too late for them. It’s that part that propels me…that stirs my compassion…that drives me to my knees, that causes me to weep on their behalf…and that creates a sense of urgency within me for the Work to be done for the Master of my Life before it’s too late. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey too?

I don’t know if I’ll ever understand how it’s possible to Receive the Gift of Salvation and yet lack the desire to EVER share the Good News with others. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand how anyone can freely receive Grace and Mercy and yet lack the desire to extend it to others. I’m not sure if I’ll ever understand how anyone can receive Forgiveness when they didn’t deserve it and yet they refuse to extend forgiveness to someone else. I’m not sure if I’ll ever understand how people of Faith can turn a blind eye to the suffering in this world or how it’s possible to NOT feel the pain of the lost ones. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand how people can gladly receive the Blessings of things like a home and food and yet lack the desire to share what they have with others. There are countless things I’ll probably never understand on this side of Heaven like why people of Faith refuse to do what they were Created to do, but if I could pick one thing that stands between them and doing what we’re ALL called to do, it would be that their heart is “three sizes too small” and they love themselves far too much to possibly mourn on behalf of another. Jesus wept over the condition of the Heart, so it only makes sense that His people would strive to have a Heart like His …one that mourns the suffering of the lost ones…the deceived ones…the broken ones. If we have no desire to have a Heart like His, could that mean that He never had our Heart in the first place and that we’ve merely been spectators all along? Now THAT’S something to pray about. The stakes are too high to not know the Truth.

I wonder what kind of heart it takes to see a house on fire and not care if there is anyone inside or if there is any way to help save the life of another? I wonder what kind of heart it takes to see someone drowning and not consider jumping in or caring if there is any way to save their life before it’s too late? I wonder what kind of heart it takes to witness a car accident and then drive by without stopping to see if there is anything to be done to help? I wonder what kind of heart it takes to stand by as someone beats someone else to a pulp without trying to stop it before it’s too late? I don’t really wonder what kind of heart it takes because I encounter that kind of heart every day…and so do you. It’s the kind of heart that doesn’t care enough about the Eternal Destiny of someone else to ever Share the Gospel. Although it’s a heroic thing to do to step in to help someone else at risk here on earth, it’s an entirely different Story to step in with a Message that can alter their Eternity…the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what they need the most. So, what kind of heart does it take? A cold, uncaring, heart OR a Heart that doesn’t really know the King of all kings and the Price that was paid for all. Now THAT’S something to pray about.

I don’t have a perfect life on this earth but my Future is an entirely different story. I don’t take my Salvation for granted and I don’t turn a blind eye to the lost ones who need what I have. I don’t take time for granted and I don’t put off sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ for a time when (or if) I feel like it. I never lose sight of who I was before Christ and I KNOW that there is no good thing in me apart from Him. The entire Journey of Life excites me BUT knowing that time is short for the lost ones creates a sense of urgency to Share the Good News as far and wide as I can…as fast as I can. I’ll be mourning for lost people all the days of this Life because it’s the Heart for the suffering that keeps me going…it always has and it always will. Now THAT’S something to pray about.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold, sunny, and very windy and the flags are fighting to hang onto their proper place on the front porch. I watch as each flag “fought” to stay put knowing that eventually, each one will succumb to damage they’ve sustained over time by the high winds. One by one they’ll be replaced but that’s not true for man. A man never gets to the point of no return in the eyes of God and each man is made for a unique Purpose…with a Flight Plan to follow that is intended just for him. With that in mind, why do so many face the storms as if they’re on a ride of terror instead of on the Journey for Jesus? Flags are flags and nothing is expected of them but to make a statement and bring us pleasure…BUT man has a choice. Man can make the choice to Trust the One that calms the seas or to fly haphazardly through the Journey of Life until he wears out and gets replaced by someone willing to do the Work God created him to do. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Life too?

Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to believe that everything can be replaced. We don’t attempt to fix cars, computers, or cell phones because they lose value in our eyes and it’s too much fun to replace them. We toss food that could feed a hungry soul and we pitch clothes just for missing a button that could have easily been mended to make good for someone else. Yep, we’re in a disposable society BUT we have a problem because we don’t serve a “disposable God”. He has a Plan in mind for each of us and He’ll sometimes allow us to flap around in the wind to build the strength it will take to get the Job done and to see if we’ll choose to GO or GROW. When we choose to GROW, He’ll calm the winds faster than you can say “Amen” and it won’t take long for us to see what God was Teaching us all along. But for those who choose to GO because they’re too selfish or lazy to endure in His Name, well…He’ll eventually find a Willing Servant to do the Job you were created to do. How sad it is that your Kingdom Work will be assigned to someone else because you choose to flap around in the wind uncontrollably instead of calling upon the Name of Jesus to calm the storm and lead the way.

It’s sad to see so many people professing to know my God willing to do as little as they can to get by instead of striving to hear “Well done” one day. I’m a born-again Believer and I can’t lose my Salvation BUT I also understand that some people will make it into Heaven by the skin of their teeth and they’ll sit on the sideless of Glory for eternity because of it. The choice is mine. I want a front row seat in Glory. I can live like a flag with absolutely no control and powerless over things that are a threat to me….OR I can make the Choice to Fight Back…to Sustain…to Endure…to Persevere…to Overcome.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a gloomy morning and they’re calling for snow but you couldn’t prove it by me. My Heart is far from being gloomy and the warmth I feel from His Spirit could heat the farmhouse. I don’t just wake up joyful and I don’t live a life without bumps in the road. But the one thing I do, and I do it well, is I seek the face of the One Who Created me and everything else always falls into place because I do. His Word has all the answers for Life and all we have to do to “get it right” is to spend time with Him and patiently wait to be Instructed. He has complete control over it all. He leaves no stone left unturned. He leaves nothing up to “chance”. He called me by name and I belong to Him. When you look at it that way, how could we ever become gloomy and cold?

The longer I live, the sadder I become over Christians that just don’t seem to “get it right”. They fret. They worry. They play the blame game. They’re quick to judge everything from the sins of others to a spontaneous revival on a college campus in Kentucky. They critique your words and make them about themselves because the world revolves around them, and they don’t even realize they’re being baited by Satan when they do. They run from the mention of Repentance and somehow they convince themselves that with Christ, there is no need to repent at all. They speak as if they’re being picked on by God…and they live like “victims” too – instead of the Warriors they were Created to be. They live gloomy and cold lives and don’t seem to know where to go to find Peace…and yet they say they can’t wait for Jesus to come back as if He’s coming to bail them out of their woes. They whine to everyone who will listen about what’s going on in their lives and they’ll pray like they don’t believe what they’re praying for could possibly come true. How is it possible that they don’t Know that nothing is out of control for the God who sits on the Throne? He knows the Beginning and the End. He IS the Beginning and the End. This is the Key to Peace through it all.

Romans 8:28 is often quoted as a means to comfort someone going through a Trial. It says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. It doesn’t say that no matter how you live, how you love, if you spend time with the Living God or not, He will miraculously spin things into Good regardless of the condition of your Heart! He’s not a genie in a bottle, He’s a God with a Master Plan that would blow our minds if we could see it on this side of Heaven. In terms of Trials, nobody can come close to what poor Job endured. He lost everything, including his children and yet, Job still Trusted God. He still Praised God. He still Loved God…and everything about Job’s life and all of his trials is still talked about today. They worked together for Good. I don’t know why God allowed the deep valleys in my own Life BUT I do know that they had Purpose and I’m seeing that Purpose played out in living color today. It doesn’t take perfection to see results like that. It doesn’t take a Christian superhero to see results like that. What it takes is humility…the kind of humility that drives us to ask Him to search our Heart. It takes Repentance…the kind of Repentance that is driven by the desire to be found Pleasing to the King. And it takes Love for God…not a simple puppy love for the big guy in the sky, but a Love that is far bigger and more profound than the love we feel for anybody else in our lives. This is the Key to Soaring through the Trials.

It’s gloomy outside today and it might just snow but all is well with my Soul after my Time with the One Who died for me. I searched for Answers. I Repented of some things and I asked Him to Search my Heart for anything that could come between me and my God. As for all the ones who don’t seem to “get it right”, I’m here to love them, to spur them on, and to get them headed in the Right Direction so that all things in their lives will work together for Good too.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and beautiful this morning, and as surely as I breathe I know Spring is just around the corner. I pray for Peace, Protection, and Provision for this old farm every single day. I pray along the boundary lines of this property…every inch…every day…all 22.5 acres. The Living God has “made the boundary lines fall on me in pleasant places” and He continues to “make my lot secure”. This is serious business for me each morning because I know that this old farm doesn’t belong to me at all…it belongs to Him. It’s His Presence that people feel when they visit and it’s His Presence that keeps them coming back. As I prayed these familiar prayers this morning, I looked out to empty rocking chairs on the porch and I considered how few people I’ve ever encountered in my life feel the same way about where they live. He’s not the Master of my Life in a few areas where I allow Him to be, HE’S THE MASTER OF IT ALL! Isn’t that the way you feel about your life too?

I spend a lot of time praying for people that don’t yet know my God, but I probably spend as much (or more) time praying for the ones that say they do…but it doesn’t show. I’m honored to be asked to pray for particular needs like improved health or stronger relationships, etc., and you can count on me to sincerely pray for your needs if you ever ask that of me. But, just so you know, I’ll spend much more time praying for the Heart and whatever relationship they have with the Living God over any physical or material need I ever hear about. Sometimes people take offense to the direction of my prayers when they listen to them because they believe that I’m “judging” and they think I’m downplaying the suffering, but that’s not true. I know that with God ALL things are possible and I’m confident that He has a Plan in the Works in their lives as is evidenced through their trials. I KNOW that they can be healed, that they can find Joy, and that they can walk through this dark and dreary life with Peace and Perfection if they focus more on their Relationship with the Living God and less on their needs. This is the Key to Strength!

As the years pass by, I see more and more people professing to share my Faith either falling away or WALKING away instead. Maybe they get tired, or maybe they grow weak or maybe they lack the Strength to go against a world that “hates” them “because of Him”…or maybe they’ve just moved so far past a Personal Relationship with the King of Kings that they don’t even realize that they’ve “gone away” at all. Or, maybe they never “belonged to us at all”. Whatever the reason, it’s not up to me to judge them, but it IS up to me to pray and to encourage them in hopes that they’ll come back (if they left) and grow strong if they aren’t. These people are sure to give thanks for their loved ones or their provisions and even for the house they live in. But how many of them understand that none of these things really belong to them at all? How many people consider their home to be God’s home and how many of them are willing to take in the hungry or the homeless or the suffering ones in His Name? It’s easier to draw boundary lines around our lives than it is to give it all to Him, but the true Joy and Peace and Contentment and “wealth” can only be ours when we do. This is the Key to Surrender!

My home has been “home” to more than just my family and it will always be that way. This old farm is a Refuge and is the truest definition of Peace. I open it up to the suffering and I open it up to a host of others so that I can share God’s land and Love with them. Time and again I hear them say “it feels like home”…that’s because it is…as long as I remember that it doesn’t belong to me at all…it belongs to God Almighty…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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 chilly this morning but it will be warmer today and the sun will be shining off and on from sun up to sundown. The warmer weather is the perfect prescription for a soul longing for Spring. Just when I think I’m finished with winter and I can’t take it anymore, God switches things up as if He’s giving me a glimmer of hope for brighter days ahead. The beauty of the morning sunrise definitely enhances my time with the Living God, but I don’t need a sign of any kind to know that He’s there. He’ll always show Himself to me if I just seek Him out each day. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

God is the Master of it all and He has the Power to do anything He wants to do to show Himself to the world. He doesn’t need to prove anything to His Creation or to you and me, but sometimes He shakes things up a little as if He’s high in the Heavens sending a reminder to the world that He is the Creator, the Keeper, and the Protector of it all. Beyond His Power, His Might, and all of the outward things He uses to get the attention of His people, it’s the “still small voice” of God that I long for in my life.

At the time when Elijah was commanded to go to the mountaintop to get his instructions from God he was exhausted, he was depressed, he was discouraged and he was scared. Even though God had shown Himself to Elijah time and time again in ways that I can’t begin to imagine, Elijah had lost his hope and his will to go on. As He stood on the mountaintop waiting for God to pass by, winds strong enough to break up the rocks on the mountain came – but God wasn’t in the wind. Next came an earthquake that shook the earth and rattled the mountains – but God wasn’t in the earthquake. Next came a raging fire – but God wasn’t in the fire. It wasn’t until a sweet gentle breeze passed by Elijah that He knew he was finally in the presence of the Living God. It was in the quiet of the moment that Elijah heard the voice of His God and it was in His presence that Elijah found his hope…and in the darkest moment of my Life, that’s where I find mine too.

I like to think Elijah didn’t need to see the big signs and wonders to know that God would meet with him and that He knew the voice of his God so well that he recognized it when he heard it. Through all of the drama and all of the outward signs and all of the things that could have distracted Elijah if He was looking for God to prove Himself to him, he waited on the “still small voice” of his very big God.

I look at the beauty of each new day and I give thanks for the storms, the blizzards, the wind, and the sun. All of these things are living proof of a Living God and they sure look good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia – but what I long for isn’t the outward beauty of each new day. What I long for is the still small voice of my God that can be found in a gentle breeze and I listen for it each day from this old farm in Virginia. I don’t need signs and wonders any more than Elijah did – I’m already overwhelmed by His Majesty and Power. Instead, I look and listen for that “still small voice” that comes from a God that loves me enough to meet with me and speak to me as His child if I just stand on top of that mountain…if I ignore all of the other big distractions around me…if I don’t look for outwards “signs” of Him and if I just wait to hear that “still small voice” of my God.

I’m listening for the Voice of my true Love today and nothing around me will distract me from Him. He’s my God and I’m His child. When you look at it that way, who could ever want for more?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and sunny this morning but it’s supposed to be a beautiful warm day later. In anticipation of feeling the warmth and soaking in the sun, I bundled up and enjoyed a few minutes outside on the front porch with my God. My need to feel the sunshine and my hunger for Time with the Living God outside doesn’t need to make sense to anybody else. Some people try (and fail) to dissect or psycho-analyze my need to be outdoors to receive my greatest Blessings from God. My need for the sunshine and the Son of Man doesn’t need to be “biblically correct” although some people try to intellectualize my Journey. It’s pretty simple when you think about it. God went from my head to my Heart a long time ago and it’s my Relationship with Him that matters more than any head Knowledge. My Quality Time with Him is more precious than anything I could gain with a Ph.D. in theology. The Author and Perfecter of my Faith dwells within me and I’m so in love with Him it’s hard to even think straight sometimes. Isn’t that the way it is supposed to be in the Journey of Faith?

If we aren’t careful, the mind of man can thwart the Heart faster than you can say “amen”. These days many people are focused on raising up intellectual Christians by offering mini Bible courses on Sunday mornings but they stay away from the painful, “unpopular” topics that invite conviction. So, the head is being filled with Biblical Knowledge, and often the Heart is left lukewarm. Wisdom and Knowledge are critical components to our Journey of Faith and it’s not possible to have too much. But a Faith based on Knowledge alone is lame. It’s when we surrender the Heart to be refined, molded, taught, convicted, and everything in between, Faith makes its way from the head to the Heart; and when it does, knowledge and wisdom are the natural Next Step. Our Faith is only a Working Faith when it goes from the head to the Heart…and, due to the nature of man, the Heart has a never-ending need to be cleansed and refined. Relying on Head Knowledge isn’t enough for the Journey of Faith. After all, the Pharisees had a whole lot of head knowledge with no Heart Knowledge and it didn’t end well for them any more than it will for you or me.

Passion is what propels us in every area of life. When we’re passionate about our vocation, it doesn’t seem like work at all and we’re propelled toward success! When we are passionate about our children, teaching them how to be loving, kind, respectful, compassionate people (aka Christ-like) is far more important to us that the ABCs or scholarships. When we’re passionate about Christ…so in love with Him that He consumes our thoughts and inspires us to want to be pleasing in His Eyes, everything else just falls into place. We’re convicted of our sins. We repent. We weep in shame at the thought that we could sin against our God! We look for Answers and we seek Guidance in the Word of God. We dwell in His Presence for as long as it takes to “get it right” and to get right with Him. We seek Knowledge and Wisdom and we couldn’t NOT share the Gospel of Jesus Christ if we tried. Even without a PhD in theology, the Holy Spirit can (and will) teach us things supernaturally and He’ll speak to the Heart of every willing Vessel. The Word is our Truth. The Spirit is our Teacher. The Son of man is our Hope.

I’m a complex Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ but my “needs” in the Journey of Faith are pretty basic. I need to see the beauty of God in every day beginning at sunrise. I need to breathe in the fresh air as I thank God for my health. I need to sit quietly in His Presence and I’m willing to wait for as long as it takes until He speaks to my Heart. And, after that, I’ll settle in to get more head Knowledge that will immediately go to my Heart.

How about you?