Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia. After I stepped out onto the front porch to embrace the new day, I met with the Living God from inside looking out this morning and I read my Instruction Manual after the sun showed itself in the sky. It’s that time of year of uncertainty. One day it’s warm enough to enjoy, one day it can be endured with warm clothes or a blanket, and one day it’s unbearably cold. I don’t give up when the weather gets in the way of my morning time on the front porch and I don’t give up when other things alter what my heart desires either. Instead, I embrace it all, give thanks for it all, press on through it all, and I look for the Treasure in the good and the “bad” throughout this amazing Journey of Life. Isn’t that what you do too?

Being able to enjoy the sunrise outside on an old porch is one of my life’s greatest joys. I cling to the warmth for as long as I can and I don’t much like it when the season changes and temperatures drop. But IF I have a Heart of gratitude, I take it all in stride and I love it through every season…just the way I do in the Journey of Life. Comparing the enjoyment of the sunrise to the significant trials in Life may seem lame on the surface, but it takes the same kind of Heart to embrace the ups and the downs in the Journey. I am forever Confident that the Living God…the God who “gives and takes away”…the God who “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name”…the God who flooded the earth because He was sick of the wickedness…knows what He’s doing in ALL things and I Trust Him through it all.

If I had my way, I’d make each day clear, sunny, and 70 degrees and I’d destroy all the beauty that comes through each season in the process. I’d wreak havoc on nature and I’d thwart the growth. I’d never see the magnificent colors of the Fall, and I’d never watch the new things unfold in the Spring. I’d never see the fields blanketed with pure white snow, and I’d never see the birds scrambling for worms after a rain. There’s no end to the “damage” I would do IF I had my own way with the weather at the farm….and so it is with Life. Taking it in stride, pressing on no matter how dire the circumstances appear to be, and seeing the Beauty in the Will of a God we cannot see with our own eyes, is the KEY to Spiritual Contentment and Joy. That’s what Spiritual Maturity looks like!

I’m an imperfect woman living an imperfect life but I serve the Perfect One and I love Him with all of my Heart. He’s taken me to the valley more often than I care to count, and when I’ve Trusted Him and stepped out of His way, He’s taken me back to the mountaintop and I’ve soared like never before. The Bible says “But he who has been forgiven little, loves little.” I don’t just love a little, appreciate a little, live a little, preach a little, give a little, or serve a little all because I’ll never forget what my Mighty God has forgiven me of and how He has transformed a “wretch like me” into a humble Vessel in His Name. He truly does have “the whole world in His hands” so I’ll Trust Him every step of the way. Rain or shine. Warm or cold. Ups and downs. Good or “bad”.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I met with the Author and Perfector of my Faith to Nourish my soul for the day, it felt more like Spring than late Fall. I took in every ounce of the beauty around me as if I could store it all up to sustain me through the Winter…but it doesn’t work that way. The sun was warm on my face, and it felt more like May than November. I kept turning my face toward the sun to absorb all that I could while I still can before the winter cold shows up to stay as if I could bank it for another time…but it doesn’t work that way. When I opened my eyes to look at the sun that felt so good on my face, all I could see was a cross. I couldn’t snap a photo fast enough as if I was at risk of “losing” it if the clouds changed…but it doesn’t work that way. The reflection in the sky will come and go but the one Constant I can count on is the Cross and it’s what the Cross represents that keeps me going day after day. Isn’t that the way you look at the Cross too?

When you consider how we cling to things in this life that we know will disappear one day, it’s a little bizarre. As much as I wanted to bank the warmth this morning, it’s not possible to hold onto it and as spectacular as the image of the sun was, it was here one minute and gone the next. In Ecclesiastes, it says, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” The key is “under the sun.” Soloman didn’t mean that these things lack value, what he meant is that there is no everlasting value outside of God. All human efforts apart from God are meaningless and just chasing after the wind. My kids have grown to be strong and beautiful and I savored the entire journey. I have every experience embedded in my heart and I rewind the tape often. But of all the beautiful experiences, within all of the beautiful memories, the true significance of that season of my Life was to raise up a godly generation. Everything else was fun and fulfilling and the greatest honor I’ve ever had but “meaningless” compared to the Eternal significance of my temporary role.

Some people think I’m too intense because my Focus is almost always on the Cross. They think I need to chill out and I need to “have more fun” because “life is short.” Oh…if they could only see inside my Heart they’d see how my Joy overflows and how I’m having the time of my Life doing the work of the King. I’ve got the Cross front and center and I’m running the race of my Life. I’m focused on Eternal things more than anything and I pay far more attention to the condition of the heart than I do the condition of the weather. I can “see” Glory just up ahead and my life is just a “vapor” here on earth – the time is short for me to complete my Purpose before He calls me Home. I’m no expert, but I believe my Time in Eternity will outshine any “fun” activity the world has ever seen and I’m hoping to hear “well done, good and faithful servant” when the King of all kings calls me Home.

Paul said it best: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but to all who crave His appearing”

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I grabbed a blanket and met with the Living God at the break of dawn on a cold front porch with a hot cup of coffee and an Instruction Manual to breathe warmth into my soul. It’s almost as if I could hear the voice of the Father as the world around me scurried around looking for sustenance. The birds need food for each new day – they can’t store provisions away like the squirrels can and they always seem happy to find what they find as they continually search for more. I think we stand to learn a few things from the birds when it comes to living each new day for what it is without a focus on what we’ll have tomorrow…and we find a whole lot more Peace in the process when we rely on the Living God for it all.

We’re more capable than the birds of the air but our lives are similar when you think about it. We have a sense of security as we approach each new day but there are so few things that we can bank on. We know that the sun will come up and the sun will go down and if we’re still breathing, we’ll enjoy them both…at least for one more time. We know that we’ll experience a lot of happy days throughout the Journey of Life and we know that we’ll experience some sorrow. Most of us know that we’ll have food on the table and a roof over our heads today, but there are no guarantees that we’ll have them tomorrow because “the Lord gives and He takes away”. We can store our food for the winter the same way the squirrels do around the farm, but there is no guarantee that it will be there for us tomorrow when we need it. We are loved and we love back, and it’s those things of the heart that bring the greatest joy in this life but there are no guarantees that the ones we love will be there tomorrow for us to love. It’s only when we consider how frail (and how brief) our lives really are that we learn to live each day to its fullest and we learn to appreciate what we have today without much worry about tomorrow.

We know for sure that one day life will cease to exist for each of us and that our days are determined by the One who gave us this life to live. It could cease on this very day or it could cease decades from now, but it will cease for all. One day we’ll be here and the next day we won’t, and if we live our lives with any depth at all there will be a void when we cease to exist here on earth. But the part of us that will die is the LEAST of us, and although it will get buried or burned one day, THE BEST OF US will go on forever. We know for sure that the choice we make for the Best of us will determine where we’ll spend our Forever. Some people see their lives like those birds…here today, gone tomorrow, and when it’s over it’s over. But that makes no sense at all! Some people live on the edge and even though they know that the choice they make for the Best of them needs to be made, they’d rather take their chances that they’ll be able to make it before they draw their last breath. But there are some of us that Understand what this Life is really all about and we know what Life will look like for us forever based on our choice for the Best of us. We look at Life a whole lot different than the rest of the world and we Understand that what we have today may be gone tomorrow. We live out our lives like those carefree birds at the farm…we work hard on each new day and we don’t try to plan too far ahead. We understand where our sustenance really comes from and we don’t fret about our provisions. We have Peace and we have Joy and we have a Lifetime Guarantee that will be honored for all of eternity. When you look at it that way, how could anybody NOT make a choice for the Best of them?

I will enjoy every second of this new day and I’ll do my best to make it my best. I am confident about the Best part of me and I’ll be ready and waiting to explain my Lifetime Guarantee to anybody put in my path today. Some of them will fly away and won’t give a second thought about the Best part of Life (or eternity) BUT there will always be some that want what I have and when I tell them about the Master Plan they’ll make the best choice for the Best of them.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia. This is the time of year that I fight for every minute I can get on the front porch before it becomes too cold to endure even for the most determined ones. So, this morning I set out with hot coffee and a warm coat to meet with the King at sunrise and I savored another day. It’s that threat of losing an opportunity impacted by the seasons that keeps me chasing after the sunrise, and it’s the “threat” of losing an opportunity impacted by my life’s season that keeps me chasing after His Will day after day. As I considered these deer…just a few of the many around the farm…they Reminded me of what Kingdom work looks like -“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”. What’s missing in this dark world isn’t the amount of “workers” – what’s missing is the Heart hungry to chase. Isn’t that the way you see Kingdom work too?

It’s one thing to be comforted by (and confident in) our Salvation when we Know that we know we’ve been Redeemed and our Destiny is irreversible…BUT it’s another thing entirely to Chase after the Will of God and to hunger for the Harvest. It’s one thing to go to a prayer closet and pray for the lost ones BUT it’s another thing entirely to Chase after the one’s destined for an eternity in Hell before it’s too late for them. It’s one thing to sacrifice a few dollars to feed the hungry BUT it’s another thing entirely to Chase after their eternal “needs” more than the physical needs in this life. It’s one thing to serve in a local church to keep the schedule flowing BUT it’s another thing entirely to Chase after the ones that may need to join you inside. It’s one thing to set yourself apart from the “toxic” ones so they don’t “drag you down” BUT it’s another thing entirely to Chase after the “toxic” ones to show them the way to Peace and Joy. If you want to see what the “lukewarm church” looks, like just look at the fields so ready for Harvest and how few “workers” there are Chasing after Kingdom Work. It’s when we Hunger for Truth that we Chase after it and it’s when we Thirst to Please the Living God that we roll up our sleeves and get busy sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ….the way He Instructs us to do.

I’m Hungry for the Harvest and it shows as I Chase after the hurting ones…the hungry ones…the struggling ones…the sleeping ones…the lost ones…every day of my Life. Some I’ll reach through Words…some I’ll reach through conversation and prayer…some I’ll reach when I help fill a practical need and I sprinkle it with Jesus Christ…some I’ll reach when they see how Hungry I am and how Peace and Joy overflow in my life even though I am living in the same chaotic world they are…BUT ALL of them I’ll reach with Love. The workers may be few, but with a plentiful Harvest…fields so ripe and ready…I won’t be sitting back waiting to see what God will do with it all…I’ll keep Chasing His Will and doing Kingdom Work the way I’m called to do. May it never be said of me that I lived a complacent Life and that I didn’t even make a lame attempt at being a “worker” for Him with a “plentiful harvest” all around me.

What about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s the morning after the storm of preparing for (and seeing through) Revival, and I’m feeling the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding after my Time with the Revival Planner. Sometimes God stretches us beyond our human ability, but if we’ll just remain Obedient, He provides everything we need to fulfill what He’s Called us to do. Sometimes it’s supernatural strength and stamina. Sometimes it’s resources. Sometimes it’s prayer warriors and people willing to lock arms to do the heavy lifting in service to Him too. If God finds a Willing Vessel He’ll equip them to do incredible things and I wouldn’t trade being a Willing Vessel for anything in this Life. It’s beautiful. It’s humbling. But even more than that, being a Willing Vessel Strengthens me in the process as I’m “forced” to have Faith in the Creator of all, FOR all things. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith too?

It’s sad to see so many people gauge “success” and Service on what they “feel” or what they believe makes “sense” or not. When God comes Calling He doesn’t care much about how we “feel” about the Job and it probably won’t be “convenient” OR make sense in terms of human perspective. Very little (if any) of what He’s Called for me to do makes sense, and if I stopped to think and weigh the risk, I probably wouldn’t have been Obedient to the Call at all. I don’t know the mind of God, but I DO know that He sees the Heart and He already knows who is Willing to Obey (or not). Getting caught up in the details and looking for the Call of God to make sense – or to be convenient – is the very reason that the “average” Christian never gets to be a part of a Supernatural Work of a Mighty God. When God comes Calling I’d much rather be known for asking Him to help me instead of asking Him to forgive me for not being Willing to do His Work.

Our revival wasn’t at all what I expected it to be BUT it was everything God Planned for it to be. From a human perspective, it could have been gauged as being “too small” or “too short” or not entertaining enough for the needy ones, BUT the Lord worked in Supernatural ways from beginning to end and I won’t see the Full Result of my Labor on this side of Heaven. All I know is that God had His Way and my way took the back seat. All I know is that Hearts were forever changed and seeds were planted that will Grow for all eternity. All if know is that we were all encouraged for the Journey and Empowered to keep pressing on. All I know is that I prayed and wept before the Throne of a Mighty God on behalf of others and that I was Supernaturally Equipped with everything I needed to do the Work of the King. From a Spiritual Perspective, it doesn’t get any better than that and the human perspective is insignificant.

When God sent Phillip to the eunuch, Phillip didn’t ask for details…he obeyed without question and the Results were eternal. When God told Noah to build the ark, Noah didn’t question…he started building and the Results were eternal. When God called Moses to lead, Moses didn’t question the Call…he started walking and the Results were eternal. When God called Elijah up to the mountain, Elijah didn’t question…he started climbing and the Results were eternal. When God (through Naomi) sent Ruth to Boaz, Ruth didn’t question the instructions…she readied herself and laid at his feet and the results were eternal. In fact, Ruth became the grandmother of David and it’s through her family tree that Jesus was born. None of these Calls made sense from a human perspective BUT God found the Willing Vessels and He provided ALL THINGS to fulfill His Purpose. If you want to be a part of the Supernatural work of God, your human perspective must take the back seat.

I’m feeling the peace that surpasses all understanding this morning after being Pressed to move forward beyond my human ability by a Loving and Powerful God. I’m unstoppable…because I’m Willing and I rely on Him for the heavy lifting. I’m stronger than the average person…because I Serve the Strong One with all my Heart. I’m Obedient because that’s where the Blessings and Strength are found. ” I will sing of the goodness and lovingkindness of the LORD forever; With my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness from generation to generation”.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. For me, walking out onto the front porch on a cool and clear morning is like getting a glimpse of what Heaven looks like; though the mind can’t fully comprehend the Beauty we’ll see when we get there. I don’t have to go far to see this kind of beauty, and I don’t have to go far to find the Beauty that can only be found with the Living God. I search for it…I long for it…I hunger for it…I need it…and I find Him every time. It isn’t “work” to build a Relationship with the One who Created the world, it’s more like Art – each piece gets spun into something more beautiful than it was before…each Piece spins a Masterpiece…and that Masterpiece is ME. Isn’t that the way you look at YOU too?

It can be so easy for people to underestimate their own worth, and devalue their own life when they lose Sight of the Touch of the Master’s Hand. Somehow they convince themselves that it was just “good timing” for them to enter this world when they did, and it will be “bad timing” when they leave it no matter how many (or how few) years they’re allotted. When life gets tough, they think they were dealt a “bad hand”, and they wonder why they can’t have the life that someone else has – as if God forgot to “deal them in”. When tragedy strikes, they get lost in the dark, and they stay there until they can Forgive the Master, and until they find the strength to look at the Light again. These people haven’t fully Embraced the Master at all, and they don’t understand how He spins a Masterpiece out of a mess. They can’t Comprehend how He set their life in motion at just the right moment in History, and they don’t Believe that He has a Plan to create a Masterpiece out of each one of us to bring Himself pleasure and glory. But the Master can take any combination of colors, and any set of “circumstances”, and when He starts spinning His Art, the most Beautiful Masterpiece will be Revealed at just the Right Moment in Time…and that Masterpiece will bring Glory to Him every single time. When we Consider how much Effort He puts into each of His Pieces of Art, how can we NOT understand our Value in His eyes?

I sometimes struggle with my “self-worth” when I’m feeling invisible, when my heart gets stomped on, or when I face persecution – BUT I know that every bad thought I have about myself all comes from the dark place and my adversary would love for me to forget Who I belong to…even if just for a moment The Truth is that no matter how the world treats me…no matter if I’m loved by anybody else on the planet or not…I’m a Masterpiece in the eyes of the One who sent His Son to die for me, and I’ve Surrendered my Life to Him to Paint a Masterpiece that can bring Glory to Him no matter what. He can turn the ugliest canvas into the most Beautiful Piece of Art when we Accept that our Life is His to Paint and that EACH ONE of us has the potential to be a Masterpiece…when we give Him the Artistic Freedom He deserves, that is.

I’m a Child of the Living God. I’m Royalty. He Loves me and He thinks I’m Worth more than gold. He has a Plan for my Life that only I can fulfill. I was born for His Purpose at just the Right Moment in the History of the world. I was once an ugly canvas filled with meaningless colors UNTIL the Touch of the Master’s Hand came along…and now, I’m a Masterpiece for all the world to see! And when He wants to add a few Finishing Touches to the Work He began in me; I’ll let the Artist work to Enhance His Artwork so that I can be EVEN MORE Beautiful for Him. I’m His Masterpiece!

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was hungering to be in the presence of my God this morning and I couldn’t wait to pour my heart out to Him. He’s my Rock. He’s my Fortress. He’s my Deliverer. He’s my Strength. He’s the One Constant in Life. He’s the One that will never leave me nor forsake me! He never disappoints. He never stops loving. He never stops forgiving. He always has time for me. He cares about every aspect of my life. He’s Jehovah Shammah – the One who is always there! Most of the time just thinking about Who He is in my Life sets my heart in Praise-mode, and when I’m in Praise-mode what I want from Him pales in comparison to Who He is to me. That’s what Love looks like.

I could write a prayer list that would wrap around the entire state of Virginia of all those things…those requests…those people in need of His Hand. I could go to my prayer closet and pray for days upon days for all those things in my own life and in the lives of others. I could pray from sun up to sundown and I’d never cover it all. Sometimes I wonder what they did back in the day when prayer requests were made known. Did they take the time to chisel the requests into stone to be sure they wouldn’t forget or did the Request get chiseled into their Hearts instead? I pray throughout the entire day for lots and lots of things chiseled into my Heart. When someone asks me to pray I take it seriously and those Requests become chiseled into my Heart so there’s no need to write them down. The Heart is where Love and Compassion are found and God hears every thought. But it all begins with Praise for the One Who hears the prayers of His people. When we draw near to Him – He draws near to us! Without that, a prayer list becomes more like a shopping list for the Author of Life.

I know God counsels me “even when I sleep” and it comforts me to Know that He doesn’t just “watch over me” but that He’s inclined toward me day and night because I love Him and He loves me. When someone “pops into my head” I begin to pray because I don’t believe the “pop into my head” was coincidental at all. When someone “just happens” to show up – I begin to pray because I don’t believe in chance meetings. When some random thought about something going on in life “pops into my head” I don’t dismiss it – I pray. My children and grandchildren “pop into my head” all day long each time they do, I pray. I have a Time with the Living God set aside each morning…a Time to Praise…to give Thanks..and to make my Requests known to Him…but my Time with Him doesn’t end there. I commune with Him all day long no matter what’s going on around me. I pray throughout my day for people who are chiseled into my Heart – and because He’s chiseled into mine – He knows every thought, every prayer, and every need without referring to a list at all.

I woke up hungering for Him this morning and He filled my Heart to overflowing as I gave Thanks for Who He is. My Heart is inclined toward Him and His is Inclined toward me. I’ll be praying throughout this entire day and into the night… and even when I sleep He’ll counsel me. What a Mighty God I serve!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I began this new day with an Important Meeting with the Living God and I approached His Throne with Humility. Though I’m a Willing Vessel and I’m living out my Purpose in His Name…I know there is no good thing in me apart from Him, so filling my Heart and Soul up with Truth and Wisdom is key to my Journey of Faith. It’s making sure that He is my First Priority and approaching Him with due Humility that transforms me from being a “willing” Vessel into a Usable one. As I sat on the front porch at sunrise with a Heart inclined to the One who Created this cool and rainy day, I saw no signs of wildlife and there were no sounds of life at all. If not for the flag of my Faith still flying strong in the face of the poor conditions, it would look lost and dreary everywhere. But in the Journey of Faith we can’t always see behind the scenes, and we can’t make assumptions based on what we see. We should be confident that as long as the flag of our Faith flies strongly in the face of it all, we WILL see Victory. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” and yet so many people of Faith base the circumstances only on what they see and they miss out on the Power to Propel when they do. I don’t need to see Jonah get swallowed up in the belly of a big fish to believe that it happened and I don’t need to hear his cry for repentance from the belly to know that it’s True. I don’t need to see Noah build an ark based on God’s specific instructions to Believe that he did, and I don’t need to see the flood to Believe that every living thing on the earth was destroyed. I don’t need to see into tomorrow to Believe that the Lord will sustain me and I don’t need proof (outside of His Word) to Believe that “the Lord will not let the Righteous go hungry.” I don’t need to be an eyewitness to the morning sunrise to Believe that the sun will show itself all over the world whether I see it or not. I don’t need to see Heaven to Believe there is a place for me there so beautiful that it’s impossible to imagine because the Word says, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him” and I believe it. Faith isn’t something easily described to someone who doesn’t share it, but unwavering Faith should be evident in all the ones claiming His Saving Grace. It’s NOT relying on what we see with our eyes, and our Determination to fly the flag of Faith no matter what, that leads to indescribable Peace, Joy…and Victory.

I have an inquisitive mind and I like to know how things work. I’m curious about people and their journey of life and I ask lots of questions to learn as much as I can about them. But when it comes to my Journey of Faith, I accept what I read in the Word because “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” and I need no proof to Believe that it’s true. Sometimes people attempt to debate what the Word says to spin it into their belief system but I’ll have no part of that. Sometimes people negate pieces of the Truth because they only want to follow what THEY determine is important or not. Sometimes people will take one verse out of over 31,000 verses and 783,000 words and they’ll base an entire theology on one piece instead of threading the Whole Truth together for Wisdom on any given topic…but not me. I want to Know it all. I want to Live it all. I want to be all that He Created me to be. I want to be a Willing (and usable) Vessel all the days of my Life and none of that is possible unless I have an Unshakable, Unbreakable, Unwavering Faith in it all.

No matter what I do or don’t see with my eyes today, I know what’s really going on behind the scenes in this dark world and I’m working hard to build my Spiritual Stamina for what lies ahead for us all. The sky isn’t going to fall, but for those of us with the kind of Faith Hebrews 11 talks about, we Understand the Importance of Time with the Living God to offer Him our Praise and our Thanks with due Humility. His “Grace is sufficient for me and His Power is made Perfect in weakness”…and I BELIEVE it.

How about you?