Have You Entered The Storehouses of The Snow?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s the day before the “biggest blizzard in decades” arrives in Virginia, and whether that’s true or not, remains to be seen. No matter what man says, or how many ways he tries to create panic, I always wait on the God of all Creation, who says, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail?” Only God knows how many snowflakes will fall and how long the snow will last. Only God knows if He’ll add ice to the equation or if He will raise the temperature and cause it all turn to rain. He’ll do whatever He wants to do whenever He wants to do it…and I trust Him. Sometimes I wonder if the Most High God ever laughs when He sees man trying so hard to predict His next move. No matter what comes, I’m as prepared as anybody can be, BUT my preparations won’t be what will be credited for what “saves me” in the storm – it will be the Hand of God and His Protection that will sustain me through the snow, hail, rain, or sunshine, and I’ll Praise Him through it all. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

When you Trust the Will of God in all things, you don’t allow the noise of the crazy dark world to penetrate the Heart. In fact, you GUARD YOUR HEART with everything you’ve got from all those distractions NOT intended for Good as some would like you to believe. Predictions about catastrophic storms or the overthrow of the government, a swamp filled with corruption, or a secret “cabal” don’t even enter your mind because NONE of those things glorify the God who holds it all in the palm of His Hands! Sadly, I don’t think people even realize that when they spit out facts and theories AS IF God has filled them in, they’re actually spitting in the face of God while they boast about His next move they know nothing about. My God Sees all things. My God Knows all things. My God Controls all things. My God ordains ALL the leaders, and my God causes nations to rise and to fall. My God “gives and takes away” and He numbers the days of each Life. When Habakkuk the prophet questions God about injustice and violence, God said, “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even IF you were told”. One thing I am sure of, NOBODY knows the future and NOBODY knows the Mind of God. With that said, why would I worry my “pretty little head” about all those crazy predictions that only God has control over? You want peace? That’s how you get it!

I guess I should have more patience with all the ones buying into all the madness. Some simply don’t know the Truth, and some are determined to write their own version of it. It should come as no surprise, after all, God said, “Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.” That pretty much explains where we are today in terms of all the crazy predictions NOBODY really knows anything about…only the Most High God with a Master Plan NONE OF US would believe EVEN IF He told us.

We might get a blizzard that will blow my mind, or we might get rain. Either way, the earth is thirsty in Virginia, and every flake or drop will be a blessing. Only God knows for sure what’s coming. The wise prepare but never wonder “what if” as if God has left the Throne temporarily. If He cares about the birds of the air, HOW MUCH MORE does He care about you and me?

God is enough for me…He always has been, and He always will be.

How about you?

Sitting at The Feet of Jesus…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and busy Wednesday in Virginia, and there are lots of things on my to-do list around the farm today, BUT the first thing on my list is always to meet with the Living God. I take my time when we meet…I always have and I always will. When I still had a houseful of kids and a zillion distractions, I made it a priority to rise and shine long before they did, just so that I could have my Time with the Author and Perfector of my Faith. It’s not about how busy you are, it’s about how Willing you are! Sometimes my Time with Him is short, sometimes it’s long, and SOMETIMES I get so lost in Him that I don’t even know what time it is at all! He’s not on my schedule like all of those other little things in my life…He IS my life. I don’t make time for Him…I TAKE time for Him instead, and somehow, the less I care about the time and the other things on my “list”, the more time I seem to have! It’s almost as if He multiplies it because I gave the first and best of what I had to give to Him. Is that the way it is for you, too?

It’s so easy to get caught up in things we THINK we’re supposed to do, or things we believe are “expected” of us, even when it comes to God. Sometimes we’re like hamsters on a wheel, and we run and run, and before you know it, we’re worn out by doing things that have no real meaning at all. There is a story of two women in the Bible who had the privilege of having Jesus in their home as He was passing through. Can you imagine? One of them went to work like a beaver in the kitchen to prepare a feast for Jesus and His disciples. She wanted to please Him in practical and tangible ways. The other woman sat at His feet, hungering for time, and she seemingly couldn’t get enough of Him because of it. I doubt it even occurred to her to leave His presence to go prepare a meal! One was working hard to serve Him…the other sitting at His feet “doing nothing”. When the busy one whined to Jesus about how hard she was working, and she appealed to Him to get the other woman to help her, too, His response was beautiful. “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
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I used to search for things to do to serve, and I’d roll up my sleeves and work like a beaver in an attempt to prove my love to Him…but not anymore. Now I sit at His feet, and I give Him my time, my Heart and my attention, and somehow He points me in the right Direction to those ways to serve that are of the most “value” to Him. Sometimes it’s writing a few words that He puts on my Heart. Sometimes it’s getting tangible things into the hands of someone in need. Sometimes it’s helping someone laugh through their pain. Sometimes it’s sharing a little wisdom that God gave to me when I asked for it. Sometimes it’s Shepherding His flock. Sometimes it’s just loving someone else when the rest of the world seems to have trouble loving them. Whatever it is, I’m ready to serve. I don’t have to do busy-work to “prove” that I love Him, although I’m willing to do it all when He tells me to. In the meantime, I’ll be doing what He loves best – I’ll be sitting at His feet without a care in the world, and I’ll be loving every minute of it, no matter what time it is or how much is on my plate.

How about you? Do you work like a beaver to “prove” you love the King while you refuse to sit at His feet for as long as you can just to be in His presence? IF so, reach out to me. I’ll tell you about people who stay really busy trying to prove things to the King without the Heart to back it up, who will be shocked to hear “I never knew you” one day, and when I’m done with you, you’ll slow down and take your time sitting at the feet of Jesus, too.

El-Shaddai…Always There…Always Able!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and quiet on this new day of a new week, and all is well with my family, this farm, The Well, and the world around me because El-Shaddai (God Almighty) protects it ALL. It’s no small thing to call out to El-Shaddai for help, and it’s no small thing when He Answers. As I sat in His Presence this morning, I was overwhelmed by His Might. I feel His Love and Protection every hour of every day, and I’m forever grateful for Him, BUT when I pause to consider His Might, it’s an indescribable feeling. When I pause to consider the Power of the Living God, it doesn’t make me feel small in comparison to Him…instead, it reminds me of just how much Power is at my fingertips ALL because of El-Shaddai. Isn’t that the way you look at yourJourney of Faith, too?

It can be so easy for people of faith to lose sight of the Power of a Mighty God because they tend to take matters into their own hands more than they place matters into His. But our Power doesn’t come by our own actions, and no matter how resourceful we think we are, we’re never the ones to “fix” whatever it is that’s wrong. It’s always the amazing El-Shaddai at work, even for the most “trivial” things. There are plenty of horrific things going on all around the world these days, and it would be easy to get caught up in them, but El-Shaddai sees it all…cares about it all…is with us through it all…and He’s got it all in the palm of His Hand. There’s a tremendous sense of Peace and Power that comes just by knowing that El-Shaddai is ALWAYS there and ALWAYS listening. The best part is that He doesn’t need social media to speak to His people, and nobody can twist His arm or thwart His Plans. There is Power in His Name.

The Bible says, “You believe that there is one God? Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.” Even the evilest of evil shudder at the mention of His Name, and yet we hear His name mentioned more in vain than we do in Praise these days. Believing He exists is one thing – Living as if you Believe is an entirely different story. When you Believe, you understand the Power that is within you. When you Believe you call upon His Name for everything. When you Believe you fearlessly mention His name, and you’re excited to share Who He is with the world. When you Believe it’s easy NOT to become overwhelmed…even over the simplest of things…because you see His Hand in everything and it’s overwhelming to know that El-Shaddai…the God of all…the Prince of Peace…the Great “I am”… is there with you through it all. When you Believe the tears flow freely at the mere thought that El-Shaddai will never leave you nor forsake you. When you Believe you KNOW there is Power within you, and that all you ever need to do is tap into it. There is Power in His Name.

I spent Quality Time with the Most High God this morning, and I gave thanks for His Power and Might. The more I considered how “big” He is, the Stronger I began to feel. ALL things are possible through Him and I know He doesn’t grow tired of me asking for the “impossible” and Believing those things will come to pass…all because of El-Shaddai – my Mighty God…the omnipresent and omnipotent God of my Life that sees it all…cares about it all…is with me through it all…and Who has it ALL in the palm of His Hand.

How about you?

What Are YOU Doing to Prepare?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. By this time of year, I’m already longing to spend time with the Living God OUTSIDE on the front porch, but the beauty of the snow definitely helps lift my spirits while I wait for Spring. As I sat in the Presence of the Author and Perfecter of my Faith this morning and thanked Him for all things, I considered the snow and how that one simple act of nature can sometimes turn the world upside down. Just one little snowflake can inspire people to take action and prepare for the very worst, doing their part to ensure they stay safe and warm. Many people consider a good snowstorm the event of the year, and they prepare accordingly – all the while, the Biggest Event since the Creation of the world will take place One Day soon, and preparing for that Event never seems to enter their mind. Even though The End is coming beyond a shadow of a doubt…and the Projections are fierce…people put more time and energy into preparing for the snow than they ever do for the Return of Jesus Christ. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

One scary news report about a “possible” snowstorm will empty out the shelves in the grocery stores within a matter of hours as people scurry through like termites. They panic over the idea that they might run out of food, and they buy as if it will be their last meal. They’re afraid of being stranded…they fear they’ll be without electricity…they cut wood and fill up bathtubs as if the end of civilization as we know it is near. Most of the time, even a heavy snowstorm only holds us up for a day or two, and yet plenty of people prepare as if they’ll be facing the Apocalypse instead of a dusting of snow. I wonder how it’s even possible that the threat of one little snowstorm can inspire the masses to prepare for the worst, while they seem to have no interest in Preparing for the End of all Time. “As in the days of Noah”…

The King is coming back as surely as I breathe, and absolutely nothing will stop Him. The Creator of the World set the Plan in motion a long time ago, and our Warning to Prepare has been issued for centuries. There may still be time to grab a few groceries even after the snow begins, but once the King comes back… there’ll be no turning back and no amount of begging will change the course or alter what is already Written. Being prepared for the Event of all Time is the most significant Preparation ANY of us can do…and IF we’re Prepared…we’ll go to the Place where there is no need to ever plan for any kind of catastrophe again! NO MORE PAIN OR SADNESS OR SICKNESS OR TEARS EVER AGAIN! Now THAT is something worth Preparing for!

I lean toward the practical side over things like snowstorms, and I don’t panic over the possibilities because the God who brings the snow is my Provider and Protector too! When the snow falls, I know that there will be enough food in the house for a few days, no matter how empty my cabinets appear to be. I know that I’ll be warm, and if the electricity should go out, we’ll have a fire to keep us warm. Sometimes I drive people crazy with my “carefree” approach to the disasters the world warns us about because they think I don’t take these things as seriously as I should. But when it comes to the Major Event for all mankind, I’M NOT CAREFREE AT ALL. It’s NOT ENOUGH FOR ME THAT I’M PREPARED…I want to be sure to help as many people as I possibly can be Prepared too! It’s not okay that I have all that I need to Spend Eternity in a Place so beautiful that my mind can’t begin to visualize it…I want to fill that Place up with as many people as I can WHILE I can. My Journey is Sealed, and I can’t lose my One Way Ticket, but there’s still plenty of Preparation I need to do…every day…until the End. Preparation of my own Heart to be sure that it’s Readied and Preparation to help others along is my Mission in this Journey of Faith. The outcome for the ones who don’t prepare for THAT “storm” will make every natural disaster they’ve ever worried about look like child’s play…and it will LAST FOREVER! So, I stay Busy every day making sure that I’m as Prepared as I can be, and I reach out to the world in hopes that I can help them Prepare too.

There’s just a little dusting of snow at the farm, and whether there is more coming or not, I sure won’t be panicking over something so simple when there’s a Major Event coming that needs my Time and Attention. It’s a nice thing to help someone through something like a snowstorm…it’s Life-Changing to help them Prepare for the Major Event of all Time…the Return of the King of all kings!

Amen?

The Journey Through Grateful Eyes…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The air may be cold, but the sunrise this morning has the potential to add warmth to ANY Soul…IF they look for it, that is. A cup of hot coffee…a little one-on-one time with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, and I’m good to face the Spiritual Battle all over again. I was born for such a time as this, and I’m Unstoppable! I choose to look at my Life with a pair of Grateful eyes, and I never grow tired of watching the dawn of a New Day. Isn’t that the way it should be with life?

I could watch the sun rise a million times, and each one would be uniquely different than any one before or any one after. No sunrise is ever the same. The sun may rise from the same direction over this farm every morning, but this moment in time will never come my way again, so I choose to savor each sunrise all the days of my Life. Each one is a precious gift and a miracle to marvel at, and I’ll never grow tired of watching the dawn of any new day because it’s how I Perceive the New Day that will Determine how I Live it out.

I could watch a smile cross the face of my child or grandchild a million times, and each one is uniquely beautiful to me. A smile from the same face, but for different reasons than all of the other smiles before or all of the smiles after. I could never grow tired of watching their smiles or the way their eyes join in on the joy of the moment. That moment in time, that reason to smile will never come my way again, and I’ll savor each one all of the days of my life because of it.

I could hear belly laughing echoing off the walls of this old farmhouse a million times, but I’ll never grow tired of that sweet sound. The kind of laughter that is contagious to another and the kind of laughter that can soften the sting of Life in an instant. Each laugh comes for a unique reason…a moment in time that will never pass my way again, so I choose to savor each one all of the days of my life.

I’m looking at my Life with a pair of grateful eyes this morning, and I refuse to take any Gift for granted. One Day I’ll witness my last sunrise of this Journey called Life and that could be a very sad thought IF I didn’t Know what’s in store for me after my last earthly sunrise. On that Day, I’ll step away from the earthly sunrise, and I’ll immediately step into the Presence of the Most High GOD. I’m no expert (yet), but I’ve got a feeling that when I stand in the presence of the Glory of the Lord, He will made alll sunrises look like muted sparks. Hallelujah.

How about you?

He Will Always be Credited for the Outcome!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I kicked off my day with a meeting with the CEO of my life, and I’ve received Wisdom and Direction from my Instruction Manual. It’s when I get myself Prepared from the inside out for what the day might bring that I feel the excitement about what lies ahead, and my Heart sings with joy regardless of my own circumstances. I am a child of the Living God, and He’ll use me today IF I let Him. I’m a child of the Living God, and I’ll be victorious today no matter what IF I let Him lead. I’m a child of the Living God, and if I can just set my own wants, desires, and needs aside and Focus on Him instead, I’ll have immeasurable Joy and the kind of Peace that surpasses all understanding at such a time as this. Isn’t that the way it is supposed to be for every Follower of Jesus Christ?

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t do battle of some kind. That’s just the way it is for someone like me shouting from the mountaintops about my amazing God and His Grace. Sometimes the battle is an attack just because of the boldness of my Faith, and sometimes the attack hits me right between the eyes and rocks my world temporarily because I wasn’t Prepared for the “punch.” Sometimes it gets old, and sometimes it’s a challenge. Sometimes it’s a fleeting moment and just a word or two, and sometimes it’s a Season I must endure in His Name. Sometimes I feel strong enough to overcome it all, and sometimes I feel weak and stumble a little. But like a heavyweight champion in the boxing ring fighting for a win, I refuse to give up or to give in because I know that I’ll be Victorious because of Him every single time. This is the key to Strength.

Some of us are faced with “trials of many kinds,” and the world might wonder why we “suffer” at all if we put our trust in God. Sometimes, even professed Christians go into judgment mode, and as they wag their spiritual fingers in the face of our suffering, they suggest that IF we were living a righteous life, we wouldn’t have battles at all. But there’s no truth to that. It’s when we ignore our Instruction Manual, and we lose sight of the Bigger Picture, that we can ALL be inclined to wonder why bad things happen to good people. God does His best “Work” when He can turn around the circumstances in such a way that ONLY He can be Credited for the outcome. God does His best “work” when the storms of life are raging, and He shows up to calm the sea. God does His best “work” when we give Him the reigns no matter what our circumstances look like, and we do our part in the journey. And when we can stand strong and continue to Praise Him and to give Him Glory, no matter what’s going on in life, His Majesty shines for all the world to see. Hallelujah!

Things look good from the front porch of this old farm every single day, and I am blessed beyond measure that “the boundary lines have fallen on me in pleasant places.” Peace can be felt here, but that peace has nothing to do with me and nothing to do with geography. The Peace comes from Him. All that I am, all that I do, every word that I speak, every action that I take, every battle I fight, every Victory I celebrate is ONLY because He is my God, and I am His child, and I live each day FOR Him. I am now, and will forever be Victorious – HE IS WHERE I find my Strength to fight whatever battles come my way.

I’ll keep shouting from the mountaintops about my amazing God, and I’ll be armed and ready for the battle EVERY day. I won’t worry about the outcome because I already Know that He Holds it EVERYTHING in the palm of His Hand. I may have to do a little more Battling than most people, but that’s okay. God knows that I will Glorify Him no matter what, and that I’ll BOLDLY Share my Journey with the world without pride or shame so that they can see how amazing my God is too!

How about you?

When The Going Gets Tough – Disciple OR Deserter?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week, and I couldn’t be more excited about what God is about to do than I was on the first day I Believed. With a Heart Inclined toward the King of all kings and with eyes and ears focused on my Instruction Manual for Life, I can’t go wrong…AND I can’t contain my excitement. My Heart overflows with Gratitude after a good talkin’ to by the Commander-in-Chief of my life. If I want to be all that I can be in Jesus’ Name, then I need to be willing to be Corrected by the King whenever He sees that it’s necessary for me. Isn’t that what all good Warriors do? I don’t have all the answers when it comes to God, that’s for sure, but it’s not for the lack of Searching for them. I’m with Him for the Long Run…I’m ALL in…and nothing will stop me from ALL that He has for me while I’m still here…as long as I don’t let it, that is. So, I seek His Will each day, and I dig a little deeper into His Word for more Truth and Wisdom, and I’m more excited than ever for how He’ll use me for His Will in the days ahead…IF I’m READY AND WILLING, that is.

A long time ago, many people followed Jesus, and they were eyewitnesses to some amazing miracles. They saw Him feed thousands of people by multiplying a little bread and a few fish, they saw Him walking on water, and they saw Him heal the sick and raise the dead. They saw Him do so many things NO MAN could ever do in the flesh! But as Jesus was teaching in the synagogue one day, explaining that He IS the “bread of life,” many of those disciples said, “This is a hard teaching – who can accept it?” and they walked away from the Miracle Maker. In other words, when it was time to add Knowledge to the “sizzle” of their belief, even the eyewitnesses of some of the most amazing Miracles decided that the Teaching was too “hard” and they went from disciples to deserters, apparently without blinking an eye.

The circumstances are different, and it’s thousands of years since those disciples deserted the Miracle Maker, but people are STILL going from “disciple to deserter” today without blinking an eye when they think the teachings are “too hard.” Maybe they don’t realize that when it comes to the Living God, you’re either ALL IN or you’re ALL OUT. They don’t understand you’re either FOR Him or you’re AGAINST Him. There’s no room for wishy-washy commitments and no excuse for ignoring His Word…even IF it’s a tough pill to swallow sometimes. It’s very sad to think about how many Believers will be surprised One Day when God sees them as DESERTERS instead of disciples, all because they thought the teachings were “too hard” for their liking and they refused to share with the lost world because of it.

I don’t understand every single thing about His Teachings, and some of them DO look “too hard” when you view them from the surface, as those disciples did. But we can’t Learn (or accept) if we rely on our opinion of what’s “too hard” – it takes an Unshakeable Faith and a faithful Heart to pull that off! From where I sit, the disciples had more intellect than Faith, and they couldn’t fathom embracing the Whole Truth of His Teachings because of it…and the SAME IS TRUE TODAY. Countless people refuse to be ALL IN because they’re too busy trying to rationalize the Living God, and so “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Things won’t turn out well for those folks One Day.

I won’t reach “perfection” until He takes me Home, and (unfortunately) I stumble often. But when I stumble, I know where to go to get my feet back on Solid Ground, and I quickly ask for Forgiveness for not obeying His teachings…even IF they’re hard. With Him all things are possible, and when I’m weak, HE IS STRONG. So, instead of copping out with “it’s too hard,” I dig deep to find out the hows and whys for my stumble, and I work hard to keep it from ever happening again – and each time those “hard teachings” become clearer and easier to accept. Though I stumble from time to time, I will NEVER be seen as a “deserter,” and I won’t be found trying to rewrite Teachings because they’re “too hard,” like the world does.

How about you?

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”

We Already Know How The Story Ends! Endure!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One who holds “the keys to death and the grave,” and we had a little fireside chat about the condition of the world. Sometimes it’s painful to look at this dark world and all that’s going on around me, but I have nothing to fear, no matter how bad it is. I know I Serve the Solution to it all, and my Future is in His Hands. Instead of dwelling on things He’s already said would come to pass, I Focus on shedding Light in a world that seems to get darker by the minute. I’m on Temporary Assignment in this Journey called Life, but I’m determined to leave an Eternal mark for the One who died for me while I’m still here. I’m a beacon of Light in a dark world, and THAT’S how I can find Joy no matter what’s going on around me. Isn’t that the way you see your life in a dark world, too?
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It’s interesting to see so many people of Faith fretting over this dark world and all the madness unfolding right before their very eyes as if they’re surprised to see what they see. They debate the possibility of war even though He tells us “there WILL BE wars and rumors of wars” before He returns for His people. They’re appalled when they hear about turmoil in families that sometimes manifests in abuse or death even though He tells u,s “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.” Sometimes people of Faith whine about people of this world even though they’ve already been warned that “people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Everything we need to know has already been foretold, and yet people of Faith are often caught off guard, just like the rest of the world, all because they don’t Know the Truth… or they REFUSE to accept it.

It’s one thing to Know the Truth about all the madness and how the Story ends – it’s another thing to Know the Truth that brings Peace and Joy in the midst of all the madness. I know that no matter how things are or how bad they get, the Great “I am” is still in control. I don’t spend one second in fear of the darkness around me because I know that “greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” I don’t worry about being forgotten when things appear to be so dark because I know He says ” So do not fear, for I am with you do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” I don’t worry about being persecuted for my faith or attacked for my beliefs because I know He “holds me in the shadow of His wings.” The One who holds the keys to death and the grave is the One I Serve, and “if God is for us, who can be against us?”

There’s no excuse for a person of Faith to get caught up in this dark world or to be living in fear – and there’s no excuse to withhold the Gospel of Jesus Christ from a dark world that needs the Truth more than anything else. How will they explain themselves One Day when they’re found hiding under the bed in fear or hiding from the darkness when they’re supposed to be shedding Light and Hope to a lost world?

My Faith is unshakable, and I refuse to live in fear, no matter how “bad” things get. I’m not surprised by what I see because He’s already told me what to expect. I know the Truth, and I have the ONLY Hope the world has ever known. I’m on a Temporary Assignment in this Journey called Life and you won’t find me squandering my time. Instead, you’ll find me Dedicated to the One who has the keys to death and the grave…the One who died for me…and you’ll find me full of Joy no matter what. It’s time to shed Light on this dark world like never before so THAT’S my biggest Priority while I’m passing through.

How about you?

The Necessity of Time in the Desert…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. We made a quick trip to Pittsburgh to celebrate the birthdays of two of our grandkids, and although it was only an overnight stay, I’m glad to be home. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, there is no place like home to me. I sat in His Presence to Prepare for this new day and all that the Alpha and Omega has Planned for me in my days ahead. Even though I’m not a spring chicken, I’m very Excited about His Plans for me and how He will be using me ALL the days of my life here on earth BECAUSE I’m Armed and Ready, I’m Tenderized, and Transformed! I spent YEARS in the desert being Prepared for this precise moment in Time and I was born for such a time as this! Some people will be in a tailspin today over something as simple as a flat tire, and some people will hide under the bed over what’s going on in this dark world, but not me. I’ve been to the desert, and I’ve been Prepared for it all. In the desert, I found my Strength, and I learned to Lean on Him, AND I learned that there is no good thing in me apart from Him. I’m a Willing Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I’m certain that if I keep my focus OFF myself and ON Him, I’ll be Serving Him with honor until He calls me Home…AND I’ll always be Victorious. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

Most people do everything in their power to avoid time in the desert, but it’s in the desert where God does His greatest Work on the human Heart. Paul spent three years in Arabia – Moses spent 40 years wandering – Joseph was in Egypt for 13 years – and David spent many years hiding away from King Saul. When we see people soaring in Service to the King of all kings, you’ll always hear that they were sent to the desert first to Prepare their Hearts. This is true from the saints of the Old Testament to people we rub elbows with today. It takes a desert experience to Prepare! Understanding this part is the Key to Peace and having the Heart it takes to see (and Believe) that all things really do work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose. I received plenty of War wounds while in the desert and “proudly” wear them in the Name of Jesus Christ today as a Witness to how a Mighty God can Transform even the hardest of Hearts with just a little Time in the desert.

Be careful what you wish for in your Journey of Faith – if you sincerely want God to enlarge your territory, it’s probably going to involve some time in the desert where “no pain, no gain” takes on New Meaning. After all, if anybody knows how stubborn and selfish the human heart is, God does, and He Knows how to Tenderize the Willing Ones! He Knows that in order to accomplish His Greatest Work through us, He first needs to send us into the desert…like a spiritual sink-or-swim Experience designed to Strengthen His people. It’s definitely an Honor to be used for Kingdom Work, no doubt about that, but it always comes with a price for the Privilege.

In the desert, God changes us and removes things that hold us back and make us “useless.” In the desert, He forces us to draw upon HIS GRACE ALONE. Thank God, the desert is only a short (but Powerful) Season in our Journey of Faith. When He has accomplished what He wants in our lives in the desert, He will bring us out, and when He does, we see Kingdom Work in an entirely different Light. God has given each one of us a Mission to fulfill that can only be Fulfilled after we have spent adequate Time being Prepared in the desert. Have no fear of the desert and don’t avoid it like the plague if you desire to be used by the King, because it’s in the desert where you’ll hear His Voice like never before, and it’s there where you’ll receive your Marching Orders for this Journey called Life.

I’ve been in the desert, and I came out Victorious AND I always will because He promises me that. I have a Testimony that could make the toughest man cry, but I wouldn’t change a thing about my Journey. It took the desert to Refine me into the Vessel I am today, and my territory just keeps getting bigger and bigger because of it. Be careful what you “wish” for. If you want to be a Vessel used by the King of all kings, it always comes with a “price” to Prepare. There are no words for my Gratitude for a God who loves me enough to take me to the desert so that I can have the privilege of doing Kingdom work on this side of Heaven until I draw my last breath.

How about you?

How Much Will You be GIVING AWAY this year?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and overcast this morning; a sharp contrast to the condition of my Heart today. The Living God has been doing a little Construction Work on my Heart to Prepare me for the Work He has for me this New Year and beyond. Sometimes the Hand of God reaches down to Refine me – there’s nothing “bad” about me – I’m just a Work in Progress. Sometimes God uses me in Special Ways – but there’s nothing special about me…I’m just a Willing Vessel. Sometimes God expects me to do the “impossible” – things that make no sense to the human mind – but nothing is impossible with God and whatever He has for me will be Completed…not because I’m determined…because I’m Willing. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

The world is filled with people excited about this New Year and all the possibilities that come with it. Some are hopeful they’ll find love, while others are hopeful they’ll find wealth. Some want to welcome a baby into the world, while others want to buy a home. Some want to take an exotic vacation, and others want to eliminate debt. There’s no end to all the things people are hoping for in this New Year. I hope their dreams DO come true…most of them will if they determine to make it so. But more than anything else, I wish more people could see the Possibilities the way I see them. I wish THEIR wish lists were more about what they could GIVE AWAY than what they might receive.

Just imagine if more people were more interested in Speaking the Language of Love than pitching a product or service. Just imagine if more people were more interested in the condition of the Soul than the condition of the body or bank account. Just imagine if more people got their Priorities in the Right Order and actually shared their Faith with a lost world instead of merely praying for it. The Possibilities are endless for this New Year and beyond…a world that could easily be turned Right-side-up! It all comes down to Willing Vessels who are more interested in what they can Give away than what they can receive.

I’ve got my Marching Orders for this New Year and beyond, and the excitement sometimes keeps me awake at night. I’m still under Construction and I will be until He takes me Home – but I’m Prepared for the Journey because I’m Willing and I’m Teachable. Pleasing Him is my First Priority, and I Understand what Success looks like from where He sits. There is NO greater success in the world than having an Eternal Impact on the life of another human being, and the Rewards we’ll receive in Heaven will make all the riches of the Earth look like pocket change.

There is no greater Purpose in Life than to Give away the Truth, over and over and over again. There is no greater Fulfillment than to discover our God-given gifts and then put them to Work in His Name. There’s no need to fret over money when going about the “Father’s business” – He’s got that part covered. All we ever really need to do is be Willing to Serve the King of all kings, to SHOW UP, ARM UP, and SPEAK UP, all the days of our lives. When we love Him with our WHOLE Heart, we make sure He IS our First Priority, and Serving Him every day is the greatest Honor of all.

Happy New Year. Will you be SERVING Him this year?