Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s destined to be a hot day today with temperatures to scorch and humidity to choke. As I sat in the Presence of the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, I thought about how the scorching temperatures and choking humidity feels a lot like America today. Tempers are rising and the Truth is being choked from one end of America to the other. A Country founded by God and FOR God isn’t even recognizable today. The Living God can lower the temperature and remove the humidity with just one little Whisper from Heaven…but He can also bring hurricanes and tornadoes in His allotted time too. If there is one prayer heavy on my Heart today, it’s for God’s people to set aside their own versions of truth and their own agendas to Trust the Hand of God…the God who allows temperatures to rise and humidity to choke for a season…no matter what tomorrow brings.

The Bible is filled with accounts of wars I think most people like to overlook. All wars were brought on by God and for God because people had turned away from Him and He was being replaced by idolatry. “Idolatry” isn’t just about bizarre statues built in the image of a powerless “god”, “idolatry” is about trusting in something – ANYTHING or ANYONE- other than the Living God. God won’t tolerate idolatry forever, and when He’s had enough, He is ready, willing, and able to bring calamity upon any land…including America. America is guilty of idolatry. We idolize our money and our security, and we’re willing to roll over and play dead – to go against the Living God – just to keep it. We idolize the body as we are consumed by fear of sickness and death. We idolize our agendas that most of the time have little (or nothing) to do with the Living God. We idolize leaders who speak the language we want to hear. We idolize our hidden source of “knowledge” and our own version of “truth.” We idolize our “choice” to distort creation while we spit in the face of the Creator. We idolize sex and we defend our perversions. We idolize our freedom and we’re willing to fight for it AS IF the Living God guarantees freedom in this life – while the only Freedom that matters in the eyes of God is the Freedom that comes by way of Jesus Christ. When you look at it that way, no wonder God is displeased with a country once founded BY Him and for Him.

It’s not possible to be a humble Servant of the Living God and an idolater all at the same time. While so many of us are praying for God to heal our land – so few of us are humble enough to examine our own hearts and to turn away from ANYTHING and ANYONE that isn’t God Almighty Himself. Once upon a time, in a nation filled with idolatry – from idol worship to sexual perversion – God took matters into His own hands the same as He can in America today – “Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” (2 Kings 21:12-13). When God has had enough, He’s had enough!

If we sincerely want God to heal our land, then we must be willing to turn away from our idolatry – our versions of the truth – and turn to Him instead. He isn’t obliged to tell us what He’s doing but He expects us to accept what He’s doing no matter what it looks like to us! When Habakkuk asked God to fill him in on the plans – God responded with “Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.” God rose up a “ruthless and impetuous nation” for a Purpose all His own and it doesn’t have to make sense to us! Our job is to Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to Trust God no matter what this world looks like from where we sit AND NOT to obsess over the agenda we’re idolizing. God is still on the Throne and the end of the Story is Spectacular…on the other side of this life, that is. Are you as prepared for that part as much as you believe you’re prepared to fight over the political condition of America today?

If we want the Hand of God to heal this land, we must be willing to humble ourselves in ways we never have before. We must be willing to Trust the Hand of God even IF/when it gets ugly. We must be willing to stand up for God MORE than we stand up for our idols. When you look at it that way, we’ve got a LOT of Spiritual awakening of our own to do before God can (or will?) turn things around…IF THAT’S HIS PLAN. America is just a temporary address for God’s people – if/when we understand that part, we talk a whole lot more about our New Address (and our ONLY Leader) than we do about a broken land filled with broken leaders…a land God may OR may not be willing to heal.

My Heart is heavy for so many of my brothers and sisters much more focused on their idolatry and their own version of the truth than they are on the Living God and HIS Truth….the God who brings the temperatures to scorch and the humidity to choke. I hurt for the ones more passionate about speaking words of defeat and discourse than they are to Speak up about Jesus Christ…the ONLY Hope any of us ever have. It’s a Spiritual War and we’re still fighting with weapons of the flesh. It’s a nation riddled with idolatry and we’re refusing to let go. Humility goes a LONG way with the Living God and it is the FIRST STEP for a land in need of healing by the touch of the Master’s Hand.

“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what He spoke against this place and its people and because you humbled yourself before Me and tore your robes and wept in My presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.” (2 Chronicles 34:27-28)

God bless America.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day and I refuse to squander it because there will never be one just like this one again. Since I won’t have the chance to relive it, I’ll be sure to give it everything I’ve got when it comes to what the Living God has Planned out for me and I won’t let the sun go down with regrets. As long as I do what He wants me to do, and I live my Life the way He tells me to Live it, this day will go down as a day to remember for all Eternity. Isn’t that the way you look at each new day too?

It can be so easy for most people to let each day blend into the next without noticing much difference between them (outside of the weather) but that’s because they don’t understand the Significance of each one AND they don’t accept that each day has a Unique Purpose of its own. How bizarre for people to think that the God of all Creation would roll out a new day that has no significance at all….but most people live as if that’s the case. How bizarre to think that the Author of Life would create people just to knock around through life for however many days they’re allotted without a Unique Purpose for each one….but most people live as if that’s the case. The saddest part is that most people live their entire lives that way UNLESS they’re taken to the place where Gratitude is found.

Usually overflowing Gratitude is found when we face GREAT adversity OR when something happens to threaten our number of days. Without a “push” from the God of Love, most people don’t get to a place of Understanding the Significance of Life and how their Life plays into God’s Bigger Picture…and sometimes they run out of allotted time before they ever Fulfill what they born to do. It may seem strange to us that God would use Pain to Prepare His servants for Greater Service, but that’s just the way God works. God created all, and He knows our nature well. He KNOWS that without a little “push” to wake a Servant up, most of us would do nothing Significant at all. God knows that the human heart is incapable of voluntarily stepping into situations that take us beyond our comfort zone and He understands that we’re inclined to take the easy way out in Life. So, He intentionally brings us into Hard Places to Refine us – to build our Dependency – and to drive us deeper into His Grace. Paul was blinded on the road to Damascus and when God opened his eyes (in more ways than one) you can bet Paul understood the Significance of each day from that day forward. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace and supernaturally protected from harm. You can bet they understood the Significance of each day after that too! I was thrown into a deep pit of adversity and my life was turned upside down in ways most people could never imagine. My understanding of my Significance and my Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does was refined through my pain. So, if you ever find yourself wondering how I can consider each day a Unique Gift with a Unique Purpose of its own, that’s because the God of all Creation chose to Refine ME for a Purpose far greater than myself and it took breaking me down to get me to that place where Gratitude is found and Purpose is Fulfilled.

This day might look like others you’ve seen before by the photo in this post, but you can bet I don’t see it that way. I’ll Live out this new day like the Gift I know it is, and I won’t leave any stoned left unturned. I’ll be looking for what He has for me and I’ll be Willing to step up when He tells me to….and THAT is how and why each new day stands out from the countless others I’ve lived. I found Gratitude the hard way and I Live like it.

This is a day that the Lord has made – when it’s over, it’s gone forever and tomorrow is promised to no one.

Will you LIVE like it?

Will you LOVE like it?

Will you Serve like it?

Will you SHARE Him like it?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s one of those cool foggy mornings so I took my time in the presence of my Mighty God and I’m savoring it all from the inside out. I once heard about how the shouts from the stadium hosting the World Cup in Brazil were so intense, that they measured 6 on the Richter scale from miles away. When I heard that, I wondered what it would be like if the Church got so excited about the imminent return of Jesus Christ that it tipped the Richter scale all over the world. THE MOST exciting “play” of all time is getting closer by the day and the mere thought of that Day inspires me to make a little noise of my own. Today is just another day to most of the world, but it’s just as miraculous to me and it’s getting my undivided attention on this extraordinary day because I know that one day soon I’ll look up and see the Son of God and He’ll be looking for me! Isn’t that the way you consider the Day that draws near too?

It’s pretty amazing to live in a time when things like a hurricane or a solar eclipse can be predicted and all the world can be put on notice of its coming long before it takes place. With a hurricane, we’re told about where we can take shelter and with a solar eclipse, we’re told to use protective eyewear because the eyes couldn’t endure what it sees without them. The time of arrival for a hurricane or solar eclipse can be narrowed down with precision and there’s no question about what time of day these things will happen. The news channels buzz for weeks beforehand and the virtual highway gets loaded up with photos and predictions. People stock up on food and water and double-check generators before a hurricane and some people have block parties to witness a solar eclipse. The “wows” over something like a solar eclipse on a clear night can be heard from one corner of the world to the next and in some places, maybe the excitement even tips the Richter scale. It’s amazing to see the human reaction to the Hand of God even when it doesn’t acknowledge who He is at all. But One Day, He will show up out of “nowhere” in the blink of an eye and despite all the warnings to Prepare for that Day, many people will be caught off guard, unprepared, and left “in the dust” all the same. Warning them to prepare is what keeps people like me Busy in the Journey of Faith. Like a watchman on a hill, I KNOW what’s coming, and because we don’t know the day or the hour, being Prepared every minute of every day is the Key to Victory.

One day, in the not-so-distant future, it won’t just be nature rattled by the changes it sees in the sky, the entire world will be too when the Son of God shows up with no warning at all. No meteorologist or astronomer will be able to predict the day or the hour, and the world will not be put on notice by the local news. No priest, pastor, or one who claims to know the future will be able to predict the time of His coming – even the Son of God doesn’t know that – He’ll just show up without warning at all. The Son of God won’t be showing up to entertain the world with His presence and no special eye-wear will shield the world from Him OR help them see Him clearer. The world will be watching when He shows up to gather His people, and in the blink of an eye people like me will cease to exist on earth at all. At that very moment, there will be planes without pilots, cars without drivers, classrooms without teachers, and families without loved ones. No amount of shouting and screaming that takes place when a good play is made in a sports arena can hold a candle to what the world will sound like when the Son of God shows up to gather His Own. Like a father ringing the dinner bell to call his children home, the Son of God will sound a Trumpet that will make the Richter scale feel like child’s play to call His Children Home to be with Him forever, and no amount of doubting in the world will change the fact that this Day will come without warning at all. All the doubters and all the mockers will have something in common eventually…every single one of them will bow to their knees in His presence and declare that He is Lord one day.

I’ll be ready when the greatest “solar” miracle in the history of the world takes place and I’ll be looking toward the Heavens in anticipation of the Son of God coming back for me. We may not know the day or the hour of His coming, but we’ve been told about a few things that needed to happen before He’s ready to come back, and they’ve all taken place at record speed, so I’m hoping that He’ll come back soon. I’m Excited about His Coming because I’m Ready. Sadly, lots of people won’t be so excited when they realize that they missed out on Preparing for the Day and it will be too late for them to be a part of that Miracle. I’m ready and waiting…how about you? Will you be prepared to see the Son of God with no warning at all? If you’re not sure reach out to me. I’m happy to introduce you to the Son of God and I’ll help you find your way to the Truth that will set you Free and lead you Home. Before you know it, you’ll be a lot more excited about the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ than you ever could be over something like a solar eclipse and you’ll be doing your part to tip the Richter scale right along with other people like me!

Are you ready?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I enjoyed the sweet aroma of the fresh-cut hay this morning as I met with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith. I’m not the one to labor over the fields – someone else has been called to do that hard work. But I am the benefactor of the harvest in more ways than one. As I enjoyed the look and smell of the fields this morning, it reminded me of my Journey of Faith. I’ve had a lot going on in my life for a while, and it’s hard to tell which part of me is feeling the strain the most…my mind or my body. I’ve pushed both to the limit, and I’m very Grateful that they are both still serving me well despite the push. My mind and my body may be tired, but my Spirit never will be, and it’s the Spirit that drives all the rest of me. I serve a God that set the stars in the sky and knows them each by name, and He has me on a Mission for Himself. He knows my Limitations. He Knows how hard to Drive me. And He knows just what I need when I need it. When I’m feeling weak, He breathes a Breath of Fresh Air as sweet as the fresh-cut hay back into me for the Journey. I know that as long as I stay Close to Him, He’ll be sure the mind and the body follow what the Spirit is driven to do, and One Day soon I’ll hear “Mission Accomplished”. Isn’t that the way you Push to serve the King too?

It would be so easy to say “I’m too tired, Lord” or “I’m too old for this”, but when God comes Calling, He wouldn’t ask us to Serve Him if He didn’t already know we’re up for the Job. When God comes Calling He already has the Details worked out for whatever it is we’re to do, and He already knows what we need before we even hear the Call. I don’t know for sure, but I think what God really looks for when He comes Calling is one that Seeks His Face, and one Willing to Serve because of their Love for Him. When He has One who Loves Him, who wants to please Him, and who is willing to say “Yes” when He comes Calling, He’ll do all of the other Equipping we need to Accomplish His Goal, and He’ll Handle all the the Details for the Job. Sometimes He Calls upon the most unlikely one to Serve, because He’s especially Glorified when He does. It’s the Service of the “unlikely” one that causes the world to stand in awe of the Power of a Mighty God when they Witness the unlikely one become Strong and Equipped right before their very eyes. God doesn’t look at the outward things like age, social status, education, or circumstances when He Comes Calling…He looks to the Heart instead…and He isn’t too keen on excuses when He Comes Calling for us to Serve. I don’t blame Him. After all, if HE is the One that will do the Heavy Lifting, and if He is the one who will Provide everything we need to do the Job, the only real reason we could have for saying “NO” when He comes Calling is that we don’t Trust Him to Provide and we don’t Love Him enough to Serve. Ouch.

I’m one of the most “unlikely” people that God has Called to Serve in ways that often make the world stand in awe of His Power and Might in my Life. Nothing that He’s Called me to do makes “logical” sense in the eyes of the world, and nothing about me is special. I don’t have youth, education, or social status…or even strength sometimes. But none of those things matter to the Living God. He has my Heart and I say “YES, Lord” when He comes Calling on me to Serve. I don’t make excuses for why I can’t because I already know that He wouldn’t Call upon me if He didn’t know that I’m Willing to do my small part to Fulfill His Plans. More than anything, I’m confident that He’ll never abandon me. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Many times I don’t understand why He wants me to do what He wants me to do, but I am CONFIDENT that if I am just Willing to say “Yes, Lord” He’ll complete the Good Work for His Glory no matter what.

I’m a Willing Vessel and I say “YES” when He comes Calling… and THAT’S why He Works Overtime in my Life. Sometimes people say “I wish God would use me like that” and they somehow overlook the reason He isn’t. They can’t be used by Him if they’re not willing to say “YES” no matter the time or the circumstances. Saying “YES” when we have no idea how we’ll Accomplish what He’s Calling for us to do takes a whole lot of Faith and Trust…and a whole lot of people lack both. He uses me because I’m “unlikely. ” He uses me because I’m NOT special. He uses me because I LOVE HIM and I say “YES.” I’m a very busy Willing Vessel, and I believe I will be all the days of my life here on earth…no matter my age, no matter my circumstances, no matter what because “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion”.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I approached the Throne of the Living God with boldness this morning and we had a little Talk about my Journey. I’m working on some Big Things… Kingdom things…a few things that have the Potential to dramatically change Lives…and when I’m in Full Swing, I face what feels like never-ending adversity. I’ve got a mountain to climb and a few mountains to move, but with God all of that is possible. No mountain is too big when you have a Purpose to fulfill. So, my Purpose was Reinforced at daybreak, and my Spirit was Refreshed and Revived for the Journey. The adversity is just a minor inconvenience when I am Willing to stay on Track and when I have God on my Side. Isn’t that the way it is with you when you are doing His Work too?

It would be so nice if the red carpet got rolled out for us whenever we are in full swing for His Full Service, but it doesn’t work that way. When we’re in Full Swing we become a threat to the “forces” that would much rather we sit back and shut up than make a Difference in a dark world. When we’re in Full Swing our Light is Brighter than it usually is because the Work that we’re doing has Everlasting Benefits. Some are drawn to the Light, while others will do whatever they can to dim it. When we’re in Full Swing mode the mountains we face seem to get taller and taller, and sometimes it feels like we take one step forward and two steps backward. But that’s not the way it is at all. All those minor inconveniences are intended to make the Mountain LOOK like it’s too big to climb and that the top is impossible to reach…but the height of the Mountain never really changes…only the Journey does. No matter how big that mountain is, it’s worth climbing when you have Purpose, and if we’re just willing to keep Climbing, we’ll reach the Top where Victory is found. The Living God warns us about what it is like when we’re in Full Swing for Him, and He even tells us “they will hate you because of me”. But only those of us willing to Climb the Mountain in Full Swing ever know what that’s like because it’s the Light that threatens the darkness…not just our existence in a dark world.

God has given me a Voice and I’m a willing Vessel to use it, so I’m more visible to the “spiritual forces of evil” that would much rather I sit back and shut up, and I face lots of minor inconveniences because of it. When I work inside of the Gift He’s given to me, I speak up, I show up, I pray up and I climb up, over and over again. My Journey has developed my Boldness and my Faith is Unshakable. I climb Mountains as often as He tells me to, and I don’t care how big they appear to be because of the outside influences that would love for me to give up. I can climb them and I can MOVE them with His Help as long as I don’t allow the minor inconveniences to discourage me and if I remain in Full Swing mode. I’m a Spiritual Force to reckon with in this dark world, and my Voice is used by the King of Kings. Of course I’m going to face a few obstacles here and there in the Journey! But I understand the significance of my Journey and I’ll always keep climbing no matter what. No mountain is too big to climb when you’ve got a Big Reason to climb it.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It stormed most of the night and the earth is nourished and vibrant this morning . When I entered His Presence at sunrise, I didn’t need music, words, or any other influence whatsoever to enter a place of Praise for this new day. The minute the sun came up in the sky, and the fog began to lift off the fields, my Heart overflowed with Gratitude and Love, and I felt the Power and the Presence of my God as surely as if He sat next to me on the porch. I set aside my Instruction Manual and my hymn book, and I just sat there enjoying the Living God and all that He is to me. It’s no wonder I like to share this old farm with everyone I can because I know that everybody else can feel the Peace of God when they’re here too…and I know, with absolute certainty, that they can see Him in me. Sharing my God and my life with someone else is the Greatest Gift of all. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy for us to overlook the importance of Sharing, and we miss out on the Biggest Blessings of all when we do. From our Hearts to our Homes and to everything in between, God looks to us to share. God never meant for any of us to be alone in anything that we do. He made Eve a companion and helper to Adam when He saw that “it is not good for man to be alone.” He brought Aaron to Moses because He saw that Moses needed to partner in the journey, and he needed another voice to speak for him. He gave Ruth to Naomi to lead the way to food and a future. David had Jonathan. Paul had Silas. Even Jesus had an inner circle of friends to share the Journey with. They didn’t just walk around witnessing to the world, although that was the Biggest Role they played, they traveled together and fellowshipped together too…breaking bread and living life…and I’m pretty sure they shared a laugh or two as well. Because Jesus had just a few guys in His inner circle, we know that a few of those guys were very special to Him, and He chose to share more with them than all the others. We need to share the Living Waters with the world, but we need to share life with others too. If there was ever anyone who could probably survive just fine doing His work alone or living on an island by Himself, it would be Jesus. But Jesus surrounded Himself with his Friends, and He only went off alone when He needed a little One-on-One time with His Father. After that…He went right back to His inner circle and right back to the business of Sharing.

There is a “danger” in living alone that lots of people fail to see. Plenty of people look at the life of someone living alone and they long to have freedom and solitude too. But if those living alone aren’t careful, they become the selfish ones not willing or able to share anything with anyone else. They weren’t Hard Wired to be alone, so you’ll find them overly concerned about their own needs or their own provisions with an “I need to look out for myself” attitude. They don’t easily sacrifice for someone else because life has evolved into being just about them; and when they do, they want the world to know about it. They don’t thrive because they don’t share, and they don’t share because they choose not to.

There are plenty of people who say they’d like to work for themselves just so that they don’t have to answer to anybody else. But even in our work, we’re told that “two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor” and we’re told that “iron sharpens iron.” Whether we work for ourselves or not, we will always see greater success when we share the journey with someone else. None of us are Hard Wired to live and work alone…we’re Hard-Wired to share the Journey.

I work hard to make sure that I have a Heart that is willing to Share every single day that I breathe, because I know the dangers of being on your own in this Life. The only thing that has any Value or any Significance in this Journey called life, is what we Share with someone else…and not what we do for ourselves. I shared my morning with the Living God, and now I’ve shared His Words with my world. I’ll be sharing my Heart on the front porch (that I share with the world) a little later on today. I’ll share a little food and I’ll share some funny stories, and I’m sure I’ll share some belly laughs. But along with all the other sharing I’ll be doing, you can bet that I’ll be Sharing my God, and all that He is and all that He does for me. Sharing is the Biggest Blessing of all.

How about you?

The road to my house was built between these two oak trees not merely to preserve nature, but because these trees are rumored to be “Anniversary Oaks.” Years ago, Anniversary Oaks were planted in honor of a newly married couple as a symbol of strength and longevity. The roots of an oak tree are deep and the wood is strong. Oak trees have the ability to withstand even the strongest wind. They bend, but they don’t break, and they often live for a very long time where they’re planted…the way marriage is supposed to be when it has good roots.

When oak trees are planted close to one another, it’s important to allow for enough space for each one to grow independently strong and healthy but close enough to shield each other from the elements. What a beautiful picture of relationships in life. Whether a marriage, a relationship with a child, or even a close friend, it’s important to have just the right amount of space for each one to grow independently strong and healthy while being close enough to shield and protect….and so it is with the Living God.

God Almighty knew us before the foundations of the earth. He planted the seed of life in our mother’s womb. He knows every breath we take and He collects every tear we shed in a jar. He is the Master of it all and yet He allows just enough space for us to grow healthy and strong in Him. He “planted us” just where we are, and He’s there to protect and shield us from “the elements” all the days of our lives. God doesn’t just sit in the Heavenly realms and orchestrate life, He longs for a Relationship with you with me…one where we learn to stand tall and Strong in His name…just like the Anniversary Oaks.

Give your relationship with Him all that it needs to grow and He’ll be your “Anniversary Oak” for all eternity…just enough space to allow for growth and strength and ALWAYS your shield from the elements.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might – Ephesians 6:10

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and calm on this new day of a new week and after a little time in the presence of a Big God my Heart felt on the inside what the day brought to the outside…cool and calm. It was shocking to step outside to temperatures so much cooler than the average summer day, but after a few minutes I settled in to enjoy the ride. As I considered the “shock” of experiencing something I’m not accustomed to…something I wasn’t expecting…it made me think of how that’s the kind of impact my Life can have on others IF I’m willing to be a Reflection of Christ, that is. When someone stands in my presence they should see, feel, and hear about the One who died for me and my life should cause an unbelieving soul to experience “culture shock” because I don’t resemble things of this world, but things of Heaven instead. Isn’t that your goal through the Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy for people of Faith to fall into the snares of this life if we aren’t careful but we can’t be a good Reflection of Heavenly things if we do. We can stomp and whine about the state of the world with the best of them, but we are supposed to be “in this world, not of this world” and there’s nothing “shocking” about the way we live when we join the crowd of complainers. We can hold a grudge against the ones who wrong us like the best of them, but holding a grudge is a refusal to forgive and there’s nothing “shocking” about the way we live when we hate along with all the others. We can spit out insults and justify our beliefs like the best of them, but there’s nothing “shocking” about the way we live when “out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing.” It’s when we love when it doesn’t make sense…when we forgive no matter the offense…when we refuse to speak hate to (or about) any one of God’s creations…that we stand out like a sore thumb in this dark world and the “culture shock” that lost people experience in our presence will often lead them to want to know what’s “different” about us. This is the key to living out “thy kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

I’m an imperfect woman living an imperfect life but I love the Perfect One with all of my Heart and I strive to Live the way He commands me to. My desire to please Him is far greater than my desire to tango with the darkness of the world. From politics to pedophiles I leave it up to God to exercise judgment and “vengeance” because I know when He takes care of business, the consequences of their actions are eternal. With Him in control of it all, I know that when I speak out against what I see with my eyes, I’ve lost sight of the Master Plan altogether and I become a poor reflection of the One I Serve. I want lost people to experience “culture shock” when they see my supernatural responses to unnatural events. I want them to see Love when they “don’t deserve it.” I want them to see the “peace that surpasses all understanding” when outward circumstances paint a picture of turmoil and hate. I won’t rely on what I think with my head or feel in my Heart to be a Witness to the darkness…I’ll give it everything I’ve got to live a Life, to SPEAK the name of Jesus Christ, to Love unconditionally, to reflect the “fruit of the spirit” which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I want the darkness to experience CULTURE SHOCK in the Light of my Faith all the days of my Life…and THAT’S what God will use to add to His Kingdom if I remain faithful to the Faithful One.

How about you?