Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold outside this morning and venturing out onto the porch to snap a photo was a painful step for me. As I met with the Living God in the warmth of my kitchen, I began to weep for those so much less fortunate than I am… those left out in the cold in more ways than one. When I closed my eyes, I could see cold people, lost people, sick people, and poor people all around, and the image overwhelmed me. Except for the honor of praying for them and doing my small part to attempt to change their lives…I’m powerless. But I know the Miracle Maker and I know the Provider very well, and I know that He has a Plan through it all…even when I don’t understand it and even when it hurts. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

It could be so easy to ignore the pain in the world or to consider it somebody else’s problem…if not for having a Christ-like heart. When we strive to have a heart like Christ, we learn what genuine compassion really looks like, and we no longer have just fleeting moments of feeling sorry for people…we hurt for them instead. Over and over again we read about the compassion of Christ and over and over again the translation refers to physical agony that He felt over the pain of another. It wasn’t as simple as a fleeting moment of compassion…He didn’t just shake his head and say “that’s too bad” or “that’s so sad” or “I’ll pray for you” …He hurt for them…He was in agony over their pain. It was when Christ was moved with compassion that He performed some of the most amazing miracles…like feeding thousands of people from just a little bread and a little fish because they had no food. It’s when compassion kicks-in that action kicks-in and it’s when the Heart genuinely hurts for another that we are in agony over their pain. It’s compassion that drives us to our knees to pray for the help we can’t provide on our own, and its compassion that forces us into action to help whenever and however we can…with no expectation of return, reward, or recognition.

These days there are plenty of people salivating over a stimulus check they believe they deserve, and even more people whining about how little it is. I’ve read comments made by the entitled ones like “that won’t even pay my rent” – or “that won’t put new tires on my car” or “Hurray! Beach here I come”…sad but true. Some people desperately need aid, while plenty of others don’t need it at all. Will it help? Of course, it will. Every little bit helps when people are in need. But I wonder what the world would look like if those non-suffering recipients would hand out their hand-out to someone else in need instead of spending it like the “found money” it is? At the break of this new year there are over 5 million people facing homelessness – 5 million people in line for foreclosure or eviction all because of the hand-outs that always get repaid one way or another…like it or not. Will we continue to sit back and blame our circumstances on the government OR will we step up the way God tells us to step up…offering an endless supply of “hand-outs” from the One who already paid the price?

I’m heading into this cold new year with more blessings than any human deserves. I understand where I’ve been and how far I’ve come. I understand that God used my own pain and poverty to tenderize my heart, and I understand that “there is no good thing in me apart from Him.” I am a child of the King and I’m humbled to be found worthy to do a little Work in His Name. I have a place Reserved for me in Heaven when I leave this temporary home and I’ll have Everlasting Life with my loved ones that are His Children too. I have a family that is so close and so filled with love that it defies logic, AND they’re all healthy and strong. I have a Purpose that was Divinely Designed just for me for and I understand what I need to do to Fulfill it. I have a warm home and a warm heart and every day I strive to have a Heart more like Christ…the kind that hurts over the pain of another, and the kind that wants to do something about it if I can. The kind that NEVER overlooks the honor that it is to be able to stand before the Throne of a Mighty God on behalf of someone else…the kind of Heart that knows I’m NOT getting what I deserve because Jesus already paid the price for me.

How about you?

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped outside on this cold January morning to welcome in a new day of this new year, and to dedicate it all to Him all over again. He is my Hope, my Strength, my Redeemer, and my Friend, and “there is no good thing in me apart from Him.” He deserves the first fruit of my Life …beginning with my Time. I know if I give it all TO Him and if I live my Life FOR Him, the Journey will be beautiful no matter what’s going on in the dark world around me. So, when I stepped onto the front porch at sunrise for the first time this year I thanked Him for the year that is behind me now, and I thanked Him for what He’ll be doing with me and through me in this new one. Isn’t that the way you step into “a new thing” too?

Plenty of people around the world are saying “good riddance” to the year we left behind…but not me. Oh, it was filled with disappointments and all kinds of bizarre changes that’s for sure, but it had a Purpose in the Master Plan just as much as all those “good years” did and Beauty can be found everywhere if you look with the Right set of eyes and a Grateful Heart. I’ve spent just as much time as the next guy scratching my head in disbelief over what’s going on in the world and how quickly life has changed, but more than any other emotion or reaction to what I see and hear, I’ve watched with Great Anticipation for what God is doing at such a time as this. I don’t have all the answers, but I Serve the God who does, and I’m watching Him connect the dots to what He already had in motion since the very beginning of time. The only thing I need to concern myself with is how I fit into His Plan – and the only thing I can do anything about that has any significance at all is to Live out my Faith “with fear and trembling,” to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as I can, and to feed the sheep He Orchestrates into my Life.

The world around me has changed, but God sure hasn’t. He never changes His mind and He never leaves His Throne. He’s never taken by surprise like we are and He already knows the rest of the story because the world is in the palm of His hands and He “wrote the book” on how and when the Story ends. He’s “the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.” He never grows tired of hearing our prayers…they’re like “incense in Heaven” to Him… and He stores up every tear we ever shed “in a jar” because He loves us. He sent His “only begotten son” to die for us so that we can live out Eternity with Him in the place He’s already “prepared for us” – at least that’s what the future looks like for those who believe. God cares about each one and He died for all. But there are still plenty of people out there who don’t know my God – there are plenty of people who THINK they know my God but they don’t- and there are plenty more who have never been told about Jesus at all. And THAT’S where you and I come in…ESPECIALLY at such a time as this.

I’ve been blessed to have been loved BIG by countless people throughout my lifetime, but nobody ever loved me as much as He does. I’ve loved so big that I thought my heart would burst, but I’ve never loved anybody as much as I love Him. So, the world can keep changing and I’ll keep clinging to the Only One with the Answers while I share Hope with the world around me. You’ll never hear me say “good riddance” to a year full of days to Serve the Creator of All, that’s for sure! I’ll keep Serving every day, year after year…in good years and in not so good years….because THAT’S what Love looks like.

Happy New Year, world.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The sunrise was spectacular this morning, and it was as if God Almighty hand- painted His Majesty right before my very eyes. My heart went from solemn to celebration as I watched this new day unfold, and the course of my time with Him and my time in His Word was redirected. I started out focused on His birth and all of the circumstances surrounding His humble beginning…things we should never overlook. But in the midst of this magnificent morning, God didn’t just want me to consider the birth of His Son, He wanted me to CELEBRATE Him instead…so Celebrate I did at daybreak. Isn’t that what happens to you sometimes too?

My mind can’t begin to imagine what it was like so long ago when my Savior entered the world. A virgin girl was chosen to be the one to nurture Him in her womb, and there was no need for a doctor’s exam to confirm her pregnancy or to prove her virginity. Her fiancé kept his promise to marry her and he accepted what the angel of God told him…there was no need for DNA to confirm whose child she carried. Without a text message conversation, this girl’s relative immediately knew she was pregnant too because the baby she carried leaped in her womb at the sound of this young mother’s voice and the Holy Spirit came upon her that very moment… just as it was foretold. Without cell phones or the Internet, news traveled fast about this Child…the Savior…the King…because the details of His arrival, His life, and His Purpose were foretold long before He was ever born. Without the benefit of GPS the 3 wise men found their way to Him and without the benefit of online shopping they brought Him the most precious gifts under the sun.

Most of the world will celebrate next week, but most of the world won’t be celebrating the birth of my Savior at all. Some take advantage of this time of year and although they light-up a Christmas tree and wrap-up gifts, they don’t Believe in my Savior…they just like to use His birthday as an excuse to have fun. Some will proclaim to Believe but they don’t “buy-in” to all of the details of His birth that were foretold LONG before He was ever born…as if the Word of Godis a-la-carte and we can pick and choose the parts we like the best. Some profess to be people of Faith and yet they don’t pause to celebrate in Savior-style and when (or IF) they “tell” the story of His birth on Christmas morning it will have as much excitement as a trip to the mailbox. Some will sing Happy Birthday to Him on Christmas morning and seconds after they sing they’ll dive-in to gifts and shovel down a feast and He won’t be mentioned again…as if they’ve done their duty to acknowledge Him. Some claim to Believe and they’ll celebrate next week but the focus and thanks for all of those gifts their children receive will be credited to a fantasy-guy-in-the-sky who determines if they’re worthy or not.

I’ll soon be celebrating the birth of my Savior at the farm with my family, and you can be sure that it’s Him we’ll be celebrating. We know that “there is no good thing apart from Him” so He’ll get thanks for it all. We know that He is our Provider and that every morsel of food and every gift we exchange is only made possible because of Him. We’ll be celebrating Savior-style and we Believe every single Word of the story of His Birth…a baby born to a virgin…our King…our Savior…our Wonderful Counselor…our Mighty God…our Everlasting Father and our Prince of Peace!

How about you and yours?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. God dusted the fields with frost this morning – an outward reminder of the winter season…and the sun made it glisten all around this old farm. Today marks the beginning of a new year of my life and that frost reminded me of my Journey. I’m in the winter season of life…a time where most of the hustle and bustle is behind me and where Wisdom is my greatest attribute. A time where my body has begun to show signs of age and most things about me aren’t what they used to be. A time where my kids are now raising their kids and they don’t need me the way they used to. But for all the things that are “behind” me now, the Greatest Season is still ahead. I’m a Vessel for the Living God and He’s using me like never before. I’m a Voice for the Kingdom and I’m speaking up like never before. I face each new day with great anticipation for what He has for me, and I prepare for the Wonderful things He has in store for my Life. It’s a beautiful life and a blessing to be in the season capped with frost.

There aren’t many things that make me crazier than to see people squandering a life that has so much potential…especially the season capped with frost. Some people crawl through life like slugs as they get older with no joy or excitement at all. It’s as if they lost a little happiness each year along the way and they don’t seem to care to look for it again. They think the best is behind them, so they have no Excitement for today. Some people face each new day as if it’s a burden they have to endure instead of the Blessing that it really is. Some people look at the life of someone else and they’ll claim that if they had a life like theirs, they could be happy too… as if outward things make the biggest difference of all. Some people believe their happiness is dependent on other people and they convince themselves that if they had the right mate or a houseful of kids, they could be happy like the rest of the world. Some people have aches and pains and other physical challenges, and they embrace them like an old friend with no expectation of it ever being better. Some people quit living a LONG TIME ago and they’re just biding their time until the end. It’s possible for anybody to live like that IF they fail to see that Life has a Purpose much greater than themselves and much broader than their 4 walls of solitary confinement. Nothing ever changes unless we do our part to change it, and no long-lasting joy can be found without a proactive Focus on a Mighty God…all the days of our Lives!

There are plenty of people who look at my life and they could write a list a mile long for why THEY think it’s easy for me to be happy. They look at outward things or they hear me laugh or watch me smile and they convince themselves that joy comes easier for me than it does for them…but that’s not true at all. I determine to be happy and I insist on peace…and I’m old enough and wise enough to know where to go to find both. I refuse to surrender to the woes of “old age”, and I know where to go for my Strength. I meet each day with Great Anticipation, and I expect Good things each and every day…still. When I face trials and tribulations (just like everybody else does) I know where to turn for my Comfort and my Strategy. When life tries to beat me up, I don’t lick my wounds. Instead, I run to my Protector and I let Him take care of business on my behalf. I determine to be happy and I put in the effort it takes to sustain it…no matter what’s going on. I’m filled with Gratitude in ALL circumstances…it’s not possible to “pick apart” life or to lose your Joy when you remain Grateful…especially in the season capped with frost.

Age has no relevance at all when it comes to enjoying our days or to our making a Contribution and you’ll never hear me making excuses as I grow older. I’m like a child on a Christmas morning ready to open the Gift of each new day… and you’ll always find me Savoring the Blessings. I work hard to be this way! I do my Part to Live out this Life with Purpose! It’s when you Walk with Purpose, you’ll ALWAYS find happiness and Joy… regardless of age.

Thank you, God, for the years capped with frost and for another season to Serve you everything within me.

Happy birthday to me!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One who breathed Life into my soul long before the sunrise, and once I got into His Word I couldn’t get enough. I read Words I’ve read many times before, but they Touched me in ways they never had before and today they had New Meaning just for me. I’m growing more each day because of Him…AND because I’m a Willing student. But just like the branches on this tree, there are pieces here and there that need more Attention so that the smaller, weaker, parts of me can become Mature like all the others. If I keep strengthening some parts but overlook all those other “little” things that need to Mature, I can’t become ALL that He Created me to be. So, I keep working day after day striving to be the Best for Him. Isn’t that the way you look at your life too?

It can be so easy to feel good about ourselves based on Maturity in some areas of our lives, while we overlook the need to develop all the other “little things.” We can be strong and well-rooted in some ways but weak as a newborn colt in others. If we continue to pour Living Water on the strong parts, no doubt they will continue to stand firm. But if we overlook the “little things” that need attention too, we risk thwarting the entire Journey of Faith. Sometimes those small branches need to be pruned a little just to make a way for the others, and sometimes they need to be cut away completely. Either way, unless we pay attention to the “little things” that stand in the way of us becoming all that He Created us to be, we never reach the Goal. There’s aren’t many things that scare me as much as thinking I could end my Journey with a “Mission Incomplete” all because I refused to address the “little things” that stand between me and my God.

Sometimes we don’t even realize our Journey is being thwarted, but that’s because we excuse away the “little things” and we deceive ourselves into believing that the “little things” don’t matter as long as there are some Strong parts…but that’s not true. After all, the human body is made up of millions and millions of cells but all it takes is a few active cancer cells to prevent all the others from thriving…and the same is true for the Journey of Life. We often tell ourselves that “nobody’s perfect” and while that’s true, that’s no excuse for not at least trying to be more like Perfection. It takes each piece of us to Grow into a Strong Vessel that is worthy to be used by the King, and sometimes it’s all those “little things” that are standing in the way no matter how many other Strong branches we have. As long as we’re Willing…and Seeking His Face…and Determined to please Him more than we’re determined to please ourselves… He’ll keep revealing those “little things” that need some tending to and He’ll show us the way to prune or cut them away.

The Lord used the branches on a dormant tree this morning to drive home a message to me. He loves me. HE Created me for a Purpose. He wants to Use me. He wants me to be Strong. He wants me to Grow. He wants me to be a Walking Testimony of His Love and Grace in every area of my Life. If I need to go through a little pruning and cutting away so that I can be the Best for Him, it’s WORTH it. I won’t reach perfection on this side of Heaven but it won’t prevent me from trying to be more like Him every day of my life. “Mission Incomplete” isn’t an option for me.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up long before sunrise and I spent my time with my Best Friend in a warm kitchen with my Bible and a good cup of coffee. I rarely follow news about the weather so each new daybreak is like a surprise to me. I like watching God unfold His plans for the day and I plan accordingly. Sometimes I need an umbrella and sometimes I need a warm coat – but no matter what steps I take to prepare for the outward, the Inward Plans are the most important of all. If everything is “well with my soul” I’ll be Strong and Ready for whatever comes my way… but if I fail to do my Part on the Inward, I’ll be like a ship lost at sea with no Direction whatsoever. Isn’t that the way you approach the Journey of Life too?

If not for the fact that it’s sad, watching the world watch the world would be entertaining. I see passion like I’ve never seen it before, and I wonder sometimes what the world would look like if the passion was directed toward the King of all Kings instead of the President of the United States. I see stadiums being filled up to support the candidate most in line with our political beliefs, and I wonder sometimes what the world would like if that passion was directed toward supporting our Belief in the Word of God instead of the words of man. I see attempts to share “the truth” from one end of the world to another, and sometimes I wonder what the world would like like if THE Truth of Jesus Christ was spread at record speed like that instead of just the opinion of man splattered everywhere. The passion is impressive, but it’s misguided…like ships lost at sea the world has lost its Direction…and its peace. All it takes to “win” is a focus on the Inward instead of the outward…that will make the Biggest Difference of all.

It remains to be seen who will sit in the White House to lead the United States for the next four years, but I have a Personal Relationship with the One Who sits on the Throne to Rule the entire world. He’s been there since the Beginning of Time and He’ll be there through all Eternity whether He gets your Support or not. He doesn’t get “elected” into office…HE IS the “office” and no matter how the world votes, He will NEVER be replaced. I am confident that He is the One to “ordain the leaders” so no matter how passionate we are about this one or that one, God will have His Way. I’m a citizen of the United States of America and I’m passionate about it too – but I know I’m just passing through and my Citizenship is in Heaven where the King is. With that in mind, I can’t afford to get caught up in the confusion of this dark world; instead, I focus on the Inward to be sure that I AM ready to take MY place in my Forever Home. Ready or not, the King is coming.

You’ll see a passionate crowd like you’ve never seen before One Day and it won’t just fill up a stadium to overflowing…it will fill up the entire earth. One day “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.” Until then, this is all child’s play with a “hidden agenda” to get our eyes and ears a whole lot more focused on the things of this dark world than we are on the One who Rules the Earth. It’s time to spread the Only Truth that ever really matters and it’s time for contagious Passion for the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. That’s what you’ll find me talking about from sun up to sun down for all the days of my Life. The King IS coming, and I’ll be Ready.

How about you?

“Do not fear, I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; YOU ARE MINE” – Isaiah 43:1

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. As I met with the Lord of Lords this morning I was a whole lot more focused on what He wants from me than what I want from Him. Nothing is more important in Life than striving to finish the race well…the Race He set out for me to run…and nothing could be more beautiful than to hear “well done” one day. He knows my Heart and He knows my needs without me ever speaking a word. If the Goal is to finish my Race well, then I need to be sure to seek His Will and not my own, and I need to be willing to do what He Called for me to do before I was ever born. Isn’t that the way you see your life too?

I’m not sure where the idea of a retirement plan got started, but when it comes to the Living God there is no retirement plan. He has a Purpose for each one for ALL the days of our lives and until the last breath is drawn from the body that will pass away, we keep working His Will for our lives. The Willing Ones often find themselves even busier doing His Will in their old age than they were in there youth because He isn’t finished with them yet. So, instead of focusing on slowing down for retirement, they roll up their sleeves to do His Will because they Understand they’re still here for His Purpose.

The Willing Ones don’t whine about working harder in their later years…they Serve with Joy and they’re grateful to be used by the King! In a world that would rather discard the elderly, they’re just getting started in the eyes of the King! But, just like everything else in life, some people put off Serving Him until it’s a more convenient time for them. They don’t care much about His Will…at least not as much as they care about their own. They’re waiting until the plate is clear…but it doesn’t work that way. The plate doesn’t get clear…we clear it for Him instead. The Willing Ones know that He’ll always make a way even in a hectic life and the Willing Ones don’t fret about the schedule or hesitate to Serve because they’re “too busy.” When we’re Willing, He ALWAYS Works out all the details.

Some people look forward to retirement because they believe they’ll finally have the time to Serve…but it doesn’t work that way. There’s more Work to be done in the workplace than in any other place. How sad to see so many people waiting to get out of the very place He positioned them to Serve. That’s what a squandered life looks like…countless opportunities to fulfill what He has for our lives and so UNWILLING to budge until we have time or when it’s convenient. I’m not sure how they’ll finish the race, but I don’t think it’s going to be good. Every Life has Purpose…HIS Purpose. To choose to live it out so unwilling to do His Will probably doesn’t sit well with the Perfecter of our Faith. I guess they’ll find out for sure One Day.

I’ve never been busier than I am right now and the years are piling on fast. I have more Joy than most people can imagine because every day I work FOR Him, not despite Him. I long to sit at His feet One Day, and I long to hear “well done.” I’m not scurrying around trying to “prove” my Love for Him by staying busy; I Reflect His Love in all that I am and all that I do because I’m a Willing One. Everything I do…in and out of my workplace…in every corner of my Life…I do for Him and there’s no “retirement plan” in the future…not in HIs and surely not in mine.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I spent my time in the Presence of the Alpha and Omega in a warm kitchen this morning and I approached His Throne with the reverence He deserves. It’s the most amazing thing to have a personal Relationship with the God of all gods, the Creator of the Universe, the Great “I am”! When I meet with Him it always begins with Praise and Thanks and soon after that, it becomes like a heart-to-Heart chat with the Best Friend anybody could ever ask for. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

The Bible tells us that the Throne of God is surrounded by praise – “day and night they never stop” and I get goosebumps just thinking about what it must sound like to hear “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” 24/7 in Heaven. Sometimes when I praise Him I say those same words over and over again…and I mean them with all of my heart… and I try to imagine His Throne and how amazing it is. When I give Him the heartfelt Reverence He deserves it doesn’t take long to feel His Presence and I get goosebumps when I do. But of all the experiences I have with my God, and all the Words I savor that were breathed into existence by Him, the most amazing thing to me is being able to approach the One that is surrounded by Praise “day and night” and He welcomes me as His child. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, nothing will.

Like anything else in life, a Relationship with the Living God takes balance. Some people spend their entire lives in “reverence mode” and they live in fear because that’s all they see in Him. They tiptoe through life for fear of consequences if they don’t partake in rituals, and they rarely Serve Him because they don’t understand Purpose. They’re in perpetual Reverence-mode without the friendship part. Somehow they miss the point that HE IS approachable and they don’t see themselves as Royalty…His child, His “heir.” If they did, I think they’d get goosebumps too.

Some people get the “best friend” part but their Relationship has become so casual that they forget to Revere Him and Praise Him in the Process. Oh, maybe an occasional “hallelujah” but not the way He wants to be Acknowledged as the Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End. He IS the best Friend anybody could ever ask but He deserves a whole lot more than a pat on the back as a buddy in the sky – “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name!” What makes that Friendship too incredible for words is that it comes from the Throne of a God who is praised in Heaven day in and day out. It comes from Jesus who is standing at the right hand of the Throne of God interceding on our behalf. The mere thought of Jesus interceding on our behalf 24/7 should give anybody goosebumps…IF they understand the balance. He hears every prayer and they’re like incense in Heaven to Him. He sees every tear and stores them away in a jar…and One Day He will wipe them all away. HE LOVES US enough to die for us and He loves us enough to intercede on our behalf. Goosebumps? That doesn’t begin to describe what my Heart feels.

My day began in the Presence of a Mighty God and I was so caught up in Praise for Him that I never got around to a “list” of requests. He knows what’s on my heart. He knows my needs. He knows who my heart is inclined toward. He already KNOWS everything! The Alpha and Omega is my amazing, approachable God – but it all begins with ” Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and it’s raining on this Monday morning; so much rain that if it changed to snow I’d be buried knee-deep. As I sat inside giving my Praise and my Thanks to the God of the rain, I thought about how just one little change could bring forth a totally different outcome…for the weather and for my Life too. There’s absolutely nothing I can do to change the outward circumstances like the rain or the state of the world, but changing the inward…changing ME…is well within my control with the help of the Living God. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” Isn’t that the way you see your life too?

It can be so easy for some people of Faith to get caught up in the outward things but they open themselves up to a totally different outcome when they do. Some people are more focused on the condition of the world than they are on the One Who Created it, and they fight against the Master Plan in the process. That “one little change” will rob us of Peace as we determine to fill ourselves up with worldly things we cannot understand. Some people obsess over things like not having enough money or not having a fit body and some obsess over their outward appearance as if God made a mistake when He knit them together. But God holds the world in the palm of His hands and He never makes a mistake. That “one little change” is the difference between living a Life overflowing with Gratitude – “by the grace of God, I am what I am” or living a life filled with criticism over the work of the Master’s Hands. It’s when we focus on the inward…the things we can control…that life overflows with Beauty from the inside out and everything else falls into place with Perfection. Living with the Inside out is the Key to Peace and Joy. That one little change…

“By the grace of God, I am what I am” is a way of giving Praise and Thanks to the God OF all FOR all. By the grace of God, I am His child and by His Grace, I accepted Christ as Lord. By the grace of God, I have a sound mind and a good Heart and by His grace, I have control over what I do with both of them. By the grace of God, I’ve lived a turbulent life that came with lots of Lessons, and by His grace, I share the Wisdom I gained through the turbulence with the world. By the grace of God I had the strength to raise up a godly generation…and the Wisdom I asked for every day…and it’s by His grace I now live to see the legacy of my Faith in my grandchildren. It’s by His grace that I am healthy and strong and that I’ve been given a Voice to share Him with the world. It’s by His grace I found humility…the kind of humility that recognizes that “there is no good thing in me apart from Him.” By His grace, I will finish the race like the Champion He created me to be, and by His grace, I will spend all of Eternity with Him. That one little change…

Today I won’t lose sight of the fact that “By the grace of God, I am what I am” and I’ll be thanking Him all day long no matter what because of it. The Bible says “I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” so I’ll let Him keep working that “good work in me” and I’ll do my part to be found worthy on “the day of Christ Jesus.” None of that is possible unless I focus on the inside out instead of those outside things I have absolutely no control over. I’ll let the Master take care of the world and I’ll keep reminding myself that it’s ONLY by his grace that I am what I am.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was awake hours before the sunrise and I couldn’t wait to see the morning unfold to see what God had in store for this new day. I dug into His Word like a hungry child looking for a morsel to satisfy my soul; what I ended up with was Golden Nuggets beyond my imagination. So, by the time the sun showed up I was in Humble Praise-mode and I kneeled in awe of my God. He took me to the Spiritual Woodshed and back again, and He reminded me that He “scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name.” God Himself patched together this weary Vessel this morning – He put “my feet on a firm foundation” and He “put a new song in my mouth” all over again. All it ever takes is a Good Dose of a Mighty God to put Life back in Perspective. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It’s not easy to walk this Journey called Life sometimes, but Help is just around the corner if we turn to Him instead of trying to weather it on our own. Each time we Turn, we Grow. Each time we “draw near to God, He draws near to us” too. Each time He takes us to the Spiritual Woodshed to show us our wicked ways, He’s Refining us to be more like Him. When we’re lacking love for the “difficult” ones, He’ll stir us into Compassion. When we’ve wronged someone, He’ll remind us of what unconditional love looks like and He’ll provide the conviction it takes to want to make things right again. If we’re afraid of what tomorrow might bring, He’ll Provide the “peace that surpasses all understanding” and everything scary dims in His Light. When we attempt to take control of our lives, He’ll remind us that He is the One who has “given orders to the morning” and “shown the dawn its place” and our own plans look so lame in comparison to His. Strength is found in Surrender, and His Power is ALWAYS made Perfect in our Weakness.

Throughout my lifetime lots of people have commented on my “strength,” but that’s just an observation of how I’ve handled the storms and why I never quit. Inside I’m a wussie and I never forget how weak I really am without Him. My gratitude for the Price that was paid for me on the Cross is stronger today than it was when I first met Jesus – and it’s my Gratitude that keeps me “strong” in my Service to the King. When I hurt someone I cry like a baby and I won’t rest until I make it right. When I get a good dose of judgment about my Faith – sometimes from the ones who don’t know my God, and sometimes from ones who do – I’m overwhelmed with Compassion over how my enemy is using them to try to get to me, and I pray for them with Love. None of these things are possible for human beings…it takes God to Accomplish the Goals. Rest assured, there is “no good in me apart from Him” – so if you see Strength in me, you’re not looking at a strong, capable woman…you’re looking at Jesus.

I’m beginning this new day in awe of the Creator of Heaven and earth, and it all began before sunrise. He patched together this weary Vessel and I have a new song of praise on my Heart. I’m leaning on the Author and Perfecter of my Faith and I’m Trusting Him to keep my path straight…AND to point out my wrongs every single time so that I can make them right. My Heart is inclined toward the Living God in all that I do and all that I am…and THAT’S the Power behind this Journey called Life.

How about you?