Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Master at the break of dawn but the sun was hidden by the clouds and it’s destined to rain again today. It doesn’t take a whole lot of rain to cause the creek to rise, and as I considered the water’s journey and all of the obstacles it goes through along the way; it reminded me of my life. There have been lots of twists and turns and lots of obstacles along the way, but as long as I persevere; none of these things can stop me if I keep moving toward the larger body of water…the Living Water….my Ultimate Destination. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

When you think about it, it should come as no surprise that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as “Living Water” over and over again. Without water, all life would cease to exist. Without a healthy water source, all life would suffer the consequences and eventually succumb to disease. Water is unstoppable and sometimes it’s relentless in its journey. No mountain, or rocks or any man-made means can stop water completely because nothing can get it’s way of the ultimate goal. It might hit a few obstacles along the way and it might just have to re-route because of it; but it’s unstoppable and it keeps moving toward its ultimate destination. Water is the most powerful solvent and it can “chip” away at anything that stands in it’s way. It’s also the most important nutrient for the human body and when the body goes without it; it suffers. When water sits still it becomes “dead” and stagnant and it is no longer of good use to any life, so “flowing Rivers” is key to get the full benefits of water. The earth is covered with plenty of sea water but if we consume too much salty sea water it leads to death…not life. Every living thing on the earth needs water for life…water that flows freely and water that’s unstoppable…and the Living Waters is the Source of it all… in more ways than one.

Just like riving flowing, life is filled with obstacles but if we focus on our Ultimate Destination, we’ll be unstoppable too. As long as we keep moving we’ll chip away at everything that stands in our way. We’ll sometimes have to re-route in order to keep moving, but re-routing doesn’t mean we lost the battle or that anything had the potential to stop our journey…it just means we had to adjust. If we sit still and we stop moving toward our Ultimate Destination we become stagnant and we are no longer of good use to others. If we allow our journey to add too much salt into life, it’s possible for the bitterness of the salt to take over, and we stand the chance of dimming the True Benefits of the Living Water because of it. As long as we allow the Living Waters to flow freely through us, we can be fierce when it’s needed…but we can be full of life and beautiful too. When others see the Living Waters flowing freely through us; they’ll want to take a little time to enjoy the Peace that comes with it, and it’s when they see the beauty of the Living Waters flowing through us…they’re inclined to want to have Living Water flowing through them too.

Jesus said ” Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” I have Living Water flowing through me and I’ll “never thirst again”. I’ll continue to work my way around every single obstacle I encounter and I’ll keep moving toward my Ultimate Destination as surely as the rivers flow.

How about you? Do you have Living Waters flowing through you? If not, I’ll show you the way. Remember, Living Water is the most powerful Source of all and you’ll never thirst again. Does it get any better than that? Not in my book!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s back-to-work after a season to celebrate our labor and as I met with the Living God at sunrise this morning, I considered the importance of the work of my hands and I gave thanks for it all. Some of my work is to earn my living and some of my work is to take care of my home. Some of my work is dedicated to my family and some of my work involves ministering to suffering souls….but ALL of my work is done with Him in mind and I never forget that I’ve “been called according to His Purpose”. Isn’t that the way you look at your work too?

It’s human nature to attempt to compartmentalize our lives. One piece belongs at the office and one piece belongs in the home. One piece belongs in church and one piece belongs to recreation. But ALL of the pieces of our lives should have a common denominator…it all should be with HIS Purpose in mind and not in our own. To most people, our work is a merely a symbol of our success and a means of making our wealth and we raise our children to chase the biggest paycheck and the most impressive title in the workplace. The inclinations or nature desires that our children have to do something that doesn’t pay as well, or that doesn’t impress the world, are discouraged and labeled as a “waste of time” by their parents who long to brag about their successes. But if we’re doing what God calls us to do; how can we NOT be successful? We are taught to squash out those God-given gifts and talents and to chase fame and fortune instead, and when we do; we get in the way of the Plans that God has for each one of us that have been “called according to His purpose”. The greatest joy in life comes to us when we are fulfilling HIS PLANS for our lives and not our own.

It’s easy to resent our work when we’re doing something that doesn’t bring us joy and when we overlook the true Purpose behind our work. It’s when we consider that He will place us precisely where He wants us to be (if we let Him) so that we can accomplish what we were CREATED to accomplish that we find our contentment…and our EXCITEMENT for each new day. When we finally get the Big Picture life is more like an adventure that the “hard work” so many people complain about, and it’s only THEN that we understand our Significance…no matter the size of the paycheck or the title on the door. Our job is one of the greatest opportunities to be a Witness to the world of our character and of our integrity and our love and compassion that ONLY come from the Living God. Whether it’s 8 hours or 10 hours or 12 hours or more that we spend in the office; it’s ALL time that truly belongs to Him and there is a Purpose much bigger than your paycheck to be there! If that doesn’t excite you…nothing will!”

I’m giving thanks for the work of my hands in every corner of my life and I’m on the “look-out” for what He wants me to do today. He IS my World…so everything around me from my family to my work will be savored and loved and “dealt with” according to His Purpose…and not my own. That’s my REAL job and He’s the only “Boss” that matters to me. I’m excited to get to work! How about you?”

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It looks like there’s a battle going on the sky this morning between the sun and the clouds, each one leveraging for position this morning. This picture reminded me of the world we live in today…a never-ending battle over good and “bad” and a never-ending battle for position. While today has been declared a National Day of Prayer for those poor people dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey…prayers of hope and prayers for restoration and strength…there’s another storm brewing for “bad” as one group is scurrying around to gather up funds for “emergency” abortions for the storm victims that may be at risk of running out of time to terminate life within the legally allowable limits. The never ending battle over good and “bad”….

Christians get in a whole lot of hot water for speaking-up for Truth…at least those of us bold enough to speak, that is. When we speak-up about things like abortion or homosexuality or any other modern-day “right” the world fights over, our words are twisted and turned and we’re painted into being judgmental and opinionated fools. But we’re just Ambassadors for the One Who set the Rules in place, and we’re just the Messengers of Truth on His behalf. Oh…there are some Christians that point fingers and beat people over the head with Bibles with no love or compassion at all, and I can’t say that I blame the world for not listening to the Truth when they do. But there are plenty of others with Christ-like compassion willing to spread the Truth with love and kindness that get thrown under the bus with all the rest. At this time when life is in absolute turmoil for so many people in the aftermath of Harvey…a time where we gather to pray on their behalf…a time when we’ll do what we can to help them rebuild their lives and we’ll shed tears over their circumstances….is also a time that “bad” attempts to squash out the good with a focus on ending human life to spare them from the woes of this world. The never-ending battle over good and “bad”…

There’s no such thing as “choice” when it comes to taking the life of another human being and there’s no such thing as a “fetus” that has feels no pain or that has no soul. There’s no such thing as an accidental pregnancy when you understand Who creates life in the first place, and there will never be a need for “emergency abortions”. There’s no such thing as “safe” abortions and there’s no such thing as preventing “back alley” abortions just because they can be performed in a clinic these days. To some, abortion is still considered shameful and they’ll opt for a back alley abortion to keep their secret “secret” over signing into the clinic for a legal one every time. So far there have been over 60 million lives lost to abortion by legally allowable means since abortion became legal. We have no way of knowing how many other secret abortions have taken place. But 60 million people will never be a voice in America and 60 million people will never make their mark. These 60 million people will never fill our schools or the workplace or churches of even the government and they’ll never vote. They’ll never work to pour money into our economy and they’ll never stand up for good or “bad”. The only way to endure the thought over what we’ve allowed to happen to these innocent lives, is by knowing that the God that knit them together in their mother’s womb welcomed them Home to Himself the second the “bad” snuffed the life out of them; emergency abortion or not.

I’ve been praying for the Harvey victims and for all of those selfless people working so hard to help them, and I’ll be praying for them long after this National Day of Prayer is over. And while I’m praying for Good for the people of Texas and Louisiana, I’ll be praying against the “bad” that is trying so hard to creep into a vulnerable situation to prey on the weak and “helpless” people. There’s a battle going on between “good” and bad and I’m doing my part to Fight!

Are you willing to stand up for Truth and to Fight back with prayer and your voice EVEN IF it means you aren’t so popular when you do?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This 1st day of September has the feel of the Fall season and it’s a reminder to me that things are destined to change around this old farm pretty soon. The days will be shorter and the air will be cooler. The leaves will change color and the wildlife will be preparing for the cold. Soon I’ll be heading inside to meet with the Living God instead of outside on the front porch. No amount of effort from man and no amount of threat of global warming will change these things; they’re destined to be. When it comes to those things destined by the Hand of the Living God…whether it’s the change of our seasons…good or bad circumstances…painful times or joyful times…I Trust Him. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It’s easy to sing praises and to trust God when things are going well. It’s easy to give thanks when there is enough food on the table or when everybody is healthy and getting along. It’s easy to trust God when the family is in order and relationships are strong and when we’ve got a roof over our heads. There’s no cause to be challenged with Trust issues when everything in life is smooth sailing. But it’s an entirely different story when the seasons in life change for the worse and our world is turned upside-down. It’s during chose challenging times that we are inclined to dig into our Faith and cry out to our God; but do we TRUST Him? Do we Trust His Plans when we lose our health or when we lose a loved one or do we just tolerate the pain and question “why?”. Do we merely endure through the agony that we experience in life sometimes, or do we consider that He has a Purpose in it all? Do we mourn our loved ones when they leave this earth and do we feel like we’ve “lost” them when He calls them Home to Himself? Life is destined to be filled with heartbreak and trials along with all of the good. It’s a piece-of-cake to Trust Him when things are good, but do we Trust Him when things aren’t?

I have no idea how many people are shaking their heads and questioning why a Loving God would allow Hurricane Harvey to come through town and bring forth such destruction….but it’s a LOT. There are countless others mocking people of Faith and shouting obscenities about the Living God because of their circumstances. Some are denying the existence of a God at all because of this tragedy, and they somehow don’t accept that bad things DO happen to good people. I don’t know for sure why God allows for calamity, but although my heart breaks over the suffering; I choose to Trust Him with His Plans. I know that He doesn’t bring forth destruction for the lack of love for ALL people and I know that He doesn’t leave His Throne and forget to protect us. After all, He sent His one and only Son to die for the sins of the world so that we might have Life everlasting…that kind of Love is impossible to comprehend! I’m not sure why people get old and sick or why people die young. I don’t know why the poor exist in our world or why we have times of war. I don’t know why people stop loving each other and homes are destroyed, and I don’t know why some people will suffer the loss of all their materials things through tragedy. But I DO KNOW that He is a multi-faceted God, and somehow the bad things are threaded into ALL of those good things that we find it to be so easy to Trust Him with. If He’s good enough to Trust with the Good and to give thanks to when things are smooth sailing, He’s certainly Worthy of our Praise and our Thanks EVEN when the course of life changes. This is the Key to Trust.

I’m Trusting Him with the bad things even more than the good things and I will NEVER stop praising Him through it all. I know that He says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” so it isn’t wise for me to try to figure out God with my simple human mind. I have to Trust Him with my heart and my life instead. Through the good…through the bad…through the ugly…through the heartbreak….through the destruction…through death…through the poverty…through it ALL. He is my loving and compassionate God and I TRUST Him even though I don’t always understand His thoughts or His ways.

Do you Trust Him?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. No attempt on my part could possibly measure-up when it comes to describing the beauty of this new day. Sometimes there are no words for what my heart sees and sometimes it’s nearly impossible to put words to the gratitude my heart feels. So, instead of forcing against the flow of my heart; I sat in silence before my God this morning. He knows what my heart feels and He doesn’t need to hear my words to feel my love. And although there is no way to measure my overwhelming feeling of gratitude this morning; He knows that I am. Isn’t that the way that it is for your sometimes too?

Working against the flow is something that some people of Faith know a lot about. Some of us work against the flow of this dark world day in and day out and sometimes we’re persecuted for our Faith because of it. Some of us are willing to “take one for the Team” when we’re ridiculed and we’re called vile names just because of Who we Serve. Some of us have learned to love the sinner even while we hate the sin and we’re ready, willing and able to share our Faith at every opportunity presented by God. Some of us kick fear to the curb and we’ll stand up for Righteousness every time and in any audience, and if we do it accordingly to Instructions by God; not only are we unshakable but we’re kind and gentle too. Some of us value Forgiveness and we’ve learned to turn the other cheek to those who wrong us…even if it happens over and over again. Some of us have learned not to judge others because we hold on to the Truth and we never forget about who and what we are without Him… and we treasure our Redemption above all. Some of us have learned to love ourselves a whole lot less while we Serve somebody else in His Name, because we know that what we do for them; we do for Him. Some of us get weary as we work against the flow day in and day out and if we’re not careful; we could easily get discouraged. But some of us understand that we aren’t the Source of our own Strength, so we run to the One Who is over and over again. Going against the flow is the key to living out our Faith with excellence.

Most people of Faith don’t know what it is to go against the flow and they’ve convinced themselves that their roll is to mind their own business, to live peacefully and to fill-up a seat on their favorite pew each Sunday morning. They think they’re doing well to be polite to the world and they think if they wear a cross around their neck for all the world to see; that they’ll be recognized as people of Faith without saying a word. Sometimes when I see how some of the cross-wearers behave, I wish they’d remove their symbol before they open their mouth so they don’t make a mockery of what we really believe or how we’re really called to live our lives. Some of these people of Faith believe that if you are living “the right way” you won’t have big problems in life and that the rest of the world just needs to behave to stop the suffering. Some of them somehow believe that they ARE the judge and jury in this life, as if God needs their help to balance the scales. Some of them justify their words and their actions as they set out for vengeance, even though they know that their God says “vengeance is mine”. But what these people really want is to hear the echo of their own hateful words. They want to inflict pain in the name of righteousness and they set out to demand justice because they’ve convinced themselves that they’re worthy of more. Unfortunately, some of the best opportunities to be a good Witness of our Faith is in how we react when we’ve been wronged…. but most of these will never know what that means at all. It’s sad to see so many people of Faith refusing to go against the flow while they busy themselves being sure to “fit in” with all of the rest.

I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the beauty of this new day and for all that He is and all that He does for me. My heart has been prepared to live out my Faith with excellence, and I’ll be going against the flow of this dark world today no matter the consequences to me. I won’t need a cross around my neck to convince someone else that I’m a woman of Faith; they’ll see my Faith in my words and my actions and through my heart without any symbol at all. How about you? Do you go against the flow in this dark world or are you so busy trying to fit-in that you refuse to be “different” while you’re too scared to speak up for Righteousness at all? IF so, reach out to me. It sounds like you might need a good reminder of what God really expects of you and how going against the flow is what He looks for in His people and how being a “spiritual slug” just might have eternal consequences for you, and when I’m done with you; you’ll equip yourself to go against the flow in His Name too and this dark world will have a little more Light to deal with.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up at 3:00 a.m.with no hope of going back to sleep and it seemed like forever before the sun showed itself in the morning sky. By the time the Master woke up the world I’d already spent hours in His presence and my soul overflowed. I’d already approached His Throne with all of my praise and my requests and I’d already absorbed His Words… so, I just sat in silence and watched the “lights” come on all around me. Today isn’t a good day to be running on little sleep but God had reason for me to lose some slumber in exchange for time with Him instead, and since He calls-the-shots in my Life; whatever sleep I get will always be enough. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It could be so easy to put more importance on rest than it is on Living, but it’s not supposed to be that way at all. Yes, the body needs rest and it needs to restore and if we deny it what it needs; there’s always a big price to pay. But some people can’t seem to wait until the end of the day for the next round of sleep and they rush-the-clock until it’s bedtime. Some people hit-the-sack not long after supper and some people sleep 1/2 of a 24 hour day away….day after day. Some people get their 8 hours in and then insist on an afternoon nap where they hope to find the strength to endure the rest of the day. I’v never figured out why some people are more focused on sleep than they are on living. It could be they aren’t healthy or it could be they want to escape. It could be a bad habit or it could be they’re bored with life. Whatever the reason for their obsession with sleep; there’s a whole lot of living being lost in the slumber, and one day they’ll be shocked when they realize that they’re out of time and they traded Living for sleep.

The older I get the more focused I am on living my life to the fullest. I’m more inclined to look at a sleepless night as time to do something meaningful than I am to toss and turn and fight for more sleep. The older I get the more I realize that the days that have been allotted to me are getting shorter and shorter and there is less and less time to do what I’ve been wanting to do. The older I get the more aware I am of the hours that I squander and the more driven I am to stop wasting time. The older I get the more eager I am to fulfill my Purpose in this life so that I don’t die having wasted a life. The older I get the more inclined I am to want to leave this world a better place than it was before I showed up. The older I get the harder I fight for peace and the easier it is to find my joy. The older I get the more I realize that I need to force myself to keep dreaming and to keep hoping because the Bible says without these things people perish. The older I get the more I want to savor and the more I cherish time with the people I love. The older I get the more precious my time is and trading sleep for Living is well worth the price to me.

I’m running on a little less sleep today but I’ll keep living my life to the fullest no matter what. I’m grateful to have another healthy day to live my life and work toward fulfilling my Purpose and I won’t be squandering even one minute of it. How about you? Are you so focused on getting your rest that you’ve stopped living your Life and have you forgotten that you can’t fulfill your Purpose in your sleep? IF so, reach out to me. I’ll sit you down and explain how short your life really is and I’m happy to show you what God expects you to do with your time while you’re still here, and when I’m done with you; sleep will take on an entirely different meaning and you’ll be trading sleep for Living just like I do!

Good morning, world.  Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today.  I spent my time with the Living God this morning to strengthen myself for the Journey, and I dug into my Instruction Manual to find wisdom for the ride.  It’s true what they say… when you’re a willing Vessel for the King and you boldly proclaim your Faith for all the world to see; you’ll be facing adversity.  I’m no stranger to adversity in all kinds of shapes and sizes.  After all, I’m a Force to be reckoned with in the Spiritual World and I’m a threat to the darkness.  If I were the enemy I’d try to stop me too!  But my enemy doesn’t stand a chance if I’m prepared to do the biggest kind of Battle of all…the Battle against Good and evil…that invisible one that goes on 24/7 in the heavenly realms.   Isn’t that the way you look at the battle too?

I’ve learned my lesson when it comes to refusing to do what God calls me to do.  There have been a few times that I’ve ended up like Jonah in the belly of a big fish when I’ve ignored my Marching Orders from God.  Sometimes I ignored them because I was scared, and sometimes I ignored them because I felt inadequate for the Job.  Sometimes I purposely shut Him out so that I wouldn’t hear what He had to say, and sometimes I was too lazy to roll up my sleeves.  But whatever the reason, it’s never a good idea to refuse to do what God calls us to do, and there’s always a big price to pay when we do.  Sometimes we are thrown into misery to get our attention like Jonah was, and sometimes we leave this earth without having accomplished what we were born to do.  I think I’d choose misery over squandering my life away, never fulfilling my Purpose.  So, I’ve learned to endure and I’ve learned to persevere.  I’ve learned how to be Strong and I’ve learned what it looks like to be Bold.  Mostly I’ve learned how to be Victorious through every kind of adversity that I face ALL because I’m a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the Biggest Battle of all.

While it’s possible to run from God… it’s not possible to hide.  We could hop on a ship headed for faraway places just like Jonah did to avoid our Marching Orders; but God will seek us out every time.  He’s relentless when He has a Plan that is intended to be fulfilled, and He’s been known to nudge His people with a Heavenly Cattle Prod to get us moving.  But He won’t do it forever.  If we continue to ignore what He wants us to do over and over again; He’ll eventually leave us in the dust, and He’ll find a willing Vessel to take our place…someone willing to do whatever needs to be done to fulfill His Will.   May it never be that He would walk away from me and reassign the Task that He intended for ME to accomplish to someone more willing than I am.

I’m working hard on something that God has called me to do and I’m paying the Price for my obedience.  I’m facing adversity and conflict from friends AND from strangers and I’m “taking one” for the Spiritual Team.  I may get weary and sometimes I’ll shed a few tears; but I WILL NOT quit and I won’t give up.  You won’t find me swallowed up in the belly of a big fish because I refuse to run.  You’ll find me on my knees and following Directions.  You’ll find me standing firm and not being intimidated into quitting.  You’ll find me working my way through the fiery darts of adversity and you’ll find me laughing at the lame attempts that my enemy tries to use against me.  But more than anything else; you’ll find me Victorious as I follow the Marching Orders set before me and as I walk through this Journey as a Willing Vessel for Him.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The front porch was overflowing with conversation and laughter just a few short hours ago and now; it’s just me and my God. No matter who shows up or how enjoyable the time is, there is no comparison to one-on-one time with the Master as he wakes up the world. No joy can match the Joy I feel in His presence and no conversation can compare to our Talks. No amount of wisdom that is shared with me can hold a candle to the Wisdom He is ready Share any time I ask for it. I’m so grateful for a family more precious than gold and for love that’s bigger than life, but nothing on the planet is as important to me as my God. Isn’t that the way you love Him too?

It’s pretty easy to put God above all else in life when you consider that He’s the source of it all. I’d lay down my life for the people I love but without Him; they wouldn’t exist at all. I am a very proud Mama (and Grandma) but without Him; there wouldn’t much to be proud of. Had His Plans not been designed to knit them together in my womb, no plans of my own would have made that happen. Had He not heard my cries for Wisdom and strength to raise up 4 children alone; the outcome and their Character would been a whole lot different than it is today. Had He not orchestrated the friends He fills my life with, no amount of effort on my part would have put our lives together at just the right time in History. If He didn’t intervene on my behalf those people so eager to rob me of my Peace and so ready to fill my world with doubt might have a shot at turning my world upside-down, but He shields me from it instead. When He’s the center of Life, ALL life takes on new meaning and there is no way of measuring the gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me.

God orchestrates my Life for me, but I have to be willing to do my part too and that’s the piece that so many people miss. The more I focus on Him and the more I’m willing to let Him guide me through this Journey, the more the blessings flow. That doesn’t mean that He loves me more or that He’s more willing fill up my life while He leaves the rest of the world out-in-the-dark. It doesn’t mean that my life is perfect or that I don’t have trials and tribulations just like everybody else does. Most people couldn’t begin to bear the burdens I carry, but I don’t try to carry them on my own and I never allow myself to forget that there is a great Purpose behind the journey… so I’m ready to grow through it all. The fact that I don’t wring my hands in distress or whine about the condition of my life doesn’t mean I’m on Easy Street. It means that I NEVER lose sight of the fact that He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me, and because of that; I love Him enough to give Him my life. I’m a willing Vessel for Him and there is no measure for my Gratitude and no limitations on what I’ll do to serve Him. And THAT’S why my life is so full. Not because I’m more special than anybody else; but because I know from whom the Blessings Flow!

My heart overflows with gratitude this morning and I’m recharged and ready for this new day. I spent the first part of my day with the Most Important One in my life. I’m ready, willing and able to do with this day what He wants me to do with this day, and I’ll be giving Him thanks every step of the way. After all, without Him I wouldn’t be still drawing breath on this new day of this new week. How about you? Do you strut around through life taking credit for your family and the condition your life, and do you whine when life isn’t smooth sailing while you refuse to do your part? If so, PM me. You might need a refresher course on what it looks like to put God First in your life, and you might need a good reminder about how you don’t have one single person or one single thing in your world that can’t be credited to the Hand of God, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be a good example of “humility” and you’ll be racing to do YOUR PART to put Him front-and-center in your Life too!

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow”, amen?