Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up with a lot on my mind this morning and I couldn’t get into the presence of the Living God fast enough because of it. All of those thoughts about all of those things whirling around in my mind had the potential to consume my day and cause doubt in my mind if I wasn’t careful. No amount of human intervention can manage all of those things in my mind and no amount of thinking them through will make them any less challenging to bear. But no matter how cluttered up my mind can be with all of those things going on in my life; I know the Living God has control of it all and all I need to do is Trust Him.

Trusting isn’t always easy, especially for those who have been hurt. Add a little sting to life by someone who disappoints us with their words or their behavior and we withdraw in a quick minute. From that point forward we’re happy to remind them over and over again about why they aren’t worthy of our trust, and more often than not; we never extend trust to them again. Instead we hold it reserve for a time when we might have the chance to strike back for all the ways they’ve hurt us. We take “an eye for an eye” to the emotional level until it becomes a cancer of the heart and the soul. It’s not a pretty sight to encounter people with “trust issues”. They can talk until they turn blue about all the things that have been “done to them” and all the reasons the world is not worthy of their trust, and their bitterness shows from the inside out. They’ll fly-off-the-handle at the slightest hint of something that reminds them of a time of “betrayal” and they live life armed and ready to do battle. No kindness or compassion or love can be seen in these people as they fester over the wrongs that others have committed against them refusing to let go. But trusting is a choice and refusing to trust again after we’ve been wronged has more to do about forgiveness than anything else.

It’s ONLY when we can look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to put things like Trust and Forgiveness in perspective. When we look through a Spiritual Set of Eyes we’re able to look at ourselves with 20/20 vision and we can see all of our own Wrongs that have been Forgiven with unconditional Love. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we learn to turn the other cheek and we learn to extend Grace. It when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we realize that the one doing the wrong against us will be reckoned with without any help from us at all,and it’s when we look at things that way; we learn to extend compassion on them. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that understand that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” and we know who the real enemy is AND we realize that if we aren’t Armed and Ready; we have the potential to do the same wrong to another. When we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes it’s not possible to forget about the BIGGEST BETRAYAL of all times. When Jesus was betrayed and sent to die in the most painful and shameful way possible; He found the breath and the strength to say “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we understand that if we fester with unforgiveness in the heart and we refuse to trust because of our pain; it’s not possible to Trust Him or to understand the sacrifice He made for all of those wrongs we’ve committed against Him either. To Forgive and to Trust is a choice.

I had some things whirling around in my head this morning and my thoughts were as scattered as the hay in the field. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that all of those thoughts were a sign of my lack of Trust in the Living God and after a little time in the Spiritual Woodshed; I’m looking at Life with a Spiritual Set of Eyes all over again. How about you? Do you REFUSE to extend trust and forgiveness and do you live your life like you’re the one in charge of Balancing the Scales for all those Wrongs? If so, reach out to me. I’ll sit you down and explain what Forgiveness really looks like and I’ll explain the consequences of refusing to Trust, and when I’m done with you; Grace will be your middle name and you’ll be turning the other cheek every chance you get too!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I headed out to the front porch in the wee hours of this new day with my coffee in hand… determined to find some answers I’ve been looking for. I poured out my heart to the Living God and I shed a few tears. I turned to my Instruction Manual and I dug for Truth. And then I repeated the process all over again. I’ll bet the Living God smiles sometimes when we determine to make sense of Life from our viewpoint and not His own. I didn’t find my answers this morning, but I found my Peace instead, and it’s that Peace that sees me through even when I don’t have the Answers. Passing through this Life with head knowledge doesn’t get us very far at all. It’s the passing through this Life with Heart knowledge that matters the most. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

If there is one thing I’ve learned in this Life-of-mine, it’s that when the heart is where it’s supposed to be; the rest of me will follow. If my heart is kind and compassionate, you won’t have to utter a word and I’ll be able to feel your pain. If my heart is calm and ready, you won’t have to say a thing and I will be able to sense your fear. If my heart is humble and selfless, you won’t have to tell me about your needs, I’ll be too busy filling them before you can. If my heart is filled with gratitude, you won’t have to worry about me passing judgment on you no matter what’s going on in your life. If my heart is patient, you can count on me to be there to help you work your way through….over and over again. If my heart is readied with wisdom, you won’t have to ask twice and I’ll have the Words that you need to help you find your way. If my heart is filled with Joy, you won’t stand a chance holding on to bitterness or a bad mood in my presence. When my heart is readied by the King; I’m equipped to Serve anybody, anytime and anywhere. I don’t need to have the answers and I don’t need to be “better” at anything before I go to work to serve Him. My Heart is the only part of me that He can use….so the condition of my Heart gets the most time and attention from me.

It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their head Knowledge than they are on the Heart. They can put the best-of-us to shame as they quote Scripture upon Scripture on-demand for any circumstance, and they’re always ready to remind the world that those Words are what we need. But if they rely on head knowledge of the Word and they don’t have a Heart like Christ; they can’t be used by the King at all. God doesn’t need us to recite His Word…He needs us to LIVE it. It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their “reservation” for Heaven than they are on the lost people around them, as if to send a message that if they were smart enough to “get it”, then it’s not their problem if others don’t as well. But if they rest on the Promises of Heaven and don’t do their part to get as many “travel partners” as they can; they can’t be used by the King at all. It’s easy to spot Christians who are filled with arrogance and judgment as if they’ve been assigned the Judgment Seat right here on earth. Somehow they’ve forgotten that Christ died for them too and that without Him they’d be a pitiful (and eternal) mess, and yet; they lack compassion and they never seem to grow tired of judging others. All of these outward signs are a SURE sign that the Heart is not in the condition that it’s supposed to be in.. that is, IF being a Light in this dark world and a Vessel worthy to be used by the King matters to them at all. The Heart is the only part of us that He can use.

I may have begun this new day determined to find some answers but I was “put in my Place” by the One who matters the most, and NOW my Heart is ready for Service. Instead of looking for answers for things I’ll probably never understand, I’ve set aside my need for head-knowledge and I’m focusing on my Heart instead. How about you? Do you spend your time doing nothing because you don’t have all of the answers you THINK you need in order for you to move forward for Him, and is your Heart your LEAST priority because of it? IF so, REACH OUT TO ME. I’ll be happy to sit you down and introduce you to the finest Heart Expert the world has ever known, and I’ll show you the way to your REAL Role Model, and it won’t be long before you see that the HEART is the ONLY part of you that He can use. And while I’m at it, I’m happy to remind you that it took a WHOLE LOT OF HEART to be willing to die for you and for me, and when I’m done with you; you’ll become a LOT more serious about the ONLY part of you that He can use too!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It didn’t take much to put a smile on my face this morning as I watched the Master turn on the lights to this glorious new day. I may enjoy a little adventure in life here and there, but I love some of the routine as well; and the routine of stepping out into the world each new day from an old farmhouse filled with the aroma of fresh coffee is just about as good as it gets to me. For as long as I live I will never take for granted the blessing of each new day or the simple pleasures of the world around me. Isn’t that the way you look at life too?

It could be so easy for any of us to wake to a new day without a single thought about the blessing of still having days to wake up to. Some people roll out of bed and the first thought on their mind are the aches and pains that go along with rising. Some people wake up with hunger in their belly and the first thought is what they will eat for breakfast. Some people wake up and they are so far away from appreciating the solitude that is there to savor in the morning but they turn on the TV just minutes after their eyes open to catch up on the tragedies of the world. Some people wake up with a mind full of all of all kinds of things that need to be done on that particular day as if the computer of their mind never shut off during the night. Some people wake up mad and some people wake up scared and some people wake up worried and some people wake up lonely. All of these things are signs of the tendency to put ourselves first and foremost at the beginning of each new day, and when that’s what we do; we fail to be grateful for a new day to live…challenges and all.

Little do any of these people know that the Joy and the Peace they see in the Life of another has nothing to do with a perfect day or a perfect life without struggles. The Joy and the Peace that they see has nothing to do with God showing more favor on one life over another….although they’re quick to point out how YOUR life isn’t like THEIR life as they attempt to justify their attitude about where they are (or where they aren’t) in life. The Joy and the Peace is not a sign that nothing “bad” happens in their lives or that they couldn’t easily be inclined to focus on the aches and the pains and the trials too. The Joy and the Peace shows up no matter the circumstances when they turn to the Source of Life…to the One gracious enough to give them one more day to live and to the One who has Plans and a Purpose for each one of them…to the One who knit them together in their mother’s womb…to the One who holds their hand EVERY TIME they reach out for His, to the One who has the entire world in the palm of His Hands, to the One who is big enough and Powerful enough to handle any problem and any emotion IF they’ll just turn to Him…especially at the beginning of each new day. And WHEN they do: they’ll find Joy and Peace no matter what’s going on in their lives too.

I’m going through a few bumps in life right now and I could easily give time and energy to these things at the beginning of each new day…but I know better. I want Joy and Peace and strength for it all and I know that it all begins with me and my willingness to begin the day with the King of Kings. How about you? Do you tell yourself that you don’t have time for this “nonsense” because your life is full of turmoil and your day is too busy for God? If so, PM me. I’ll set you straight on how little you have to do with the outcome of anything you’re dealing with and I’ll point you in the direction of Peace that you can have through it all, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be rolling out of bed and running to spend your time with the Living God too, and before you know it you’ll have “Peace that surpasses all understanding” no matter what just like I do!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was cool and gray at daybreak, but the sun has broken through the clouds and it’s destined to be a beautiful day. As I met with the Living God from the front porch this morning, I considered how He takes those things that are seemingly “broken” and He transforms them into something beautiful that He can use for His glory…and so it is with my life. I’ve been just about as broken as any human can be, and I’ve walked through adversity that most can’t imagine. But because my focus has been more on what He was doing in my life than on my seemingly disastrous circumstances; He has transformed my life into something beautiful and now I can be used by the King. Isn’t that the way you look at your brokenness too?

It gets a little old hearing people say “I don’t know what God wants for my Life” or “I don’t know why I’m in this mess” or “I don’t have anything to offer God like you do”. It’s those people more focused on the “what’s and the why’s” that never seem to break through the brokenness at all. They want answers before they’ll make an effort or take a step and they’re more focused on themselves and their circumstances than they are on the King of Kings. They see themselves as broken and useless and as long as they believe that they are; they are. It’s not until we see (and sincerely Believe) that God has a Plan for every single life He creates and that He has a Purpose in ALL circumstances,that we begin to focus less on our brokenness and more on Him. It’s the Belief in these things that gives us Strength and Hope and it’s Understanding that we are a Child of the Living God that gives us 20/20 vision from His Perspective. It’s understanding that HE ALWAYS uses broken people because the transition from the brokenness to being a Vessel for Him ALWAYS brings Him glory. And it’s those broken people that will eventually shout from the mountaintops about what an Amazing God we serve…and He Knows it. There is more beauty in brokenness than any of these pour souls can imagine and until they “get it”; they’ll remain broken and useless to the King.

I don’t want to roll back the clock of my life for even one second and I refuse to fall into the trap of “regrets”. I am precisely where He wants me to be in this Life, I’m laser focused on Him and I’m eager to do His Will. I may not sign-up to repeat the cycles of brokenness all over again, but I sure am grateful for it all. Sure, there are plenty of things that I regret and plenty of mistakes I’ve made along the way, and I’m sure that there will be more before I take my last breath. But living out my Faith doesn’t mean that I’m perfect; it means that I’m Forgiven and Living for the King doesn’t mean that I won’t stumble every once in a while; it means that I won’t fall…that I’ll continue to get back up…that I’ll continue to seek His Will and His Purpose in it all and that I’ll love Him with everything I’ve got all the days of my Life. There is no secret to surviving the brokenness and there isn’t a recipe for the Peace that I have. It’s all about putting Life in Perspective and putting Him first… no matter what. It’s ditching the need to understand the “what’s and the why’s” and it’s turning the focus away from Self and to the King instead. It’s being willing to live for Him and to give Him thanks no matter what a pitiful mess you life looks like today. And IF…and ONLY IF… you surrender it all to Him, He’ll transform your brokenness into something so beautiful (and useful) that you’ll be shouting from the mountain tops and giving Glory to Him through it all too.

God ALWAYS uses broken people. Will you let Him use you? PM me if you want to understand more about my God and if you’re ready to LIVE FOR HIM instead of living for yourself!