It ALWAYS Comes Down to Choice!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week, and I woke up with a lot on my mind this morning, and I couldn’t get into the Presence of the Most High God fast enough because of it. All of those thoughts about all those things whirling around in my mind had the potential to consume my day and cause doubt in my Spirit if not for the fact that I Know how to Work on myself to Prepare. No amount of human intervention can manage all those things whirling around 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 get with all of those things going on in my life on any given day, I know the Living God has control of it all. I don’t need to work myself to death, and I don’t need to fret…ever. All I ever need to do is to Surrender and Trust.

Trusting isn’t always easy, especially for those who have been hurt. Just a little sting brought on by someone who disappoints us with their words, or “hurts” us with their behavior, and we have the potential to withdraw in a quick minute…and worse yet, we justify our behavior when we do. Sadly, from that point forward, we are happy to remind the “wrongdoer” 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 in 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 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. They aren’t pleasant to be around, that’s for sure. Neither Kindness, Compassion, nor Love can be seen in these people because they’re too busy licking wounds and festering over the wrongs that others have committed against them, refusing to let go, and they’re rotting from the inside out. They refuse to accept the fact that trusting is a CHOICE, and refusing to trust again after we’ve been wronged has more to do with (un)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 by way of Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ. 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 easily extend Grace instead of keeping score. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we realize that the one committing 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 to the wrong-doer because we Know that “it’s a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God”. It’s when we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes that we Understand that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” and we know who the real enemy is, AND we realize that unless we’re Armed and Ready, we have the potential to do the same wrong to someone else. When we look at life through a Spiritual Set of Eyes, it’s not possible to forget about the BIGGEST BETRAYAL of all time. When Jesus was betrayed and sent to die in the most painful and shameful way, 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, and IF you want to be forgiven by Him for all the sins of your past and all the ones in the future, then you’d better learn to Forgive. Otherwise, “it’s a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God”.

I had some things whirling around in my head this morning, and my thoughts were as scattered as stars in the sky because of it, 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 that I was (once again) attempting to steer the Ship! But the good news is that after a little Time in the Spiritual Woodshed with the One Who died for me, and 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!

Are You in Full Swing for the Living God?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I took one step onto the front porch, and I paused to capture this photo – the morning sky is the perfect backdrop for the Thunder Prayers I’m about to take before the Throne of a Mighty God. When you look at it that way, is there any such thing as being “too” Majestic? When I approach the Throne of the Living God, I approach Him with boldness, and if it were possible, I’d brace myself “like a man” the way Job did as I prepare to Receive what He has for me on this new day. Kingdom Work is serious business, and (prayerfully) I’ll have the Opportunity to make an Eternal Difference in Lives for all the days of mine. Kingdom Work costs you EVERYTHING if you do it “right,” so remaining Focused on the Condition of my Heart is my first Priority. When I’m in Full Swing for the Kingdom, I face what feels like never-ending adversity. Most of the time I’ve got a mountain to climb and a few mountains to move, but with God, all of that is possible…IF I DO NOT GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD. No mountain is too big when you have a Purpose to climb it. So, my Purpose was Reinforced at daybreak, and my Spirit was Refreshed and Revived for the Journey. The adversity I may face today will be just a minor bump in the road because I’m Determined to stay on Track, and I Refuse to let go of the Hand of the God Who leads me. Isn’t that the way it is with you when you are doing Kingdom 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, Humility is our middle name, and the red carpet isn’t even on our radar screen. When we’re in Full Swing, we become a threat to the “spiritual forces of evil” 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 we’re doing has Everlasting Benefits. Some are drawn to the Light, while others will do whatever they can to avoid it altogether…either way, we don’t give up. When we’re in Full Swing mode, the mountains we face seem to get 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 that others will “hate” us because of Him. 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 dark…and 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 pray, I pray THUNDER prayers and I rattle the heavens in His Name. When I speak, I mention the name of Jesus OFTEN, and I smile when I think about how every demon in Hell shudders when I do. When I work inside of the Gifts 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 now Unshakable. I climb Mountains as often as He tells me to, and I don’t care how big they appear to be because I am aware of the outside influences that would love for me to give up. I can climb mountains, and I can MOVE mountains with His Help as long as I don’t allow the minor inconveniences discourage me, and if I REMAIN in Full Swing. 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 an Eternal Reason to climb it, Amen?

A Little Lost Sleep…is He Worth it?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s impossible for me NOT to smile when I watch the Master wake up the world day after day and year after year. No matter the Condition of my Heart when I first wake up, it doesn’t take long before I’m filled with an Attitude of Gratitude and overwhelmed with Joy from the front porch of this old farm. Sometimes I wonder what the world would look like if everybody sought His face first thing in the morning, and if every one of His Children understood the importance of sacrificing just for the Privilege of sitting in the Presence of the Most High God. As for me, I can almost hear the voice of my God saying, “Rise and shine, child!” and the thought of the Master wanting to meet with me makes getting up earlier than my body wants to a piece of cake. From where I sit, losing a little sleep is just a minor sacrifice for the honor to be in His Presence…a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the One who died for me. If the Author and Perfector of my Faith expects me to “rise and shine” all day long in the Name of Jesus Christ, then I need to be sure that I’m Ready! I am an Ambassador for the King of all kings, and every “sacrifice” I make in His Name is small in comparison to the Price He paid for me. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith, too?

To Rise and Shine in the wee hours of a new day is a choice that involves a minor schedule adjustment for most people. For me, it’s not always easy to get my body to cooperate with my Heart, but I know that if I need to “Rise and Shine” in the Mighty Name of Jesus all day long to fulfill my Purpose, then being Equipped is non-negotiable. So…I make the effort, and I allow Him to fill my Heart and Soul every morning, and I am confident that I will RISE AND SHINE all day long because I’ve been made Ready with the touch of the Master’s Hand. My Faith isn’t something that makes me feel good about my life; my Life has a Purpose, and that Purpose has nothing to do with me at all. My Faith isn’t what I do or say, my Faith is WHO I AM. Because I Believe in every word of His Word, I already know that I was Chosen before the foundations of the earth to fulfill a specific Purpose He Created ME to fulfill. I understand that my Faith isn’t about me feeling warm and fuzzy or getting “enough sleep”- it’s all about Him and His Call on my Life to “Rise and Shine” every day so that others will see Him in me by the way I Live, Love, and Speak. Pleasing Him is my first priority, and He’s much more important to me than “sleeping in”.

If I Rise up and Speak up about the Love, the Hope, and the Power of my God despite opposition and persecution, then my Faith will take on a Life of its own, and my Faith will be unshakeable for all the world to see. If I Shine with Joy, Peace, Love, and Compassion as I go throughout my day, despite how I might be treated in return, then my Faith won’t be easily overlooked by anybody, and my Light has the potential to inspire others to want to know more about me and the God who makes me “different.” Unless I’m willing to Rise and Shine, then the Fruit of my Faith will be limited to how I feel on the inside and “what’s in it for me”…but it’s not about me. I don’t want to be like a selfish child not willing to share; instead, I want to Share everything about my God…every Miraculous Detail surrounding who I once was and how He’s Transformed me. My “business” IS their business when it comes to Sharing my Faith – so, I RISE and SHINE every day, and that’s just the way it will be until He calls me Home.

How about you?

David or Einstein? The Choice is Yours…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I watched the world come to life at the Touch of the Master’s Hand this morning, and I marveled at how nature intuitively knows what to do to survive and how to communicate with one of its own. These deer travel around the farm together, and they never seem to “fight” over who gets what to eat. They just share. There’s always enough to go around, and there is always trust that there will be more just around the corner. It’s as if nature is so in tune with the Creator that it effortlessly goes about life and needs no further reminder about what it takes to live and thrive. It just does. Man is an entirely different story, and if there is anything that can get mankind in trouble, it’s relying on the intellect while ignoring our God-given instincts. When the mind of man intervenes to change the natural course of life because it needs to make intellectual sense, we get ourselves in a lot of trouble. As surely as the animal world has an “instinct” to survive, man needs to tune into the Holy Spirit to navigate through the Journey of Faith for Survival, too. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

The mind of man might be the most significant thing that sets us apart from the animal kingdom, but it’s the mind of man that God tells us to control ON OUR OWN – “Take captive every thought” and “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”…He leaves the heavy lifting of the mind up to us. Sometimes, instead of relying on our God-given instincts, we rely on the mind of man, which can be as ever-changing as the waves in the sea. We attempt to out-think God, and we pick apart our circumstances as we try to change our course in Life. Some of us kick and stomp when trouble shows up, and we insist on living in the past as if that will somehow change our future. We forge through life with a determination to make things different, and although our mind can play a big role in our joy, we kick our God-given instincts to the curb in exchange for intellectual conclusions almost every time. We sometimes get out of tune with the Living God, and we are determined to “make things happen,” but without the Touch of the Master’s Hand, our efforts will often just lead to destruction. Sad but true.

It’s easy to see how and why the intellect gets so much attention…especially these days. After all, most parents focus a whole lot more on what Johnny learned in school today rather than what God taught Johnny today. Parents seem to care a whole lot more about honor roll and college picks than they do about honoring the God of all Creation and whether or not Johnny will be “picked” for Heaven or Hell. Parents focus on the strength and stamina of their child(ren) on the ball field and what the stats look like instead of focusing on teaching Johnny how to rely on the Living God for strength and stamina on and off the field. Many new parents read every book imaginable to intellectualize the care and feeding of a baby as if instinct has no place in raising a healthy child, all the while the #1 Best Seller of all time, the Instruction Manual for Life, sits on the shelf to gather dust. Based on the example being set for the next generation, is it any wonder they’re putting so much time and attention into what they can cram into their brain instead of what they can pour out with the Heart?

Some people are inclined to rely on an “intellectual” faith because they’re too insecure to Rely on things they can’t rationalize. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work out very well for them in the End with a God who requires complete Trust in Him. Hebrews 11:1 must drive the intellectuals crazy – ” Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” – hmm…how do you intellectualize that? God can’t be rationalized, no matter how hard the intellectual tries, and He doesn’t care about how much head knowledge we have. There won’t be a test after we die to see how much head knowledge we have about our Savior. If that were the case, the intellectual will probably be very bored as they attempt to spit out “facts” stored in the brain to impress a God who ONLY cares about the Heart. Unlike our educational system, nobody is going to get a free ride to Heaven based on how much they know. God expects us to Trust Him in the journey and to keep moving forward without a detailed GPS system that prompts us to move, ESPECIALLY when it doesn’t make sense! After all, He provides the nourishment for these deer, but He expects them to do their part to find the food and the water provided by Him. It’s the reliance on our God-given instincts and our trust in the Master’s Hand that keeps our lives in Balance IF we keep moving forward with Him in the Driver’s Seat.

I’m flying high and I’m trusting the Master’s Hand to provide for me and to give me Direction for the Journey. I’ll keep moving forward and I’ll trust in my God-given instincts, aka the Holy Spirit that comes only through a rich Relationship with the Living God… and I won’t stop until He stops me. I’m learning more every day, and, just like the deer in this photo, I’ll always hunger for more. I’m confident that my Desire to Know Him better pleases Him, but it’s my HEART that pleases Him the most. I don’t need to Understand His Will to obey it. I don’t need to Understand my Marching Orders to accept them. I don’t need to scrutinize every word of the Word of God to Believe it. He’s my God. I’m His Child. I’m no Expert, but I am Confident of this: He died for me, and He wants me to Live for Him. I’m a Treasure in the eyes of the Living God! David prayed that God would “Keep me as the apple of your eye” and “Hide me in the shadow of your wings,” and no “research” is needed to Understand what David meant. There is no way to Measure how much David loved God, BUT he was referred to as “a man after God’s own heart”. I want to be like David. I don’t care if I’m the brightest bulb on the planet – I want to be someone willing to Honor and Obey WITHOUT having all the answers…because that’s what Faith looks like. The world would be a much better place if we all sought to be more like David than Einstein.

How about you?

Independence? There’s No Place For That!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The minute my eyes opened this morning, I thought about the Love of my Life and I thanked Him for another day to Serve. Love and Gratitude are one thing, being made ready to take on a new day as a woman of Faith is an entirely different story. For that, I need Wisdom and Grace…a Compassionate Heart…and a willingness to Forgive. I need to Surrender this day and all that it is to Him. I need to be sure that I’m not harboring anything “bad” in my heart that could hinder my Relationship with Him or my Witness to a dark world. I need supernatural Strength, and I need Humility. My Journey isn’t possible without Him, and I’m not capable of any of these things without His Help, so I seek His face each morning, and I put Him first in all that I do. Isn’t that the way you begin your new day too?

It can be so easy these days for people to fight for their independence while they convince themselves that they’re fine all on their own – but God didn’t wire us to be on our own. God breathed the Rule Book into existence, and He says, “iron sharpens iron,” and that “two are better than one.” He made Eve for Adam. He called Aaron to help Moses. He joined Elijah and Elisha to prepare for a time when the prophet Elijah would be taken Home. There are countless examples of how God reinforced relationships to strengthen His people – each one driving the message home that “iron sharpens iron.” It’s that same determination to be independent that can easily carry over into our Journey of Faith, too, and before you know it, we can easily convince ourselves that the remote control is an adequate replacement for assembling together with the saints. The more we work to convince ourselves that we don’t need anybody else, the farther away from understanding what it means to be totally dependent on God for it all. What the world sees as weakness is actually a sign of Power as we Surrender it all over to God. There is no place for independence in the Journey of Faith.

Sometimes it’s funny to see the reaction when people hear me confess that I’m not nearly as “independent” as they think I am. I flew solo for most of my life, but that wasn’t because of a determination to be independent, and it wasn’t an outward sign of an inward need to be alone. It just was. What others don’t understand is that when Christ is the Center of Life, we never feel alone! No doubt I survived well on my own with God at the Head of my family – I managed to raise 4 kids on my own, and they’ve grown up to be wonderful God-fearing people. I’ve built success and I’ve seen abundance – my family wanted for nothing. I was also overwhelmed by the burden of it all sometimes, and I cried myself to sleep more times than you want to know. That is UNTIL I learned to surrender whatever was overwhelming me over to God while confessing to Him that I’m helpless without Him – and THEN GOD GAVE ME the reassurance that He’ll never leave me nor forsake me. He reminded me that all I have to do is Acknowledge Him in all my ways that HE WILL keep my path straight through the Journey. I’ve seen so many miracles that I can’t begin to count them all, and I’ve had friends hold me up when I couldn’t hold myself up countless times. I’m not ashamed to say I’m weak, and I’m not too proud to ask God for help….the God that KNOWS that “two are better than one.” I may have been flying solo, but I’ve NEVER been alone, and because of my Journey, I matured in my Faith enough to understand that His “power is (always) made perfect in my weakness.” When I am weak and dependent, HE IS STRONG.

I spend time alone on the front porch at daybreak most days, but I’m not flying solo anymore. God decided that I needed a suitable partner to walk through the Journey of Faith with me, and I was obedient to the Call…and oh what a Treasure it is to lock arms with the one God intended for me after decades of flying solo! Sometimes people will ask me how I’m adjusting to “losing” my independence now that I’m married, but I lost that a long time ago when I Surrendered it all to the Living God. So, as much as I know that I’m no longer alone in this vapor of a life, and as grateful as I am for my Covenant Partner, it’s Jesus Christ I put my Trust in still. He’s the Source of my Strength. He’s the Author and Perfector of my Faith. He’s my Redeemer, and He’s my Rock. I paid the Price to become a Strong Warrior for the Living God, and I walk out my faith with Boldness…but there is nothing independent about me or my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How about you?

The Best is Yet to Come!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and beautiful again this Saturday morning, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think we were in a different season altogether. Last week it was scorching hot, and today it feels like Fall. As I sat there taking in the Magnificence of this new day, I thought about how we often get the Seasons of Life mixed up, and our focus gets off-kilter when we do. The temperature this morning FELT like Fall, but nothing looks like Fall. If I react to what I feel and not by what I see, I can easily be fooled into believing I’m in an entirely different Season in the Journey of Life. It’s not wise to go by what we feel or see; we need to go by what we Know instead. In terms of the season of the year, I know it’s Summer – in terms of the Season of my Journey, I Know the Final Season is near. The Bible says that “they exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” I am confident that my adversary would love for me to be fooled into believing in things that I only see with my eyes. After all, his tactics haven’t changed since the Garden of Eden! That’s why I do my best to remain Laser-Focused on Truth and not some “version” of it. The Holy Spirit is my Teacher – the Word is my Barometer – Jesus is my Redeemer, and as long as I’m Focused on that Truth, I cannot be deceived. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

It’s only when I look in the mirror that I see that I’m in the Fall Season of my life. The years show on my face, and this old mare ain’t what she used to be, that’s for sure…I’m BETTER. My value no longer be measured by what I look like or how much money I make. I’m a bondservant to Jesus Christ, and I have a Mansion waiting for me in Heaven One Day, where there will be no more sickness or sadness. Does it get any better than that? Paul said, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. So…I don’t dwell on what I see, I Live as if The Best is yet to come…because it is! My heart is young. My spirit is young. I still have a young and teachable mind, and even though my body can’t always do what it used to do…I’m usually surprised when it can’t. But all in all, no matter what I see and feel, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” There is no greater calling in this Journey we call “Life”.

It’s sad to see so many people fooled by what they see in the mirror. They allow the adversary to convince them that NOW is the time to quit, and they believe they no longer have something to offer the Kingdom because of it. Moses was called into Service at 80 years old – had he looked in the mirror and embraced his years, he never would have obeyed the Living God. What we see in the mirror has no relevance at all; it’s what God sees in US that matters the most…and He can Spot a Willing Heart from millions of miles away. When God spots a Willing Heart, He always has plenty of things them to do. But the best part is that we can Trust what the Word of God says: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint”. So, no matter how old or how young we are, NOW is the Season to Serve like never before. This is the Key to being found worthy to be used by the King of all kings, all the days of our lives.

Some people consider their calendar years, and they make excuses for why they don’t Serve the King because of it. The adversary can convince them that they’re too young (or too old) to be so serious about the Journey of Faith – after all, “there’s so much living to do!” – so they put off Serving the Living God because of it, as if they have all the time in the world to get Serious. Some are in the season of raising a family, and the adversary will convince them that now is the season to focus on things like sports and GPAs instead of the only Season that matters in the Bigger Picture of Life. We have no way of knowing how many seasons the Lord will give us, and we don’t know when we’ll draw our last breath. But what we DO Know is that IF we are Born Again, the Season to Share Jesus Christ with the world is NOW. When we remain Laser Focused on that Truth, we cannot be fooled by what we feel or see with our eyes. It’s only when we Embrace what the Journey is all about do we set aside all the other “seasonal distractions” for the Season of the King. He’s coming back, and neither young nor old will escape the Outcome when He does. He won’t entertain excuses for why He died for us, but we REFUSED to Live for Him, all because of the selfish seasons.

I’m an imperfect woman living out the Final Season of my imperfect life on earth. I’ve lived long enough to know what it’s like to be fooled by my adversary, and I squandered plenty of my younger years because of it. Today, I don’t (much) care what the mirror reflects or about the high mileage that shows from my head to my toes. I don’t care what the calendar says or how many years I flipped. I am determined to be Laser Focused on Truth until I draw my last breath, AND I’m committed to Sharing the Truth with as many people as I can before He calls me Home. My Heart is Strong. My mind is sound. My body is healthy. I’m working harder than ever before, and I’m not stopping until He stops me, no matter what season I’m in. I might need a staff like Moses carried just to hold me up before it’s all said and done, but I WILL NOT QUIT.

How about you?

Isn’t it Time to Grow Up?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This morning was bright and beautiful before the next storm rolls in…exactly how I want my Heart to be. I have no control over the weather, but I DO have control over the Condition of my Heart, so I entered His Presence…I opened my Instruction Manual…I sat in Silence…I listened for His Voice… and I asked Him to Forgive me of my wrongs. All it ever takes is for us to ask Him to examine our Hearts (along with a sincere desire to please Him), and He will Reveal countless things in the Heart that need to be made Right. Let’s face it, we ALL have a Heart Condition; some are just too prideful to admit it, OR not Humble enough to Repent. These are the ones who are always looking for the flaws in someone else’s life while never seeing the flaws in their own. The worst part is that they aren’t even Mature enough to see it- but then neither did the Pharisees. This morning, it didn’t take long for my Heart to become bright and beautiful, just like the morning from the front porch, because NOW it’s been Cleansed of anything that had the potential to get in the way of my Relationship with Jesus Christ. All it takes is a little Humility mixed with Love, and I find my way to that place where I can be of Good Service to the King of all kings! Isn’t that your Goal in the Journey of Faith, too?

I think it’s interesting how some people react when I talk about Repentance as if they’re shocked that I have anything to repent of at all. Of course, I have things to repent of…AND SO DO YOU! Even the “tiniest” wrong needs to be dealt with before the Throne of a Righteous God because in His eyes there is no such thing as a “big sin/little sin” – He hates anything and everything that separates our hearts from His. That’s where Spiritual Maturity comes in. A Humble heart SEARCHES for things that go against the Nature of God, and a Heart filled with Love for Him will easily Repent because of it. But a Heart that hasn’t Matured yet will overlook (and excuse) all kinds of things that go against God without a care in the world. That kind of Heart justifies behavior, and is no stranger to inflicting pain upon other people without blinking an eye. That kind of Heart feels no compassion for the suffering, as if they’re not suffering themselves because they’re somehow a little more entitled than all the others. That kind of Heart is the source of lots of heartbreak in the Journey of Faith, and that kind of Heart is oblivious to the Nature of the God they claim to Serve. By the way, that’s exactly the kind of Heart our Adversary LOVES to have access to, because when he does, he can create non-stop turmoil in the church, in the marriage, in the family, and everywhere in between. Spiritual Maturity is the ONLY WAY TO PLEASE GOD and the only Route to being used as a Vessel for Kingdom Work. IT’S TIME TO GROW UP.

It takes Work to reach Spiritual Maturity – the kind of Work most people aren’t willing to do. It takes LOTS of Quality Time in His Presence, but most people NEVER seem to find the time. It takes reaching that place of Humility that refuses to hide from Repentance, but most people are too proud to do that. It takes Compassion, the kind of compassion that is developed ONLY through heartbreak of our own on the Rocky Road to Refinement, but most people never find it. It takes becoming SelfLESS so that the needs of others become far more important than our own, but most people are too focused on themselves to get that part Right. Last, but not least, it takes LOVE…the greatest AND the toughest of all. It’s not possible to Love the way we’re Called to Love with Immature Hearts, and THAT’S why Time in His Presence is the Key to Spiritual Maturity.

The Bible says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”…and so it is throughout the Journey of Faith.

It’s time to grow up.

I love Jesus Christ more than I love life…more than I love anybody or anything IN this life…and because I do, I’m Willing to do anything I need to do to be Spiritually Mature. After all, I’m an “alien in a foreign land” and I’m just passing through. The Time we have here on earth is SO brief that the Bible refers to Life as a “vapor” – here one second and gone the next! I’m on a Temporary Assignment for Jesus Christ, and I don’t have forever to get it Right….and NEITHER DO YOU. My Focus is on the One who died for me and the Home that awaits me when it’s Time for my change of Address. Until then, I press on. The Goal is Humility and Love, and I work hard for both in hopes that He will find me Worthy to do the work of the King of all kings, all the days of my Life.

I grew up.

How about you?

Change + Gratitude = Peace

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s one of those perfect kinds of mornings with clear skies and cool air before things heat up for the day. Part of me wishes it could be like this all the time, but if it were like this all the time, I’d eventually take it for granted. Only God is “the same yesterday, today, and forevermore” while everything else in between changes. It’s the changing that keeps us on our toes, and it’s the changing that causes some of us to seek His Will a little harder than all the others. Some changes are good ones…some are bad ones…some seemingly without much relevance at all…at least from where I sit. Because I know that change comes to all of us, I determine to face each new day with a renewed Heart and an attitude of Gratitude while I Ready myself for whatever change I might face on this new day. Isn’t that how you look at change, too?

It can be so easy to take things for granted in life if we’re not careful, but we miss out on the Purpose of Life when we do. We skip through life without a care in the world as long as things are running smoothly, and before we know it, we begin to take things for granted in the process. We live as if love will always be there – it’s when we take love for granted that it has the potential to fade. We live as if nothing in life needs to be nurtured, but nothing grows strong roots without nurturing. We live as if life never ends for anybody – it’s when we take life for granted that we forget to savor more moments. We live as if money will always be there – it’s when we take money for granted that we spend it recklessly, OR we take for granted all those beautiful opportunities that can lift us out of poverty. We live as if good health is just a way of life – it’s when we take good health for granted that we forget to protect it. We live as if we have forever to do all those things we’ve always dreamed of doing…but it’s when we take our dreams for granted that we begin to perish. There’s no end to what we take for granted and no limit to our excuses when we do. It’s ONLY when we have a sincere Attitude of Gratitude for every sliver of life that we realize how precious (and how frail) life is, and we make SURE to savor it all while we’re still here.

The Bible says that in the end times, “men will be lovers of themselves” – no doubt, taking things for granted is a very clear picture of what that looks like today. It’s the selfish heart of man that leads to taking things for granted – living for ourselves and tending to our own needs above all else. The hard Reality is that it’s not possible to be filled with an Attitude of Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does when we take so much for granted…we’re “lovers of” ourselves instead. It’s when we see the Blessing of it all…the Blessing of each one…the Blessing of every Ordained moment…the Blessing found in every up and every down…even the Blessing behind the changes…that we learn to savor it ALL and taking things for granted is Spiritually impossible. The Lord “gives and takes away,” and I can’t help but wonder if He changes things up in Life to be sure that we don’t take it for granted.

I’m savoring this cool summer morning before it changes back to the norm, and I’m overflowing with an Attitude of Gratitude even though my life isn’t “perfect” here on earth. Change comes to all of us, and I’ve had my fair share just like the rest of the world. Sometimes I embrace it and sometimes I fight it, but I always Trust Him with the change. I don’t want to take one moment…one person…one change for granted, and I want to overflow with an Attitude of Gratitude that can be seen far and wide…no no matter what’s going on in the Journey called Life. May it never be said of me that I was a “lover of” self.

How about you?

The Master Goldsmith…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia this morning. It’s a new day of a new week, and I kicked it off at sunrise on the front porch with my God, just like I usually do. We’re going to have record-breaking high temperatures today, and despite an occasional thunderstorm, there seems to be no relief in sight. I don’t know the Purpose behind God bringing scorching heat to the land, BUT I DO Know His Purpose for bringing scorching heat to our lives. Not only does He “discipline” those he loves, but He also turns up the Heat in our lives to Purify us through fire just the same as a goldsmith does when he raises the temperature to 2,000 degrees to refine gold. The goldsmith increases the value of the gold by separating the “good” from the “bad” through the refining process, and God does pretty much the same thing to us. It’s how we “handle” the heat (or not) that determines our Value to the Kingdom. I’ve been Refined through fire for His Purpose, and I’m confident that without the Refiner doing His Work in me, I wouldn’t be doing my “work” for Him. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith, too?

“No pain, no gain” is a common phrase used by athletes to describe the necessity of enduring pain to achieve physical goals. It takes hard work, determination, sacrifice, and a whole lot of aches and pains to force the body to be shaped and strengthened, that’s for sure. The only thing that separates the “buffed” from the “unbuffed” is the commitment to endure whatever it takes to achieve the goal. Some do, but most don’t. Thousands of gym memberships sell to well-intended people every single day, and yet the average member will only make use of the gym in 90 days of their membership. After that, they quit because the gain isn’t worth the pain it takes to get there. They refuse to put in the hard work, no matter what price has been paid for their journey. They refuse to sacrifice time and energy, and they refuse to deny themselves of all those things it takes to “get in shape.” The Journey of Faith isn’t much different when you think about it. For some, it’s worth being Refined into Shape by the Master because they want to be all that they can be in His Name…for others, the Journey it takes to Get in Kingdom Shape simply isn’t worth it, and just like your average gym membership, they’ll “drop out” of the Spiritual Journey too.

When I look upon my past and all the valleys I endured, ALL I can see is the Hand of God. He Refined me through fire, and He molded me into a usable Vessel for His Glory. Why would I look upon the past like a victim? I don’t wallow in it, and I certainly don’t let it define me! Paul said that he was “forgetting what is behind” so that he could press on in his Faith, and I can’t think of better advice for so many “professed” Christians who refuse to see the Pain of their past (or what they’re enduring now) as Gain in the Kingdom. When the fire shows up and we can’t see a way “out,” ALL WE EVER need to do is turn our eyes upon Jesus, seek His face, Surrender to His Will, and Trust that our Pain has a Purpose. I’ve been Refined by the Master Goldsmith! I’ve been Purified in His Name! I am Victorious! I’m a Walking Witness of the Power of my God! What appeared to be turmoil turned out to be Treasure, and I wouldn’t change a thing about my “past” even if I could! It was, and will always be, the necessary road to draw me closer to Him and the Best Opportunity to bring Glory to my God.

How about you?

The Greatest Joy is found in the Simple Things

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped out onto the front porch with a cup of coffee in hand just as the sun was beginning to rise, and I smiled when I took my first breath of fresh air on this new day. We are under a “heat advisory” in Virginia, and the high temperatures will take a toll on the earth for a few days because of it. I watched the deer come out of hiding for breakfast, and then they headed right back to their cooler hiding place. As I looked out at the foggy fields filled with deer eating their breakfast in the early hours of this new day, I thanked God for the Beauty of the Simple things that bring such Joy to me. We’re all surrounded by Simple things that have the Potential to Fill the Heart with Joy and Gratitude for the God of all Creation, but not everybody is interested in looking for them because their Hearts are more inclined toward themselves and their “feel-good” moments instead. As for me, I’ll take the sound of a bird at sunrise over any concert on the planet, and I’ll take watching deer in the fields over any movie. God Entertains me more than man-made things ever could because I love the Simple things and my Heart is filled with Gratitude for each one. This morning, I spent a little extra time thanking the Living God for all that He is and for all that He does for me and for this amazing, clear, and soon-to-be scorching day in Virginia. The Simple Pleasures make my Heart sing. Isn’t that the way it is in your Journey of Faith, too?

It could be so easy to focus on the bigger battles in life and miss the Simple Pleasures if we aren’t careful, but it’s those simple pleasures that often have the Biggest Impact on the Heart. How can pleasure be measured when we look into the eyes of a child or when we hear them giggle? How can pleasure be measured when we stop the world to focus on conversation with our loved ones or when we break out in a belly laugh as we walk down Memory Lane? How can pleasure be measured when we spend time sharing our Heart with a friend or when we go before the Throne of our God together in prayer? How can pleasure be measured as we consider the birds of the air or the fruit of the fields, and we Know that it all comes from Him? How can pleasure be measured when we look at the sky full of stars and we know that God scattered them there and that He knows them each by name? How can pleasure be measured when He speaks to us at just the right time for just the right Purpose, and He takes us by the right hand to lead us where we’re Called to go? There is no end to Simple Pleasures and no way to measure the joy they bring to the Heart…IF we refuse to overlook them in our search for the “bigger” things.

Some people consider the simple things to be nonsense, and they miss out on the Quality of Life because of it. They need those “wow” moments for them to feel Fulfilled, and they’re only impressed by God when He does “Big” things to entertain them. They miss out on the Simple Pleasures. These same people are inclined to search only for those “big” moments found in the Bible, and they’ll flip past the pages of those Simple things as if they are unnecessary “fluff” in the Bigger Picture. But there isn’t even one word in His Word that is unnecessary “fluff” and just one Whisper from His Spirit when I read them is THE BEST (not so) Simple Pleasures in this Journey of Life. My God can part the seas at the sound of His voice. My God can make the sun stand still, and He can calm the storm. My God can declare war and bring Peace whenever He wants to. My God can heal the sick and raise the dead. My God gives AND He takes away. My God can do all things, and I am in awe of Him. But when He Whispers to my Heart…When His Words come flowing into me and I feel His Spirit Speaking to me…it’s THAT Simple Pleasure that brings me the most pleasure in this Journey called Life. Knowing that He Loves me…that He hears my cries…that He is with me always…That He has a Word for everything I am and for all that I do, and that He cares enough to Whisper those Words within my Soul is so beautiful it defies words! I wish everybody could have what I have all because I savor those Simple Things.

I pity the ones missing out on the Simple things as they let their Time here on earth slip by. Far too many parents refuse to participate in simple things with a child as long as there are smartphones and TVs to entertain them instead. Far too many people of Faith are sitting out the Game on the bench (aka pew) and they’re missing the pleasure of Selfless Service in His Name cause of it. Some people stay away from churches that serve up Simple music as if a rock band defines the worth of the Church, like spectators, and they’re missing the Truth in their quest for entertainment. Some people refuse to slow down for anyone or anything because chasing success is much more important to them than “chasing” Relationships with God or man. Eventually, the Time will run out for all of us, and the opportunity to enjoy the Simple things will come to an End. I wonder if there will be Regrets for the ones who thought of themselves and their entertainment as far more important than those “boring” Simple things where the Truest Blessings are found? Will they hear God say, “I gave the gift of a child, but you found other things more important than spending time with her?” Will God Remind them that they existed just to Glorify Him and not to entertain themselves?

I don’t know if we will be asked about squandering our Life here on earth, nor not, but the thought of standing before God with excuses for why I didn’t Savor the countless blessings in the Simple things is enough to keep me Chasing my God with everything within me. I see Him in everything around me, and He sees me as His child who appreciates it all.

What about you?