Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a crazy-busy, beautiful time of the year, but nothing is permitted to get in the way of my Time with the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. When you think of Him that way every day, why would you ever put Him second to anything? As I looked out over the fields this morning, I thought about how things are rarely how they appear to be on the surface. The sunrise is beautiful…but the fields look barren even though they’re not. It’s focusing on the surface of ANYTHING in life that can so easily fool us. Beneath the barren “look” of the fields is actually life that will be ready to spring forth again in just a few months with a little Help from the Living God, AND all the outer influences He provides – like the sun and rain. And so it is with life. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

If there’s anything that can get us into trouble, it’s drawing our own conclusions based on what we see on the surface of life. A smile doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness, no more than the winterized foliage equates to barrenness. Seeing someone with material things doesn’t necessarily mean everything is okay behind the wealth, any more than seeing someone without material things means they’re not happy. Seeing someone dressed for success doesn’t equate to a full bank account, no more than seeing someone not dressed for success means they aren’t. Driving a shiny luxury car doesn’t equate to plenty of expendable income, and driving an older car doesn’t necessarily mean that they lack the means to upgrade. Living in a mansion doesn’t equate to it being filled with joy, and living in a humble abode doesn’t equate to regrets. There’s no end to the assumptions we make about what we see on the surface of life. It’s looking beyond the surface where the truth is found. Without looking below the surface, we never know what the view of life really looks like from where we sit. This is the Key to finding the need within each one, so we know how to “fill it” with Hope.

Of all the assumptions we make about life, the most dangerous assumption comes down to Faith. Going to church doesn’t equate to being a Christian, no more than going to a bar equates to being an alcoholic. Being able to quote Scripture doesn’t equate to being a Christian, no more than quoting science equates to being a genius. Feeding a few hungry people for the holidays doesn’t equate to being a Christian, no more than breaking bread with relatives once in a while equates to being a family. Being a Christian comes down to a personal relationship with the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace – and when we have that part “right,” we spring forth with Living Water, and the Love and Compassion cannot be contained. When we get that part “right”, we dig below the surface of life with everyone in our path – never judging – because we understand the brokenness of man and we celebrate Forgiveness. We never stop Searching for the Condition of the Heart, and sharing our Faith becomes as natural to us as breathing. We love our brothers and sisters in Christ enough to be sure that they’ve not grown barren in the Journey and we never make assumptions based on what we see on the surface. It’s the Holy Spirit that should be dwelling below the surface of every person of Faith and it’s His Spirit that prompts us to Search beyond what we see with our eyes. When He dwells within us, we never look at barrenness without seeing Hope…in and out of the community of Christians.

God used the barren-looking fields this morning to remind me not to make assumptions based on what I see on the outside. Many people can easily be left behind all year long based on assumptions we make about what we see on the surface of life. So, as I celebrate the birth of the King of all Kings, I’ll keep digging below the surface to check the Condition of the Heart of all He puts in my path…beginning with myself, and I won’t assume anything based on what I see. I’ll be Armed and Ready to share the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace throughout the season and every single day of the new year. And THAT’s what the “great commission” looks like below the surface.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up just as the Master woke up the world, and I kicked off this new day in His Presence to give Praise and Thanks for this new day of a new year of my life. A new year is something to Celebrate from the inside out, that’s for sure, and even though I don’t like what I see in the mirror these days, I like what I see on the inside much MORE than I ever have. After a really good dose of Wisdom from my Instruction Manual and a hot cup of coffee, I’m ready to Celebrate this beautiful new day in my Journey of Life in a manner that will Please the One Who “knit me together” in my mother’s womb…the One who died for me! Without Him, I might be celebrating a day, but with Him, I Celebrate my Life. Isn’t that the way you look at your birthday, too?

My heart overflows with Gratitude this morning for countless things. Psalm 40:5 says, “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” It’s impossible to count my Blessings – there are too many to declare. But on this day, in honor of my birthday, I’ll declare a few…

I’m thankful for a saving Faith and that I know, with all that I am, that One Day I will spend the rest of my days in the Presence of the One who died for me and with all those Faithful ones who have gone before me. I’m thankful that all my children have a Saving Knowledge of Jesus Christ too, and that parting from this earth won’t mean parting forever for us! We’ll have a Family Reunion in Heaven one day that will be so beautiful it will defy words. I won’t just see the people I’ve loved here on earth in Heaven, I’ll also see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Daniel, Peter, Paul, Barnabas, Job, and countless others that I read about in His Word! I’m grateful for the promise of Eternity for those of us who Believe – “too many to declare.”

I’m thankful for the world’s most amazing family. The Love that runs through my children for me and for each other is only possible through God, and it’s an answer to a daily prayer since I became a Mom. God blessed me with children I don’t deserve, and He has answered my prayers for Wisdom to raise them, a Heart to love them unconditionally…to forgive them just as Jesus forgives us…a Heart to speak Kindness and to reflect gentleness no matter what. I’m thankful for the strength and health of each one of them and for joy and laughter year after year. It hasn’t been a perfect journey, and there have been plenty of storms, but we’ve Celebrated Victory together after the storms, and we’ve always clung to our Faith to see us through. The things I’m grateful for are “too many to declare.”

I’m thankful for my Covenant partner…my husband, my brother, and my friend…a gift to me from God in the final chapter of my life. After decades of being content to fly solo, God brought me the perfect man for me, and he has filled my life with Love. My covenant partner loves Jesus MORE than he could ever love me, and THAT’S how and why he’s so good to me…Christ is the center. Together we serve the King!

I’m thankful for my friends. Some I’ve known for decades, and some who have entered my life in this winter season of my Life. Some I’ve never met in person, but I love them all the same. Each one has Blessed me in ways “too many to declare.” I’ve felt their prayers in the trying seasons of my life, and we’ve celebrated Victories at the end as I climbed back up to the mountaintop while they cheered me on – and we ALWAYS give thanks to God for the new Testimony they know I’ll BOLDLY Share with the world. The goal of Christian friendships is to “spur” one another on to be all that we can be for Jesus, so I spur every chance I get, and I’m grateful for when they spur me on, too. I love to belly laugh with them at every given opportunity, and my Heart and prayers can be counted on when they need me…and I know that theirs can be counted on when I need them too. “Too many to declare.”

My morning is already filling up with calls from my family and friends – each one with a priceless message of love for me as I celebrate a new year. Today I’ll celebrate over lunch with a few friends, and tonight I’ll be serving the King by way of a Bible study. What better way to honor the One who died for me? Our family will gather soon to decorate our Christmas tree, and we’ll be celebrating each December birthday (there are 4) – decorating the tree for my birthday has been a tradition for as many years as I can count. Our home will overflow with love and laughter, and I know that all the things I’ll be grateful for on this day as I celebrate my birthday will be “too many to declare”.

Thank you, God, for another day – ANOTHER YEAR to make a Difference in this Journey called Life. Thank you for each life MY Life touches throughout this coming new year. May I be a Reflection of you as I share the Truth with them with Christ-like Love. May I not squander even one day of this new year so that I can Live it out for Jesus Christ! Thank you, God, for the Peace and Love that overflows in my life.

Thank you to my precious tribe and to all of my friends for each sweet birthday message for me.

My thanks are “Too many to declare”. My heart overflows.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One who breathed Life into my soul, and once I got into His Word, I couldn’t get enough. I read Words I’ve read many times before, but they Touched me in ways they never had before, and today they had New Meaning just for me. I’m growing more each day because of Him AND because I’m a Willing student. No doubt my days are getting shorter and shorter, and there’s no longer “all the time in the world” for me. So I work hard to get my nature as close to the Nature of the Perfect One who died for me as humanly possible before He calls me Home. Like the branches on these trees, there are pieces of me here and there that need Attention so that the smaller, weaker parts of me can eventually become Mature like all the others. If I keep strengthening some parts, but overlook all those other “little” things that need to Mature, I can’t become ALL that He Created me to be. So, I keep working to become the Best I can be for Him. Isn’t that the way you look at your life, too?

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

Sometimes we don’t realize our Journey is being thwarted, but that’s because we excuse away the “little things” as if they don’t matter. We easily deceive ourselves into believing that the “little things” don’t matter as long as there are some Strong parts…but THAT’S NOT TRUE. After all, the human body is made up of TRILLIONS of cells, but all it takes is a few active cancer cells to prevent all the others from thriving…and the same is true for the Journey of Faith. We often tell ourselves that “nobody’s perfect,” and while that’s true, that’s no excuse for not giving it everything we’ve got to be more like the Perfect One who died for us. Don’t take my word for it – He says, “Be holy as I am holy”. It takes each piece to Grow into a Strong Vessel that is worthy to be used by the King, and sometimes it’s all those “little things” that are standing in the way of Spiritual Growth, no matter how many other Strong branches we have. As long as we’re Willing…and Seeking His Face…and Determined to please Him more than we’re determined to please ourselves… He’ll keep revealing those “little things” that need our Attention, and He’ll teach us how to Prune them out of our lives so that we become the Vessel He intends for us to be.

The Lord used the winter backdrop of dormant trees this morning to drive home a message to my Heart, and I’m grateful for the Pruning we did together. He loves me. HE Created me for a Purpose. He wants to Use me. He wants me to be Strong. He has command over every cell in my body. He wants me to Grow. He wants me to be a Walking Testimony of His Love and Grace in every area of my Life. If I need to go through a little pruning and cutting away every once in a while so that I can be the Best for Him, it’s WORTH it. He’s WORTH it.

I won’t reach perfection on this side of Heaven, but that won’t prevent me from trying to be more like Him every day until He takes me Home. “MISSION INCOMPLETE” isn’t an option for me. Is it for you?

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

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

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

Some people get the “best friend” part, but their Relationship has become SO CASUAL that they forget to Revere Him and Praise Him in the Process. Oh, maybe they utter an occasional “hallelujah” but not in the way He wants to be Acknowledged as the Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End. He IS the best Friend anybody could ever ask for, BUT HE DESERVES a whole lot more than a pat on the heavenly back like a big buddy in the sky – “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name!” What makes that Friendship too incredible for words is that it comes from the Throne of a God who has been praised in Heaven twenty-four hours a day since the beginning of time and will be forevermore, AND Jesus is standing at the right hand of the Throne of God interceding on our behalf. Goosebumps!

The Author and Perfecter of my Faith hears every prayer, and the Bible says that they’re like incense in Heaven to Him. He sees every tear and stores them away in a jar, and One Day, He will wipe them all away. HE LOVES US enough to die for us, and He loves us enough to intercede on our behalf. Goosebumps? That doesn’t begin to describe what my Heart feels.

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

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It is hovering at freezing temperatures this morning, the rain is falling, the sleet is mixed in here and there, and to many, the sky is falling for sure. Whether it’s later today or tomorrow, the temperature will eventually rise above freezing, and the threat of the “ice age” will be gone until the next time. There is always hope that a wintery day will be warmer at the end than it was at the beginning – and that’s a Truth that applies to all areas of life. As I sat alone in the Presence of the One who died for me, that message of things becoming warmer at the end than they were in the beginning, was driven Home to my Heart, and I began to weep for the ones who become COLDER in the “the end” than they were in the beginning. Isn’t that something you think about too?

What is it about old age that leads some to believe they’re entitled to speak cruelty into the world as if God told them they’ve lived long enough to stop being nice? What is it about old age that convinces some that they’ve earned the right to do as little as possible to contribute to the world, as if God told them they’ve already done enough? What is it about old age that makes a way for so many people to become gossipers and world critics for what they see happening around them, as if God told them they’re old enough to take over as judge and jury of the dark world? A sweet life doesn’t become colder in the end, AND a child of the Living God matures into the most magnificent fruit-bearing Vessel as it warms up with age. What does that mean for all the others who have gotten colder as their life gets closer to the end? Well…let’s just say that people like THEM keep people like ME busy adding warmth to the end of my own Life, and I won’t allow my adversary to make an enemy out of me by coercing me to become cold in the end. So, I share the warmth of the Son with the cold ones, and I show them The Way to find Warmth on their own that will sustain them for the rest of their Journey of Faith.

From where I sit, this is THE warmest season of my Life, and I’m just getting started in my Service to Him. I get tired of people asking me when I’m going to slow down or when I’m going to “take it easy,” because those of us who Serve the Living God…the ones who Live FOR Him and not just with Him…we DON’T SLOW DOWN, and we DON’T NEED TO TAKE IT EASY! The fields are ripe and ready for Harvest, and it’s the ones that have grown Warmer over the years that will be usable Vessels for the King of all kings!

I’m in the final season of my Life, and I’m Warmer than I’ve ever been before. I’ll leave the ones who choose to sit back and watch from their easy chairs, while they squander these valuable years to (attempt to) justify their lack of effort to the Living God. I’m not quite sure what God thinks about all the people who have voluntarily been “put out to pasture,” but I know He DOES NOT HAVE a Retirement Plan. If you’re sitting back “enjoying retirement,” I’d get on with it if I were you. After all, Abraham was 90 years old when God revealed His Plan to him – Moses was 80 when he set out for the Promised Land – it’s never too late. As for me, I want to hear “well done, good and faithful servant,” so I’m NOT slowing down any time soon and I’ll Work on getting Warmer all the days of my Life.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and a little windy, and the sky is filled with snowflakes, reminding me that winter is here and Christmas is just around the corner. If it were up to me, I’d open the floodgates of Heaven, and I’d bury the farm knee deep in snow because that’s a beautiful sight to see from where I sit. As I was giving my Praise and my Thanks to the God of the snowflakes, I thought about how just one little change could bring forth a totally different outcome…for the weather and for my Life too. There’s absolutely nothing I can do to change the outward circumstances like the rain or the snow or the state of the world, but changing the inward…changing ME…is well within my control with the help of the Living God. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” Isn’t that the way you see your life, too?

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

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

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

How about you?