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Reflect The Warmth of the Son….

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and windy outside this morning and I was outside just long enough to capture this image. What I saw with my eyes (and my heart) took my breath away. The sun was rising in the East, and the light was reflecting in the West before I could even see much of the sun itself. The West became a reflection of the light shining on the East – exactly what Children of the Living God are supposed to be! Just the color FROM the sun added beauty to the dark world and it didn’t even take much light to add Warmth. As I met with the Living God in the warmth of my home, I began to pray and weep for those so much less fortunate than I am… those left out in the cold in MORE WAYS than one. It’s one thing to be cold and hungry – it’s an entirely different story to be Lost. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I can see cold people, lost people, sick people, and poor people all around, and the image overwhelms me. Except for the honor of praying for them and doing my small part to attempt to change their lives…I’m powerless. But I know Who brings the warmth. I Know the Miracle Maker. I know my Provider very well, and I know He has a Plan through it all…even when I don’t understand it…even when it hurts. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

It would be so easy to convince ourselves that we’re Reflecting Light from the Son just by our mere existence and that there is no need to take action at all. But the Bible says, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to KEEP AWAY FROM EVERY BELIEVER WHO IS IDLE and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us” so apparently it’s a big deal to a Big God who Commands us to “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. When we strive to be a Reflection of the Most High God, we begin to Experience genuine Compassion and we no longer have fleeting moments of just feeling sorry for people, we FEEL THEIR PAIN just the way Jesus did – and before you know it, the beautiful Reflection of our Faith begins to shine on their lives like the sun on the trees this morning. The Bible says, “Be holy as I am holy” and that’s a tall order for sure – but just thinking about how Holy my God is makes me want to try even harder to be the best Reflection of Him that I can be!

I’m heading into this cold new year with more blessings than any human deserves. I understand where I’ve been and how far I’ve come. I understand that God used my own pain and poverty to tenderize my heart, and I understand that “there is no good thing in me apart from Him.” I am a child of the King and I’m humbled to be found worthy to do a little Work in His Name.

I have a place Reserved for me in Heaven when I leave this temporary home and I’ll have an Everlasting Life with my loved ones who were born-again Believers too. Because I Know what’s possible with Christ, I want to Recruit as many people as I can while I’m still here on this earth so that they can have Eternal Life too! That doesn’t make me “special” – it means that I’m obedient to the same Call we ALL have – to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. I sure don’t want to be found sleeping on the Job when He comes Calling for me!

I have a family that is so close and so filled with love that it defies logic, AND they’re all healthy and strong. I have a Purpose that was Divinely Designed just for me and I understand what I need to do to Fulfill it. I have a warm home and a warmer Heart and every day I strive to have a Heart more like Christ. I want people to look at my Life and see the Warmth of the Son Reflecting over me as surely as I saw it on the trees this morning. I want the kind of Heart that hurts over the pain of another, and the kind that wants to do something about it if I can. The kind that NEVER overlooks the honor it is to be able to stand before the Throne of a Mighty God in prayer on behalf of someone else…the kind of Heart that knows that the only reason I’m NOT getting what I deserve is because Jesus Christ already paid the price for me.

How about you?

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

It’s MEANINGLESS Without The Right Heart…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s gloomy and cold this morning and they’re calling for more rain or snow. Since I like nothing more than fields covered with snow for Christmas, I’m hoping for the snow. When I met with the Living God this morning, I had the hardest time trying to take captive every thought to bring His Word into my spirit. A long list of things to do kept popping into my head and my Praising turned into planning over and over again. All of the holiday preparations filled my mind and instead of focusing on the Greatest Gift of all, I was focused on all the gifts I’m making for others. I finally confessed my weakness to Him and it didn’t take long for Him to take me to the Spiritual Woodshed with a Firm Reminder about the Heart. No matter what I do – no matter what need I’m trying to fill – no matter who or how I serve – no matter what I say – no matter how elaborate the gift I make – if I don’t have the right Heart, all of it is MEANINGLESS. I began to weep as I thought about how my labor of love could so easily transition into lame projects. I never want to “go through the motions” when it comes to the Living God, and I never want to work myself into a frenzy just for the sake of doing good. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Life too?

I know that without the right Heart and without a Prepared soul, I stand the risk of being “a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” because without Love there is no meaning to my words at all. No matter if the words warm the heart and no matter how profound the words sound sometimes – without Love, there is no meaning to my words at all. The “greatest of these is love” and no matter what act of kindness I do today, if the kindness is done to make me look and feel better and not out of Love for the other – it is worthless to the One who matters the most.

No amount of nice things I do for my family and friends and no matter how many handmade gifts they’ll all receive this year – if they aren’t given and driven by Love they’ll be meaningless to the receiver. Love is the greatest of all things and it takes a whole lot of Love to do the Will of my God no matter what’s going on in my life. Nothing I do for Him can earn His favor in my life or justify the Sacrifice He made for me, but when I do His Will with Love…no, no matter how large or how small…my Works are priceless in the Kingdom of God and I know that they’ll have an eternal impact.

Today I’ll focus on love. The love I have for the Living God and the love I have for His people. The love I have for my family and friends and the love I have for strangers I’ve yet to meet. Whatever I do today, I’ll do out of love despite the distractions that come my way. As I busy myself making gifts for my family, I’ll focus on Love a lot more than “perfection” and those simple little gifts will be Priceless when I do. The distractions will just motivate me to try a little harder to battle against the one who brings confusion to life. Absolutely nothing will change my heart OR my direction as long as I’m doing the Will of a Mighty God and I’ll continue to persevere through the obstacles until I succeed.

How about you?

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing”

My God is a Consuming Fire…

/ 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 foggy this morning and even if I were meeting with the Living God from outside on the front porch, I wouldn’t be able to see any farther than a few feet into the fields. As they say in the South, “The fog is so thick you can cut it with a knife”. I won’t have much quality porch time until things warm up in Virginia, but I’ll have Quality Time with the Living God every day. That comes down to choice. I don’t spend Time with Him out of duty…I spend Time with Him because I NEED Him more than I need anyone or anything else in this Life. Psalm 42 says it best “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, Oh God.” I thirst for Him. I hunger to be with Him. I need Him. I love Him. And I Serve Him because He’s the Center of my Life. Nothing else can satisfy my Soul and nothing else can bring me Joy the way He can. He’s my All. Isn’t that the way you feel about Him too?

It’s no surprise that many people can’t find their Way in their Faith and they have no idea what God’s Purpose is in their Life because they don’t hunger or thirst for Him. When we’re hungry in the human sense we don’t rest until we’re fed, and when we’re parched we’ll do anything to satisfy our thirst. Our animal instinct kicks in and survival occupies every thought. We have a built-in radar for our basic human needs and NONE of us go without unless circumstances force us there. Some have a weakness for a particular food or beverage and they’ll crave those things until they finally break down and satisfy the craving…because it occupies their thoughts until they do. Hungering and thirsting for the Living God can feel the same way (on steroids) but it’s a Choice whether or not we Nurture our Faith to the place where we NEED Him more than we need air. When we get to that place where our Soul hungers and thirsts for Him, we become consumed by the Living God and nothing else can satisfy the “craving” to spend Time in His Presence. When we’re feeling parched, we’ll crawl across the desert of Life to reach the Living Water and we’ll do anything to satisfy our Thirst. Hungering and thirsting for Him is a sure Sign that we “get it”. That’s when we realize that there is “no good thing apart from Him” and that our lives are meaningless without Him. That’s where we find our Purpose and that’s where He Directs us to Greatness. It’s a place of total Surrender that grows the most beautiful Relationship, and it is when we hunger and thirst for Him that He can use us in Miraculous Ways. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, Oh God.”

Sadly, hungering and thirsting for the Living God is something that most people of Faith miss out on. They may love Him. They may honor Him most of the time. They may THINK they need Him. They may spend a little time with Him each day (most of the time), they make sure to be in church on Sunday mornings, and they pray. But they don’t hunger or thirst. They never seem to be Desperate for Him like the deer panting for water unless they need Him to do something or they want Him to fix a problem they have. Perhaps it’s because they’ve never been taken to the Spiritual Woodshed where He sets the Path of Life straight – or maybe they’ve never been to that desperate place where He’s ALL they have to cling to….no other human being…no subsistence…and no “hope” from the world’s perspective. Maybe they’ve never tapped into the Holy Spirit that dwells within the heart of a Believer and maybe the Spirit is quiet because of it. I don’t know the reason why most people aren’t hungering or thirsting for Him like a deer panting for water, but I DO know that’s the only Place to be and the only Way for a person of Faith to Live. “Our God is a consuming fire” and when we draw near to Him – HE WILL draw near to us and His Love will consume every part of us. That’s where Faith overflows and that’s where the most amazing Miracles happen in this Journey of Faith. It’s when we hunger and thirst for the Living God that He Knows He has our Full Attention and our Path will be set Straight for the Journey. If you wonder what your Purpose is and you’re confused about what God wants for your Life, then you need to dig in deeper to stir up your Hunger and Thirst for the Living God. The Living God doesn’t leave anybody out in the dark when they’re desperate for Him day in and day out whether they are “well fed or hungry”.

I spent some Quality Time with the Master this morning as He woke up the world and my hunger and thirst have been satisfied all over again. He’ll Consume my thoughts as I go about my day, and I’ll let His Spirit set my Path straight. I’m overjoyed to go “about my Father’s business” because He dwells within my heart and His Love satisfies me like nothing else. I pray that I bring pleasure to my God every step of the way because I hunger and thirst for Him. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, Oh God.”

How about you?

It’s Always About Priorities…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up long before sunrise and spent my time with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith inside a warm home with my Bible and (eventually) a good cup of coffee. It’s supposed to be cold and sunny today but I don’t care much about following the weather channels to see what man has to say because the God in control of every raindrop is Unpredictable, and because of that each new day is like a surprise from Him to me. I like watching God unfold His plans for the day and then I “plan accordingly”. Sometimes I need an umbrella and sometimes I need a warm coat – but no matter what steps I take to prepare for the outward, the Inward Plans are the most important of all. If everything is “well with my soul” I’ll be Strong and Ready for whatever comes my way… BUT if I fail to do my Part on the Inward, I’ll be like a ship lost at sea with no Direction whatsoever. Isn’t that the way you approach the Journey of Life too?

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

Every four years there is an uproar in this country as we rally for a new candidate to occupy the White House and news channels of every shape, size, and belief system beat the story to death 24/7 for months on end. It’s exhausting to hear them spit out their 2 cents about how their favorite person will lead as if they’re experts on what the Living God has in mind. Truthfully, the outcome doesn’t matter much more to me than the outcome of the weather because I have a Personal Relationship with the One Who sits on the Throne to Rule the entire world. He’s been there since the Beginning of Time and He’ll be there through all Eternity whether He gets your Support or not. He doesn’t get “elected” into office…HE IS the “office” and no matter how the world votes, He will NEVER be replaced. I am confident that He is the One to “ordain the leaders” so no matter how passionate we are about this one or that one, God always has His Way. He has ordained our next leader who will ONLY be able to do what God gives him the power and authority to do…period. Although I’m a citizen of the United States of America and NOTHING could pry me away from this country, I’m actually just passing through and my Citizenship is in Heaven where the King is. With that in mind, I can’t afford to get caught up in the confusion of this dark world – instead, I focus on the Inward to be sure that I AM ready to take MY place in my Forever Home. Ready or not, the King is coming.

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

How about you?

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

Train up a Child…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CLAYTON!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. From the looks of things from the front porch this morning, this day could easily turn out to be a “dreary” one, but there won’t be anything dreary about the day itself for me. I spent my time with the Living God giving Thanks more than anything else, and my Heart is bright enough to light up this entire old farm if that was possible. The Blessings overwhelm me. Answers to my prayers Humble me. His Perfect Plans for my Life inspire every minute of my Time. He’s a Mighty God so worthy to be Praised. This morning I’m especially thankful that He chose me to be His Child and because of that, there is an entire generation following in His Footsteps too. The Seed of Faith He planted within me so long ago will last for generations and generations to come. Hallelujah! Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

Thirty-seven years ago today my oldest son was born. It wasn’t an easy season, and I wasn’t overjoyed to be expecting my third child. I didn’t know how I’d handle another baby with two already at home and a busy job working to feed them all. I was worn out, unhappy, and self-centered. While I was preparing to be discharged from the hospital after his birth, I was told there were serious complications and my baby boy was immediately placed in the NICU. I began to pray like never before, beginning by confessing my selfish Heart and how I could worry more about myself and how “I” was going to handle my burdens than I was about the Blessing of this child…and I cried out to God for mercy. After a long week of praying and waiting for news from the barrage of testing they did on my sweet baby boy, his symptoms abruptly lifted and he left the doctors perplexed. “We can’t explain it”, they said…but I sure could! We were discharged from the hospital on my 30th birthday…the very best birthday present I could ever dream of! There were miracles wrapped all around the birth of my son, but the Miracle of healing was brought on by the Power of a praying mother and a very Merciful God. He heard my prayers then and He’s heard every single prayer I’ve ever prayed for this precious son of mine over the years. There are no words to express my love for my son. What a wonderful man He’s become…one that would make any mother proud. He’s healthy and strong, loving, kind, and compassionate. He loves me, he loves his siblings, and he loves the Lord and ALL the credit belongs to my Kind, Compassionate Merciful God.

Look out when a godly mother sets out to pray! She knows how to do Battle in the heavens on behalf of her family and she knows Who to Trust with the Results. I’ve spent entire nights pacing the floors of this old farmhouse while I battled through challenges at home and God was Faithful and Merciful every single time. I didn’t spend my time begging – I didn’t spend my time doubting – I spent my time standing on the Promises of my Mighty and loving God. I prayed for Mercy and Wisdom and I TRUSTED Him with my family. I claimed Victory over it all! I poured Living Water into my children every single day of their lives and I did my best to be a Reflection of Jesus Christ through it all. They saw Him in me. Prayers over my children were for things much bigger than good grades or sports, I prayed for the Eternal things instead. I prayed for their souls – the ONLY thing that really matters in the end. I prayed for future mates. I prayed for a godly generation. I prayed for my grandchildren before they were ever even imagined. One by one each one of my children accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and today their lives Reflect His Heart by the way they love. This is the Key to “train up a child in the way he should go.”

Today I’m celebrating the birth of my gentle giant 37 years ago and I’m STILL giving thanks to God for hand-picking me to be his Mom. Seeing answers to prayers come to life years after I prayed them makes me even MORE thankful to my Mighty and Merciful God. I’ll never stop praying for my family…for the big things and some little things too. God’s Word “does NOT return void” and I speak it over their lives daily. I’ve got countless generations already covered as I pray for my children’s children and beyond. I know God hears the prayers of this praying mother and I know that my prayers will NEVER “expire” over time.

Happy birthday, Clayton. I love you more than life itself.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

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 God of all gods, 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 – I mean them with all of my heart… and I try to imagine His Throne and how amazing it is. When I give Him the heartfelt Reverence He deserves it doesn’t take long to feel His Presence and I get goosebumps when I do. But of all the experiences I have with my God, and all the Words I savor that were breathed into existence by Him, the most amazing thing to me is being able to approach the One that is surrounded by Praise “day and night” and He welcomes me as His child. If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, nothing will.

Like anything else, 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 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 think they’d get goosebumps too.

Some people get the “best friend” part but their Relationship has become so casual that they forget to Revere Him and Praise Him in the Process. Oh, maybe 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. The mere thought of Jesus interceding on our behalf 24/7 should give anybody goosebumps IF they understand the Balance.

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

My day began in the Presence of a Mighty God and I was so caught up in Praise for Him that I never got around to a “list” of requests. He knows what’s on my Heart. He knows my needs 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?

Holy Ground is Level Ground!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My morning routine has been off kilter for a few days and although I didn’t meet with the Living God at sunrise from the front porch, He was ready and waiting for me when I turned to Him just like He always is. This old farm represents so much more to me than just a magnificent piece of property – it’s “holy ground” in my eyes AND in the eyes of many others who have experienced it for themselves. But even more than that, it’s “level ground” for me where I see my Journey of Faith with clarity and where I’m strengthened to Speak the Truth to the masses. Like David before me, “My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation, I will praise the Lord.” Isn’t that what the Journey of Faith looks like to you too?

I love the mountains and the rolling hills BUT it’s on level ground where we find the most benefit. It’s on level ground that we can see what lies ahead, and it’s on level ground where we can recognize danger. It’s on level ground where we can see someone coming from far away, and it’s on level ground where we build the strongest foundations. When it comes to the Journey of Faith, it’s on “level ground” where we brace ourselves for whatever comes our way and it’s on that “level ground” where we find our Stability so that we are Prepared for whatever it is. On the level ground, we can see what our enemy is up to from far away and we can face the enemy and WIN because there is no hiding there. When David faced Goliath it was on level ground, and although the stature of the giant would have overwhelmed an average man, David could see clearly that Victory was his and he braced himself for the win. Standing on level ground is the only way people of Faith can battle giants and it’s the only place to find Peace in the turmoil of war.

God Reminded me that the Journey of Faith is NOT an obstacle course – it’s a collision course, and that we are all called to face the “giants” head-on. We can’t win the War if we’re hiding under the bed! Anybody can dodge danger, and sometimes they can avoid it completely (at least for a while), but it takes a Warrior like David to face the giants head-on. It takes a Brave one like David to choose the level ground where he can SEE his enemy and where his enemy can see him back. It takes a Confident Warrior to plant our feet firmly on the ground refusing to run and hide from an enemy we KNOW can’t win if we’re willing to face it head-on. This is the Key to Victory.

I’m standing on level ground and I’m proclaiming the Righteousness of my Amazing God as I fight the Ultimate Battle on behalf of myself and others. I won’t run and hide. I won’t just “hope” things turn around. I won’t speculate tragedy. I won’t listen to words of defeat. I won’t listen to words of destruction. I won’t listen to words of doubt over the situation, because I KNOW who wins and I’m just the right Warrior to fight the battle…a battle that can only be won on a level ground collision course. This is the Key to fighting a Spiritual war.

We are surrounded by the “prince of darkness” and the liar from Hell is raging. This war can’t be won by way of an obstacle course…it’s collision course time! Avoiding danger here and there doesn’t make it go away and hiding behind the hills isn’t a place for God’s people. To win the war we “brace ourselves like a man” the way Job did and we listen to the counsel of the Victorious One. We plant our feet firmly on level ground the way David did and we slay giants that appear to be undefeatable when looked upon with human eyes. We don’t hide behind the hills, we go for the level ground and we face it head-on like the Warriors God has equipped us to be.

I’m enjoying the view of the hills and mountains today but spiritually I’m standing on level ground and I’m unshakable. I’m fighting a battle I KNOW will be won because I know how to fight and completely disarm the enemy. I’m celebrating Victory long before I see it because it has been PROMISED to me if I just don’t give in. That’s what a Warrior does.

How about you?

Never Gauge By Quiet and Still…

/ 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 breezy this morning and apart from the deer grazing in the field, everything is fairly quiet and still at the farm today. As I entered His Presence to give my Praise and my thanks, I became distracted by the idea of quiet and still. It was as if my soul was being issued a Warning – – a warning about what sometimes lurks behind the quiet and still! As peaceful as the setting is from the front porch at the farm, it’s not that way with the world. No doubt Heavenly Happenings are beyond our ability to Understand on this side of Life, but I know a few things for sure – I Know that God is at Work…I Know that this world is in a place it’s never been before, AND I Know that I were born for such a time as this! So, the Lord of Hosts issued a Reminder to me this morning – a Firm Reminder for me not to become obsessed over trying to make the world quiet and still, but to Live with Heavenly things in mind instead. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

If only we would spend more time savoring the Word of God instead of obsessing over words coming through the news feeds, we’d see the world from a Heavenly Perspective and we’d stop being anxious about anything. We wouldn’t be surprised by what we see with our eyes. We wouldn’t be surprised by pestilence. We wouldn’t be surprised by sexual immorality. We wouldn’t be surprised that children are being used and abused. We wouldn’t be surprised by war. We wouldn’t be surprised by the election results and we wouldn’t whine about who God has allowed to rule. We wouldn’t be surprised to know the world hates us because of Him. We wouldn’t be fearful of the unknown. We wouldn’t gauge the spiritual condition of the world based on “quiet and still”. We would know better than to hold court with the dark world, and we wouldn’t try to speak FOR God things too mysterious for us to understand on this side of Heaven. If only we would Focus more on His Will instead of our own desires, we’d not only have the kind of “Peace that surpasses all understanding” but we’d have souls on Fire because of it. When we Focus on His Will more than anything else, we Accept the fact that He’s up to something big, and we feel Blessed just to be able to be a part of it. If only we would Focus on Him…the God who “gives and takes away” we would spend more time on our knees pleading for Forgiveness and Mercy than we do on our soapbox screaming for justice.

I don’t know what God is up to these days, but I’m excited about whatever it is. We’ve never been here before, but He has. We rely on the quiet and still, but He doesn’t. Despite the turmoil and the evil I see, I wholeheartedly Believe in my God on the Throne who is Orchestrating every move…and I Trust Him. I’m ready for whatever He does and I Celebrate that I was born for such a time as this! I have absolute confidence in the Lord of Hosts and I know that His Work for me here on this earth is temporary…but His Plans for me are Eternal. I’ll stumble every once in a while, and if I focus on the details of the evil around me I might even be fearful too…temporarily. But I’ll take His Hand and let Him lead me through it all and I WILL be Victorious because of it. And maybe, if I Serve Him selflessly all the days of my Life, I might hear “well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s the goal.

How about you?

I Know Where Victory Is Found…Do You?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The wind howled through Virginia last night and I was pleasantly surprised to see no damage done when I stepped outside this morning. While the wind howled outside, I “howled” to the heavens, spending half the night in prayer – another night before the Throne of God appealing on behalf of others. By the time the sun showed itself, it was more like a signal to the end of a restless night than a celebration of a new day. It’s always time for Battle in the Life of a Christian…especially the vocal ones like me – but every once in a while the battle becomes BIGGER, so I turn up the heat through prayer and sharpen my Weapons for Victory. I didn’t fret and wring my hands throughout the night…I FOUGHT like the Warrior I am and I shouted the name of Jesus Christ to put my Enemy on notice and to Proclaim my Victory long before I see it. Isn’t that what you do when you’re fighting a BIG battle too?

It can be so easy for us to fold under the pressure of Battle but it NEVER has to be that way. Since we’ve already been told that “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” so WHY in the world would we rely on flesh and blood tactics to Fight a Spiritual Battle? No matter what we face in this Journey called Life, we have the Weapons for battle, and we have the One who Intercedes on our behalf. Keeping this in mind is the Key to using the right Weapons for the war and it’s the only way to find Peace (and Victory) in the Battle. I don’t fold under the pressure and I don’t succumb to what I see with my eyes, because “logic” has no place in the Kingdom of God. There’s no way to rationalize God’s Master Plan and, although I don’t always get my way, I always Trust His Ways no matter what. Isn’t that the way a Father wants His Children to Live?

When I pray I don’t spend a lot of time asking for His Will to be done because I know that it always will be; I spend a lot of Time speaking Victory instead. I shout out His Promises that are written in Black and White, and I Celebrate the outcome that I’m Trusting Him to work out according to His Master Plan. When I’m doing battle over BIG things I’m like a Spiritual maniac. I pray and pace and I’m oblivious to time. I don’t worry about the sleep I’m “losing” because I know that when I spend the night in the Presence of God, He’ll give me supernatural Strength for the new day. I Proclaim Victory with my voice and in my Heart and I don’t doubt for one second that Victory will come…Victory according to His Master Plan. Sometimes I even laugh at my enemy and I remind him that he DOES NOT WIN – and I laugh because I KNOW that every demon in hell is shuddering because of this maniacal Pray Warrior. How can I NOT win when I know how to do Battle?

I surrendered a little sleep last night to step into a Battle that (sadly) most people don’t even Know how to Fight and today I’m overwhelmed with Peace because of it. My “howls” were Heard by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and I am sure that my prayers were like “incense” to Him because the Bible says so. There’s no need for me to “dwell” on the things I prayed about, and I sure don’t need to worry about the people I’m praying for because the Creator of All holds everything and everyone in the palm of His Hands. God hears my every prayer BUT that doesn’t mean I’ll stop praying. Until I see Victory over these things, I will not cease to pray…but more than that…I WILL NOT surrender and I WILL NOT doubt the outcome. I’m a Warrior. I’m Victorious. I’m a Spiritual maniac. I’m A WINNER because of Him – He taught me how to Fight and Win by using the Weapons He’s already given to me..and I Know how to use them well because He Instructed me.

How about you? Do Know how to do Battle in the heavens and find your Victory? If not, reach out to me and I’ll show you the way to Peace.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Are You Absolutely Sure?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s too cold to spend my mornings on the front porch these days, but not too cold to step outside to see how God has Painted this new day. As I sat in the Presence of the Most High God I thanked Him for all things new…a new sunrise…a new day…a new opportunity to Serve and a New Word for such a time as this – it was a long list of New Things. But along with those New Things I thanked Him for in my own life, I thanked Him for the New that several of my friends are a part of today – friends that have drawn their last breath here on earth but are now in the New of Eternity. The sting of death isn’t easy for family and friends to endure, that’s for sure. But behind the tears of mourning, there is a Heavenly Celebration of the New Life for those who Know and Love Jesus Christ. Without the Promise of a New Beginning, life would be meaningless for us all and the sting of death would be unbearable. But with Jesus Christ, the Future is New, Bright, and Beautiful forever and ever, for those who Believe! Isn’t that the way you look at death too?

Mourning is a natural process and it can’t be rushed along. Parting from a loved one is excruciatingly painful and the emptiness they leave behind is felt forever. There is no right or wrong way to mourn. In the days of Moses, the Israelites had a 30-day mourning period. In the Jewish culture, loved ones are buried the same day they die – in Bible times there was a 7-day mourning ritual that sometimes included “mourning musicians” to help in the process and a tearing of their clothes to express their agony. Back in the day, widows were required to wear black for two years as a sign of respect for their dead husband and to let the world know she was off-limits until the time of mourning had ended. Some funeral homes employ a nurse to be present during a funeral service to assist the emotional loved ones with medical attention for their hysterical reaction to death. But no matter what the mourning process looks like or what kind of “rituals” people practice, it doesn’t matter how long it takes the human Heart to heal, there is a Celebration in Heaven for those who Know and Love Jesus Christ that NO AMOUNT OF EARTHLY MOURNING CAN DIM. Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

We often hear “May they rest in peace” and see R.I.P. on almost every headstone in the graveyard, but not everybody will rest in peace One Day. Eternity is waiting for each of us, and it won’t be a dormant, “peaceful,” lifeless, forever resting place the way some people like to believe. For those who Trust in Jesus, the Bible says “No eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him”. I celebrate for my friends and loved ones who now see and hear what they longed for in this life. For all the others who don’t Trust in Jesus, the future isn’t bright, and they’ll be gnashing their teeth in torment for eternity. Now that’s something to mourn! For those who don’t (or won’t) place their Trust in Jesus, then this life is as good as it gets for them. But for all the rest of us, death of the body is just the Beginning – you see, our Victory only comes through death where we’ll finally be ushered into the arms of our Savior. Even Jesus (temporarily) struggled with death – just the idea of being beaten and crucified caused Him to sweat blood. But it was His Father’s Will for Jesus to die, and it’s His will for all the rest of us to die one day too! His death (and Resurrection) was the only way to achieve God’s Redemption Plan! Death is not a curse…at least not for those who Believe…it’s where we’ll step into Eternity with no more sadness, sickness, pain or tears Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

The stakes are high and the Results everlasting which is what keeps Christians like me busy sharing the Truth that has the Potential to save the world. I don’t want even one person to die without knowing the Truth, so as long as there is breath in my body I’ll do whatever it takes to share it with the world! The ones to die without Trusting Jesus…now THAT’S something to mourn about – the others we Celebrate! There are no words for how blessed I am to Know that everyone in my family and my closest friends who have already gone before me Trusted in Jesus Christ, and I KNOW that they instantly entered into a Heavenly Celebration that will last forever! What joy and peace I have! Will I cry? Of course. Will I miss them? Absolutely! But you won’t find me wishing they were still here no matter how much it hurts on this side of Life. The day that they lived for is finally here and THAT’S something to celebrate through the pain!

Do you Know and Trust Jesus?

Are you absolutely sure of what Eternity will look like for you OR are you hoping just to “rest in peace forever”?

If you have doubts, I’m here to help. Don’t let even another minute pass until you find the Peace that leads to Victory.