Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I looked out my bedroom window as soon as my feet hit the ground, just like I always do, to see what God is doing with this one-of-a-kind day. There isn’t an art gallery in the world that houses anything even close to the “art” God paints in the sky. Beginning the day watching the Master wake up the world is not a schedule preference for me; it’s a way of life. I’m in awe of Him after all these years, and I’ll be found in awe of Him when I draw my last breath. That’s what Love looks like, but to have a Rich Relationship with the Living God, it takes EFFORT on our part to make sure that our love for Him never fades. His love for us never will, that’s for sure! One of my favorite hymns says best what my Heart feels, “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell”. My time with the Living God “restoreth my soul” and Strengthens me for the Journey, and it is through this time with the Priority of my Life that He equips me to shout about my Faith and my God from the mountaintops of Life. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

It seems so easy for most people to “shout from the mountaintops” about some things in life. We shout from the mountaintops when we see a great movie. We shout from the mountaintops when we find a good restaurant. We shout from the mountaintops when we discover a great vacation spot. We shout from the mountaintops when we discover new technology. We shout from the mountaintops over a “good deal” in a store. We shout from the mountaintops over a new birth. We shout from the mountaintops when we secure a new job. When we’re filled with excitement, we don’t seem to have any trouble at all shouting from the mountaintops over almost anything in life. But when it comes to things of God that are Designed to Compel us to shout from the mountaintops, ARE WE WILLING? IS HE WORTHY? Is our Relationship with the Author and Perfector of our Faith strong (and rich) enough to want to Tell the world about all that He is and all that He’s done for us? Apparently not, because it is a rare thing to hear a publicly proclaimed Powerful Testimony anymore. Sad but true.

My Faith is intended to be a Light in this dark world. My Faith has little to do with me and everything to do with Him. It’s my “job” and my Joy to share it with the world, and I’ll shout from the mountaintops with boldness, with compassion, and with Love, every day until my last.,

Is the Light of your Faith shining for all the world to see, AND are you shouting from the mountaintops, OR are you still hiding behind the excuse that you’re “quiet” about your Faith? No offense, but you weren’t led into your Faith to be quiet about it…it’s not about “you”. If you ever wonder how there can be so much darkness in this world of ours, just remember how few Lights are out there shining for the world to see. Darkness ceases to exist with Light.

Let your Light shine in this dark world today. Shout from the mountaintops with excitement and joy like a child on a Christmas morning. Spread the Good News. Pour out Love and Compassion. Be kind and gentle. Share your Heart. Share this post!

Together, we can light up the world just one “little light” at a time. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!”

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Master as He woke up the world on this cool October morning from inside the farmhouse, and I’m already missing my time on the front porch as the season sets in. This morning, my Heart was overflowing with Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me and for how He has sustained me for such a time as this. It’s always busy around the farm, that’s for sure. It always has been and always will be, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But sometimes, when you add just one more thing to the equation, I need a long pause before I get back on my feet. This morning, as I paused, my Heart refused to stop Celebrating the Blessing of watching His Plans for my Life come TO life right before my very eyes. All these years I’ve breathed Living Waters into the Heart of my family, first my children and then my grandchildren, and now I get to Celebrate that “I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain”. One by one, they’ve accepted Christ as their Savior, and now one by one I’ve had the honor of baptizing my grandchildren in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He never ceases to amaze me at how He shows and moves every Heart if we’re just Willing to walk in His Will and not our own. His Name truly is Wonderful.

My Life is living proof that God can take a broken vessel and mend it into a Mission. It doesn’t matter where I’ve been in the past or how many times I’ve failed, He can still use me to Glorify Himself if I’m just willing to Walk in His will and not my own. When I’m in His will, “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength”. When I’m in His will, I know that if I “have faith the size of a mustard seed,” I can move mountains. When I’m in His will, my lack of natural talent transforms me into an “expert” in ways that amaze me. When I’m in His will, I can find supernatural strength to endure any storm. When I’m in His will, I am unshakable. When I’m in His will, I can forgive any wrong. When I’m in His will, I can love the “unlovable” because I know they were made in His image and He doesn’t want anyone to perish. When I’m in His will, I find just the right words at just the right time to minister to a broken heart. When I’m in His will, I can do all things because He is the one who will Produce the results if I’m just willing to plant seeds. When I’m in His will, my life shines with Purpose, and it’s when I step out of His will that I fall and I fail.

Making sure that I’m walking in His will isn’t always easy, even though I know firsthand the beauty that comes by way of Obedience. But I can so easily surrender to my own will and my own thoughts, and when it “feels” right, I can put God’s name on it and label it His will if I’m not careful. But walking in His will doesn’t always make sense, and it isn’t always smooth sailing for me or anybody else. Sometimes it requires that we stretch far outside of our comfort zone, and sometimes the direction makes no sense to the human mind…but that’s what Faith looks like. Sometimes walking in His will makes no sense at all when we’re looking through the eyes and not the Heart, and if we’re not careful, we’ll refuse to walk at all because we’re too busy attempting to rationalize the Journey. Walking in His will produces Joy, and walking in His will is where miracles happen! So it’s His will I seek and not my own, and I will always be Victorious because of it. His will is Perfect, and His Name is Wonderful.

When the rest of the world was focused on getting their children to be the best athletes, to win the most trophies, or to get the best grades, I was focused on the Living God and getting my children onto the Jesus Team. It didn’t make sense to so many people watching from the sidelines back then, but I’m pretty sure it makes sense to them now! The Rewards my children (and grandchildren) will receive One Day will far outshine any of their accomplishments here on earth. Sadly, those earthly accomplishments will fade away faster than they will despite the time and effort that went into achieving them. Because of Him, my kids are confident THEY CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES THEM STRENGTH. It’s no secret that I got a lot of things wrong in my life, and I’ve fallen more times than I care to admit, but the Greatest Part – the Eternal Part – the Part where we’re called to raise up a godly generation…I got that part right!

I’m walking in His will in every area of my Life, even (especially) when it makes no sense to me. After all, it makes absolutely no sense from the human perspective that “a wretch like me” could be Refined by the Hand of Jesus Christ to raise up a godly generation. His Name is Wonderful and I’ll be following Him all the days of my Life. After that, I’ll be spending Eternity with Him AND all the kids and grandkids will be there too!

To God be the glory for my Faith-filled family – a family that could have ended up in an entirely different direction IF NOT for the Promise Keeper who Sustains me…and for my Obedience to His will over my family.

We are Victorious because His Name is Wonderful!

His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

He is the mighty King; Master of everything

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

He’s the great Shepherd;

The Rock of all ages

Almighty God is He

Bow down before Him; Love and adore Him

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning is cool and foggy, but the warmth of the Living God is everywhere…every day. When I looked out across the fields at sunrise, all I could focus on were the layers I saw – layers of fog and layers of clouds. The view was magnificent! Quickly capturing what I see with my eyes is important because, as the sun heats up, all the layers dissipate fast. The more I thought about those layers I could see with my eyes, the more I thought about the layers of my Life – layers of sin and layers of rebellion, and how the Hand of God peeled each layer away by His warmth too. He “saved a wretch like me” a long time ago now, but the peeling back of layers never ends. The more I seek Him, the more He shows me what He sees below the layers and how Important it is to peel them back. Sometimes He is slow and gentle when He peels back a layer of what needs to be Revealed, and sometimes He rips it off like a Band-Aid. Either way, I’m always Grateful to be one step Closer to Him in the Process. What a Blessing it is to spend time in the Presence of the Most High God any time I want to, and to Hear what He has to say to His people day after day. But If the Most High God had not peeled back the layers to reveal what I needed to Repent of, I never would have become a Usable Vessel for Him. No matter the condition of my Heart, no matter what kind of mood I’m in (or not), no matter my trials, no matter how many times I fall, my God is always Ready and waiting for me any time I take the time to meet with Him. What a friend I have in Jesus!

God doesn’t scrutinize the words I use when I Speak to Him…they really don’t matter much because He sees what’s within my Heart without speaking a word and He loves me anyway.

God doesn’t whine about how much time I give Him, or remind me of when I disappoint Him if I’m busy and I don’t take the time for Him that I should. He’s the Bright Morning Star, and He’s always there 24/7, ready to open His arms to this child of His. He Loves me anyway.

God is always ready to Guide me in the Right Direction when I get off track, just like a Shepherd guides his sheep. His patience with me has no limits, and He doesn’t keep reminding me that I’ve gone down the wrong path in Life over and over again after He’s peeled back the layers. He takes me by the Hand like the Loving Shepherd He is, and He sets me off in the Right Direction all over again. He loves me anyway.

God is all I ever need, the One who has my Heart, the One who “loves me anyway”, the One who will never leave me nor forsake me…BUT THERE IS A CATCH. I’m Commanded to be a Reflection of Him, and I’m Commanded to extend the same things to other people that He has extended to me! I’m supposed to be ready to listen, to Love, to Forgive, and to Guide others into peeling back their layers with Unconditional Compassion too…no matter how “ugly” it is underneath all those layers! I’m supposed to love them anyway. If not for the example that God sets before me, and my desire to please Him because of it, none of this would ever be possible.

I’m filled with an Attitude of Gratitude this morning for all that He is and all that He does for me. Isn’t it just like my Savior to use a little fog and layered clouds to Speak to my Heart? If He can use me, He can use you! He loves you anyway – right where you are and just as you are. All you need to do is Trust in Him and be willing to be “peeled” into “perfection”.

I’m overwhelmed today just as much as I was decades ago when I First met Jesus, that the God of all Creation “sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood,” and I am Forever Grateful for the Peeling Process that revealed my “ugly” nature so that He could Refine me like gold.

I’ll be Working hard every day to be the very best Reflection of Him that I can be, in all that I do and all that I am, until He calls me Home. He loves me anyway.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s Monday – the day after the Sabbath day – and I remembered to “keep it holy” in every way I could just as I’m Instructed to do. Even though “church time” is behind me now, I’m just getting revved up for the week by spending Time in the Presence of the Author and Perfector of my Faith. After all, church is Designed to Strengthen us, not something we check off a to-do list once a week or something that makes us look (and feel) like “nice people.” So, come Monday morning, it’s time for me to get to Work applying what I’ve learned and to Seek His face even more than I did yesterday. I met with Him outside, where the air was cool and the fog was thick, and I watched the Hand of God at work over this old farm. This time of year, we can expect to see fog as the cool air meets the warm ground, and I never get tired of watching the fog lift off the farm in the Fall. Sometimes it remains low to the ground until it dissipates, and sometimes the fog covers the entire farm from low ground to high ground and beyond. As I sat there drawing near to Him, not only could I see the fog, but I could feel it all around me too, and it reminded me of the Shekinah Glory (the manifested Glory of God) and what it will be like to see one day…and I will. Some people have closed their minds to the fact that God can still manifest today just the way He did in the Bible…but not me. I Believe in the Supernatural work of my Supernatural God. I believe He’s “the same yesterday, today, and forevermore” and that He will NEVER lose His Power! Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

Sometimes I wonder how it came to be that people decided that God belongs in a box. To some, the Bible is just a history book and all the things they read about are just entertaining stories from the past, BUT not for today. If the Glory of God showed up, they’d excuse Him away the same as they do for so many other miraculous things that play out right before their very eyes. Is it that His Supernatural Works scare them because they can’t explain Him, OR is there a conflict between the Supernatural and the intellectual faith that so many hang their hat on today? Either way, some have wiped away all the Supernatural works of God as if He’s a past-tense God, even though the Word says that He’s the “same today, yesterday, and forever more.” It must make our Enemy very happy to see us “muting” the Works of a Mighty and Merciful God. It’s interesting (and sad) that some people have been taught NOT to believe in the Power of God at all, and if that’s the case, they might as well “worship” a statue once a week. My God IS the same today, yesterday, and forever more, and I long to see His Glory…and I will. Don’t you wonder who in the world would want to believe in a powerless God, and why in the world would they want to keep Him in a box?

It’s painful for me to see so many “regular church attendees” walking around IN the fog when I know that all they need is a genuine Relationship with Jesus Christ, more time in His Word, and the Holy Spirit to Guide them. Many of the ones wandering around in the fog hop from church to church because they’re looking for something outward to satisfy the Inward. They laugh at people like me, and they scoff at the Supernatural just the way the Bible says they will… and they settle into teaching that tickles their ears because they hunger to be entertained and to hear (only) what they want to hear. Maybe they have a Bible app on their phone, but it’s rarely opened or read outside of the church. Sometimes they might actually reach for a hard copy of the Bible in the pew ahead, but they can rarely find the verse in time to read along because they aren’t familiar yet. Jesus really does “love the little children of the world,” but He expects them to grow up! In fact, He expects His Children to Learn and Grow every single day. He expects His Children to hunger to be in His Presence every day, all the days of their lives. The Living God expects His Children to be so familiar with Him that they recognize the voice of their Shepherd without hesitation or doubt. He expects His Children to know His Word like the back of their hands, and He expects His Children to obey the “rules”. That’s what growing up (or maturing in Faith) looks like, and it’s the ONLY way to be Confident and Capable when the fog settles in.

It’s foggy in the mornings these days, but that’s okay – I can see the Beauty even with my eyes closed. If my Bible were taken from me today, I’d be VERY sad because I love to spend Time in it with Him every day…But I wouldn’t be lost, and I wouldn’t stumble around in a fog. I’ll always have the Holy Spirit to guide me, and the Holy Spirit will Illuminate the Words when I’m struggling if I ask Him to. My Heart knows what His Word says because I Know Him. I’m a grown-up Christian still in the works, so I Work on getting Stronger and better every day…NOT just on Sundays. I appreciate the fog, but I’ll never be walking in it…church or no church…Bible or no bible…I’ll always have His Spirit and I’ll always have His Word embedded in my Heart. I’ve put in the Time and effort to Mature, and because I “put in time” EVERY day of the week, I believe my Shepherd is pleased with me.,

How about you?

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 kicked it off in the best way I know how…in the Presence of the Most High God from this simple farm in Virginia. I couldn’t wait for Him to turn on the lights so that I could see what kind of day He had in store for us all. It takes Light to see what’s ahead, and it takes Light to see my Instruction Manual. As surely as I breathe, I know that the dawn will break and the sun will rise, and the darkness will turn to light eventually…and it doesn’t need any help from me. Understanding that darkness cannot exist in the light is a whole lot more than a scientific fact – it’s a Spiritual Truth we seem to have forgotten…or at least it looks and sounds that way when so many of God’s people would rather dance with the Devil by talking about the “newsworthy” darkness all around them than they would ever dare to Talk about the Light. If only they would replace the “D” word they often use to place blame for the state America is in, and would exchange it with “D for Devil,” who is REALLY behind it all, then the Spiritual Reality of Light and Darkness might actually sink in. Can you imagine a conversation online or around the water cooler – “Did you hear what the Devil said today?” – “Did you see what the Devil did today?” I would imagine the Devil is overjoyed to be the “star of the show” when he’s talked about a whole lot more than Jesus Christ is…and that’s where people like me come in. I KNOW WHY I EXIST – I exist for the sole Purpose of adding Light into this dark world and to be the salt of the earth. So, my Focus today and every day is on the Throne and what GOD IS DOING and not on the Devil’s and his lies. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Life, too?

These are troubling times filled with uncertainty, and there are plenty of people wringing their hands and overwhelmed with anxiety about what will “happen next”- but I’m not one of them. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that as people turn away from the Living God, there are Consequences for all. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that worrying about the future serves no purpose at all. I know from my Instruction Manual that times will be perilous before my King returns. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that things always get worse before they get better, and sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring people to their knees in surrender to the Great I am. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that praying isn’t the only role I have, but that I am to show up and to Speak up for the Living God in all that I do and all that I am…talking politics can’t hold a candle to the Power in the Name of Jesus. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that the battle for the Light never ends…at least not until we hear the sound of the Trumpet. What makes me sad (and keeps me going) is watching people miss the mark because they’re too entertained by politics than they could ever be about the Living God…sad but true. I know all too well that I was born for a Purpose much greater than those trials around me and that I am expected to do my Part to share the Light every minute of every day. This is the Key to finishing the race well.

It takes the magnificence of the sun to light up the world each day, but it only takes one tiny little Light to light up the darkness around me. One lit match stands out in the dark like a sore thumb, so I know that my Light can easily be seen by the darkness around me, and it will NEVER go unnoticed. The world is filled with people who like to hide their Light in the closet as they convince themselves that the Light is only for their own benefit and not intended to “offend” others. Those people really don’t care if anybody else ever sees their Light (or if someone finds themselves in Hell One Day) because they’ve convinced themselves that praying is their only Major Role in this dark world. But boy, do they like to talk about the Devil and what he’s doing! No doubt if this darkness had a voice, you’d hear how much it hates the Light. – and since it can’t speak to be heard (it uses man to do that), it manifests in countless ways in the silence. It’s when we keep the Light to ourselves that we are of no threat whatsoever to the darkness, and the darkness will soon snuff out the Light if we aren’t careful. Is it any wonder the world around us is getting darker and darker with so many tiny little Lights refusing to Shine?

I’ll be sure to keep the Light shining all the days of my life. It’s a very dark world, but not too dark for my Light to make a world of difference. I might actually inspire others to shine theirs too when they see how Beautiful my Light is and they see that the darkness around me is repelled because of it. Some people might find their own Spiritual backbone when they see how brave I am in a world that hates me because I KNOW I have nothing to fear. Sometimes the wind will blow and the rain will come, and the darkness may try to Silence me in the storm. but I’m not afraid of the Darkness. I’ll be Praising the God OF the storm and I’ll be Victorious every single time because HE says so. I’m encouraged to know that “Greater He who is in me, than he who is in the world”, so my Light will never go out, and I’ll never quit doing my Part to Light up the world around me.

You won’t find me shaking my fist at Congress or giving credit to any politician for the state we are (or aren’t) in because they have no control at all…they’re just pawns of Satan. You will never find me dancing with the Devil by giving him “air time” he doesn’t deserve. Instead you’ll find me boldly Proclaiming the Name of Jesus Christ “in the presence of mine enemies” and you’ll see me doing the Victory Dance because I know who wins this War. When I Speak the name of Jesus Christ every demon in Hell shudders because they know His Name and they fear Him! I refuse to talk about the Devil and all wrong that he’s doing in this dark world. Instead, I’ll keep talking about my Jesus and all the Good He’s doing and because of it, a lot of that darkness will be snuffed out faster than you can say “Amen”. If you love talking about “politics” and you can’t get enough of the conspiracy chatter – if you insist on focusing on the darkness a whole lot more than you do on the Light…it’s not going to end well for you. Just sayin.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day, I’m healthy, I have a sound mind, I have an amazing family and a roof over my head – even still, when I first woke up, it was obvious that I needed to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When my first thoughts are filled with a list of things to do, or doubt about my ability to accomplish them, instead of Gratitude for a Mighty God, gracious enough to Bless me with a new day to Serve Him, it’s time to get busy taking captive every thought! Being Mature in my Faith doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle with my thoughts; it means that I recognize a Heart Problem when I see it, and I set out to correct it with the King as fast as I can! To allow thoughts to take ME captive instead of me taking THEM captive would be to squander a new day and to miss out on an opportunity to Serve the One Who Created the heavens and the earth. That’s not an option for me…is it really an option for you?

The Journey of Faith is not always easy, and sometimes the trials can cause people to stop Growing. For some reason, people convince themselves that once they step into their Faith, that Life is going to be easier…but THAT’S NOT TRUE. Life is filled to the brim with trials and tribulations for all of us, the same as it was for all the Saints before us – as for me, they are my Encouragement to Finish the Race (and finish it well!) no matter what! Daniel didn’t avoid the lion’s den because he was a man of Faith. Instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. David didn’t avoid being hunted down like an animal because he was a man of Faith. Instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. Jonah didn’t avoid being swallowed up by a big fish just because he was a man of Faith. Instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. NOBODY avoids the Trials and Tribulations just because they’ve come to their Faith – They need just learn to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” and to Trust the One they Serve COMPLETELY. This is the Key to Perseverance through it all.

Self-pity, self-centeredness, fear, and pride are always what’s behind those thoughts that need to be taken captive – but there’s no place for any of these things in the Heart of a Child of the Living God. He’s more aware of my Circumstances than I am, and He’ll see me through as long as I “take captive every thought to make it obedient” to Him. I don’t have to worry about whether or not He’ll do His “part” – all I ever need to concern myself with is doing mine. When I “take captive every thought,” my fear subsides, my Heart rejoices, my Strength returns, my Hope is renewed, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.” Then, AND ONLY THEN, can I be a Vessel that’s Ready, Willing, and Able to do the work of the King.

Let it be said of me, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.”

How about you?