Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s overcast again this morning, and the fields are filled with moisture from the days of rain we’ve had at the farm. The deer you see have bulging bellies, and it won’t be long before we’ll be enjoying their babies. My soul is Refreshed after my time with the Living God this morning, and my Path has been made Straight with His Word. I’m not JUST a Follower of Jesus Christ…I’m a Warrior, and Warriors take a few more “hits” in this Life than all the others. As a Warrior, I need to be Strong, Ready, Bold, and Fearless…but more than any of the Characteristics that I need to be a Good Warrior…I need to be Kind and Compassionate, too. It’s not an easy combination to be Bold and Kind all at the same time, and I definitely can’t pull that off on my own. So, I step into the Presence of the Most High God…the truest Definition of Compassion, to Prepare myself for War and to take on His Character as best I can. THAT’S where I find the Balance, the Strength AND the Compassion to do what He has for me to do. Isn’t that the way you find your balance, too?

It can be so easy to lose our Balance when we’re faced with adversity or when we find ourselves not seeing eye to eye with someone. Anybody can roll over and play dead in the midst of the trials and Tribulations, and most people are good at lashing out when they’re feeling hurt or offended. Most of the time when we’re faced with these things, our truest character can show itself in a split second, but followers of Jesus Christ are called to be “slow to speak,” and we can’t afford to “lash out” just because we want to, because we have a Witness to Protect. Some people are cowards, and they refuse to “get involved” even if the Battle has the potential to harm someone else. Some people spit out insults without blinking an eye, and those words can never be reversed once they’re spoken. Some people point fingers and spin the situation in the direction they want it to go in, or in the direction they THOUGHT you were heading in, even when you weren’t. Some people think they’ve been given the supernatural ability to read minds or to test motives, so they think they already know where you’re coming from without you speaking a word. Some people gear up and stay so busy defending their own position that they never stop to hear what yours is at all. Some people have perfected being passive-aggressive, and they’ll pout or go silent in the midst of the conflict because they know that it hurts you more when they do. There are plenty of people who are entertained by conflict, and they’ll do anything to keep it going – because as long as it’s going, they are sure to have your attention, which is all they’re really looking for in the first place. No matter what’s going on or who it’s going on with, the Battle can’t be won when we rely on our OWN words or our OWN “feelings” to get the job done. It takes a Warrior to do battle God’s way! It takes a Warrior who has been Prepared through time spent in the Presence of the One they “fight” for, and a Warrior equipped with the only Words that ever really matter from a Warrior willing to speak up and a Warrior consumed with Compassion. That’s the ONLY way a Battle is ever really won, and it’s the ONLY way to Glorify God when we’re at War. Putting on boxing gloves and slinging insults has no place in the Life of a Warrior because War is ONLY ever won with Truth and Love. This is the Key to living like the stakes are High.

There are all kinds of battles we face in this Life, but there is only ever ONE War. There are all kinds of conflicts with all kinds of people that we’ll face along the way too, but there’s only ever ONE enemy. I don’t pick fights, and I don’t open a can of worms just so that I can speak Truth. I don’t like conflict, and I guard my Peace with everything I’ve got, BUT when God throws me into a situation where I have the choice to be tolerant while His Name and His Character are being questioned OR to stand Firm for Truth…I’m called to be a Warrior. Because I know my enemy very well, I know his subtle ways, and I know what he’s up to when he attempts to bend the Truth. I know what’s at risk if I remain silent, and I Know when and how to Speak the Truth as a Warrior for God Almighty. I’m not afraid, and I’m not worried about being popular. I’m not the Judge or the jury and don’t express what others might perceive to be my “opinions” – I stand up for the Judge and speak for the Truth, no matter the consequences I might face in this world because of it. I don’t “hate” others because they don’t believe what I believe…I have Christ-like Compassion for them, and I care enough about their Future to speak the Truth to them at all costs. He is my God, and I am His Chosen Warrior. I am an Ambassador for the One who hung the stars in the sky and knows them each by name. I am a Child of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! I know that if He sent His Son to die for me so that I might have Eternal Life, I need to be willing to die for Him if I’m ever faced with that too. I’m Bold, I’m Strong, I’m Compassionate, I’m Kind, AND I’m a Warrior. I’ll be doing battle in His Name for as long as I have life, and when I draw my last weary breath, THEN I’ll see Victory face-to-face, and maybe I’ll hear “well done, good and faithful servant”.

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, and I’m armed and ready for whatever comes my way after my time with the Living God. Things beyond the view from this porch aren’t so beautiful sometimes, and I know that if I’m going to endure what He has for me to endure or if I’m going to bless a suffering soul, it always comes down to being One with Him. I don’t have it in me to run this race of Life alone. I’m equally yoked just like these mules are to successfully navigate my way through this life, AND I have HIM IN ME. With Him, there’s nothing I can’t do and no pain too great for me. I’m like a walking billboard for what Victory looks like, and I make sure that my world hears about the Power of my God day after day after day. Isn’t that the way you live out your Faith, too?

Nobody gets through this life without trials and tribulations, even though some would have you believe that they have. Some people hide their lives so far from the rest of the world and so deep within their hearts that it would take a sledgehammer to break them free. Some people don’t believe that our trials and tribulations are “anybody’s business,” as if people of Faith don’t have them and as if there’s some kind of shame if they do. Some people square their shoulders and walk around as if they’ve managed to escape the hardships, and some of them have even convinced themselves that God is showing more favor to them than He does the rest of us. But nobody escapes trials and tribulations in this life, ESPECIALLY if they’re going to be used by a Mighty God, because it’s the fire that refines the gold. Those trials and tribulations ALWAYS have a multi-faceted Purpose from a multi-faceted God, and they weren’t intended to be hidden behind closed doors. How can a Mighty God be glorified through secrets, and how can we offer Hope to a suffering soul unless they can see and hear about what God has done through our darkest hours?

The world beyond the front porch of this old farm is filled with trials and tribulations, and it sure would be easy to hunker down at the farm and to ignore the pain and the darkness of it all. But I wasn’t Created to hoard up or shut up, and neither were you. God didn’t accidentally place me in this life at just the right moment in time without Good reason, and He didn’t accidentally place you here without Good reason either. God doesn’t fill my world with just pleasurable things, and He won’t fill yours like that either (regardless of what some would have you believe). God hasn’t refined me through Fire without Good Reason or to torment me, and He hasn’t made a mistake or left His Throne when your life looks the same. Sometimes it takes a season to recover from the pain beyond the front porch, but it’s never OK to sit back and lick my wounds because of it. Instead, the hardness of my life has served to soften my Heart, and I’ve been Tenderized by the King for Good reasons beyond anything my human mind can comprehend. ALL things work together for Good….if we let them.

I don’t understand it all, but I DO understand that without Him I could do nothing. Without Him, I would have no Hope. Without Him, I wouldn’t know what Victory looks like. Without Him, my Heart wouldn’t have been softened for the Journey. So, from where I sit I know that all of those trials and tribulations Served a Purpose BEYOND me and my Life and I’m supposed to share with all those suffering souls…NOT to whine…to encourage…to offer Hope…to be a Living Testimony of the Power of a Mighty God! I’m what Victory looks like.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s the morning after a heavy rain, and everything around this old farm is coming to life after being nourished by the touch of the Master’s hand. The greens are the greenest, and the blue is the bluest, and no artist in the world could come close to capturing what my eyes saw this morning. My Time with the Master was a little different than it usually is, and I was pouring out my Requests like a river. I spelled out my heart’s desires, and I got specific about my goals. He already knows all those things because He knows every thought I have, but I think He likes it when we don’t give up, and He sees that we never stop Believing throughout the Journey. When I looked at this photo of the sun, it reminded me of how it is with me and my God…a beam from the front porch straight to Heaven to a God who cares about every single part of me. Isn’t that the way you see your Relationship with God, too?

It can be so easy for people to give up on their dreams just because they haven’t become a reality yet, but we lose out on the chance to lean into God when we do. God-sized dreams are put into Motion by the Touch of the Master’s Hand…a Hand that is Timeless and One that will never be rushed. When God plants the Seed of a Dream, He’s got His own Agenda and His own Timing, and the fact that we haven’t seen it all come into Play yet doesn’t mean the Details aren’t being Worked in Heaven. But the waiting often leads to impatience when we don’t see what we’ve been Dreaming of within our desired timeframe, and most people will throw in the towel instead of Leaning into Him even MORE. If we don’t Believe in the Dream that was planted by the Touch of the Master’s Hand in the first place, how will it ever come to be?

With the Faith of the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains…IF we BELIEVE. That’s not to say that we make a wish and get our way, but if the Plans come from a Seed of a Dream that was planted by the Hand of God, it’s already a “done deal” even when we don’t see it with our eyes yet! “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” Why would you expect to see the fulfillment of the Dream He planted within you if you don’t believe that it’s possible yourself, and you give up because you got tired of waiting on God?

God says, “I am the I am” – He’s the “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” His Word says, ” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways – As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.” He’s the “same yesterday, today, and forevermore,” and His Promises are True. He says, “I know the plans I have for you,” and THAT alone should be enough to keep even the biggest “skeptic” waiting on the Touch of the Master’s Hand. God never rests, He never changes His mind, He never quits on you and me….so how can it be so easy for so many to quit on Him just because He hasn’t revealed the Whole Picture in OUR desired timeframe yet?

No matter what I want for myself, I know that God knows what’s best for me, and I Trust Him because I BELIEVE what He says. It took 25 years for the fulfillment of the plan for Abraham and Sarah – from the first hint of a son to the birth of Isaac. God doesn’t work on our timing – He works on His own. He planted a few God-sized Dreams within me years ago, and they haven’t become a “reality” YET…but they will in HIS time. I NEVER stop Believing. I never stop Trusting. I never doubt Him. I don’t rush Him. I don’t quit, and I don’t give up on what He has for me. You won’t find me like a wave of the sea going back and forth in my Belief…I serve a Mighty God who NEVER breaks a Promise, and ALL things are possible with Him!

Amen?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day at the end of a long week, and God has put a new song in my heart. A song of Praise, a song of Thanksgiving, a song of Hope… and a song of EXCITEMENT for His Plans for my life today and beyond. I’m not sure how anybody endures this Journey of life without a similar song in their own Heart, and I feel sorry for all of my friends of Faith who lack excitement as they pass through this life. The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” so having a Joyful Heart is the Key to all things. I know that I have a Purpose much bigger than anything I can wrap my head around, and I don’t need step-by-step Instructions to be willing to keep moving toward the Goal – I just need to Press on. Isn’t the mere thought of your Master Plan enough to excite you, too?

It’s pretty easy to think in shallow terms when it comes to this life, and it’s even easier to fall into the trap of routines if we aren’t careful. Routines can be good things, but when routines overshadow our ability to be spontaneous for the Lord, they’re nothing but a trap. It’s when we determine to keep our eyes and our hearts fixed on the excitement of the Future as we live out His Plan that all of those shallow and routine things seem to be a whole lot less significant to us. I’ve known a few people (and a few churches) that would be rattled to the core if their routine was shaken because God had the nerve to “show up”. They aren’t prepared to let Him “work” whenever He’s ready to work, and if He isn’t on the schedule, it ain’t happening. These people can easily excuse away their actions by defending the need for “law and order” or by preaching about time and responsibilities, but they stay so focused on their need for schedule and their fixation on routine that they wouldn’t recognize a visit from the Master if He hit them over the head. Sometimes I wonder if these people are reading the same Instruction Manual that I read, or if they are just inclined to consider it to be more of a history book filled with things of the past than one filled with Life that still applies today. You don’t have to read too far into my Instruction Manual to see that when God “showed up,” He didn’t sit around and wait until He could be squeezed in to the schedule. Instead, people responded to Him at the most inconvenient times, and their blessings were immeasurable because of it – BUT those who chose to ignore Him instead, paid a high price….and so will you.

Oh, I’ll take care of my responsibilities today, and I’ll be following a few routines too. But all the while I’ll be listening out for the voice of my God, and when He calls me into action, all bets are off. I’ll get busy doing the Work of the One I love the most without a worry at all about all of those shallow, routine things getting done, because when I obey Him, somehow there’s plenty of time and energy within the day to do it all. If He brings a suffering soul my way today, I won’t make them wait until a more convenient time when I’m not so busy. I’ll drop what I’m doing, and I’ll get busy doing the work of my Master. If He calls for me to speak up and to share my Faith with a lost person today, I won’t make excuses for why it isn’t a good time or place to do the sharing. Whatever He calls for me to do today, I pray that I’ll do it without reservation, and I pray that those shallow, routine things don’t blind me to His Plans for one second.

I’m filled with love for the Love of my Life today, and I’m very excited about what He might have me do in His Name. When He “shows up,” I’ll drop everything else to serve Him, and I know that all of the other things on my plate will be managed with Heavenly efficiency because of it.

How about you? Do you have a schedule and shallow routines that prevent you from listening to God, and would your world turn upside down if you dropped it all for an unscheduled opportunity to Serve Him? IF so, we need to talk. We’ll have a long talk about what it means to know the Living God so well that you recognize His voice when He speaks, and how if you don’t tune in and make Him your priority, you’ll miss out on all that He has for you, and when I’m done with you, you won’t be wound-up tight or sticking God in a box until a more convenient time in your life either!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s raining this morning, and just the sound of it from the front porch is guaranteed to soothe the soul. God knows precisely what we need, and when we need it, and no amount of whining about the weather will change His Plans for this new day, that’s for sure. As I sat there taking in the rain, I watched the raindrops fall on the flags and then run down across the cross before they fell to the ground. Those raindrops reminded me of tears, and I wondered just how many times I have shed tears at the Cross. For sure, I’ve shed every imaginable kind of tear at the Cross – tears of gratitude – tears of joy – tears of shame – you name it. I’m forever running to the Cross with whatever is on my Heart…as it should be. Make no mistake, I don’t worship the Cross the way some are inclined to do, BUT I do worship the One Who died for me on a Cross, and that’s why having it nearby is so important to me. In a world where the Cross is being removed to make room for other things, it is, and forever will be, front and center in my life, and I guard it with everything within me. Isn’t that the way you consider the Cross, too?

I believe the biggest turning point in our Faith comes when we embrace the fact that it ALL began at the Cross and that we were ONLY Created for His Purpose. That’s the source of our Peace and Joy, and it puts all of the pieces of Life together…it’s the ONLY thing that makes our lives make sense at all. But most people don’t “get it”. They somehow have convinced themselves that life is all about what they can get out of it for as long as they live, and they somehow believe they exist for their own pleasure. They question everything that happens, fight against the Flow, and are determined to make things the way they believe they should be, rather than considering His Plan and His Purpose in it all. To them, the Cross is merely a reminder of an historical moment in time and NOT the center of who they are in Christ Jesus. When good things happen they easily shout out a “Hallelujah,” but when bad things happen, they question His Will. My greatest Joy is knowing that my life has been stamped by His Hand for His Purpose and that every single piece of it belongs to Him. Some pieces make me cry, and some pieces bring me profound sadness, but EVERY piece has a Purpose beyond my ability to comprehend. This one significant piece of my Faith is the source of my Peace, my Joy, my Contentment, my Strength, and Unconditional Love. I was Created for His Purpose, and I’m Destined for Greatness. Why would I try to “own” all of the pieces of life when I can find my Peace only by accepting His Purpose for my Life every step of the way?

Sometimes I cry when I don’t have the answers, but I know that if I stay in His Presence and I ask Him for Wisdom, He’ll provide it to me every time. Sometimes I cry out of frustration over my circumstances, but I know that if I stay in His Presence and seek His Will, He’ll always put me on the right path. Sometimes I cry. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me, because I know that I don’t deserve it, but He gives His love to me freely and unconditionally, no matter what. Sometimes I cry. I’m humbled by the Work He places in my Hands because I don’t believe that I can measure up, but EVERYBODY measures up in His eyes! All He ever looks for is a Vessel willing to live out Life according to His Purpose and not their own…and a Focus on the Cross. Living out Life with only His Plan in mind may look like the loss of freedom for those people who don’t understand it, but living out Life according to His Purpose and His Plan is the ONLY Freedom that matters at all, and it’s the ONLY way to find True fulfillment and Peace.

I’ve shed a whole lot of tears at the Cross, but every single one of them has been dried by His Warmth, and my Heart is singing for Joy as I set out to fulfill His Purpose for this new day.

How about you? Will the Cross be out of sight and out of mind for you today, or will you remain focused on the Price He paid for you? Will you be focused on the Cross today? Will you Trust His Purpose for your Life here on earth, or will it be all your own?

At the cross, at the cross

Where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away,

It was there by faith I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day!

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 this morning, and I lingered past the sunrise because it was too sweet to rush. The beauty of any new day is almost too much for me to take in, and it makes me wonder about what Heaven will be like. This morning, it was as if everything I heard had a voice…from the birds singing to the leaves rustling in the trees, to the sounds the flags made as they blew in the breeze. It was like a God-given orchestra in Surround Sound, and it was a sweet reminder to me that everyone has a voice that needs to be used for Good. Each voice can be a part of the God-given orchestra, and we can all be heard in this dark world in Surround-Sound if only we’re willing to speak the Right Words with the Right Purpose.

We live in a noisy world filled with debaters (in and out of the Church), and it’s not likely they’ll hear in Surround Sound because of it. News programs pay top dollar for nice-looking commentators hired specifically to debate and (talk over) someone else with a different opinion of “truth. The Internet spreads lies and hate faster than you can say “amen” and churches are dividing every day as they debate their own “versions” of Truth. (The Truth doesn’t have versions, but apparently, their Knowledge of the Truth is too weak to understand that). Some Christians have convinced themselves that it’s their “job” to debate the dark world (and each other) even though the Bible they claim to know so well warns against that kind of foolishness. When it comes to God’s people, there is only One song that needs to be sung…Only one song that will make a Difference…only One song we’re commanded to sing…only One song that has Power of its own…Only One song that leads to Good…and only One song that has the potential to reach the world in Surround Sound – and that’s the song of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

They say that the average female speaks 20,000 words a day and the average male 13,000. I can’t help but wonder, of all of those words spoken each day by each gender, how many of those words were GOOD words…ENCOURAGING words…UPLIFTING words…LOVING words and how many of them were Words used for the PURPOSE of Good? If we rattle off thousands of words each day and most of those words are NOT positive and uplifting words used for Good Purpose, how in the world can we expect our own world to be filled with Good either? It’s impossible to fill ourselves with negative things and expect Beautiful things back in return. The power of Life and death is in the tongue, and our words are indicators of the Condition of the Heart and the mind. If we want LOTS of those 20,000 words we speak to be Good ones with Good Purpose, then it all begins on the inside. Garbage in…garbage out.

People around me often hear me say that “speaking about my Faith is as natural to me as breathing,” and it wouldn’t be possible for me to stifle my voice to snuff Him out of my conversations at all! I am His Child, and He is my God, and He is a part of all that I am and all that I do. But even though I speak out (and often), I can’t help but feel shame when I consider how many of those 20,000 words were actually glorifying Him. How many times was my voice heard yesterday, and how many of those 20,000 words included a mention of a Mighty God…my HOPE and my REDEEMER? It boggles my mind when I hear someone of Faith say something like “Wow…I just found out he/she is a Christian!” after having spent time with them in the past. I think it’s pretty obvious that if either one of them were using some of their 20,000 words a day to mention Jesus Christ, they would have come to that realization long before they did. If we fail to use our voice to speak up about our amazing God, how can others hear about Him, and how can we consider ourselves to be a Good Witness of our Faith if we’re silent?

I’ll speak my words today with Purpose, and I’ll be sure not to squander an Opportunity to be a LOVING Light for Him by using a bigger portion of my 20,000 words. My Voice won’t be silenced today because my desire to Honor Him is much bigger than my desire to be part of the noise. The mention of my amazing God will flow through my conversations as naturally as blood flows through my veins.

How about you?

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead”

“You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up”

“You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was in awe of the Touch of the Master’s Hand the moment I stepped outside this morning, and after my time with Him, there is no doubt I’ll be in awe of Him all day long. Just a few days ago, the temperature was in the 80s, and this morning there is frost on the fields. You have to be prepared for the unexpected throughout the Springtime in Virginia. Some people will be caught off guard because they packed away their warmer clothes the minute the temperatures began to climb. Others will continue to wear their winter clothes until summer because they don’t “trust” what the weather will bring on each new day throughout the Spring. The way we respond to weather surprises is a good indicator of the way we respond to our God…He’s FULL of surprises, and nobody knows His thoughts. Trying to figure out God and His next move is a complete waste of time because He’s already told us what to expect, and He’s already given us our Marching Orders, and yet, so many prepare more for the weather than they do for His Return. Only God Knows what each new day will bring, and the only way to truly be Prepared is to Trust Him. It rains when He opens the Heavens. It frosts when He lowers the temperature. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told His disciples, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me,” and yet, they fell asleep like spiritual slugs despite His desperate plea because they weren’t prepared for what was about to happen. The disciples wouldn’t stay awake for Jesus even when He needed them the most because in that moment, sleep was more important to them. If you want to hear people squeal like little piglets, just take away a few hours of sleep and watch what happens. With all that in mind, why in the world should it surprise us that so many professed Christians today refuse to “stay awake” at this hour despite what the Word of God warns us about? Sleeping through an occasional call from God in the middle of the night is one thing – sleeping through these dark times when the world needs to Hear about Jesus is an entirely different Story. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

It’s a sad thing to see how places of worship have evolved over time. Humble little sanctuaries with an organ and not-so-soft pews have been replaced by cushy concert halls with theatre seats, lights, fog, and coffee shops, all in the name of “changing times” and “comfort”. I’ve done a whole lot of looking, and so far I haven’t found even one verse in the Bible that says that God’s people need to be comfortable AND willing to modify the house of the Lord to make it easier and more appealing to the flock. It takes all kinds, that’s for sure. As for me, I like barns and not-so-soft pews. It reminds me of how Jesus was born in a manger, and it keeps me humble during our worship time together as I consider how and where the early church used to meet. When it comes down to it, all the pretty things that the “modern” church offers are just a matter of personal preference. If people believe they can draw closer to God only when the music is good and the coffee is hot, that’s between them and God. The saddest part to me is that while priorities have changed to please the crowds, the message of the Cross has been whitewashed to please them too – something they’ll all pay the Price for One Day.

As for me, I don’t worry much about comfort because the way I see it, Hell is the MOST uncomfortable place EVER, so my focus is more on being a Reflection of the Son than an entertainer in an attempt to “save even one.” I don’t worry much about the music or whether or not it will entertain the flock because the way I see it, no music has ever been written that can compare to the beauty of the Music in Heaven, so I keep striving to be a Reflection of the Son in hopes that more people will hear it along with me One Day. I don’t worry too much about “offending” with the Truth that has been softened to fit the modern church, because the way I see it is if I’m a Reflection of the Son, then I should Love enough to Speak the Truth because I don’t want anybody to perish. Paul said, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some,” and I’m taking my lead from him. People like us aren’t here to entertain. People like us don’t succumb to insults, and we aren’t afraid of threats. People like us don’t make excuses for speaking the Truth, and people like us are already “up at sunrise” seeking His Face. For people like us, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is our greatest Honor until He calls us Home – AND at the top of the list of what God expects from each one of us…sunrise or not.

I’m a work in Progress and a diamond in the rough. I have a very full life, and I don’t concern myself with popularity. I’m unshakable. I’m unstoppable, and I’m Relentless when it comes to Sharing Jesus Christ. But the main thing…the one thing I am that separates me from many others these days is that I am laser-focused on being a Reflection of the Son, and I’m willing to be Uncomfortable for Jesus Christ. The Day will come soon enough when I’ll see Perfection…the Timeless Throne of a Mighty God. I’ll look upon the beauty of Jesus, and I’ll fall to my knees because He’s much more beautiful than I could even imagine. His Spirit can get the Job done, and His Word can do the Teaching. All I ever need to concern myself with is being a Reflection of the Son…to Live and Love like Jesus. Will I perfect my Reflection? Not even close – no matter how many “sacrifices” I make. That’s the Goal, and it makes me uncomfortable when I consider all the ways I fall short. So…I keep speaking the Truth that might just make someone else uncomfortable as they consider the wages of their sin and the consequences of unbelief…because that’s what Jesus would do.

Are you willing to be uncomfortable for the King?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Spring has sprung in Virginia, and things are beginning to bloom. Before you know it, the trees and everything around this farm will come to life…and I can’t wait. As I sat before the Throne of a Mighty God this morning, He used the fields around this old farm to remind me that you “reap what you sow” in Life – especially when it comes to the Heart. There are lots of things that go into the making of a green field that will be rich for harvest one day soon, and there’s a whole lot that has to go into me too if I want to be Rich for Harvest and a Vessel that can be used by God. It’s understanding what it takes to grow the Good Fruit that makes all the difference in the End Result. Isn’t that the way you look at your Life, too?

Plenty of trees around the farm will bud out soon, and lots of them weren’t planted here by man at all. Nature did the planting, and God did the Nurturing, and somehow, without any help from me, they thrive year after year. There is plenty of green in the fields near the farm, too, and when it’s left to grow, it will soon be harvested for horses and cows. But farmers don’t just cut down long grass and weeds to feed to their herds…at least the good ones don’t. They do their part to nourish the soil, too, so that what grows in the fields is rich, abundant, and healthy for the herd.

God makes sure to water the fields, and He brings forth the sun to help it grow. But without a little effort on the part of the farmer, what is produced out of the field would be of little use to him and his herd at all…and the same is true for you and for me. God is always ready to do His Part to grow us into Vibrant Vessels for Service, but He won’t do all the Work it takes to get there. We have to be sure to add all those other things it takes to grow nourishing Fruit that is rich, abundant, and healthy too. IF we do nothing to ensure that we produce Good Fruit, all we can expect to grow is weeds. If “weeds” are of no real benefit to a farmer, what good are Weeds when it comes to the Living God? He doesn’t just want “green” sprouting up uncontrollably…He wants GOOD fruit that will be beneficial to His Flock, too… and it takes a little work to achieve that.

Weeds are strong and resilient, and they aren’t easily controlled. Weeds can grow in every nook and cranny, and weeds grow like wildfire. Some weeds are pleasing to the eye, and if we don’t know the difference, we’ll easily mistake a weed for a flower. But it doesn’t take long to see that the weed doesn’t produce the fragrance of a real flower at all, and it cannot Produce Good because of it. Weeds grow in every direction with no rhyme or reason, and when left unattended, they can snuff the life out of whatever good stands in the way…and so it is with people of Faith. When people of Faith become lazy and refuse to do their part to Grow Good, they invite the weeds to take up residence in the Heart, and eventually the weeds will consume the Good in them, too. When the weeds take over in a person of Faith, they end up doing a whole lot more harm than Good in the process, and they have the potential to snuff the Life out of whoever stands in their way, too. It doesn’t take any effort on our part to grow weeds. Anybody can do that! But growing Good Fruit is an entirely different story. Just like the farmer…it takes nourishment, and hard work, and diligence, and commitment, and determination to do whatever it takes to Produce Good fruit that will bring about Good things in His Flock.

I may not be able to control all the weeds around this old farm, but I CAN control the weeds in my Heart, and when I do my Part, God ALWAYS does His. I’m doing my Part to be sure that my Life is filled with Good Fruit so that I can be pleasing to the King AND used by Him to do Good for as long as there is breath in my body.

How about you?

By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, by their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 7:16-20

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I had a rich meeting with the Living God this morning, and He spent some time Refining my Heart. The One who Created me is Kind and Gentle, but when He is doing business on the Heart, He doesn’t pull any punches. He shone a Heavenly highlighter over a few of my weak spots, and He reminded me of His Strength. Part of my Lesson this morning made me weep with shame, and some of the Message made me overflow with joy – but none of the Message would have been possible, nor would it have any impact on my Life whatsoever, had I refused to be willing to be Molded by my Maker again this morning. When it comes to things like Heart and Character, there’s no such thing as being “complete”…at least not on this side of Heaven. There’s always room for improvement, and I’m driven to be all that I can be for Him. Isn’t that the way you look at your Lessons, too?

There are lots of reasons why most people don’t continue to Grow in their Faith for as long as they live, but I think the biggest reason is pride. It’s often said, “pride cometh before the fall,” but that’s a spin-off from Words in Proverbs that drives the message home a little deeper… “pride goes before destruction, a haughty (arrogant) spirit before a fall”. Pride is what prevents us from being willing to be transparent, and pride is what keeps us from sharing our Trials and Victories. Pride is where we convince ourselves that we’re something we’re not and that we’re bigger and better than we really are. Pride is what makes us run from the Spirit of God when it’s Lesson Time, and pride is what stands in the way of revealing our weaknesses. Pride is what prompts us to judge someone else, and pride is what makes us lie to ourselves about who and what we really are. Pride drives greed, and pride drives lies. It’s pride that will stop us from helping the helpless, and it’s pride that leads us to lose our identity in wealth. A prideful heart refuses to admit when it’s wrong, and pride stands in the way of forgiveness of another. There’s no end to the destruction that pride brings with it, and eventually, pride will build a shell around the heart that it is so hard that we’re no longer Recognizable as God’s People and we’re useless to the King. There’s no room for pride if we want to grow. Unless we get a handle on pride, we can’t find humility.

I’ve been slapped around by people of Faith more often than I can count when they hear me confess my weaknesses or when I share my trials or temptations. Their pride drives them into believing that if you are a person of Faith, all those things are “in the past” and they shouldn’t be shared with the world. But I have no pride when it comes to being a Vessel for the Living God, and I know that the more I share about my own Life, the more inclined God will be to use me to help someone else. My Life isn’t just a big ball of mess…even though it’s felt that way sometimes…my Life is a Powerful, Living, Breathing Testimony, and I’m not too proud to share it. Every single piece has Grown me, and every pain has made me Stronger. But most of all, I know that ” in all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to HIS purpose” …so ALL of it has been used for Good in my life too. My Life has Purpose, and I’m humbled to be used by the King. So, whenever pride tries to sneak in…the kind of pride that would have me withhold what God has done in my life and the kind of pride that would lead me to take credit for things in my life that I have no business owning at all…it’s time for a Lesson on Humility straight from the Throne of the Living God.

I may not like it much when it’s Lesson Time, but I’m Ready and Willing to be Molded by my Maker so that I can be ALL that He intends for me to be for as long as there is breath in my body.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was warm enough for time on the front porch, but the winds were fierce, so I met with the Alpha and Omega from inside. I could have taken steps to endure the wind on this new day, instead, I took the steps necessary to Reinforce my Journey so that I’m Equipped for all things. He’s the Beginning and the End and the only way to find Peace in a “windy” world riddled with turmoil. I know that, along with this new day, will come a new set of challenges, because my adversary stays busy trying to thwart the Plans God has for us all. But my adversary is well aware by now that I’m a Force to be reckoned with in this Spiritual War, and I’m a bold Warrior for the Kingdom of the Living God. That’s only possible because I straighten up my Armor and I Prepare for the new things each new day. It isn’t easy sometimes, BUT I’m Unstoppable, and I’m always Victorious because of Him IF I make sure to Prepare for what I may face. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

I can’t think of anything worse than to be a coward at such a time as this, a time of turmoil where the world NEEDS JESUS CHRIST MORE THAN EVER! I can’t think of anything worse than refusing to mention His Name out of fear of the consequences. I can’t think of anything worse than denying Him in this dark world by remaining silent, and I can’t think of anything worse than losing my Voice for Jesus Christ. I can’t think of anything worse than hiding my Bible in a Bible app on my phone that no one else can see, rather than carrying it around like a statement of Faith everywhere I go. I can’t think of anything worse than refraining from sharing the Gospel because I “don’t know what to say” or relying solely on prayer when I could easily have taken action in His Name. There is only one thing worse than going to Hell, and that’s taking someone with you. Just the idea of these “worse” things keeps me on my Spiritual toes and more Determined than ever to walk out my Faith boldly, no matter what. This is the Key to Victory.

Unfortunately, many people have convinced themselves that they won’t “fold” under pressure for their Faith, but if it could happen to Peter, it could happen to you or me. Peter thought he’d be willing to go to prison or die for Jesus, but all it took was a little pressure from the dark world, and Peter denied even knowing Him. It’s when we stop focusing on Jesus and start focusing on the dangers around us that we fall every single time. Surrounded by uncertainty, Peter sat around the campfire with the locals, trying to fit in with the crowd to avoid being associated with Jesus at all, and he lied three times to save his own skin. We know the rest of the story – Peter repented, and Jesus not only Restored Him, BUT He transformed Peter into the “rock” that would preach from the Heart and tirelessly feed His sheep. Peter’s Journey had a “happy ending,” but it was that part where he wept violently, and shame overtook him at just one “look” from the Master. So when I’m Preparing for the new day and whatever it might bring, I think of Peter, and I fix my eyes on Jesus so that denial isn’t even in my vocabulary. This is the Key to perseverance at such a time as this.

It’s a new day, and I’m ready for it all…the sweet Victories that I am confident will come my way AND the fiery darts from Hell that set out to destroy me. Without Him, I’m powerless – with Him, I’m Victorious! When you look at it that way, why would I ever NOT take the time to Prepare in His Name?

How about you?

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 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—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8