Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I headed to the front porch to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and what I saw from the window was like the open arms of the Living God inviting me to join Him…and I couldn’t wait to be in the Presence of the Love of my Life. It’s there where I find my Strength for my Journey. It’s there where I receive my Wisdom. It’s there where I feel Love like no human being has the capacity to show. It’s there where I find my Peace. I “pay my dues” to have a Faith like mine – it doesn’t “just happen,” and it wasn’t always this way. I won’t reach Perfection until I go Home, but as surely as I am Strong today, I know I’m inclined to be weak too IF I don’t do what I need to do to remain Strong. Isn’t that the way you work out the Journey of Life too?

Faith is a process that takes a lot of Work, but if we refuse to put in the time and effort, we can’t grow. No seed can be planted and then left alone to thrive or not…at least not if you planted the seed intent on seeing it bear fruit. Just like anything else we set out to master, it takes lots of time and commitment to perfect. We try, and we fail. We take a step forward and then three backward. Like a toddler learning to walk, we stand up, and then we stumble over and over again. But with a whole lot of falls, and even more persistence, the toddler becomes a walking expert, and before you know it, the toddler learns to run. What’s true for the toddler is true for the Journey of Faith – it takes time, persistence, and a whole lot of stumbling and falling to become an Expert. This is the Key to Perseverance.

It’s easy to see how so many People of Faith are stuck in the past, and many of them haven’t grown much at all since they first Believed. Some are still living like toddlers – they keep stumbling, never perfecting the Walk. Sometimes they continue to do the same things they did before they saw the Light because they failed to put in the Time to Grow. They say the right Words most of the time, but their Lives don’t Reflect their Belief because neglect has thwarted their Growth. Sometimes people are stuck because nobody helped Guide them to the Truth and they were left on their own to sink or swim. Unless they learn to Build their Strength for the Journey, they’ll likely sink and spend their days below the Surface of what’s possible for them. Unfortunately, we’re quick to judge people of Faith who don’t Reflect their Belief, but instead of trying to Show them the way to Grow we leave them to their own demise.

People of Faith who have never learned to Grow don’t always know that what they’re doing or saying goes against the Living God UNLESS we lead them to the Truth with Love. “Tough Love” has no place in the process because it’s not fair to apply tough lessons to those who have not even matured enough to understand the wrong! That’s like stomping on a seed because it isn’t growing or taking it out on a baby with no ability to reason yet. To Christ, there’s no such thing as a “big” sin or a “little” sin…it’s all the same to Him…He died for ALL. It’s in His Presence where we learn to remove the plank from our own eyes, and before you know it, contempt and complacency get replaced with Compassion. This is the Key to becoming a Faith Expert.

I’m an imperfect woman living an imperfect life, but I serve Perfection, and I seek His Face every day. Because I’m Mature in my Faith, I usually see my wrongs fairly quickly, and I can’t wait to ask for Forgiveness and make my peace when I do. I won’t be leaving anyone in the dust if I can help it, and I’ll be a Reflection of what Faith should look like so that others see Him in me…and hopefully, they’ll be Inspired to become a Faith “expert” too…that’s the Goal.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s one of those cool, late-summer mornings, and the Fall is beginning to show itself in the sky little by little. I took my time in the presence of the One Who died for me, and I’m savoring every single bit of this New Day from the inside out. What I feel on the Inside sometimes makes its way outside, and I’ve been known to SHOUT “Glory!” or “Jesus!” as if the Love for my Savior is being released so that my Heart won’t burst. I’m EXCITED about my God and what He’s doing, and it shows in how I Live, how I Love, how I pray, and how I “shout”. When I looked at these mushrooms, they reminded me of me. These mushrooms have taken a beating by the mower, by kids, and by the weather, and who knows what else, but they refuse to stop growing. They can’t express excitement of any kind, but I can, and when you mix resilience with excitement for Jesus Christ, it’s a game changer in the life of a born-again Believer. I like to imagine what it would be like if the Church got so excited about the imminent return of Jesus Christ that the ground shook and the walls rattled. THE MOST exciting Day of all time is getting closer by the minute, and the mere thought of that Day inspires me to make a little noise of my own. Today is just another day to most of the world, but not to me. This Day is getting my undivided attention like all the ones before it because I know that One Day soon I’ll look up to see the Son of God, and He’ll be looking for me! Isn’t that the way you consider the Day that draws near, too?

It’s pretty amazing to live in a time when things like hurricanes or a solar eclipse can be predicted, and the whole world can be put on notice long before they take place. With a hurricane, we’re told where to take shelter, and with a solar eclipse, we’re told to use protective eyewear because the eyes can’t endure what it sees without it. The time of arrival for a hurricane or solar eclipse can be narrowed down with precision, and there’s no question about what time of day these things will happen. The news channels buzz for weeks beforehand, and the virtual highway gets loaded up with photos, predictions, and fear-mongering. People stock up on food and water and double-check generators before a hurricane, and some people have block parties to witness a solar eclipse. The “wows” over something like a solar eclipse on a clear night can be heard from one corner of the world to the next by way of the virtual highway, and in some places, maybe the excitement even tips the Richter scale. It’s amazing to see the human reaction to the Hand of God, even when He doesn’t get acknowledged for who He is at all. But One Day, He will show up out of “nowhere” in the blink of an eye, and despite all the warnings to Prepare for that Day, many people will be caught off guard, unprepared, and left “in the dust” all the same. Warning them to Prepare is what keeps people like me Busy in the Journey of Faith. Like a watchman on a hill, I KNOW what’s coming, and because we don’t know the day or the hour, being Prepared every minute of every day will be the Key to Victory.

One day, in the not-so-distant future, it won’t just be nature rattled by the changes it sees in the sky; the entire world will be too when the Son of God shows up without any warning at all. No meteorologist or astronomer will be able to predict the day or the hour, and the world will not be put on notice by the local news. No priest, pastor, or one who claims to know the future will be able to predict the time of His coming – even the Son of God doesn’t know that – He’ll just show up without warning at all. The Son of God won’t be showing up to entertain the world with His Presence, and no special eyewear will shield the world from Him OR help them see Him more clearly. The world will be watching when He shows up to gather His people, and in the blink of an eye, people like me will cease to exist on this earth at all. At that very moment, there will be planes without pilots, cars without drivers, classrooms without teachers, and families without loved ones. No amount of shouting and screaming that takes place when a good play is made in a sports arena can hold a candle to what the world will sound like when the Son of God shows up to gather His Own. Like a father ringing the dinner bell to call his children home, the Son of God will sound a Trumpet that will make the Richter scale feel like child’s play to call His Children Home to be with Him forever, and no amount of doubting in the world will change the fact that this Day will come without warning. All the doubters and all the mockers will have something in common eventually…every single one of them will bow to their knees in His presence and declare that He is Lord one day.

I’ll be ready when the greatest “solar” miracle in the history of the world takes place, and I’ll be looking toward the Heavens in anticipation of the Son of God coming back for ME. We may not know the day or the hour of His coming, but we’ve been told about a few things that needed to happen before He’s ready to come back, and they’ve all taken place at record speed. I’m Excited about His Coming because I’m Ready. I’ve been resilient, and I’ve taken a beating in this Journey of Faith, much like those mushrooms…I don’t give up or give in because I KNOW what’s in store for those who Persevere. Sadly, lots of people won’t be so excited when they realize that they missed out on Preparing for the Day, and it will be too late for them to be a part of that Miracle.

I’m ready and waiting…how about you? Will you be prepared to see the Son of God with no warning at all? If you’re not sure, reach out to me. I’m happy to introduce you to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I’ll help you find your way to the Truth that will set you Free and lead you Home. Before you know it, you’ll be a lot more excited about the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ than you ever could be over something like a soccer game or a solar eclipse, and you’ll be doing your Part to tip the Richter scale right along with other people like me!

Are you ready?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day in my Journey of Faith, and I spent my Time in the Presence of my God being made Ready for whatever He has for me. He “reads me like a book” when I spend time in His Word, and I’d be so lost without my Roadmap for Life. When I looked out across the fields, I realized that no matter how long and hard I take in the view from the front porch, the beauty I see isn’t seen with the eyes at all but with the Heart instead, and it bubbles up for all the world to see just the way it does in the Journey of Faith. The more time I spend in His Presence…the longer I read His Word…the more my Faith bubbles up from the inside out, and it’s impossible for the world not to see. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

It can be so easy for people of Faith to set aside their Instruction Manual and one-on-One time with the Living God for Sunday mornings only – although I don’t understand how or why. When the Heart is filled with Love, how can anybody be satisfied with just a small dose of time now and then? How can the beauty of Faith bubble up for all the world to see if we fail to spend Time with the Author and Perfector of Faith…the Source of ALL Love? Far too many people rely on having a one-way ticket to Heaven because they believe the ticket will never expire and that it cannot be revoked. They see our Savior as a very generous guy in the sky, and they don’t believe He looks for anything in return for “redeeming our life from the pit”. So, they park themselves in a spiritual recliner and become spiritual slugs in the process. They don’t care much about building a RELATIONSHIP with the God of All Creation because they’ve been deceived into believing they don’t need to. The saddest part of all is that they stand the Risk of hearing “I NEVER KNEW YOU” One Day. Just the thought of that keeps me Bubbling my Faith all over my world every single day in hopes that I can share the kind of Truth that can Save them. These people expect God to reach down and fix this broken world without them having to lift a finger or Speak a Word of Truth – and although He CAN, He expects His People to do their part too. Sadly, lots of people wouldn’t Recognize the Truth if it hit them in the head because they haven’t tuned in LIVE with one-on-One Sessions with the Living God. If they did, He’d set their Path Straight, the same as He has mine.

I’m in the Final Chapter of Life, and I’ll be here Working harder than ever before until I draw my last breath…and THAT’S when “the fun” begins! I’ll be with Him FOREVER AND EVER, and I won’t be sitting back in a recliner or parked on a puffy cloud in Heaven – I’ll be busier than ever when the dress rehearsal here on earth becomes my Eternal reality. It all begins with the kind of Beauty that bubbles up from within, and it’s only made possible by spending time with the Master of it all.

How about you?

Psalm 103:4 – Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the One who died for me, and I invited Him to examine my Heart for anything that might be in the way of my relationship with Him. I want to be ALL that He Created me to be, so if there is anything in my Heart that is displeasing to the Living God, I need to purge it. Some people challenge me about the intensity of my faith, and they often suggest that I need to relax and enjoy the ride. If they only knew just how much I’m enjoying my walk with Jesus, they’d choke on those words. The root of their problem is that they don’t understand my God, and they’re in the dark because of it! My God is the definition of compassionate, loving, generous, kind, and patient. He is a zillion Wonderful things I strive to be, BUT the one thing He is NOT is tolerant. The Bible says that “it’s a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” – and we’re told to “work out salvation with fear and trembling”. The Author and Perfector of my Faith is so beautiful that there aren’t even words to describe Him, but He’s not one to “mess with”. Tolerance has no place in the Life of a Believer in Jesus Christ. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

It boggles the mind how so many professed Believers in Jesus Christ have been deceived into believing that God will put up with anything. He’ll FORGIVE anything – and He’ll forgive over and over again (thank you, Jesus), but God will not tolerate the things that go against Him forever. After all, He flooded the entire earth to destroy all those people determined to go against Him. He will NOT be mocked. We’ve changed the heart of an entire nation by pushing tolerance as if that’s what good people do. But “good people,” aka God’s people, are taught to “love the sinner but HATE the sin,” NOT to love the sinner and tolerate the sin. The true “test” of our relationship with Jesus Christ is to walk out the Journey with enough Love for others that we can genuinely love them while we hate the things they do against our God. The Living God expects us to warn them about the consequences of sin! We will not find the favor of God by tolerating all those things we KNOW go against Him. “Choose this day whom you will serve.”

If you know your Bible, then you know that God separated people out by tribe to avoid corrupting His Words and His ways. He ordered people not to marry into a tribe that worshipped other gods, and when His people ignored His warnings, there was a horrible price to pay. He’s the One True God, and He’s a jealous God. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, and although there is no limit to the sin He will forgive, we must repent and acknowledge the wrong before the Throne of a Mighty God. He will NOT tolerate our romance with people who serve other Gods…period. “Choose this day whom you will serve.”

We (God’s people) have gotten far off the mark of righteousness, all in the name of tolerance – tolerance for things that God does not and will not tolerate EVER. Don’t confuse His patience and His desire that none would perish with tolerance. We like to believe that all religions can live peacefully despite the fact that we don’t worship the same God, but that’s not true. Our jealous God will show Himself in a mighty way one day soon, and the dark world won’t even know what hit it. Sadly, many professed Christians will get caught up as they strive to be liked by our enemies, but not me. The Word says, “they will hate you because of me,” so the way I see it is that if I stand strong for Truth and I refuse to be a part of a popularity contest that embraces sin, then I’m going to be pretty hated while I’m still here. “Choose today whom you will serve.”

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 Living God as the sun made its way over the farm, and as cool as it was in the early hours, it’s destined to be a hot day in Virginia. The sun was burning on my face while God was burning in my Heart, and the combination took my breath away. My life is always overflowing with “projects,” and if I’m not careful, I’d be doing more leading than I am Following. So, no matter what’s on my plate for this new day of a new week or how busy I know I’ll be, my first priority is always going to be getting ME prepared to take care of my part according to His Will. Isn’t that the way you prioritize your busy life too?

Most people claiming to be Christians today THINK they’re followers of Jesus, but I’m not so sure about that. I’m NOT questioning their belief system – I have no right to judge at all. It’s pretty simple, though – believing in Jesus Christ is one thing; being a Follower of His is an entirely different story. While many may have convinced themselves that they are following Him, what they’re really doing is expecting Him to follow them. They call Him Savior, but do they treat Him as King? Do they ever really surrender to His Will, or are they too busy holding on to their own? Are they really ready to follow His lead, or do they refuse to “let go and let God? Are they ready to obey like a good servant no matter what they’re told to do or where they’re told to go? Hmm…a new perspective for most. THAT’S what a surrendered Life looks like and what it means to be a Follower of the King.

It’s human nature to be inclined to take on the Leadership role in our Faith, and most of us feel better about life when we remind ourselves that He is always there. Some of us will drag Him around through life like our favorite toy, and we brag about not going anywhere without Him. We want Jesus right there beside (or behind) us, ready to serve our Purpose or to fulfill our will. We may talk a pretty good game about our God, but when it comes down to it, are we truly letting Him lead us OR are we expecting Him to follow and to take care of all of the needs in our lives while He’s at it?

It’s pretty risky to ask God to “use me” because when you do, He’ll start preparing you, and you just never know what He’ll ask you to do or where He’ll tell you to go! Sometimes when He directs us to do something, it makes perfect sense in the human mind, and sometimes it appears to make no sense at all from where we sit. If we’re leading the way in our Faith, we’ll never do those things that make no sense to us! We may start praying about it, and some will say, “I know what God wants me to do, but I’m waiting for Him to work things out”, but then they sit around and wait for things to make sense in the human mind before they’re willing to do what they “know God wants them” to do. These folks aren’t really willing to Follow at all…at least not unless it makes perfect sense in the human mind and unless God provides all of the puzzle pieces to snuff out their fear (the real reason behind why they won’t budge). But we can’t just pray, as things depend on God before we take action… we have to WORK, as if it depends on us! It’s when we Follow His Lead AND work with all of our Strength that amazing things happen in His name!

I’m a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I’m a Follower of His. Sometimes I let doubt and fear get in the way, just like everybody else does, and when I do, I recognize that I’m no longer Following His Lead in my Life at all, and that’s when MY will begins to take over. But I’m determined to be a Faithful Follower of His, and I’ll let Him do the leading all the days of my life. Because when He leads, miraculous things happen every single time.

How about you? Do you SAY you believe but refuse to Follow and are you keeping Jesus in your back pocket like a “good luck charm”? If so, we NEED to talk. I’ll show you in Black & White what it means to be a Follower of His and I’ll reveal to you the beauty behind Surrendering to His WiIl and not your own, and when I’m done with you; you’ll be willing to Follow the King of Kings even when it makes no sense in your human mind at all AND you’ll be soaring in your Walk with Him like never before!

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” Matthew 16:24-25

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. August weather is notoriously challenging in Virginia. The mornings can be on the cooler side, and the afternoons can easily scorch the land. This morning doesn’t feel like August to me, but I’m sure not complaining. If the Living God sees fit to lower the temperature in the morning on an August day, I don’t need to understand why. He’s the Author of the Universe and the Perfecter of my Faith, and although I may do a whole lot of “wondering” in my Life, I’ve never questioned His Hand. Instead, I turn to the Words that teach me about His Character…to the Place where all the Answers for Life can be found…and sometimes I get so Lost in the beauty of the Truth that I forget what I was searching for in the First Place. Isn’t that the way it is for you when you’re Searching too?

It’s not uncommon to hear someone name off a few things that they’re hoping to ask God about when they get to Heaven. Usually it’s something like why He Created ticks or snakes; but sometimes they question more serious things like why we have earthquakes and floods and starving people. I guess they can dream about asking silly questions in the presence of an Extraordinary God. As for me, I’ll be too in awe in His presence to ever think about a tick or a snake. Sometimes people struggle with God’s Will in their lives, and they dare to shake their fists at Him to be sure He knows it. Some people see themselves as God experts, and they’re quick to spit out what God is going to do in the Life of another over things they don’t understand. Some people believe that they need to “play” God, and they take the bull by the horns and do their best to guard His money and Manage His People without ever pausing to ask Him what He wants done…because they believe they already have the answers.

I have an inquisitive mind that wonders about lots of things of this life, and I know lots of things because of it, but one of the things I don’t Presume to know is the Mind and the Will of my God. I don’t have a list in the making of all the things I want to ask Him when I get to Heaven because when I get there I’ll be too consumed by His glory to care about anything here. When He takes me to the Spiritual Woodshed, I don’t question His Will…I question ME instead. Who would ever ask Mozart why he wrote the music he wrote, and who would dare to ask him to change a few notes just for them? Who would ever dare to confront Einstein about his theories or demand answers for his discoveries that aren’t easily understood by most? The Living God Wrote the Book on Life, and He’s got a Plan for every Page. Some of the pages are sweet, and some of them are filled with pain, but ALL of them came into Play by the Touch of the Master’s Hand. Accepting the Gospel is one thing; trusting God without question is another. This is the Key to a rich Relationship with Jesus Christ.

There once was a man named “Job” who was considered to be the most righteous man on the earth by God Almighty Himself. Job loved God. He served God. He revered God. He did everything in his power to be pleasing to God too. Job fed the poor, and took care of the widows, and he diligently prayed over His family day after day. But one day, on a single day, God “gave permission” for adversity to rock Job’s world and everything Job had the day before, from his children to his wealth to his position of respect…ALL of it was taken away on a single day. God didn’t just “allow” this to happen…God gave permission for it to be done…all because God knew that no matter what Job faced, He would NEVER turn away from God, and that Job would glorify Him every step of the way….and Job did. Job didn’t shake His fist in the face of a Mighty God, and he didn’t question, “Why me”? He Trusted God to have Good Reason. But there is one thing that “THE MOST RIGHTEOUS” one got in trouble for in the midst of his fire of adversity…He was taken to the Spiritual Woodshed for PRESUMING to know the Mind and the Will of the God he served so faithfully.

The Author of the Universe stepped in to set Job straight. God is the Beginning and the End, and far too Amazing to begin to comprehend… much less to question as we see His Hand at work. When we face the trials, rest assured they were filtered through the Hand of God first. When we face the Miracles, they were filtered through the Hand of God first. When you look at it that way, why would we be listing the things we want to ask Him when we get to Heaven, and how could we ever dare to shake our fist at His Will?

I don’t know what this new day will bring or just how hot it will be, but I DO know that I will live it out without question, and I’ll be Trusting God to know what’s best for me. When I get to Heaven, I’ll be so Consumed by Him that I won’t care about ticks or snakes. You’ll never catch me shaking my fist at the One I love, and the only one I’ll question when I face adversity is myself.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and sunny on this new day of a new week, and it’s guaranteed to be a hot one. If I’m still here, then I have Purpose, and I want to be sure I’m found pleasing to my God. The first order of Business for me on any new day is to give the Author and Perfecter of my Faith the Praise and Thanks He deserves. The next thing on the Agenda is to share what’s on my Heart. I make my Requests…I Confess my wrongs…and I ask for answers to things I sometimes can’t understand and can’t seem to find in His written Word. And then…I repeat the process all over again as if by repeating my Search for answers I will somehow be able to understand the mind of God. I’ll bet the Living God smiles sometimes when we determine to make sense of Life from our viewpoint and not His own. I didn’t find the answers I was looking for this morning, but I found my Peace instead – and it’s that Peace that sees me through even when I don’t have the Answers. Passing through this Life with head knowledge doesn’t get us very far at all – it’s the passing through this Life with Heart knowledge that matters the most. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

If there is one thing I’ve learned in this Journey called Life, it’s that when the Heart is where it’s supposed to be, the rest of me will follow. If my Heart is Kind and Compassionate, you won’t have to utter a word, and I’ll be able to feel your pain. If my heart is Calm and Ready, you won’t have to say a thing, and I will be able to sense your fear. If my heart is Humble and Selfless, you won’t have to tell me about your needs – I’ll be busy filling them before you can. If my Heart is filled with Gratitude, you won’t have to worry about me passing judgment on you no matter what’s going on in your life. If my Heart is Patient, you can count on me to be there to help you work your way through….over and over again. If my Heart is Readied with Wisdom, you won’t have to ask twice, and I’ll have the Words you need to help you find your way. If my Heart is filled with Joy, you won’t stand a chance of holding onto bitterness or a bad mood in my presence. When my Heart is Readied by the King of all kings, I’m equipped to Serve anybody, anytime, and anywhere. I don’t need to have the answers, and I don’t need to be better at anything before I go to Work to serve Him. My Heart is the only part of me that He can use….so the condition of my Heart gets the most time and attention from me.

It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their head Knowledge than they are on the Heart. They can put the best of us to shame as they quote Scripture on demand in any circumstance, and they’re always ready to remind the world that those Words are what we need. But if they rely on head knowledge of the Word and they don’t have a Heart like Christ, they can’t be used by the King at all. God doesn’t need us to (just) recite His Word…He needs us to LIVE it. It’s easy to spot Christians more focused on their “reservation” for Heaven than they are on the lost people around them. They live as if they believe they were smart enough to “get it” and it’s not their problem if others don’t get it too. But if they rest on the Promises of Heaven and don’t do their part to get as many “travel partners” as they can, they can’t be used by the King either, and there’s a good chance they might hear “I never knew you” on the Big Day.

It’s easy to spot Christians who are filled with arrogance and judgment as if they’ve been assigned the Judgment Seat right here on earth. Somehow they’ve forgotten that Christ died for them too and that without Him they’d be a pitiful (and eternal) mess, and yet they lack Compassion and they never seem to grow tired of judging others. All of these outward signs are a SURE sign that the Heart is not in the Condition it’s supposed to be in.. that is, IF being a Light in this dark world and a Vessel worthy to be used by the King matters to them at all. The Heart is the only part of us that He can use.

I began this new day determined to find some answers, but I was put in my Place by the One who matters the most, and NOW my Heart is ready for Service. Instead of looking for answers to things I’ll probably never understand, I’ve set aside my need for head knowledge, and I’m focusing on my Heart instead. My Heart is the only part of me that matters to Him.

How about you?

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

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

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

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Alpha and Omega – the Beginning and the End- on this new day of this new month, and I’ll be walking with Him until the end of me. At first, I felt very small as I sat there in the Presence of the Beginning and the End, but there’s nothing “small” about me or my Life. At first, I felt doubt about my ability to make even the smallest Difference in the Kingdom through my Efforts today…but there’s no place for doubt in the Heart and mind of a Child of the Living God. From the outside, I might appear to be a speck of dust in the bigger picture of Life, but the Beginning and the End Designed me for a Purpose much bigger than anything I could imagine on my own, and my Significance is known in the Kingdom. As long as I allow the Beginning and the End to Shape me, Teach me, Strengthen me, and Encourage me for His Work day after day, then I AM a Significant and a Mighty force for Him. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy to allow ourselves to believe that we don’t matter much in the Big Scheme of things, or that we can’t make a significant Difference in the world on our own, but those thoughts are a sure indication that we’re listening more to the liar from Hell than we are to the King. We often hear people say “I don’t want to get involved” or “What difference could I make?” but those are just excuses stemming from the lies from the one set out to keep us from doing what we were Born to do. We weren’t all Born to preach from a pulpit or to be missionaries in a remote part of the world, but we WERE all Born to Fulfill a Specific Purpose that will never be found unless we’re willing to Believe that we ARE Significant to the Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End. It’s when we Understand our Significance that we begin to roll up our sleeves and we get to Work to Fulfill what He has for us. It only takes one spark to get a fire going, and it only takes One willing vessel to change the world when the Alpha and Omega is behind the Plan.

It only takes one smile, or one act of kindness, to set things in Motion sometimes, and just these alone can be the beginning of a Transformation in the Life of another…when the Beginning and the End are at Work through us. It only takes a tiny bit of Compassion extended to someone who doesn’t believe they deserve it, to open the door to introduce them to the Definer of Compassion. It only takes a small monetary contribution to someone who doesn’t believe they’ve earned it, to open the door to the Provider of it all. It only takes a little Love and Acceptance of one who doesn’t believe they’re worthy to lead the way to the One who died for them because they ARE. The Bible is filled with accounts of ordinary people doing Extraordinary things because they were Born for that very Purpose…and because they were found Willing to Serve the Beginning and the End. NOTHING stands in the way of each one of us doing Extraordinary things in His Name…UNLESS we actually believe the lies told to us by the one who sets out to rob, kill, and destroy. None of the excuses we use for NOT getting to Work to Fulfill His Plans for us are EVER good enough for the Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End…and when/if we don’t bother to fulfill our Purpose…we’ll answer for it One Day.

Each tiny little piece of each Life on any given day has Significance WHEN we accept that we were BORN for His Purpose. We continue to draw breath ONLY because the Beginning and the End hasn’t called us Home yet, and I am confident that He isn’t happy to see so many “Servants” not serving at all as we pass the time away. I don’t imagine He’s pleased with us when we grab onto the Salvation Message…our Hope and our Redemption…AND YET we refuse to Pay it Forward by Sharing our Gift to a lost world so they can have what we have too!

I was feeling small and insignificant at the beginning of this new day, but He set me Straight about my Worth, and NOW this child of the King is walking taller. The Alpha and Omega knew ME before He ever formed the earth, and that fact ALONE brings clarity to my Worth and my Mission…and it kicks me into Motion to Fulfill what He has for me. He’s my God…my Savior…my Redeemer…the Alpha and Omega…the Beginning and the End, and I CHOOSE to Serve Him until the end of me.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia this morning. It’s a new day set aside for me to glorify my God, and I kicked it off at sunrise on the front porch just like I usually do. It’s sad to think that most people overlook the fact that the very reason for our existence is to serve the King of Glory. We’ve had record-breaking high temperatures this summer, but things have cooled down for a bit. Today we’re going to (hopefully) get some rain. We’re still in a drought with no real end in sight. I don’t know the Purpose behind God bringing scorching heat and allowing the land to remain parched, BUT I DO Know His Purpose for bringing scorching heat to our lives. Not only does He “discipline” those He loves, but He also turns up the Heat in our lives to Purify us through fire just the same as a goldsmith does when he raises the temperature to 2,000 degrees to refine gold. The goldsmith increases the value of the gold by separating the “good” from the “bad” through the refining process, and God does pretty much the same thing to us. It’s how we “handle” the heat (or not) that determines our Value to the Kingdom. I’ve been Refined through fire for His Purpose, and I’m confident that without the Refiner doing His Work in me, I wouldn’t be doing my “work” for Him. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith, too?

“No pain, no gain” was a popular phrase used by athletes to describe the necessity of enduring pain to achieve physical goals, and I think that’s true for every area of life. It takes hard work, determination, sacrifice, and a whole lot of aches and pains to force the body to be shaped and strengthened; that’s for sure. The only thing that separates the “buffed” from the “unbuffed” is the commitment to endure whatever it takes to achieve the goal. Some do, but most don’t. Thousands of gym memberships sell to well-intended people every single day, and yet the average member will only make use of the gym for 45 days of their membership. After that, they quit because the gain isn’t worth the pain it takes to get there. They refuse to put in the hard work, no matter what price has been paid for their journey. They refuse to sacrifice time and energy, and they refuse to deny themselves all those things it takes to “get in shape.” The Journey of Faith isn’t much different when you think about it. For some, it’s worth being Refined into Shape by the Master because they want to be all that they can be in His Name…for others, the Journey it takes to Get in Kingdom Shape simply isn’t worth it, and just like your average gym membership, they’ll “drop out” of the Spiritual Journey too.

When I look upon my past and all the valleys I endured, ALL I can see is the Hand of God. He Refined me through fire, and He molded me into a usable Vessel for His Glory. Why would I look upon the past like a victim? I don’t wallow in it, and I certainly don’t let it define me! My pain and then my gain is the idea opportunity to be a Witness to the power of my God…not a professional whiner looking for pity. Paul said that he was “forgetting what is behind” so that he could press on in his Faith, and I can’t think of better advice for so many “professed” Christians who refuse to see the Pain of their past (or what they’re enduring now) as Gain in the Kingdom. When the fire shows up, and we can’t see a way “out,” ALL WE EVER need to do is turn our eyes upon Jesus, seek His face, Surrender to His Will, and Trust that our Pain has a Purpose. He IS the Way Maker.

I’ve been Refined by the Master Goldsmith! I’ve been Purified in His Name! I am Victorious! I’m a Walking Witness of the Power of my God! What appeared to be turmoil turned out to be Treasure, and I wouldn’t change a thing about my “past” even if I could! It was, and will always be, the necessary road to draw me closer to Him and the Best Opportunity to bring Glory to my God.

How about you?