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

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

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

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

How about you?

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

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

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

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

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God from inside this morning with a hot cup of coffee and a warm Heart ready to learn. This time of year, most of the leaves have fallen to the ground, and if not for the beauty of the sunrise and a few flags, there would be no color at all. As I sat in silence in the Presence of a Mighty God, I thought about how finding the “color” in Life is a choice and how so many people “opt out” in search of other things that make them happy in a different kind of way. As surely as I search for color in the winter sky, I search for Color in my Journey of Life too…those Beautiful opportunities to be used by the King of all kings that get missed by so many. “Color” is the Source of my Strength and the Joy in my Journey, and it’s a choice whether I look for it or not. If I CHOOSE to focus more on the world around me than I do on the Color, I’d be in hibernation for the winter, and my Life would have NO IMPACT on the dark world at all. Isn’t that the way you look at the God-given Color of your Life, too?

We’re gearing up for Thanksgiving in a few days, and Christmas is just around the corner, so there are LOTS of people looking for opportunities to serve the “less fortunate”…as if the “less fortunate” only need help at “special times”. It’s always a good thing to extend a kind hand for holidays, but I can’t help but wonder WHERE IS ALL THAT COMPASSION the other 363 days of the year?

Not too long ago, I read about a woman who is “so sad” because she knows of someone FROM HER CHURCH who had recently become homeless, and now “it’s getting cold outside.” She took the time to share her “heartbreak” on social media, and she even made a few phone calls to OTHER CHURCHES and shelters in her area looking for help. Every place she called, pointed to someone/somewhere else that might be able to fix the “problem,” – but so far she had found no solution. She commented on how “sad it is that nobody is willing to help.” But what about HER being willing to help? Plenty of people who would do what she’s doing…willing to make a few phone calls as a cry for help on behalf of someone else, BUT very few are willing to accept the Opportunity to add Color all on their own by stepping up to help someone in need…because that’s what Jesus would do. When Opportunity knocks…it’s time for Color, not cop-out!

Jesus said, “Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do for me.” I wonder…would we just make a few phone calls for Jesus, too, OR would we actually take Him into our home to get Him out of the cold? Would we scurry around looking for someone else to help Jesus so that we wouldn’t suffer the inconvenience ourselves, OR would we roll up our sleeves and get busy blessing Him? Would we stay away because He didn’t smell good or look good OR would we see Him in Living Color the way He sees us? Would we tell Jesus to “get a job” or tell Him that he’s getting “what He deserves” based on poor choices…and would we leave Him outside to teach him a good “tough love” lesson? Would we look for a few pieces of used clothing we can live without, or would we buy Him a NEW coat of his own? Would we point Him to a soup kitchen or look to the government to feed Him (the way most churches do today?), OR would we prepare a feast fit for a King in our own home? Would we protect the holiday table prepared exclusively for our own people, or would we make room for Him at the Head of the table instead? One “sad” woman looking for somebody else to help…one cold, homeless “friend” looking for a miracle…is one HUGE opportunity to Serve the King of all kings in Living Color. “Whatever you do for the least of these of mine, you do for me.” Color makes all the difference in this Journey of Faith.

I’m looking for the Color in this Journey of Life today, and my Heart is ready to Share. I’m an Ambassador for the King of all kings ALL YEAR LONG, and if He ORDAINS an opportunity for me to bless “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,” I know it’s a chance to Serve HIM! I’ve been accused of being a hypocrite a few times in my life when I didn’t jump on the opportunity to open up my home the way someone thought I should (“Take my kid” – “Take my Mom” – “Take me”). But I don’t take my lead from man, I take my lead from the Living God, and when GOD calls for me to help, I help. When He tells me to “go”, I go. When He tells me to “stop”, I stop. His Word tells me to “acknowledge Him in all my ways, and HE WILL DIRECT my path,” and He does. He’s a promise keeper! Hypocrite? Not on your life!

I’ve been guarding the Peace around this old farm for a very long time because it truly is Holy Ground and God really does move mountains here. So, I’m on Call all year long, and my Life…my home…my Heart makes room whenever God brings the Opportunity and calls for ME to add the Color. Today, my home has expanded to include a few more people who call this old farm “home,” and there will be some extra smiling faces around the Thanksgiving table to add some Color of their own. How can one Colorful woman be more blessed?

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

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

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

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold this time of year, and they’re calling for rain later today. If not for rising temperatures, no doubt we’d be welcoming in ice or snow later instead of rain. The Fall in Virginia is very unpredictable in terms of temperature and precipitation, but the one thing we can count on in Virginia is high winds. The sharper the temperature contrast this time of year and the stronger the atmospheric pressure difference, the stronger the winds. That’s the technical answer for why it’s windy this time of year, BUT the simple answer is that God uses the wind for His Purpose. My Dad used to say that the wind was God’s way of pruning the trees – He shakes them up and causes the weaker ones to fall away so the tree can be stronger overall. God uses the wind to take down the trees in due time, and He uses it to blow leaves into the places where the deer bed down. This Black Walnut is more than twice as tall as the farmhouse is, and it’s a treasure to me, for sure. Although this tree gets pruned by God routinely, one day it will succumb to the wind…and it will be forever missed by me. God prunes more than just the trees, though. He prunes His people, too. Sometimes He’ll huff and puff and cause the winds to rush through the Life of One who belongs to Him JUST SO that He can prune away the pieces that need to be done away with once and for all…to make them Stronger. What a blessing it is for the God of all Creation to use the wind and the branches of an old tree to drive home a Message this morning.

Life is filled with Strong Winds, and nobody manages to escape them – But the winds don’t pass through for punishment, and they NEVER pass through without Purpose. When the Strong Winds pass through, it’s always a time for Pruning. Sometimes the Purpose is to cause some of the weaker things to fall away so that we can be made Stronger. Sometimes God is refining our Character, and He’s forcing us to do away with things that shouldn’t exist in the Life of a Child of God at all. Sometimes He shakes things up to force us to hold on Tighter as we call out to Him for help. Sometimes He shakes things up just so that we can see that when we’re weak, He is strong and His “power is made perfect in weakness.”

For some people, the wind of life seems to never stop blowing, and if they aren’t careful, they’ll question God in the process. I don’t presume to know the mind of God, but I think sometimes He keeps Pruning and Pruning, hoping the tree will stop trying to stand on its own…and sometimes I think He’s got BIG Plans for the tree, so a Big Work needs to be done to Ready them. When the wind comes through, it’s not time to whine…it’s time to Seek His Will and to Surrender to His Plans. God Loves a Heart that is Humble and Inclined to please Him. If we ask about the Purpose of the winds with a Heart that is willing to be Pruned, He’ll always reveal His Pruning Plan. This is the Key to Maturing for the Journey.,

The winds have passed through my Life more times than I can count and God has Pruned me into a Tree that is Strong and Willing in the process….a Tree that looks the same on the outside but one that will never again be the same on the Inside. God huffed and puffed and pruned LOTS of things from my Life that needed to go so that I could be made Stronger for the Journey…and so that I could be a usable Vessel for Kingdom Work… and I’m sure He’s not finished with me yet. When those winds pass through, I never say “Why me?” – instead, I hit my knees at the sign of the first breeze because I KNOW He’s got a Purpose in the Pruning process…to make me Stronger for the Work He has for me. Pruning always begins with a Willing Heart and a desire to be taught by the God of all Creation. At this Stage of my Journey, my middle name is “Willing”.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This morning, as I met with the Love of my Life, I was filled with Gratitude for how He answered my prayers over a short but challenging Season of Life. He “directed my path” and kept it Straight, and He gave me the words that I needed when I needed them,” just the way He promises He will. No matter what makes a challenging Season challenging, all we EVER need to do is Surrender the Plans He has for us and to Remain Focused on Sprinkling the Glory of God everywhere we go, no matter what’s going on. Sound simple? It IS that simple IF we give to the Creator of the Seasons to Manage. There are all kinds of Seasons in Life that come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Sometimes we go from one Season to the next so quickly that if we aren’t careful, we’ll stop Sprinkling the Glory of God as we go. When the Sprinkling ceases, the color of our “leaves” can easily get replaced with the barren, just like the foliage in Virginia. But it doesn’t have to be that way if the Seasons are Sprinkled with the Glory of God, and when they are, each Season is more beautiful than the last! Isn’t that the way you look at your life, too?

It can take your breath away to be in the presence of someone with a Life that is Sprinkled with the Glory of God, no matter what season of life they’re in. Some people start Sprinkling in the springtime of life, and as they go from one season to the next, they just become Sweeter with the Glory of God as time goes by. Some people start Sprinkling when they’re adults, and they laugh about their reckless youth as they Sprinkle the Glory of God over their own children in hopes that the next generation will Sprinkle His Glory too. Some people wait until the final Season of life to begin Sprinkling; after they’ve raised their kids and secured their retirement, because those things were more valuable than Sprinkling in their eyes. No matter the Season, a Life Sprinkled with the Glory of God is a beautiful thing to see, and somehow age doesn’t seem to matter much when you’re Living in Sprinkle-mode. I weep when I’m in the presence of someone who has made it as far as the final Season, and they never bothered to Sprinkle Life with the Glory of God at all. I wonder how much Love they really have for the God of their Salvation if they can’t be bothered to Sprinkle their world with Him? I’m no Expert, but I think those guys will have a lot to answer for on Judgment Day.

Unfortunately, I squandered the first season of my life as I focused on survival and then on my success, and most of my young days are nothing but a blur because of it. I was in survival mode, and I didn’t even think about Sprinkling the Glory of God to others as I hoarded for myself and my family. BUT THAT WAS BEFORE I KNEW HIM well. As my Faith grew, so did my Desire to Please Him, and I began to SERIOUSLY Sprinkle His Glory, beginning with my own. When my children were very young, because I longed to see their lives filled with His Glory too. I understood my Role in leading them to Jesus Christ and teaching them how to Sprinkle on their own by the example I set for them. All my grown children Know and love Jesus Christ, all because of the Sprinkling, and now my grandkids are being taught how to Sprinkle, too. GLORY! As a grandparent, there are LOTS of things I can teach my grandchildren and plenty of fun to be had, that’s for sure. But the Greatest (and everlasting) thing I can Share with each one is how to Walk the way Jesus walked and how to Sprinkle the world with the Glory of God the way Jesus Instructs us ALL to do. With that Part right, everything else in their lives, AND for all the generations to come, will be Amazing! And the best part is that not only will I see them in Heaven, but I’ll be able to Celebrate their Rewards because I “did not labor in vain”. Hallelujah!

I’m in the final season of my life now, but I’m not slowing down to take it easy when I’ve still got some time allotted to me! Instead, I’m Sprinkling the Glory of God all around my life and in every direction, and the thought of slowing down never enters my mind.

I’d like to think that I might take your breath away when you see my Life that is Sprinkled with the Glory of God in my final season – at least that’s the Goal, so I’ll continue to Sprinkle His Glory over the lives of my children and grandchildren and to EVERYONE else in my presence, until He Calls me Home….just the way He commands us all to do. As for today, I’ll be sure to be Sprinkling His Glory as far and wide as I can for ALL the world to see. After all, Isn’t that the Purpose of the Life of a Child of the Living God?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a magnificent morning, and, as usual, whether I’m inside or outside this time of year, I’ll always opt for a front-row seat to watch the Master wake up the world. There is nothing quite like putting His Majesty and Magnificence in Perspective than by Considering His Hand on each new day. The way I choose to approach (and embrace) this new day will Determine how I’ll be used by the Author and Perfector of my Faith. If I Approach the new day feeling weak…then I’ll be too weak for Service, BUT if I approach this new day with Great Anticipation to do His Work and if I’m Empowered by the Great I Am, then I’ll be Ready for Kingdom Work today, no matter what that “looks” like from where I sit. I can watch the sunrise from any window in this old house, and one day soon that’s what I’ll be doing every morning as I ride out the winter months, BUT nothing beats being surrounded by His creation as we ALL stand in awe at the Work of His hands to set my Spirit in Motion. Isn’t that the way things ought to be in this Journey of Faith?

I’m a bold woman of Faith, and I’m RARELY lost for words. I stand for what I Believe in, no matter what, and I’m not too timid to speak up. I wear my Armor like the Warrior God has called me to be, and I don’t hesitate to do Battle when He tells me it’s Time. I am confident that “No weapon formed against me will prosper” -since I Believe every word OF the Word, I’m confident that “Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world”. I Know that Jesus Christ fought the Devil with Scripture, and I’m Armed with plenty of them should I need them in Battle today. You can always count on me to stand up for the downcast, and you can count on my Voice to be heard (especially) when theirs is too weak or when they are lost for words of their own. I’m passionate and Compassionate. I’m Strong and I’m Courageous. I have unwavering Convictions that are sometimes mislabeled as “personal opinions,” and I never grow tired of speaking up for Jesus Christ or for the Truth of His Word. BUT the purpose of my speaking up isn’t so that I can be heard, and I never take on a Project unless/until He gives me my Marching Orders. I don’t speak up for myself – I speak up so that HE can be heard. I’m a Vessel for the Most High God, and I’m Equipped to do His Work 24/7. Just like any Good Soldier, all I ever need to do to Win is to show up – to put on the FULL Armor of God – and then Follow His Orders in all that I do. If I don’t get these things Right…I won’t have what it takes to do Battle today.

God is the truest definition of Love and Compassion, and although He can show His wrath any time He feels like it, His wrath is never abused, and it always stems from Love. He doesn’t point fingers or jump down throats just to be heard, even though He could…and neither should I. When I encounter someone who is sick – physically OR spiritually – I don’t shun them…I don’t attempt to “fix” them…I don’t throw them under the bus…Instead, I treat them the way Jesus would, and I Trust Him to Guide me toward Helping them in His Mighty Name and not through my own will. Christ didn’t treat those who didn’t believe in (or agree) with Him with unkindness, bitter words, or tongue lashings. Instead, He showed them Compassion as He spoke Truth with Love. He showed a Compassionate Heart to the most “unlovable” people, and thousands upon thousands of people came to Know Him because of His HEART… NOT because of a heavy hand or bitter words. The way to lead people TO Christ is to mirror His Ways! If Christ didn’t minister to the dark world with a mean Spirit, then why are so many Christians? That doesn’t come from Him…it comes from the Adversary instead.

Despite my boldness, I know that I’m not the Judge or the Jury, and I’m really not a fighter at all outside of Kingdom Work, that is. In fact, I dodge conflict like the plague, and I am known for being a peacemaker in my own world. But when I am called by the Living God to speak up for Righteousness, I’m given the Words, the courage, AND THE HEART to do just that. And when I’m called to be a Reflection of His love, His Grace, and His Compassion, I am given a Tender Heart and immeasurable patience to share with others, too. Every word I speak, every step I take, every day of my life should be a Living Testimony for the Living God, and although I’m not even close to being Perfect, I never lose sight of the Goal. When you look at the Journey of Faith that way, it puts everything into perspective…especially our behavior toward others who don’t know Him. At least it does for me.

I’m as bold as a lion or as gentle as a lamb…I’m whatever He needs me to be at the time and for HIS Purpose and not my own gratification – and it all stems from Love and not hate or judgment. I’m striving to be a beautiful example of the Love of Christ and a Reflection of the nature of my God in a dark and ugly world so that He can be Seen in me and Heard through me in all that I do and all that I am.

“The greatest of these is love.”

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Today is Veterans Day, and I spent a little more time than usual this morning praying for those special people who have sacrificed so much to serve me and my country. It’s the kind of sacrifice that I can’t begin to fathom and the kind of sacrifice that often goes unnoticed…except for once or twice a year, that is. Sometimes I think about the Biggest Sacrifice EVER made for you and for me. When I do, I realize that if most of the world doesn’t accept or appreciate THAT Sacrifice either, then how in the world will they understand the sacrifice of time and life that our servicemen and women (and their families) give selflessly each and every day?

I gladly gave up my own life to raise my family, and I’d be willing to die for any one of them today. I’d give up my life for my God, too, should I ever be asked to deny Him. But the thought of people being willing to give up their lives for people they don’t know…wow! That thought overwhelms me every time I think about it. These days, it must be difficult to make so many sacrifices for a country that hasn’t been showing them the respect they deserve. It must have been difficult to be threatened with being removed from service because of the choices they make for their health as they watched “freedom” quickly become a thing of the past…beginning with them. It must be hard for them to face a Government shutdown knowing that they are defending our country for free. God bless them for still being willing to serve the greatest nation in the world, even after watching it transform right before their very eyes into an unrecognizable place. If there’s ever been a time we need them, it’s now.

Not everyone who serves in our military is faced with the sacrifice of life (thank God), but they’re willing to if they have to…and they ALL make huge sacrifices for you and me every day. In THEIR fight for OUR freedom, they surrender their own. They’re told when to show up, when to suit up, and when to shut up. They’re told what to wear and when to wear it, and they know that what they wear better be perfect at all times. They are people of discipline and people of excellence, and it shows. They’re told where to live and how long to live there. They’re told what to say and when to say it, and to never question authority. They’re told what job they’ll be doing, and they’re taught how to do it, and if they don’t particularly like what they do, they do it anyway without complaining, instead of looking for a new job like you and me.

Most of our young enlisted men and women could easily make more money working at a retail store full-time than they do serving our country 24/7. They’re told when they’ll have a day off and IF they’ll have a holiday off, and many of our servicemen and women spend the holidays alone more often than we care to think about. Despite all of the sacrifices they make for you and for me, they PROUDLY serve America even when we don’t tell them or show them how much we appreciate the sacrifices they make for us. That’s what true heroes look like to me!

My husband proudly served in the US Marine Corps, my father served in the United States Navy during WWII, my youngest son served in the United States Air Force to do his part in this War on Terror, and my son-in-law still proudly serves in the United States Air Force today. I’m not just thankful for THEIR service, I’m humbled by ALL of the sacrifices made by them (and their families) day after day for you and for me. I’m thankful for EVERY Veteran…those I know and love and those I’ll never meet! I don’t just thank them on Veterans Day, and I don’t just pray for them on special occasions either. Every single one of them has my heart, my support, my gratitude, and my prayers every single day that I breathe.

How about you?

Thank you, Veterans!!!! May God bless you and your families, and may God richly bless the United States of America.