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

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

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

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

How about you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I headed to the front porch first thing this morning to watch the Master wake up the world, and what I saw was like the open arms of the Living God inviting me to join Him. The sun began to shine, the fog was starting to lift, and the deer were slowly making their way toward the light, just like I was. They didn’t have far to go, but they kept pausing to fill up on food that was much more appealing to them in the moment than the light was. As I watched the easily distracted deer, I realized there isn’t much of a difference between them and us when it comes to making our way to the Light. If we’re not Mature in our Faith, we can also become distracted, too. Turns out, slowing down the Journey toward the Light is as easy for us as it is for the deer. Stepping into the Light is the Most Important thing I do on any given day of any given year. It’s there where I am Strengthened for my Journey. It’s there where I receive my Wisdom. It’s there where I feel an indescribable Love that no human being has the capacity to show. It’s there where I find my Peace. I’ve “paid my dues” to have a Faith like mine; it doesn’t “just happen,” and it wasn’t always this way. It wasn’t until I realized that my Journey of Faith wouldn’t just cost me a little…it would cost me EVERYTHING that I began to Grow. I won’t reach Perfection until I make my way Home, but as surely as I am Strong today, I know that I’m inclined to fall if I DO NOT do what I NEED to do to remain Strong. Isn’t that the way you work on yourself through this Journey of Faith, too?

Faith is a process that takes a lot of work, and if we refuse to put in the Time and Effort, we CANNOT grow…period. No seed can be planted and then left alone to thrive or die…at least not if you planted the seed with the intent of seeing it bear fruit. Just like anything else we want to master in our lives, it takes lots of time and commitment to perfect. We try and we fail. We take a step forward, then three backward. We stand up, and then we stumble over and over again. If we want to “master” something, then we need to become an Expert…and it’s not humanly possible to become an Expert without putting in the time to Perfect. It takes having an Intimate Relationship with Jesus Christ to be able to Hear when the Holy Spirit speaks to the Heart…but we can’t have and hold an Intimate Relationship unless we’re willing to put in the Time. It takes Knowing Him VERY well to Transform our ways from how we used to be to how we need to be for Him. It’s the Most Important Relationship any of us will ever have, and it takes Time and Commitment to keep it sweet just the way it was in the Beginning. I think some people Believe that God is out of sight, so He can be out of mind too…at least until we need Him again. But if that strategy doesn’t work for human relationships, why would it work for the Living God either?

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. Sometimes they continue to do the same things they did before they saw the Light because they never put in the Time to Grow. They say the Right Words most of the time, but their Lives don’t Reflect their professed Belief, and they never seem to get around to bearing fruit. Sometimes people are stuck because we fail to be there for them during the Growing Season. So often we leave them alone after we Guide them to the Truth, and then leave them on their own to sink or swim. Unless they learn to Build their Stamina and Strength to Swim, they’ll likely sink and stay there almost every time. We are 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 Teach them with Truth and 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. Does it make sense to stomp on a seed just because it isn’t growing? To Christ, there’s no such thing as a “big” sin or a “little” sin…it’s all the same to Him, so we need to spend more Time in His Presence to get the plank out of our eyes, so that instead of feeling contempt for the wayward, we feel Compassion instead. This is the Key to Maturity in Faith.

I’m an imperfect woman living an imperfect life, but I SERVE Perfection and I seek His Face every day, all day. Because I’m Mature in my Faith, I see my wrongs, and I can’t wait to ask for Forgiveness and to make my Peace with the One Who died for me when I do. As long as there is breath in my body, 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 have the same kind of Life in their Faith too…that’s the Goal. I recently heard someone say that our Job (as Christians) is to disciple others toward Holiness. That pretty much sums it up!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up this morning excited about being an Unstoppable Vessel for the Living God, Called to pour into this dark world…a world that desperately needs to know the Truth before it’s too late. When I saw how the fog had blotted out the lower field where the creek flows this morning, it reminded me of how the world works hard to blot out any sign of Jesus these days, too, BUT He can’t be blotted out (even though it looks like it) no matter how hard the Darkness tries – AND absolutely nothing can blot out my Heart for Him. I know that “greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world,” and I have everything I need for Victory. So, off to my Commander in Chief I went with an Eager Heart to Serve, and He filled me up with everything I need to Fearlessly pour back out into the dark world today. My Life overflows with Blessings, that’s for sure, but it’s not about what I have, it’s about what I GIVE AWAY. The Living God Blesses me, and I pour it all right back to Him. He Called me to be one of His own before the foundations of the earth, and I give away all that I Know as I do my Part to “disciple others into holiness”. He gives me Wisdom, and I pour it out to the world in His Name. He gives me Compassion, and I pour it all out to the world in His Name. Everything I have I give to Him, and when we pour out the Blessings to Him, there are no limits to what we can do in His Name. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

I think it’s pretty easy for most people to accept Blessings from God…and they’re usually pretty good about thanking Him…at least most of the time. Giving Him credit for the Blessings is one thing, pouring them back out to Him is an entirely different story. I think the lack of humility is the leading cause of thanking Him without the Heart to pour it back. When we’re humble enough to accept the fact that we don’t “deserve” ANY of the Blessings He gives…when we realize that there is no good thing in us apart from Him…then it becomes easy to pour it right back out with Love. God does LOVE us and He DOES want good things for His children, but the Blessings aren’t a “given” and they’re certainly not ours to hoard – not our children, not our material things, and certainly not our Faith.

When we pour out our children as a “love offering” to the Lord, we see Miraculous results. When we live the Life He calls us to live and we pour it all back in His Name, we see Miraculous things. When we pour out the blessing of Faith as a love offering to Him instead of a headcount of conversions, we see Miraculous things. It’s not about the Blessings we receive out of Love, it’s about what we’re willing to pour back to Him that matters the most.

The world is a dark place, and it’s getting darker by the minute…just the way the Bible says it will. Unfortunately, many people are pouring back into the darkness with rants and opinions, and they’re doing their part to Divide in the process. Sometimes people believe they need to educate the world somehow or that their stand for “right” is making a difference – but that’s like pouring gasoline on fire instead. Darkness can only be blotted out with the Light. If only more people would pour out the Light instead of playing in the darkness, we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If only more people would talk about the Healing Power of Jesus Christ instead of the odds of dying from this or that, we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If only more people would sing His Praises instead of trying to hold court in Heaven (the way Job did), we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If only more people would SPEAK the Name of Jesus Christ throughout the day, every day, regardless of “consequences”, we’d begin to see Miracles in these times. If every demon in Hell shudders at the mention of the name of Jesus, I can only imagine what this dark world would look like if we poured Him out into the world. It doesn’t matter what we have, or what He allows to be taken away – the ONLY thing that matters is what WE give away…or pour out…in His Name.

I’m blessed beyond measure to have been chosen to be the mother to my four children. They’re kind, compassionate, beautiful, funny, smart, and everything Good in between. I did my part out of love, but the end result of a family of Believers all comes down to me being willing to pour Jesus into them….four Blessings too wonderful for me to comprehend…blessings I did nothing to “deserve.” I’ve been Blessed beyond measure to steward this beautiful farm, but I did nothing to “deserve” it. Instead, I poured it all back to Him…a blessing too wonderful for me to comprehend…a blessing I didn’t “deserve.” A Saving Faith in Jesus Christ is a blessing too wonderful for me to comprehend too, so I pour it all back in His Name. I know my Destiny is secured ONLY by His blood (and nothing I do on my own), so when you hear me Sharing it with the world, you’ll be an eye-witness to what it looks like to pour it all back to Him…the Living Water…our only Hope. When you look at it that way, it’s hard to understand why people are hoarding their Faith as if it’s something they deserve, instead of pouring it out as a Love offering to the Living God.

Today will be like any other day for me in some ways. It won’t be about the Blessings I receive, it will be about what I’m willing to pour back to Him. He’s my everything so everything I have…everything I am…all gets poured out as a Love Offering to the Living Water…the One who died for me…AND THAT’S why my Life overflows with Blessings that I don’t deserve. I am, and I will always be, Victorious…no matter how dark this world gets before He calls me Home…as long as I pour it all out in His Name.

There is no place for lukewarm. Wake up Church!

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The 2nd day of September has the feel of the Fall season, and it’s a reminder to me that things are destined to change around this old farm pretty soon. Before you know it, the days will be shorter and the air will be cooler. Next, the leaves will change color, and the wildlife will be preparing for the cold. It won’t be long before I’ll surrender to the cold myself, and I’ll be meeting with Living God INSIDE instead of outside on the front porch. No amount of wishing, or praying, or effort from man can change the course of these things because they’re Destined to be. When it comes to those things Destined by the Hand of the Living God…whether it’s the change of our seasons…good or bad circumstances…painful times or joyful times…I Trust Him. Isn’t that the way it is supposed to be for ALL who profess Jesus as Lord of their Lives?

It’s easy to sing Praises to the Living God when things are going well. It’s easy to give thanks when there is enough food on the table or when everybody is healthy and getting along. It’s easy to trust God when the family is in order and relationships are strong, and when we’ve got a roof over our heads. There’s no reason to be challenged by Trust issues when everything in life is smooth sailing, that’s for sure! But it’s an entirely different story when the Seasons in Life change for the “worse” and our world is temporarily turned upside-down. It’s during these challenging times that most of us don’t hesitate to run to the King and to dig into our Faith as we cry out to our God for mercy- but do we TRUST Him? Do we Trust His Plans when we lose our health or when we lose a loved one, or do we merely tolerate the pain and question the Living God about His Plans as if He must NOT Know what He’s doing if we’re feeling a little pain? Do we merely endure through the agony we experience in life sometimes, or do we consider that He has a Purpose in it all? Do we mourn for our loved ones when they leave this earth, and do we feel like we’ve “lost” them when He calls them Home to Himself, even though we (should) know that they wouldn’t leave Home now for anything in this world? Life is destined to be filled with heartbreak and trials mixed in with all the good. It’s a piece of cake to Trust Him when things are good, and we don’t hesitate to beg for mercy when things aren’t so good…but do we Trust Him?

I’m not sure why people get old and sick or why people die young. I don’t know why some people can have babies and some people can’t, or why some are snatched away into darkness. I don’t know why the poor exist in our world or why we have times of war. I don’t know where the plagues come from or what purpose they serve. I don’t know why some people are born black and some are born white. I don’t know why people stop loving each other, and I don’t understand how people can destroy the homes and businesses of total strangers all in the name of “justice.” What I DO KNOW is that He is a multi-faceted God and somehow all those bad things are threaded into ALL of those good things that we easily Trust Him with. If He’s good enough to Trust with the Good and worthy of our Thanks when things are smooth sailing, then He’s certainly Worthy of our Praise and our Thanks EVEN when the course of Life changes for Reasons we don’t understand. This is the Key to Trust.

I’m Trusting Him with the madness I see in this dark world and the hatred I see across America, and I’ll NEVER stop Praising Him through it all. I know that He says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” so it wouldn’t be very smart of me to try to figure out God with my simple human mind. I need to Trust Him with my Heart and my Life instead – through the good…through the bad…through the ugly…through the heartbreak….through the destruction…through death…through the poverty…through it ALL. Not only do I Trust Him, I surrender to Him…I Revere Him…I Serve Him…I Live for Him. He is my Loving and Compassionate God, and I TRUST Him WITH EVERYTHING, even though I don’t always understand His thoughts or His ways.

How about you?

Do you Trust Him?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The house is filled with grandkids this week, and “chaos” is filling up my world that has been quiet for decades…and I love it! What a treasure it is to be Blessed with a “next generation” to love and to nurture…and to create memories with! Having the grandkids at the farm is a whole lot like watching these geese trying to find their formation; it may look a little scattered for a little while, but eventually everything falls into alignment, and before you know it, you wish the beautiful formation would never end. Because there is so much to do and so little time this morning, I was inclined to hit the ground running without taking the time to Share the Message that the Lord shared with me…but the Living God would have no part of it. In a matter of seconds, He set me straight to Remind me that what I do, I DO FOR HIM, and in a matter of seconds, I was asking for forgiveness for my selfish Heart that could so easily have put busyness ahead of my Savior. It’s not as simple as “not having time” when the King sets you on a Heavenly Mission, and the human sacrifices don’t always come easy. But if I don’t want to “lose” the Gift that’s been poured into me, then I need to be sure to Follow Directions. Paying it forward is what I do for the Most High God, and striving to Please Him is what keeps me going. As long as I Walk in the Spirit and not in my flesh, I can do anything! Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy for us to pick and choose for ourselves where we’ll spend our time, and we easily follow the heart even when it doesn’t always make sense. Some people have mastered the game of shuffling from one thing to another like a never-ending game of ping pong, and they’re so busy chasing their pleasures that they never really accomplish anything at all. Some people prefer to live on “Easy Street” and they would never consider taking on the tough things as long as they can avoid them. Some people live in limbo, never committing to anything just in case something better comes along. Some people are too afraid to step up, while others don’t even know what stepping up looks like. It’s human nature to migrate toward what brings us the most pleasure, and it’s the nature of man to justify why we’re not paying attention to the other details while we chase our own pleasures. We walk through this life looking for perpetual picnics and where we’ll have the most fun. But the only Genuine Pleasure to ever be had comes when we Walk in the Spirit, instead of in the flesh. It exhausts me to think about what it would be like to live a life driven by my own agenda and only for my own pleasure, and it breaks my heart to see so many lost in the web of selfishness. Living for ourselves and only for our own pleasure is an empty place, and it never ends up for Good when we do. It’s impossible to Serve the Living God while we’re busy serving ourselves – we only begin to Live for Him when we’re willing to die to ourselves. This is the key to fulfillment, contentment, and peace!

Some people have no idea about what it is to “walk in the Spirit” and it’s impossible to explain what it’s like to someone if they’ve never experienced the Journey for themselves. Some roll their eyes and consider it all nonsense. Some see the Fruit that comes by Walking in the Spirit and they are inclined to credit talent or theatrics…even the ones that should know better. Some see the Light of someone else Walking in the Spirit, and they get jealous because of the Benefits that come with the Job. Some are so critical that they’ll look for an underlying “agenda” because they don’t understand supernatural Gifts and talents when they see them. Some people are so selfish that they can’t digest the idea that anybody could ever really be selfless, OR why they would want to be. Some confuse the Light with limelight, and they can’t see the beauty while too busy judging the Purpose of the Light.

I understand what these people are like because I used to be one myself…UNTIL God called me out of my selfishness and Equipped me to Work just for Him. All those things I worried about giving up were overshadowed by Beauty, and all those things I fretted over wanting to accomplish just for myself were Out-shined by my Work for Jesus Christ instead. I’m serving Him even when it isn’t easy…even when it’s chaotic…even when it looks a little disheveled like the geese trying to find their way… and I’m loving every minute of the Journey.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I began this new day of this new week off on the Right foot by spending time with my God outside on the front porch again this morning. It’s a glorious morning in Virginia with cool air and clear skies, and just the weather alone is enough to make me smile, BUT it’s not nearly enough to Prepare my Heart or to keep me going today. My heart has been Tenderized by the King, and it takes a lot of work to keep it in Fighting Shape…so I do what I need to do to strengthen it or to soften it, depending on my Circumstances and the people in my Life at the time. Although the Gospel never changes, the ones we Share it with are not one-size-fits-all, so I need to be sure I’m Prepared for all shapes and sizes. As 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 to pull that off, it takes a lot of Focus on the Heart. My surroundings are just a small part of the equation on any given day, the biggest Part is the part that the Journey can’t necessarily be seen with the eyes. It’s one thing to be thrilled by the view, it’s another thing to be Thrilled by the Creator of the view. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

There are so many things that can stir my Heart in a million different directions from one minute to the next. When it’s stirred with pleasure, it’s easy to keep my Heart in balance and to have the right perspective; but sometimes even good things require a Good Balance. So often it’s those things that bring us the most pleasure in life that can so easily take the place of the King in the Heart if we’re not careful. A loved one…a child or a grandchild…our work or our service…all of these things have the potential to outshine the King when we rely on pleasure to direct our steps. But without Him, none of these things that bring us pleasure would exist at all! As David once said, “There is no good thing apart from you”, so we put our Hope, our Time, and our Attention on the Most High God and not on the outward things. This is the secret to Supernatural Joy and the kind of Peace that “surpasses all understanding”.

When the Heart is stirred with hurt, it’s even easier to lose our Perspective. When we’re wronged or cheated, manipulated or lied to, the Heart is inclined to harden IF we aren’t careful. Forgiveness is the way to Freedom, and forgiveness is a Choice. It’s when the Heart becomes hard, and we ALLOW ourselves to be consumed with hurt, that we lose sight of the King if we’re not careful. All of these things have the potential to distract us and to outshine the King in the Heart if we don’t guard it. All of these things have the potential to corrupt our joy and to disrupt our Purpose when we rely on the actions of someone other than the King to determine our steps. It’s when we’re too weak to do Damage Control, and it’s when the Heart becomes hard that we lose our ability to forgive the ones who have wronged us. It’s only when the King outshines the pain that we can soften the heart all over again, and it’s only through Him that we learn to Forgive. This is the secret to true Peace.

Just like everybody else, my Heart is sometimes inclined to get out of balance from one minute to the next IF I’M NOT CAREFUL, BUT I know where to go to get my Heart back on track and I know where my Focus belongs. The focus from where I sit isn’t on the mountains, or my furry friends – it isn’t on the plants and trees, or the clouds in the sky, or the birds. My Focus is so much Bigger than any of those beautiful things- my Focus is on the Creator AND the Lord of all!

I understand that if the Condition of my Heart isn’t pleasing to my God, then I can’t be a worthy Vessel to be used by Him. I understand that refusing to Forgive someone else would come with HUGE Kingdom Consequences – a price I’m not willing to pay. I understand that if I don’t walk the walk I talk about – if my Character isn’t in alignment with my words, then there is a chance I could do more harm than Good for the Kingdom…a price I’m not willing to pay. The Journey of Faith is NOT a walk in the park; it’s serious business with Eternal consequences. The Journey doesn’t just cost us something – it costs us everything…a price I AM willing to pay for the King! No matter what this Journey costs me while I’m navigating through this thing called Life, it pales in comparison to the price Jesus Christ paid for me. The way I see it, if He was willing to die for me, then I sure ought to be willing to Live for Him…no matter the cost. It’s ONLY in His Presence where indescribable Peace and Joy are found – all I know is that I never want to be Separated from Him…and I NEVER want to live without Peace and Joy. I have Peace and Joy here on this earth and I’ll carry it with me when I go Home to Glory. How can you put a price on that?

I’m clinging to the King today and I’m Prepared for the pleasure or the pain that I might encounter along the way. I’ll give thanks for the pleasurable things, I’ll turn the other cheek when I’m wronged, and I’ll extend Forgiveness when I’m betrayed. You don’t believe that’s possible? Of course it is! The Words tells me that I “can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” – and I believe every word of the Word.

How about you?

Do you rely on outward circumstances or other people for your joy and your peace and does your Heart reflect your circumstances? IF so, reach out to me. We’ll have a long talk about where you can find your ONLY long-lasting Source of Peace and Joy and how little all of the other things and people matter in the Bigger Picture and when I’m done with you, everyone and everything will take 2nd place to the King in your life too!