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!

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, and this morning it featured a cross. 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”. Long ago, I heard about how shouts from the stadium hosting the World Cup in Brazil were so intense that they measured 6 on the Richter scale from miles away. Can you imagine there being so much excitement over a soccer game that the earth shook? When I heard that, I began to imagine what it would be like if the Church got so excited about the imminent return of Jesus Christ that it tipped the Richter scale all over the world. THE MOST exciting “play” of all time is getting closer by the day, 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 all the whole world can be put on notice of their coming long before they take place. With a hurricane, we’re told where we can take shelter, and with a solar eclipse, we’re told to use protective eyewear because the eyes couldn’t endure what it sees without them. 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 it doesn’t acknowledge 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. 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. When I met with the One who died for me, I asked Him for Wisdom for a few areas of my Life that would be impossible to successfully Navigate without it, and I am confident He’ll Provide it because His Word says all I ever need to do is ask Him. I seek His Face for everything in this Journey of Life! I seek His Will above my own every day! I see the Work of His Hand everywhere! I’m pretty sure that most people see only a picture of the fog in this image…but when I look at it, I imagine what seeing the Shikinah Glory of God will be like one day. I look for the Most High God with great anticipation in everything, and I see Him doing “Great and Mighty things”…not because I’m special…but because I seek His face. By the time I finished Praising the Author and Perfector of my Faith this morning, He had already begun to answer my prayer for Wisdom – so I’ll be putting into Action what was only on my Heart before God took Control. My life is forever overflowing with things to do, and if I’m not careful, I could find myself attempting to lead instead of being Willing to Follow. So, no matter what’s on my plate for this new day or how busy I know I’ll be, my first Priority is always getting ME prepared to do my Part ONLY according to His Will and not my own. Isn’t that the way you Prioritize your busy Life, too?

Most people professing 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 the condition of the Heart at all. But believing in Christ is one thing, being a Follower of His is an entirely different story. It’s painfully obvious that while many professed Christians 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 revere Him as King? Are they working out their salvation “with fear and trembling,” or are they living on Easy Street without a care in the world? Do they ever really Surrender to His Will, or are they too busy holding onto 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…that’s a new perspective for most, but THAT’S what a surrendered Life looks like and what it means to be a Follower of the King. It’s ONLY when we Focus on the Light of our Savior that everything else dims in comparison, and Following Him becomes our greatest Joy, no matter where He leads us.

It’s human nature to want 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 “out there” somewhere. 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 when we call. Sometimes we talk a pretty good game about our God, but when it comes down to it, are we truly allowing Him to Lead us, OR are we expecting Him to follow us so that He can take care of all of the needs in our lives while He’s at it? Jesus painted a very clear picture of what our lives “look” like if we are Willing to Follow Him. We feed His sheep – we Serve the needy – we Hunger to share the Truth – we mourn over lost people – we lay down our own lives so that we can Live for Him. It takes keeping the Light of the world blazing in our Hearts to be a Follower day in and day out. This is the Key to Joy, Purpose AND to Peace.

It’s pretty risky to ask God to “use” you 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 doesn’t make sense at all from where we sit. If we try to take the Lead in our Faith, we’ll NEVER do those things that make no sense to us. We might 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 before they’re willing to do what they’re already confident “God wants them” to do? These folks aren’t really willing to Follow at all. At least not unless it makes perfect sense in their mind and unless God provides ALL the pieces and removes ALL of the guesswork to allay their fears first…the real reason behind why they won’t budge…they don’t Trust Him to Lead. In reality, we can’t just pray as if 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 Faithful Follower too. Sometimes fear and doubt creep in when I’m weak, just like everybody else, BUT IF I determine for the Light of my Life to be my Main Focus each day, everything else will dim in comparison. As long as I look for the Shekinah Glory with Great Anticpation, I can’t go wrong! I don’t want to find myself trying to live in MY Will…I want to remain in His Will all the days of my life instead. I’m determined to be a Faithful Follower of His, and I’ll let Him do the Leading because when HE Leads, miraculous things happen every single time, and when I lead, I stumble and fall.

How about you?

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me, 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. I met with the Living God with a cup of coffee in hand and a Heart willing to learn. I don’t have frills or formality when it comes to meeting with my God, because I’m His student and He’s my Teacher and He loves me just the way I am. I’ll never be old enough or smart enough to stop Searching for what God has for me or for ways that I can become more of what He Plans for me to be. Being a Light in a dark world and a Willing Vessel is one thing…to have the mind and the HEART OF A CHILD, excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up” is another. So, I meet with Him with Humility, and I Search His Word with no agenda of my own whatsoever EXCEPT to Hear what He has for me today. I do my best to stay on Course with the Plans for my Journey that were Set in motion before the foundations of the earth. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?,

The world is overflowing with know-it-alls, but when it comes to God’s people, there’s no room for that! Some people have become Bible scholars, and they can point in the Direction of just the right Scripture without even thinking about it. They strive to know more than everybody else, and they’re ready to pounce on anyone who speaks a word they don’t agree with as if God has enlightened them a little more than the rest of the world. Debating the Word of God is their favorite (self-fulfilling) pastime. The Word of God is embedded in the hard drive of their mind, and they have instant recall at will. But if the Bible scholars aren’t careful, they’ll live Life like a walking encyclopedia, and the more they rely on their intellectual side, the farther they seem to get from that place of Humility. In that case, they’ll no longer have the Heart of a child – eager to learn and excited to spiritually grow up. Others seem to be stuck in Bible student mode, and they’re in every Bible study they can fit into a busy schedule. The Word of my God is highlighted and tabbed, and notes fill up all the empty spaces on the tattered pages. They have the Heart of a child, excited to learn and eager to grow up, but they so often remain in perpetual student mode, and they never take the step toward Application. For the perpetual Bible student, there’s always something else to learn BEFORE they believe they’re ready to “go forth and tell”. The interesting thing about living like a child is that not only are we eager and excited to learn all the days of our lives…we’re fearless too! We learn to Trust our Father to lead us in ways that no man is Qualified to lead and to Trust Him, especially when it doesn’t make sense.

It takes the Heart of a child to follow His Lead, even when we’re scared, and it takes the Heart of a child to find Humility. It takes the Heart of a child to be willing to Surrender and to be obedient to the Voice of God. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that there are consequences for our wrongs that can’t be negotiated or intellectually reasoned through. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that we don’t Know it all and that we never really will on this side of Heaven. It takes the Heart of a child to Believe that when the Father says something, it’s true…and it is never questioned. It takes the Heart of a child to live outside of fear so that we don’t just read about “how to ride a bike”, we actually get on the bike and ride – and if we fall here and there that’s okay too, because the falling here and there makes us better and Stronger as we master the art of “bike riding”. It takes the Heart of a child to cry and to admit that we’re Powerless on our own. It takes the Heart of a child to easily extend Forgiveness, and it takes the Heart of a child to Love unconditionally. It’s ONLY when we live and Love like a child that we can please our Heavenly Father…the Teacher, the Redeemer, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith…the ONLY ONE who Knows it all.

I’ve spent years in the Living Word of my Living God, and it shows. I understand that head knowledge doesn’t do me any Good unless I move it from my head to my Heart and apply it to every area of my life. I’m excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up.” I’ll strive to have (and to keep) the Heart of a child when it comes to my God, all the days of my Life, that He might be pleased with me.

How about you?