Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day in this Journey called “Life”, and there couldn’t be a better way to welcome it in than in the Presence of a Mighty God. It’s here that I receive my Instructions, and it’s here that I Grow. It’s here that I count my Blessings, and it’s here that I receive my Marching Orders. Stepping into His presence each morning from this old farm isn’t my habit or my “routine”. It isn’t what I do because it’s what I’m supposed to be doing or because it’s a great view. It isn’t what I do out of a sense of obligation or legalism. It’s what I do out of LOVE FOR HIM. He’s my Father, and I’m His child, and there aren’t words to describe the Richness that consumes my Heart because of our Time together. I deeply miss my loved ones when we’re apart, that’s for sure, but nothing compares to how much I miss the Living God when I don’t have time with Him. Isn’t that what the Journey of Faith is like for you, too?

It’s easy to proclaim that “God is there” and to rest on that assurance in life as if speaking it is enough. He IS always there. He’s a part of everything we are. He’s omnipresent, and He’s omnipotent. He’s the Beginning and the End. But even though we acknowledge that “He is always there”, there is no comparison and no replacement for building a Relationship with Him by giving Him our Time and Attention. It’s in those quiet times that He shows His love in a more personal way, and it’s in those quiet times that He illuminates His Word. It’s in those quiet times that we hear His voice deep within the Soul and we feel His Promptings for our Direction. It’s in those quiet times that the Heart is humbled and the wrongs revealed, and it’s in those quiet times that we get them made right with Him. It’s in those quiet times that our wounds are healed, and it’s in those times that we learn to forgive. It’s in those quiet times that His Word moves from just being a “good book” to being the ONLY Book that can read us because it has Supernatural Life. It’s in those quiet times that we weep over the condition of our lives or we weep with Joy over our Purpose. It’s in those quiet times that we find our Humility, and it’s in those times that we’re reminded of His Might. It’s in those quiet times that we find our Peace and our Comfort and our Joy. When you consider all the Spiritual Benefits of “investing” Time with the Living God, how could we EVER fail to give Him what He wants from us?

It can be so easy for people to make excuses for why they “don’t have time” to spend with the Living God the way I do, but it’s not time they lack at all. What’s lacking is that kind of Rich Relationship that makes it almost too much to bear if we DON’T spend Quality Time with the Living God each day. Sadly, failure to put Time into Love can be seen in every area of life. Some people are either too busy (or too selfish) to spend quality time with their own children, and they’ll pay the price for it all One Day. Plenty of relationships fail because people refuse to spend the time that’s needed to nurture love day after day and year after year. Then there are some that seem to have found the most amazing balance – they are attentive to their mate and attentive to their children, and their lives appear to be a mirror image of Ozzie & Harriet…BUT they just can’t seem to find time to spend with the Living God while they work toward their version of perfection at home. They find time for the “fun” stuff like vacations and board games while overlooking THE MOST IMPORTANT “experience” like Time with the God of all Creation. Of course, when life gets a little rocky and things aren’t going well, or when tragedy strikes the family, they all come running to God to fix things. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny to think about how parents take offense when they’re taken for granted by their children, BUT they don’t hesitate to come running to the Great “I am” when they have a need. Why would the Living God be any different when it comes to showing Him Respect and Love by spending time with Him instead of just expecting Him to jump through a Heavenly hoop whenever He’s needed? Hmm…

I could travel far and wide to see all the wonders of the world, but my favorite place will always be on the front porch in the Presence of the Living God. Nothing and no one can top what my Heart feels with Him. I’m Comforted…I’m Strengthened…I’m Overwhelmed with Love and Gratitude…and my Excitement cannot be contained. I’ve been given a Good reminder of how Powerless I am without Him in the driver’s seat of my Life and how “there is no good thing” apart from Him. The most important Time I’ll ever spend in my life is with Him, and as long as I have my Priorities Right, every single area of my Life will be in harmony because of it. “Rise and Shine” takes on an entirely different meaning when we determine to keep Him at the top of the list of our “priorities” every day.

As for me, I’ll be rising and Shining all the days of my life until He calls me Home because I gave Him the first (and the best) of me.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I saw the Master wake up the world, and the beauty was so incredible that I couldn’t stop snapping pictures to capture the moment just for you. I prayed. I Reflected. I read from my Instruction Manual, and THEN I asked the God all Creation to Examine my Heart to see if there was anything that would hamper my Relationship with Him. We had a long talk about the condition of my Heart and the state of my Journey, and He showed me things that need to be made Right in my Heart. It takes HUMILITY to be willing to stand before God and ask Him to look inside your Heart to be sure it’s Beating in the Right Direction, and it isn’t always easy to hear when it’s not. It is amazing how easy it is to draw strength from the Living God when we confess our weaknesses and He sees our Humility. For me, it’s like CPR straight from Heaven, and I can almost feel my Soul coming back to Life as He nurtures me back into Fighting Condition. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

Pride keeps most Christians from growing because they see Humility as weakness, and they have been led to believe that “good” Christians shouldn’t have trials, and/or they definitely shouldn’t talk about it when they don’t have trials. The prideful ones try to convince others that they don’t get sad – they never cry for “no reason” – they certainly don’t ever want to throw in the towel. We experience all these things AND THEN SOME, but not all of us are Humble enough to admit it or Surrendered enough to turn to the Living God for help. Humility isn’t weakness, it’s strength!

Elijah was a powerful prophet of the Living God, and I never grow tired of reading about his victories AND his weaknesses. I may not be used by my God in the same way that He used Elijah, but He loves me just the same. When Elijah grew weary from his journey, he went off into the wilderness alone. He found a cool place to rest, and he asked God to take his life. He was too weary and weak to go on. He was hungry and thirsty, and he had no more strength for the journey. Sound familiar? But God heard his cry for mercy, just like He hears my cries for mercy when I lose my strength, too. Instead of reprimanding Elijah for his weakness, God had compassion upon him; so He sent Elijah a little help straight from Heaven to fill his practical needs to strengthen his body when Elijah was too distraught to do that for himself. What a beautiful picture of a loving God that can fill every need…both practical and spiritual… ESPECIALLY in our weakness.”

“All at once, an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God” I Kings 19:5-8.

I’m working through my own weakness and not too Prideful to admit it. My strength has been zapped through the Journey a time or two, and although the Living God didn’t need to send an angel from Heaven to offer me food and water, He always sends just the Right Word from my Instruction Manual to nourish me so that I might find my Strength all over again. He always sees my weaknesses, whether I confess them or not, and He always extends Mercy and has Compassion for me when I reach out to Him with Humility, and I confess that I’m feeling weary and weak for the Journey. I’m thanking God as I am reminded of His words again, “My Grace is sufficient for you – , My Power is made perfect in your weakness,” and I’m thanking Him for sending Heavenly CPR today.

How about you? Do you need a little Heavenly CPR sometimes OR are you too prideful to admit you need it?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The sky is gray, the air is thick, and the fog is so heavy you could almost cut it with a knife on this August day in Virginia. When the Living God brought the light over the farm this morning, the world lit up slowly and gently…and then it just stopped. It was like a Heavenly dimmer switch being raised to just the Right Place for the New Day. This new day doesn’t look anything like yesterday, and although the deer still graze, the birds still sing, and my day will have a familiar ring to it, absolutely nothing about this New Day will be like any other Day that has ever come before. This day came, and it will go…and once it is behind me, I won’t be able to change a single thing about it. For me, each new day is a New Day in Christ, filled with Opportunities to be a Part of Miraculous things in His name. Just knowing that this New Day will never be repeated again makes me savor it that much more. Isn’t that the way you face the New Day in your Journey of Faith, too?

It can be so easy to consider each New Day as if it’s “just another day” if we aren’t careful, and we lose Sight of the significance of every Day of Living when we do. We aren’t still here because God has forgotten to take us Home; we’re still here for His Purpose. We don’t exist on this earth just for the pleasures we find; we exist because He has a Plan for our Lives while we’re here. We don’t have breath coming and going from the body by some scientific phenomena; we’re still breathing because He’s not finished with us yet. Before He formed the foundations of the earth, He Planned for each of His Children, too, and each One of us has a Plan and a Purpose to fulfill as long as He has us here. It’s when we consider our Place that we find our Peace, and it’s when we consider our Purpose that we find our excitement and Joy no matter what’s going on (or not going on) in the world around us. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday; today is a New Day. It doesn’t matter if we squandered yesterday; today is a New Day. None of the wrongs we’ve committed follow us into this New Day…unless we choose not to Repent so that we can continue to carry them with us. None of the heartbreak we felt yesterday has a place in this New Day either…unless we can’t find our way to give it all to Him…yet. None of our encounters happen by chance, and none of those encounters should be overlooked. Every single thing has been Touched by the Master’s Hand, and every tiny little piece of Life has Significance to the One Who ordains each day of Life.

Sometimes people struggle with what their Purpose is, and they can’t find their way to the Meaning of Life because of it. The idea that each New Day is a day to Serve is foreign to them, but that’s just because they don’t understand the Meaning of Life or the significance of Sacrifice. The Miracle of this New Day could be a teachable moment with a child…a chance to Live out your Faith for them to see in Living Color. The Seeds we plant in the Lives of a child are opportunities to Serve that will have Everlasting Impact in ways we won’t see on this side of Heaven…each seed bringing them one step closer to the Living God. Each moment of compassion or kindness extended to the Lost doesn’t go unnoticed by the Living God, and each of those Moments is forever embedded in the hearts of the ones we Serve long after we serve them…bringing them one step closer to the Living God. Each time we extend Love to the “unlovable”… the ones nobody else wants to be bothered with because they’re dirty, or intoxicated, or difficult, is a Miracle in the Making, and each time we extend Christ-like Love, we bring them one step closer to the Living God. Each New Day brings countless opportunities to be a part of a Miracle, but the things we do and say can’t be threaded together for Miraculous things UNLESS we sprinkle the words and the actions with a Heavenly Message. Doing nice things is one thing; doing Nice Things in the Name of Jesus Christ is an entirely different story. Unless we Embrace the New Day with Purpose, and UNLESS we’re willing to mention His Name in all that we do, we’re just “nice” people doing nice things, and HE never gets the Glory for it all. This is the Key to Living a Christ-like Life filled with Miraculous Moments.

I’m not sure what this New Day will bring, but I DO know that the first Priority on my List was to get my Heart in alignment with the Author and Perfector of my Faith. I needed to Surrender control over some things I’ve fooled myself into believing I should or could fix. I needed to kick the one who comes to rob, kill, and destroy back to Hell where he belongs, AND I needed a Good Dose of the Word of God to Remind me that I’m Precious in His Eyes. After all that, NOW I’m Ready to Serve the King of all kings. Had I not been willing to pay attention to the Condition of my Heart…I’d be a worthless Vessel today, that’s for sure. Instead, I’m Refreshed – I’m Revived – AND I WILL BE VICTORIOUS. I am grateful for another day of living…not just because I’m enjoying my Life that absolutely overflows with Blessings…but because I Know that I have a Purpose to Fulfill that was put in Place by the Touch of the Master’s Hand before I was even born. I’m excited AND honored to be used by Him, and I refuse to close out this New Day having missed an opportunity to be part of something Miraculous in His Name…and I’ll never look at each New Day as “just another day” because of it.

How about you?

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

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

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

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The minute my eyes opened this morning, I thought about the Love of my Life and I thanked Him for another day to Serve. Love and Gratitude are one thing, being made ready to take on a new day as a woman of Faith is an entirely different story. For that, I need Wisdom and Grace…a Compassionate Heart…and a willingness to Forgive. I need to Surrender this day and all that it is to Him. I need to be sure that I’m not harboring anything “bad” in my heart that could hinder my Relationship with Him or my Witness to a dark world. I need supernatural Strength, and I need Humility. My Journey isn’t possible without Him, and I’m not capable of any of these things without His Help, so I seek His face each morning, and I put Him first in all that I do. Isn’t that the way you begin your new day too?

It can be so easy these days for people to fight for their independence while they convince themselves that they’re fine all on their own – but God didn’t wire us to be on our own. God breathed the Rule Book into existence, and He says, “iron sharpens iron,” and that “two are better than one.” He made Eve for Adam. He called Aaron to help Moses. He joined Elijah and Elisha to prepare for a time when the prophet Elijah would be taken Home. There are countless examples of how God reinforced relationships to strengthen His people – each one driving the message home that “iron sharpens iron.” It’s that same determination to be independent that can easily carry over into our Journey of Faith, too, and before you know it, we can easily convince ourselves that the remote control is an adequate replacement for assembling together with the saints. The more we work to convince ourselves that we don’t need anybody else, the farther away from understanding what it means to be totally dependent on God for it all. What the world sees as weakness is actually a sign of Power as we Surrender it all over to God. There is no place for independence in the Journey of Faith.

Sometimes it’s funny to see the reaction when people hear me confess that I’m not nearly as “independent” as they think I am. I flew solo for most of my life, but that wasn’t because of a determination to be independent, and it wasn’t an outward sign of an inward need to be alone. It just was. What others don’t understand is that when Christ is the Center of Life, we never feel alone! No doubt I survived well on my own with God at the Head of my family – I managed to raise 4 kids on my own, and they’ve grown up to be wonderful God-fearing people. I’ve built success and I’ve seen abundance – my family wanted for nothing. I was also overwhelmed by the burden of it all sometimes, and I cried myself to sleep more times than you want to know. That is UNTIL I learned to surrender whatever was overwhelming me over to God while confessing to Him that I’m helpless without Him – and THEN GOD GAVE ME the reassurance that He’ll never leave me nor forsake me. He reminded me that all I have to do is Acknowledge Him in all my ways that HE WILL keep my path straight through the Journey. I’ve seen so many miracles that I can’t begin to count them all, and I’ve had friends hold me up when I couldn’t hold myself up countless times. I’m not ashamed to say I’m weak, and I’m not too proud to ask God for help….the God that KNOWS that “two are better than one.” I may have been flying solo, but I’ve NEVER been alone, and because of my Journey, I matured in my Faith enough to understand that His “power is (always) made perfect in my weakness.” When I am weak and dependent, HE IS STRONG.

I spend time alone on the front porch at daybreak most days, but I’m not flying solo anymore. God decided that I needed a suitable partner to walk through the Journey of Faith with me, and I was obedient to the Call…and oh what a Treasure it is to lock arms with the one God intended for me after decades of flying solo! Sometimes people will ask me how I’m adjusting to “losing” my independence now that I’m married, but I lost that a long time ago when I Surrendered it all to the Living God. So, as much as I know that I’m no longer alone in this vapor of a life, and as grateful as I am for my Covenant Partner, it’s Jesus Christ I put my Trust in still. He’s the Source of my Strength. He’s the Author and Perfector of my Faith. He’s my Redeemer, and He’s my Rock. I paid the Price to become a Strong Warrior for the Living God, and I walk out my faith with Boldness…but there is nothing independent about me or my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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 beautiful again this Saturday morning, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think we were in a different season altogether. Last week it was scorching hot, and today it feels like Fall. As I sat there taking in the Magnificence of this new day, I thought about how we often get the Seasons of Life mixed up, and our focus gets off-kilter when we do. The temperature this morning FELT like Fall, but nothing looks like Fall. If I react to what I feel and not by what I see, I can easily be fooled into believing I’m in an entirely different Season in the Journey of Life. It’s not wise to go by what we feel or see; we need to go by what we Know instead. In terms of the season of the year, I know it’s Summer – in terms of the Season of my Journey, I Know the Final Season is near. The Bible says that “they exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” I am confident that my adversary would love for me to be fooled into believing in things that I only see with my eyes. After all, his tactics haven’t changed since the Garden of Eden! That’s why I do my best to remain Laser-Focused on Truth and not some “version” of it. The Holy Spirit is my Teacher – the Word is my Barometer – Jesus is my Redeemer, and as long as I’m Focused on that Truth, I cannot be deceived. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

It’s only when I look in the mirror that I see that I’m in the Fall Season of my life. The years show on my face, and this old mare ain’t what she used to be, that’s for sure…I’m BETTER. My value no longer be measured by what I look like or how much money I make. I’m a bondservant to Jesus Christ, and I have a Mansion waiting for me in Heaven One Day, where there will be no more sickness or sadness. Does it get any better than that? Paul said, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. So…I don’t dwell on what I see, I Live as if The Best is yet to come…because it is! My heart is young. My spirit is young. I still have a young and teachable mind, and even though my body can’t always do what it used to do…I’m usually surprised when it can’t. But all in all, no matter what I see and feel, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” There is no greater calling in this Journey we call “Life”.

It’s sad to see so many people fooled by what they see in the mirror. They allow the adversary to convince them that NOW is the time to quit, and they believe they no longer have something to offer the Kingdom because of it. Moses was called into Service at 80 years old – had he looked in the mirror and embraced his years, he never would have obeyed the Living God. What we see in the mirror has no relevance at all; it’s what God sees in US that matters the most…and He can Spot a Willing Heart from millions of miles away. When God spots a Willing Heart, He always has plenty of things them to do. But the best part is that we can Trust what the Word of God says: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not faint”. So, no matter how old or how young we are, NOW is the Season to Serve like never before. This is the Key to being found worthy to be used by the King of all kings, all the days of our lives.

Some people consider their calendar years, and they make excuses for why they don’t Serve the King because of it. The adversary can convince them that they’re too young (or too old) to be so serious about the Journey of Faith – after all, “there’s so much living to do!” – so they put off Serving the Living God because of it, as if they have all the time in the world to get Serious. Some are in the season of raising a family, and the adversary will convince them that now is the season to focus on things like sports and GPAs instead of the only Season that matters in the Bigger Picture of Life. We have no way of knowing how many seasons the Lord will give us, and we don’t know when we’ll draw our last breath. But what we DO Know is that IF we are Born Again, the Season to Share Jesus Christ with the world is NOW. When we remain Laser Focused on that Truth, we cannot be fooled by what we feel or see with our eyes. It’s only when we Embrace what the Journey is all about do we set aside all the other “seasonal distractions” for the Season of the King. He’s coming back, and neither young nor old will escape the Outcome when He does. He won’t entertain excuses for why He died for us, but we REFUSED to Live for Him, all because of the selfish seasons.

I’m an imperfect woman living out the Final Season of my imperfect life on earth. I’ve lived long enough to know what it’s like to be fooled by my adversary, and I squandered plenty of my younger years because of it. Today, I don’t (much) care what the mirror reflects or about the high mileage that shows from my head to my toes. I don’t care what the calendar says or how many years I flipped. I am determined to be Laser Focused on Truth until I draw my last breath, AND I’m committed to Sharing the Truth with as many people as I can before He calls me Home. My Heart is Strong. My mind is sound. My body is healthy. I’m working harder than ever before, and I’m not stopping until He stops me, no matter what season I’m in. I might need a staff like Moses carried just to hold me up before it’s all said and done, but I WILL NOT QUIT.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This morning was bright and beautiful before the next storm rolls in…exactly how I want my Heart to be. I have no control over the weather, but I DO have control over the Condition of my Heart, so I entered His Presence…I opened my Instruction Manual…I sat in Silence…I listened for His Voice… and I asked Him to Forgive me of my wrongs. All it ever takes is for us to ask Him to examine our Hearts (along with a sincere desire to please Him), and He will Reveal countless things in the Heart that need to be made Right. Let’s face it, we ALL have a Heart Condition; some are just too prideful to admit it, OR not Humble enough to Repent. These are the ones who are always looking for the flaws in someone else’s life while never seeing the flaws in their own. The worst part is that they aren’t even Mature enough to see it- but then neither did the Pharisees. This morning, it didn’t take long for my Heart to become bright and beautiful, just like the morning from the front porch, because NOW it’s been Cleansed of anything that had the potential to get in the way of my Relationship with Jesus Christ. All it takes is a little Humility mixed with Love, and I find my way to that place where I can be of Good Service to the King of all kings! Isn’t that your Goal in the Journey of Faith, too?

I think it’s interesting how some people react when I talk about Repentance as if they’re shocked that I have anything to repent of at all. Of course, I have things to repent of…AND SO DO YOU! Even the “tiniest” wrong needs to be dealt with before the Throne of a Righteous God because in His eyes there is no such thing as a “big sin/little sin” – He hates anything and everything that separates our hearts from His. That’s where Spiritual Maturity comes in. A Humble heart SEARCHES for things that go against the Nature of God, and a Heart filled with Love for Him will easily Repent because of it. But a Heart that hasn’t Matured yet will overlook (and excuse) all kinds of things that go against God without a care in the world. That kind of Heart justifies behavior, and is no stranger to inflicting pain upon other people without blinking an eye. That kind of Heart feels no compassion for the suffering, as if they’re not suffering themselves because they’re somehow a little more entitled than all the others. That kind of Heart is the source of lots of heartbreak in the Journey of Faith, and that kind of Heart is oblivious to the Nature of the God they claim to Serve. By the way, that’s exactly the kind of Heart our Adversary LOVES to have access to, because when he does, he can create non-stop turmoil in the church, in the marriage, in the family, and everywhere in between. Spiritual Maturity is the ONLY WAY TO PLEASE GOD and the only Route to being used as a Vessel for Kingdom Work. IT’S TIME TO GROW UP.

It takes Work to reach Spiritual Maturity – the kind of Work most people aren’t willing to do. It takes LOTS of Quality Time in His Presence, but most people NEVER seem to find the time. It takes reaching that place of Humility that refuses to hide from Repentance, but most people are too proud to do that. It takes Compassion, the kind of compassion that is developed ONLY through heartbreak of our own on the Rocky Road to Refinement, but most people never find it. It takes becoming SelfLESS so that the needs of others become far more important than our own, but most people are too focused on themselves to get that part Right. Last, but not least, it takes LOVE…the greatest AND the toughest of all. It’s not possible to Love the way we’re Called to Love with Immature Hearts, and THAT’S why Time in His Presence is the Key to Spiritual Maturity.

The Bible says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”…and so it is throughout the Journey of Faith.

It’s time to grow up.

I love Jesus Christ more than I love life…more than I love anybody or anything IN this life…and because I do, I’m Willing to do anything I need to do to be Spiritually Mature. After all, I’m an “alien in a foreign land” and I’m just passing through. The Time we have here on earth is SO brief that the Bible refers to Life as a “vapor” – here one second and gone the next! I’m on a Temporary Assignment for Jesus Christ, and I don’t have forever to get it Right….and NEITHER DO YOU. My Focus is on the One who died for me and the Home that awaits me when it’s Time for my change of Address. Until then, I press on. The Goal is Humility and Love, and I work hard for both in hopes that He will find me Worthy to do the work of the King of all kings, all the days of my Life.

I grew up.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia this morning. It’s a new day of a new week, and I kicked it off at sunrise on the front porch with my God, just like I usually do. We’re going to have record-breaking high temperatures today, and despite an occasional thunderstorm, there seems to be no relief in sight. I don’t know the Purpose behind God bringing scorching heat to the land, BUT I DO Know His Purpose for bringing scorching heat to our lives. Not only does He “discipline” those he loves, but He also turns up the Heat in our lives to Purify us through fire just the same as a goldsmith does when he raises the temperature to 2,000 degrees to refine gold. The goldsmith increases the value of the gold by separating the “good” from the “bad” through the refining process, and God does pretty much the same thing to us. It’s how we “handle” the heat (or not) that determines our Value to the Kingdom. I’ve been Refined through fire for His Purpose, and I’m confident that without the Refiner doing His Work in me, I wouldn’t be doing my “work” for Him. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith, too?

“No pain, no gain” is a common phrase used by athletes to describe the necessity of enduring pain to achieve physical goals. It takes hard work, determination, sacrifice, and a whole lot of aches and pains to force the body to be shaped and strengthened, that’s for sure. The only thing that separates the “buffed” from the “unbuffed” is the commitment to endure whatever it takes to achieve the goal. Some do, but most don’t. Thousands of gym memberships sell to well-intended people every single day, and yet the average member will only make use of the gym in 90 days of their membership. After that, they quit because the gain isn’t worth the pain it takes to get there. They refuse to put in the hard work, no matter what price has been paid for their journey. They refuse to sacrifice time and energy, and they refuse to deny themselves of all those things it takes to “get in shape.” The Journey of Faith isn’t much different when you think about it. For some, it’s worth being Refined into Shape by the Master because they want to be all that they can be in His Name…for others, the Journey it takes to Get in Kingdom Shape simply isn’t worth it, and just like your average gym membership, they’ll “drop out” of the Spiritual Journey too.

When I look upon my past and all the valleys I endured, ALL I can see is the Hand of God. He Refined me through fire, and He molded me into a usable Vessel for His Glory. Why would I look upon the past like a victim? I don’t wallow in it, and I certainly don’t let it define me! Paul said that he was “forgetting what is behind” so that he could press on in his Faith, and I can’t think of better advice for so many “professed” Christians who refuse to see the Pain of their past (or what they’re enduring now) as Gain in the Kingdom. When the fire shows up and we can’t see a way “out,” ALL WE EVER need to do is turn our eyes upon Jesus, seek His face, Surrender to His Will, and Trust that our Pain has a Purpose. I’ve been Refined by the Master Goldsmith! I’ve been Purified in His Name! I am Victorious! I’m a Walking Witness of the Power of my God! What appeared to be turmoil turned out to be Treasure, and I wouldn’t change a thing about my “past” even if I could! It was, and will always be, the necessary road to draw me closer to Him and the Best Opportunity to bring Glory to my God.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped out onto the front porch with a cup of coffee in hand just as the sun was beginning to rise, and I smiled when I took my first breath of fresh air on this new day. We are under a “heat advisory” in Virginia, and the high temperatures will take a toll on the earth for a few days because of it. I watched the deer come out of hiding for breakfast, and then they headed right back to their cooler hiding place. As I looked out at the foggy fields filled with deer eating their breakfast in the early hours of this new day, I thanked God for the Beauty of the Simple things that bring such Joy to me. We’re all surrounded by Simple things that have the Potential to Fill the Heart with Joy and Gratitude for the God of all Creation, but not everybody is interested in looking for them because their Hearts are more inclined toward themselves and their “feel-good” moments instead. As for me, I’ll take the sound of a bird at sunrise over any concert on the planet, and I’ll take watching deer in the fields over any movie. God Entertains me more than man-made things ever could because I love the Simple things and my Heart is filled with Gratitude for each one. This morning, I spent a little extra time thanking the Living God for all that He is and for all that He does for me and for this amazing, clear, and soon-to-be scorching day in Virginia. The Simple Pleasures make my Heart sing. Isn’t that the way it is in your Journey of Faith, too?

It could be so easy to focus on the bigger battles in life and miss the Simple Pleasures if we aren’t careful, but it’s those simple pleasures that often have the Biggest Impact on the Heart. How can pleasure be measured when we look into the eyes of a child or when we hear them giggle? How can pleasure be measured when we stop the world to focus on conversation with our loved ones or when we break out in a belly laugh as we walk down Memory Lane? How can pleasure be measured when we spend time sharing our Heart with a friend or when we go before the Throne of our God together in prayer? How can pleasure be measured as we consider the birds of the air or the fruit of the fields, and we Know that it all comes from Him? How can pleasure be measured when we look at the sky full of stars and we know that God scattered them there and that He knows them each by name? How can pleasure be measured when He speaks to us at just the right time for just the right Purpose, and He takes us by the right hand to lead us where we’re Called to go? There is no end to Simple Pleasures and no way to measure the joy they bring to the Heart…IF we refuse to overlook them in our search for the “bigger” things.

Some people consider the simple things to be nonsense, and they miss out on the Quality of Life because of it. They need those “wow” moments for them to feel Fulfilled, and they’re only impressed by God when He does “Big” things to entertain them. They miss out on the Simple Pleasures. These same people are inclined to search only for those “big” moments found in the Bible, and they’ll flip past the pages of those Simple things as if they are unnecessary “fluff” in the Bigger Picture. But there isn’t even one word in His Word that is unnecessary “fluff” and just one Whisper from His Spirit when I read them is THE BEST (not so) Simple Pleasures in this Journey of Life. My God can part the seas at the sound of His voice. My God can make the sun stand still, and He can calm the storm. My God can declare war and bring Peace whenever He wants to. My God can heal the sick and raise the dead. My God gives AND He takes away. My God can do all things, and I am in awe of Him. But when He Whispers to my Heart…When His Words come flowing into me and I feel His Spirit Speaking to me…it’s THAT Simple Pleasure that brings me the most pleasure in this Journey called Life. Knowing that He Loves me…that He hears my cries…that He is with me always…That He has a Word for everything I am and for all that I do, and that He cares enough to Whisper those Words within my Soul is so beautiful it defies words! I wish everybody could have what I have all because I savor those Simple Things.

I pity the ones missing out on the Simple things as they let their Time here on earth slip by. Far too many parents refuse to participate in simple things with a child as long as there are smartphones and TVs to entertain them instead. Far too many people of Faith are sitting out the Game on the bench (aka pew) and they’re missing the pleasure of Selfless Service in His Name cause of it. Some people stay away from churches that serve up Simple music as if a rock band defines the worth of the Church, like spectators, and they’re missing the Truth in their quest for entertainment. Some people refuse to slow down for anyone or anything because chasing success is much more important to them than “chasing” Relationships with God or man. Eventually, the Time will run out for all of us, and the opportunity to enjoy the Simple things will come to an End. I wonder if there will be Regrets for the ones who thought of themselves and their entertainment as far more important than those “boring” Simple things where the Truest Blessings are found? Will they hear God say, “I gave the gift of a child, but you found other things more important than spending time with her?” Will God Remind them that they existed just to Glorify Him and not to entertain themselves?

I don’t know if we will be asked about squandering our Life here on earth, nor not, but the thought of standing before God with excuses for why I didn’t Savor the countless blessings in the Simple things is enough to keep me Chasing my God with everything within me. I see Him in everything around me, and He sees me as His child who appreciates it all.

What about you?