come-to-the-well

Standing on the Promises of Christ my King…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This time of year, I meet with the Author and Perfector of my Faith from inside a warm house instead of on the front porch, but I don’t miss the morning view, no matter what. It is cold and (usually) windy this time of year, but God provides a shield of protection over it all…even our furry friends. We have lots of deer around the farm that find everything they need for a high-quality life, just like we do. There is peace. There is shelter. There is food, and there is water. So, they bed down in the wooded area across from the porch, they get their nourishment from the fields, and when they wander to the pond, they find water. Although they “depend” on God to provide all their needs just like all of nature does, they don’t need God the way I do. They don’t long for God the way I do. They don’t run after God the way I do. The Bible says, “As a deer panteth for the water, so my soul pants for you, Oh God”. Does your soul panteth for the Living God, too?

There are plenty of things we all THINK we need, especially this time of year, but nothing that can be purchased in this life is something we really need at all. If you’ve ever spent time with me, you’ll hear me say things like “I need coffee”, or “I need sunshine”, or “I need peace”, but in reality, all I ever NEED is God. Because I panteth for the Living God, He brings favour into my Life and because His Word says “The righteous will never go hungry”, I am confident that He’ll provide for all of my needs. Because His Word says “Joy cometh in the morning”, I am confident that if I find myself downcast for any reason whatsoever, if I just continue to panteth after Him, my Joy will return in the morning. Because I know that HE KNOWS the Plans He has for me, all I need to do is take His Hand and let Him lead, and I don’t need to concern myself with all the in-betweens. Because I know that He has gone to “Prepare a place” for me, I don’t have to concern myself with where I’ll live in the Future. Because I know that Victory is MINE, no battle I face will overwhelm me, and because He says that “No weapon formed against me shall prosper”, I don’t need to run and hide. Because He says that whatever I “bind on earth, will be bound in Heaven”, I don’t concern myself with the darkness that surrounds me…I bind it all instead. Knowing His Word and standing on His Promises is the only way to genuine Peace in the Journey of Faith.

I enjoy my furry friends around the farm, but I don’t admire them. They live as so many people do – wandering around aimlessly with a short-sighted perspective on wants and needs, forever focused on their survival.

I am blessed beyond measure for all that He is and all that He’s done for me, and I’ll be standing on His Promises until I draw my last breath. I panteth after the Living God day in and day out…I live FOR Him, and not just with Him. He’s everything I need, and BECAUSE my Heart remains inclined toward Him, He always takes care of all the rest.

How about you?

The Stinky Sheep…

/ www.LivingLarger.life / 2 Comments

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 the minute I opened my eyes I gave thanks for another day to Glorify my God before He calls me Home. It’s beginning to warm up a little in Virginia and Spring will be here in no time at all. Everything that looks so barren today will spring forth with life soon and the barren will be replaced with beauty. As I sat in the presence of a Mighty God, I thought about how it’s the same way with God’s people. We were once barren and lifeless, but with the touch of the Master’s Hand, we can spring forth and bear fruit all the days of our lives…IF we love Him, that is. Love is where the courage to Share comes into play and Love is where we die to ourselves and begin Living for Him. Love is where we love the lost and the broken ones, and Love is where we lose our judgment. Isn’t it just like my God to use a few barren trees to spark a reminder to me of what Walking in Faith really looks like WHEN I walk with Love.

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. I’m not sure why He asked Peter three times – maybe because it was three times Peter denied knowing Jesus. The same Jesus he followed…the Jesus he saw perform miracles…the Jesus he walked on water with…the Jesus he jumped out of the boat to rush to after Jesus was transfigured…THAT Jesus he didn’t hesitate to deny when he faced potential consequences for doing so. Peter loved Jesus! Still, in the face of turmoil and threat, Peter denied Him. I’m sure when Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me?” He already knew the answer to the question the same as He knew Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. When Peter heard that rooster crow “he wept bitterly” because he realized that despite his argument that he would never deny Jesus…He did! So, Jesus pressed Peter a little harder and He asked the same question three times. Although Jesus didn’t say “prove it” the way we might be inclined to do today – He made it perfectly clear to Peter (and to the world through His Word) “IF you love me – feed my sheep.” Love is where it ALL begins and Love is what springs us forward to “feed” His sheep…with Joy and Honor.

Sheep look good from afar but they can be nasty things. They’re dirty and stinky, and they’re not the smartest of the animals in the kingdom. They’re clueless, rebellious, and not easy to contain. Every once in a while one will run off from the flock, and that same sheep might do the same thing over and over again. For these reasons, most people would never want to shepherd a flock of sheep. But Jesus wasn’t referring to a flock of stinky sheep – Jesus was referring to a world full of stinky people, and He’s saying IF you love me you’ll pour Good Things into them. Anybody can throw food and water at an animal…4 legged ones and 2 legged ones -but it takes LOVE to nurture in His Name. IF you love Him, you’re not just willing to – you’re honored to – Love, nurture, tend to the needs of His sheep even if it means chasing them down over and over again. In the flesh, we’re inclined to pick and choose who we believe is worthy to be loved. In the Spirit, we Love (and feed) them ALL…especially the rebellious, stinky ones. “IF YOU LOVE ME feed my sheep” doesn’t leave room for our own discretion or judgment. Love is where it all begins and LOVE is what springs us forward to “feed” His sheep with Joy and Honor…especially the “stinky” ones that need Him the most.

It’s a piece of cake to love people “like us” – the real “test” of the Spirit of God is when we can love the stinky, clueless, and rebellious ones enough to Feed them in His Name. Only when we LOVE HIM, can we genuinely LOVE them. So, Love is where it all begins and Love is what causes us to spring forth. Love is where we die to ourselves and we begin to Live for Him. Love is where we feel honored to be found Worthy to Serve whoever He puts in our path. Sometimes we offer them food and water – but more importantly, we Offer them Everlasting Truth and Unconditional Love…the kind of Nourishment that lasts forever. So, I’ll be feeding His sheep today whenever He puts them in my path, and I’ll do it with Love. “Lynn, do you love me?” YES, LORD! “Feed my sheep.”

How about you?