faith

It’s a “no pain, no gain” Journey of Faith

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold this morning, but nothing that a hot cup of coffee and a warm blanket can’t handle, that’s for sure. I ventured outside just for a minute to say “good morning” to my God and to fill my lungs with fresh country air. One day soon, it will be too cold for comfort, and we’ll be doing ALL of our Meetings inside. Until then, I’m willing to go to extremes to Meet with Him outside, even if for just a minute or two. When it comes to my Relationship with the Most High God, I live a “no pain, no gain” Truth. Being a bold Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t just “cost” me a little; it costs me everything. This morning I gave Him my Praise, I gave Him my Thanks, I gave Him my Requests, and then I ventured into His Word to see what He has for me…and He was Full of Surprises. He NEVER EVER ceases to amaze me. The same Words that I’ve read so many times before took on New Life today so that His Spirit could speak to my Soul! A willingness to Meet, coupled with a Heart to Please, equates to Messages that nobody else on this planet could ever get across to my Heart. Isn’t that the way it is when you Seek what He has for you, too?

It’s a Blessing to have a Life full of family and friends who have your best interests at heart, but nobody offers Advice and Direction the way God does. He sometimes uses His people to Confirm what He has in mind, but He Speaks for Himself if we just ask Him to (and IF we Believe He will). He can Heal a hurt, Remove fear, Reveal the Truth, Mend a Broken Heart, and force us to make U-turns in the blink of an eye, and He’s Ready to do all these things when we are Willing to Meet with Him with a Heart to Please.

There is no place for doubt in the Life of a Follower of Jesus Christ, but sometimes when we turn to people for the advice we SHOULD be getting from God, we can become consumed with doubt based on their man-made input. If we feel the need to ask family and friends for approval for what we “think” God wants us to do, then it’s time to go back to the Drawing Board and build a Stronger Relationship with Him to be SURE about what He wants. When we have the Heart to Please Him, He gets First Priority, and we’ll push against the flow of our family and friends regardless of how hard they push back, to Protect our Relationship with Him.

When we have the Order of Business right, and we have the Heart to Please, we can count on Him to send a Messenger to Help us in the Journey, and when that Messenger Speaks, we KNOW it came from God speaking through one of His Vessels, and not from the opinion of man. It’s pretty amazing how God Works the relationships out and how He uses everybody for His Purpose WHEN we’re willing to Meet with Him for Direction and we Have the Heart to Please.

It’s impossible to make everybody happy, and sometimes we find ourselves working hard to please the world around us instead of having the Heart to Please Him above all. We look for approval from everybody else, and we can easily forget what Pleases Him when we do. We strive to “keep the peace,” but until He comes back, THERE IS NO REAL PEACE. We pick and choose what part of His Character we’re willing to take on, and we kick all the difficult pieces aside for comfort. We rub elbows with lost people every day, and yet we keep our mouths shut about Hope, all because we fear what they might think of us when we do…and sometimes they die before they’re Introduced to Hope because of it.

As people of Faith, we WILL find ourselves working against the flow of the world IF we’re doing the Work of the Lord, and some people settle into “comfortable” because of it. Some people are far too concerned about being accepted by the world than they are rejected by the Living God. When we’re diligent about Meeting with Him and we have the Heart to Please, sitting back is never an option, and the opinion of the world dims in comparison to what He Calls each one of His Children to do. When He gives us Marching Orders He will open doors and pave the way – He’ll give us the Help that we need to do His Work – He’ll surround us with Protection – He’ll give us the Right Words and the Strength to do whatever it is He’s called us to do…if we have the Heart to Please Him, that is.

I wish I could make everybody in my world happy, but that isn’t possible. I live out my Faith with Love and Compassion, and I’ll extend Kindness to everybody He sends my way…with no regard for their status in life and no matter what they might think of me when I do. It pleases Him when I “love thy neighbor as thyself,” and it Pleases Him when I go about my Father’s Business, trying my hardest to be an outward Reflection of His Character within me.

The Willingness to Meet and the Heart to Please can produce the Miraculous in the Mighty and Merciful Name of Jesus. Imagine that.

Is there any other way for a child of the Living God to live?

Be Like The Oak Tree…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up the way I always do…filled with Gratitude for another day to Serve the Author and Perfector of my Faith. Living is one thing…living with Purpose is an entirely different story altogether, so I have Purpose in mind this morning. The Fall season has officially set in, and every day looks different from the one before, as nature heads toward winter. As I sat there looking at the sun illuminating the color of this old oak tree, the tree reminded me of my Life. The old oak may be a few hundred years older than I am, but we have a lot in common. We’re both standing tall and strong after many years of being upright, and we both have very deep roots. We’re both changing as the season comes to an end, and neither one of us knows precisely when we’ll succumb. We’ve both been through the storms and lived to “tell about it,” and neither of us gave in under pressure. We’re both pretty colorful when the Time is right, and we both have grown where we were planted by the hand of God. We’ve both endured, no matter how hard the wind blew year after year. We’ve both shed some branches when it was time to let them go, and we’ve both gotten stronger because of it. We both show some wear and tear from the journey, but we just keep getting more beautiful over time. I’m pretty sure the old oak won’t cry when I lose my journey on this earth, but I’m sure I’ll cry for the old oak if it surrenders its life before I do. This beautiful old tree made me think about Life and how each one of our days is different than the last as we head toward the “winter” too. Yesterday becomes a memory, and tomorrow becomes a dream. Today is all we really have to work with and our greatest opportunity to Live, to Serve, to Share, and to Love. Isn’t that the way you look at the new day, too?

We could all learn from the old oak tree that focuses on nothing more than digging deeper roots and reaching for the Son day after day. Unfortunately, it seems to be so easy for people to live in the past or in the future while they squander away TODAY. Some are “stuck” in the past, while others are so focused on the future that they forget about the blessings of NOW. When you think about it, today really IS like “the first day of the rest of your life,” and today is all we have any control over whatsoever. We can’t change what we did or didn’t do yesterday, and since tomorrow is promised to no one, all the things we dream of for tomorrow should be focused on today. If there is any Unfinished Business, like asking for forgiveness or making our peace, leftover from yesterday, today is the day to make it right. If there is an unspoken “I love you” or a word of encouragement that could change the course of another, today is the day to speak it. If there is anyone in our world who has never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, today is the day to Share it. If there is anything within us that holds us back from all the things the Living God has for us, today is the day to move forward in His Name. There’s no end to the things that should be reconciled on a new day, and there is seemingly no end to the putting off. Yesterday is only a memory now, and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to an Abundant Life in all the ways that matter.

Some people have a “near-death” experience that puts things in perspective for them…at least for a little while. But every day is a near-death day for all of us because tomorrow is promised to no one, AND YET, we have so little regard for the frailty of life that we’ll put off the important things as if we have all the time in the world. When you look at it that way, how can any of us dare to squander even one day? There is a past that needs to stay in the past and a future to dream about. The Bible says “Without a vision the people perish” and that “hope deferred makes the heart sick”, so, looking forward with longing is a good thing for the Heart and Soul. It’s when we linger in thoughts of tomorrow while squandering away today that we stand the chance of NOT living long enough to see what the Heart has been longing for all along. Yesterday is a memory, and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to living Life to the fullest in all the ways that matter.

I’ve been on top of the mountain and deep in the valley and every place in between…but my past is now in the past where it belongs. The only piece of the past that has any Value for today is the Wisdom I gained in the Process. The “bad” has been Forgiven, and the Trials have become my Testimony, which is Shared with the world today with Purpose. I have Dreams for my future, and I take steps to fulfill them every day, BUT my future isn’t here yet, so I Focus on Today just like the old oak tree does. Today will be the most spectacular day in the history of me, and I’ll continue to be like the old oak tree – standing tall and with roots that grow deeper every day.

This day will be filled with Gratitude and countless surprises straight from the Throne of a Mighty God. The past has become but a memory, and the future is only a dream, but I have TODAY to do Good in His Name, and I can’t imagine a better way to spend any day Allotted to me.

How about you?

Shouting From the Moutaintops in Jesus’ Name!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I looked out my bedroom window as soon as my feet hit the ground, just like I always do, to see what God is doing with this one-of-a-kind day. There isn’t an art gallery in the world that houses anything even close to the “art” God paints in the sky. Beginning the day watching the Master wake up the world is not a schedule preference for me; it’s a way of life. I’m in awe of Him after all these years, and I’ll be found in awe of Him when I draw my last breath. That’s what Love looks like, but to have a Rich Relationship with the Living God, it takes EFFORT on our part to make sure that our love for Him never fades. His love for us never will, that’s for sure! One of my favorite hymns says best what my Heart feels, “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell”. My time with the Living God “restoreth my soul” and Strengthens me for the Journey, and it is through this time with the Priority of my Life that He equips me to shout about my Faith and my God from the mountaintops of Life. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

It seems so easy for most people to “shout from the mountaintops” about some things in life. We shout from the mountaintops when we see a great movie. We shout from the mountaintops when we find a good restaurant. We shout from the mountaintops when we discover a great vacation spot. We shout from the mountaintops when we discover new technology. We shout from the mountaintops over a “good deal” in a store. We shout from the mountaintops over a new birth. We shout from the mountaintops when we secure a new job. When we’re filled with excitement, we don’t seem to have any trouble at all shouting from the mountaintops over almost anything in life. But when it comes to things of God that are Designed to Compel us to shout from the mountaintops, ARE WE WILLING? IS HE WORTHY? Is our Relationship with the Author and Perfector of our Faith strong (and rich) enough to want to Tell the world about all that He is and all that He’s done for us? Apparently not, because it is a rare thing to hear a publicly proclaimed Powerful Testimony anymore. Sad but true.

My Faith is intended to be a Light in this dark world. My Faith has little to do with me and everything to do with Him. It’s my “job” and my Joy to share it with the world, and I’ll shout from the mountaintops with boldness, with compassion, and with Love, every day until my last.,

Is the Light of your Faith shining for all the world to see, AND are you shouting from the mountaintops, OR are you still hiding behind the excuse that you’re “quiet” about your Faith? No offense, but you weren’t led into your Faith to be quiet about it…it’s not about “you”. If you ever wonder how there can be so much darkness in this world of ours, just remember how few Lights are out there shining for the world to see. Darkness ceases to exist with Light.

Let your Light shine in this dark world today. Shout from the mountaintops with excitement and joy like a child on a Christmas morning. Spread the Good News. Pour out Love and Compassion. Be kind and gentle. Share your Heart. Share this post!

Together, we can light up the world just one “little light” at a time. “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!”

How about you?

His Name is Wonderful!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Master as He woke up the world on this cool October morning from inside the farmhouse, and I’m already missing my time on the front porch as the season sets in. This morning, my Heart was overflowing with Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me and for how He has sustained me for such a time as this. It’s always busy around the farm, that’s for sure. It always has been and always will be, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But sometimes, when you add just one more thing to the equation, I need a long pause before I get back on my feet. This morning, as I paused, my Heart refused to stop Celebrating the Blessing of watching His Plans for my Life come TO life right before my very eyes. All these years I’ve breathed Living Waters into the Heart of my family, first my children and then my grandchildren, and now I get to Celebrate that “I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain”. One by one, they’ve accepted Christ as their Savior, and now one by one I’ve had the honor of baptizing my grandchildren in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. He never ceases to amaze me at how He shows and moves every Heart if we’re just Willing to walk in His Will and not our own. His Name truly is Wonderful.

My Life is living proof that God can take a broken vessel and mend it into a Mission. It doesn’t matter where I’ve been in the past or how many times I’ve failed, He can still use me to Glorify Himself if I’m just willing to Walk in His will and not my own. When I’m in His will, “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength”. When I’m in His will, I know that if I “have faith the size of a mustard seed,” I can move mountains. When I’m in His will, my lack of natural talent transforms me into an “expert” in ways that amaze me. When I’m in His will, I can find supernatural strength to endure any storm. When I’m in His will, I am unshakable. When I’m in His will, I can forgive any wrong. When I’m in His will, I can love the “unlovable” because I know they were made in His image and He doesn’t want anyone to perish. When I’m in His will, I find just the right words at just the right time to minister to a broken heart. When I’m in His will, I can do all things because He is the one who will Produce the results if I’m just willing to plant seeds. When I’m in His will, my life shines with Purpose, and it’s when I step out of His will that I fall and I fail.

Making sure that I’m walking in His will isn’t always easy, even though I know firsthand the beauty that comes by way of Obedience. But I can so easily surrender to my own will and my own thoughts, and when it “feels” right, I can put God’s name on it and label it His will if I’m not careful. But walking in His will doesn’t always make sense, and it isn’t always smooth sailing for me or anybody else. Sometimes it requires that we stretch far outside of our comfort zone, and sometimes the direction makes no sense to the human mind…but that’s what Faith looks like. Sometimes walking in His will makes no sense at all when we’re looking through the eyes and not the Heart, and if we’re not careful, we’ll refuse to walk at all because we’re too busy attempting to rationalize the Journey. Walking in His will produces Joy, and walking in His will is where miracles happen! So it’s His will I seek and not my own, and I will always be Victorious because of it. His will is Perfect, and His Name is Wonderful.

When the rest of the world was focused on getting their children to be the best athletes, to win the most trophies, or to get the best grades, I was focused on the Living God and getting my children onto the Jesus Team. It didn’t make sense to so many people watching from the sidelines back then, but I’m pretty sure it makes sense to them now! The Rewards my children (and grandchildren) will receive One Day will far outshine any of their accomplishments here on earth. Sadly, those earthly accomplishments will fade away faster than they will despite the time and effort that went into achieving them. Because of Him, my kids are confident THEY CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES THEM STRENGTH. It’s no secret that I got a lot of things wrong in my life, and I’ve fallen more times than I care to admit, but the Greatest Part – the Eternal Part – the Part where we’re called to raise up a godly generation…I got that part right!

I’m walking in His will in every area of my Life, even (especially) when it makes no sense to me. After all, it makes absolutely no sense from the human perspective that “a wretch like me” could be Refined by the Hand of Jesus Christ to raise up a godly generation. His Name is Wonderful and I’ll be following Him all the days of my Life. After that, I’ll be spending Eternity with Him AND all the kids and grandkids will be there too!

To God be the glory for my Faith-filled family – a family that could have ended up in an entirely different direction IF NOT for the Promise Keeper who Sustains me…and for my Obedience to His will over my family.

We are Victorious because His Name is Wonderful!

His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

He is the mighty King; Master of everything

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

He’s the great Shepherd;

The Rock of all ages

Almighty God is He

Bow down before Him; Love and adore Him

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful

His name is wonderful; Jesus my Lord

Peeling Back The Layers…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning is cool and foggy, but the warmth of the Living God is everywhere…every day. When I looked out across the fields at sunrise, all I could focus on were the layers I saw – layers of fog and layers of clouds. The view was magnificent! Quickly capturing what I see with my eyes is important because, as the sun heats up, all the layers dissipate fast. The more I thought about those layers I could see with my eyes, the more I thought about the layers of my Life – layers of sin and layers of rebellion, and how the Hand of God peeled each layer away by His warmth too. He “saved a wretch like me” a long time ago now, but the peeling back of layers never ends. The more I seek Him, the more He shows me what He sees below the layers and how Important it is to peel them back. Sometimes He is slow and gentle when He peels back a layer of what needs to be Revealed, and sometimes He rips it off like a Band-Aid. Either way, I’m always Grateful to be one step Closer to Him in the Process. What a Blessing it is to spend time in the Presence of the Most High God any time I want to, and to Hear what He has to say to His people day after day. But If the Most High God had not peeled back the layers to reveal what I needed to Repent of, I never would have become a Usable Vessel for Him. No matter the condition of my Heart, no matter what kind of mood I’m in (or not), no matter my trials, no matter how many times I fall, my God is always Ready and waiting for me any time I take the time to meet with Him. What a friend I have in Jesus!

God doesn’t scrutinize the words I use when I Speak to Him…they really don’t matter much because He sees what’s within my Heart without speaking a word and He loves me anyway.

God doesn’t whine about how much time I give Him, or remind me of when I disappoint Him if I’m busy and I don’t take the time for Him that I should. He’s the Bright Morning Star, and He’s always there 24/7, ready to open His arms to this child of His. He Loves me anyway.

God is always ready to Guide me in the Right Direction when I get off track, just like a Shepherd guides his sheep. His patience with me has no limits, and He doesn’t keep reminding me that I’ve gone down the wrong path in Life over and over again after He’s peeled back the layers. He takes me by the Hand like the Loving Shepherd He is, and He sets me off in the Right Direction all over again. He loves me anyway.

God is all I ever need, the One who has my Heart, the One who “loves me anyway”, the One who will never leave me nor forsake me…BUT THERE IS A CATCH. I’m Commanded to be a Reflection of Him, and I’m Commanded to extend the same things to other people that He has extended to me! I’m supposed to be ready to listen, to Love, to Forgive, and to Guide others into peeling back their layers with Unconditional Compassion too…no matter how “ugly” it is underneath all those layers! I’m supposed to love them anyway. If not for the example that God sets before me, and my desire to please Him because of it, none of this would ever be possible.

I’m filled with an Attitude of Gratitude this morning for all that He is and all that He does for me. Isn’t it just like my Savior to use a little fog and layered clouds to Speak to my Heart? If He can use me, He can use you! He loves you anyway – right where you are and just as you are. All you need to do is Trust in Him and be willing to be “peeled” into “perfection”.

I’m overwhelmed today just as much as I was decades ago when I First met Jesus, that the God of all Creation “sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood,” and I am Forever Grateful for the Peeling Process that revealed my “ugly” nature so that He could Refine me like gold.

I’ll be Working hard every day to be the very best Reflection of Him that I can be, in all that I do and all that I am, until He calls me Home. He loves me anyway.

How about you?

Monday is Just The Beginning…

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

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

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

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

How about you?

Savor or Squander? It’s a Choice.

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s not possible to see a mediocre sunrise or sunset, ESPECIALLY in the Fall of the year in Virginia, and I’m savoring each one as if it’s the last one I’ll ever see. I don’t have a morbid obsession with death, nor am I counting down the days I have left, but I am acutely aware of the frailty of life, and I refuse to waste any of it at all. I’ve always been one to savor life, and I’ve never been one to lose precious moments that other people might dismiss. If only I had a dollar for every time someone commented on my time on the front porch and how “boring” it must be. But that’s because they look for entertainment, and all I seek is God. Watching the Master wake up the world is the very best kind of Entertainment there is, but because I Savor Life and I Worship the King of the mornings. The older I get, and the closer I draw to the Living God, the more beautiful Life around me becomes, and the more I want to savor ALL of it with ALL of me. Isn’t that the way it is for you, too?

It can be so easy to take Life for granted if we aren’t careful. We fail to look up (or to get up) to capture a sunrise and, more often than not, something on television replaces the sunset. We roll out of bed and scurry off to begin the new day, and most of the time we don’t think twice about being physically able to do so. We throw the kids in the backseat and rush off to wherever it is we need to be, and most of the time, a TV monitor in the back seat or a cell phone conversation in the front seat replaces those sweet little voices that can only be heard when we listen out for them. Family mealtime has become a thing of the past. Instead of sharing a meal together at the same table at the same time, one is texting, one is watching television, and the opportunity to hear about what’s going on in the life of the other is lost forever.

I don’t want to wake up one day and wonder what happened with my life, and I don’t want to squander my time. I don’t want to trade good conversations and belly laughs for television, and I don’t want to miss out on all of those precious little moments that come when you anticipate them. I anticipate great things because I Serve a Great God, and I Treasure the beauty because it’s all a Gift from Him, AND because I am acutely aware of the frailty of life. I savored my children, and I’m savoring my grandchildren because I Know what a Gift from God they are, and because of that, they WILL NEVER be replaced with my own entertainment.

I can only try to imagine what Heaven is going to be like, but I anticipate going there, too. With an earth filled with beauty that is impossible for me to capture in pictures or describe with words, Heaven is going to blow my mind. When I get to Heaven, I’ll be busy doing the Work that He’s been preparing for me to do all along, but when I get there, time will stand still. I’ll be there forever with all my loved ones who are/were Believers in Jesus Christ, too. I guess it’s possible for some people to be content with the idea that they’ll go to Heaven and spend Eternity on the sidelines…but NOT ME. I know that if I Savor what He has for me here, and I Work with His Plans and His Purpose in mind…if I work out my “salvation with fear and trembling” then I won’t be on the Sidelines…I’ll just be doing a Heavenly version of His Work intended just for me. With that in mind, who in the world would take Life for granted or be willing to squander their time?

This new day was beautiful when it first began, and it will be beautiful until it ends, too. I’ll leave the squandering up to all the ones who don’t “get it”. Unfortunately, their squandering will lead to a life filled with regrets…something I’ve spent a Lifetime trying to avoid altogether. No doubt I’ll savor all that I possibly can on every day the Lord gives me, and you won’t find me squandering even a minute. Instead, you’ll find me ANTICIPATING Great things. When you look for Great things from God, you find them every time!

How about you?

What Does Your Priority List Look Like?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. A little time with my Redeemer, a little time digging into my Instruction Manual for Truth, a little coffee, a little rain, and a very Grateful heart, and NOW I’m Set for this new day. Without attention given to my Priority Lists, would my Heart be overflowing with Gratitude this morning? Not a chance! If I don’t keep my Priorities straight, the darkness of the world looks overwhelming to me, and before you know it, my Courage can begin to get shaken, and my Heart begins to get heavy. Keeping my Priorities straight at the start of each new day is what equips me to be ALL that God intends for me to be, and I am forever reminded that I have a Purpose in this life far greater than myself. Jesus Christ IS my biggest priority, and His Plans for me are Prioritized over everything else in my Life. My Priorities are non-negotiable. Isn’t that the way you manage your Journey of Faith, too?

Just like anything else in life, it takes commitment to keep Priorities in check. A busy schedule can easily rock the boat, and if I’m not careful, I might be tempted to rush out the door without a second thought to my Priorities. If I want that busy schedule to go smoothly, then I’d better be Spiritually Equipped for the day. I could easily get distracted by the needs of others, and I might be tempted to set aside my own priorities to put their needs above my own. But if I want to have what it takes to give others the Best Part of me, then I need to have my Spiritual Priorities in order. I could easily be distracted by the little things in life, and I could change my schedule so that my Priorities are addressed after my family, my chores, my errands, my work, or my home. But if I do that, my priorities are no longer a Priority at all, and they take a back seat to so many other things of less importance. If I want to accomplish all the little things in my Life, I’d better be Spiritually equipped to handle the load. My Priorities are non-negotiable.

Sometimes I like to close my eyes and imagine what the world would look like if even a fraction of the people who profess to be Christians had their Priorities straight too. What would it look like if their Hearts overflowed with Gratitude, no matter what the dark world looks like? What would it look like if they set the alarm clock for an earlier time JUST SO that they have time with the Living God before anything else on their list of things to do? What would the world look like if they started seeing their children as an opportunity to raise the next “godly generation” instead of an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments? What would the world look like if the needs of others were Prioritized above their own? What would the world look like if they began to see that their money isn’t their money at all and that God has a Plan for Giving that is Prioritized above our own personal thrills? Godly Priorities should be non-negotiable.

I often hear people say that they don’t have the “luxury” of setting aside time for Priorities like mine – aka Time with the Living God before everything else – but I just wonder…if we don’t have a little time to give to the Living God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Prince of peace, the Bright Morning Star, then WHY IN THE WORLD DO THEY EXPECT HIM TO MAKE OUR NEEDS A PRIORITY EITHER? I need Him. I NEED to be the “apple of His eye”, and I NEED for Him to “Hide me in the shadow of His wings,” and for as long as there is breath in my body, He will be my Biggest Priority. My Priorities are non-negotiable because I want ALL that He has for me, and I want to Fulfil my Purpose before He calls me Home. With my Priorities straight, I hope to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” One Day. For all the professed Believers who refuse to get their Priorities straight, there is no Time like the Present to make things right with the Living God…before it’s too late.

I’ve got my Priorities straight and I Guard my Time with the Living God day after day. He will always come first because my Priorities are non-negotiable. He’s FIRST and my world knows it.

How about you?

I will sing to the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

as I rejoice in the Lord – Psalm 104: 33, 34

If You Hate The Bold Ones, You Hate Jesus!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Don’t worry, the world won’t hate you if you’re silent. BUT if you dare to be bold…if you fearlessly proclaim the name of Jesus Christ for all the world to hear…if you refuse to exchange the truth for a lie…if you stand firm for what the Bible teaches ESPECIALLY when it doesn’t make sense to the deceived ones…THEN don’t be surprised to be hated. This is a spiritual war that needs to be fought with SPIRITUAL WEAPONS! The Bible says,”Greater is He who is IN ME, than he who is in the world” – so we know that no matter how dark and ugly the world gets, Jesus Christ already paid the price for us AND He wins (we win) in the end…period. Until then, I’ll stand strong with Him – I’ll defend the Truth of God – I’ll rally behind the bold ones proclaiming Jesus Christ to this dark world because that’s what all born again Christians are called to do!

Make no mistake about this – someone recently paid the utlimate price for loving Jesus Christ and for sharing Him with the world, so whatever you do, don’t try to politicize your hate. It doesn’t come from a place of “knowledge” or by way of your “intellect” or because you’re wiser than all the rest of us…hate comes from Hell. The ones who hate ANYBODY proclaiming Jesus Christ as lord…hate Jesus Christ… and the future won’t be good for them because of it. But don’t take my word for it – if you read your Bible you’d already know the Truth.

So, what’s your excuse for your hate and do you understand the price you’ll be paying for your “politics”?

Your hate is ugly BUT it’s powerless and (believe it or not) I’ll be praying for you until the end no matter what you say or do. The Word of God tells us to LOVE our enemies and to PRAY for them and by the Grace of God I’ll be doing both for you. Hmm…that’s actually the polar opposite of what the haters say and do! Interesting…

In the meantime, remember this and consider yourself warned:

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:7

One last thing, IF YOU’RE A HATER READING THIS, NO NEED TO TAKE THE TIME OR ENERGY TO COMMENT. I’ll delete it as fast as it is posted and I’ll hit my knees in prayer on your behalf 🙂 Just sayin’.

IF YOU ARE LIKE-MINDED (I shouldn’t have to tell you this) SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.

To God be the glory!

Stop Dancing With The Devil!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

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

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

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

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

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