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What Surrender Looks Like…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God in the wee hours of this new day, and I turned to my Instruction Manual hungry for Truth like a deer panting for water. When I looked out across the fields this morning, its beauty almost took my breath away…all over again. This old farm holds its own when it comes to beauty, that’s for sure, but what makes it breathtakingly beautiful really comes down to Surrender more than anything else. It’s in that place of Surrender that we find the Greatest Rewards. It’s as if the more we turn things over to the Living God, the more He fills our lives to overflowing…not with tangible things but with Himself! His Word says, “I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go” – and that’s what He’s done for me. He is my God, and I am His child…beyond that, nothing in this Life really matters! Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey, too?

It seems to be so easy for people to claim their prizes in life, from tangible things like a farm in Virginia to children to bank accounts – but that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Oh, plenty of people thank Him for the prizes they receive – but the Treasures are found when we do more Surrendering than we do just thanking. He is the Prize Giver…the Author of it all. He doesn’t just flood us with blessings to make us happy, He floods us with blessings to Surrender instead, and the more we’re willing to Surrender, the bigger the Blessings flow. Once we get to the point of total surrender to Him, we become the Delighted Ones, filled with so much Peace and Joy that it cannot be contained. It’s at that point…that place of total Surrender…Surrender without limitations…THEN He gives “your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” What a Mighty God I serve!

I’ve Surrendered my life and everything in it to the One Who died for me, and He has given my life to me as a Prize. I Live for Him and I strive to Love like Him – not much matters to me beyond that. I know that no harm can come to me because He has placed a “hedge of protection” around me and my Life…the Life I’ve already surrendered. No harm can come to this beautiful farm because “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” – the place I’ve already surrendered. Surrender is where the Heavenly Prizes are unveiled…so, Surrender it is for me…day after day…Everything I have and all that I am. You won’t find me clinging to things of this world, that’s for sure, because apart from Him I have “no good thing.”

How about you?

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight

YOU Take Captive Every Thought!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I got out of bed with no aches or pains and more energy than most people my age only dream of having, and I gave thanks to the Living God for a body still willing to cooperate wth my Heart. But it’s not having an able body that matters the most – it’s having a Sound mind and a Willing Spirit too – and that’s where my morning time with the King of all kings comes in. When we meet, my Heart overflows with Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me; and when we meet, it’s time for us both to work on the Condition of my Heart. But the condition of my mind is an entirely different thing – it’s my Responsibility to do that part on my own. If I allow destructive thoughts to take up residence in my mind, I can easily destroy all the Work that has been put into my Heart! Destructive thoughts can easily thwart all the Plans He has for me today…and even for the rest of my Life! He shields my body and gives me Strength. He nurtures my Heart and Tenderizes it for Good, and I make sure to do my part with my mind. Isn’t that the way the Journey of Faith is for you, too?

It doesn’t do much good to work on the Heart, only to leave the mind on autopilot, which gives our Adversary a free pass to torment the mind. He’s always ready to whisper thoughts of defeat, failure, heartbreak, judgment, criticism, bitterness toward someone else, or bitterness over our circumstances – ALL these things work against the flow of a Mighty God and His Plans for each of us. The mind is like a digital recorder that can conjure up the worst memories and the most discouraging or destructive thoughts in the blink of an eye, and when it does, all of the Work that we put into the Heart can be slowly snuffed out. God doesn’t just watch our Actions, He sees inside the heart AND the mind, and He knows our thoughts without us speaking at all. It’s not His fault if we have a head full of junk, and He’s not going to be the one to fix it. It’s our job to do our part on the mind, to be sure that the Heart can do all the Good that He has Planned for us. This is the KEY to the sound mind God has given to each one of His children! “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

How many times have we heard someone say, “I can’t help it” or “I can’t get it out of my mind”, but that’s not true! We have the POWER to “take captive every thought” and clean up the mind this very minute. How many times have we heard someone say, “I’m asking God to help me with my thoughts”? – but He CAN’T control your thoughts – YOU have to do that part on your own. The good news is that the more time we spend in His Presence of the Most High God and the more Time we spend on the Heart, the more manageable the mind becomes. Eventually, we begin to recognize dangerous and destructive thoughts the minute they come knocking, and we take immediate ACTION to evict them before they take up residence. This is the Key to Strength and Growth.

There are countless examples in the Bible of the importance of our thoughts, and it’s pretty clear that WE are expected to control them. We’re instructed to FOCUS on good thoughts – “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. We’re offered encouragement about how everything CAN change IF we do OUR PART on the mind – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is”. We’re even warned about how our thoughts reveal the truth of who we really are – “As a man THINKS in his heart; so is he”. We’re shown the way to Hope – “With minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the Grace to be brought to you”. And we know that the heart follows our thoughts “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The List could go on and on and each example that we’re given is ABUNDANTLY clear that WE are responsible for our thoughts and nobody else is to blame for what whirls around in the head.

I rejoice over strength, stamina, and a healthy body. My heart is consumed with love for the Living God, and I’m ready to do battle within my mind so that I can be ALL that He created me to be and so that I don’t become my own “worst enemy”.

I’m laser-focused, tenderized by the King, and ready to do battle..beginning with me.

How about you?

He Fills Up My Senses….

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This was the first morning of this year that I’ve lingered on the front porch long enough to watch God wake up the world despite the cooler temperature, and it was glorious! The sunrise wasn’t as bold and beautiful as it is sometimes, BUT I’m still flying high after the magnificent moon I saw from the front porch last night, so that’s just fine with me. As God turned on the light of the sun, nature began to celebrate, and my Heart overflowed to be front and center on the front porch at sunrise one more time. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, so when I wake up on a new day, I give thanks to the One Who gives me life. This morning, I gave thanks for everything I saw and heard and for the blessing of sight to see and ears to hear. Every little creature seemed to remind me of a Bible verse, so I’d open up my Bible to read the Words that God put on my heart using His creation, and all my senses came to life. I’ve missed my time outside with Him, that’s for sure. To me, there’s just something more Powerful about His Presence when I can witness His Majesty for myself at sunrise, and it’s impossible to describe what my Heart feels when I do. Isn’t that the way you greet a new day of Life, too?

It’s interesting to consider our God-given senses and how often we just tune in to one or two of them ONLY when we need them, and we leave the rest behind until we do. Sometimes we touch, but we don’t feel. Sometimes we see, but we don’t hear. Sometimes we hear, but we don’t look. Sometimes we smell, but we don’t taste. There’s no end to how we tap into one of our senses without even thinking about it, but we often make no attempt to use the others unless we’re forced to. It’s when we lose one of our senses, or when it becomes impaired, that other senses kick in to pick up the slack for the loss without us trying at all. It’s when hearing becomes impaired that sight becomes even more important, and it’s when sight becomes impaired that we learn to navigate with fine-tuned hearing. It’s amazing to see how the body will naturally do what it’s designed to do without any effort from us at all! But when we learn to slow down – when we allow ourselves to take all the blessings of Life in – when we ponder the Majesty of a Mighty God – and when we savor the circumstance we’re in the middle of at that very moment in time – EVERY SINGLE THING within us can come alive through our senses, and when it does, it takes the Appreciation for the Hand of the Living God to an entirely different level.

My Dad lost his eyesight later in life, and I was blessed to have the chance to became his eyes. I described (in great detail) everything I saw so that he could “see” it too. Everything from the clouds in the sky to a good play in a little league baseball game, I did my best to paint a picture for my Dad. Not once in his 20 years of blindness did I EVER hear him complain or question God for taking his sight away. Instead, I heard him give thanks for all the other senses that were “workin’ just fine”. Not once did I hear him whine about not being able to do all those things he used to be able to do. When he could have said, “I wish I could see your smile,” he’d say, “I love to hear you laugh” instead. My Dad LOVED God’s creation, and I learned how to appreciate it all through him. It wasn’t easy watching his sight fade away, that’s for sure, especially because of how he loved to take in the beauty of each new day as it unfolded, too. But the more his sight faded, the more enhanced his listening became, and he lived life to the fullest all the days of his life here on earth because of it. That’s what Gratitude looks like, and I’m blessed to have learned the greatest lessons on Gratitude for my Heavenly Father from my earthly one. His “loss” was my gain.

When I have the chance to meet with God on the front porch at sunrise, I’m NOT taking in the scenery like a sightseer, although the view is magnificent from where I sit. When I meet with the Living God from the front porch, it’s a Spiritual time for me, and ALL of my senses come alive, and I can see the Miracle of His Creation in everything around me. I can hear the birds and the wind. I can smell fresh cut grass or hay and sometimes the faint smell of honeysuckle or lilacs close by. I can taste the sweetness of Heaven, and I can almost touch the Hand of the Master as I allow Him to take me by the hand and lead me every day. It all begins with a Heart that is Surrendered to the King. Unless (or until) that happens, the Heart is blinded to the Beauty all around – in the good times and the not-so-good times – and no other sense can pick up the slack for a Heart that fails to See.

There’s no question this old farm is a beautiful place, and sitting on the front porch is a Treasure. But what brings this old farm to life has nothing to do with the view from the porch! What makes this old farm so special is the Peace of God that can be felt by everyone who pauses here. I invite Him here. I meet with Him here. I celebrate Him here. I surrender to Him here, and I guard my Peace like the gold at Fort Knox – nothing and no one will be taking that away. I ASK for His Peace and Protection here as I pray over every inch of the farmhouse and every acre of the land every single day, and every single one of my God-given senses come alive to Worship Him here with everything within me.

I am His child…He is my God…and this is His farm.

Victory is Mine…Always

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Alpha and Omega first thing on this new day, and I took the steps necessary to Reinforce my Journey so that I’m Equipped for all things. He’s the Beginning and the End and the only way to find Peace in a world so riddled with turmoil. I know that along with this new day will come a new set of challenges too because my adversary stays busy trying to thwart the Plans God has for us all. But I’m a Force to reckon with in this Spiritual War, and I’m a bold Warrior for the Kingdom of the Living God. That’s only possible because I straighten up my Armor and I Prepare for the new things each new day. It isn’t easy sometimes, BUT I’m Unstoppable, and I’m always Victorious because of Him IF I make sure to Prepare for what I may face. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

I can’t think of anything worse than to be a coward at such a time as this, a time of turmoil where the world needs Jesus more than ever. I can’t think of anything worse than refusing to mention His Name out of fear of the consequences. I can’t think of anything worse than denying Him in this dark world by remaining silent, and I can’t think of anything worse than losing my Voice for Jesus. I can’t think of anything worse than hiding my Bible in a Bible app on my phone that no one else can see rather than carrying it around like a statement of Faith everywhere I go. I can’t think of anything worse than refraining from sharing the Gospel because I “don’t know what to say” or relying solely on prayer when I could easily have taken action in His Name. Just the idea of these “worse” things keeps me on my Spiritual toes and more Determined than ever to walk out my Faith boldly no matter what. This is the Key to Victory.

Unfortunately, many people have convinced themselves that they won’t “fold” under pressure for their Faith, but if it could happen to Peter, it could happen to you or me. Peter thought he’d be willing to go to prison or die for Jesus, but all it took was a little pressure from the dark world, and Peter denied even knowing Him. It’s when we stop focusing on Jesus and start focusing on the dangers around us that we fall every single time. Surrounded by uncertainty, Peter sat around the campfire with the locals trying to fit in with the crowd to avoid being associated with Jesus at all, and he lied three times to save his own skin. We know the rest of the story – Peter repented, and Jesus not only Restored Him, BUT He transformed Peter into the “rock” that would preach from the Heart and tirelessly feed His sheep. Peter’s Journey had a “happy ending,” but it’s that part where he violently wept and shame overtook him with just one “look” from the Master. So when I’m Preparing for the new day and whatever it might bring, I think of Peter, and I fix my eyes on Jesus so that denial isn’t even in my vocabulary. This is the Key to perseverance at such a time as this.

It’s a new day, and I’m ready for it all…the sweet Victories that I am confident will come my way AND the fiery darts from hell that set out to destroy me. Without Him, I’m powerless – with Him, I’m Victorious! When you look at it that way, why would I ever NOT take the time to Prepare in His Name?

How about you?

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

An Attitude of Gratitude Goes a Long Way!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was a little too cold to sit outside on this magnificent front porch at sunrise, and I can’t wait for the time when it’s warm enough to be filled with love and laughter again. The front porch is my place of peace. It’s my solitude, and in so many ways, it’s my sanctuary because it’s there where the Lord speaks to me. No matter the season, all I have to do is look at the rockers lined up on the front porch, and my heart sings with gratitude and memories. When the Master lights up the world each day, I see everything around this old farm come to life…including me. Sometimes, it’s as if the birds sing what my Heart feels, and the entire Experience drives me into the arms of the One who died for me every single time. I set out to ask for Wisdom for my plans on this new day and to make a few Requests for my Life, but I ended up in a place of Praise and Gratitude instead. It’s amazing how a place of Gratitude can override every “burden” and fill the Heart with Joy no matter what’s going on or how big the Requests are. When it was all said and done, I was too overwhelmed with Gratitude to ask Him for a single thing this morning. Isn’t that the way it is for you when you focus on Gratitude too?

It would be impossible to list all the good things God has done since the Beginning of all time – David says, “Were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” His Righteousness cannot be measured, and His deeds can’t be counted, that’s for sure. If I were to sit on the front porch making a list of His Good Deeds for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t begin to make a dent in the list of His Goodness. Despite His neverending Good deeds, it can be so easy for most people to put Gratitude on the back burner while they race through the Journey called Life…forgetting to give thanks in the process. One little roadblock…one little “setback”…one little bit of “bad news” and Gratitude goes out the window while they beg for Him to fix those things they THINK are broken. Gratitude is the Key to Peace and Joy, and Gratitude is what propels us forward for Good, no matter how bad things appear to be on the surface – all because we are Confident that the One Who died for us is up to something Good if we’ll just allow Him to Work in our lives. This is the Key to Peace through it all.

I talk a lot about my Trials and Tribulations, all those things that I’ve endured so that my Heart could be Tenderized by the King and so that I could become a Stronger (and more usable) Vessel for the Living God. Today, I’m a Witness of Hope in a dark world and an Encourager to my brothers and sisters in Christ. ALL the trials have “worked together for Good” because I LOVE Him, and I’ve been “called according to His Purpose”, and I am able to recall each turbulent Season with Joy. When you get to the other side of trials and tribulations, Gratitude overflows, and it’s easy to shamelessly share the “bad” that it took to get there because the Victory is always so sweet! I have been Victorious when things appeared to be hopeless, more than most people could imagine. But if I were to be asked about my Blessings…all those things that I have to be Grateful for in this Journey called Life…” there would be too many to declare” too. If I were to sit on the front porch making a list of all the things I have to be Grateful for, the list wouldn’t end until I do. There can be no Peace without Heartfelt Gratitude for the Living God…for all that He is and all that He does for each one.

I set out with my own plans in mind today, but I ended up with a Heart that is feeling what the birds were singing this morning. I’m overflowing with Gratitude for yesterday, today, and forevermore, and I can’t think of anything at all except my Mighty, Merciful, Miraculous God who sent His Son to die for me. The One “who scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name” knows my Name too, and He has it written in the Book of Life. And because of that, I’ll have an Attitude of Gratitude all the days of my Life, and my Blessings and all the Victories will always be “too many to declare!”

How about you?

Birds of a Feather…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a whopping 32° this morning, and the wind is blowing, so it feels even colder than it is. Spring in Virginia is unpredictable and full of surprises – one day it’s hot and the next day it’s cold until FINALLY, Summer arrives and there will be no more bath and forth. In addition to my “normal view” from the front porch, occasionally, I’ll get to see a flock of peacocks running free, and we are blessed to see them when they pass through. I’m not sure how many there are for sure – 5 or 6, maybe more? – but interestingly, we’ve never seen them all at once. The only consistent one we see in the flock is the male. The females come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and they don’t appear to be the same age. All I know is that they are flocking together, and really the only thing they seem to have in common is the fact that they’re all peacocks; peacocks on a mission to search for quality of life. Humans are a little different. We want quality of life too, but we’re only happy if we’re around people like ourselves, and we’ll sacrifice just about anything to find it. The rich want to hang out with the rich and the poor with the poor. The old want to hang out with the old and the young with the young. I’m no expert, but I believe the peacocks might have it right – they seem to laser-focus on their common goal with no concern whatsoever over their differences. Isn’t that the way the Church should be, too?

If there’s one thing Christian people tend to obsess over, it’s how old they’ll be in heaven and how we will recognize each other if we get a brand new, indestructible, eternal body. Instead of obsessing over the fact that Heaven is real and the Qualified get to spend eternity there with no more sickness, sadness, or tears (WOW) people obsess over how old they’ll be, what they’ll look like, and how they’ll recognize their friends and loved ones. Some people even lose sleep at night as they obsess over whether or not the family dog makes it to Heaven, AND some go as far as to say they don’t even want to go to Heaven if their furry friends aren’t going to be there. As much as people fuss over how they look here and how they’ll look in Heaven…as fixated as they can be about hanging out with people their own age…NONE of it matters at all because we’re all just a gift-wrapped Soul. So, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that what we’ll recognize in Heaven is the SOUL of our loved ones, no matter what the new packaging looks like. I’ll know you and you’ll know me because the essence of us isn’t how old we are or what we look like…it’s the Soul. So, when you boil it all down, the ONLY thing that matters (or ever has) is what the Soul looks like to the Living God and whether or not we’re Qualified to be with Him forever.

Nothing brings out our obsession over silly things like being with people just like us than church does. Unlike the peacocks that remain laser-focused on the Common Goal instead of what the others look like, how old they are, how many people flock there, and what’s in it for them, we tend to focus on the outward much more than the Inward. When it comes to the Soul, it doesn’t matter what kind of gift wrapping we’ve been given for our Journey here on earth. It doesn’t matter how old we are because the Soul is timeless (and eternal). Most importantly, the Soul NEVER focuses on “what’s in it for me?” because the Qualified Soul is too busy staying laser-focused on God and the Purpose of our Journey here. To me, it’s very sad to hear people talk about what they look for in a local church as they set out to search for a group of people most like themselves. The same age, the same likes and dislikes, the same music – you name it – and when (or if) they find a church that meets their criteria, they think they’ve found the (almost) perfect church. Some have lost sight of the importance of the Common Goal in the Journey of Faith, and they’re satisfied with remote control church as far away from the flock as they can get. And then there are people like me. I’m in the Soul business, so names, ranks, and serial numbers don’t matter even a little bit…what matters is the Soul. I want to stir Souls up and cause them to laser focus on the Common Goal more and more, and I want to inspire them to toss the personal preferences down the toilet so that they ONLY Focus on the Soul instead. Come to find out, that’s what makes the (almost) Perfect Church – a body of Believers much more interested in flocking together as they reach for the Common Goal than they are “what’s in it for me?”

I’ll be Heaven bound sooner rather than later and there isn’t much in this Life that thrills me the way being with a group of Laser Focused beautiful Flock of Souls does. It doesn’t matter the shape or the size. It doesn’t matter the tone of the skin. It doesn’t matter how old or how young – it doesn’t even matter the quality of Life because as long as we’re Laser Focused on our Common Goal we’ll have EVERYTHING we need to please the Living God through this Journey of Faith. Think about it – the Qualified ones will be “stuck” with each other forever in a place so wonderful that it defies words. With that in mind, who in their right mind even cares if the outside is different than yours? The outside is just a gift-wrapped package hosting the Soul that will live forever. Trust me, you’ll recognize me because my Soul will be all that you see. So, the only thing that REALLY matters is where the Soul will be spending eternity. Now that is enough to motivate me to flock with the others as we chase our Common Goal together…to me, that is what the (almost) perfect church looks like!

How about you?

The Closer You Get to the Cross, the Fewer People you see!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Countless things make this time of year beautiful to me, but absolutely nothing compares to the Time we set aside to Remember what Christ did for you and for me. When I look at this image of the mountain with trees mostly blooming closer to the ground and with just a few scattered green trees at the top, it makes me think about the day of the Crucifixion of Christ and the overall Journey of Faith. I’m sure the ground was filled with spectators that day, some of them salivating in anticipation of Jesus being Crucified right before their very eyes, while some watched in horror. No doubt, a few of them made their way closer to the top of Calvary, just like some of the green trees are closer to the top in this image. But the truth is, the closer we get to the Cross, the fewer people we see because so many professed Christians would rather be spectators than “defenders” of the Cross. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith at such a time as this too?

Soon it will be Good Friday, and I’ve often wondered how it got its name. The “good” is the end result of Jesus dying on the Cross so that we might have Hope and a Future, but there was nothing good about the way it came to be. Good Friday is a solemn day in my Heart each year as I consider the human side of what Christ did for me. He was brutally beaten to the point of being unrecognizable. He was flogged until the skin tore away from His body. He was spit on. His hair was torn out from His head and His beard. A crown of thorns was placed on His head as they mocked the “king” and the thorns pierced His skin. And then, there’s that long journey carrying His cross naked and bloody right through the business district for everyone to see until He was finally hung to die a slow and miserable death on the Cross. Solemn? That doesn’t begin to describe what my Heart feels, and I have a hard time referring to it as “Good” Friday even though the GOOD came ONLY because He was willing to endure what He did. I don’t want a place in the “cheap seats” in my Journey of Faith, and I’ll never be a spectator. I want to keep climbing my way closer to the Cross all the days of my Life. Sadly, the closer I get to the Cross, the fewer people I see.

I pity the ones so focused on Easter egg hunts and beautiful bunnies that they fail to teach their children about what Good Friday is all about. I feel sorry for the ones who gloss over His Crucifixion as if a child can’t understand suffering. I’m appalled by the ones who focus only on the Resurrection while they whitewash all He endured for mankind. Without Friday, there wouldn’t be a Sunday, and without Easter, there wouldn’t be a Christmas. Even our churches are shying away from being too descriptive about what Christ did for us to avoid “offending” anybody. I used to take my kids to a passion play hosted by a nearby Bible church every year at this time. People traveled far and wide to attend. It was graphic. It was so realistic that it wasn’t easy to watch. I can still remember my kids crying as they “nailed” the spikes into the hands of Jesus. Many adults left the sanctuary because they couldn’t bear to watch even a portrayal of what Jesus endured. The actor portraying Jesus was “bloody” and he groaned as he walked down the aisle being beaten. It was heart-wrenching. He was hung on the Cross and it looked so real…and then He was Resurrected! Yes, it was “scary” for my kids to see, that’s for sure, but it drove Home the message of the Cross within their Hearts, and none of them have ever lost sight of what Christ did for us. It was worth it to share with them. Sadly, today, that play is an entirely different story because all the “offensive” scenes have been removed. No miracles. No beatings or blood. No sign of the Price He paid for you and me. Today, it’s a whitewashed portrayal of the Greatest Event the world has ever known. Yes, the closer you get to the Cross, the fewer people you see, and sadly, some churches are taking multitudes with them to the cheap seats to teach them how to be good spectators instead of climbing closer to the Cross.

This is the most important time of year for me. It’s bigger than Christmas or milestone birthdays. It’s bigger than the celebration of new life or a new job. Nothing compares to this time of year! You won’t find me whitewashing what it represents with pastels and candy. I’ve got a front-row seat before the Throne of a Mighty God who sent His son to die for me, and I’m not budging! The closer I get to the Cross, the fewer people I see, and THAT’S what keeps me busy sharing Jesus Christ with the world all year long.

How about you?

You (Lord) are my Sonshine, my ONLY Sonshine!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I’m ready for this new day after my time with the Author and Perfecter of my Faith, a good dose of His Living Word, and a hot cup of coffee. It’s cold and overcast this morning, and my Heart is missing the sunshine, so since I can’t enjoy the warmth outside, I’ll enjoy the warmth these beautiful sunflowers (a gift from my precious friend) bring me instead. I determine to enjoy each new day, rain or shine, hot or cold, and my glass is usually half full. This time of year can go from the feeling of a warm summer day to freezing temperatures and then back again from one day to the next. I am confident that the sun is always waiting just behind the clouds and that nothing is predictable in the Spring in Virginia. When you think about it, isn’t that just the way it is in this Journey of Faith too?

Some people don’t LOOK for the sunshine because they enjoy having frost around their hearts year-round instead. It’s as if they enjoy being “a victim,” and it’s their mission to put the world on notice that they were wounded at some point. They refuse to allow the warmth of the Son to melt the cold away as if they’ll somehow lose their strength if they let it go. They strut around with a cold heart as if it’s something to be proud of, and they have every excuse imaginable for why they refuse to let go of an offense. These people can hold on to something someone did to them like a snapping turtle year after year, refusing to let go as if refusing forgiveness will (in some twisted sort of way) get even with the one who wronged them. Their emotions can flare up in a heartbeat as they recount the wrongs, and they relive the events as if they just happened yesterday. Some even wish for horrible, hurtful things to happen to the one who caused them pain, while others stretch “tape” around their lives like a crime scene, daring anybody to cross the line. They carry the weight of unforgiveness around like a sack loaded with rocks, and no matter how weary they become from the weight or how injured they become from the stress, they REFUSE to let it go. Unfortunately for these people, their glass is always half empty, and they would never know what it means to be content with a few sunflowers in place of the sun.

I know that when I go before my God and ask for forgiveness for my wrongs, they are “as far as the east is from the west” because the Bible says so. The Ultimate price has already been paid for me and my sins and I find indescribable comfort in knowing that as soon as I confess them, they’re forgiven. Remembering this is the Key to being able to forgive others, too. I’ll NEVER forget what a “wretch” I was before Jesus found me, and I’ll never grow tired of embracing the Price He paid for my Sins. I didn’t earn it. I didn’t deserve it. I could never have paid it on my own. This is the way I see it – if He could save a wretch like me…if He could lay down His life to pay the Price I couldn’t pay myself…if He could meet me where I was and Love me just as I am, WHO DO I THINK I AM TO WITHHOLD FORGIVENESS? The Key to being able to extend forgiveness to people you don’t believe deserve it is to NEVER lose sight of the price He paid to forgive YOUR wrongs. His Rules are pretty simple – if you want His Forgiveness, then you better be willing to extend it to someone else no matter what they’ve “done” to you. I wouldn’t want to be you if you refuse to forgive, that’s for sure.

I’ve experienced some serious wrongs in my life, and I’ve been labeled a “doormat” countless times as I’ve picked myself back up and then “let it go” over and over again. I’ve heard every reason under the sun for what I “should” do to get even – always under the guise of “making the wrongs right” as if God has exceptions to His own Rules about forgiveness. Those advisors may be able to fool themselves when they “justify” hateful thoughts and deeds, but they can’t fool God. What I don’t understand is why they would lift a finger to make things right when they can leave the reckoning up to a Mighty God instead. The Bible says, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” so I can’t think of a better way for the wrongs to be made Right than to Trust the Living God with the outcome. He already knows it all, and He will have the ultimate say. His forgiveness is the ONLY forgiveness that ever really matters.

I’m an imperfect woman striving to live a Life that is a good Reflection of my King. I’m determined to look at the Bright Side, and my glass will remain half full all the days of my Life. I’ll do my best to “plow my own field” instead of concerning myself with the “fields” of others. I won’t carry a grudge or refuse to forgive someone who wrongs me today, and I’ll do everything in my power to let the Light of my Faith shine on this overcast day. I’ll be satisfied with a beautiful jar full of sunflowers in place of the sunshine, and I’ll be focusing on the Nourishment these flowers needed to grow into something beautiful. I want to be like the flowers – clinging to the basic things to find Nourishment, Strength, and Growth. As long as I keep reaching for the Son, I’ll find everything I need.

Just think…He reached my Heart with just a few sunflowers; imagine what He can do for you!

The Message of the Cross…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Spring is springing in Virginia, and it seems like even the birds are celebrating the way I am. I’ve had my most important meeting of the day with the One who died for me, and I’ve picked up some Wisdom and Direction from my Instruction Manual. Like a bird perched on the highest limb it can find, I’m on top of my World too. Life looks a whole lot Clearer from here, and I can see my Journey with 20/20 Vision when I’m Living Higher and when I’m reaching for the Son. What a sweet Reminder to me directly from the Throne of a Mighty God this morning. If He “keeps my path straight” and if I’m “the apple of His eye”, how could I ever be surprised when He sends the Sweet and Subtle messages my way?

The Sweetest Message ever known to mankind is the message of the Cross, and somehow, so many people manage to complicate it OR avoid it entirely. Lots (if not most) people of Faith stay pretty busy talking about God, and His Word, and “His Ways” and ALL of that is Good….but unless the Message of the Cross is loud and clear FIRST, none of it means much at all. The world is filled with “experts” on the Word of God but so many of them completely miss out on the Sweet salvation message, and they don’t mention the Message of Hope that is ONLY possible because of the Cross. No matter who is or who IS NOT bold enough to speak up for the sake of Salvation, the Core of our entire Belief system as Christians comes down to the Message of the Cross. Sadly, even countless pastors refrain from mentioning the Cross, or hell or sin for fear of offending the flock. But I’m thinking that a large portion of their flock will be pretty offended when they die not knowing the Message of the Cross and their destiny looks a whole lot different than they were told it would be from a pulpit. Just sayin’.

The Message of the Cross is the Most Significant message of all…and it’s one that ALL people are commanded to share!

It’s a Simple Message and it’s the ONLY Message of Hope. It’s at the Cross that the biggest Sacrifice was made for all of mankind….from the beginning of time and until the end of time… and it’s at the Cross that Love was Defined. It’s at the Cross where the burden of ALL of our Sin was “washed away” and all the consequences that go with it was taken on by Someone we’ve never “met”. It’s at the Cross where we meet Him, and we “thank Him” by accepting Who He is and What He did for you and for me…and it’s at the Cross where we find Hope and Freedom and a Future.

It’s pretty simple when you think about it…We either accept the Message of the Cross and the One who died to Pay the Price for you and for me that we might have Life Everlasting OR we reject it and have eternal damnation. The Message is Simple enough for anybody to share…and when Eternity is involved, it’s not optional to refuse to share it. This IS what we’re ALL commanded to do, but it’s the one thing that most people of Faith refuse to do. For the ones refusing, it might be time to evaluate the Simple Message of the Cross all over again…because if they don’t see the significance and they refuse to share…perhaps they need a Reminder of the Gift and the Price all over again themselves.

I’ll be sharing the Message of the Cross today, and every day, for all the days of my Life because without Him, I could do nothing…without Him I’d fail…without Him I’d have no hope…without Him I’d be lost…without Him I’d have a Future in Hell instead of in the Place He has Prepared for me. Because of the Cross, my Future is bright, and my life is eternal.

How about you?

Is Your Pride Thwarting Your Growth?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped outside this morning with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and the Holy Word of a Holy God to meet with the One who died for me. The Bible says, “draw near to God and He will draw near to you,” and that’s what my Time with Him is always about. It’s never about just showing up…it’s about drawing near…and to pull that off, I need to enter His Presence with a Humble and Grateful Heart, AND I need to be willing to have my Heart Examined each day by the Author and Perfector of my Faith. Sometimes it’s a sweet Time, and sometimes it’s a tough Time, but it’s always a Good Time when I draw near to Him and He draws near to me. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?

It can be easier than you think to find ourselves in that place where we wonder where God is and if He’s even listening to our prayers at all – but it doesn’t have to be that way. If we just do our Part to draw near to Him, He will ALWAYS draw near to us. After all, He is a God of His Word! Sometimes, drawing near seems impossible and it feels like we can’t get there from here…and when that happens, it’s because we are in our own way of having quality time because of the Condition of our own Heart. No relationship can thrive just by being in the same room, and it’s not possible to “draw near” to another human being if we rely on the fact that we’re “together” physically while the Heart is not Prepared for the journey at all. There isn’t a Relationship on the planet that can possibly survive and THRIVE if the heart isn’t in it. Why would it be any different with the King of all kings?

The Living God doesn’t just want us to show up; He wants us to DRAW NEAR instead, and that is where the “work” comes in. It isn’t possible to genuinely draw near to Him if there is Unfinished Business in the Heart, and it’s not possible for Him to draw near to us if we meet with Him just to see what He can do for us or how fast He can settle our latest crisis. Drawing near to Him takes Humility to confess whatever is in the Heart that is not pleasing to Him, and it takes a Heart that Hungers to be ALL that He created us to be. Drawing near is more about what WE can do…and who we can be…to be found pleasing to the Lord of all Creation than it could ever be about what He can do to please us. The child of God is Royalty, and it’s an Honor to enter His Presence any time we want to BUT it matters to Him how we show up, and He can’t draw near if we insist on living a Life that’s not pleasing to Him.

Having a Rich Relationship with the King of all kings isn’t nearly as complicated as folks like to think it is. A Rich Relationship isn’t reserved for just a select few, and it isn’t withheld from any Willing Heart, but it does take Effort on our Part. It takes drawing Near to Him with a hunger to be found Pleasing in His eyes and with a willingness to let Him Work within the crevices of the Heart…those places that only He can see. The heart of man will need to be Refined every single day until we find our way Home, and, as for me, that’s the Greatest Honor – to be Refined so that I can be found Worthy to Serve the King. It makes me sad to see how few professed Christians “get” this part and how few are willing to Surrender to Him to draw near all because they’re too proud to humble themselves before the Living God. I’m not sure how the Journey will work out for those people, BUT I’m confident they won’t see the kind of Relationship I have with the King until they’re willing to surrender just like I do…day after day and year after year.

I met with Him wrapped in a blanket on the front porch of an old farm in Virginia this morning with a Heart that longed to draw near. I need Him more than I need breath in my lungs and we both know it. As long as I draw near to Him, He will draw near to me.

How about you?