Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s the second day of Spring and everything is coming to life around the farm, and I’m giving Thanks to the God of all Creation for Blessing me with another view of the Spring from the Front Porch. I LOVE watching the Touch of the Master’s Hand and I love to see what He’s up to each day especially this time of the year. It’s incredible to see how fast the trees bud out overnight, and I can almost hear them saying “Finally!” as it gets closer to the time they’re fully matured for the season. Unfortunately, this morning the temperature was just above freezing with a windchill factor of 26 degrees and it’s not unusual for us to get a snowfall in April. As I considered the joy of seeing new life in the Spring and how easily it could be snuffed out by freezing temperatures, it reminded me of the Journey of Faith. Many people come to Life when they’re first Introduced to Jesus Christ, and they’re the most Beautiful Buds you could ever imagine when they do. But just like a surprise Spring snowfall, the Enemy can come along to “freeze” all their fresh Growth and they can go from Budding Beauty to dead again faster than you can say “Amen”. Isn’t it just like the Living God to use a simple tree bud to inspire a Message for the world today?

God is the Creator of all Life, a Master Gardener, and the Author and Perfector of my Faith. Jesus has a lot to say about seeds to help us understand what takes place when we sow the seeds of the Gospel. In the parable of the sower of the seeds, Jesus taught us all about Beautiful Buds and what happens to the seeds (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) is never about the “quality” of the seeds, but about the Condition of the Heart when they’re planted. Some seeds get planted on a path and, although they hear the Word (Gospel), they don’t understand it, so the devil snatches the seeds away. Bye-bye Beautiful Buds! Some get planted on rocky ground and although they’re happy at first, as soon as hardships come they quickly blow away. Bye-bye Beautiful Buds! Then there are others who are planted in the thorns. Although they hear the Word they get choked out by the thorns and never bear fruit because of it. Bye-bye, Beautiful Buds! It makes me sad to think about all the seeds (Gospel) that have been sown and how few have actually taken root and have grown into Beautiful Buds all because of the condition of the Heart when the seeds of faith were “planted” in the first place. This is Key to our Journey of Faith – we do our Part to Plant the seeds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but we have no control over the Condition of the Heart. That Part is between the seed and the Sower.

It takes just the right conditions for a seed to take root or for a tree to bud. It takes lots of water and plenty of sunshine. It takes nutrients it gets from the soil AND it takes the Touch of the Master’s Hand. Without any of these things (long term), not only will a plant not grow or a tree not bud, but it will begin to die altogether. It takes just the right conditions and the Touch of the Master’s Hand for the seed of Faith to bud BUT it also takes just the Right Conditions for Faith to Grow into Maturity too. The Bible tells us that our Adversary does nothing but prowl around on the earth looking for Seeds to Devour. He’s a liar. He’s a thief. He robs, kills, and destroys. He masquerades as something beautiful. His entire Agenda is to kill the seeds of Faith – especially before the seeds are firmly rooted. As surely as prolonged cold temperatures could cause the Beautiful Buds on the trees at the farm to fall to the ground, the Seeds of Faith can easily be destroyed if the soil isn’t just right. This is the Key to Maturing in our Faith in all conditions and it’s the Key to Protecting the Seeds of Faith every step of the way. After all, a Thief can’t steal what he doesn’t have access to!

I’m a Professional Seed Planter so I do my Part to warn others about all those seeds that have fallen to the ground and are potentially lost “forever” when all they ever needed was the Right Heart and the Touch of the Master’s Hand. It’s my Job (and yours) to plant the seeds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but we can’t force them to Grow. As surely as we don’t plant seeds in the garden with a “love ’em and leave ’em” attitude, we should always be prepared to help Nurture all those seeds of Faith that have the potential to grow into Beautiful Buds. If God could take a wretch like me and Nurture me into a Beautiful Bud in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ…there’s hope for anybody with the Heart to Receive.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I watched the Master wake up the world and we had a long talk about Purpose and Plans for this new day and beyond. There is no Answer that can’t be Found in my Instruction Manual regardless of what’s going on in Life…and it’s Sufficient for every Season. When I set out to raise four children solo, I went to the Source of it all. God gave me the Wisdom I needed because I asked for it. My Instruction Manual says “If any man lacks wisdom let him ask and I will give it abundantly without judgment”…and He did. More than anything else, my Desire was to raise up a GODLY generation so I sought My Instruction Manual for step-by-step Instructions…and I followed them. I learned to “Impress them” (His Words) upon my children and to talk about Him non-stop as I “walked along the way”…and now they’re doing the same for the next generation. Training up a child isn’t as simple as taking them to Sunday school and praying before a meal – that takes very little effort at all! To “train up a child” we need to LIVE what we BELIEVE. Training up a child is walking the walk we talk about and it’s embracing every Supernatural Word we read. My morning begins at sunrise but my Journey of Faith begins with my Instruction Manual and I Know that if I Follow what I’m told, I’ll be Victorious in every area of Life…every single time. Isn’t that the way you Embrace the Word of God too?

It amazes me to see how so many people leave their Instruction Manual to gather dust as if it’s just one of those little (unnecessary) details of their Faith. Maybe they may open it up when they’re being taught by an “expert”, but without someone to point them in the right Direction, they leave it closed until the next time. Some people don’t bother reading it because they claim they don’t understand what it says, but there is a good reason for that. Some people turn to self-help-spiritual books instead of the Greatest Book and Top Seller of all Time – Perhaps because what they read in a book written by someone other than the Living God is more their style? With only 18 inches between Heaven (the heart) and Hell (the head), I’d ditch the intellectual approach to Faith before it’s too late if I were them. Some people read the Bible the way read a good novel…they skip to the back part to find out what happens and depending on whether or not they like the way the Book ends, they may or may not read it from the front to the back. Some people don’t like the first half of my Instruction Manual because they think that it’s harsh and they don’t like to read about the wrath of my God – but they fail to see that the first half is Perfectly threaded to the last half and they miss out on getting a good look at the FULL nature of our God and the Purpose of our Faith because of it.

Some people pick and choose the parts they like in my Instruction Manual and leave all the other parts behind as if they serve no Purpose. Some will whip out Words of judgment and they’re happy to point out what the Instruction Manual has to say about whatever it is that they’re judging, but without all of the other Words laced together in Love, the message is lost on the lost. Some people tip-toe-through-the-tulips of their faith and all they ever really care about is the Good stuff. Although the Good stuff is the focus of our Faith, there’s a whole lot more to walking the Walk than merely tip-toeing on the surface or focusing on just the parts that make us feel good. Every Word on every page was breathed by the Living God, and every single Word can be brought to Life if we just search for the Truth…and when we do, His Spirit will always open our eyes and lead the way! Without God, none of the Words make sense and without His Spirit, we only get an Intellectual view from the grandstands and we fail to see those hidden Spiritual things. Without Him, my Instruction Manual can easily become a book that only gathers dust instead of Words that can change your life and mine, day after day and year after year. The Bible is my Power Tool and it’s the Key to Maturity in Faith.

I’ve gone before the Throne of my God this morning and I’ve been Directed to Words in my Instruction Manual that have now been “burned” into my heart. I actually DO have “all the answers” because of have the One Who Created the stars in the sky and knows them each by name, I have the One Who died for to pay a debt I could NEVER pay on my own, I have the Holy Spirit to guide me and teach me, and I have my Instruction Manual with all the answers to every question ever asked since the beginning of time until NOW.

How about you?

If you want Truth – read it.

If you want Victory – read it.

If you want Restoration – read it.

If you want Forgiveness – read it.

If you want Wisdom – read it.

If you want to raise up a godly generation – read it.

If you want Hope – read it.

If you want Love like you’ve never known before – read it.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I stepped outside this morning it was a mere 28° but with a Heart already overflowing with warmth from the Love of my Savior, my Heart shouted “GLORY!” as if this was the first morning I’d ever seen. It’s a lot like that for me with the Word of God too. I can read the same Words a hundred times over and, although they feed my soul each time, once in a while they Light up like the sunrise and I can’t help but shout “GLORY!” when I read them too. Although some things about my Life are “routine”, nothing about my Time with God is! I refuse for my Spiritual Life to be routine just for the sake of sticking to some self-induced schedule, and I long for the next time my Heart shouts “GLORY!” to the King of all kings. I am FREE in every imaginable way…especially when it comes to the Author and Perfector of my Faith. What a mighty God I serve who can make all things New just like He did this morning! I know with certainty that when the Heart overflows with Anticipation for all that He is and all that He does, it will naturally hunger for Him as if today is the first and the last. Isn’t that the way it is for you in the Journey of Life too?

I wonder how many people never notice the sunrise on any given day or how many refuse to trade slumber to experience it for themselves? I wonder how many people will walk through this day dreading what lies ahead, or how many headed off to work complaining? I wonder how many people will fear the future today and how many will look under rocks for truth? I wonder how many people will set out to end a relationship today and how many will trade time with a child for time with a smartphone? I wonder how many people will take inventory of their lives and how many will whine for more? I wonder how many people will blame someone or something else for why they can’t be happy? Of all the things I wonder, mostly I wonder how many people of Faith met this new day with Anticipation for all that He is and all that He does and if they’ve ever been so Moved by His Majesty that they couldn’t help but shout “GLORY!” over something they’ve already seen hundreds of times before. We don’t Serve a God of mundane things, we Serve a God of New Things…not losing Sight of this Truth is the Key to Peace and Joy through it all.

Faith is much more than just believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins – genuine Faith includes genuine Trust and it’s backed up with genuine Belief. When I see how many people of Faith live like the Israelites did when they wandered around in the desert complaining for forty years, I hurt for them. When I see so many people of Faith walking the Journey with no Joy, I hurt for them. When I see people of Faith with a doomsday mentality looking under rocks for a version of truth, I hurt for them. When I see people of faith wringing their hands over the uncertainty that surrounds us, I hurt for them. When I see people of faith spitting out insults and cursing the bad guys as if God has left the Throne and left them in charge, I hurt for them. Sadly, all of these people believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but they’ve been convinced that’s all there is to the Journey of Life. Unfortunately, they “have a form of godliness but deny its power” and they don’t genuinely Believe that He can…and HE WILL… make ALL things new in His time. No wonder they never shout “GLORY” over something they’ve seen or heard a million times before!

I am an imperfect woman living an imperfect life that’s filled with uncertainty just like everybody else’s…BUT I am filled with Anticipation for what God is doing even when I can’t see it and I choose to turn to God for my Joy…in the sunrise, in His Word, and in the New Day. I Hunger for Him, I Trust in His Word, and the Holy Spirit is my Guide. How could everything NOT be New when I have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit on my side! I KNOW what my Future holds and I KNOW what I’m supposed to be doing until that New Day comes….and if that’s not enough to make you shout “GLORY!” I don’t know what is.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s partly cloudy and slightly sunny and at first glance, it appears to be a warm day. But don’t let the photo fool you. I ventured outside to see what God was up to this morning but I didn’t last long at all. Despite the bright sun, the cool temperature and the steady breeze made it too cold for comfort…at least for now. About this time every year, my Heart begins to yearn for the Spring – a time when my mornings will once again be spent outside on the porch instead of inside looking out. Until then, I’ll be grateful for whatever today brings because I’ve “learned to be content” in this Journey of Life. Every day I pray for the Church and every day I mourn over how distracted and divided God’s people are. We aren’t (necessarily) divided over doctrine…although there will always be some of that going on. Instead, we’re distracted and divided by things of this world that shouldn’t even hit the radar screen for Believers in this Journey of Faith. It’s not easy to avoid the “headlines” that’s for sure, so it takes more Determination than ever to “take captive every thought” to keep things in Spiritual Perspective. As for me, I will ALWAYS be more focused on who’s name is written in the “Lamb Book of Life” than who’s name is written on the Epstein list. Because I clearly understand my Priorities as a Follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I Focus much more on the Condition of my own Heart than I do the condition of the world or the White House, and because I do, my Compassion for the lost ones never fades. Isn’t that the way the Journey of Faith is supposed to be for genuine Believers?

There is no doubt that I can be a bold Voice for my God when I speak up in this dark world, but it takes much more than a bold voice to be Useful to Him with words. It takes a Heart in Good condition…a tender Heart and a compassionate Heart that gives me the ability to recognize pain in another…and it’s THAT part of the Journey of Faith that I ( we all) struggle with the most. It doesn’t take much for me to cry over somebody’s pain and it doesn’t take much for me to roar like a lion when I see harshness or unfairness toward someone else all in the name of Christianity. It doesn’t take much for me to trade sleep for prayer as I appeal to my God for mercy on behalf of someone else. It doesn’t take much for me to speak up with Words of Wisdom that come from deep within my soul without any effort at all because He Promises to ALWAYS give us Wisdom and Words when we need them. It doesn’t take much for me to call someone out for their judgment of someone else, and it doesn’t take much for me to redirect a pointing finger back to the source of the problem. It doesn’t take much for me to lose my strength when so much of me is consumed by the pain of another. My Heart has been tenderized by the King, and it’s a combination of the Heart that He “refined” within me, and the bold voice that He’s equipped me that is of the most benefit to His Kingdom and the only part of me that will be “everlasting”. Keeping a Spiritual balance makes the difference between being a bold voice that can be used by the Living God for His glory, and one that just sounds off in judgment and anxiously awaits the revelation of a list of lost people most likely headed for Hell. God forbid that I should ever be the latter.

Anybody can thump people over the head with a Bible and anybody can spit out Scripture to set someone straight, but it takes Compassion to deliver the most Powerful message of the Cross…even to people on “a list”. Anybody can be a 21st century Pharisee and anybody can pass judgment on somebody else’s sins while they ignore their own. But it takes Compassion to turn away from judgment and to pray for healing instead. Anybody can ridicule and threaten to get somebody else to do whatever they want them to do – but real leadership (and a genuine representation of Jesus Christ) begins with Compassion and a Desire to lead the way by example instead of by way of judgment. Anybody can attend church whenever the doors are open and anybody can memorize Scripture – but those two things fall short of walking out our Faith the way Christ calls us to walk it out…with Compassion that runs deep and with the kind of Compassion that drives us into Action. It’s that balance that defines our Faith AND our Works and it’s one that’s much easier said than done…unless we work on the Condition of our own Heart every single day and we’re willing to be taken to the Spiritual Woodshed whenever He thinks it’s necessary. After all, that’s what humility looks like.

I don’t like to be taken to the “Spiritual Woodshed” but because I’m willing to go there to be set straight by the Living God, I am able to Focus much more on who has their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life than I ever would on a list of names of people in bondage to perversion. I’ll do whatever I need to do to be pleasing and useful to my God and it all begins with the right Heart and the kind of Compassion that is only possible with Jesus Christ. Until then, I’ll be praying for opportunities to Show people how to get their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and I’ll be praying for all the others – ESPECIALLY the ones who many professed Believers are salivating to expose and destroy. How could I, you ask? Because that’s what Jesus would do! After all, He saved an (unlovable) wretch like me and Transformed me into a Usable Vessel for the King of all kings…if He can do that for me…He can do that for anybody!

How about you? Are you anxiously waiting to see a list of lost people just so that you have the pleasure of watching them be destroyed AND is that more important to you people having their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life”? Hmm…

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The files are filled with deer, and my Heart is filled with Peace and Hope after my time with the Living God this morning. It’s not quite Spring yet, but it’s getting closer each day, and I’m longing for my Time on the front porch again. It’s there where I meet with the Living God to draw my Strength and get my Direction, and it’s there where I Share my Heart, my time, my coffee, my stories, my laughter, the fields, and whatever words I gain from the Living God along the way. Our Journey of Faith is not about how much we “keep” for ourselves – it’s about how much we’re willing to Share instead. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be for a child of the Living God?

It’s easy for most people to share some of the good things in life as long as it doesn’t “cost them” too much – a good experience, a good story, a good joke, a good recipe, or a good report card are good examples of the easy things we easily give away. Although sharing these good things is intended to bring pleasure to the receiver, the one who benefits the most is the one doing the sharing. It feels good to share good things. But when it comes down to sharing those things below the surface of Life…the kind that has an Eternal Impact…most people draw a line in the sand and refuse to Speak up. These people make a choice NOT to freely share their Heart, their space, their time, or their resources with another human being even though it’s these very things we Share that have the most impact on the Life of someone else. It always comes down to sharing…how much we’re willing to give away. “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live”.

It’s not easy for most people to share uncomfortable things in life but that always comes down to pride. Sometimes those “uncomfortable” things have the potential to sting the ones we Share them with, and sometimes we might cause them to suffer consequences when we’re Messengers of the Truth. Although there are plenty of people out there who get pleasure from being the one to make others uncomfortable, most people prefer to avoid sharing the uncomfortable altogether. It’s the dodging of the uncomfortable conversations that allow rebellious behavior in children, deterioration of relationships, failure in business, and a refusal to share our Faith with the world. It always comes down to sharing…how much we’re willing to give away. “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live”.

It’s not easy for most people to share the “bad” things in life, when it comes down to sharing their biggest mistakes and failures, their darkest hours, the pain of their past, or their worst circumstances altogether. They guard the details of Life for the sake of their own pride and selfishness and they’ll attempt to bury the past as if putting it there serves any Purpose at all. These people guard the “bad” details of their life like Fort Knox and they’re far too busy tiptoeing through tulips in an attempt to paint a picture of a perfect life that they miss the opportunity to turn their trials into a blessing for someone else. “All things (really do) work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose” but in order for the “bad” to turn into “good” it must be Shared with the world. That’s what a Testimony looks like! It always comes down to sharing…how much we’re willing to give away. “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live”.

If you sit with me on the front porch of this farm in Virginia one day, you’d better be prepared to hear about the “bad” things in my imperfect life. I cherish tulips, but I don’t tip-toe through them when it comes to my Journey because I am Confident that my Journey has the potential to lead someone else to Jesus Christ when I share it. My Trials and Tribulations might just curl your toes BUT you’ll be dancing in the end when you hear about the Power of the Living God and when you see how He has led me to Victory over and over and over again. It always comes down to sharing…how much we’re willing to give away. “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live”.

I’m an Imperfect woman living a beautifully imperfect life and I’m Armed with Love and Truth BUT the best part is that I’m Willing to Share. I don’t like making people “uncomfortable” but I Love them enough to speak Truth into their souls that could ultimately make an Eternal difference. It’s funny how it works…the more I share with them, the more they share with me, and before you know it I see a rich Testimony growing out of a simple conversation…all because I was willing to Give away exactly what they needed when they needed it. It always comes to sharing…how much we’re willing to give away. “Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give. Go in my name and because you believe, others will know that I live”.

I’ll be freely giving all the days of my Life…those simple things that make a Difference and the Bigger Truth that has the potential to change their entire Journey…now and forever more!

How about you?

1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold and windy this morning and although it won’t be warming up by much today, it’s destined to be a beauty. The deer are plentiful around the farm all year long and I never grow tired of watching them. Sometimes they seem to be oblivious to everything around them because they’re too fat and happy to worry about danger. Sometimes they’re on high alert and any little sound sends them running. Sometimes they take a nap in the fields and sometimes the little ones play. I can’t tell most of them apart from the other, but sometimes the behavior of one stands out from the others and I wonder what makes them “different”. I watched this lone deer walk away from her comfort zone and leave the herd behind like I’ve observed her so many times before but THIS time, God used this little deer to drive home a Message about the Journey of Faith. It’s only when we are willing to walk away from our comfort zone – when we’re willing to leave the rest of the herd behind if necessary – it’s only when we stop weighing the dangers and we move forward in His Name that we can be a Usable Vessel for the King of all kings. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

It can be so easy for most people to follow the herd in Life but we miss out on the Unique Opportunity to Serve the King when we do. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple”. Jesus didn’t mean “hate” the way we think of “hate” because much gets lost in the translation. What Jesus was saying is that if your herd is more important to you than He is, then you can’t be His disciple. I get it. The closer I’ve drawn to Jesus and the more Committed I am to doing HIS work (instead of my own), the fewer people there are in my life. I get it. The more I proclaim “the Mighty Name of Jesus” the more uncomfortable countless people have become and over time, fewer and fewer are still in the field with me. I walk away just like the lone deer in this photo so focused on Jesus Christ that I don’t even notice that I’m headed in One Direction while all the others remain in the field. Sadly, when it comes down to it, most professed Christians aren’t willing to put Jesus Christ first – above their siblings, or children, or grandchildren, or spouse or even themselves and their selfish ambition. Unfortunately for them, Jesus doesn’t accept the leftovers in the Journey of Faith…He insists on being the Main Attraction.

Sometimes it bothers me to watch my world get smaller and smaller but Jesus already warned me that would happen. He said, “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” and I’m committed to enduring to the end even IF I am hated by the world. He said “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” so I’m not surprised to see division in friendships and family as some draw nearer to Him while the others are content to graze in the field too fat and happy to worry about the danger of not Following Jesus. After I do my Part to encourage the other “deer” to Follow along with me when they refuse, I walk away with Jesus and I don’t look back. Of course, it makes me sad and YES there is an empty place in my Heart for them when I do but mostly I’m sad about their Future without Jesus. He’s my Best Friend. He’s my King. He’s my Redeemer. He brings me more Joy than anyone here on earth ever could and my Joy will last Forever. He is all things – He is above all things. He died for me and I’m willing to Live for Him because of it. If you see me alone in the field like my furry friend don’t feel sorry for me. My desire for popularity died a long time ago and now, there isn’t a person, place, or thing I wouldn’t walk away from for the sake of my Relationship with Jesus Christ.

How about you?