jesus

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?

The Beautiful Buds of our Faith…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

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?

Are You Focusing on the Ugly?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The air is cold and it still feels a little like winter in the morning, but the farm is looking more like spring every day. You’d think after all these years I’d get tired of the view from the front porch but that’s never going to happen because when I look across the fields of this old farm what I see is God. Who could ever get tired of looking at God? Wildlife is a WAY of life around here and watching nature respond to what God provides is an incredible site to see….day after day. The deer never seem to be in much of a hurry until they sense danger, but the birds are an entirely different story. To me, the birds always look frantic as they dart from here to there looking for food and they don’t ever seem to rest – at least not for long. As I considered my wildlife view this morning it reminded me of the Journey of Faith. Some people of Faith are like the deer – satisfied to “graze” on whatever satisfies the flesh and they don’t seem to have a care in the world about anything UNLESS danger shows up. Then there are people like me. We’re like the birds of the air…so focused on the fields full of lost people within our reach that we refuse to rest until our Job here on earth is done. Which one are you?

There is no such thing as a perfect view in Life no matter where we sit. My view from the front porch has changed dramatically over the years as farmers sold out to developers and cows were traded for houses. I see the ugliest cell tower you could ever imagine off in the distance that has recently doubled in size. It serves as a reminder to me of how man doesn’t care about the view at all when there are so many two-legged “creatures” to please. Instead of the pitch dark I used to enjoy (where the only light came from lightning bugs), I see lights on in houses across the fields and I see party lights that never turn off. I’ve seen things built that I don’t understand and I’ve seen what it looks like when property values decline because of it. All the things I just described are the ugly things within my view that could so easily destroy the beauty IF I allow the devil to rob me and I stop seeing God in it all. There’s enough ugliness in the world to sink a fleet of ships, and for the life of me, I don’t understand how professed Christians could spend so much time obsessing over the ugly that they’ve lost sight of fields full of lost souls and people destined for Hell. How can they spend so much time wishing harm on the very ones who were also “made in His image”? I guess they either don’t understand why they were Created in the first place, OR they don’t really Know the Living God at all. Sad but true. With Him, focusing on the Beauty is everything and it’s the Focus on Beauty that compels us to share Beauty with the ugly all the day of our lives!

I’m just an imperfect woman living an imperfect life with an imperfect view from my perfect front porch in Virginia. The ugly I can see could so easily rob me IF I allowed myself to stop seeing God in it all. I want to be like the birds – “franticly” trying to reach as many as I can while there is still breath in my body. I exist solely by the Will of my Perfect God. I have a Perfect Future in store for me with a Perfect View that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind even comprehend what He has in store” for me. I am Forgiven and Redeemed by the blood of my Perfect Savior. When I focus on these things the ugly disappears and is replaced by indescribably Beauty every single time. Ugly? What ugly?

What is it going to be for you? Will you focus on the ugly and forget about the lost OR will you “frantically” focus on the feast of lost souls right before your eyes while there’s still breath in your body?

Are You Feeling Parched?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I rushed into the Presence of the Most High God before the sun could be seen in the morning sky, and I set out to find my Peace “as the deer pants for water”. Sometimes my soul does thirst for Him and sometimes I can’t get enough. Sometimes my soul needs just a little refreshing for the Journey and sometimes my soul is like a withering plant. But no matter the condition of my Soul when I’m thirsty the Living Water is ready and waiting for me to come looking for Nourishment that will Refresh and Revive me all over again. Then, before you know it, I’ll be reaching for the heavens just like the well-nourished plant does – desperate to be in the presence of the Source of my Strength. Isn’t that the way it is with you too?

It can be so easy for people to reach out to God as if He’s just the go-to for whenever we have problems that require a little extra attention – but He’s so much more than being The Answer to our problems! Just like the withering plant that’s close to death, we are inclined to desperately look for help from the Living Water to revive us again ONLY when we finally accept that we can no longer do it on our own. But if we just set out to get a “slow drip” from the Living Water every single day (and in every way), we never reach that state of being parched at all. His Presence, His Spirit, His Love, and His Strength can quench our thirst and nourish our souls in ways that most people (sadly) can’t begin to imagine. When we turn on the Tap of the Living Water, and we sustain a “steady flow”, eventually we begin to overflow with Living Water and we begin to Grow like never before! The Living Water will transform a life from “withering” to usable in no time at all, and the Living Water will Strengthen the root of our Faith. With strong “roots” and plenty of nourishment, we learn to reach for the Source of our Strength every single day, and the Life within us begins to overflow to the rest of the world with ease. This is the Key to spiritual growth.

It’s often said that “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink” and nothing could be more true when it comes to Faith. Countless people have been led to the Living Water but they never seem to “thirst for Him” at all. I guess He’s the “go-to-guy-in-the-sky” and they have no need for Him unless they’re feeling desperate. They never turn on the Tap of the Living Water, and they see no need to nourish the soul at all. They’ve been led to the Living Water, but (just like the horse) they refuse to drink. Eventually, they’ll wither and they’ll stop growing due to the lack of Water, and it doesn’t take long before they are of little use for Kingdom Work at all. It’s the flourishing Plants that stand out in a Garden, and it’s the flourishing Plants that we’re inclined to pick. They are the beautiful Ones…the Ones that overflow with Living Water…the Ones that have Roots so deep that they can’t easily be knocked down. These Plants have been watered by the Living Water and they reach for the Sky, to the Source of their Strength… and it shows.

I was a little parched at sunrise, but my thirst has been quenched and now I’m Unstoppable. My roots are deeper than ever before and absolutely nothing has the power to “knock me down” as long as I’m being Watered with Truth. I’m reaching for the Heavens just like the withering plant does after it’s received its nourishment too. The people I encounter today will See the Living Water in me without me saying a single Word because I’ll stand out in the garden filled with so many withering plants. Others will drawn to me like a moth is drawn to light because I’m Overflowing with Living Water and the Beauty is undeniable. I know how to Lead them to the Place where they’ll NEVER thirst again, but I can’t force them to drink. I’ll do my Part to help them quench their thirst Once and for All and then the Daily Maintenance is up to them. I hope they’ll stand out like a sore thumb in the Garden with me One Day too…set aside from all of the withering ones. That’s where I’ll be until God reaches down and Picks me to take me Home with Him.

How about you?

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13,14

Ride of Terror OR Journey for Jesus?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a glorious morning in Virginia and I can finally feel Spring in the air. You never know what to expect this time of year – sometimes it’s warm and sometimes it’s cold but it’s almost always windy – so windy, in fact, that the flags seemed to “fight” to hang on to their proper place on the front porch. I enjoy watching the flags “fight” to stay where they belong knowing that eventually, each one will succumb to the damage they’ve sustained over time by the high winds. One by one they’ll be replaced with a newer fresher flag…but that’s not true for man. Man can never get to the point of no return in the eyes of God and God will never give up on His “flags” no matter how much damage they get through the Journey. Each man is made for a unique Purpose with a Flight Plan to follow that is intended just for him. With that in mind, why do so many people face the storms as if they’re on a ride of terror instead of on the Journey for Jesus? Flags are flags and nothing is expected of them but to make a statement and bring us pleasure…BUT man has a Choice. Man can choose to Trust the One that calms the seas OR to fly haphazardly through the Journey of Life until he wears out and gets replaced by someone willing to do the Work God created him to do. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Life too?

We are a part of a disposable society and, unfortunately, we have been conditioned to believe that everything can be replaced. We don’t attempt to fix cars, computers, or cell phones because they lose value in our eyes, and besides, it’s too much fun to replace them instead. We toss food that could feed a hungry family and we pitch clothes in the trash just for missing a button that could have easily been mended to make good for someone else. Yep, we’re in a disposable society BUT there’s a problem with that mindset…it’s not in alignment with the Nature of our God. He has a Plan in mind for each of us and He’ll sometimes allow us to flap around in the wind to build the strength it takes to get the Job done, AND to see if we’ll choose to GO or GROW. When we choose to GROW, He’ll calm the winds faster than you can say “Amen” and it won’t take long for us to see what God was Teaching us all along. But for those who choose to GO because they’re too selfish or lazy to endure a little “flapping around” in His Name, they’ll eventually be replaced by a Servant Willing to do the Job that you were created to do. How sad it is that your Kingdom Work could be Assigned to someone else because you would rather flap around in the wind uncontrollably instead of calling upon the Name of Jesus to calm the storm and lead the way.

It’s sad to see so many people professing to know my God but so unwilling to do His Work. If boldly flapping in the breeze like the flags on my front porch means they might endure a little pain in the process…they want nothing to do with it. If their season of flapping around in the breeze lasts longer than they think is “fair” they’ll dispose of God and move on to the next “solution” without blinking an eye. Some people will do as little as they think they can to get by instead of striving to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” one day the way I do. I’m a born-again Believer and I am confident that I can’t lose my Salvation BUT I Know (based on His Word) that some people will make it into Heaven just by the skin of their teeth and they’ll sit on the sideless of Glory for eternity because of it. The choice is mine. I want a front-row seat in Glory. I can live like a flag on the front porch with absolutely no control over my destiny OR I can make the Choice to Fight Back…to Sustain…to Endure…to Persevere…to No matter how much flapping around I have to do in the Process. He’s worth it. I’m worth it. The Journey is worth it. Glory is worth it.

How about you?

All The Answers At Your Fingertips!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

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.

My Heart Shouts “GLORY!”…Does Yours?

/ www.LivingLarger.life / 1 Comment

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?