jesus

I Know Where Victory Is Found…Do You?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The wind howled through Virginia last night and I was pleasantly surprised to see no damage done when I stepped outside this morning. While the wind howled outside, I “howled” to the heavens, spending half the night in prayer – another night before the Throne of God appealing on behalf of others. By the time the sun showed itself, it was more like a signal to the end of a restless night than a celebration of a new day. It’s always time for Battle in the Life of a Christian…especially the vocal ones like me – but every once in a while the battle becomes BIGGER, so I turn up the heat through prayer and sharpen my Weapons for Victory. I didn’t fret and wring my hands throughout the night…I FOUGHT like the Warrior I am and I shouted the name of Jesus Christ to put my Enemy on notice and to Proclaim my Victory long before I see it. Isn’t that what you do when you’re fighting a BIG battle too?

It can be so easy for us to fold under the pressure of Battle but it NEVER has to be that way. Since we’ve already been told that “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” so WHY in the world would we rely on flesh and blood tactics to Fight a Spiritual Battle? No matter what we face in this Journey called Life, we have the Weapons for battle, and we have the One who Intercedes on our behalf. Keeping this in mind is the Key to using the right Weapons for the war and it’s the only way to find Peace (and Victory) in the Battle. I don’t fold under the pressure and I don’t succumb to what I see with my eyes, because “logic” has no place in the Kingdom of God. There’s no way to rationalize God’s Master Plan and, although I don’t always get my way, I always Trust His Ways no matter what. Isn’t that the way a Father wants His Children to Live?

When I pray I don’t spend a lot of time asking for His Will to be done because I know that it always will be; I spend a lot of Time speaking Victory instead. I shout out His Promises that are written in Black and White, and I Celebrate the outcome that I’m Trusting Him to work out according to His Master Plan. When I’m doing battle over BIG things I’m like a Spiritual maniac. I pray and pace and I’m oblivious to time. I don’t worry about the sleep I’m “losing” because I know that when I spend the night in the Presence of God, He’ll give me supernatural Strength for the new day. I Proclaim Victory with my voice and in my Heart and I don’t doubt for one second that Victory will come…Victory according to His Master Plan. Sometimes I even laugh at my enemy and I remind him that he DOES NOT WIN – and I laugh because I KNOW that every demon in hell is shuddering because of this maniacal Pray Warrior. How can I NOT win when I know how to do Battle?

I surrendered a little sleep last night to step into a Battle that (sadly) most people don’t even Know how to Fight and today I’m overwhelmed with Peace because of it. My “howls” were Heard by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and I am sure that my prayers were like “incense” to Him because the Bible says so. There’s no need for me to “dwell” on the things I prayed about, and I sure don’t need to worry about the people I’m praying for because the Creator of All holds everything and everyone in the palm of His Hands. God hears my every prayer BUT that doesn’t mean I’ll stop praying. Until I see Victory over these things, I will not cease to pray…but more than that…I WILL NOT surrender and I WILL NOT doubt the outcome. I’m a Warrior. I’m Victorious. I’m a Spiritual maniac. I’m A WINNER because of Him – He taught me how to Fight and Win by using the Weapons He’s already given to me..and I Know how to use them well because He Instructed me.

How about you? Do Know how to do Battle in the heavens and find your Victory? If not, reach out to me and I’ll show you the way to Peace.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Blend in with the world? NEVER!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s that time of year when almost everything I see from the front porch is the same color. The foliage is turning brown and falling to the ground and the deer get a new gray coat color for the winter…God’s way of helping them avoid danger by blending in. Sometimes the flags are the only bright colors I see and they’re kept hanging all year because of it. As I sat there this morning considering all the things I can see throughout the winter (and all the things I can’t) I was reminded of how that’s the way it can be in the Journey of Faith too. The Goal of a Person of Faith isn’t to “blend in” but to STAND OUT through every Season of Life, and if we aren’t careful, we could eventually blend in with all the rest while we ride out the Winter Season. How can the dark world see the Bright Morning Star in us if we’re blending in with it? Don’t you want the world to see the Color of your Faith all year round too?

The winter season often comes on with a vengeance – one day it’s warm and the next day it’s cold but it seems to strike and stay once it’s here. One day you’re outside celebrating the warmth and the next day you’re hiding away from the cold. One day the trees are covered with leaves, and the next day the leaves are gone and there’s absolutely nothing we can do to stop it. But the Winter of the Heart is a different story. That season is so subtle that most people don’t even realize the Heart has gone from Celebrating the Warmth of the Son to a Heart that’s as cold as the winter in Virginia. Many of them continue to do the same things they did in the Summer of their Faith – like going to church and praying even though the Heart is in Spiritual hibernation. That doesn’t make any more sense than wearing shorts and a T-shirt outside in the winter as if wearing those things will make it so. The Heart that was once so eager to Celebrate the Son can’t be seen in those hibernating despite the steps they take as part of their “routine” like tuning into church or a bumper sticker on their car. From cold to warm and back again. It must break God’s Heart when He sees His people much more determined to blend in with all the rest than to Stand up in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

When we’re in Celebration mode, we want EVERYBODY around us to feel the Warmth of the Son too and we could never be satisfied with blending in! We encourage others to FOLLOW us to the Warmest spot there is, and we give them Directions on how to get there. When we’re in Celebration mode, EVERYTHING around us is in Living Color, and we don’t want anybody else to miss out on what God has for those Willing to stand out in His Name. When we’re in Celebration mode we STAND OUT in any crowd and they SEE Him in us even if we opt-out of uttering His Name. Unfortunately, many have been deceived into believing that as long as they’re “nice” there’s no need to speak up at all. When we’re in Celebration mode, we dance and we weep with Joy and we don’t care who’s watching. When we’re in Celebration mode we can’t get enough of the Son and we almost don’t want to go to sleep as long as there’s more to learn. That’s what Love looks like.

The church can be a great social club filled with the friends we love more than any others and we aren’t afraid to show and tell them most of the time. But when the Heart is Celebrating the Son, it cares a WHOLE LOT MORE about all the ones OUTSIDE the walls of the church who have never Met the Bright Morning Star than do about socializing on Sundays – those guys NEVER lose their hunger to Share Him with the world. God speaks Boldly about what it looks like when the Heart of His People is no longer more committed to blending in than Standing out. He doesn’t beat around the bush or make excuses like so many of His people do, that’s for sure! This is what He says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked”. Leave it to God to get Straight to the Point and leave it to the lost ones to overlook the Truth.

I weep over the ones so determined to take the same steps over and over again doing all those things they believe are a sign of their Love for the Living God but their Growth is thwarted and they likely won’t make their way into Heaven unless they have a Heart overhaul. They’ve allowed the cold to set in and they’re no longer Celebrating the Son with PASSION AND RECKLESS LOVE the way they did in the beginning. I pray for REVIVAL for the ones who are no longer Celebrating the Son along with all those who have yet to HEAR, because their Destiny will likely be the same. As long as there is breath in my body I’ll be Celebrating the Son and nothing about me will BLEND IN with the rest because of it. I want EVERYBODY to have what I have before it’s too late for them – so I’ll be BOLDLY Celebrating in and OUT of the church all the days of my Life. God forbid that He would ever look at me and see me as “neither hot nor cold” – a place so vile that He would be inclined to “spit” me out of His mouth.

How about you?

Are You Absolutely Sure?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s too cold to spend my mornings on the front porch these days, but not too cold to step outside to see how God has Painted this new day. As I sat in the Presence of the Most High God I thanked Him for all things new…a new sunrise…a new day…a new opportunity to Serve and a New Word for such a time as this – it was a long list of New Things. But along with those New Things I thanked Him for in my own life, I thanked Him for the New that several of my friends are a part of today – friends that have drawn their last breath here on earth but are now in the New of Eternity. The sting of death isn’t easy for family and friends to endure, that’s for sure. But behind the tears of mourning, there is a Heavenly Celebration of the New Life for those who Know and Love Jesus Christ. Without the Promise of a New Beginning, life would be meaningless for us all and the sting of death would be unbearable. But with Jesus Christ, the Future is New, Bright, and Beautiful forever and ever, for those who Believe! Isn’t that the way you look at death too?

Mourning is a natural process and it can’t be rushed along. Parting from a loved one is excruciatingly painful and the emptiness they leave behind is felt forever. There is no right or wrong way to mourn. In the days of Moses, the Israelites had a 30-day mourning period. In the Jewish culture, loved ones are buried the same day they die – in Bible times there was a 7-day mourning ritual that sometimes included “mourning musicians” to help in the process and a tearing of their clothes to express their agony. Back in the day, widows were required to wear black for two years as a sign of respect for their dead husband and to let the world know she was off-limits until the time of mourning had ended. Some funeral homes employ a nurse to be present during a funeral service to assist the emotional loved ones with medical attention for their hysterical reaction to death. But no matter what the mourning process looks like or what kind of “rituals” people practice, it doesn’t matter how long it takes the human Heart to heal, there is a Celebration in Heaven for those who Know and Love Jesus Christ that NO AMOUNT OF EARTHLY MOURNING CAN DIM. Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

We often hear “May they rest in peace” and see R.I.P. on almost every headstone in the graveyard, but not everybody will rest in peace One Day. Eternity is waiting for each of us, and it won’t be a dormant, “peaceful,” lifeless, forever resting place the way some people like to believe. For those who Trust in Jesus, the Bible says “No eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him”. I celebrate for my friends and loved ones who now see and hear what they longed for in this life. For all the others who don’t Trust in Jesus, the future isn’t bright, and they’ll be gnashing their teeth in torment for eternity. Now that’s something to mourn! For those who don’t (or won’t) place their Trust in Jesus, then this life is as good as it gets for them. But for all the rest of us, death of the body is just the Beginning – you see, our Victory only comes through death where we’ll finally be ushered into the arms of our Savior. Even Jesus (temporarily) struggled with death – just the idea of being beaten and crucified caused Him to sweat blood. But it was His Father’s Will for Jesus to die, and it’s His will for all the rest of us to die one day too! His death (and Resurrection) was the only way to achieve God’s Redemption Plan! Death is not a curse…at least not for those who Believe…it’s where we’ll step into Eternity with no more sadness, sickness, pain or tears Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

The stakes are high and the Results everlasting which is what keeps Christians like me busy sharing the Truth that has the Potential to save the world. I don’t want even one person to die without knowing the Truth, so as long as there is breath in my body I’ll do whatever it takes to share it with the world! The ones to die without Trusting Jesus…now THAT’S something to mourn about – the others we Celebrate! There are no words for how blessed I am to Know that everyone in my family and my closest friends who have already gone before me Trusted in Jesus Christ, and I KNOW that they instantly entered into a Heavenly Celebration that will last forever! What joy and peace I have! Will I cry? Of course. Will I miss them? Absolutely! But you won’t find me wishing they were still here no matter how much it hurts on this side of Life. The day that they lived for is finally here and THAT’S something to celebrate through the pain!

Do you Know and Trust Jesus?

Are you absolutely sure of what Eternity will look like for you OR are you hoping just to “rest in peace forever”?

If you have doubts, I’m here to help. Don’t let even another minute pass until you find the Peace that leads to Victory.

Will You Continue To Waste Time?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was far too cold for me to linger on the front porch this morning but I have a great view from inside too so I savored the view in a warm house with a hot cup of coffee. This morning the moon was still visible as the sun was coming up and all I had to do was turn my head from one direction to the other to take in the beauty of both. One a sign of a new day, and the other a sign of the end of the night….neither of them ever sleeps. It isn’t possible to see them both at the same time – at least not with the human eye. It takes effort to look at what’s ahead and it takes effort to look at what’s behind…and it always comes down to choice. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is promised to no one so it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to spend too much time focused on either one of them. It always comes down to choice. Today I choose NOT to obsess over the future or to dwell on the past…today I’ll be Living for today. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

Human beings are, by far, the biggest “wasters” of all God’s Creation. We waste money. We waste food. We waste water. We waste energy. We waste love. The list could go on and on forever of all the things we waste. But the most significant things we waste come down to time and opportunity. We waste time because we’ve convinced ourselves that there is no end to the time we have. We waste opportunities because we’ve convinced ourselves that there will always be another chance. Instead of valuing this new day as if it is the ONLY one we have, we waste time and opportunity because we’re too busy dreaming about the future or dwelling on the past. IMAGINE what would the world look like if everybody lived for today! There would be a roar that could be heard all around the globe as people simultaneously said things like “I love you” – “Forgive me” or “Do you know Jesus?”. It would be the most amazing sound on this side of Heaven! Instead, we waste our days and nights because we’re so convinced there will be plenty of time and opportunity later. But, what if there isn’t?

If today is our last one and we fail to say “I love you” or “Forgive me” it won’t be the end of the world. The ones we needed to say those things to probably already know we loved them and once we pass away most of the time they forgive us. But what happens when we waste Time and Opportunity to share the Good News…the one thing that matters more than all the rest and the one thing that lasts long after the world ends. What if YOU were the one God was calling upon to Share the Good News with a lost person BUT you ignored that Golden Opportunity because you were too busy lying to yourself that there is always another time or a 2nd chance? We don’t have to pay the price for our wrongs – Jesus died to pay the price instead. We won’t be “judged” for all the bad things we did because His blood covers them all. But how will it feel when we face our Maker only to have Him show us ALL the time and opportunities we wasted – ALL those times we could have (and should have) shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost person…but we put it off instead… because we were too busy dreaming about tomorrow or dwelling on the past.

I saw the sun and the moon in the sky this morning for just a few minutes before yesterday was completely gone and today showed up. I’ve chosen to LIVE today and won’t be wasting time or opportunity, that’s for sure. God forgive me if I ever overlook a suffering soul…if I ever make excuses for why I don’t love them enough to share the Gospel before it’s too late…if I lose my footing and get stuck dreaming about tomorrow or obsessing over the past when He has a Master Plan for my Life and today is all I have.

How about you?

The Honor Deserved…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s Veterans Day and I spent a little more time than usual this morning praying for those special people who have sacrificed so much to serve me and my country. It’s the kind of sacrifice that I can’t begin to fathom and the kind of sacrifice that often goes unnoticed…except for once or twice a year, that is. Sometimes I think about the Biggest Sacrifice EVER made for you and for me and when I do, I realize that if most of the world doesn’t accept or appreciate THAT Sacrifice either so how will they appreciate the sacrifice of time and life that our servicemen and women (and their families) give selflessly each and every day?

I gladly gave up my own life to raise my family and I’d be willing to die for any one of them today. I’d give up my life for my God too should I ever be asked to deny Him. But the thought of people being willing to give up their lives for people they don’t know…wow! That thought overwhelms me every time I think about it. These days it must be difficult to make so many sacrifices for a country that hasn’t been showing them the respect they deserve. It must have been difficult to be threatened with being removed from service because of choices they make for their health as they watched “freedom” quickly become a thing of the past…beginning with them. God bless them for still being willing to serve the greatest nation in the world even when they’ve watched it transform right before their very eyes to an unrecognizable world. If there’s ever been a time we need them, it’s now.

Not everyone who serves in our military is faced with the sacrifice of life (thank God) but they’re willing to if they have to…and they ALL make huge sacrifices for you and me every day. In their fight for our freedom, they surrender their own. They’re told when to show up, when to suit up, and when to shut up. They’re told what to wear and when to wear it and they know that what they wear better be perfect at all times. They are people of discipline and people of excellence and it shows. They’re told where to live and how long to live there. They’re told what to say and when to say it and to never question authority. They’re told what job they’ll be doing and they’re taught how to do it, and if they don’t particularly like what they do, they do it anyway without complaining instead of looking for a new job like you and me.

Most of our young enlisted men and women could easily make more money working at a retail store full-time than they do serving our country 24/7. They’re told when they’ll have a day off and IF they’ll have a holiday off, and many of our servicemen and women spend the holidays alone more often than we care to think about. Despite all of the sacrifices they make for you and for me, they PROUDLY serve America even when we don’t tell them or show them how much we appreciate the sacrifices they make for us. That’s what true heroes look like to me!

My husband proudly served in the US Marine Corps, my father served in the United States Navy during WWII, my youngest son served in the United States Air Force to do his part in this War on Terror, and my son-in-law still proudly serves in the United States Air Force today. I’m not just thankful for their service, I’m humbled by all of the sacrifices made by them (and their families) day after day for you and for me. I’m thankful for EVERY Veteran…those I know and love and those I’ll never meet! I don’t just thank them on Veterans Day and I don’t just pray for them on special days either. Every single one of them has my heart, my support, my gratitude, and my prayers and they always will.

How about you?

Thank you, Veterans!!!! May God bless you and your families and may God richly bless the United States of America.

All I Can See Is The Cross…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I met with the Author and Perfector of my Faith to Nourish my soul for the day, it felt more like Spring than late Fall. I took in every ounce of the beauty around me as if I could store it all up to sustain me through the Winter…but it doesn’t work that way. I kept turning my face toward the sun to absorb all that I could before the winter as if I could bank it for another time…but it doesn’t work that way. When I opened my eyes to look at the sun that felt so good on my face, all I could see was a cross. I couldn’t snap a photo fast enough as if I was at risk of “losing” it if the clouds changed…but it doesn’t work that way. The reflection in the sky will come and go but the one Constant I can count on is the Cross, and it’s what the Cross represents that keeps me going day after day. Isn’t that the way you look at the Cross too?

When you consider how we cling to things in this life that we know will disappear one day, it’s a little bizarre. As much as I wanted to bank the warmth this morning, it’s not possible to hold onto it, and as spectacular as the image of the sun was, it was here one minute and gone the next. In Ecclesiastes, it says, “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” The key is “under the sun”. Soloman didn’t mean that these things lack value, what he meant is that there is no everlasting value outside of God. All human efforts apart from God are meaningless and just chasing after the wind. My kids have grown to be strong and beautiful and I savored the entire journey. I have every experience embedded in my heart and I rewind the tape often. But of all the beautiful experiences, within all of the beautiful memories, the true significance of that season of my Life was to raise up a godly generation. Everything else was fun and fulfilling and the greatest honor I’ve ever had…but “meaningless” compared to the Eternal significance of my Temporary Role.

Some people think I’m too intense because my Focus is almost always on the Cross. They think I need to “chill out” and that I need to “have more fun” because “life is short.” Oh…if they could only see inside my Heart they’d see how Joy overflows and how I’m having the time of my Life doing the Work of the King. I’ve got the Cross front and center and I’m running the race of my Life! I’m focused on Eternal things more than anything and I pay far more attention to the condition of the Heart than I do the condition of the weather. I can “see” Glory just up ahead and my life is just a “vapor” here on earth. The time is short for me to complete my Purpose before He calls me Home. I’m no expert, but I believe my Time in Eternity will outshine any “fun” activity the world has ever seen and I’m hoping to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” when the King of all kings calls me Home. If I want to hear these Words from the One who died for me, then I need to be sure that I’m Living for Him…and that takes laser Focus on the Cross.

Paul said it best: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. From now on there is laid up 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 to all who crave His appearing”

How about you?

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow…Do You?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was too cold to spend much time outside on the porch at daybreak, but what I could see from my kitchen window was enough to stir my Soul. As I stood there watching the sky, I didn’t even notice the break in the clouds for the longest time. All I could see was color so beautiful that I didn’t want to take my eyes off it long enough to look at anything else. It’s Election Day in America and it makes me sad to see the majority of (professed) Christians a whole lot more focused on the break than they are on the Beauty and I fear for them because of it. There will never be another day like this one, that much I know for sure – not another sunrise or sunset and certainly not an Election. But no matter what the results look like at the end of this Election day, America will remain divided UNLESS (and by some miracle) God’s people begin to focus MORE on the Beauty than the break. Our Instructions from the One who still sits on the Throne is to turn our eyes upon HIM and not on this mess of a world. It’s only when we do that we can Focus on (and Celebrate) the Beauty and not the break. Isn’t it just like my God to use a magnificent sunrise to drive a Message to my Heart today. I’m listening. Are you?

I Serve a God that can calm a storm at the sound of His voice. I Serve a God who can part the sea to save millions of His people and who can rain down manna from Heaven to feed them. I Serve a God who plants the seed of life inside a mother’s womb and I serve a God who can raise the dead on Command. I Serve a God who can still heal the sick and raise the dead. I Serve a God who set the Plans for the day we were born and the day we will die and every day in between. I Serve a God who sent His one and only son to die for me so that I might have Hope and a Future. I Serve a God who gives AND takes away. I Serve a God who has GIVEN authority to good kings AND bad kings and I serve a God who sends calamity when His children get too out of line. I Serve a God who is already in tomorrow and the Election results were already made known to Him before the foundations of the earth. I Serve a God who will stop at absolutely nothing to turn His people away from the break and back to the Beauty because He loves us. My God can do anything. But even though my God is able, far too many (professed) Christians who claim to be His people are focused on the break a whole lot more than the Beauty. What kind of results can they expect?

I’m no expert, but I believe that God LOVES it when His children surrender it all to Him….from life to family to country…and yes, even to Election results. I believe it pleases my God when we choose to hide in the “shadow of His wings” and when we Trust Him with the outcome of an Election no matter what the outcome looks like. I believe it pleases my God when we confess that we have no strength of our own (only His to sustain us) and when we Acknowledge that “there is no good thing apart from Him”. I believe it pleases my God when we’re Bold and Courageous in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ and when we care MUCH more about lost Souls than we do about lost Elections. To some, that might sound impossible based on the state of the Nation we claim to love – to others still making noise and shaking their fists, the fact that I lay it all down at the foot of the Cross and I trust Him with the results is “lame”. Many have tried and failed to entice me to focus more on the break than the Beauty but that’s never going to happen. I Know that with God all things are possible and that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”. I know that my God can use anything and anybody to bring Glory to Himself and I know that I don’t have the power to change what God has already ordained AND I have the “peace that surpasses all understanding” because of it. Unless God’s people STOP focusing on the break and START focusing on the Beauty there is no hope for America because God will not be mocked.

I don’t know who the future President of the United States will be when I wake up tomorrow but I DO KNOW Who will always be King and I DO KNOW that He has the future in the palm of His Hands. He already Knows the Election results because He “certified” them before the foundations of the earth. My God already Knows the Plans He has for His Children and, although He promises to be our Provider and our Protector, He never promised Easy Street. There is no way to Welcome in the Future we’re promised without experiencing the perilous times the Bible warns us about. No matter what – no matter how good or bad – no matter how difficult – no matter left or right, male or female, conservative or liberal, you will find me focusing on the Beauty as I watch my God unfold the breaks to draw His people closer to Him again. It’s all for His Purpose and His Glory, America. Once you get that part right, you’ll have the “peace that surpasses all understanding” for such a time as this too!

God bless America.

1 I don’t know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow from its sunshine,

For its skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry o’er the future,

For I know what Jesus said,

And today I’ll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,

I don’t seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter,

As the golden stairs I climb;

Every burden’s getting lighter;

Every cloud is silver-lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eye,

At the end of the rainbow,

Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don’t know about tomorrow,

It may bring me poverty;

But the one who feeds the sparrow,

Is the one who stands by me.

And the path that be my portion,

Maybe through the flame or flood,

But His presence goes before me,

And I’m covered with His blood.

There’s No Other Way…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The beauty of the Fall in Virginia defies words and it’s my favorite season, for sure. It’s almost as if God uses colors to lift my spirits to tide me over before everything becomes brown and bare for the Winter. I met with the Auther and Perfecter of my Faith this morning with an agenda of my own, and I flipped through the pages of my Instruction Manual looking for direction. But my agenda was not His Agenda, and in no time at all, He changed the Course of our Time. His Agenda opened my eyes. His Agenda penetrated my Heart. His Agenda revealed much more than I was looking for. His Agenda brought me to tears and His Agenda restored my soul. Even though I sometimes go before His Throne with an agenda of my own, as long as I’m just willing to meet with Him, He will bring His Agenda into focus every time. Isn’t that the way it works for you too?

As a Child of the Living God, I know that my life is not my own… and that’s okay with me. He has an Agenda for my Life and my agenda will always take the backseat to His. As a child of the Living God, I know that He knit me together in my mother’s womb and that He continues to breathe life into my body for His Purpose and not merely for my pleasure. As a child of the Living God, I know that I have the ability to bring Him pleasure too IF I’m doing what He Created me to do to fulfill the Purpose of my Life – but my existence without obedience can’t bring Him pleasure at all. Just the thought that I can bring pleasure to the One who died for me, the One who gave me Life, the One who Created the heavens and the earth and everything in between, brings Joy to my life that I would NEVER know if my Life belonged to me. You might have trouble considering what it would be like for you to live a Life that’s not your own and to trade your agenda for His, but it’s a beautiful thing to be living out the Purpose of your Life and it’s the most fulfilling of all.,

As a child of the Living God my past, my present, and my Future are not my own either and they are intended to be an open book for all the world to see. Each time something amazing comes my way it’s a chance to give Him praise for His Goodness and His Faithfulness and His Provisions for all the world to see. For those times that I stumbled and I fell and I managed to make a huge mess out of my life, it’s a chance to give Him Praise, NOT ONLY for seeing me through but for giving me a stronger Testimony of the Power of my God and a tenderized heart willing to share with the world about His Greatness and His Forgiveness through it all. My pain and my trials have Prepared me to tell others about how I’ve “been there and done that” and how He has used each transgression to transform me into a better version of me…a stronger Vessel for Him…ready, willing, and ABLE to Serve. My Future belongs to Him from this life and all the way to Forever. I know what Plans He has for me and I know that in my Future, there will be no more pain, tears, sickness, death, heartbreak, or anything that causes me to suffer here on this earth…and the best part is that I’ll be with Him for Eternity. Now THAT’s a Future to look forward to! With the Promise of a Future like that, how could I NOT Share it with the world?

Each piece of my past, my present and my Future has a tremendous Purpose in His Plans and only I can fulfill them. I know how special I am to the Living God…He sent His one and only Son to die for me…He Created me for His Purpose…He provides for all of my needs…He’s my Father…my God..my Savior and my King. He’s turned up the heat in my life more times than I care to count to REFINE ME into something Precious…His Treasure…His Vessel…His Child…more precious than gold to Him AND one so eager to Serve because of it. No, my Life is not my own and I wouldn’t have it any other way! My past, my present, AND MY FUTURE all belong to Him and they are an open book to share with the world…they are ALL part of my Purpose for living…and they are all Preparing me for my Forever.

How about you?

Are You Settling?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was warm enough on this first day of November to spend time outside so I settled into my favorite seat on the porch to meet with Jesus before the sun came up. It won’t be long before settling in outside isn’t an option so I’m savoring every minute I can before Winter sets in. At first, I sat there in the dark and I prayed. Then I read His Word and I contemplated my Purpose, but I wasn’t feeling anything in my Soul at all! I could have given up but didn’t. Instead, I turned my Eyes toward the eastern sky where I know He’ll be coming back for me One Day and I watched as He unfolded this New Day. Just looking at His Magnificence in the morning sky, and thinking about how His Beauty will surpass what I see with my eyes this morning, SET MY SOUL ON FIRE, and before you know it, I was weeping with Joy and Overwhelmed by my God all over again. I could easily have “done my time” this morning while chalking it up to “just one of those days” but that wasn’t good enough for me. I sought Him out the way He Sought me out years ago and I wasn’t giving up until my Spirit was filled with Him on this new day. Isn’t that the way you determine to spend your Time in His Presence too?

It’s amazing how people are inclined to “settle” in this life, but they lose out on genuine Joy when they do. They’ll “settle” for allowing their relationships to go stale while never looking for more as if not being alone is the only thing that matters – and when they do… there’s a train wreck around the corner just waiting to happen. They’ll “settle” for 3 square meals and an iPad for their kids as if that defines a family, and before you know it there’s a train wreck around the corner just waiting to happen there too. They’ll settle for bland (and meaningless) time with the Living God and they’ll check it off their list as if it’s a duty they fulfilled instead of a missed Opportunity to feel the Presence of a Mighty and Merciful God. Living a fulfilled life in all these areas takes determination and a Commitment to Excellence…every single day. It takes Persistence and Perseverance and a whole lot of Love. Sometimes I wonder if it’s even possible for people to understand what kind of Relationship with the Living God is possible for them as long as they’re willing to settle for less in every other area of life. When we’re okay with the status quo in Life not only do we miss out on an Extraordinary Journey with the Living God, but we’re already dead…we just haven’t been buried yet.

I’ve learned to be content in this life (not easy to understand because of my journey) but contentment should never be confused with a willingness to “settle.” The Apostle Paul said ” I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul learned to be content no matter his circumstances but he NEVER settled and he NEVER gave up. He never quit Striving for More. He never quit Trusting. He never stopped Seeking the face of his Savior. He never got in a rut and he never threw in the towel. He never lost His excitement for the Living God. He never “settled.” Instead, He determined to be Persistent and to Persevere and to make the most out of His Journey while He had time to Serve the One who Sought Him and Bought Him too. There is Joy beyond measure when we determine to Live that way too. Never “settling”…not with our Relationship with the King of Kings or anybody else in our lives.

I began this new day with a beautiful view and a numb Heart, but I’m Energized and Ready for this New Day now, and I’m overwhelmed with Love – all because I refused to settle for anything less than Excellence with the Love of my Life. I’m not settling for less in ANY area of my Life and I’ll never be content with following in the footsteps of all the others who are already dead but not buried.

He’s worth it…I’m worth it…every relationship I have is worth it…the Journey is worth it…Life is worth it and Love is worth it.

How about you?

Peace Isn’t Stolen…It’s Surrendered Instead

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. By the time God turned the Lights on this morning, the fog was beginning to lift and I watched it slowly make its way over the mountain. There’s something peaceful about fog to me…the way it lingers…the way it slowly reveals what it was “hiding”. I give thanks for many things when I meet with the Living God – morning or night – foggy or clear – but one of the most prevailing Requests I put before His Throne, and one that I boldly Proclaim for my life, is Peace. When I have Peace everything seems to flow easily. When I have Peace I can handle it all. Having Peace doesn’t mean that everything is smooth sailing around me, and my Peace doesn’t come without effort. I WORK hard to guard my Peace day after day and year after year and I refuse to allow it to be stolen from me by anyone or anything. Maintaining my own personal peace is necessary for my joy and contentment but it’s more than that. I Know that if I can be a Reflection of Peace amid a world in absolute turmoil, then I can be a living, breathing example of my Faith for all the world to see. Without it, I’m a poor Witness of the God of the “Peace that surpasses all understanding.” Peace is non-negotiable to me. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

We can see the Spiritual War being played out right before our very eyes in Living Color and it would be so easy to surrender my Peace and get sucked into the battle if I didn’t know how to Guard what belongs to me (as the Bible defines it). The Bible tells me not to worry…no matter what. The Bible tells me that I’m protected by the King of all kings and that I don’t have to battle on my own so I don’t worry about the “boogie man” coming to my door to cause harm. The Bible tells me that the “righteous will never go hungry” so I don’t worry about a day when there is no food (or toilet paper). The Bible tells me to take His hand and to lean on Him so why would I try to maneuver through the land mines on my own? The Bible tells me that there will be “wars and rumors of wars” so I’m not surprised to see what I see around the world today. The Bible tells me that there will be “scoffers” in the end, so I’m not surprised to be hated for boldly speaking up about my Savior. The Key to Peace in a world at war is to Know the promises of God and to cling to the only Truth we really have. We don’t “lose” our Peace…we surrender it instead.

We live in a hate-filled world that refuses to live in peace because the battle we see cannot be rationalized or negotiated – it is the battle between Good and evil. Sadly many are being deceived just like the Bible says they will so they don’t recognize it for what it is. It boggles my mind to see professed Christians jumping into the fight and being so willing to roll around in the mud with the best of the Evil ones as if their voice can make the difference in the battle between Good and evil. But what they’ve been convinced is the “right thing” to do, the Devil finds very pleasing because immature Christians are so easily manipulated to participate in his agenda. There’s nothing like being blind to the enemy and falling right into his hands. Evil is fighting so hard to instill fear and to rob us of peace…and evil is winning plenty of battles because the weaker ones don’t know how to Fight and they are surrendering their peace at will. It’s not possible to lose Peace UNLESS we surrender it on our own b because we CANNOT be robbed of the promises God has made to each who Belongs to Him…period.

The Peace around this old farm is so thick it’s almost tangible, but it isn’t that way by chance – or because of the beautiful view or the character of the front porch – or because I’m “lucky”. Peace can be felt by everyone at the farm because I GUARD MY PEACE and the spiritual realm knows I can’t be robbed! I Proclaim my Peace to the Prince of Peace every single day, and I refuse to surrender it to the Devil. It always comes down to choice. If you start talking defeat in my presence I’ll correct you every time because I won’t let you surrender your own peace in my presence if there is anything I can do to stop it. But if you refuse to stop talking against the Victory we have in Jesus, it won’t be long before we part company because I know that if I entertain conversation that goes against Good then I’ll be vulnerable to all the ways of the wicked one too. I’m an Expert Peace Guarder!

I Serve the Prince of Peace and it shows. Peace is the Source of the Brightest Light of my Faith and the fact that I Reflect it in a dark work is the greatest Witness to the One I serve. In a land that is in turmoil and a future unknown, I guard my Peace like the Warrior I am, and my Peace can be seen AND felt all around me because of it.

How about you?