Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s one of those cool, late-summer mornings, and the Fall is beginning to show itself in the sky, and this morning it featured a cross. I took my time in the presence of the One Who died for me, and I’m savoring every single bit of this New Day from the inside out. What I feel on the Inside sometimes makes its way outside, and I’ve been known to SHOUT “Glory!” or “Jesus!” as if the Love for my Savior is being released so that my Heart won’t burst. I’m EXCITED about my God and what He’s doing, and it shows in how I Live, how I Love, how I pray, and how I “shout”. Long ago, I heard about how shouts from the stadium hosting the World Cup in Brazil were so intense that they measured 6 on the Richter scale from miles away. Can you imagine there being so much excitement over a soccer game that the earth shook? When I heard that, I began to imagine what it would be like if the Church got so excited about the imminent return of Jesus Christ that it tipped the Richter scale all over the world. THE MOST exciting “play” of all time is getting closer by the day, and the mere thought of that Day inspires me to make a little noise of my own. Today is just another day to most of the world, but not to me. This Day is getting my undivided attention like all the ones before it because I know that One Day soon I’ll look up to see the Son of God, and He’ll be looking for me! Isn’t that the way you consider the Day that draws near, too?

It’s pretty amazing to live in a time when things like hurricanes or a solar eclipse can be predicted and all the whole world can be put on notice of their coming long before they take place. With a hurricane, we’re told where we can take shelter, and with a solar eclipse, we’re told to use protective eyewear because the eyes couldn’t endure what it sees without them. The time of arrival for a hurricane or solar eclipse can be narrowed down with precision, and there’s no question about what time of day these things will happen. The news channels buzz for weeks beforehand, and the virtual highway gets loaded up with photos, predictions, and fear-mongering. People stock up on food and water and double-check generators before a hurricane, and some people have block parties to witness a solar eclipse. The “wows” over something like a solar eclipse on a clear night can be heard from one corner of the world to the next by way of the virtual highway, and in some places, maybe the excitement even tips the Richter scale. It’s amazing to see the human reaction to the Hand of God, even when it doesn’t acknowledge who He is at all. But One Day, He will show up out of “nowhere” in the blink of an eye, and despite all the warnings to Prepare for that Day, many people will be caught off guard, unprepared, and left “in the dust” all the same. Warning them to Prepare is what keeps people like me Busy in the Journey of Faith. Like a watchman on a hill, I KNOW what’s coming, and because we don’t know the day or the hour, being Prepared every minute of every day will be the Key to Victory.

One day, in the not-so-distant future, it won’t just be nature rattled by the changes it sees in the sky; the entire world will be too when the Son of God shows up without any warning at all. No meteorologist or astronomer will be able to predict the day or the hour, and the world will not be put on notice by the local news. No priest, pastor, or one who claims to know the future will be able to predict the time of His coming – even the Son of God doesn’t know that – He’ll just show up without warning at all. The Son of God won’t be showing up to entertain the world with His Presence, and no special eyewear will shield the world from Him OR help them see Him more clearly. The world will be watching when He shows up to gather His people, and in the blink of an eye, people like me will cease to exist on this earth at all. At that very moment, there will be planes without pilots, cars without drivers, classrooms without teachers, and families without loved ones. No amount of shouting and screaming that takes place when a good play is made in a sports arena can hold a candle to what the world will sound like when the Son of God shows up to gather His Own. Like a father ringing the dinner bell to call his children home, the Son of God will sound a Trumpet that will make the Richter scale feel like child’s play to call His Children Home to be with Him forever, and no amount of doubting in the world will change the fact that this Day will come without warning. All the doubters and all the mockers will have something in common eventually…every single one of them will bow to their knees in His presence and declare that He is Lord one day.

I’ll be ready when the greatest “solar” miracle in the history of the world takes place, and I’ll be looking toward the Heavens in anticipation of the Son of God coming back for ME. We may not know the day or the hour of His coming, but we’ve been told about a few things that needed to happen before He’s ready to come back, and they’ve all taken place at record speed. I’m Excited about His Coming because I’m Ready. Sadly, lots of people won’t be so excited when they realize that they missed out on Preparing for the Day, and it will be too late for them to be a part of that Miracle. I’m ready and waiting…how about you? Will you be prepared to see the Son of God with no warning at all? If you’re not sure, reach out to me. I’m happy to introduce you to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I’ll help you find your way to the Truth that will set you Free and lead you Home. Before you know it, you’ll be a lot more excited about the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ than you ever could be over something like a soccer game or a solar eclipse, and you’ll be doing your Part to tip the Richter scale right along with other people like me!

Are you ready?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I met with the One who died for me, I asked Him for Wisdom for a few areas of my Life that would be impossible to successfully Navigate without it, and I am confident He’ll Provide it because His Word says all I ever need to do is ask Him. I seek His Face for everything in this Journey of Life! I seek His Will above my own every day! I see the Work of His Hand everywhere! I’m pretty sure that most people see only a picture of the fog in this image…but when I look at it, I imagine what seeing the Shikinah Glory of God will be like one day. I look for the Most High God with great anticipation in everything, and I see Him doing “Great and Mighty things”…not because I’m special…but because I seek His face. By the time I finished Praising the Author and Perfector of my Faith this morning, He had already begun to answer my prayer for Wisdom – so I’ll be putting into Action what was only on my Heart before God took Control. My life is forever overflowing with things to do, and if I’m not careful, I could find myself attempting to lead instead of being Willing to Follow. So, no matter what’s on my plate for this new day or how busy I know I’ll be, my first Priority is always getting ME prepared to do my Part ONLY according to His Will and not my own. Isn’t that the way you Prioritize your busy Life, too?

Most people professing to be Christians today THINK they’re followers of Jesus, but I’m not so sure about that. I’m not questioning their belief system…I HAVE NO RIGHT to judge the condition of the Heart at all. But believing in Christ is one thing, being a Follower of His is an entirely different story. It’s painfully obvious that while many professed Christians have convinced themselves that they are following Him, what they’re really doing is expecting Him to follow them. They call Him Savior, but do they revere Him as King? Are they working out their salvation “with fear and trembling,” or are they living on Easy Street without a care in the world? Do they ever really Surrender to His Will, or are they too busy holding onto their own? Are they really ready to follow His lead, or do they refuse to “let go and let God? Are they ready to obey like a good Servant, no matter what they’re told to do or where they’re told to go? Hmm…that’s a new perspective for most, but THAT’S what a surrendered Life looks like and what it means to be a Follower of the King. It’s ONLY when we Focus on the Light of our Savior that everything else dims in comparison, and Following Him becomes our greatest Joy, no matter where He leads us.

It’s human nature to want to take on the Leadership role in our Faith, and most of us feel better about life when we remind ourselves that He is always “out there” somewhere. Some of us will drag Him around through life like our favorite toy, and we brag about not going anywhere without Him. We want Jesus right there beside (or behind) us, ready to Serve our Purpose or to fulfill our will when we call. Sometimes we talk a pretty good game about our God, but when it comes down to it, are we truly allowing Him to Lead us, OR are we expecting Him to follow us so that He can take care of all of the needs in our lives while He’s at it? Jesus painted a very clear picture of what our lives “look” like if we are Willing to Follow Him. We feed His sheep – we Serve the needy – we Hunger to share the Truth – we mourn over lost people – we lay down our own lives so that we can Live for Him. It takes keeping the Light of the world blazing in our Hearts to be a Follower day in and day out. This is the Key to Joy, Purpose AND to Peace.

It’s pretty risky to ask God to “use” you because when you do, He’ll start preparing you, and you just never know what He’ll ask you to do or where He’ll tell you to go! Sometimes when He directs us to do something, it makes perfect sense in the human mind, and sometimes it doesn’t make sense at all from where we sit. If we try to take the Lead in our Faith, we’ll NEVER do those things that make no sense to us. We might start praying about it, and some will say, “I know what God wants me to do, but I’m waiting for Him to work things out” – but then they sit around and wait for things to make sense before they’re willing to do what they’re already confident “God wants them” to do? These folks aren’t really willing to Follow at all. At least not unless it makes perfect sense in their mind and unless God provides ALL the pieces and removes ALL of the guesswork to allay their fears first…the real reason behind why they won’t budge…they don’t Trust Him to Lead. In reality, we can’t just pray as if things depend on God before we take action….we have to WORK as if it depends on us! It’s when we Follow His Lead AND work with all of our Strength that amazing things happen in His name!

I’m a Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and I’m a Faithful Follower too. Sometimes fear and doubt creep in when I’m weak, just like everybody else, BUT IF I determine for the Light of my Life to be my Main Focus each day, everything else will dim in comparison. As long as I look for the Shekinah Glory with Great Anticpation, I can’t go wrong! I don’t want to find myself trying to live in MY Will…I want to remain in His Will all the days of my life instead. I’m determined to be a Faithful Follower of His, and I’ll let Him do the Leading because when HE Leads, miraculous things happen every single time, and when I lead, I stumble and fall.

How about you?

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” Matthew 16:24-25

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God with a cup of coffee in hand and a Heart willing to learn. I don’t have frills or formality when it comes to meeting with my God, because I’m His student and He’s my Teacher and He loves me just the way I am. I’ll never be old enough or smart enough to stop Searching for what God has for me or for ways that I can become more of what He Plans for me to be. Being a Light in a dark world and a Willing Vessel is one thing…to have the mind and the HEART OF A CHILD, excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up” is another. So, I meet with Him with Humility, and I Search His Word with no agenda of my own whatsoever EXCEPT to Hear what He has for me today. I do my best to stay on Course with the Plans for my Journey that were Set in motion before the foundations of the earth. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith, too?,

The world is overflowing with know-it-alls, but when it comes to God’s people, there’s no room for that! Some people have become Bible scholars, and they can point in the Direction of just the right Scripture without even thinking about it. They strive to know more than everybody else, and they’re ready to pounce on anyone who speaks a word they don’t agree with as if God has enlightened them a little more than the rest of the world. Debating the Word of God is their favorite (self-fulfilling) pastime. The Word of God is embedded in the hard drive of their mind, and they have instant recall at will. But if the Bible scholars aren’t careful, they’ll live Life like a walking encyclopedia, and the more they rely on their intellectual side, the farther they seem to get from that place of Humility. In that case, they’ll no longer have the Heart of a child – eager to learn and excited to spiritually grow up. Others seem to be stuck in Bible student mode, and they’re in every Bible study they can fit into a busy schedule. The Word of my God is highlighted and tabbed, and notes fill up all the empty spaces on the tattered pages. They have the Heart of a child, excited to learn and eager to grow up, but they so often remain in perpetual student mode, and they never take the step toward Application. For the perpetual Bible student, there’s always something else to learn BEFORE they believe they’re ready to “go forth and tell”. The interesting thing about living like a child is that not only are we eager and excited to learn all the days of our lives…we’re fearless too! We learn to Trust our Father to lead us in ways that no man is Qualified to lead and to Trust Him, especially when it doesn’t make sense.

It takes the Heart of a child to follow His Lead, even when we’re scared, and it takes the Heart of a child to find Humility. It takes the Heart of a child to be willing to Surrender and to be obedient to the Voice of God. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that there are consequences for our wrongs that can’t be negotiated or intellectually reasoned through. It takes the Heart of a child to understand that we don’t Know it all and that we never really will on this side of Heaven. It takes the Heart of a child to Believe that when the Father says something, it’s true…and it is never questioned. It takes the Heart of a child to live outside of fear so that we don’t just read about “how to ride a bike”, we actually get on the bike and ride – and if we fall here and there that’s okay too, because the falling here and there makes us better and Stronger as we master the art of “bike riding”. It takes the Heart of a child to cry and to admit that we’re Powerless on our own. It takes the Heart of a child to easily extend Forgiveness, and it takes the Heart of a child to Love unconditionally. It’s ONLY when we live and Love like a child that we can please our Heavenly Father…the Teacher, the Redeemer, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith…the ONLY ONE who Knows it all.

I’ve spent years in the Living Word of my Living God, and it shows. I understand that head knowledge doesn’t do me any Good unless I move it from my head to my Heart and apply it to every area of my life. I’m excited to learn and eager to spiritually “grow up.” I’ll strive to have (and to keep) the Heart of a child when it comes to my God, all the days of my Life, that He might be pleased with me.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day in this Journey called “Life”, and there couldn’t be a better way to welcome it in than in the Presence of a Mighty God. It’s here that I receive my Instructions, and it’s here that I Grow. It’s here that I count my Blessings, and it’s here that I receive my Marching Orders. Stepping into His presence each morning from this old farm isn’t my habit or my “routine”. It isn’t what I do because it’s what I’m supposed to be doing or because it’s a great view. It isn’t what I do out of a sense of obligation or legalism. It’s what I do out of LOVE FOR HIM. He’s my Father, and I’m His child, and there aren’t words to describe the Richness that consumes my Heart because of our Time together. I deeply miss my loved ones when we’re apart, that’s for sure, but nothing compares to how much I miss the Living God when I don’t have time with Him. Isn’t that what the Journey of Faith is like for you, too?

It’s easy to proclaim that “God is there” and to rest on that assurance in life as if speaking it is enough. He IS always there. He’s a part of everything we are. He’s omnipresent, and He’s omnipotent. He’s the Beginning and the End. But even though we acknowledge that “He is always there”, there is no comparison and no replacement for building a Relationship with Him by giving Him our Time and Attention. It’s in those quiet times that He shows His love in a more personal way, and it’s in those quiet times that He illuminates His Word. It’s in those quiet times that we hear His voice deep within the Soul and we feel His Promptings for our Direction. It’s in those quiet times that the Heart is humbled and the wrongs revealed, and it’s in those quiet times that we get them made right with Him. It’s in those quiet times that our wounds are healed, and it’s in those times that we learn to forgive. It’s in those quiet times that His Word moves from just being a “good book” to being the ONLY Book that can read us because it has Supernatural Life. It’s in those quiet times that we weep over the condition of our lives or we weep with Joy over our Purpose. It’s in those quiet times that we find our Humility, and it’s in those times that we’re reminded of His Might. It’s in those quiet times that we find our Peace and our Comfort and our Joy. When you consider all the Spiritual Benefits of “investing” Time with the Living God, how could we EVER fail to give Him what He wants from us?

It can be so easy for people to make excuses for why they “don’t have time” to spend with the Living God the way I do, but it’s not time they lack at all. What’s lacking is that kind of Rich Relationship that makes it almost too much to bear if we DON’T spend Quality Time with the Living God each day. Sadly, failure to put Time into Love can be seen in every area of life. Some people are either too busy (or too selfish) to spend quality time with their own children, and they’ll pay the price for it all One Day. Plenty of relationships fail because people refuse to spend the time that’s needed to nurture love day after day and year after year. Then there are some that seem to have found the most amazing balance – they are attentive to their mate and attentive to their children, and their lives appear to be a mirror image of Ozzie & Harriet…BUT they just can’t seem to find time to spend with the Living God while they work toward their version of perfection at home. They find time for the “fun” stuff like vacations and board games while overlooking THE MOST IMPORTANT “experience” like Time with the God of all Creation. Of course, when life gets a little rocky and things aren’t going well, or when tragedy strikes the family, they all come running to God to fix things. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny to think about how parents take offense when they’re taken for granted by their children, BUT they don’t hesitate to come running to the Great “I am” when they have a need. Why would the Living God be any different when it comes to showing Him Respect and Love by spending time with Him instead of just expecting Him to jump through a Heavenly hoop whenever He’s needed? Hmm…

I could travel far and wide to see all the wonders of the world, but my favorite place will always be on the front porch in the Presence of the Living God. Nothing and no one can top what my Heart feels with Him. I’m Comforted…I’m Strengthened…I’m Overwhelmed with Love and Gratitude…and my Excitement cannot be contained. I’ve been given a Good reminder of how Powerless I am without Him in the driver’s seat of my Life and how “there is no good thing” apart from Him. The most important Time I’ll ever spend in my life is with Him, and as long as I have my Priorities Right, every single area of my Life will be in harmony because of it. “Rise and Shine” takes on an entirely different meaning when we determine to keep Him at the top of the list of our “priorities” every day.

As for me, I’ll be rising and Shining all the days of my life until He calls me Home because I gave Him the first (and the best) of me.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I saw the Master wake up the world, and the beauty was so incredible that I couldn’t stop snapping pictures to capture the moment just for you. I prayed. I Reflected. I read from my Instruction Manual, and THEN I asked the God all Creation to Examine my Heart to see if there was anything that would hamper my Relationship with Him. We had a long talk about the condition of my Heart and the state of my Journey, and He showed me things that need to be made Right in my Heart. It takes HUMILITY to be willing to stand before God and ask Him to look inside your Heart to be sure it’s Beating in the Right Direction, and it isn’t always easy to hear when it’s not. It is amazing how easy it is to draw strength from the Living God when we confess our weaknesses and He sees our Humility. For me, it’s like CPR straight from Heaven, and I can almost feel my Soul coming back to Life as He nurtures me back into Fighting Condition. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

Pride keeps most Christians from growing because they see Humility as weakness, and they have been led to believe that “good” Christians shouldn’t have trials, and/or they definitely shouldn’t talk about it when they don’t have trials. The prideful ones try to convince others that they don’t get sad – they never cry for “no reason” – they certainly don’t ever want to throw in the towel. We experience all these things AND THEN SOME, but not all of us are Humble enough to admit it or Surrendered enough to turn to the Living God for help. Humility isn’t weakness, it’s strength!

Elijah was a powerful prophet of the Living God, and I never grow tired of reading about his victories AND his weaknesses. I may not be used by my God in the same way that He used Elijah, but He loves me just the same. When Elijah grew weary from his journey, he went off into the wilderness alone. He found a cool place to rest, and he asked God to take his life. He was too weary and weak to go on. He was hungry and thirsty, and he had no more strength for the journey. Sound familiar? But God heard his cry for mercy, just like He hears my cries for mercy when I lose my strength, too. Instead of reprimanding Elijah for his weakness, God had compassion upon him; so He sent Elijah a little help straight from Heaven to fill his practical needs to strengthen his body when Elijah was too distraught to do that for himself. What a beautiful picture of a loving God that can fill every need…both practical and spiritual… ESPECIALLY in our weakness.”

“All at once, an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God” I Kings 19:5-8.

I’m working through my own weakness and not too Prideful to admit it. My strength has been zapped through the Journey a time or two, and although the Living God didn’t need to send an angel from Heaven to offer me food and water, He always sends just the Right Word from my Instruction Manual to nourish me so that I might find my Strength all over again. He always sees my weaknesses, whether I confess them or not, and He always extends Mercy and has Compassion for me when I reach out to Him with Humility, and I confess that I’m feeling weary and weak for the Journey. I’m thanking God as I am reminded of His words again, “My Grace is sufficient for you – , My Power is made perfect in your weakness,” and I’m thanking Him for sending Heavenly CPR today.

How about you? Do you need a little Heavenly CPR sometimes OR are you too prideful to admit you need it?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The sky is gray, the air is thick, and the fog is so heavy you could almost cut it with a knife on this August day in Virginia. When the Living God brought the light over the farm this morning, the world lit up slowly and gently…and then it just stopped. It was like a Heavenly dimmer switch being raised to just the Right Place for the New Day. This new day doesn’t look anything like yesterday, and although the deer still graze, the birds still sing, and my day will have a familiar ring to it, absolutely nothing about this New Day will be like any other Day that has ever come before. This day came, and it will go…and once it is behind me, I won’t be able to change a single thing about it. For me, each new day is a New Day in Christ, filled with Opportunities to be a Part of Miraculous things in His name. Just knowing that this New Day will never be repeated again makes me savor it that much more. Isn’t that the way you face the New Day in your Journey of Faith, too?

It can be so easy to consider each New Day as if it’s “just another day” if we aren’t careful, and we lose Sight of the significance of every Day of Living when we do. We aren’t still here because God has forgotten to take us Home; we’re still here for His Purpose. We don’t exist on this earth just for the pleasures we find; we exist because He has a Plan for our Lives while we’re here. We don’t have breath coming and going from the body by some scientific phenomena; we’re still breathing because He’s not finished with us yet. Before He formed the foundations of the earth, He Planned for each of His Children, too, and each One of us has a Plan and a Purpose to fulfill as long as He has us here. It’s when we consider our Place that we find our Peace, and it’s when we consider our Purpose that we find our excitement and Joy no matter what’s going on (or not going on) in the world around us. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday; today is a New Day. It doesn’t matter if we squandered yesterday; today is a New Day. None of the wrongs we’ve committed follow us into this New Day…unless we choose not to Repent so that we can continue to carry them with us. None of the heartbreak we felt yesterday has a place in this New Day either…unless we can’t find our way to give it all to Him…yet. None of our encounters happen by chance, and none of those encounters should be overlooked. Every single thing has been Touched by the Master’s Hand, and every tiny little piece of Life has Significance to the One Who ordains each day of Life.

Sometimes people struggle with what their Purpose is, and they can’t find their way to the Meaning of Life because of it. The idea that each New Day is a day to Serve is foreign to them, but that’s just because they don’t understand the Meaning of Life or the significance of Sacrifice. The Miracle of this New Day could be a teachable moment with a child…a chance to Live out your Faith for them to see in Living Color. The Seeds we plant in the Lives of a child are opportunities to Serve that will have Everlasting Impact in ways we won’t see on this side of Heaven…each seed bringing them one step closer to the Living God. Each moment of compassion or kindness extended to the Lost doesn’t go unnoticed by the Living God, and each of those Moments is forever embedded in the hearts of the ones we Serve long after we serve them…bringing them one step closer to the Living God. Each time we extend Love to the “unlovable”… the ones nobody else wants to be bothered with because they’re dirty, or intoxicated, or difficult, is a Miracle in the Making, and each time we extend Christ-like Love, we bring them one step closer to the Living God. Each New Day brings countless opportunities to be a part of a Miracle, but the things we do and say can’t be threaded together for Miraculous things UNLESS we sprinkle the words and the actions with a Heavenly Message. Doing nice things is one thing; doing Nice Things in the Name of Jesus Christ is an entirely different story. Unless we Embrace the New Day with Purpose, and UNLESS we’re willing to mention His Name in all that we do, we’re just “nice” people doing nice things, and HE never gets the Glory for it all. This is the Key to Living a Christ-like Life filled with Miraculous Moments.

I’m not sure what this New Day will bring, but I DO know that the first Priority on my List was to get my Heart in alignment with the Author and Perfector of my Faith. I needed to Surrender control over some things I’ve fooled myself into believing I should or could fix. I needed to kick the one who comes to rob, kill, and destroy back to Hell where he belongs, AND I needed a Good Dose of the Word of God to Remind me that I’m Precious in His Eyes. After all that, NOW I’m Ready to Serve the King of all kings. Had I not been willing to pay attention to the Condition of my Heart…I’d be a worthless Vessel today, that’s for sure. Instead, I’m Refreshed – I’m Revived – AND I WILL BE VICTORIOUS. I am grateful for another day of living…not just because I’m enjoying my Life that absolutely overflows with Blessings…but because I Know that I have a Purpose to Fulfill that was put in Place by the Touch of the Master’s Hand before I was even born. I’m excited AND honored to be used by Him, and I refuse to close out this New Day having missed an opportunity to be part of something Miraculous in His Name…and I’ll never look at each New Day as “just another day” because of it.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s impossible for me NOT to smile when I watch the Master wake up the world day after day and year after year. No matter the Condition of my Heart when I first wake up, it doesn’t take long before I’m filled with an Attitude of Gratitude and overwhelmed with Joy from the front porch of this old farm. Sometimes I wonder what the world would look like if everybody sought His face first thing in the morning, and if every one of His Children understood the importance of sacrificing just for the Privilege of sitting in the Presence of the Most High God. As for me, I can almost hear the voice of my God saying, “Rise and shine, child!” and the thought of the Master wanting to meet with me makes getting up earlier than my body wants to a piece of cake. From where I sit, losing a little sleep is just a minor sacrifice for the honor to be in His Presence…a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the One who died for me. If the Author and Perfector of my Faith expects me to “rise and shine” all day long in the Name of Jesus Christ, then I need to be sure that I’m Ready! I am an Ambassador for the King of all kings, and every “sacrifice” I make in His Name is small in comparison to the Price He paid for me. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Faith, too?

To Rise and Shine in the wee hours of a new day is a choice that involves a minor schedule adjustment for most people. For me, it’s not always easy to get my body to cooperate with my Heart, but I know that if I need to “Rise and Shine” in the Mighty Name of Jesus all day long to fulfill my Purpose, then being Equipped is non-negotiable. So…I make the effort, and I allow Him to fill my Heart and Soul every morning, and I am confident that I will RISE AND SHINE all day long because I’ve been made Ready with the touch of the Master’s Hand. My Faith isn’t something that makes me feel good about my life; my Life has a Purpose, and that Purpose has nothing to do with me at all. My Faith isn’t what I do or say, my Faith is WHO I AM. Because I Believe in every word of His Word, I already know that I was Chosen before the foundations of the earth to fulfill a specific Purpose He Created ME to fulfill. I understand that my Faith isn’t about me feeling warm and fuzzy or getting “enough sleep”- it’s all about Him and His Call on my Life to “Rise and Shine” every day so that others will see Him in me by the way I Live, Love, and Speak. Pleasing Him is my first priority, and He’s much more important to me than “sleeping in”.

If I Rise up and Speak up about the Love, the Hope, and the Power of my God despite opposition and persecution, then my Faith will take on a Life of its own, and my Faith will be unshakeable for all the world to see. If I Shine with Joy, Peace, Love, and Compassion as I go throughout my day, despite how I might be treated in return, then my Faith won’t be easily overlooked by anybody, and my Light has the potential to inspire others to want to know more about me and the God who makes me “different.” Unless I’m willing to Rise and Shine, then the Fruit of my Faith will be limited to how I feel on the inside and “what’s in it for me”…but it’s not about me. I don’t want to be like a selfish child not willing to share; instead, I want to Share everything about my God…every Miraculous Detail surrounding who I once was and how He’s Transformed me. My “business” IS their business when it comes to Sharing my Faith – so, I RISE and SHINE every day, and that’s just the way it will be until He calls me Home.

How about you?

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The minute my eyes opened this morning, I thought about the Love of my Life and I thanked Him for another day to Serve. Love and Gratitude are one thing, being made ready to take on a new day as a woman of Faith is an entirely different story. For that, I need Wisdom and Grace…a Compassionate Heart…and a willingness to Forgive. I need to Surrender this day and all that it is to Him. I need to be sure that I’m not harboring anything “bad” in my heart that could hinder my Relationship with Him or my Witness to a dark world. I need supernatural Strength, and I need Humility. My Journey isn’t possible without Him, and I’m not capable of any of these things without His Help, so I seek His face each morning, and I put Him first in all that I do. Isn’t that the way you begin your new day too?

It can be so easy these days for people to fight for their independence while they convince themselves that they’re fine all on their own – but God didn’t wire us to be on our own. God breathed the Rule Book into existence, and He says, “iron sharpens iron,” and that “two are better than one.” He made Eve for Adam. He called Aaron to help Moses. He joined Elijah and Elisha to prepare for a time when the prophet Elijah would be taken Home. There are countless examples of how God reinforced relationships to strengthen His people – each one driving the message home that “iron sharpens iron.” It’s that same determination to be independent that can easily carry over into our Journey of Faith, too, and before you know it, we can easily convince ourselves that the remote control is an adequate replacement for assembling together with the saints. The more we work to convince ourselves that we don’t need anybody else, the farther away from understanding what it means to be totally dependent on God for it all. What the world sees as weakness is actually a sign of Power as we Surrender it all over to God. There is no place for independence in the Journey of Faith.

Sometimes it’s funny to see the reaction when people hear me confess that I’m not nearly as “independent” as they think I am. I flew solo for most of my life, but that wasn’t because of a determination to be independent, and it wasn’t an outward sign of an inward need to be alone. It just was. What others don’t understand is that when Christ is the Center of Life, we never feel alone! No doubt I survived well on my own with God at the Head of my family – I managed to raise 4 kids on my own, and they’ve grown up to be wonderful God-fearing people. I’ve built success and I’ve seen abundance – my family wanted for nothing. I was also overwhelmed by the burden of it all sometimes, and I cried myself to sleep more times than you want to know. That is UNTIL I learned to surrender whatever was overwhelming me over to God while confessing to Him that I’m helpless without Him – and THEN GOD GAVE ME the reassurance that He’ll never leave me nor forsake me. He reminded me that all I have to do is Acknowledge Him in all my ways that HE WILL keep my path straight through the Journey. I’ve seen so many miracles that I can’t begin to count them all, and I’ve had friends hold me up when I couldn’t hold myself up countless times. I’m not ashamed to say I’m weak, and I’m not too proud to ask God for help….the God that KNOWS that “two are better than one.” I may have been flying solo, but I’ve NEVER been alone, and because of my Journey, I matured in my Faith enough to understand that His “power is (always) made perfect in my weakness.” When I am weak and dependent, HE IS STRONG.

I spend time alone on the front porch at daybreak most days, but I’m not flying solo anymore. God decided that I needed a suitable partner to walk through the Journey of Faith with me, and I was obedient to the Call…and oh what a Treasure it is to lock arms with the one God intended for me after decades of flying solo! Sometimes people will ask me how I’m adjusting to “losing” my independence now that I’m married, but I lost that a long time ago when I Surrendered it all to the Living God. So, as much as I know that I’m no longer alone in this vapor of a life, and as grateful as I am for my Covenant Partner, it’s Jesus Christ I put my Trust in still. He’s the Source of my Strength. He’s the Author and Perfector of my Faith. He’s my Redeemer, and He’s my Rock. I paid the Price to become a Strong Warrior for the Living God, and I walk out my faith with Boldness…but there is nothing independent about me or my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How about you?