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Peeling Back The Layers…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning is cool and foggy, but the warmth of the Living God is everywhere…every day. When I looked out across the fields at sunrise, all I could focus on were the layers I saw – layers of fog and layers of clouds. The view was magnificent! Quickly capturing what I see with my eyes is important because, as the sun heats up, all the layers dissipate fast. The more I thought about those layers I could see with my eyes, the more I thought about the layers of my Life – layers of sin and layers of rebellion, and how the Hand of God peeled each layer away by His warmth too. He “saved a wretch like me” a long time ago now, but the peeling back of layers never ends. The more I seek Him, the more He shows me what He sees below the layers and how Important it is to peel them back. Sometimes He is slow and gentle when He peels back a layer of what needs to be Revealed, and sometimes He rips it off like a Band-Aid. Either way, I’m always Grateful to be one step Closer to Him in the Process. What a Blessing it is to spend time in the Presence of the Most High God any time I want to, and to Hear what He has to say to His people day after day. But If the Most High God had not peeled back the layers to reveal what I needed to Repent of, I never would have become a Usable Vessel for Him. No matter the condition of my Heart, no matter what kind of mood I’m in (or not), no matter my trials, no matter how many times I fall, my God is always Ready and waiting for me any time I take the time to meet with Him. What a friend I have in Jesus!

God doesn’t scrutinize the words I use when I Speak to Him…they really don’t matter much because He sees what’s within my Heart without speaking a word and He loves me anyway.

God doesn’t whine about how much time I give Him, or remind me of when I disappoint Him if I’m busy and I don’t take the time for Him that I should. He’s the Bright Morning Star, and He’s always there 24/7, ready to open His arms to this child of His. He Loves me anyway.

God is always ready to Guide me in the Right Direction when I get off track, just like a Shepherd guides his sheep. His patience with me has no limits, and He doesn’t keep reminding me that I’ve gone down the wrong path in Life over and over again after He’s peeled back the layers. He takes me by the Hand like the Loving Shepherd He is, and He sets me off in the Right Direction all over again. He loves me anyway.

God is all I ever need, the One who has my Heart, the One who “loves me anyway”, the One who will never leave me nor forsake me…BUT THERE IS A CATCH. I’m Commanded to be a Reflection of Him, and I’m Commanded to extend the same things to other people that He has extended to me! I’m supposed to be ready to listen, to Love, to Forgive, and to Guide others into peeling back their layers with Unconditional Compassion too…no matter how “ugly” it is underneath all those layers! I’m supposed to love them anyway. If not for the example that God sets before me, and my desire to please Him because of it, none of this would ever be possible.

I’m filled with an Attitude of Gratitude this morning for all that He is and all that He does for me. Isn’t it just like my Savior to use a little fog and layered clouds to Speak to my Heart? If He can use me, He can use you! He loves you anyway – right where you are and just as you are. All you need to do is Trust in Him and be willing to be “peeled” into “perfection”.

I’m overwhelmed today just as much as I was decades ago when I First met Jesus, that the God of all Creation “sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood,” and I am Forever Grateful for the Peeling Process that revealed my “ugly” nature so that He could Refine me like gold.

I’ll be Working hard every day to be the very best Reflection of Him that I can be, in all that I do and all that I am, until He calls me Home. He loves me anyway.

How about you?

Monday is Just The Beginning…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s Monday – the day after the Sabbath day – and I remembered to “keep it holy” in every way I could just as I’m Instructed to do. Even though “church time” is behind me now, I’m just getting revved up for the week by spending Time in the Presence of the Author and Perfector of my Faith. After all, church is Designed to Strengthen us, not something we check off a to-do list once a week or something that makes us look (and feel) like “nice people.” So, come Monday morning, it’s time for me to get to Work applying what I’ve learned and to Seek His face even more than I did yesterday. I met with Him outside, where the air was cool and the fog was thick, and I watched the Hand of God at work over this old farm. This time of year, we can expect to see fog as the cool air meets the warm ground, and I never get tired of watching the fog lift off the farm in the Fall. Sometimes it remains low to the ground until it dissipates, and sometimes the fog covers the entire farm from low ground to high ground and beyond. As I sat there drawing near to Him, not only could I see the fog, but I could feel it all around me too, and it reminded me of the Shekinah Glory (the manifested Glory of God) and what it will be like to see one day…and I will. Some people have closed their minds to the fact that God can still manifest today just the way He did in the Bible…but not me. I Believe in the Supernatural work of my Supernatural God. I believe He’s “the same yesterday, today, and forevermore” and that He will NEVER lose His Power! Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Faith too?

Sometimes I wonder how it came to be that people decided that God belongs in a box. To some, the Bible is just a history book and all the things they read about are just entertaining stories from the past, BUT not for today. If the Glory of God showed up, they’d excuse Him away the same as they do for so many other miraculous things that play out right before their very eyes. Is it that His Supernatural Works scare them because they can’t explain Him, OR is there a conflict between the Supernatural and the intellectual faith that so many hang their hat on today? Either way, some have wiped away all the Supernatural works of God as if He’s a past-tense God, even though the Word says that He’s the “same today, yesterday, and forever more.” It must make our Enemy very happy to see us “muting” the Works of a Mighty and Merciful God. It’s interesting (and sad) that some people have been taught NOT to believe in the Power of God at all, and if that’s the case, they might as well “worship” a statue once a week. My God IS the same today, yesterday, and forever more, and I long to see His Glory…and I will. Don’t you wonder who in the world would want to believe in a powerless God, and why in the world would they want to keep Him in a box?

It’s painful for me to see so many “regular church attendees” walking around IN the fog when I know that all they need is a genuine Relationship with Jesus Christ, more time in His Word, and the Holy Spirit to Guide them. Many of the ones wandering around in the fog hop from church to church because they’re looking for something outward to satisfy the Inward. They laugh at people like me, and they scoff at the Supernatural just the way the Bible says they will… and they settle into teaching that tickles their ears because they hunger to be entertained and to hear (only) what they want to hear. Maybe they have a Bible app on their phone, but it’s rarely opened or read outside of the church. Sometimes they might actually reach for a hard copy of the Bible in the pew ahead, but they can rarely find the verse in time to read along because they aren’t familiar yet. Jesus really does “love the little children of the world,” but He expects them to grow up! In fact, He expects His Children to Learn and Grow every single day. He expects His Children to hunger to be in His Presence every day, all the days of their lives. The Living God expects His Children to be so familiar with Him that they recognize the voice of their Shepherd without hesitation or doubt. He expects His Children to know His Word like the back of their hands, and He expects His Children to obey the “rules”. That’s what growing up (or maturing in Faith) looks like, and it’s the ONLY way to be Confident and Capable when the fog settles in.

It’s foggy in the mornings these days, but that’s okay – I can see the Beauty even with my eyes closed. If my Bible were taken from me today, I’d be VERY sad because I love to spend Time in it with Him every day…But I wouldn’t be lost, and I wouldn’t stumble around in a fog. I’ll always have the Holy Spirit to guide me, and the Holy Spirit will Illuminate the Words when I’m struggling if I ask Him to. My Heart knows what His Word says because I Know Him. I’m a grown-up Christian still in the works, so I Work on getting Stronger and better every day…NOT just on Sundays. I appreciate the fog, but I’ll never be walking in it…church or no church…Bible or no bible…I’ll always have His Spirit and I’ll always have His Word embedded in my Heart. I’ve put in the Time and effort to Mature, and because I “put in time” EVERY day of the week, I believe my Shepherd is pleased with me.,

How about you?

Savor or Squander? It’s a Choice.

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s not possible to see a mediocre sunrise or sunset, ESPECIALLY in the Fall of the year in Virginia, and I’m savoring each one as if it’s the last one I’ll ever see. I don’t have a morbid obsession with death, nor am I counting down the days I have left, but I am acutely aware of the frailty of life, and I refuse to waste any of it at all. I’ve always been one to savor life, and I’ve never been one to lose precious moments that other people might dismiss. If only I had a dollar for every time someone commented on my time on the front porch and how “boring” it must be. But that’s because they look for entertainment, and all I seek is God. Watching the Master wake up the world is the very best kind of Entertainment there is, but because I Savor Life and I Worship the King of the mornings. The older I get, and the closer I draw to the Living God, the more beautiful Life around me becomes, and the more I want to savor ALL of it with ALL of me. Isn’t that the way it is for you, too?

It can be so easy to take Life for granted if we aren’t careful. We fail to look up (or to get up) to capture a sunrise and, more often than not, something on television replaces the sunset. We roll out of bed and scurry off to begin the new day, and most of the time we don’t think twice about being physically able to do so. We throw the kids in the backseat and rush off to wherever it is we need to be, and most of the time, a TV monitor in the back seat or a cell phone conversation in the front seat replaces those sweet little voices that can only be heard when we listen out for them. Family mealtime has become a thing of the past. Instead of sharing a meal together at the same table at the same time, one is texting, one is watching television, and the opportunity to hear about what’s going on in the life of the other is lost forever.

I don’t want to wake up one day and wonder what happened with my life, and I don’t want to squander my time. I don’t want to trade good conversations and belly laughs for television, and I don’t want to miss out on all of those precious little moments that come when you anticipate them. I anticipate great things because I Serve a Great God, and I Treasure the beauty because it’s all a Gift from Him, AND because I am acutely aware of the frailty of life. I savored my children, and I’m savoring my grandchildren because I Know what a Gift from God they are, and because of that, they WILL NEVER be replaced with my own entertainment.

I can only try to imagine what Heaven is going to be like, but I anticipate going there, too. With an earth filled with beauty that is impossible for me to capture in pictures or describe with words, Heaven is going to blow my mind. When I get to Heaven, I’ll be busy doing the Work that He’s been preparing for me to do all along, but when I get there, time will stand still. I’ll be there forever with all my loved ones who are/were Believers in Jesus Christ, too. I guess it’s possible for some people to be content with the idea that they’ll go to Heaven and spend Eternity on the sidelines…but NOT ME. I know that if I Savor what He has for me here, and I Work with His Plans and His Purpose in mind…if I work out my “salvation with fear and trembling” then I won’t be on the Sidelines…I’ll just be doing a Heavenly version of His Work intended just for me. With that in mind, who in the world would take Life for granted or be willing to squander their time?

This new day was beautiful when it first began, and it will be beautiful until it ends, too. I’ll leave the squandering up to all the ones who don’t “get it”. Unfortunately, their squandering will lead to a life filled with regrets…something I’ve spent a Lifetime trying to avoid altogether. No doubt I’ll savor all that I possibly can on every day the Lord gives me, and you won’t find me squandering even a minute. Instead, you’ll find me ANTICIPATING Great things. When you look for Great things from God, you find them every time!

How about you?

What Does Your Priority List Look Like?

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. A little time with my Redeemer, a little time digging into my Instruction Manual for Truth, a little coffee, a little rain, and a very Grateful heart, and NOW I’m Set for this new day. Without attention given to my Priority Lists, would my Heart be overflowing with Gratitude this morning? Not a chance! If I don’t keep my Priorities straight, the darkness of the world looks overwhelming to me, and before you know it, my Courage can begin to get shaken, and my Heart begins to get heavy. Keeping my Priorities straight at the start of each new day is what equips me to be ALL that God intends for me to be, and I am forever reminded that I have a Purpose in this life far greater than myself. Jesus Christ IS my biggest priority, and His Plans for me are Prioritized over everything else in my Life. My Priorities are non-negotiable. Isn’t that the way you manage your Journey of Faith, too?

Just like anything else in life, it takes commitment to keep Priorities in check. A busy schedule can easily rock the boat, and if I’m not careful, I might be tempted to rush out the door without a second thought to my Priorities. If I want that busy schedule to go smoothly, then I’d better be Spiritually Equipped for the day. I could easily get distracted by the needs of others, and I might be tempted to set aside my own priorities to put their needs above my own. But if I want to have what it takes to give others the Best Part of me, then I need to have my Spiritual Priorities in order. I could easily be distracted by the little things in life, and I could change my schedule so that my Priorities are addressed after my family, my chores, my errands, my work, or my home. But if I do that, my priorities are no longer a Priority at all, and they take a back seat to so many other things of less importance. If I want to accomplish all the little things in my Life, I’d better be Spiritually equipped to handle the load. My Priorities are non-negotiable.

Sometimes I like to close my eyes and imagine what the world would look like if even a fraction of the people who profess to be Christians had their Priorities straight too. What would it look like if their Hearts overflowed with Gratitude, no matter what the dark world looks like? What would it look like if they set the alarm clock for an earlier time JUST SO that they have time with the Living God before anything else on their list of things to do? What would the world look like if they started seeing their children as an opportunity to raise the next “godly generation” instead of an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments? What would the world look like if the needs of others were Prioritized above their own? What would the world look like if they began to see that their money isn’t their money at all and that God has a Plan for Giving that is Prioritized above our own personal thrills? Godly Priorities should be non-negotiable.

I often hear people say that they don’t have the “luxury” of setting aside time for Priorities like mine – aka Time with the Living God before everything else – but I just wonder…if we don’t have a little time to give to the Living God, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Prince of peace, the Bright Morning Star, then WHY IN THE WORLD DO THEY EXPECT HIM TO MAKE OUR NEEDS A PRIORITY EITHER? I need Him. I NEED to be the “apple of His eye”, and I NEED for Him to “Hide me in the shadow of His wings,” and for as long as there is breath in my body, He will be my Biggest Priority. My Priorities are non-negotiable because I want ALL that He has for me, and I want to Fulfil my Purpose before He calls me Home. With my Priorities straight, I hope to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” One Day. For all the professed Believers who refuse to get their Priorities straight, there is no Time like the Present to make things right with the Living God…before it’s too late.

I’ve got my Priorities straight and I Guard my Time with the Living God day after day. He will always come first because my Priorities are non-negotiable. He’s FIRST and my world knows it.

How about you?

I will sing to the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

as I rejoice in the Lord – Psalm 104: 33, 34

If You Hate The Bold Ones, You Hate Jesus!

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Don’t worry, the world won’t hate you if you’re silent. BUT if you dare to be bold…if you fearlessly proclaim the name of Jesus Christ for all the world to hear…if you refuse to exchange the truth for a lie…if you stand firm for what the Bible teaches ESPECIALLY when it doesn’t make sense to the deceived ones…THEN don’t be surprised to be hated. This is a spiritual war that needs to be fought with SPIRITUAL WEAPONS! The Bible says,”Greater is He who is IN ME, than he who is in the world” – so we know that no matter how dark and ugly the world gets, Jesus Christ already paid the price for us AND He wins (we win) in the end…period. Until then, I’ll stand strong with Him – I’ll defend the Truth of God – I’ll rally behind the bold ones proclaiming Jesus Christ to this dark world because that’s what all born again Christians are called to do!

Make no mistake about this – someone recently paid the utlimate price for loving Jesus Christ and for sharing Him with the world, so whatever you do, don’t try to politicize your hate. It doesn’t come from a place of “knowledge” or by way of your “intellect” or because you’re wiser than all the rest of us…hate comes from Hell. The ones who hate ANYBODY proclaiming Jesus Christ as lord…hate Jesus Christ… and the future won’t be good for them because of it. But don’t take my word for it – if you read your Bible you’d already know the Truth.

So, what’s your excuse for your hate and do you understand the price you’ll be paying for your “politics”?

Your hate is ugly BUT it’s powerless and (believe it or not) I’ll be praying for you until the end no matter what you say or do. The Word of God tells us to LOVE our enemies and to PRAY for them and by the Grace of God I’ll be doing both for you. Hmm…that’s actually the polar opposite of what the haters say and do! Interesting…

In the meantime, remember this and consider yourself warned:

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:7

One last thing, IF YOU’RE A HATER READING THIS, NO NEED TO TAKE THE TIME OR ENERGY TO COMMENT. I’ll delete it as fast as it is posted and I’ll hit my knees in prayer on your behalf 🙂 Just sayin’.

IF YOU ARE LIKE-MINDED (I shouldn’t have to tell you this) SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.

To God be the glory!

Stop Dancing With The Devil!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week, and I kicked it off in the best way I know how…in the Presence of the Most High God from this simple farm in Virginia. I couldn’t wait for Him to turn on the lights so that I could see what kind of day He had in store for us all. It takes Light to see what’s ahead, and it takes Light to see my Instruction Manual. As surely as I breathe, I know that the dawn will break and the sun will rise, and the darkness will turn to light eventually…and it doesn’t need any help from me. Understanding that darkness cannot exist in the light is a whole lot more than a scientific fact – it’s a Spiritual Truth we seem to have forgotten…or at least it looks and sounds that way when so many of God’s people would rather dance with the Devil by talking about the “newsworthy” darkness all around them than they would ever dare to Talk about the Light. If only they would replace the “D” word they often use to place blame for the state America is in, and would exchange it with “D for Devil,” who is REALLY behind it all, then the Spiritual Reality of Light and Darkness might actually sink in. Can you imagine a conversation online or around the water cooler – “Did you hear what the Devil said today?” – “Did you see what the Devil did today?” I would imagine the Devil is overjoyed to be the “star of the show” when he’s talked about a whole lot more than Jesus Christ is…and that’s where people like me come in. I KNOW WHY I EXIST – I exist for the sole Purpose of adding Light into this dark world and to be the salt of the earth. So, my Focus today and every day is on the Throne and what GOD IS DOING and not on the Devil’s and his lies. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey of Life, too?

These are troubling times filled with uncertainty, and there are plenty of people wringing their hands and overwhelmed with anxiety about what will “happen next”- but I’m not one of them. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that as people turn away from the Living God, there are Consequences for all. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that worrying about the future serves no purpose at all. I know from my Instruction Manual that times will be perilous before my King returns. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that things always get worse before they get better, and sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring people to their knees in surrender to the Great I am. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that praying isn’t the only role I have, but that I am to show up and to Speak up for the Living God in all that I do and all that I am…talking politics can’t hold a candle to the Power in the Name of Jesus. I know all too well from my Instruction Manual that the battle for the Light never ends…at least not until we hear the sound of the Trumpet. What makes me sad (and keeps me going) is watching people miss the mark because they’re too entertained by politics than they could ever be about the Living God…sad but true. I know all too well that I was born for a Purpose much greater than those trials around me and that I am expected to do my Part to share the Light every minute of every day. This is the Key to finishing the race well.

It takes the magnificence of the sun to light up the world each day, but it only takes one tiny little Light to light up the darkness around me. One lit match stands out in the dark like a sore thumb, so I know that my Light can easily be seen by the darkness around me, and it will NEVER go unnoticed. The world is filled with people who like to hide their Light in the closet as they convince themselves that the Light is only for their own benefit and not intended to “offend” others. Those people really don’t care if anybody else ever sees their Light (or if someone finds themselves in Hell One Day) because they’ve convinced themselves that praying is their only Major Role in this dark world. But boy, do they like to talk about the Devil and what he’s doing! No doubt if this darkness had a voice, you’d hear how much it hates the Light. – and since it can’t speak to be heard (it uses man to do that), it manifests in countless ways in the silence. It’s when we keep the Light to ourselves that we are of no threat whatsoever to the darkness, and the darkness will soon snuff out the Light if we aren’t careful. Is it any wonder the world around us is getting darker and darker with so many tiny little Lights refusing to Shine?

I’ll be sure to keep the Light shining all the days of my life. It’s a very dark world, but not too dark for my Light to make a world of difference. I might actually inspire others to shine theirs too when they see how Beautiful my Light is and they see that the darkness around me is repelled because of it. Some people might find their own Spiritual backbone when they see how brave I am in a world that hates me because I KNOW I have nothing to fear. Sometimes the wind will blow and the rain will come, and the darkness may try to Silence me in the storm. but I’m not afraid of the Darkness. I’ll be Praising the God OF the storm and I’ll be Victorious every single time because HE says so. I’m encouraged to know that “Greater He who is in me, than he who is in the world”, so my Light will never go out, and I’ll never quit doing my Part to Light up the world around me.

You won’t find me shaking my fist at Congress or giving credit to any politician for the state we are (or aren’t) in because they have no control at all…they’re just pawns of Satan. You will never find me dancing with the Devil by giving him “air time” he doesn’t deserve. Instead you’ll find me boldly Proclaiming the Name of Jesus Christ “in the presence of mine enemies” and you’ll see me doing the Victory Dance because I know who wins this War. When I Speak the name of Jesus Christ every demon in Hell shudders because they know His Name and they fear Him! I refuse to talk about the Devil and all wrong that he’s doing in this dark world. Instead, I’ll keep talking about my Jesus and all the Good He’s doing and because of it, a lot of that darkness will be snuffed out faster than you can say “Amen”. If you love talking about “politics” and you can’t get enough of the conspiracy chatter – if you insist on focusing on the darkness a whole lot more than you do on the Light…it’s not going to end well for you. Just sayin.

Consider Yourself Warned…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My mood matched the weather this morning as I stepped out onto the front porch for my first cup of coffee…a little cool…a little foggy…a little quiet…but with the potential to be incredible no matter what. As things get more and more stirred up in America as the battle against Good and evil unfolds, it’s MORE important than ever for me to remain Grounded in the Truth. Although the world is divided and filled with whitewashed truth, there is only ONE Truth and only ONE way to fight a Spiritual Battle. It’s when we forget that part that we end up in a mess every time! I Serve a God who doesn’t compromise the Truth because He WROTE the Rules, and He absolutely hates violence. Psalm 11:5 says, “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, THOSE WHO LOVE VIOLENCE, He hates with a passion”. Every day I seek the Face of my Savior, and every day I dig into His Word looking for Peace, Comfort, Truth, and Marching Orders. My God is one to fear, and there is no limit to His Power. My God has the keys to Hell and death, and He has an Answer for all things. Why in the world would I look anywhere else for Truth, and why would I care about any opinion or approval other than His? If the side of the world professing to be Christian but choosing to spit out hate, celebrate death, and rely on social media for “truth,” would only turn to the Source and follow the Rules, the entire world would look different than it does today.

If there’s one thing that can set my hair on fire, it’s being around people who love to CLAIM they belong to the Family of God but who refuse to walk like it, talk like it, stand like it, or love like it. They support the same sins that God Almighty clearly condemns, and they attempt to put His Signature on their playbook that was Handwritten in Hell. They have their own version of truth that has been fueled by hate and spread by social media, and they’re sure (these days) to let you know what that looks like, whether you like it or not – worse yet, they demand you believe it “or else”. More and more, as these lost people “fight for justice” or defend things like abortion (for any reason), or they celebrate the death of someone they hate(d) for preaching the Word of God, it becomes painfully obvious that those self-professing “Christians” have no idea what God’s Truth looks like at all – and my guess is that they never did. I don’t think they’ll need to worry about having their Membership Card to the Christian Club revoked because it doesn’t look like it was ever Valid in the first place. Romans 1:25 Bible warns us about such things – “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen” – so their vile behavior isn’t a surprise to God…or me…BUT just in case they need a reminder straight from the Authentic Rule Book, “God will not be mocked,” and “It’s a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God”. Consider yourself warned.

There are only two Players in this Spiritual War, and it’s not Democrats or Republicans – liberals or conservatives – it’s God (and those standing for Him) and the Devil (and those who are doing his bidding). Sadly, those who have exchanged the Truth for a lie and who are willfully going against the Living God will pay an eternal price for being so willing to be Pawns of Satan…and no amount of denial or debating will change that Fact. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters”. In a sea of people PROFESSING to be card-carrying members of the family of God while they spit out hate and celebrate the death of the righteous ones…I pity you for sure, BUT I won’t fight with you here on this earth because the real Battle takes place in the Heavenly realm, and Victory will always be with those who are Faithful to the Creator of all. You don’t believe that? Just wait and see how fruitless your hate is with God on the Throne. Don’t you think it’s time for you to get sold out for Jesus like you proclaim to be before it’s too late? If only the scoffers could direct all that passion to the God of all Creation instead of to the enemy of this world, we could ignite a Fire that could not be contained…a fire of Revival.

If you’re busy politicking in the name of “democracy”, I’ll be praying for you and by the grace of my God, I’ll love you, BUT I WILL NOT forsake my God…or His commands…ever. I will fearlessly stand WITH HIM, and I’ll cling to the Truth all the days of my Life, and I am confident that “Greater is He (Jesus) who is in me, than he (the Devil) is in the world”.

I’m grounded in the Truth.

I Know Who wins.

I am a proud American who belongs to the King.

I’m unshakable.

I’m unstoppable.

How about you? Do you call yourself a Christian but you fight for things God hates? I would suggest that you put as much time into reading the Word of God as you do on social media and HE WILL reveal the real Truth to you whether you like it or not. Just sayin’.

What Was Intended to Harm, GOD Intended For Good

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Fall is definitely in the air, and foliage around the farm is changing too fast for my own liking. The leaves are beginning to change color, and some are already dropping to the ground. When I looked over at this hydrangea planted next to the front porch, I had to smile. Right in the middle of all the other blooms that are turning pink and in the process of dying, there is one big beautiful white flower blooming as if it were Spring. This flower seems totally oblivious to the dangers of winter, and it looks determined to be beautiful for as long as it can be. Only God could bring forth this bloom in a sea of dead blooms, and it’s like a Gift to remind me of the Seasons of Life. This bloom will have a very short life because the cold weather will soon snuff it out. But the fact that the bloom won’t last long doesn’t take away the beauty it will bring while it’s here. That out-of-place, beautiful white bloom reminds me of the life of Charlie Kirk. Charlie didn’t bloom for as long as we would have liked him to, but the beauty he added to a world that is fading fast was priceless! I believe 2 Timothy 4:2 is the perfect Scripture for Charlie – “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction”. I’m celebrating Charlie’s life today much more than I am mourning; a life that left a mark on this dark world, and a life that led Charlie to his ultimate Victory…Charlie is in the arms of Jesus. Isn’t that the way you see it, too?

Charlie didn’t care that he stood out like a sore thumb in a world of opposing views…Charlie loved Jesus. Charlie didn’t hesitate to defend the Truth in a sea of haters…Charlie loved Jesus. Charlie didn’t hesitate to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ because he understood Who is really in charge, and he never cowered away from giving Glory to the One Who gave him the platform. Charlie didn’t care that He (seemingly) was the only man standing in a pool of scoffers…Charlie loved Jesus. Charlie understood that the stakes were high and time was short, and he ran at full throttle regardless of the cost…Charlie loved Jesus. Charlie didn’t hide in fear in the face of adversity because he Trusted Jesus. I’m pretty sure Charlie wasn’t afraid to die in the name of the One Who died for him, and although I’m confident that Charlie would not have wanted to leave this earth now, he Understood that God’s timing is Perfect.

The world lost a champion yesterday when Charlie Kirk drew his last breath – but the story doesn’t end there. In fact, it’s just the beginning for Charlie. The body God Designed for Charlie to use on earth expired at 31 years, but his Soul, which was SOLD OUT for Jesus Christ, will go on forever in the presence of God – and THAT should be our focus at such a time as this. Someone described Charlie as being like a combination of Billy Graham and Rush Limbaugh, and now, Praise God, Charlie is in the presence of both of them for all of Eternity. I can’t begin to imagine what it was like when they greeted one another! He fought the good fight, and he finished the race, and there is no doubt in my mind that Charlie heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant”! Of course, we mourn the loss of this champion and rightfully so, BUT we should be celebrating Charlie’s victory more than anything! We should be in awe of God’s Call on his life and all He accomplished for the Kingdom of God in just 31 years. We should be feeling stronger, NOT weaker, as we consider this world without him because of the Gift he gave to us all! It isn’t the time to stir up hate. It isn’t the time to place blame. It isn’t the time to fight this Spiritual Battle with weapons of the flesh like we saw yesterday – we ONLY fight this kind of Battle with Spiritual Weapons that are available to all who Believe. That’s what Charlie would want.

Genesis 50:20 says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives”. We have no way of knowing how many lives were “saved” because of Charlie Kirk and His bold stand for Jesus Christ. In the shock wave of his life being snuffed out, it’s not easy to remember that NOBODY robs God. Charlie died precisely when God Called for him…no sooner and no later. Charlie was the CEO of Turning Point, but the Living God is the CEO of the Universe, and He’s STILL in control of this dark world and everything in it. His “power is made perfect in weakness”.

I don’t need to tell Charlie to “rest in peace” because I know the minute he drew his last breath, he was in the very presence of the Prince of Peace. This dark world is far behind him now, and He’s focused on the King! No doubt there will be a giant hole where Charlie Kirk used to be, especially for his precious wife and his children, but the best way for us to honor his life is for us to persevere against adversity in the name of Jesus Christ just like he did AND to NOT taint his memory with hate. One Day I’ll be able to thank Him personally for all he did for Kingdom in his 31 years and I’m praying you’ll be doing the same. There’s only one way to be sure and that is to be SOLD OUT for Jesus just like Charlie was. I am. Are you?

Stop Following The Crowd!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and overcast, and although they’re not calling for rain, the sky looks like it’s preparing for it. There is a lot of preparation taking place this time of the year, and I marvel at how nature intuitively knows what to do to prepare for the winter. These deer are feasting on the acorns, just like they do every year. Although I’m pretty sure acorns taste good to them, they’re actually serving a purpose to fatten them up for the winter and to prepare them for a winter pregnancy. The squirrels are busy burying black walnuts that will feed them through the winter, and somehow they’ll know just where to go to find them when they’re hungry. The Canadian Geese no longer migrate, but the hummingbird does…something I never knew until recently, and I can’t stop thinking about. That tiny little bird that looks more like a dragonfly when it’s in motion will leave Virginia soon, and it will fly thousands of miles to Mexico for the warmer climate and an abundance of food. Before the hummingbird leaves Virginia, it will gain 25%-30% of its bodyweight to be sure that it has reserved “fuel” to fly up to 500 miles a day – even a non-stop flight over the Gulf of America. Look at God! As much as I marvel at the Hand of God and His Creation of things like the hummingbird, I Know that He has Equipped me and all the rest of mankind for even MORE. When the beast and the fowl intuitively trust the Hand of God far more than man, we’ve got big problems. As people of Faith, we’re already empowered with the Ultimate Helper ready to Guide us in our Preparation, too. If only we would Trust Him as much as a simple hummingbird does.

It can be so easy to follow the crowd, looking for treasures the same as the deer follow each other to the feast. Just like the herd of deer devouring the acorns, people gauge the feast based on how many others are congregated there, too. We believe a restaurant “must be good” if lots of people are lining up to get in, and we gauge the value of a church based on how many people attend. But good food is measured by the individual palate and not by how many people want to eat it. And yet, many people will go to a popular mediocre restaurant just because “everybody” else does. A good church isn’t gauged by how many people go there or by how good the music (and coffee) is. A good church is a church that disciples people to Holiness and isn’t afraid to teach hard Truths. And yet, many people will go to a popular church even if it means starving to death Spiritually because it “must be good” if so many people fill the seats. I’ve never been much of a follower, and popularity doesn’t impress me at all, so you won’t find me following the crowd. Instead, you’ll find me FOLLOWING Jesus with everything within me, and you’ll find me going in an unpopular Direction for His Name’s Sake every time. Never let it be said of me that I died Spiritually deprived all because I cared more about the opinion and popularity of man than I did about the One Who died for me.

Turns out, it’s true what they say, “Birds of a feather (really do) flock together”…at least most of the time. When the Canadian Geese are on the go, they always flock together in formation, and it’s a beautiful sight to see. When the buzzards are on the hunt, they always flock together searching for food. But that little hummingbird will fly on a strenuous journey from Virginia to Mexico for the winter all on its own. The journey from Virginia will take more than a week, with 18-24 hours just to cross the Gulf of America alone. It weighs slightly more than a US penny, and yet it is strong and resilient – a fearless as it makes the journey alone! The hummingbird doesn’t rely on what every other hummingbird is doing or which route the others are taking. It intuitively knows the Flight Plan, it knows where the flowers are blooming along the way, and it will find its nourishment without relying on a crowd. If only people were more like the hummingbirds – eager to make the long Journey toward Christ without relying on crowd pleasers and with no regard for popularity whatsoever – the world would look a whole lot Brighter than it does today.

I want to be like the hummingbird. I want to Intuitively Know how to Prepare for the Journey ahead, and I don’t want to rely on the crowd to get me there. I want to have confidence that the Lord will provide the Nourishment I need for the Journey, and I want to cling to the promise that “the righteous never grow hungry”. I want to take this long Journey of mine with Strength and stamina – relying solely on my God-given Guide. I want to “run and not grow weary” – I want to Persevere beyond anything I could imagine possible on my own, and I want to finish my race well. I won’t get there if I follow the crowd because the Gate I’m going through is a very narrow gate and the “crowd” won’t make it through. I won’t get there if I chase popularity because the One I Serve says, “They will hate you because of me,” and that kind of adversity doesn’t usually draw a crowd.

God gave me a herd of deer and a lone hummingbird to speak to my Heart today. As long as I keep my eyes on Him and not on the crowd, I know that all will be well with my soul.

How about you?

Only YOU Can Take Captive Every Thought!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day, I’m healthy, I have a sound mind, I have an amazing family and a roof over my head – even still, when I first woke up, it was obvious that I needed to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When my first thoughts are filled with a list of things to do, or doubt about my ability to accomplish them, instead of Gratitude for a Mighty God, gracious enough to Bless me with a new day to Serve Him, it’s time to get busy taking captive every thought! Being Mature in my Faith doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle with my thoughts; it means that I recognize a Heart Problem when I see it, and I set out to correct it with the King as fast as I can! To allow thoughts to take ME captive instead of me taking THEM captive would be to squander a new day and to miss out on an opportunity to Serve the One Who Created the heavens and the earth. That’s not an option for me…is it really an option for you?

The Journey of Faith is not always easy, and sometimes the trials can cause people to stop Growing. For some reason, people convince themselves that once they step into their Faith, that Life is going to be easier…but THAT’S NOT TRUE. Life is filled to the brim with trials and tribulations for all of us, the same as it was for all the Saints before us – as for me, they are my Encouragement to Finish the Race (and finish it well!) no matter what! Daniel didn’t avoid the lion’s den because he was a man of Faith. Instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. David didn’t avoid being hunted down like an animal because he was a man of Faith. Instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. Jonah didn’t avoid being swallowed up by a big fish just because he was a man of Faith. Instead, he took captive every thought, and his thoughts were inclined toward the One Who would deliver him. NOBODY avoids the Trials and Tribulations just because they’ve come to their Faith – They need just learn to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ,” and to Trust the One they Serve COMPLETELY. This is the Key to Perseverance through it all.

Self-pity, self-centeredness, fear, and pride are always what’s behind those thoughts that need to be taken captive – but there’s no place for any of these things in the Heart of a Child of the Living God. He’s more aware of my Circumstances than I am, and He’ll see me through as long as I “take captive every thought to make it obedient” to Him. I don’t have to worry about whether or not He’ll do His “part” – all I ever need to concern myself with is doing mine. When I “take captive every thought,” my fear subsides, my Heart rejoices, my Strength returns, my Hope is renewed, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.” Then, AND ONLY THEN, can I be a Vessel that’s Ready, Willing, and Able to do the work of the King.

Let it be said of me, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.”

How about you?