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Never Undestimate the Significance of the Small

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The magnificence of this new day captured my Heart the minute I stepped onto the porch, and I was compelled to Praise the God of all Creation. I don’t see just a good view, although it is, I see God. I don’t just see the wildlife that calls this farm home, I see God. This squirrel enjoying breakfast under the oak tree caught my eye, and I thought about how that little squirrel with a tiny little acorn has the potential to plant countless oak trees that might tower over the farmhouse one day…all because of God. God is the God of Big Things, and we spend plenty of time in Journey of Faith waiting for His Hand to move mountains because of it. But it’s in those “little things” where the Biggest Miracles can be found, and it’s through those “little things” that He can use me to have a Big Impact on my World. What a sweet reminder to me this morning, straight from the Throne of a Mighty God, to NEVER overlook the Little Things while looking for the Big. Isn’t that a good reminder for you too?

It can be so easy to do nothing while we wait for the Big Moments in Life, but we miss out on all the Tiny Pieces that make up the Big Things when we do. It can be so easy to overlook the Magnificent Moments while we wait on the sea to part or the mountains to move, but it’s in the Tiny Pieces that those most Magnificent Moments are found. Lots of people refuse to step into their Faith, and they whine about not knowing what God wants them to do while they’re here on this earth. But there are millions of Tiny Pieces that they can be a part of this very moment…IF they’re just willing to look for them and IF they’re humble enough to participate. It’s the ego that causes us to wait for the Big things to be a part of, and it’s pride that stops us from Serving in a million Tiny Ways.

This very moment, there are people across the country praying and “waiting on God” to Provide the funding to launch a mission to feed the hungry somewhere in the world BUT, most of them would never consider feeding a meal or two to a homeless person in their own home in the meantime. This very moment, there are people across this country praying and “waiting on God” to do something about abortion BUT most of them would never consider taking a pregnant teenager into their own home in the meantime. This very moment, there are people across the globe praying and “waiting on God” to touch the hearts of “lost” loved ones…but most of them wouldn’t dream of Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ on their own. There are millions of Tiny Pieces that anybody can do that will ultimately lead to the Bigger Miracles, but few are willing to try because they want the Big Moments OR no moments at all. Sad but true.

There once was a man who was desperate to be healed of leprosy. When he was told that there was a Prophet who could heal him, he immediately loaded a caravan with treasures to pay for his healing and then headed out to find his hope. Before he ever reached the home of the Prophet, he was sent instructions for his healing… “go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be cleansed”, and when he heard these Simple Words, he was outraged! He expected Big Things! He anticipated a Magnificent Miracle Moment! He THOUGHT he deserved to be (and needed to be) “touched” in order to be healed, so he disregarded the simple instructions as nonsense and a total waste of his time. His pride and his ego got in the way of believing that He could find hope and healing in the Simple Instructions given to him, so he set out to return to his land still riddled with leprosy. Thankfully, he was encouraged by his friends to do what he was told to do…after all, what would he have to lose by trying? So, reluctantly, he followed the Simple Instructions, and he washed himself in the Jordan River seven times…and he was instantly healed (with skin like that of “a boy”). This man could so easily have missed out on the Tiny Step that would lead to a Magnificent Moment, all because of HIS interpretation of what it takes for God to do Big Things. But the God that brings forth those Miraculous Moments is the same God that uses a million Tiny Pieces to bring Glory to Himself too, and it’s through those Tiny Pieces that He can (and He will) use His People day in and day out…IF they will humble themselves and IF they are willing to participate.

I’m a simple woman, living in a simple farmhouse on a simple farm in Virginia. I’m a wife, a Mom, a Grandma, a friend, AND I’m a child of the Living God. I’m a Tiny Piece in the Bigger Picture. I have no formal education, and I have no special talents that set me apart from everybody else in the world – BUT I Understand that my life on earth is just “a vapor”, and that my days of living are getting shorter every day. I Understand the Significance of all the Tiny Pieces that I can be a part of that will have a Big Impact and an Everlasting Significance on my world. I open my simple life on this simple farm for all the world to see because I know that when I do I have the chance to offer a Tiny Piece that will Glorify God. I welcome the masses into my home and onto the land of this simple farm because I know that every footstep will be a chance to Glorify my God by sharing all that He is and all that He does for me. I open my Heart and I share my weaknesses because I know that every Word I Speak is a chance to Glorify my God. All the Tiny Pieces that I’m willing to be a part of will “all work together for Good,” and at the end of my days when I draw my last breath, all those Tiny Pieces will add up to Magnificence.

I’m a humble Servant, and He is my God. What I may be inclined to believe is “simple” will always be Significant if it’s something He calls for me to do, AND if I’m willing to do the Tiny things that become Big Things that bring Him Glory. After all, if God can use a little squirrel with a tiny acorn to grow a forest, just think what He can do with me!

How about you?

Are You Reaching for the Heavens?

/ 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 of a new week, and I’ve Surrendered my plans over to the One who gave them to me in the first place, and NOW my Heart is Ready for whatever comes my way. I know that the ONLY reason I exist this very moment – the ONLY reason I’m still breathing – is that I have a Job to do in Jesus’ name, so I begin and end each day on a Serious Note. I had a little Work to do on my Heart this morning to Ready myself as the Warrior I know He Intends for me to be, and it’s definitely worth the Spiritual time and effort I put in to get there. Otherwise, I’d be inclined to wander around all day, focusing only on the low-hanging fruit or what’s right before my very eyes (just like this deer), and I’d miss out on the Blessings that come when I reach for the Heavens instead. God has Big Plans for my Life, and I intend to be ready for Him whenever He’s ready for me. The One Who scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name is the Same One who knit me together in my mother’s womb at His intended Time. So, from where I sit, He’s a Big God with Big Plans for me, and I’m doing everything in my power to be sure that I don’t miss out on what He has for me by focusing on the easy Way. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

Some people graze their way through their entire life just like the deer in this photo, and they often question what happened to all of the years because of it. Like Rip Van Winkle, they wake up one day in a start, they’re surprised at how fast the years have slipped by without them. These “sleepers” are usually content just to graze through the Journey of Faith, the low-hanging fruit – the easy way out – focusing only on their next bite, and they’re satisfied as long as nothing bad happens today. These people mostly “keep to themselves” and avoid getting involved in anything beyond their own fields. They refuse to reach higher than they believe is necessary, and they’ll enter the gates of Heaven (maybe) by the skin of their teeth because of it. Outside of a major catastrophe, nothing much excites these people, and they typically spend time with just their own tribe without a care or concern about Life beyond that. They see all “outsiders” as a threat to the space, so they refuse to let others into their very small world. Sadly, these people will pass through this Life without experiencing true joy and peace, and they’ll fail to fulfill their Purpose…the Purpose that can only be found outside of the walls of our comfort when we reach for the Heavens.

I can’t think of anything sadder than to end the days of my Life never having reached for the Heavens. I can’t imagine “settling” only for those obvious morsels in Life with absolutely no Desire to reach beyond what I can see with their eyes. It’s not easy for any of us to move beyond the comfort of our own field, but finding the way is the Key to our true Purpose in life, and finding the strength comes from Faith in the Living God. It’s through our Faith that Love grows, and through Love we find our motivation. This is the Key to finishing the race, and finishing it well.

I’m a child of the Living God, and I’m Living like it. I’m Royalty, and it shows in all I do in His Name. I Trust in things I can’t see with my eyes, and I’m depending on the God of all Creation to take care of me every step of the way. I acknowledge Him in all my ways and He directs my steps, so you won’t find me focused only on what is right before my very eyes – you’ll find me reaching for the Heavens and believing in Miracles instead. I’m facing this day as a NEW day with a BIG purpose, and I’ve Readied myself for it as if this will be the very last day I have in this Journey called Life.

How about you?

Kick the Dust off and Keep Moving!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I was eager for the sunrise this morning, and I had the most precious time with the Living God on the front porch with a hot cup of coffee and a Willing Spirit. I may be a bold warrior in this crazy world of ours, but my Heart has been tenderized by the King, and if I’m not careful, I can find my way to Discouragement when I get hurt…and my Enemy knows it! Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home,” which (basically) means that it’s those closest to you who often work against you, ESPECIALLY when it comes to Kingdom work. I’m very blessed to have a kind, compassionate, and supportive family, and my household is a place of Peace and Honor for ALL. Over the years, I have purged my life of the most hurtful people, and I’ve “kicked the dust off” my feet more times than I can count. When it comes to Kingdom Business there’s no room to tolerate the work of the Enemy, who often uses those closest to us in an attempt to cause us to stumble. I think it might be time to do a little kicking and purging again to rid my life of a “friend” being used like a pawn of Satan set out to “rob, kill, and destroy” so I’m praying over hurt that could potentially cause me to “react” if I’m not careful. I’ll do whatever it takes – I’ll leave anything and anyone behind IF they are on a Mission to destroy BECAUSE my Relationship with Jesus Christ is far more important than my relationship with them! Isn’t that the way you see it too?

When we become Christians, we don’t become “perfect,” and we’re subject to hurt just like everybody else. It’s what we do with the hurt that separates us from the rest of the world, and it’s how we deal with the one who hurt us that matters even more. My Heart has been Tenderized by the King, so most hurtful things will easily roll off my back as I pray for the one who hurt me instead of focusing on my pain. I’ve been Heart Schooled by the Master, so most of the time I can speak words of Reason and Compassion to the one who hurt me, and most of the time they see their part in my hurt when I do. I’ve been filled with Wisdom by the One who Created me (because I ask for it every day), so most of the time I can see the hurt in the works long before it ever makes its way to my Heart. I’ve been Trained by the Heavenly Arbitrator, so most of the time I can easily settle a dispute with a willing one, and it has become easy to say “Forgive me” and mean it. Some hurts are minor wounds, and some hurts cut to the core. Some are minor infractions and some are massive betrayals. But no matter how small or how large the “offense” is, hurt and disappointment have no place in my Heart, and it’s always up to ME to get my Heart right, even if they don’t care to make things right with me. Hurt and disappointment have the potential to damage my Heart, and the pain I feel has the potential to take root within me if I’m not careful. So, I can’t afford to hold onto hurt, and I get to work on it as soon as it shows up! This is the Key to Maturity in Faith.

Sometimes I allow myself to temporarily wallow in my pain because I’m always SHOCKED when someone close to me hurts or betrays me. When I’m hurt or betrayed, my first thought is “I don’t deserve to be treated like that!”…But we aren’t wronged because we “deserve” to be. When we’re wronged, it’s because the other person thinks a whole lot more about themselves than they may ever think about us or how their actions pierced the heart of another. Those people haven’t grasped the “Love thy neighbor as thyself” command yet. When you think about it, that’s a VERY sad way to live. Maybe I’m inclined to lick my wounds sometimes, and I might spend a few days with a hurt and disappointed Heart every once in a while, but as long as I run to the Great Physician to get my OWN Heart Healed as fast as I can, I know that I’ll be able to forgive the other person in the Process. What has been done TO me dims in comparison to what the Living God expects FROM me in the midst of the Trial.

It took a Spiritual trip to the Woodshed, but eventually, I confessed it all to the Living God and I asked for Forgiveness for the condition of my OWN Heart – and NOW all is well with my Soul despite the wrong against me. I can’t control the other person allowing themselves to be used as a pawn for Satan set out to discourage and disarm me, so I’ll leave the Details up to them and God. The only things I can ever really control are my Heart, my mind, my soul, and my “space”. This is the Key to Humility.

How about you?

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times”

Worried? Get Out of the Cheap Seats!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped into the Presence of the Most High God and tossed all my cares at the foot of the Cross just as the sun was coming up this morning. I don’t exactly know how many things I prayed for this morning or how many people were placed on my Heart, but I am confident that each prayer I whispered to the God of all Creation was heard, AND I trust Him with the outcome of it all. His Word says, “Let us then approach the Throne of grace with confidence” – so it doesn’t make much sense to pray without confidence that we’ve been heard AND with confidence in the outcome even before we see it. After all, that’s what faith looks like. When I look out at this twisted world filled with desperate people attempting to live in chaos without Hope, I am MORE confident than ever that ALL they really need is the touch of my Master’s Hand, and everything can be made Right. Their state of hopelessness keeps me going day after day and year after year as I strive to share my Hope with them. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

It’s sad to see so many people living in fear and lacking confidence in the future, especially the ones who claim to Know the King of kings the way I do. From the bleachers of Life, they see calamity and uncertainty, and they have very little confidence in the future because of it. But from the Bleachers of Heaven, things don’t ever look the same as they do in this life! The God I Know “gives and takes away” – but when He decides it’s time to take away, He always has something Beautiful to replace it with…I am confident.

The God I know says, “I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things” – but when He creates disaster, it will always have a Beautiful outcome too…I am confident.

Most of the time, I have no idea what the Living God is up to, and I’ve learned not to lose sleep trying to figure Him out BECAUSE I am confident. His thoughts are not my thoughts, and His ways or not my ways – AND I’M GLAD I can’t see what He sees. Though my view from the Bleachers is not the same as His, I Know Him and I Trust Him completely.

He’s a God of the most amazing Surprises….the kind of Surprises that can take your breath away and leave you speechless. But He is also a God that allows things to happen that (sometimes) look hopeless if we gauge them by what we see with our eyes from the cheap seats…and THAT’S where most people get lost. Sadly, far too many people don’t approach “the Throne of Grace with confidence,” and they don’t Believe they have a shot at being heard. To make things worse, many believe they’re “sending prayers up” to the heavens like helium balloons while overlooking the honor of approaching the Throne of the Living God with confidence! I wish the ones reacting to life’s circumstances based solely upon their view from the cheap seats could know that with just One Touch of the Master’s Hand, and every twisted piece of life will be made Right again…I am confident.

I entered the Throne of Grace with confidence today, and I have “peace that surpasses all understanding” because of it. I am confident in the Lord of lords…the King of kings…the God of all Creation…the Prince of Peace…the Wonderful Counselor…Almighty God..The Great “I Am”…Jehovah Shammah, no matter what the view looks like from the bleachers, because I am confident in my Future with Him! I see what I see and I hear what I hear, BUT with eyes and ears more focused on Him than the latest headlines, I have no fear.

How about you?

“Go Forth and Multiply!”

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. We’ve had just the right amount of rain and sunshine this Spring, and everything is rejoicing because of it – from the trees to the wildlife…to me. The beauty I see as I watch the earth being “multiplied” by the touch of the Master’s hands defies words. When it comes to God, anything can be multiplied, and I know that even that glimpse of sunlight this morning was somehow multiplied for Good. Multiplication is not just a mathematical fact – it’s a Spiritual Truth and one that keeps me on my toes throughout my Journey. I don’t need to understand everything about the Creator of Life, I just need to understand that He Loves me…That He died for me…and that He’s my Shepherd. I just need to live FOR Him, and if I do that…Everything good in my Life is multiplied too! The “stakes” are high in the Journey of Faith and the Road can sometimes be rough, but when I consider all that He is and all that He does for me, I don’t chase after Him because He multiplies the Good, I chase after Him because He’s my Shepherd and the Provider of all. Isn’t that the way it is in your Journey of Faith too?

This time of year, the idea of multiplication is easy to understand because we see it everywhere. The birds are busy feeding their little ones, and the bunnies are training their young. The foxes have cubs hidden away in a safe den to protect them from harm, and the deer will soon be dropping their spotted fawns. Saplings are sprouting all around the mature trees, and many of the plants have dropped seeds and multiplied too. Multiplication is everywhere, and it is a magnificent sight to see. But of all the good things that are multiplied in Life, the greatest of these is Love. Love can light a fire too big to contain when it’s “fed and watered” by God, and the Harvest will be Multiplied every single time. After all, it was love that fueled the multiplication of the fishes and the loaves because when Jesus looked out at thousands of hungry Followers, He was moved with Compassion to help them. Of all the beauty I embrace from the front porch, absolutely nothing compares to the beauty of Love, and it’s Love that will have me Chasing after my Savior and Sharing the Good News of love all the days of my Life!

Multiplication isn’t specific to Love…it is true for “bad” things too! Hate will eat its way through an entire generation like a moth when it’s left unchecked. All it takes is one bad seed to destroy an entire family, and all it takes is one instance of unforgiveness to rot relationships from one end of a tribe to the other. All it takes is one set of parents who refuse to command respect from their children, and generations of rude will be born while rude is multiplied over and over again. Gossip can eat away until there’s nothing Good left, while the Devil can use those hurtful words to whisper lies for generations. When sin was multiplied in ways unacceptable to God, He flooded the entire world for a “do-over,” and when just one city was overrun with sexual sin, God destroyed it too. Nothing but Good comes out of Multiplying Love…but Consequences for multiplying “bad” will wreak havoc in an entire family and fill up Hell faster than you can say “amen.”

I’m embracing the Beauty of Multiplication this morning, and my Heart is ready to Love. The fields of Faith are ripe and ready for Harvest, and I’ll be working the Fields for Jesus all the days of my Life because I Love Him. Am I blessed? Of course, I am! Do things in my Life multiply? Of course, they do! The condition of my Life has nothing to do with being “special” or “favored” – it all comes down to Multiplication. Jesus used barley loaves to multiply a feast for the multitudes when barley (at that time) was used to feed the animals, so I know that He can multiply anything into Good if I just give it to Him the same as the boy gave his fish and loaves. I’m Multiplying Love, Faith, Joy, Peace, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How could my Life not overflow with Good things that have been Multiplied by the touch of the Master’s Hand?

How about you?

ESPECIALLY When it Doesn’t Make Sense!

/ 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 guaranteed to be filled with New Beginnings, and I’m excited to see what the Living God has planned for me today. I spent my time on the front porch and watched as everything around this old farm began

celebrating the new day…especially me. I don’t know what He has in mind for me today, but I’ll be doing His Will no matter what, and if He tells me to do something that doesn’t make sense to another living soul, I’ll do it anyway because I Love Him. I can’t begin to comprehend how He paints the beauty of a sunrise, and I don’t always understand His Ways in my Life…but it isn’t up to me to understand…it’s up to me to Trust and Obey. Isn’t that the way you look at the Journey of Faith, too?

,

It is fascinating to watch people exhaust themselves trying to understand God and His Ways even though God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”. It doesn’t come down to whether or not God’s Plan makes sense – it comes down to whether or not we’ll Trust and Obey even when it doesn’t. It made absolutely no sense to convert a worn-out horse barn into a place of worship, but that’s what God wanted. And now, just as it says in Haggai 1:8, “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.” Without a doubt, God is pleased with this old barn-turned-church and how He is glorified every step of the way. None of this would be possible without a ton of Trust and a whole lot of Obedience…especially when it didn’t make sense.

God gave man intellect above all other living creatures, and sometimes that intellect gets in the way of being willing to Trust and Obey. We analyze, evaluate, moderate, and rationalize when He prompts us to go in a Direction that makes no sense to the human mind whatsoever, as if we need to help the Living God make sense of His Plans! Some people live their entire lives doing absolutely nothing for the Living God because they don’t have the trust of a gnat. Sadly, they’ll likely die without fulfilling their Purpose all because what God had for them needed to make perfect sense to the HUMAN mind before they’re willing to Serve. The Truth is that stretching the intellect has no place in Trust and Obey because it always comes down to Faith. Humans can diffuse a Miracle faster than they can say “amen,” all because they went looking for logic in His Will. His Plans won’t be changed just because we need to “prove” to ourselves that God wants them completed – He’ll just find another Vessel that knows how to Trust and Obey – and THAT Vessel will have the Honor of being part of a God-size Plan that makes little sense to the intellectual mind.

Countless people have gone before me as Examples of what it looks like to Trust and Obey when it doesn’t make sense to the human mind, and I choose to follow their Lead. Joshua was told to march around the walls of Jericho seven times to crumble the walls around the city of his enemy, and that warrior did what He was told because of Trust and Obey. Noah was told to build an ark to prepare for a flood when he’d never seen a drop of rain, and that old man did what he was told because of Trust and Obey. Peter was told to go fishing and to pull a gold coin out of the mouth of the first fish he caught so that it could be used to pay their taxes. Peter did what he was told to do because of Trust and Obey. A penniless widow was told to gather up jars, fill them with oil that flowed out of “nowhere”, and then sell the oil to sustain her family financially, and she did what she was told to do because of Trust and Obey. I like being a Vessel that can be used by the Living God, and it all comes down to Trust and Obey…ESPECIALLY when it doesn’t “make sense” to the human mind.

I’m kicking off a new day in my Journey of Faith with a willingness to Trust and Obey no matter what. If you’re the kind of person who needs a detailed plan and a written guarantee from God before you are willing to move forward, you won’t want to hang out with me. Some say I fly by the seat of my pants, but that’s not true…I fly with absolute Confidence about when and where He tells me to fly, and I don’t need to know what’s ahead to be willing to move forward in His name! I won’t waste any of my God-given intellect trying to figure out if His Plans make sense to me, that’s for sure. Instead, I’ll go where He tells me to go and I’ll do what He tells me to do whenever He tells me to do it! I LOVE Him and I choose to Trust and Obey all the days of my life because of it. Now THAT makes perfect sense!

How about you?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

What Surrender Looks Like…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God in the wee hours of this new day, and I turned to my Instruction Manual hungry for Truth like a deer panting for water. When I looked out across the fields this morning, its beauty almost took my breath away…all over again. This old farm holds its own when it comes to beauty, that’s for sure, but what makes it breathtakingly beautiful really comes down to Surrender more than anything else. It’s in that place of Surrender that we find the Greatest Rewards. It’s as if the more we turn things over to the Living God, the more He fills our lives to overflowing…not with tangible things but with Himself! His Word says, “I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go” – and that’s what He’s done for me. He is my God, and I am His child…beyond that, nothing in this Life really matters! Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey, too?

It seems to be so easy for people to claim their prizes in life, from tangible things like a farm in Virginia to children to bank accounts – but that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Oh, plenty of people thank Him for the prizes they receive – but the Treasures are found when we do more Surrendering than we do just thanking. He is the Prize Giver…the Author of it all. He doesn’t just flood us with blessings to make us happy, He floods us with blessings to Surrender instead, and the more we’re willing to Surrender, the bigger the Blessings flow. Once we get to the point of total surrender to Him, we become the Delighted Ones, filled with so much Peace and Joy that it cannot be contained. It’s at that point…that place of total Surrender…Surrender without limitations…THEN He gives “your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” What a Mighty God I serve!

I’ve Surrendered my life and everything in it to the One Who died for me, and He has given my life to me as a Prize. I Live for Him and I strive to Love like Him – not much matters to me beyond that. I know that no harm can come to me because He has placed a “hedge of protection” around me and my Life…the Life I’ve already surrendered. No harm can come to this beautiful farm because “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” – the place I’ve already surrendered. Surrender is where the Heavenly Prizes are unveiled…so, Surrender it is for me…day after day…Everything I have and all that I am. You won’t find me clinging to things of this world, that’s for sure, because apart from Him I have “no good thing.”

How about you?

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight

YOU 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. I got out of bed with no aches or pains and more energy than most people my age only dream of having, and I gave thanks to the Living God for a body still willing to cooperate wth my Heart. But it’s not having an able body that matters the most – it’s having a Sound mind and a Willing Spirit too – and that’s where my morning time with the King of all kings comes in. When we meet, my Heart overflows with Gratitude for all that He is and all that He does for me; and when we meet, it’s time for us both to work on the Condition of my Heart. But the condition of my mind is an entirely different thing – it’s my Responsibility to do that part on my own. If I allow destructive thoughts to take up residence in my mind, I can easily destroy all the Work that has been put into my Heart! Destructive thoughts can easily thwart all the Plans He has for me today…and even for the rest of my Life! He shields my body and gives me Strength. He nurtures my Heart and Tenderizes it for Good, and I make sure to do my part with my mind. Isn’t that the way the Journey of Faith is for you, too?

It doesn’t do much good to work on the Heart, only to leave the mind on autopilot, which gives our Adversary a free pass to torment the mind. He’s always ready to whisper thoughts of defeat, failure, heartbreak, judgment, criticism, bitterness toward someone else, or bitterness over our circumstances – ALL these things work against the flow of a Mighty God and His Plans for each of us. The mind is like a digital recorder that can conjure up the worst memories and the most discouraging or destructive thoughts in the blink of an eye, and when it does, all of the Work that we put into the Heart can be slowly snuffed out. God doesn’t just watch our Actions, He sees inside the heart AND the mind, and He knows our thoughts without us speaking at all. It’s not His fault if we have a head full of junk, and He’s not going to be the one to fix it. It’s our job to do our part on the mind, to be sure that the Heart can do all the Good that He has Planned for us. This is the KEY to the sound mind God has given to each one of His children! “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

How many times have we heard someone say, “I can’t help it” or “I can’t get it out of my mind”, but that’s not true! We have the POWER to “take captive every thought” and clean up the mind this very minute. How many times have we heard someone say, “I’m asking God to help me with my thoughts”? – but He CAN’T control your thoughts – YOU have to do that part on your own. The good news is that the more time we spend in His Presence of the Most High God and the more Time we spend on the Heart, the more manageable the mind becomes. Eventually, we begin to recognize dangerous and destructive thoughts the minute they come knocking, and we take immediate ACTION to evict them before they take up residence. This is the Key to Strength and Growth.

There are countless examples in the Bible of the importance of our thoughts, and it’s pretty clear that WE are expected to control them. We’re instructed to FOCUS on good thoughts – “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. We’re offered encouragement about how everything CAN change IF we do OUR PART on the mind – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is”. We’re even warned about how our thoughts reveal the truth of who we really are – “As a man THINKS in his heart; so is he”. We’re shown the way to Hope – “With minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the Grace to be brought to you”. And we know that the heart follows our thoughts “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The List could go on and on and each example that we’re given is ABUNDANTLY clear that WE are responsible for our thoughts and nobody else is to blame for what whirls around in the head.

I rejoice over strength, stamina, and a healthy body. My heart is consumed with love for the Living God, and I’m ready to do battle within my mind so that I can be ALL that He created me to be and so that I don’t become my own “worst enemy”.

I’m laser-focused, tenderized by the King, and ready to do battle..beginning with me.

How about you?

While the Dew is Still on the Roses…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. When I stepped outside to take my first breath of fresh air for the day, it was only in the 30s, BUT it was magnificent. Every day, I see more of the trees budding out, and pretty soon, Virginia will be in full bloom. As I sat there taking it all in, I noticed that the ground was covered in dew, and I smiled when I considered how God had watered the earth even without the rain. That’s my God for you! He thinks of everything. By the Time I stepped into the Presence of the One who gives Instructions to the dew, I was eager to be Taught. The first order of business is ALWAYS to examine my Heart to be sure there is nothing within me that could grieve the Holy Spirit. It takes Humility to ask the God of all Creation to look inside your Heart – especially when we know He will see it all…good, bad, and ugly – But that’s the ONLY way to draw nearer to Him each day. So, here I am again, Ready and Willing to be Molded by my Maker so that I can be all that He Created me to be. Isn’t that the way your Relationship with the King of all kings is, too?

There are lots of reasons why people don’t continue to Grow for as long as they live, but I think the biggest reason is pride. It’s often said, “pride comes before the fall,” but that’s just the “Reader’s Digest Version” of the Words in Proverbs that drive the message home – “pride goes before destruction, a haughty (arrogant) spirit before a fall”. Pride is what prevents us from being willing to be transparent (even to the Living God), and pride is what keeps us from Sharing our Trials. Pride is where we convince ourselves that we’re something we’re not, and that we’re bigger and better than what we really are. Pride is what makes us run from the Spirit of God when it’s Lesson Time, and pride is what stands in the way of revealing our weaknesses. Pride is what prompts us to judge someone else, and pride is what makes us lie to ourselves about who and what we really are. Pride drives greed, and it drives lies. It’s pride that prevents us from helping the helpless, and it’s pride that leads us to find our identity in wealth. A prideful heart refuses to admit when it’s wrong, and pride stands in the way of forgiveness of another. There’s no end to the destruction that pride brings with it, and eventually pride will build a shell around the heart that it is so hard, that we’re no longer recognizable as God’s people and we’re useless to the King. There’s no room for pride if we want to grow, and unless we get a handle on pride, we can’t find Humility.

I’ve been slapped around by people of Faith more often than I can count when they hear me Confess my Weaknesses or Share my Trials or temptations as if Christians live a flawless Life. Long gone are the Testimonies we heard in church – in part because the Church no longer makes time to hear what God is doing within the flock – but also because they don’t think the “imperfections” should ever be discussed. Their pride drives them to believe that if you are a person of Faith, all those things (including sin) are just things of the past. They stifle the Holy Sprit by choosing to remain silent about what God is doing (and has done) in their lives. They’ve been lied to by the Father of ALL lies into believing that it’s best to remain silent about what God is doing in our lives…good, bad, or ugly. But isn’t that what a Good Testimony is? From where I sit, I believe these people reject the idea of sharing a Good Testimony because they might be asked to Share their Story one day too…something they’re far too prideful to do. As for me, I have NO pride when it comes to being a Vessel for the Living God. He saved a wretch like me, and I want the world to Know it. I am confident that the more I Share about my own Life, the more inclined God will be to use me to help someone else. It hasn’t been pretty, but it has absolutely “worked together for Good” because I LOVE HIM AND I’VE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE”.

My Life hasn’t been a “big mess”, even though it’s felt that way (and may have looked that way too) sometimes. My valleys have been deep, BUT my mountaintops are glorious, and the Molder of my Faith never stopped providing the dew even when it refused to rain. My Life is a Living, Breathing Witness to the Power and Might of my God, and I’ll NEVER be too proud to Share it. Every experience has Grown me, and all the pain has made me Stronger. But most importantly, I Know that “all things God works for the good of those who LOVE HIM, who have been CALLED according to His purpose”…so ALL of it has been used for Good- Hallelujah! My Life has Purpose, and I’m Humbled to be used by the King. So, whenever the spirit of pride tries to sneak in, and I’m inclined to take credit for things in my life, it’s time for a Lesson in Humility straight from the Throne of the Living God. I invite Him to look inside my Heart and to show me ALL my flaws so that I can make things right before the One Who died for me. I may not like it much when it’s Lesson Time, but I’m ready and willing to be Molded by my Maker so that I can be ALL that He intends for me to be for as long as there is breath in my body.

How about you?

He Fills Up My Senses….

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. This was the first morning of this year that I’ve lingered on the front porch long enough to watch God wake up the world despite the cooler temperature, and it was glorious! The sunrise wasn’t as bold and beautiful as it is sometimes, BUT I’m still flying high after the magnificent moon I saw from the front porch last night, so that’s just fine with me. As God turned on the light of the sun, nature began to celebrate, and my Heart overflowed to be front and center on the front porch at sunrise one more time. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone, so when I wake up on a new day, I give thanks to the One Who gives me life. This morning, I gave thanks for everything I saw and heard and for the blessing of sight to see and ears to hear. Every little creature seemed to remind me of a Bible verse, so I’d open up my Bible to read the Words that God put on my heart using His creation, and all my senses came to life. I’ve missed my time outside with Him, that’s for sure. To me, there’s just something more Powerful about His Presence when I can witness His Majesty for myself at sunrise, and it’s impossible to describe what my Heart feels when I do. Isn’t that the way you greet a new day of Life, too?

It’s interesting to consider our God-given senses and how often we just tune in to one or two of them ONLY when we need them, and we leave the rest behind until we do. Sometimes we touch, but we don’t feel. Sometimes we see, but we don’t hear. Sometimes we hear, but we don’t look. Sometimes we smell, but we don’t taste. There’s no end to how we tap into one of our senses without even thinking about it, but we often make no attempt to use the others unless we’re forced to. It’s when we lose one of our senses, or when it becomes impaired, that other senses kick in to pick up the slack for the loss without us trying at all. It’s when hearing becomes impaired that sight becomes even more important, and it’s when sight becomes impaired that we learn to navigate with fine-tuned hearing. It’s amazing to see how the body will naturally do what it’s designed to do without any effort from us at all! But when we learn to slow down – when we allow ourselves to take all the blessings of Life in – when we ponder the Majesty of a Mighty God – and when we savor the circumstance we’re in the middle of at that very moment in time – EVERY SINGLE THING within us can come alive through our senses, and when it does, it takes the Appreciation for the Hand of the Living God to an entirely different level.

My Dad lost his eyesight later in life, and I was blessed to have the chance to became his eyes. I described (in great detail) everything I saw so that he could “see” it too. Everything from the clouds in the sky to a good play in a little league baseball game, I did my best to paint a picture for my Dad. Not once in his 20 years of blindness did I EVER hear him complain or question God for taking his sight away. Instead, I heard him give thanks for all the other senses that were “workin’ just fine”. Not once did I hear him whine about not being able to do all those things he used to be able to do. When he could have said, “I wish I could see your smile,” he’d say, “I love to hear you laugh” instead. My Dad LOVED God’s creation, and I learned how to appreciate it all through him. It wasn’t easy watching his sight fade away, that’s for sure, especially because of how he loved to take in the beauty of each new day as it unfolded, too. But the more his sight faded, the more enhanced his listening became, and he lived life to the fullest all the days of his life here on earth because of it. That’s what Gratitude looks like, and I’m blessed to have learned the greatest lessons on Gratitude for my Heavenly Father from my earthly one. His “loss” was my gain.

When I have the chance to meet with God on the front porch at sunrise, I’m NOT taking in the scenery like a sightseer, although the view is magnificent from where I sit. When I meet with the Living God from the front porch, it’s a Spiritual time for me, and ALL of my senses come alive, and I can see the Miracle of His Creation in everything around me. I can hear the birds and the wind. I can smell fresh cut grass or hay and sometimes the faint smell of honeysuckle or lilacs close by. I can taste the sweetness of Heaven, and I can almost touch the Hand of the Master as I allow Him to take me by the hand and lead me every day. It all begins with a Heart that is Surrendered to the King. Unless (or until) that happens, the Heart is blinded to the Beauty all around – in the good times and the not-so-good times – and no other sense can pick up the slack for a Heart that fails to See.

There’s no question this old farm is a beautiful place, and sitting on the front porch is a Treasure. But what brings this old farm to life has nothing to do with the view from the porch! What makes this old farm so special is the Peace of God that can be felt by everyone who pauses here. I invite Him here. I meet with Him here. I celebrate Him here. I surrender to Him here, and I guard my Peace like the gold at Fort Knox – nothing and no one will be taking that away. I ASK for His Peace and Protection here as I pray over every inch of the farmhouse and every acre of the land every single day, and every single one of my God-given senses come alive to Worship Him here with everything within me.

I am His child…He is my God…and this is His farm.