love

365 Tiny Little Pieces…Happy New Day!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cold in Virginia this morning. We had a dusting of snow overnight, and we have a wind chill factor of 11° this morning. You can hear the flags blowing from inside the farmhouse, and although it’s probably wise to take them down when the wind is blowing like this, I love to them fly all year long. After all, sometimes beauty must override practicality. It’s a new day of a New Year, and there’s no place I’d rather be than in the presence of a Mighty God as I Surrender my Life and everything in it to Him all over again. I don’t put a whole lot of emphasis on the “New Year” because I’m busy beginning something “new” in each and every new day. Though this will be a quiet semi “day off” for me, there’s no such thing as taking a “day off” when it comes to spending time with the One who gives us Life, Hope, and a Future…and He’s worthy of Celebrating EVERY DAY of every New Year. I sure never want Him to take a “day off” from me and my Life, so why would I set Him aside to take a “day off” from Him either? I’m so grateful that I don’t serve a fair-weather God, and I don’t want to be an on-again off-again Servant. Isn’t that the way you look at the Journey of Faith, too?

I’m sure it’s easy for people to think that I’m an uptight Christian because of my diligence and my never-ending talk about Jesus Christ (even on a good “day off”), but there’s nothing uptight about me at all. I’m consumed with Love for the Living God, and when you’re consumed with love, it’s not easy to think about or to talk about anything else. He makes me smile. He makes my Heart overflow with Love and Compassion. He’s Strong when I’m weak, and I know that He will never leave me or forsake me. I love Him so much that sometimes I want to sing and dance! He takes care of ALL my needs, and I know that I don’t have to worry about anything at all. He makes me feel safe and protected and loved. He is the purest definition of Peace, and Peace is what you see when you look at me and my Life. I’m focused on pleasing Him because I LOVE Him and not because I live in fear of Him or because I’m uptight about what I’m supposed to be doing…even on a good “day off”. When it comes to a love that is SO beautiful that it consumes me, does it make sense at all that I’d want to take a “day off”? I’m not uptight…I’m Happy, and I’m at Peace, and I’m filled with Joy, and IT SHOWS…365 days a year…even on those good “days off”. That’s what it looks like to have a Relationship with the King!

The old saying, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” is a good reminder (and motivator) for us all. Obviously, it’s a reminder NOT to procrastinate, which we’re probably all guilty of doing at one point or another. BUT there’s no procrastination of any personal goal on the planet that comes at a higher cost than procrastinating over things God wants to do in your life. Putting God off – or putting off a commitment to Surrender to Him – can come with eternal consequences that make procrastinating over silly things like losing weight or saving more money “next year” look like Romper Room. If I had one “resolution” to recommend to the world, it would be that each one would Resolve to Love Him more…to Serve Him with Passion…and to NEVER shut up about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you, even for one hour of any new day of this New Year.

No doubt I’m excited about a new year just like everybody else, but every single day is a New Beginning for me. Every day is a Fresh Start. Every day has Endless possibilities. Every day is filled with Hope and Plans and Purpose. Every day has Unlimited Potential. Every day has Success just waiting for me. Every day I have unlimited Strength. The sky is the limit when it comes to the Blessings that I have today AND that I’ll have Tomorrow. Every single day is filled with Love, Joy, Peace, and Contentment. With that in mind, why would I clump everything together into one big celebration when I can break this year down into 365 pieces and Celebrate every single day, like the Blessing it really is? “This is a day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it”…365 times this year. You wonder how I can remain so EXCITED about my God and my Journey? That’s how!

Uptight? Nah…just I’m just Consumed with Love and I’ll never want a “day off” from that!

How about you?

Farewell To a Beautifully Imperfect Year…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I met with the Living God before the sun lit up the sky this morning, and it’s the last day that I’ll be meeting with Him this year. I sat there in silence for the longest time, and I thought back on the year and all that I have to be thankful for, and I see how much living has been packed into this one single year. Another year passed by quickly for me, but it sure isn’t closing out as “just another year.” It’s been rough, and it’s been rich, and it’s been everything in between, and through it all God has led me “by the right hand” just as He promises to do. When I look at it that way, how could I NOT celebrate everything about the chapter I close each and every day? Isn’t that the way you look at the New Year, too?

We’ve had the blessing of welcoming a new baby into our family this year, and I’ve wept over the loss of a few friends. I’ve celebrated the marriage of one of my friends, and I’ve mourned the end of another. I’ve met a few new friends along the way, and I’ve walked away from a few who desired to pull me down to the pit with along with them. I’ve used Words to encourage my world every single chance I’ve been given, and I’ve used Words to speak painful Truths as God leads. I’ve shared my Faith in every corner of my life, every chance I’ve been given, and I’ve felt the pain of judgment a few times because of it. I worked hard to fulfill a few Plans that God had for me, and I’ve endured the ridicule that comes with it sometimes – not over my Heart for Jesus Christ but all because I’m a woman.

I worked hard to maintain Peace in my life, and I’ve had a few moments of painful controversy. I asked for forgiveness as I became aware of my wrongs against another, and I forgave others for wronging me…even when it wasn’t easy. I’ve had the honor of being asked to pray for another, and I’ve prayed for plenty of others that probably wish I wouldn’t. I’ve had days filled with overwhelming joy and a few consumed by overwhelming sadness, and through it ALL, He took me “by the right hand,” and He led me through it all. I’ll ALWAYS be Victorious because of Him and His Divine Leadership over my Life…and THAT’S the reason I celebrate every single second of this year that will soon be behind me. He’s the “Author and Perfecter” of my Faith, and He’ll always use the good, the bad, and the ugly to Strengthen me for the Journey…IF I let Him take me “by the right hand” and lead me, that is.

I’m filled with excitement about what the Lord has for me EVERY DAY in this coming year, and I’ll be doing my part to be sure that I’m ready, willing AND found worthy to do the work of the King. There’s no doubt that I’ll experience pain and loss and a little heartbreak this year, but I’m not worried about any of that stuff because He will take me “by the right hand” and He’ll see me through no matter what. I’m celebrating Victory before I even witness it, and I’m ONLY thinking Good about my future. I’m facing an exciting New Year, and although it won’t be any more perfect than any of the others before it, I’ll be ready for whatever comes my way…because of Him. I won’t be worried about my future because He says, ” Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Instead, I’ll be waking up each new day with anticipation for what He has for me on THAT day…AND I’ll be willing to do His work with gladness through it all.

So long to this imperfect year for this imperfect woman. It was more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. It was rich, and it was rough, but I walked with the Living God every step of the way, and He led me “by the right hand” through it all…AND THAT’S how I can find Joy and Peace and Contentment no matter what’s going on in the world.

How about you?

There’s No Mistaking Who I Stand For!

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The cold morning air is forcing me to spend most of my time with the Living God inside these days, but I never lose a chance to take in the glory of the morning, even for just a little while, from the front porch. For years, this porch was graced with hanging plants, but when I grew tired of being held hostage by birds nesting in them, I replaced them with flags. So, now, this old porch is graced with four flags, each representing something I stand for. As I sat before God this morning and looked at those flags, I considered what I stand for and wondered if what I Stand for is as easy for the world to see as those flags are. It doesn’t matter much if people look at these four flags and they don’t “get” what they represent to me…but it matters a WHOLE lot if people look at my Life and they don’t see what I stand for or Who I Represent. Isn’t that something that you consider, too?

It’s so easy for us to look at the outer edges of a person and draw our own conclusions about what they stand for just by what we see on the outside. Sometimes people attempt to put the world on notice about what they stand for by placing bumper stickers on their cars or by wearing a cross around their neck. Sometimes those things are intended to be gentle (and silent) reminders, and sometimes those things are intended to provoke. Just like the flags hanging on this front porch, if people don’t “get” what they represent, they merely serve as decoration. Sometimes people attempt to make their mark on the world by tattooing their bodies or piercing their skin in unimaginable ways. But just like the flags hanging on the front porch, if people don’t “get” what they represent, they merely serve as body art. There is no end to what can be done in our attempt to put the world on notice about what we represent, but what we stand for takes a whole lot more than flying a flag over our lives. What we stand for takes Action words and Relationships to be seen by the world.

I have a crazy sense of humor (thanks to my Dad) and I’ve had a roller coaster life for sure, so IF I never spoke up about what I Stand for, the world may see me as just someone fun to be around and someone with lots of good stories to tell. But nobody has to be in my presence for long before they see AND hear about what I Stand for and Who I Represent. Some may perceive me as being ONLY interested in fun things and funny things because of my personality, but they’d be wrong about that! With just one opportunity to change my Tune to comfort a suffering soul, or to speak Words of Wisdom from God, and what I Stand for and Who I Represent is front and center. Some could believe that I can find humor in anything…and there’s a lot of truth to that…and they might hesitate to share their pain with me for fear of my laughing at them. BUT with just a few words about my Life Journey and all of the pain I’ve endured in His Name, they open up like a blooming flower with no fear of judgment from me. I don’t rely on bumper stickers on my car or a cross around my neck to make a Statement to the world about what I Stand for; I live it, I breathe it, and I speak it. What I Stand for is a part of me, and taking Action with Words and Relationships is as natural to me as breathing.

Waving my Faith around for all the world to see has come at a high price, but that’s okay. The One I Stand for warned me that they “will hate you because of Me”. Make no mistake, they don’t hate the silence; they hate hearing the Name of Jesus Christ boldly Proclaimed as I wave my Faith around for all the world to see. He died for me, the least I can do is Live for Him, amen?

I like to think of myself as being a little like those flags on the front porch. Bright and colorful, resilient, able to withstand the winds, flexible, bold, and forever making a Statement for the world to see. You’ll NEVER find me being a SILENT Representation of what I Stand for or Who I Represent, and you won’t find me relying on some outward “sign” to make a Statement on my behalf. I’m a child of the Living God…I’m Royalty…I’m Unstoppable…I’m Victorious…I’m Redeemed…and there is never a doubt about what I Stand for or Who I Represent.

I Love Him…I Live for Him…I Serve Him…and it shows.

How about you?

Be Like The Oak Tree…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up the way I always do…filled with Gratitude for another day to Serve the Author and Perfector of my Faith. Living is one thing…living with Purpose is an entirely different story altogether, so I have Purpose in mind this morning. The Fall season has officially set in, and every day looks different from the one before, as nature heads toward winter. As I sat there looking at the sun illuminating the color of this old oak tree, the tree reminded me of my Life. The old oak may be a few hundred years older than I am, but we have a lot in common. We’re both standing tall and strong after many years of being upright, and we both have very deep roots. We’re both changing as the season comes to an end, and neither one of us knows precisely when we’ll succumb. We’ve both been through the storms and lived to “tell about it,” and neither of us gave in under pressure. We’re both pretty colorful when the Time is right, and we both have grown where we were planted by the hand of God. We’ve both endured, no matter how hard the wind blew year after year. We’ve both shed some branches when it was time to let them go, and we’ve both gotten stronger because of it. We both show some wear and tear from the journey, but we just keep getting more beautiful over time. I’m pretty sure the old oak won’t cry when I lose my journey on this earth, but I’m sure I’ll cry for the old oak if it surrenders its life before I do. This beautiful old tree made me think about Life and how each one of our days is different than the last as we head toward the “winter” too. Yesterday becomes a memory, and tomorrow becomes a dream. Today is all we really have to work with and our greatest opportunity to Live, to Serve, to Share, and to Love. Isn’t that the way you look at the new day, too?

We could all learn from the old oak tree that focuses on nothing more than digging deeper roots and reaching for the Son day after day. Unfortunately, it seems to be so easy for people to live in the past or in the future while they squander away TODAY. Some are “stuck” in the past, while others are so focused on the future that they forget about the blessings of NOW. When you think about it, today really IS like “the first day of the rest of your life,” and today is all we have any control over whatsoever. We can’t change what we did or didn’t do yesterday, and since tomorrow is promised to no one, all the things we dream of for tomorrow should be focused on today. If there is any Unfinished Business, like asking for forgiveness or making our peace, leftover from yesterday, today is the day to make it right. If there is an unspoken “I love you” or a word of encouragement that could change the course of another, today is the day to speak it. If there is anyone in our world who has never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, today is the day to Share it. If there is anything within us that holds us back from all the things the Living God has for us, today is the day to move forward in His Name. There’s no end to the things that should be reconciled on a new day, and there is seemingly no end to the putting off. Yesterday is only a memory now, and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to an Abundant Life in all the ways that matter.

Some people have a “near-death” experience that puts things in perspective for them…at least for a little while. But every day is a near-death day for all of us because tomorrow is promised to no one, AND YET, we have so little regard for the frailty of life that we’ll put off the important things as if we have all the time in the world. When you look at it that way, how can any of us dare to squander even one day? There is a past that needs to stay in the past and a future to dream about. The Bible says “Without a vision the people perish” and that “hope deferred makes the heart sick”, so, looking forward with longing is a good thing for the Heart and Soul. It’s when we linger in thoughts of tomorrow while squandering away today that we stand the chance of NOT living long enough to see what the Heart has been longing for all along. Yesterday is a memory, and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to living Life to the fullest in all the ways that matter.

I’ve been on top of the mountain and deep in the valley and every place in between…but my past is now in the past where it belongs. The only piece of the past that has any Value for today is the Wisdom I gained in the Process. The “bad” has been Forgiven, and the Trials have become my Testimony, which is Shared with the world today with Purpose. I have Dreams for my future, and I take steps to fulfill them every day, BUT my future isn’t here yet, so I Focus on Today just like the old oak tree does. Today will be the most spectacular day in the history of me, and I’ll continue to be like the old oak tree – standing tall and with roots that grow deeper every day.

This day will be filled with Gratitude and countless surprises straight from the Throne of a Mighty God. The past has become but a memory, and the future is only a dream, but I have TODAY to do Good in His Name, and I can’t imagine a better way to spend any day Allotted to me.

How about you?

Are You Focusing on the Ugly?

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

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

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

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

He Already Knows…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was 0° at sunrise this morning and although I’m longing for some warmer days, I accept what it is today because I trust the Master’s Hand with everything in my Life. He already Knows my plans have been thwarted because of the snow, ice, and cold and He Knows that we haven’t been able to gather at The Well for a few weeks because of it. He already Knows that people are struggling just to heat their homes and that schools are closing until the conditions are safer for the kids and the buses. He already Knows that some people don’t have shelter to escape the bitter temperatures and that some will lose a life or limb because of it. He already Knows it all because He’s already in Tomorrow. As I considered my God who is the “same yesterday, today, and forevermore” I was overwhelmed and I began to weep. I didn’t need to tell Him that I needed a little “extra” this morning…He met me right where I was on this cold January morning because He already knows EVERYTHING about me, He Loves me, and He died for me! The Love and Compassion of the Living God never cease to amaze me. Isn’t that the way it is for you sometimes too?

From where I sit, it seems so easy for some people to believe they’re small in the eyes of a busy God all because of the natural thought process of man, but they miss out on the most amazing Relationship when they do. We tend to gauge our relationship with the Living God the way we gauge all of our other relationships, but God doesn’t work that way. Some people have a hard time accepting that God could forgive them of something horrific they did in the past, but that’s because they know that man is inclined to withhold forgiveness like a judge and jury even though the God they profess tells them to forgive no matter what. Some people struggle to conquer a wrong and they repeat it over and over again because they refuse to accept His Grace. But even Paul struggled with that one – “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” and God loved Paul enough to hunt him down on the road to Damascus because He Knew Paul was the perfect man for the “job” – past and all. What’s “good” for Paul is good for you and me BUT we need to learn to Trust the Hand of God like Paul did especially when we don’t necessarily like the way things are going. That’s the Key to a rich Relationship with the King of all kings.

Man issues “tolerance limits” on relationships but God never does…because Christ already paid the price and He’s always ready to forgive when we ask. Some people live as if they can hide their dirty little secrets forever but that’s because they don’t Trust in the God who holds tomorrow…the One Who already Knows it all and loves us anyway. Nothing slips by God – not the 0° temperatures at the farm this morning and not things the Devil likes to tell us are “secret”. The enemy comes to “rob, kill, and destroy” and nothing gives him leverage like believing that God is too big to care. As for me, I Know that I’m a child of the Living God and He says that I’m Royalty and because I Know WHO I am in Christ, I’ll never think my life is too small to matter to a big God.

Gauging the Love of God the way we gauge our other relationships is a clear sign that we don’t understand who He is at all. In fact, it goes to show that it’s not YOU who is too small for Him…it’s Him you think is too small for you! His Word says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord.” There’s not a relationship on earth that is “perfect” and not a human being that will never cause you pain; but that’s the nature of man. God never stops loving. He never gives up on us no matter how many times we fall. He can’t be fooled. He sees it all. He knows the Heart. He knows the mind. He forgives it all. He doesn’t have boundaries on His Love, and He’ll forgive the offenses matter how vile every single time we Repent.

Gauging His love against every other love is not only an insult to the One that “scattered the stars and sky and knows them each by name,” but it’s absolute foolishness! Who would want a god that loves us the way man does? Who would want a god that could be fooled? Who would want a god that says, “I’ve had enough!?” Who would want to serve a god with limitations and boundaries? It’s only when we stop looking at the Living God as if He has the nature of man that we find Peace and Joy AND Love as we’ve never known before!

I began this day with the coldest temperatures we’ve seen in a while and important plans that have been thwarted because of it. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I inclined myself to the Author and Perfecter of my Faith – the Creator of this new day – and I spent time Reinforcing my Trust in the One with the Master Plans. I found my Peace in a world I don’t understand. I found my Joy that always “cometh in the morning” and I found my Contentment. You won’t hear me whining no matter what today (or tomorrow) brings. God has great Plans for me and when He says “forever” I know He means it. I’m looking forward to my Forever with Him and I want to Glorify Him until He carries me to my New Home to live “happily ever after” with Him!

How about you?

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead”…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The first day of the New Year is an exciting time for me for more reasons than I can count. The Bible says, “Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare” but you can’t blame a girl trying to give thanks for each one or for giving Glory to the One to bless me with another year to Serve. As I watched the Master wake up the world on this first day of this New Year, I Dedicated it all to Him all over again. I prayed Blessings over this New Year and I thanked Him for things I haven’t even seen with my own eyes YET. Sadly, some people are saying “good riddance” to the year they left behind as if God screwed up and dealt them a bad one. Some people are gauging the quality of the year left behind based on the outcome of an election as if man has the power to make or break the day. Some people slept through the last year and they’ll sleep through the new one as if there’s nothing worth Living for beyond their own needs. As for me? I don’t care much about anything besides how God wants to use me in this New Year, so my Biggest Goal is to be sure that I’m found Worthy and ready for Him at all times. Isn’t that the way you look at your Journey of Faith too?

I’m sure there were plenty of resolutions made for the new year and sadly most of them will never be fulfilled. Things like losing weight or finding love aren’t bad things to strive for BUT they don’t mean much in the Bigger Picture of Life. Striving to change our lifestyle is one thing, but striving to change our Character and Who we are in Christ…now that’s an entirely different story AND the only meaningful Goal there is. As for me, this year I’m going to love more and I’ll begin with the Love of my Life. I’m not going to miss a single day in this New Year giving thanks to the Living God for all that He is and all that He does for me. I will dig deep within my soul and remove anything that stands in the way of the richness of my Relationship with Him – I’ll also purge whatever hinders me from becoming everything He created me to be. Though my mind can’t comprehend how it could be possible to Love Him even more than I do today, I’ll make it my Mission in this New Year to Experience more than I’ve ever known in His Name. By Loving my God more, I’ll have abounding love to Share with my family, my friends, and anybody else I come in contact with who needs Love and Compassion from me. It all begins with the Love of my Life.

I’ve been Blessed to have been loved BIG by countless people throughout my lifetime, but nobody has ever loved me as much as He does. I’ve loved so big myself that I thought my heart would burst wide open, but I’ve never loved anybody as much as I Love Him. The world can keep changing and it doesn’t much matter to me because I’ll just keep clinging to the Only One with the Answers while I share Hope with the world around me as He Opens the doors. You’ll never hear me say “good riddance” to a year full of days to Serve the Creator of All, that’s for sure! I’ll keep Serving every day, year after year…in good years and in not-so-good years and with every breath I have because THAT’S what Love looks like.

Happy New Year, world.

Philippians 3:13-14 But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

It’s MEANINGLESS Without The Right Heart…

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Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s gloomy and cold this morning and they’re calling for more rain or snow. Since I like nothing more than fields covered with snow for Christmas, I’m hoping for the snow. When I met with the Living God this morning, I had the hardest time trying to take captive every thought to bring His Word into my spirit. A long list of things to do kept popping into my head and my Praising turned into planning over and over again. All of the holiday preparations filled my mind and instead of focusing on the Greatest Gift of all, I was focused on all the gifts I’m making for others. I finally confessed my weakness to Him and it didn’t take long for Him to take me to the Spiritual Woodshed with a Firm Reminder about the Heart. No matter what I do – no matter what need I’m trying to fill – no matter who or how I serve – no matter what I say – no matter how elaborate the gift I make – if I don’t have the right Heart, all of it is MEANINGLESS. I began to weep as I thought about how my labor of love could so easily transition into lame projects. I never want to “go through the motions” when it comes to the Living God, and I never want to work myself into a frenzy just for the sake of doing good. Isn’t that the way you see the Journey of Life too?

I know that without the right Heart and without a Prepared soul, I stand the risk of being “a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” because without Love there is no meaning to my words at all. No matter if the words warm the heart and no matter how profound the words sound sometimes – without Love, there is no meaning to my words at all. The “greatest of these is love” and no matter what act of kindness I do today, if the kindness is done to make me look and feel better and not out of Love for the other – it is worthless to the One who matters the most.

No amount of nice things I do for my family and friends and no matter how many handmade gifts they’ll all receive this year – if they aren’t given and driven by Love they’ll be meaningless to the receiver. Love is the greatest of all things and it takes a whole lot of Love to do the Will of my God no matter what’s going on in my life. Nothing I do for Him can earn His favor in my life or justify the Sacrifice He made for me, but when I do His Will with Love…no, no matter how large or how small…my Works are priceless in the Kingdom of God and I know that they’ll have an eternal impact.

Today I’ll focus on love. The love I have for the Living God and the love I have for His people. The love I have for my family and friends and the love I have for strangers I’ve yet to meet. Whatever I do today, I’ll do out of love despite the distractions that come my way. As I busy myself making gifts for my family, I’ll focus on Love a lot more than “perfection” and those simple little gifts will be Priceless when I do. The distractions will just motivate me to try a little harder to battle against the one who brings confusion to life. Absolutely nothing will change my heart OR my direction as long as I’m doing the Will of a Mighty God and I’ll continue to persevere through the obstacles until I succeed.

How about you?

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing”

Are You Settling?

/ www.LivingLarger.life

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

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

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

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

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

How about you?

Yesterday a Memory – Tomorrow A Dream

/ www.LivingLarger.life / 2 Comments

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I woke up the way I always do…filled with Gratitude for another day to Serve the Author and Perfector of my Faith. Living is one thing…living with Purpose is an entirely different story altogether so I have Purpose in mind this morning. The Fall season has officially set in, and every day looks different than the one before while nature heads toward winter. As I sat there looking at the changes that have taken place since yesterday, I thought about Life and how each one of our days is different than the last as we head toward the “winter” too. Yesterday becomes a memory, and tomorrow becomes a dream. Today is all we really have to work with and our greatest opportunity to Live, to Serve, to Share..and to Love. Isn’t that the way you look at the new day too?

It seems to be so easy for people to live in the past or in the future while they squander away today – some are “stuck” in the past while others are so focused on the future that they forget about the blessings of Now. Today really IS like “the first day of the rest of your life” and today is all we have any control over whatsoever. We can’t change what we did or didn’t do yesterday, and since tomorrow is promised to no one, all the things we dream of for tomorrow should be focused on today. If there is any Unfinished Business like asking for forgiveness or making our peace leftover from yesterday, today is the day to make it right. If there is an unspoken “I love you” or a word of encouragement that could change the course of another, today is the day to speak. If there is anyone in our world that has never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, today is the day to Share it. If there is anything within us that holds us back from all the things the Living God has for us, today is the day to move forward in His Name. There’s no end to the things that should be reconciled on a new day and there is seemingly no end to the putting off. Yesterday is only a memory now and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to an Abundant Life in all the ways that matter.

Some people have a “near-death” experience that puts things in perspective for them…at least for a little while. But every day is a near-death day for all of us because tomorrow is promised to no one AND YET, we have so little regard for the frailty of life that we’ll put off the important things as if we have all the time in the world. When you look at it that way, how can any of us dare to squander even one day? There is a past that needs to stay in the past and a future to dream about. The Bible says “Without a vision the people perish” and that “hope deferred makes the heart sick”, so looking forward with longing is a good thing for the heart and soul. It’s when we linger in the thoughts of tomorrow while squandering the today’s that we stand the chance of NOT living long enough to see what the Heart has been longing for. Yesterday is a memory and tomorrow is only a dream. Living TODAY is the Key to living Life to the fullest in all the ways that matter.

I’ve been on top of the mountain and deep in the valley and every place in between…but my past is now in the past where it belongs. The only piece of the past that has any Value for today is the Wisdom I gained in the Process. The “bad” has been Forgiven and the Trials have become my Testimony which is shared with the world today with Purpose. I have Dreams for my future and I take steps to fulfill them every day BUT my future isn’t here yet so I Focus on Today. Today will be the most spectacular day in the history of me! This day will be filled with Gratitude and countless surprises straight from the Throne of a Mighty God. The past has become but a memory and the future is only a dream, but I have TODAY to do Good in His Name and I can’t imagine a better way to spend any day allotted to me.

How about you?