love

The Best Part Of Me (and you)….

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I stepped out onto a cold front porch this morning with a hot cup of coffee, a hunger for His Word, and a desire to be Taught by the Author and Perfecter of my Faith. It’s a new day of a new week in this Journey called “life” and if I want to be ALL that He Created me to be, then I need to put my Relationship with the King of all kings above all else. It’s almost as if I could hear the voice of my Father as the world around me scurried around looking for sustenance. The birds need food for each new day – they can’t store provisions away like the squirrels can and they always seem happy to find what they find as they continually search for more. I think we stand to learn a few things from the birds when it comes to living each new day for what it is without a focus on what we’ll have tomorrow. Undoubtedly we’ll find a whole lot more Peace in the process when we rely on the Living God for it all.

Humans are much more capable than our feathered friends but our lives are similar in many ways when you think about it. We have a sense of security as we approach each new day even though there are very few things that we can actually bank on. We know that the sun will come up and the sun will go down and if we’re still breathing, we’ll enjoy them both…at least one more time. We know that we’ll experience a lot of happy days throughout the journey of life and we know that we’ll experience some sorrow. Most of us know that we’ll have food on the table and a roof over our heads today, but there are no guarantees that we’ll have these things tomorrow. We can store up our food for the winter the same way the squirrels do around the farm, but there is no guarantee that it will be there for us tomorrow when we need it. We are loved and we love back, and it’s those things of the Heart that bring the greatest joy in this life…but there are no guarantees that the ones we love will be there tomorrow for us to love so we need to Treasure the time we have today. It’s only when we consider how frail (and how brief) our lives really are that we learn to live each day to its fullest and we learn to appreciate what we have today without much worry about tomorrow…just like the birds.

We know for sure that one day life on this earth will cease to exist for each of us and that our days are Determined by the One who gave us this life to live. Life could cease on this very day, or it could cease decades from now, but it will cease for all. One day we’ll be here, and the next day we won’t, and if we live our lives with any Depth at all there will be a void when we cease to exist here on earth. But the part of us that will die is the LEAST of us, and although it will get buried or burned one day, THE BEST OF US will go on forever. We know for sure that the Choice we make for the Best of us will determine where we’ll spend our Forever. Some people see their lives like the birds of the air – here today, gone tomorrow and when it’s over it’s over…and even though that makes no sense at all, it makes me sad to see how shallow their perspective is. Some people live on the edge, and even though they know that the choice they make for the Best of them needs to be made, they’d rather take their chances and roll the dice that they’ll be able to make the Decision to Surrender before they draw their last breath. Some of us Understand what this life on this earth is really all about, and we Know with absolute Certainty what Life will look like for us for all of Eternity based on our Choice for the Best of us. We look at Life a whole lot differently than the rest of the world does, and we Understand that what we have today may be gone tomorrow because “the Lord gives and takes away”. We Live out our lives like those carefree birds at the farm…we give it all we’ve got to give on each new day and we don’t try to plan too far ahead. We Understand where our Sustenance really comes from, and we don’t fret about our provisions because we Know that “the righteous will never go hungry”. We have “Peace that surpasses all understanding”, we have Joy no matter the circumstances, and we have a Lifetime Guarantee that will be honored for all of Eternity. When you look at it that way, how could anybody NOT make a choice for the Best of them?

I will enjoy every second of this new day and I’ll do my best to make it my best. I am confident about the Best part of me and I’ll be ready and waiting to explain my Lifetime Guarantee to anybody He puts in my path today. Some of them may fly away and they won’t give a second thought about the Best part of themselves BUT there will always be some that want what I have, and when I tell them about the Master Plan, they’ll make the Best Choice for the Best of them too. I’m just a soul wrapped in a package. Although the outside of me will weather and age and one day it will wear out for good, my Soul aka known as the Best Part of me will live on for Eternity.

How about you?

The Inclined Heart…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s another gray and rainy day in Virginia, but it’s a NEW day and a Gift from the Master to me. I understand that each day is a Precious Gift, but it’s more than that – each new day is another opportunity to Glorify my God…and THAT excites me! So, each day, rain or shine, I do my Part to Prepare for whatever He has for me. I am Confident that I can “do all things through Christ who strengthens me” but I also know that none of that is possible UNLESS my Heart is Inclined toward Him. So, with Bible in hand and a hot cup of coffee, I set out to enter into His Presence each day Ready to learn and Eager to Grow. It’s easy for me to comprehend how “the mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of His Name” when I witness His glory at the beginning of each new day. “I sing for Joy at the work of His hands” and everything within me is Inclined toward my King. Isn’t that the way it works for you too?

It amazes me when I hear people comment on how “it’s easier” for me to be Inclined toward Him at sunrise because of the view I’m blessed with. There are no words to describe my view that’s for sure, and it’s an Honor to have been chosen to Steward this beautiful place. But when you’re looking at the photos of the view from the front porch, you’re not just looking at the Work of His Hands, you’re looking at my Heart through the lens of a camera too. When you read the Words that describe where I am, you’re reading the words from a Heart that is Inclined toward a Mighty God. When you Walk my journey through photographs as I describe what’s going on in my world, you’re seeing it all after it’s filtered through a Heart that is Inclined toward Him with a Heart that knows that it doesn’t belong to me at all! The mountains aren’t the only things to bow down at the sound of His name…I do too. Sometimes I bow down in the physical sense but ALWAYS bow down in the Spiritual sense. I long to please Him and I long to Serve Him so being sure that my Heart is Inclined toward Him is even more important to me than air is, and THAT’S why you see the Work of His Hands through a photo and a few simple words.

When the Heart is Inclined toward Him it’s impossible NOT to see the beauty in everything around you. Of course, you see the beauty in His creation – that’s a piece of cake especially when the view is so spectacular. But with a Heart Inclined toward Him, you even see the beauty in the not-so-beautiful too. You can see the beauty in others when they aren’t so kind to you because you know that He loves them just the same as He loves you. You see the beauty in brokenness because you know that God has a beautiful Purpose behind the scenes IF the broken one is willing to be Inclined toward Him in all things and through all things. You can even see the Beauty in heartbreak and sickness because you know that He will Spin it into an opportunity to Glorify Himself no matter the outcome IF the Heart is Inclined toward Him. There’s no end to the beauty we can see if we look at Life through the lens of a Heart that’s Inclined toward Him! That’s the Key to being a Light in a dark world no matter what’s going on around us. One Day the King will come back, and when He does, my Heart will be Inclined and it will leap with Joy whether I’m on the front porch of this beautiful farm or not. That’s the Nature of the Heart Inclined toward the King of all kings!

My heart is Ready for this new day and I’m excited that He will find me Worthy to be of Service…even though I don’t Know the Details yet. With an Inclined Heart, anything is possible! Every moment, every encounter, every word, and every image will be filtered through my Inclined Heart and I’ll be Ready and Willing to be used by the King anytime He’s ready for me.

I was born for such a time as this!

How about you?

My God Doesn’t Make Mistakes…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Last night God brought the rain we’ve been praying for and this morning everything is rich and green all over again. It’s amazing what a little nourishment can do when God opens up the heavens and how nature seems to appreciate the rain as much as we do. I watched this deer come out of hiding in the brush as she led her triplets to “greener pastures” for reasons I don’t understand. This mama deer is a rare creation – not only because she gave birth to triplets, but because she is what is known as a “Piebald” which means she has a very rare genetic mutation that causes her to have lots of patchy white fur. Her fawns still have spots, so it’s impossible to see if they’ll carry the same gene…only time will tell. Sad as it is, some people believe that Piebalds should be exterminated to stop the “bad” genes from continuing to “taint” future herds, but I am confident God doesn’t see it that way. After all, MY God doesn’t make mistakes and He sure doesn’t make decisions based on what the outside looks like. Isn’t that the way you see it too?

If only people could travel through the journey of life without a care in the world just like this Piebald does, the world would be a better place. This beautiful deer is oblivious to her genetic differences, and she doesn’t care if humans think she is “flawed” or not. She doesn’t have the intellect it takes to worry about bringing “imperfect” life into this world – she fills the world with God’s beautiful creations instead. If only people could (or would) stop trying to look like somebody else the world would be a better place. If only they could stop trying to remedy a “flaw” that actually adds to their beauty just the way it does for the Piebald the world would be a happier place. If only they could see aging as a Gift from God and stop ridiculous attempts to reverse the clock, the world would be filled with more content grandma’s and grandpa’s. If only they would stop mutating their bodies into something unrecognizable, the world would be filled with people who believe they’re actually worthy of Love. God knit each one of us together in our mother’s womb and, just like Mama Piebald, He thinks we’re beautiful just the way we are. To God, the outside is not of much importance at all because the outside is just the shell that houses the Soul (for now). If only the world would focus on the INSIDE more than it focuses on the outside, the world would be a godlier place to be.

I’m sick of life-altering decisions being made based on the outside because I Know only the inside matters at all. I’m sick of upheaval in my Country over the color of skin…and I’m really sick of the focus on skin color and gender as part of the selection process for the leader of the free world! Have we become so obsessed with the outside that the inside has become irrelevant? God help us. Who in their right mind casts their vote on what the candidate looks like instead of their ability to lead? I may not be the brightest bulb God ever Created but I’m wise enough to understand that brown skin, orange hair, and/or body parts have zero relevance whatsoever when it comes to casting a vote for ANY position in the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His site! If only people would TRY to love others the way He loves us…if only they would accept the fact that what we look like on the outside doesn’t hold a candle to what we look like on the inside! If only the world…including opinionated Christians…would actually believe what the Bible says – that God ordains the leaders based upon who He wants to lead and absolutely nothing can change His Plans- the world would be a wiser and more peaceful place to be. No doubt people are outraged to hear that some believe this beautiful “flawed” deer should be exterminated so as not to taint future generations AND YET it doesn’t phase them at all that life-altering decisions in America are being based on race and gender. Hmm…

My Country is in turmoil BUT my God is in Control and He doesn’t make mistakes. Absolutely nothing slips past Him and everything needs His Approval. Although He knit us together in our mother’s womb, He’s not looking at the outside for flaws…He’s examining the Inside of each one instead. He didn’t mess up when He created the Piebald and He won’t mess up when He Ordains NEXT leader of the United States. He is the great I AM. He IS all. He SEES all. He’s the Leader of the entire Universe and He has a Perfect Plan for the leader of the free world (and beyond) that I Trust with everything within me.

How about you?

Don’t Let The Thief Rob You…

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. I started out with a mind full of chaos this morning, and if I hadn’t Surrendered it all to the Living God, that mindset would have wreaked havoc on this new day from start to finish. Thankfully, I had my attitude Adjusted by the Author and Perfecter of my Faith and my mind full of chaos quickly became a Heart full of shame…shame for doubting and shame for waking up with so little Trust in a Mighty God. The scattered clouds in the morning sky were a sweet reminder to me of the battle that goes on in the mind – a battle only possible IF we allow the enemy to whisper lies of defeat…and we willingly listen. But when we DETERMINE to “take captive every thought” – to Focus on God Almighty instead of the chaos – all things come together to paint a beautiful picture just like the one God painted over the farm this morning. It’s when we determine to focus more on the Son than we do on the scattered clouds that we’ll find Victory and Peace in the chaos every single time. Isn’t that the way you look at taking control of the chaos before it takes control over you too?

It would be so easy to allow the circumstances of life to turn into mental chaos sometimes UNLESS I make up my mind to focus more on my Mighty and Merciful God than I do on the chaos. If I’m not careful…if I’m not diligent in battling my own thoughts and fears…I could easily spend LESS time in the presence of the Living God instead of MORE time when I need Him the most. I could easily begin looking for logic in the chaos and I could easily try to “fix” the chaos on my own. But that doesn’t make any more sense than it would for me to try to fix the clouds in the sky! The God of all Creation is the ONLY one that can do that and He’s the only Solution to chaos. It’s when I feel as if I’m in over my head that I force myself to slow down and I take the time to Refocus my Heart on the One who holds the world in the palm of His Hand. He’s the Heavenly diffuser of chaos! With Him I’m unstoppable. With Him I’m Victorious. With Him I am Strong. With Him, I can do ALL things. He’s the Wind beneath my Wings and the source of my Strength. He’s the Son behind the scattered clouds and He’s the Solution for the chaos. There is absolutely NOTHING I can’t overcome IF I put Him first and IF I take the time to strengthen myself for the ride by taking captive every thought. This is the key to everlasting Peace.

I may have hit the ground with a mind full of chaos this morning but I’m not the same woman now after my Time with Him. Nothing clears the chaos like a Firm Reminder of who I Belong to! I’M TAKING CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT just like He tells me to and I refuse to allow the liar from Hell to rob me of my Peace. After all, that liar can only get FROM me what I willingly surrender to him because he has absolutely no power over a Child of the Living God. The chaos in my mind hasn’t completely faded yet, BUT I have no doubt that if I keep doing my part to take captive every thought, it will be over soon and I WILL be Victorious. I don’t have all the answers for the chaos (yet), but I have the ONLY Solution for it all. My mind, my Heart, and my Soul have been readied for the ride and now I’m more focused on the Son than ever before!

How about you?