politics

What Was Intended to Harm, GOD Intended For Good

/ www.LivingLarger.life

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

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

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

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

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

It’s Just Noise To Me!

/ 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 One who scattered the stars in the sky and knows them each by name with a Heart eager to Learn and overflowing with Love. I Prayed and read from my Instruction Manual, but I had the hardest time trying to concentrate this morning! At first, I couldn’t figure out what my problem was, but then I realized the problem wasn’t with me or my ability to focus – the “problem” was due to a couple of crows in a nearby tree making a lot of noise to disrupt an otherwise quiet and beautiful morning. The more I thought about how a couple of noisy crows could disrupt my time with the Living God, the more it reminded me of the Journey of Faith at such a time as this. All those noisy “crows” in the world today SO determined to be heard have managed to take the focus off the Living God and onto the “theory of the month”. Sadly, while most of the noise is intellectually (and emotionally) stimulating, it has absolutely no eternal relevance whatsoever. With each “crow” – with each tweet – with each post – and with each conversation, the noisy ones are doing their part to divide the Church but they can’t see the Forest for the trees. Isn’t that the way you see the world too?

I’ve been told to “pay attention” to what’s going on in the world by some of my closest friends and because I refuse to pay attention to the world (and the White House), I’ve lost a few along the way. Some think I’m ignorant of what’s going on. Some think I’m being deceived because I’m not jumping on board. Some have even called me a “trader” for not doing my part to win the world over to what’s coming out of Washington. I’ve been insulted and shunned more times than I can count. What they don’t realize is that I believe there is absolutely no end to the corruption in this dark world and that anything is possible. They don’t need to sell me on that! The difference between us ISN’T that I believe one way and they believe another…although that’s the picture Hell paints. The real difference between us is that I’m too focused on the One who already died for me to sacrifice even one minute of my life to theories. God is still on the Throne, He sees it all, HE ALLOWS it all, and vengeance belongs to Him. The Living God doesn’t need me to spread darkness into the world – He “needs” me to share the Light with a world that is much closer to Hell than it realizes…and to encourage people of Faith to stop making noise that has no Eternal significance and to get back to God’s business before it’s too late.

The world could be flat after all, who knows? There might be a cabal with a deep-rooted agenda. The reset could be just around the corner. Children are being sold and sacrificed every day. We might have a President propped up on a pillow and another corrupt election just around the corner. All these things are horrific, but they don’t deserve my Focus. My Focus is on the One True God. The One Who sees it all. The One who allows what He allows and rejects whatever He rejects. The God who gives and takes away. The God who ordains ALL our leaders. The One who gives Life and who hates evil. The One who is coming for me One Day soon. My Focus is on Sharing the Good News – the ONLY News that matters in the Bigger Picture. I’m Focused on Eternity and God is my King.

So, if you’re busy making noise like the crows about things that have no Eternal Significance whatsoever, I’ll be praying for you but I’ll tune you out as surely as I tuned out the crows that were robbing me of Quality Time with my God this morning. I’m only interested in One Leader and One Future and everything else is just noise. In case you don’t know by now, I’m not recruitable. I’m SOLD OUT for the King and His Story is the ONLY one I share.

How about you?