Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It was already warm and very humid at sunrise, and as much as my flesh doesn’t like either one, I celebrate the day that the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it, no matter what. The rockers lined up on the front porch are a beautiful reminder to me that the farm has always been (and always will be) “open for business”…just the way my Heart is AND will be until I take my last breath. This morning, the Lord brought to mind how many lives I’ve had the opportunity to Impact from right here in a simple rocking chair on a simple porch in Virginia. From family, friends, neighbors, business associates, and even total strangers – whoever has already found their way here, or whoever finds their way in the future, WILL HEAR about Jesus one way or another because it’s impossible for me not to talk about the most important thing in my Life, AND because I’m always excited about what He’s doing! Whether it’s work or play, my Faith is NEVER hidden, and because of that, I face adversity sometimes. No worries – I know how this Battle rolls, and I know how easily I could be tempted to throw in the towel in my weakness if I’m not careful. So, throughout this final chapter of my Life, from the front porch and beyond, my time with the Living God is more about Securing my Armor for Battle than anything else. I’m a Warrior, but I’m a woman too, and it could be so easy to stumble into discouragement. But as long as I do the most Important Part…as long as I’m Spiritually Strong..as long as I understand where adversity REALLY comes from, you won’t find me merely “enduring” the battles, you’ll hear me shouting of the goodness of my God from the mountaitops for all the world to hear – and you can have a frontrow seat to watch as I find my Victory every single time. Isn’t that the way you deal with your battles, too?

It amazes me to consider how easy it is for most people to give up on almost anything in life. They’ve somehow convinced themselves that if things were “meant to be,” there wouldn’t be any challenges at all. When they hit a little bump in the road in their relationships or in their work, they easily use the bump as a “sign” that it’s time to move on. If they face a huge project and they get hit with challenge after challenge in the middle of it, they’re ready to call it a day as they label the challenges a “sign” that God must not want them to complete it. (Have they ever even read the Word of God?) If they do speak up about Jesus Christ and get shot down for it, they convince themselves that God wants them to just sit back and pray – to live peacefully without offending others (what?), SO they zip their lips about Jesus instead of speaking the Truth the way we’re ALL commanded to do. These people often take the high road, while they watch a loved one fall into destruction of some kind, and they’ll camouflage their lack of Courage to endure the biggest Battle under the name of “tough love” – a Lesson Jesus DID NOT teach. I’m not quite sure how so many people of Faith could possibly convince themselves that life as a Christian is always smooth sailing IF you’re “living right.” There’s no Truth to that at all. In fact, it’s when you’re Bold and “living right” that you face the most adversity because when you’re Bold and “living right,” you are a Big Threat in the Biggest Battle of all.

I’m a Warrior, but I’m a woman too. Some people have a long-distance view of me and my life, and they see me as “tough” and “strong” from where they’re sitting. But I’m neither of those things without Him! I’m just as inclined to curl up in a ball and have a good cry as any other woman ever born…and sometimes I do. I’m a bold Vessel for the King, but I’m human too. Sometimes I want to succumb to my weakness, and I want to throw in the towel just like everybody else. If I’m not really careful, I can let fear sneak in, and I could easily find myself hiding under the bed like so many others. But I understand what’s REALLY behind the Battle I face. I see the adversity for what it REALLY is. I understand where my Strength REALLY comes from. I know that when I am weak, “He is strong!”. I know that “His grace IS sufficient” for me and that “His Power is made perfect in weakness.” I know that He will take me “by the right hand” and lead me through it all. Most of all, I know that because I REALLY DO live out my Faith for all the world to see, I’ll always be a Threat to the enemy from Hell, and I’ll be doing Battle in this Spiritual War until I take my last breath. No matter what I face in this Journey of Life, I WILL be Victorious AS LONG as I do my part to be sure I’m ready 24/7 to do Battle in His Name.

I’m “locked and loaded” for Jesus Christ…the ONLY Hope this world has EVER had.

How about you?