Archive for February, 2020

Fence Walker

{ February 23, 2020 @ 7:10 pm } · { Life on the Farm, My Faith Journey }
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I noticed this dirt path all around the fence behind the house and when I mentioned it to Gene he said, “It is the bull, he’s walking the fence.” I began to watch and sure enough, every day the bull spends a good portion of his day walking the fence. Today I went to take his picture and caught him resting on his walk.

Now you have to understand, he is not a slighted or mistreated bull. He has his own green, grassy five acre paddock with a harem of ladies at his bidding with no competition. But, up and down that fence he paces with his gaze fixed on the other side of the fence.

I wonder what he is thinking. Does the grass look greener on the other side of the fence? Is he not satisfied with his group of heifers? Does the pasture on the other side look lest restrictive? Is there not enough activity for him? Is he just plain restless? Or, does he not like the restrictive fence?

He just looked at me with his big, sad eyes.

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned from Mr. Bull.

I wonder….am I content with my lot in life? Does the grass look greener on the other side of my fence? Do I wish for what is not mine to have?

What about the restrictive fences in my life? Do I resist the fence thinking that there is more freedom is on the other side without stopping to realize that I would be looking a the same fence, just from the other side.

We all have restrictions and boundaries in our lives but when we push on them we almost always get in trouble and create chaos. If we move the boundary fence on our property, the neighbor will get upset. If we take what does not belong to us, it is stealing and we are in trouble with the law. If our eyes lust after another partner, we break our marriage vows and destroy relationships. If we do not obey the laws of the land, we will end up in jail. If we do not follow the moral code of the Bible, our lives are filled with destructive behavior and conflict with God and neighbor.

One evening about dusk, King David took a stroll on his rooftop and peered over the fence to his neighbor’s place, a trusted official of his army. He saw Uriah’s wife taking a bath. As he gazed, lust filled his heart and he desired what was not his to have. He summoned Bathsheba to come for a visit and then he violated moral law. Bathsheba became pregnant which cause a downward spiral in David’s life. (II Samuel 11).

Fence walkers see the fences as restrictive. Pasture dwellers are contented and free because they only see the fences as boundaries.

Are you a fence walker or a pasture dweller?

I Am So Grateful…

{ February 9, 2020 @ 7:01 pm } · { My Faith Journey }
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This morning as I was praying, I found myself expressing my gratitude to God for who He is and what He does. I am so grateful……

  • For the variety, intricate detail, and exquisite color of creation (Psalms 8).
  • For giving us the Bible, His inspired, living Word, so that I can study and more fully know him (II Timothy 3:16).
  • For not only forgiving me (Romans 10:9, 13) but also removing my sins as far as the east is from the west. We can plant our feet on the North and South Poles but we can never catch up with the east or west (Psalms 103:12).
  • For His faithfulness that is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22).
  • For His tender mercy and steadfast love (Lamentations 3:22).
  • For hearing and answering my prayers (Matthew 7:7-11 and James 5:15-16).
  • For being willing to give His only son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for my sins so that I can have forgiveness of sins and live in relationship with a Holy God (John 3:16).
  • For feeling my sorrow and grief (James 5:11).
  • For always walking beside me in my times of testing and walking through difficult times (fire & water). (Isaiah 43:1-3 & Psalms 66: 10-12).
  • For being my refuge and strength in times of trouble (Psalms 46:1).
  • For being my strength when I am weak (Isaiah 40:29).
  • For never tempting me but when I are tempted by the evil one, provides a way of escape (I Corinthians 10: 12-13, II Peter 2:9 and II Thessalonians 3:3).
  • For desiring a relationship with me as my Father (James 4:8).
  • For knowing me as a unique person, created by God himself (Psalms 33:13-15, Isaiah 43:1, 7).
  • For holding the hearts of kings in his hand (Psalms 33:10 and Proverbs 21:1).
  • For being my rock, my shield, my hiding place (Psalms 18:2).
  • For being with me in my darkest moments (Psalms 40:1-2)
  • For being my refuge and strength in times of trouble (Psalms 46:1)
  • For promising to be with me even in death (Psalms Psalms 23:4 and 48:14).
  • For being a God of peace and speaking peace to his people (Psalms 85:8).
  • For living in me in the form of the Holy Spirit (I John 4:13).
  • For providing angels to guard and protect me (Psalms 34:7).
  • For preparing a home in heaven for those who love you so that I can spend eternity with you (John 14: 1-4).
  • That one day you will say, “enough is enough” and crush the head of the serpent (Satan) and win triumphantly over evil (Revelations 11:15 and 12:9-12).

The message at church today focused on Psalms 91. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty God”. The Hebrew word for Almighty is “El Shaddai” which means God-the enough.

What an amazing God we serve. He is Almighty God-the enough and I am so grateful.

Red in the morning….

{ February 5, 2020 @ 9:01 pm } · { My Faith Journey }
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"Red in the morning, sailors take warning. 
Red at night, sailors delight." 
(Ancient rhyme often repeated by mariners)

I knew it was falling weather and probably going to rain today and I didn’t need Jim Duncan (channel 12 news) or the Weather Channel to tell me. Monday morning the eastern sky (above & below pictures) was a canvas of brilliant colors. I love taking pictures from my kitchen window with my proud, crowing rooster silhouetted. Red in the morning means in three days there will be falling (or a change in) weather. This morning (Wednesday) started out as a warm and spring-like sweater day. It didn’t take long until gray clouds hide the sun and a gentle breeze brought in cooler temperatures.

Did you know that long before the above quip was penned, the Bible revealed how to discern the same truth. Jesus himself told the Pharisees and Sadducees one day when they came testing him by wanting a sign from heaven, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening’ (Matthew 16: 2-3).

There are many weather signs in the heavens. The Jewish calendar is based on lunar months, while years are based on solar years.. The rotation of the moon and sun determines day and night. Tide is determined by the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun, and the rotation of the Earth.

The direction of the wind determines whether it will be hot and dry or whether rain is coming. Luke 12:54-55 “When you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say; ‘A shower is coming’ and so it is’. And when you see the south wind blow, you say ‘There will be hot weather’, and so it is”.

A funnel cloud and an eerie green tint to the sky means a tornado is imminent. Menacing dark, swirling clouds warn a storm is brewing.

The stars can be used for navigation. Remember the wise men who came looking for baby Jesus by following a star.

It is so fascinating and amazing to me how God created the world with precise detail and even signs so that we can know and understand the weather.

Jesus also lamented that people can discern the face of the sky and of the earth and yet refuse to discern the signs of the times in which they live (Matthew 12:56). Just as he gave many clues and signs about his coming as a baby, so he has given many clues and signs about his second coming. We can’t know the day or hour, but we can understand with clarity many clues to his second coming if we know how to read the signs.

Take heed to Jesus words, “Watch therefore…. for the Son of Man is coming…” (Matthew 24: 42 & 44).

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