First Things First

It's interesting, but also perplexing to me how psychologists and brain scientists attempt to explain why as we age time appears to move at a faster rate. Of course, time is not actually speeding up, but as we grow older, because we are not experiencing things for the first time as much, like we did as a young child, our brains perceive time to be moving at a quicker pace. 

Kids can't believe Christmas is taking so long to arrive while we adults know that if we're not mindful another year will sneak right past us.  

The Farmer and I don't typically make New Year's resolutions, but we do reflect on the passing year while regrouping for the next. So as we looked back over the past year, curiosity about the research had me wondering how many, if any, "firsts" I experienced in 2022: 

For starters, we both joyfully welcomed our first, consistently operating, internet server here to the farm. (A big shout out over our heads to Starlink) Also to my delight, I began raising my first paddling of ducks and my first gaggle of geese. I drove the tractor for the first time, not far, but I did actually push the gas pedal and move it back and forth. Who knows, I may get adventurous and continue tractors-ed into 2023. I cooked my first sirloin tip, ate quail for the first time, and took my first teeny bite of reaper-ghost pepper sauce. That "first" was at the Farmer's coercion, to which I'm pretty sure I consumed my first whole loaf of bread at one sitting. I also enrolled in my first online class. 

Sweetest of all, I had my first granddaughter born. I was also slapped with my first speeding ticket as I traveled to visit my first granddaughter. 

So, yeah, I did experience a few "firsts" in 2022, however; scientific jargon aside, the year still seemed to speed by, literally. 

And furthermore, no matter our ages, we all are about to face 2023 for the first time. 

I look up often here, at the nighttime sky, away from the city lights, at the vastness of it all. 

I can't grasp let alone explain the concept of how our brains perceive and transmit first experiences, but I can understand that a God greater than me created our brains with the ability to remember and reflect in stillness, and in fact, commanded us to do so. 

"Be still and know that I am God." ( Psalm 46:10 ) 

God knows in order for the human brain to fathom even a sliver of his greatness, we first need to be still. 

This is a favorite and familiar verse for many, but are we obeying it? 

Second, we must "know." And whichever way this side of Paradise one deciphers the commandment, it's still going to require every braincell we can mobilize to even scratch the surface of such a divine order. Forming the habit of meditation into our daily routine brings us into the secret place of the Most High. This I know, for the Bible tells me so. Often. 

There are at least 50 verses referencing meditation in Scripture. Meditation is defined as focusing on one object, mulling something over in our minds, thinking on it, pondering it, and speaking the truth down into our hearts. For Christians our meditations are not about us or on us, but should be rested wholly on God's Word, on his greatness, his attributes, his redemption. In other words, the Christian's meditating object is God. It's not about emptying our minds, it's about filling them up with God's Word and beholding the Holy Spirit as he begins to kick all of the garbage straight out to the curb.  

When I began to get a handle on meditation, I began to see sins and struggles slowly fade out of sight because I wasn't focused on them so much, but on Him. 

"The most important thing I had to do was to read the Word of God and to meditate on it. Thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warmed, reproved, and instructed." George Muller 

"Oh," you might think, "that's easy for you to say. You have a farm and can walk around reflecting and rejoicing all day long in the fresh country air." That's simply not true. When I take walks, I begin to see the mud, the mess, and the unfinished projects. I stop to pick up trash, tree limbs, and the Farmer's tools. I get nudged to pet dogs and cats and furry cow heads, to speak with neighbors that happen to drive by or our delivery folks who stop with a package. Good stuff, but it's not meditating. Like everyone, I have to find a quiet place and make myself be still and focus. 

Our culture does not in anyway that I've found nurture the practice of meditation apart from joining a yoga class or something of that nature. I'm not dismissing stretching, that part is healthy, and crucial, especially for aging farmers. However, technology blares at us from all directions, in many diverse forms, even in the country on our fancy pants internet servers. It's the world we live in, and it takes extra effort to find a place of stillness alone, to close our eyes and block out the noise of life, so we can focus on our Maker. 

Our spiritual health depends on it, and no amount of ministry work can take its place. 

This is the often difficult, but completely satisfying application of spiritual discipline that should be present in a Christian's life for growth, along with reading and studying our Bibles, prayer, and fellowship and worship with other believers. The Holy Spirit alone saves us, but when it comes to our sanctification process, even though He does this part too, He isn't going to do it without us. 

Meditate on that truth, it's amazingly beautiful and comforting. We get to be a part of our Father's business. 

God understands the human brain best; he created it. He knows messages evaporate just as soon as they arrive, and in order for the truth of his Word to sink from the surface and into our core being, something must drive them down deep into the recesses of our heart, causing the truth to stick, resulting in growth and transformation. And that transport system is meditation on the Scriptures and the principles there in, preaching them to our souls. 

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." ( Psalm 42:11 ) 

For years I knew God on a surface level only; I never took the time to meditate on His attributes, on any of the core doctrines, or on what Christ sacrificially did in coming to us. Now I walk in from my farm chores and the Farmer says, "I saw you talking to yourself out there." I say, "I wasn't talking; I was preaching." 

Like prayer, meditation on God and his Word may not change our situation, but it most definitely changes us. We gain a perspective of not only who God is, but who we are as well in relationship to him. In this way, meditation launches us into praise and worship, thanksgiving, and prayer. 

Look, I am a late bloomer in the glorious garden of God's kingdom, but that's okay. Better late than never is a gross understatement. The workers that showed up to work at the vineyard the last hour before they closed up shop got paid as much as the first to arrive. ( Matthew 20 1-16  ) The last into the Kingdom, were also the first. Think about the thief on the cross beside Jesus. His Christian life was only hours or minutes long, and yet, that very day Jesus said that he would be with him in Paradise. 

As long as you're breathing, you can enter in for the first time, or maybe you need a spiritual awakening in your walk with Him. Either way, today, if you hear the voice of Jesus calling you, if you feel the conviction and repentance of sin in your heart and the desire to know him, then surrender yourself to him. What are you waiting for? 

I can't promise that it will always be easy or comfortable, but I can promise you this:

It is the path of life, traveling in God's eternal purpose, and when you enter through the narrow gate, you will be made a son or daughter in your Father's kingdom as all the angels in heaven rejoice. Your Father will never leave you alone on the journey, and miraculously, he will use all of your brokenness to make you whole.  

I happen to know this first hand. 

When I was a teenager back in the 70s there was this saying, before memes and social media newsfeeds, that many of us had tacked on our bedroom walls in the form of a poster with a serene beach or mountain wildflower backdrop. 

It simply read: "Today is the first day of the rest or your life." 

So, come to Jesus and make your first your best. 💜 

Happy New Year 🎉

See you next year. 

A New Year's Prayer

As another year draws to a close and we reflect and contemplate, I'm guessing a common goal or hope, or even prayer, for the new year is, "God help me pray more; God please resuscitate my anemic prayer life." 

If so, that's a good thing. In this narrow, seemingly precarious, albeit joyful path of life in the Christian walk, God prompts and prods us by His Spirit with these desires, not to overwhelm us, but as part of our transformation process into the image of His Son. So, don't beat yourself up, look at it this way: Thank God we have these regrets and longings. It's a sign that we are in Him. We long to please our Father, but also we know we fall short, encouraging us to pray for his forgiveness and to seek His help. See, you're already on the right track. 

In my blog this morning, I want to share a couple of prayerful insights from Kevin DeYoung's "The Good News We Almost Forgot - Rediscovering the Gospel in a 16th Century Catechism." 

"Catechism? That's sounds like a dusty, old book on Dumbledore's shelf at Hogwarts." 

Those of us who grew up in a reform tradition church remember the rudimentary discipline of being "catechised" as children. Catechisms are great tools for learning and reinforcing biblical theology and the core doctrines of the Christian faith straight out of the Bible in a question and answer format. I was twelve years old when I memorized the text in my Sunday school class at the Presbyterian church my family attended. Although, it would be years before I came to faith in Christ, I believe having these Truth seeds embedded in my young heart paved the way. 

So, why pray? 

First and foremost, because God commands us to pray in the Scriptures, and Jesus taught us how.

"Why, if God is sovereign and knows everything anyway, should I still pray?" 

See the above sentence, and Pastor DeYoung, take it away:

Commentary on Lord's Day 45, on prayer, questions 116-119, Heidelberg Catechism 

"We pray out of gratitude. We talk to God to praise him for all the good He has done for us. We talk to him because we are privileged to belong to Him. 

We also pray because God has ordained means to accomplish His ends. He gives more grace to those who petition Him for it. He grants more of His Spirit to those who long for Him. Sure, God could accomplish His purposes without prayer, but when we pray, we are reminded of our dependence on God. If we ask not, we will have not. If we rely on ourselves, God will leave us to ourselves. 

God doesn't need prayer, but He uses prayer just like he uses other means. He uses rain to grow crops, sun to warm the earth, and food to strengthen the body. So why can't God choose our prayers to do His sovereign will?" 

I know, isn't that so good? Here's more:

"God is glorified in prayer by the expression of our dependence on Him...... He is glorified when we learn to recognize that every good gift comes down from our Father of lights. 

"Tell Him about your hurts. Tell Him about your joys. Ask Him where the car keys are. Ask Him for the conversion of your children. Ask Him for health. Ask Him for holiness. He is a loving Father. Ask Him. 

Don't get me wrong; God is not a cosmic vending machine. He isn't jolly St. Nick looking to give us all the toys and presents we want. That's why we must pray for everything 'as embraced in the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.' 

God wants us to pray sincerely, humbly, and confidently. He wants prayer from the heart. Not vain prayer. Not perfunctory prayer. He wants honest prayer to the one true God. Come broken. Come confused. Come hiding nothing and acknowledging everything. Put aside hypocrisy, pretense, and self-reliance, and just come.

The irony is the more humble our hearts, the more confident we should be.

The Lord's prayer teaches us what we really need.

Get down into the Scripture, God's holy Word, and your prayers will start to fly." 

Many verses are referenced above, but here's a good start: ( Matthew 6:9-13 ) ( James 1:17 ) ( Mathew 6:6 ) ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ) ( Philippians 4:6-7 ) ( 1 John 5:14 ) ( James 5:13-18 ) ( Luke 5:15-16 ) ( Mark 11: 22-26 ) ( Romans 8: 26-27 ) ( Colossians 4:2 ) ( Genesis 4:26 ) ( Exodus 2:23-25 ) 

There are prayers of all kinds throughout the Bible. The Psalter is a Book of Prayer, and I love just opening it and praying straight out of it some mornings. 

Happy Praying! 

 

A few of my fine feathered friends

The Good Shepherd

When I tell people that I have a farm with sheep and livestock guardian dogs, I usually hear the same response: "That's a lot of work! but really cool." 

Since the fall of our first parents in the Garden of Eden, farming has certainly proven to be "a lot of work," but down through the ages, being a keeper of sheep has not always been considered "cool." After studying shepherding in the Bible, I also don't think the vocation was as unclean and demeaning as some have claimed. 

Now sheep are not the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree. This I can confirm in my personal experience. 

I have this one group of sheep that get out everyday and wander up into the front cow field. Then at the end of the day, they stand by the back field gate as I make my way to the barn baaing for me to let them through. 

"What?" I say to them, "You figured out how to get into trouble, but now you can't find your way back out of the trouble?" 

No wonder God refers to his people as sheep. This is not a spiritual complement. It's a painful, raw reality. Who is going to come and rescue these naughty, rebellious, sheep?

The Good Shepherd. 

Then I look into their big sheepy eyes, and I melt with compassion. I open the gate and let them through. Tomorrow I'll do the same. 

Except one day last week, they weren't there. Kisha and Skipper looked at me sideways when I asked them about the missing creatures. 

"We're livestock guardian dogs, not herd dogs, remember?" 

"Yes, I know, it's not your fault." 

The Farmer and I searched two days for those unruly sheep. We walked through hundreds of acres of woods surrounding the farm and also hiked the mountain that borders our land. Our neighbors who live on the other side of that wooded area had seen my social media post and were on the look out. They spotted the little, lost flock across the creek from their home and called us immediately, excited they had counted all fourteen. Wonderful, sweet neighbors. Thank you. 

I knew they had to be somewhere in the spread of open acres or thick underbrush, along with bear and coyote. It's nothing short of a Christmas miracle that they all survived without a dog. 

Once the sheep were home in their field, the Farmer secured the fencing, but in his joy that they were found, forgot to shut the barn gate. The next morning the sheep were all there, but Kisha and Skipper were gone. This has happened before, and is not a real cause for alarm. The girls run through that same wooded area, often times chasing away predators and securing the property. Skipper returned later on, but without Kisha. 

Kisha will be eight next month, so she's older and a bit slower, but in excellent health. I didn't worry. By night time, she still wasn't back, but our same neighbors, watching out for us again, had spotted the dogs earlier. We knew Kisha was in there, possibly she found a bone to chew on. "She'll come home when she's ready," the Farmer said. It's the nature of the breed, ever hearing, never listening. You don't tell Pyrenees; they tell you. 

The next morning when Kisha still wasn't back at the barn, I knew something was wrong. She would not stay out there on her own for that long. The Farmer was still sleeping, so I hooked a leash on Shasta. "Let's go find her." Shasta protects the ducks and geese at the front of the property, and usually stays with me as I work. I wouldn't go out in the woods alone without her or Aslan. She's more experienced, so for now, she's my man.  

We walked a mile along the creek, through tall broom sage and through patches of pine trees, stepping across blankets of their soft needles. All of a sudden, Shasta about yanked my arm out of the socket and took off running, dragging me behind her. I heard it too, whimpering. But I didn't see anything up on the hillside where Shasta stopped. Following the crying sound, I looked up and finally over.

"Oh my word, Kisha! What the heck?" Her big head was peering out of a second story, broken window of an old, abandoned house in the middle of this grassy terrain. I would have never suspected that scenario. Great Pyrenees do not like anything out of the ordinary. Even on their own property, if the Farmer parks an odd piece of equipment or tractor implement out in the sheep field, the dogs surround it and bark like it's an alien invasion from deep space come to suck their brains out. 

Pyrenees have this trademark smile, but Kisha was clearly frowning in that moment, letting me know her sorrow. Bless her large breed heart. 

Shasta and I made our way into the house, carefully over a dilapidated porch with busted glass and rotten planks, and I was praying we wouldn't fall through the warped, flimsy floor boards inside the house. It was a bit tense, but Kisha wouldn't come down the rickety old stairs without my help. Apparently sheep aren't the only creatures getting into predicaments unable to find their way back home again. Fortunately, all three of us made it out unscathed.     

Once in the open air, the two dogs sprinted like nobody's business, well as fast as Pyrenees generally run, which is more like a horse's gallop, all the way home, stopping to refresh themselves out of the creek and leaving me to fend for myself in the broom sage. 

Shepherding, hard work, not always cool, but certainly, painfully, undeniably, a humble labor. 

And that's exactly the image that comes to my mind when I think of the "shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." ( Luke 2:8 ) Although I can't imagine any of them having to rescue their dogs out of haunted houses.   

The shepherds were not celebrities or nobility, the intelligentsia or prestigious. 

In fact, these shepherds were in the same area of another young, humble shepherd boy who years earlier tended his father's sheep. A shepherd boy who would not even have remotely been considered as a candidate for kingship, and yet he was the very one God wanted. 

David was the youngest of Jesse's eight sons, but the one God instructed Samuel to anoint, not only as the next king of Israel, but as the first king in the lineage of Christ our true King. 

I believe God chose to first reveal the birth of his Son to shepherds because being of a lowly state they represent the needy, the desperate, the poor in spirit, the ones who are at the end of themselves and know they need a Savior. 

The rich, wise men bearing gifts took a bit longer to find their way, but once they discovered Jesus two years after his birth, the well-dressed, elite astrologers found themselves bowing to a toddler. 

The message of the Gospel is clear: We must go down before we can go up, before we can enter in. 

Jesus himself stepped into human flesh in the humblest of circumstances. 

Every detail of the Christmas story, and the entirety of the Scriptures, sings this truth to us over and over, if we will have ears to hear the voice of pleading and the song of lamenting, the message of exhortation, hope, and joy: 

God opposes the proud, but, Praise the Lord! He gives grace to the humble. ( James 4:6 )  ( Proverbs 3:34 ) 

And by that grace, through faith, in Christ alone, we are saved. ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ) 

Are you hungry, lonely, hurting, hopeless? Are you confused, frustrated, lost, weak? Then you are blessed, my friend. Cry out to the Good Shepherd and enter in. 💜

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom." ( Luke 12:32 ) 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased." ( Luke 2:14 )

 

Every Story

Two weeks ago I received my copy of "The Jesus Storybook Bible." It had been recommended to me for my grandchildren by numerous friends, but also for me to read as well. Now I see why. And there's just enough time before Christmas to order one for yourself and the children in your life. Many use it as a family devotional. 

What makes this children's Bible so special? 

Although reading scripture and the memorization of it is vital for us and our children in order to "hide God's Word in our hearts that we do not sin against him," ( Psalm 119:11 ) this Bible doesn't just toss out all of the Old Testament narratives nilly-willy in separate small bedtime stories, but it shows how the Bible is one dramatic, but glorious cohesive story - God's story of redemption for his people. 

From the covenant God first made with Adam and Eve after the fall, when he could have justifiably walked away from us, but didn't. In our sin and guilt and shame, God was writing a story to rescue us in Jesus. Every "hero" and every chapter we encounter in Scripture is God fulfilling his covenant. Through the pages of the Bible God unfolds his redemptive plan through Jesus, and "every story whispers his name." 

And when the time was fulfilled, as God promised, Jesus was born, "to save his people from their sins." ( Matthew 1:21 ) 

Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. If you don't believe in him, you are condemned already he said. We all are born in sin, born to die, but God sent Jesus to rescue us and bring us back to God.  ( John 3:16 -18 ) 

Our children must be taught the whole truth of the Bible in words and phrases their ears can bear and their hearts can understand. 

When they hear the Truth, it will not crush them. The Holy Spirit will produce humility and faith in their spirits to believe, a surrender and repentance towards God, and a desire to serve and obey him. It will bring freedom and rejoicing and a love for God himself and not for what he can give them. ( Romans 10:17 )  ( Philippians 1:6 ) 

The truth changes everything: That even though we are sinners, God is pursuing us, wanting us, loving us.( Romans 5:8 ) ( 1 John 4:19 ) 

I know this is a funny, human example, but I remember when I was a bratty, snooty teenager and I met the Farmer. He chased me relentlessly. He told me that I was beautiful, and that he wanted me to be his girlfriend. He never let up. 

Over forty years later, this truth still thrills my heart to think about because he wanted me to be his wife. He chose me and pursued me continuously. And this is what we all want. We desire for someone to know every horrible thing about us, all of our sin, all of our failures, and still love us to the core. And that's what God does, since time immemorial, to the point of giving up his only Son. 

Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you...." ( John 15:16 ) 

And this is the Bible narrative - God's story of redemption for his people. 

For us and for our children. 

We need the truth. 💜

'Tis not that I did choose Thee,

For Lord, that could not be;

This heart would still refuse Thee,

Hadst Thou not chosen me.....

My heart owns none before Thee,

For Thy rich grace I thirst;

This knowing, if I love Thee,

Thou must have loved me first." 

Josiah Conder 1836 

Joy Boot

This morning as I walked with the dogs down through the front pasture, the mountains that surrounded the farm were veiled in the pale blue mist. I could see my neighbor's silo standing at attention, straight and tall through the haze, as the swirls of smoke from their farmhouse chimney joined ranks with the mountain clouds in the festive, wintery atmosphere. 

And I was quickly reminded that in this broken, fallen world I journal so much about there is also beauty. I have to preach this to myself as my boots keep time in the small puddles bespattering the field, joy and suffering, joy and suffering, they splash. 

The dogs are used to my musings and meditations as we round the corner to start the trek back up to the house, and I stop to get the mail I forgot to get yesterday. The cows are perfectly still as they nurse their young inside of the low lying clouds. The belted kingfishers rattle and fly above the water in search of their breakfast. The creek bank is lined with stark, unclothed sycamore trees decorated in dangling pods like Christmas ornaments. 

I begin to feel joy and peace, but must first give permission to my soul to delight and take pleasure in my environment. I guard my heart. I understand that the suffering God has allowed into my life has created my strength of character, but I've studied the concept of suffering so much in the Scriptures and through various writers and life events that I must determinedly remind myself that it's okay to feel joy as well as pain. I walk with a limp, dragging my clumsy joy boot behind the other one marked for distress.

I remind myself and begin to preach it as I hear the Farmer's diesel engine fire up, and the cows begin to hurry alongside of us for their feed:

"Do not be haughty or hope in the uncertainty of riches, but put your hope in God who richly provides you everything to enjoy." ( 1 Timothy 6:17 ) 

"Rebecca, God has given you this moment to enjoy and to see his provision, so honor him and rejoice in his love. Don't squeeze the life out of it, creating this good thing into an idol, just embrace the wonder for what it is in this moment, a gift from your Father. Allow yourself to feel joy. And for the love of all that is beautiful in this world, stop analyzing everything to death." 

With each step up the hillside, my boots begin to synchronize better with the other, joy and suffering, joy and suffering. 

"Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning." ( A Psalm of David 30:5b ) 💙

Staircase to Heaven

 "One day, everyone was talking and they came up with an idea: 'Lets build ourselves a beautiful city to live in! It can be our home. And we'll be safe forever and ever.' Then they had another idea: 'And let's build a really tall tower to reach up to heaven!'" 

"'Yes!' they said. 'We'll say, 'Look at us up here!' 'And everyone will look up at us.....'"

"It was like a giant staircase to heaven." 

"They were trying to live without him, but God knew that wouldn't make them happy or safe or anything. If they kept on like this, they would only destroy themselves, and God loved them too much to let that happen. So he stopped their plans...." 

"After that people scattered all over the world ( which is how we ended up with so many different languages to this day ). " 

"You see, God knew, however high they reached, however hard they tried, people could never get back to heaven by themselves. People didn't need a staircase; they needed a Rescuer. Because the way back to heaven wasn't a staircase; it was a Person."

"People could never reach up to Heaven, so Heaven would have to come down to them." 

"And one day, it would." 

Quoted from "The Jesus Storybook Bible, Every Story Whispers His Name"

Some may think, "Oh, that's just a bunch of folk lore and myth, written just like all of the ancient cultures and pagan religions of the day. People were always attempting to appease their angry gods by sacrificing themselves and their loved ones for redemption, to make things right, to get rid of their sins." 

True, people know deep down we're sinful, guilty, and full of messiness that we can't seem to rid ourselves of no matter how hard we try or how high we build. 

What makes Christianity different from all of those false beliefs and religions is this: God provides the human sacrifice himself. 💜

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." ( Galatians 4 - 7 ) 

Happy Advent! 

'Tis Always the Season

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." ( James 1: 26-27 ) 

As another calendar year slowly comes to an end, we're reminded that Christmas is the season of giving, from the heartfelt tugs on Giving Tuesday to the sound of a ringing bell during our shopping expeditions to inboxes and snail mail boxes full of charity requests.  

But for a Christian, giving is not something we only participate in at Christmas. No. 

Giving becomes our new nature. It is who we are in Christ Jesus. 

And giving isn't just financial. It permeates into every part of our new life in Christ. Our eyes become open to the needs around us as they've never been before.  

Scripture shows us that we are blessed financially for one reason: To be a blessing. To give to the Kingdom of God. Not to store up riches for ourselves or live extravagantly. Not to build bigger barns. Our wealth is to be stored up in Heaven. ( Matthew 6:19 ) ( Luke 12:20 ) 

Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 8 when he commends the Macedonians for giving out of their extreme poverty, in a test of affliction. They gave joyfully, actually begging for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints. 

And Paul goes on to say that they gave themselves first to the Lord. 

God doesn't need our money, but he invites us into his story as givers to be a part of the Kingdom work. This is the greatest joy!  

No one has taught this principle to me more than a special group of widows and former orphans. 

Although our record keeping is confidential at Heritage Home, I think it is okay for me to say that, although I appreciate every single donation we receive, I am humbled to my core by the financial gifts giving to Heritage Home by widows. 

They give their money out of fixed incomes and out of generous, willing hearts. Honestly, I don't want to take it, but they give with such delight and with such love and concern for the children. 

My mother-in-law Ida has been a widow for almost thirty years, and her life has been one of tremendous giving. She gives of her talents, time, resources, love, and homemade, edible goodness mixed together in her savory-smelling kitchen. She gives countless hours of prayer for her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, and friends, praying on the spot for any request brought to her. I can never remember a time when she has been prideful or put her needs above others. 

Before I was saved, I was so self-centered and blind, and I couldn't see the beauty and grace she or other godly women possessed around me. Now, I want to be just like her. 

The widow's mites, they were more precious to Jesus than all of the rich people's money put together. He watched as the rich contributed out of their abundance that day into the offering box, but the widow out of her poverty put in everything she had to live on. In this way, Jesus said she actually gave more.

Rich people are absolutely welcomed into the Kingdom of God. God is no respecter of persons. It's just harder for them it seems to find the way. When you think you're self-sufficient, you don't understand your need. But when they do, look out, because God will use their wealth to do great things for the Kingdom. Think Zacchaeus, the wee little rich tax collector. It's such a great story of a wealthy, corrupt person totally getting the Gospel of Grace and using his funds to advance the Kingdom and not himself. ( Luke 19 ) 

So God loves all of his children, but it is absolutely clear in Scripture that God has a special care for widows. He watches over his faithful daughters. ( Luke 12:41 ) 

When God brought Lisda, our Indonesian daughter to us who was fatherless, and when he called a group of orphans from all over their country to us and brought them to Heritage Home to live, they became our children. John and I never refer to the kids at Heritage Home as "orphans." Why would we? They have a mom now in Lisda who raises and loves them. And they have a couple of old farmers, dad and mom, parents across the world who cherish them. They have givers who consider themselves "mom" and "dad" and "grandma" and "grandpa" to them. Our children are blessed. They are loved. 

Our children were once orphans, but we were all orphans until God gave the greatest gift in the terrible history of mankind to rescue us and bring us back to him, our Father, through Jesus Christ, his Son. 

Our children share their testimonies all over their community that is approximately 10% Christian. They are not ashamed of the Gospel. They perform Christmas and Easter concerts in the middle of their neighborhood. Our oldest has graduated and is now a nurse. Yesterday three more graduated from college. Do you see how we are all partners together like in the Macedonian church? People give generously, and orphans become children and then evangelists, bringing light into a dark world. 

And this is our motivation for giving: Like the Macedonians, it springs out of a thankful heart, a heart that first was given to God.  

Unstained, this is the beautiful rhythm and indescribable gift of our daily walk with Jesus. 

Thank you, Lisda, for loving your children and guiding them everyday in all of the ways of Jesus. Thank you for your endless patience and endurance in joy for the Kingdom of God. Thank you for giving yourself and all that you have been given back to Jesus. Great is your reward in Heaven. 

Thank you to Pastor Atkins and Harvest Ministries, our church family. One of God's greatest gifts is that he has placed us in his family with brothers and sisters who support, encourage, and love one another. We are beyond blessed. 

Thank you to all of our givers! We simply could not do this wonderful work of God without any of you! Thank you for your prayers for the children and for Lisda and for us. Your generosity in all areas has advanced the Kingdom of our Lord! 💜 

Godsheritagehome.com

Mama Ida with her man children 

Just What I Needed

Back in 2017, after my lead dog Natasha died prematurely, as providence would have it, her daughter Angel had just given birth to a litter of twelve pups at her family's farm in Evington, Virginia. The Farmer and I made the trip to pick out a girl pup, not just to replace Natasha, but to help with my grieving. 

As we entered the family's living room, I immediately spotted a beautiful pup with soft markings. I bent down and scooped her up in my arms. Great Pyrenees are predominately white, but many times are born with dark coloring around their facial features and ears. The markings are referred to as "badger" or "wolf" depending on the color. But occasionally, one is born sporting a warm, blondish honey color.

The girl pup melted into my arms as the family informed me that she had exhibited extremely laid back behavior.   

"I love her," I exclaimed, "And I'm going to name her "Honey" because of her personality and markings."  

Meanwhile the Farmer walks over to the pyramid of puppies, bends down, and picks up the dark marked female on top of the pile, growling and biting at her brothers. 

He walks over to me with the pup and says, "That's the one you want, but this is the one you need." 

As usual, he was right. As usual, he never lets me forget. 

Four weeks later, we returned to Rose Family Farm, and picked up my Shasta. 

"Shasta the Livestock Guardian Girl" is the only children's book I've written, and I hope one day to publish it. It's such a great story, but isn't that like God?

I thought about that this morning when I got up and my ten month old, 110 pound boy pup was missing from the front field. The Farmer eventually found Aslan snooping around at the neighbor's farm, and when we put Aslan back with his cousin Shasta, she jumped him viciously, reprimanding him for running away and worrying us. 

"Good Girl," I called out to her. Still my same tough female on top of the pile. Shasta guards this farm from one end to the other, and we've never lost a livestock under her watchful eye. 

She was exactly what I needed. 

So many days, I've got this thing in my arms that I'm petting and admiring, and begging God to just let me please have, some situation, some healing, some relief, some material desire. And God is looking down at me with this wonderful love in his eyes saying, "That's the one you want, but this is the one you need." 

And he's always right. 

Whatever his sovereign hand has ordained for my life proves to make me more like Jesus. When I finally realized this, and stopped arguing with my Heavenly Father, who knows all things about me, I noticed my life was beginning to transform in the light of my trust in him. 

And what surprised me more than anything is that submission to his perfect will, in the end, actually brought me joy. 💛

My God will supply all of my needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19  

Full after Dinner

When I visit my grandchildren, I love waking up each morning to two sweet babes prepared for Bible reading, after pouring sippy cups full of juice and my own sippy cup of coffee. Their parents have established this spiritual discipline as the first activity of their day, and Gigi is blessed to be a part of it. I personally recommend Baby's Hug-a-Bible as a first Bible. The cover is soft like lamb's wool, and inside the rhyming verses are pleasing to their little ears, and the truth permeates their young hearts in the form of questions presented like a catechism. 

Recently, Jonah pulled my Bible out of my book bag, so I could join in the family devotions. This past wedding anniversary the Farmer gifted me with the ESV Study Bible, which I am loving. So, Jonah carries it over to where we are sitting and says, "Wow, Gigi, this Bible is heavy." 

"Heavier than you know," Dear Child, but will soon find out." 

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." ( Deuteronomy 6:7-9 ) 

We quote these verses often in the church, but my question is: Are we doing it? More precisely, are we teaching them the whole cannon of scripture or just the "good"parts?  

Children need all of the pure milk of God's Word poured into sippy cups for their spiritual bones and muscles to develop strong. 

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." ( Matthew 4:4 )  Every word. 

And so yeah, that holds us adults accountable as well, meaning we need to know and be continually studying the scriptures ourselves in order to properly train them. 

The difficult passages can be and need to be broken down for children, but not skipped over. And are we teaching them the whole Gospel Truth? Are we explaining to them the doctrine of original sin before we teach them about Jesus dying on the cross and resurrecting? Are they learning the bad news first before the good news? 

Because half a gospel is no gospel at all and could in fact do more harm than good. If we only teach our young ones who they are in Christ and all they have, and not how they were born in sin to start with, we are doing a grave injustice to them. If they do not understand the human condition, how can they ever appreciate or fully grasp the grace and mercy God had on us in sending Jesus and the preciousness of the cross? 

If we do not teach them the full counsel of scripture from the fall of man in Genesis to the restoration of everything in the Celestial City, and everything in between, working through the Bible together, on their age level, of course, I believe we are in danger of raising spiritual brats.We'll produce children who possess an entitlement mentality expecting blessing and favor only from the hand of God and not discipline, training, or suffering, which is what he uses to build their godly character. And ours. 

Then and only then, will they NOT love God for what he can give them, but will love God for himself. 

And this is the goal, stated in the verse above the one I just quoted out of Deuteronomy: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might." ( 6:5 ) 

It's crucial they understanding the eye-opening reality that God owes none of his creatures salvation, but by his grace and mercy and ferocious love, he sent Jesus Christ our Lord. This truth will produce a godly humility in our children and suppress their pride. The good fruit will begin to form, pushing the rotten stuff to the ground. They will begin to see the beauty of the Gospel and others in the light of that truth. 

The Bible is powerful like this. It will nourish and grow them into wise, vibrant men and women of God equipped to "serve his purposes in their generation." ( Acts 13:36 ) 

How else can they be fully prepared for the world they are inheriting? Not with half a gospel. All generations of mankind are broken and messy, but I have to say that this one seems extra twisted and confusing. We are commanded to teach them diligently these words, all of them. 

For instance, Jonah is a three year old boy, so he is totally enamored with the part about David and Goliath. You know, he sees the spear and the sword, and the giant, and little David, and so I ask him, "Where is Jesus in this story?" 

We always think we've David, don't we? Slaying the giant and being all victorious. But the Bible is about Jesus. The sovereignty of God and his Son are found in every verse, on every page. Every bit of God's story is not only to be taken literally, but instructively. 

I explain to Jonah that Jesus is David. Jesus became weak and destroyed the giant of sin and death, so we could come to God, so now it is possible for us to be strong in Jesus and in the power of his might. And Jonah thinks about this, and he flips to the back of his Bible where Jesus is resurrected and surrounded by children. And I see the wheels turning. Our kids are getting more than we think. They can handle it.  

In my own life, I've found this to be true. Whenever I've listened to a podcast or "talk" or read an article that tells me if I'm feeling sad or down today just remember who I am. The speaker or article then goes on to list all of these blessings and favors. I'm not saying this is bad, but often times these spiritual cheerleaders and life coaches/gurus, if you look close, are self-focused, materialistic, and shallow. They say, "I am," but Jesus says that he is I AM. Most of the time Jesus isn't even mentioned. 

I feel like I've just eaten a piece of pumpkin pie with an entire container of cool whip. I know, that does sound good. But it's not very nourishing and leaves me feeling empty and weak a short time later. 

However, when I've listened to a sermon or podcast or read an article/blog/book, even a short meme, composed of weighty, full biblical theology and sound doctrine, I'm left to feel as if I've just eaten an entire, full course Thanksgiving meal. I find that I can't wait to search the scripture for more of this truth, but I also find that parts of the truth offend me causing me to repent and mull over where I've been missing it and reveal to me where I was believing a lie or not bowing to the sovereignty of God. In other words, the Word is changing me. This is the power of the entire cannon of scripture, not just the "lovely" parts, all of it. This is what it means to eat the meat of God's word and advance past a baby bottle of milk or toddler sippy cup.  

If this is true for us, it is true for our children. 

We need to teach our children and ourselves to "hug" the entire canon of scripture. Nourish causes flourish. 

And results in a life of continual awe and love for our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and in true, perpetual thanksgiving. 💛

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Daily Bread

"You, however have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, and sufferings - which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the LORD rescued me." ( 2 Timothy 3:10-11 ) 

Paul is about to die. He writes that his time of departure has arrived and that he's kept the faith and fought the fight ever since Jesus met him and saved him on that dusty road to Damascus, when Paul was on his way to persecute Christians himself. God chooses his vessels his way, doesn't he? 

A person's last words are what's most important to them.

"Indeed all those who desire to lead a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...." ( verse 12 ) 

His fellow apostle said similar words: "Beloved, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you." ( 1 Peter 4:12 ) 

God uses suffering and persecutions to test us, to conform us into the image of Jesus. Someone who has suffered strong, and allowed their suffering to deepen their relationship with God is a child of substance with a true solid faith. I find myself draw to these people. I think of Elisabeth Elliott. Charles Spurgeon. Paul. More than those, I look to Jesus, the suffering servant.

Someone, somewhere, somehow, said, "God will not allow more on us than we can bear." Have you heard this? I can't find this anywhere in the Bible. I'm not sure how this rumor got started. Indeed God does allow more on us than we can bear, that's the whole point. Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." ( John 15:5 )  Nothing."We are strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might." ( Ephesians 6:10 ) "We are weak, but he is strong," even kids in Sunday school know this. In our weakness, we trust and then grow closer to him. So God does allow more on us than we can bear, but never more than he can bear. 

Are some of these scriptures difficult for us to hear? Are they hard? 

Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that lead to life, and those who find it are few." ( Matthew 7:13 & 14 ) 

The gate is narrow. The way is hard. But it leads to life. 

In the last verses of this chapter Paul gives the antidote: The Word of God. "Remember it from your childhood, Timothy, it makes you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 

"It's breathed out by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." ( verses 14-17 ) 

One thing I've learned is that I haven't learn much from the Bible through the years of my life. In recent years, I've finally learned how to read and study it, and not just memorize verses, studying them within the framework of the entire Bible, considering the author's original intent, and seeing what they say about God and not me. Seeking out teachers and leaders who engage in expository preaching and don't tickle ears. Then and only then, after meditating on the meatiness and offensiveness, allowing the truths to take hold and change my life. The word is powerful like that. But it's hard work. And it takes time. 

Do we think the very words of the God of the Universe will come quickly and easily? No, we savor them like a green apple jolly rancher, one sweet layer at a time. And as we do, quietly and softly, we wake up one morning and realize that we are closer to God and to his Son than we have ever been. Why? 

Doctrine leads to devotion. And devotion leads us into worship. We worship what we adore. 

Paul knew this. 

May we not let anything come between us and our pursuit of God through the study of the Scriptures. 

"The LORD will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." ( 4:18 ) 

"What's that, Atlas?" Oh, he was just saying, "Get behind me satan." 😮

The Garden

As I looked out over the frost covered garden, where a few remaining stems stood, knotty and crooked, shriveled peppers still clinging to the bare stalks, I had to say that I did a bit better this past garden season. Heck, I didn't even break a sweat sowing seed or watering in the compost pile, and it produced a nice yield of squash and gourds along with a few unidentifiable fruits and vegetables. I guess you could call me the accidental gardener. 

It's hard raising livestock and doing life while simultaneously attempting to plant a garden, and even more of a daunting task is maintaining it. But that's the plight of humanity, isn't it?  In spite of the curses and thorn and thistles, we still long to dig our hands deep into the rich soil, clutching handfuls of dirt until it is sufficiently caked under our fingernails. And if it isn't healthy earth, we'll work the devil out of it until it is, even if it's for a couple of humble tomato plants or a simple row of zinnias.  

"Why?" 

Plants brighten up everything around us. They seem to bloom hope. 

When people are sick or are celebrating a milestone, from one end of the life spectrum to the other, we send flowers. We send plants. When we get married, we hold a bouquet of flowers close to our heart, pin them on lapels, toss them about, arrange them everywhere. At Christmas there is the poinsettia and at Easter, the white lily. In fall there is the upstanding and friendly sunflower. In summer, the Shasta daisy sweeps across my fields at Healing Brook in praise of her Maker. Seasons become known by their flowers. 

"Here, have a potted purple iris, it will gladden your day." 

One can scarcely look at new construction; it is painful to the eyes. Dirt without greenery is like lungs without air. Even the desert and tundra labor and birth forth their resilient flora.

We just can't seem to separate ourselves from plants. It's like we're intertwined in this bittersweet love affair with no expectation of a cosmic break-up. 

Every spring, no matter how miserably I failed the previous year, I'm back at it again, digging and planting and yearning. 

"Why is that?"

"It's simple." 

"Life began in a garden."

This little ceramic sign that sits in my kitchen window reminds me that no matter how hard or fast we try to run from our true identities, we can't hide. We were created in a garden for a perfect life that seems to be just out of our reach, thorns and thistles have cursed the ground. Sin and guilt and shame have ruined our plans. The Genesis account of creation reminds us that we failed almost before we ever started, and we've been trying to get back to Eden ever since. 

The words in my window were a gift from my mom. If any of her friends read my blog, they will remember that she always liken her devotional time each morning to meeting Jesus in a garden. Moments before my mom suffered a stroke, she was on her knees in front of her home planting flowers. 

The doctrine of original sin is the first part of the Gospel. I believe when we fully understand this truth, as much as we can, the bad news, the utter hopelessness of mankind, only then can we understand and behold the full glory of the second part of the Gospel, the Good News: Sin and guilt and shame may have ruined our plans, but sin and guilt and shame have not ruined God's plans for his people. 

"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus." 

"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." ( Romans 6: 20-23 )  

I think it is so interesting that after Jesus was crucified Joesph of Arimathea asked for the body of our Lord. Along with Nicodemus, they both worked together to prepare it for burial, two rich, prominent, distinguished men, when this was the usual unclean work left to slaves and women. This is powerful. 

After the preparation, they placed Jesus's body in a tomb that was located in none other than a garden. 

After Jesus is resurrected from the dead, on the third day, Mary Magdalene, a probable, former prostitute that Jesus healed and delivered of seven demons, comes first to the tomb. She finds the stone has been rolled away. She runs to tell the disciples. The disciples come and see that Jesus isn't there. They believe it, but apparently scratching their heads, they go back home. 

Mary stays.  

She weeps by the tomb. Then she stoops to look inside. Didn't she already look with the disciples? I don't think so. Remember, women were considered second class citizens. She more than likely didn't, but now that they have had a look and gone away puzzled, she gazes in. Only now there are angels.  

The angels ask her why she is weeping. And then she turns around and sees Jesus, and he also asks her why she is weeping and who she is seeking. And she supposes him to be the gardener. 

Then he calls her name. And she knows it's Jesus. His sheep know his voice. ( John 10:3-4 ) 

Jesus tells Mary to go tell the disciples that she has seen him. Only Jesus didn't say "disciples," he now calls those bumbling rascals "his brothers." And he will use these brothers to light the world on fire.
Go tell my brothers that "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." ( John 19 & 20 ) 

Jesus turned God's people right side up.  

Mary was correct. He is the Gardener. 

Jesus came and brought us back to Eden. 

Down to the simplest molecule of our being, the raw dirt scooped up in the very hand of God, we were created for a garden paradise. We are all farmers. 

And everyday until Jesus returns in victory to whisk away his betrothed, we will continue to cultivate our soil in preparation with the expectation of his coming.  

Until the great wedding banquet, the Bride of Christ will hold this bouquet of hope close to our hearts yearning and waiting and whispering: 

"Come Lord Jesus." 💜🌷

 

Layers

Before I headed out to work this past week, I checked the weather app on my phone for the morning temperature. Yeah, it's fall, ya'll. I pulled my wooly sweater around me and flipped up the hood over top of my head already covered in a knitted beanie. I adjusted the pretty pink birthday scarf from my aunt snuggly around my exposed neck. I slipped into the muddy boots sitting by the door, and when all of that dressing was done, I could finally put on my gloves. 

Immediately out the door, Aslan was by my side ready to be my constant companion in the herd/flock head count and wellness check, but mostly ready for his breakfast. Shasta joins us by the front gate, both dogs have worked diligently through the night protecting the livestock closest to the house, and are deserving of me to sing their praises. So I sing. 

Before we reach the duck, duck, goose pen to let the birds out into open pasture, I removed my sweater and threw it over the fence. On the way to the garage to prepare the dog and cat morning meals, I removed the long sleeve denim shirt and tied it around my waist. I plucked the beanie off my sweating head and replaced it with a Tractor Supply cap hanging on a wooden peg near the fridge. On our way to the barn, the scarf got loosened and the gloves came off. By then, my feet were hot and uncomfortable in the thick boots, and I wished I had thought to change into my work shoes. 

Autumn is not so much "sweater weather" as it is "layer weather." 

And I as I went about the daily farming chores, it had me thinking: 

All of these burdensome layers remind me of the Christian life.

"How so?" 

This may seem like a funny way to start: 

What is the number one reason that people give for not attending church? Let's be clear, a "Christian" church. When we invite someone to church, what excuse do we hear most often? We may have even said it ourselves. I have.  

"Would you like to come to church with me?"

"No. I don't go to church." 

"Why?"

Let's all say it together, on the count of three, one, two, three:

"The church is full of hypocrites."

Good job. Okay, I respectfully disagree. 

First, let's define "hypocrite."The definition of a hypocrite is someone who says one thing and does another. ( Like Angela on The Office ) It is an individual who says they have a moral standard, and yet, their behavior does not reflect this moral standard. For instance, they say that gossip is a sin and that they would never engage in such abominable activity per the Bible, and like so and so, but you hear them stabbing another coworker in the back at the water cooler. They believe their coworker's naughtiness justifies their sin of gossip. 

Now let's look at the definition of a Christian. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, someone who is born again with a regenerated heart, not to be confused with someone who essentially says: "Sign me up. I need to get religious and start living better. I believe Jesus is Lord." Demons have good theology. ( James 2:19 ) 

A Christian is someone who recognizes that they are a sinner, hopeless and helpless, lost and in darkness. 

In godly sorrow and repentance, a Christian has cried out to Jesus to save them. They understand he's the only one who can. By God's sovereign grace, the Holy Spirit has given a Christian faith, a regenerated heart, and done something they could never do for themselves in glueing them to the finished work of Jesus Christ. They now through his atoning sacrifice for them on the cross, stand before God justified. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.  ( Ezekiel 36:26 ) ( Jeremiah 31:33 ) ( Hebrews 8:10 ) ( The entire Book of Romans and many other scriptures. ) 

After conversion a Christian is someone who begins a sanctification journey full of good works that spring from their new heart in thanksgiving for all God has given to them. A Christian seeks God daily in scripture, meditation, worship, prayer, and fellowship with other believers to help them in this transformation process. 

A Christian puts the past behind him as he sets his hand to the plow, learning to divide the Word rightly like the straight rows harrowed for fruitful crops through the rich soil. 

A Christian is someone who wants Jesus to do for others what he did for them. 

A Christians is someone who confesses, "I still struggle with sin, with pride, with selfishness." 

A Christian is someone who admits, "I'm not perfect." 

If someone says that they are a Christian and that they no longer sin, well, the Bible says otherwise:  

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." ( 1 John 1:8-10 ) 

Hypocrites are self deceived. Christians are forgiven. 

There could be a few hypocrites sitting in the pews, sure, and hopefully they will get saved. I did, so there's hope for others. There were some in the church in Jesus's day, in fact the very leaders of the church were hypocrites, the Pharisees. Jesus called them out. Jesus took hypocrisy very seriously. So we should too. 

Jesus took all sin very seriously, and that's why he taught against it. That's why he had to climb Calvary with a cross on his wounded back. That's what separated us from our Heavenly Father, a holy God. And that's why Christians should fight it as we are commanded every hour of every day until we fly away. 

So you see, a Christian is someone who Jesus has raised from spiritual death. 

A Christian is like Lazarus dead in the tomb, then Jesus called us forth out of death and dreadful darkness. ( John 11 ) 

And like the dead man Lazarus, the Christian rises, but is still bound in linen wraps. 

Jesus instructs the others to "unbind him and let him go." And those encumbering layers begin to unravel, not all at once, but one strip of cloth at a time as fellow brothers and sisters also help each other remove their bandages of sin. It is a slow, often painful process, but with each piece of weighty material that unwraps, releasing its grip, and falling to the ground, more of the beautiful nature of Jesus is revealed in us, the Church, from one shade of glory to another.  

The Bride of Christ is beginning to beam. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." ( Hebrews 12:1 NLT ) 

The church is not full of hypocrites. 

The church is full of sinners saved by grace. 

Why don't you join us? 💜

Sticks and Stones

The average life span of a Great Pyrenees is 10-12 years. Atlas will be 11 on his next birthday. He's doing well for an old hound. He's slowed down a lot, not that he was ever Speedy Gonzales or Taco the Chihuahua, but he can still guard a food bowl like nobody's business. 

Atlas's purpose here at HBF was never to guard sheep; the girls run that show. His duties were to protect me, and to be our pup baby daddy, and he has performed both tasks quite well. I have no complaints. I'm still alive and have four of his offspring.  

Atlas is a simple dog. He only has two life rules and they apply to all non-humans. This includes ants and stink bugs: 

1. Stay at least 20 feet away from my food bowl. 

2. Never, ever yap in my face. 

One of my neighbors said, "He's just like a man, ain't he?" 

One day as I was walking with the dogs toward the front of the property, a lady in a van was driving slowly by watching us. Great Pyrenees attract curiosity. The mom of a dear family with one of our puppies, now grown, once said to me, "When we go out, I wish I could put a sign around King's neck that told all about him, so I could save my breath." 😂  I can relate. 

When we made it to the road, the woman rolled down her window and asked about his breed. Atlas, ever the lady's man, stretched up towards her so she could pet his head. Just as she reached out her hand through the open window, a small dog jumped up from her lap and began yapping toward him. In a nano second Atlas went from gentle giant to Cujo, from Don Juan to Hannibal Lecter. 

Fortunately the woman had the good sense to step on the gas pedal and get the heck out of there before Mr. Yappy Pants became Atlas's breath mint.  

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." Proverbs 18:21

No matter what size dog you are. 

Sometimes it is not what we are saying, but how we are expressing it. I believe nine times out of ten, this can be the issue. 

We see so many deconstructions taking place inside of the church today and sadly, I've seen some Christians responding to the individuals so abrasively. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the sweet song we sing to bring hope to the world, but if it gets sung in harsh tones and melodies, we've lost our witness. As Paul writes to the Corinthians, without love, we've become about as soothing and hospitable as a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And that's just annoying. I think of Will Ferrell banging that cowbell on SNL. 

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." ( 1 Corinthians 13:13 ) 

Our doctrine can be spot on, but without love, words seasoned with grace, they fall on deaf ears and hurting hearts. We need both. 

If we have a family member or friend who is considering leaving the faith, can't we have the kindness to hear their story, gently ask them about their experience? Listen to them. I've not always done this in the past, and I regret it immensely. I ask God and them to forgive me. I've found the closer I walk to him each day, the more like him I become. But it is a lifelong journey with many twists and turns, this transformation process. Thank God for his grace. May we return it to others. 

I know this is oversimplifying the fix, but I believe love is the starting point. Words are powerful; they can cause pain or healing. And it matters how we execute them. 

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." ( Proverbs 15:1 ) 

Somethings are just commonsense exercised with a bit of self-control and grace. The maxims contained in the Book of Proverbs can help us grow in these areas; that's why I chose a devotional for this year based on the biblical wisdom literature. 

Because the Farmer and I have to remind each other every time we discuss theology or a cultural problem to stop interrupting the other. We both get so zealous. 

The Farmer says that I need a small theological study group to engage with to give him some relief. He's probably right, but for now, while God continues working on his feisty, little Chihuahua, the Farmer takes the yaps. 😂  

Reforming Rebecca

As many are gearing up to celebrate Halloween this weekend, my man children will roll their eyes and tell you that their mom is not a fan and is a big, giant party pooper. "Tell her she can throw that wet blanket over top of her head and cut some eye holes out." Believe me, they have. It's just all of the death and gore and creepy degeneracy, haunted houses, graveyards, and possessed serial killers. I just can't remotely get into celebrating that.  

And then I did a study on the origins of Halloween, and yeah, that didn't help my abhorrence any. It actually made it worse as I didn't realize that such abominable pagan beliefs and practices had crept into the church. I sit here feeling numb. 

I do love autumn though, especially here in the Blue Ridge. I take joy in treat-or-treat alternatives, although now I'm contemplating them a bit this morning. I love pumpkin patches, corn mazes, fall festivals, hay rides, all of that warm fuzzy stuff, and especially the view of the resplendent mountains surrounding the farm against a pure, blue sky. 

Last week we encountered our first frost of the season, and the dogs were over the harvest moon with delight. In fact, I had to remind them to get back to work.

This coming week is also the date of what I have often thought of as "the forgotten holiday." It's not one acknowledged with decorations or gift giving, and yet ironically involves the greatest gift ever given: The Protestant Reformation. 

To be honest, I've never celebrated it. 

I recently began taking a church history class on-line, and I have begun to better understand the issues leading up to the Reformation, the convictions that empowered and drove the reformers to ignite such an explosive movement, and the lasting effects it has had on the Church, down through the centuries, constantly caught in the crossfires of culture wars.  

As if their lives weren't traumatic enough during the Middle Ages with wide-spread illiteracy, plagues, starvation, and death, the Christians experienced a spiritual hunger as well. With few Bibles in the hands and homes of the common folk, they relied heavily on the clergy for their biblical instruction. And their leaders were failing them miserably. 

God does give grace, the church taught, but that grace is like a can of Red Bull, as one theologian described, a power boost that enables people to do the works needed for salvation. Salvation is by God's grace and your good works. And furthermore, if you want forgiveness for yourself or your loved ones trapped in purgatory, you will have to purchase indulgences to attain it.  

"Have we paid enough for our sins?" 

"Have we done enough to earn our salvation?"

"Are we doing enough to keep it?" 

Such were the constant cries of the worried parishioners. 

Enter one Martin Luther, a somewhat obscure Augustinian Monk from Wittenberg, Germany who struggled ferociously in his own heart with the false teachings and unethical practices of the church. Luther's spiritual awakening came as he read and then understood and was set free mostly by the Book of Romans. I know this is a ridiculously simplistic recounting of the Reformation. 

Luther is credited with kicking off the Reformation and rediscovering the greatest gift to mankind: The Bible along with its liberating, comforting, beautiful, core truth:

Justification by faith. 

By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God, not a result of works, that no one may boast." ( Ephesians 2: 9 ) 

It's pretty clear cut. 

As I sit here this morning in the predawn hours before the sun rises, I have to be honest reflecting on the end of Martin Luther's life, his last years. Why all of that antisemitism? I just don't get it, and I feel numb. For me it cast a wet blanket over the Reformation, and I don't have any answers. Just thoughts, I guess, because I can't make sense of it. 

The Farmer instructs me that I need to learn to extract the good out of the bad. I think he means that it's possible for whole truths to be poured out of broken vessels. 

Since Eden, mankind continually messes up everything. To me, there is great comfort in the truth that God did not leave salvation in the hands of sinful man. Not comfort like my fleece blanket and chai tea, but comfort as in security and assurance. Even if it were a possibility, and it's not, I thank God he didn't leave salvation up to human effort. Good heavens, now that's scary. 

All through the Bible our "heroes" fail us. Adam fails. And the entirety of mankind fails. "...the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." ( Genesis 6 ) 

"None is righteous, no, not one. No one understands; no one seeks after God." ( Romans 3:11 ) 

Then along comes Noah. And Noah found favor with God and Noah was a righteous man. The Bible tells us. And then after all of that building and collecting of animals and weathering all kinds of conditions literally of epic proportions, what does he do once he exits the ark? He gets drunk and naked. "Really, Noah?" After all that. 

And then there's King David who is the apple of God's eye and hailed as the key figure in the messianic lineage, but also an adulterer and a murderer. 

Then there's Abraham. Issac. Jacob. Moses. Solomon. Most of the Kings. Jonah. Peter. Thomas. Judas. 

And then there's Rebecca. 

I failed myself. I don't even know my own heart. Thank God, he does.  

God warned an angry Cain in the Book of Genesis that sin is crouching at the door and its desire is to have you.  

Sin is not to be taken lightly.

We can not handle sin. 

Even the so called best of us. 

Sin separates us from a holy God. 

Sin put Jesus on the cross. 

Remember?   

Jesus defeated sin for us. He served our death sentence. 

He is the only one who can. 

My regenerated heart cost Jesus everything. 

Jesus did not fail. Ever. 

And even though there are many perplexities in this fallen world that I can not understand, the biggest lesson I learn from the Reformation is that the reformers never meant for it to be a done deal. We should be reforming as a church and as individuals continuously. 

Reforming is not bending with culture or compromising our convictions cemented in the Bible, or changing the Bible, or Jesus for that matter to suit our fancy. But it is daily through the struggles and challenges and ordinariness of life transforming into the beautiful image of Jesus. 

I have not read through the entire Ninety-five Theses, but maybe the greatest lessons I learned from Luther weren't the ones he set out to teach. In fear and trembling, I am reminded of the discipline to be ever vigilant in protecting my regenerated heart at all costs, constantly on guard against sin. Never thinking I am above it. 

Falling on our knees and on our faces in utter surrender, not just on the day of salvation, but on every single day of our broken lives. Understanding emphatically that on this side of eternity and the other, there is only one way we will ever be able to stand before a holy God: 

In Christ Alone. 💜

Shades of Glory

"How do you know that I'm truly a Christian?" The Farmer asked this question recently in a discussion we were having about a variety of subjects. 

It's a fair question. A good question. 

I thought about how to best answer him even though I knew it to be a rhetorical question as well because he seems to possess as much or more spiritual knowledge than me. Of course, I kept thinking about it throughout the day because my brain wasn't installed comprising of an off button or one of those little icons that pop up on your screen and say "ask me later."  

And anyway the Apostle Peter said that we need to always have an answer ready for the reason of the hope inside of us. ( 1 Peter 3:15  ) Sometimes I've mistranslated the verse to knowing all of biblical theology, but still, I think the more sound doctrine we are clear on, the more helpful we can be with these questions, among other treasures, mainly knowing God better. ( 2 Timothy 2:15 ) 

Well, there are several distinct marks of a Christian that we see in Scripture, and I believe a huge one, because everyone around us should be able to witness it, is that we begin to transform. 

In other words, a relationship, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, unto death, should change us. 

And specifically, the Bible indicates our relationship with God should supernaturally transform us into the image of Jesus, one shade of glory at a time. ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 )  

How are we doing?

In the dry, wilderness seasons, the growth may seem slow or nonexistent. And winter does seem to drag endlessly on, but trees do grow in winter. Believe it or not, the strongest growth occurs in cold, harsh conditions, when resources are stored for the seasons that follow. In springtime we may hardly be able to keep up with all of the fresh, tender greenery. In stormy seasons, we may experience tremendously hurtful growing pains as pruning and clipping cultivate room for an abundant harvest of luscious new fruits.

 But whatever season we're currently experiencing, we should be growing. Tiny acorn into mighty oak. 

The proof will look different for all of us. For me, I think the day-to-day measuring stick or rain gauge looks something like this: 

When I see machinery parts and thing-a-ma-bobs recently purchased from Tractor Supply spread across my dining room table, and the desire rises up in me to shove them into some space far away from my field of vision, but I resist the urge to do so for an entire week, no less, I realize this relationship has changed me. 

When I'm trying to come through the back door with an arm load of groceries, and the Farmer doesn't rise to help, but instead gives me a lecture on the kitten that unbeknownst to me snuck in under my feet and how we already have enough cats in this house and the more I let them in the more they assume they can just take over, and I think to myself a kitten is not a hill I'm willing to die on. So I keep my mouth shut and scoop the little fur ball up and quietly take him back to the garage with a can of Little Friskies and a heart of forgiveness, remembering all of the times the Farmer has changed my oil, checked my tires, cut hay for my sheep, and never shrunk back from the unpleasant and dirty, but necessary farm jobs, so I would not have to do them. And wow, I realize this relationship has changed me.  

When I walk into my house and it smells like garlic, and I'm sorry, people, but I do not like the smell of garlic. It's so stinky. I don't care how healthy it is. However, garlic is the Farmer's favorite cooking ingredient, and it makes him exceedingly happy. When you enter a small cabin on a friendly farm, it should smell like fresh baked cookies or cinnamon apples, not Pizza Hut or the Bombay Kitchen, but he loves garlic. So every morning when I approach my countertop where garlic bulbs are rolling around the coffeemaker, I hold my nose as well as my tongue, realizing this relationship has changed me.  

When my young grandson points to his toy tractor and asks me about the different parts, and I can actually educate him that they are front end loader and post hole digger implements, I realize this relationship has changed me. 

When my eyes slowly open in the morning, and I pray, "Sovereign God and Holy Father, this is your day, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. However if it's okay with you, can I die first, so I don't have to live without him?" And I realize this relationship has changed me. 

But when I turn off the lights at night and get into bed and close my eyes in the darkness and reflect, pondering the mercy and grace and love God has bestowed faithfully upon his prodigal daughter, I pray: "Father, I changed my mind. I don't want the Farmer to have to go through any more pain. He can leave first." 

And I realize this relationship has changed me.  💜

The Good Shepherd's Shepherds

As many churches today celebrate and honor their pastors as is designated during the month of October, I was reminded during my devotional reading this morning that the head pastor of a church along with his many responsibilities also is a spiritual umbrella to the pastors serving under him, imparting to them strength and guidance and passion. He shepherds shepherds as well as the flock. 

I hope this makes us appreciate our pastors all the more. What a calling God has placed on their lives! I think most of us congregants probably don't have a clue of the weight they carry. Let's make it a priority to pray for our pastor every day of the year. God has appointed pastors to equip us as part of the five fold ministry within the Body of Christ, and our commandment is to lift them up fervently in prayer. We can make it a goal to encourage and remind each other to do this. 

I'm sharing a picture today that I took of my pastor, Milton Atkins, this past summer at our church's VBS. I've always loved it because I believe it sums up his conviction not just to our young people, but to all of our people. If you've ever attended any outreach at our church, you know you'll find him right in the thick of things with his sleeves rolled up serving. And if you don't immediately see him, just wait for the belly laugh. 

If Pastor Atkins isn't at church on Sunday or at one of our events, it isn't the same. Everyone knows this, so I'm just writing what everyone is thinking. Some might think it shouldn't be that way, but I beg to differ. That's one of the marks of a great leader in my book. And in the Good Book too, I believe.  

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." Ephesians 4: 11-14 

"Father, fill us in the Church with a fresh anointing of your Holy Spirit to pray for our head pastors as never before. As our leaders, they bear a heavy burden to equip us for ministry and bring us to maturity in Christ. When you call us, you promise to equip us, so we ask that you fill your pastors in your Body with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding and strengthen them with all power according to your glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy. Jesus, we know one way you are building us, your Church, is through these precious laborers. Bless them exceedingly and abundantly more than they can ask or think in your beautiful, holy name! Amen."  

Happy Sunday! 

Go love on your pastor. 💜

Pastor Milton with a few of his lambs at VBS 

The Heavenly Hound

Recently I was speaking with another Christian that I love dearly and admire, and this person was telling me that they were praying for some family members to find the Lord. I encouraged them not to give up in their intercessional strivings, but to keep pounding the doors of Heaven. And this wonderful person said something to me that I've heard consistently throughout my life, not every day, but often enough that I'm questioning it. 

Since my conversion, I have become like a one of my dogs sniffing along every commonplace trail, interrogating every scent, and digging up hidden meaty, treasure bones in the process. The whole journey began in the first place not because I'm super intelligent, because I'm not, but out of shear curiosity. I wanted to know what happened to me. 

Of course, we can't confuse intelligence with wisdom. Those are two entirely different things. 

So, this person looks at me, and says, "I am continuing to pray, Rebecca, but you know that God can not violate that person's will." 

Do I know this? 

I've heard it, but never questioned it. Can't he violate our will? I mean, he is God after all. He's the sovereign God of the universe, in fact. 

I know this is a heavy thought for a Monday morning, but here recently, I seem to hit the ground running. Hear me out. 

I can't find this anywhere in the Scriptures. I'm not saying we are puppets. Of course we have a will and make decisions and those decisions matter. And even more, those decisions have consequences. Good and bad. One read through the New Testament shows us this. 

But the way I perceive it, God "violated" all of mankind's will when he sent Jesus. Thank God, he did. Since the Garden of Eden, we humans have wanted to be our own gods and to do life our own way, rejecting God and rebelling against him. 

"None is righteous, no, not one; 

no one understands;

no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

no one does good,

not even one."  ( Romans 3:11 & 12 ) 

Wow, we don't even seek for God. I hadn't thought of that. We do seek though, because we are so broken, we seek for our healing in everything, but God. 

"He's seeking for God." "She's seeking for God." I hear this regularly. I've said it. 

No, the Bible tells us. We are all seeking, but not for God. I know I wasn't seeking for him. I actually wanted God to leave me alone and let me live my way. I told him to please cut out all of the spiritual drama in my life and just give me some peace. I didn't want him to change and rearrange my life. I just wanted a little self-help. 

But the darkness wouldn't let up because that torment was actually him seeking for me. 

With Jesus it's all or it's nothing. He isn't in the decorating business. He's in the demolition business. Jesus demolishes the shack we've built, so he can construct a castle for a King to reside in. 

We need help, people. 

Thank God he violated our wayward, sinful wills when he sent Jesus. 

His amazing grace and mercy over us and to us in our disobedience is something to rejoice about this Monday morning and every single moment of our lives! And once he finds us, then our true seeking begins. And he promises to reveal himself to us:  

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." ( Matthew 7:7 )  

This is Jesus's teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, and remember, he was training his disciples. He encouraged them to seek into the beauty of God and in doing so, they would reflect that glory to the world. What a wonderful word to us in our present culture as well. 

"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline," Jesus informs the church of Laodicea in Revelations 3. "So be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock." 

In a way, he's like one of my dogs too. He will sniff us out. He will come knocking. He will find us. 

He's God. 

Aren't we glad?

The Hound of Heaven. 🐾

Aslan at 6 months old