Letting Go..

Surrounding ourselves with good friends and companions, is the most enriching things we can do.  For ourselves, and for those that choose us to be their's.. 

Lucy's story, 

We were heading down to Hermiston, Oregon to sell a horse, Denny quickly said, "don't bring any horses home", and being I wasn't in the market for one, I said, "I won't".. I am pretty obedient on the big stuff. ;)   take note, he didn't make any mention of a dog..

As we were waiting for our time slot to come up to run our mare through, we came across a gal selling pups, 1/2 aussie - 1/2 border collie out of the back of her car.  She only had a couple left, and Lucy was one of them.  By the time we were heading home, we had someone else's horse in my trailer and I had Lucy in my heart.  

She quickly became my trail companion, going everywhere I rode, she easily logged double the miles I rode, as all good trail companions do, clearing trail and checking back in..

This rock was very cool on a warm day

 Lucy's companion, Little Man, 

Lucy, the brave 

always protecting Little, showing him the ropes, giving him courage. 

Little looking his years, truly a great friend

Loving the water

Little and Lucy passed away just 4 months apart,, as sad as I am to loose such good friends,, 

truly the joy they selflessly gave for over ten years far out weighs the sorrow I feel today..

I look back on many wonderful adventures, and all the memories are blanketed with love 

 Rest in peace my two best friends
I am so thankful to have known you both, and to call you my companions <3

The Most High Sets In Place

       


       Daniel, a man of uncompromising integrity, even from a very young age, was set in Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom for a very specific task.  God, the Most High, placed Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego in a place where they could have the most impact in changing the heart of this powerful king of Babylon.  Though Nebuchadnezzar was brilliant, he was a prideful, arrogant and very stubborn king, who by God's design needed this young man, whom he thought was his captive, but was really an agent for God. 

Through out history it always amazes me how God's sovereign plan is woven perfectly in what appears to be complete chaos of man's fallen world.   

God, The Most High,  makes all things to work for His good, even things we perceive as horrible, can work out for good.  For we have to keep our sights on the eternal, and not the temporal.  There really is only one guarantee in life,, and that is we will all stand before Christ, whether you believe in Him or not..    

Be uncompromising, be a person of great integrity, that your actions are determined not by external pressure, but by internal principle... I pray that my Lord will strengthen my heart to be this kind of person in action and in deed.  

Where My Joy Lives..

Philippians 1:1-11

Joy is a gift from God for those who believe in Jesus Christ !! 


Rom. 14:17
Gal. 5:22

James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials?” 
Looking at my trials from God's perspective makes this so much easier. He is preparing me, building spiritual character. 

1 Peter 1, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.”


In all of my struggles, knowing that it will only be for a little while, makes me understand, that this to will pass,,, for even Jesus while here on earth endured, for a time ~~  knowing that eternity was where our eyes should be fixed.. 

For this is how we truly know joy, we must experience trials to have a clear understanding of joy, to be able to look forward to a future hope, eternally with our Lord. 

~~ doulos ~ a bond slave 
 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus.”  This title, is used by James in James 1:1; by Peter, 2 Peter 1:1; and by Jude, in verse 1.  These great writers of Scripture called themselves bond slaves of Christ.  This term, doulos is referencing the idea of ownership, possession, allegiance, dependence, subjection, loyalty; all that we think a bond slave would convey. 

Talking to the Lord

      Talking to God, with out fail, deeply changes me.... no matter what my situation is.  He is always attentive, loving, understanding, He knows me, every part of me, my thoughts, and dreams, my sadness and frustrations. He knows my heart, as only He can... 

Ps. 18:6

In my distress I called to the Lord;

I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my cry came before him, into his ears. 

How wonderful to know my every word to my Lord He hears...

 

** Keeping our eye on the finish line...

 

 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. 

Acts 20:24

   I, often relate training my horses, to what God is training and teaching me in my walk with Him.  I find many similarities..

The other day as I was trying diligently to physically and mentally mold and shape this little brown horse into doing the right thing, over doing the wrong thing. I was thinking to myself, "look little pony, you are so smart just quit setting your jaw and working against me here......" 

    As I pondered this obvious rebellion, especially after I had worked so hard to set her up for such great success. With months of physical conditioning, that would make her new tasks come much easier, to no avail she would choose to do the wrong thing....  Even if it meant much discomfort,,, 

         As I thought more about this situation, I wonder if this is how Jesus feels about me,,  
  He gave us the word, and when we asked Him into our lives, He  gave us the Holy Spirit, that we may have peace and comfort, and be successful in Him, and yet to no avail we still choose to set our jaw, and choose to do things the hard way......    much like the Brown Pony....   
  
He, did it all for us, as the hymn says, 

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Many things in life will shape and mold us, some things will be of our own doing and other events just happen in life. But the Lord has set us up for success in Him, He has given us, His word, His Holy Spirit and He is shaping and molding us through life's events, to be His children eternally.  

So as I keep pressing on, to help this Brown Pony be successful, I try to remember that even though she may bow her neck in resistance to doing the right thing, if I take aim at the finish line and complete what I have started then we have succeeded in finishing the race.. 

For God's grace is sufficient