STUCK IN THE MUCK

‘Stuck in the Muck’

          Have  you ever got bogged down in the muck and mire of the day.. You arise early in the morning with energy to ‘get those things done’ that have been facing you.  And with determination you decide to get  shower, …oops the telephone rings….nothing really important ….  but you reason with yourself…”I will make myself a cup of coffee …and just sit for a minute and listen to the morning news”….1/2 hour passes then an hour…..  Then you say to yourself ‘I need to do my devotions,  get some Word into me’…..I’ll just go get another cup of coffee and maybe a tad-bit to eat.  Guess I’ll throw a load of laundry in and at least get something started for the day.  Well, I will sort through these magazines.  Wow, this is a great article, so you sit down and read for a few minutes, reasoning with yourself you are getting something spiritual.  Wow, I know I need to get some things done but oh, I feel so tired, maybe just a little catnap and then I will get up and get started

I do not know who wrote this but it was on a floppy disk and it is so relevant to my lilfe at times that I thought it would be enjoyed. 

Each day is a new day and we awake with choices...."What will we do". I am sure like myself I have a plan but most of the time it changes especially if you walk with the Lord and He directs. My mornings have looked like the above writing and I laughed as I read it. Good intentions always, but sometimes they go " a muck". He always has a perfect plan but sometimes I find myself wasting a day and not really accomplishing a lot. 

ANNIVERSARY - 59 YEARS

DOWN ON THE FARM - January 17, 1958 – January 17, 2017. Our 59th Anniversary
I sat down this morning and began to reminisce about our lives and the memories started flooding of our humble beginnings ….our love for God….provision over the years….a son with impetigo healed and another son with a broken leg that when Richard prayed ‘In the name of Jesus’ and to get up and walk and he was healed. In 1998 my cancer healed miraculously….the last meal I put on the table and God’s provision.
God took 2 shy people and opened powerful ministries for the Glory of God ….we traveled many miles and have also given many hours of ministry to our local church. We stand amazed! It has been our joy!
Well I could write a book….maybe someday! Richards saying over the years has been, ‘the family that prays together stays together.’ We made a vow to one another 59 years ago …a trust for one another and an unconditional love that nothing can break…We have know the mountains and the valleys but ‘Never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed out begging for bread.’ We have grown because of the hard places in life. An old song the Happy Goodman’s use to sing ‘I Wouldn’t Take Nothin’ For My Journey’.
Richard’s favorite scripture is, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever’. Mine has been, “In Him I live and move and have my being.’ So today we begin our journey to the 60th year. Our trust is in Him knowing He will never leave or forsake us. A blind trust that says our faith is in the One who leads us. We love Him more today than yesterday!

DOWN ON THE FARM - Dec. 12.16

DOWN ON THE FARM – December 12, 2016

A snowy day outside!! A great day for a pot roast/veggies in the crock pot. We have been securing everything for the Winter Season. Buy and selling cattle…. 5 young to restock the herd. Our beautiful bull sold and off to Pa. A younger one will join them soon.

This season is always so busy. Christmas gifts purchased and wrapped today. Cards…Mailing packages…and cooking still to be done. of His birth….Tree up and decorated. Wreaths hung outside. Angels on my piano…. House village up….Manger scene...Garland down the stairway and Poinsettia’s every other step. Festive we are!!!. We are celebrating the Birth of a King. A simple truth ‘FROM THE MANGER TO THE CROSS’

A large cross in the field that is lit reminding others of this Christmas Season.

New storm door and side windows for the front door. And of course, all the little things that always need to be done when you own your home. It is never ending. But we are thankful for the blessings each day. Richard always busy in her new barn/shop. God took the ashes and turned it into something good. But of course he is still missing that special tool…still purchasing to replace things lost in the fire.

40 years of tree stumping still amazes us. God’s gift of witnessing wherever he goes . He could write a book of all those God has led him to…Camden, Rockland and all the areas in between. He has seen many accept Jesus and some who ponder what he says. ….truly amazing….a claimed Buddhist said they would try Jesus for 3 months. Jesus will never fail a heart open to Him. God takes your life’s work and uses you for His Kingdom.

We attended a dear friends funeral Tuesday and realize more than ever, “ONLY ONE LIFE, WILL SOON BE PAST, ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST” CT Studd. What will your legacy be when He calls you home HIS BLESSING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.

My Thoughts

I awoke this morning with part of a song that says, 'all things work together for my good.' That is not always easy to receive when you are in pain and the days ahead do not look much different. But with eyes of faith we realize we are in a battle and it is a spiritual one against the powers of darkness and He has given us the power to take a hold of negative thoughts that would be in the forefront of our mind and cast them down in Jesus Name. 

Our biggest battle is our mind that allows negative thoughts to take root. In view of that what does the Bible say. We need to learn to stand on His Word. 'And by His stripes we are healed' Isaiah 53:5 

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

DOWN ON THE FARM

DOWN ON THE FARM: 10.4.16 

Looking out the back window… the Fall season is upon us. The trees are beginning change little by little to their different hues. The leaves will soon be gone. There is a great anology, when that leaf falls off there is a new one sitting behind it ready to spring forth when our maker gives the command in the Spring. And so for us, there is always hope wherever you find yourself in life where death of anything has occurred… there is new life waiting at His command to spring forth in newness.
Farm changes….last field mowed yesterday. Manure being spread. Our beef born the beginning of the year went yesterday to our buyer. They grow quite big but you can still hear the momma’s cry for a couple of days for their young, who have been nursed from birth until sold. The cows have been killed for the freezer. Soon the house will be secured for the winter. Our summer clothes have been switched out for the winter ones, now we are ready for the colder weather. We have such a short season it almost takes your breath away because it seems you just put out the summer furniture…planted the gardens and now we wait for our first frost. The wood furnace has not been started and oil is not as warm so wrapping in the homemade quilts in the evening feels good.
Life is quick …here today….gone tomorrow. We both had birthday's and realize life goes very fast. What we do for Christ is the important thing and that is what will last for eternity.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

1.  Make peace with your past so it does not foul up your future.
2.  What others think of you is none of your business.
3. Time heals almost everything ...give it time.
4.  Don't compare your life to others and don't judge them. You have no idea what their journey is all about.-7
5.  Stop thinking too much. It's alright not to know the answers. They will come to you when they least expect it.
6.  No one is in charge of your happiness except YOU.
7. You don't own all the problems in the world.

He will give you peace ...pursue it. What others think of you is not important...your reputation others can attack but your character no one can touch. Give God time to heal the wounds and memories. Comparison and judgment will bind you up. Jesus will give you what to say when you need it. You do not always have to know everything just HIM. Happiness is fleeting but the Joy of the Lord is your strength so embrace it. You cannot solve or fix the problems in the world. Leave it to the Lord. 

Just some thoughts for you to ponder. It has been awhile since I posted. Seven points were taken from Whisper of the Heart. Comments are my own. 

He will give you peace whose mind is stayed on Him!

PUMPKINS

How is being a Christian like a pumpkin
-God picked you from the patch.
-brings you in and washes all the dirt off of you.
-cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
-He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed etc.
-then he carves you a new smiling face 
-He puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to pray the sinner's prayer  
with a relative who was so bitter from the past and I
watched as her face began to shine and He began to wash
all the past and a smile took the place of hurt and bitterness.
It was a beautiful sight.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. 2 Cor. 5:17

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Peter questioning The Lord asked, "how many times do I forgive a brother who sins against me?" Jesus answers, "seventy times seven" Matthew 18:21-22.