Family Update-Farm Life: Never Dull

Among my regular posts, I want to begin posting pictures from everyday life. Just randoms of my life with my family.

We had a calf missing yesterday and so we gathered a "search party".

We didn't find the calf at that time, but he was found later right with his mother. :)

A Quiet Spirit-Abiding With the Master

I enjoy listening to audio books. I download from Librivox.org and enjoy moving around the house doing my daily work with an audio book playing on my Mp3 player.

One of my favorite authors wrote back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Isabella Alden was an amazing woman with an incredible gift of writing. Her books are uplifting, encouraging and convicting. My favorite books written by Mrs. Alden are "Ester Ried", "Ester Ried's Namesake", and "From Different Standpoints", but this is a topic for another post.

A few months ago, I deviated from one of Mrs. Alden's books to try another author who wrote in the middle to late 1800s. Susan Warner was also a gifted author and writing must have been a family trait as Susan's sister Anna wrote one of the most well known songs, "Jesus Loves Me".

I picked one of Susan's books, downloaded it and began. It was one of the longest books I have ever read/listened to! 54 chapters and one was almost an hour long reading! Despite the length, I finished the book in just a few days, albeit I was listening to it almost all day.

The main character of this book was a wonderful young woman, both in character and appearance. Throughout the story, the quality that struck me the most in the heroine was her quiet spirit. A quality I admired and contrasted it sadly with its lack in myself.

I pondered the quality of a quiet spirit as I so greatly long for the Lord to develop it in my own life and I asked the Lord for insight.

I can often mistake a quiet spirit for a quiet person. If a person is more quiet natured, they must have a quiet spirit. Or if an individual is more outgoing, then they must not have a quiet spirit.

This is obviously false. A person can be bubbly and outgoing and have a beautiful quiet spirit or someone can be very quiet and lack any kind of a quiet spirit.

I began my study in 1 Peter 3:3-4

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting hair, and of wearing gold or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

A meek and quiet spirit.

I went to Strong's Concordance and did a word search for quiet spirit. It has the connotation of staying seated, not being easily moved, being still, or undisturbed. One of the notes in Strong's said this "This word indicates tranquility arising from within, causing no disturbance to others."

As I continued to ponder all this, I thought of one of my Bible heroines. Her story is found in Luke 10:38-42

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a a certain village: and a certain women named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and sad unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary that chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Mary showed the example of a quiet spirit that I was looking for. She was focused on the one needful thing: sitting at Jesus' feet.

The essence of a quiet spirit is exactly that.

Sitting at Jesus' feet and not moving away no matter what "Marthas" call for us. 

I am not picking on Martha in any way. I sympathize with Martha. I understand Martha and I am afraid that sadly, I can too often stand right next to Martha and echo her words. Instead of taking the time to sit with Jesus, to have the personal one-on-one time that is vital to the Christian life, I can be too worried about my "list" and I ask Jesus to wait on the sidelines so that I can accomplish what I think is the most important to the success of my day.

"Marthas" can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For me it is housework. I can judge my success when I get to the end of the day and I am satisfied with the amount of work I accomplished. To my shame, I don't judge it by the amount of time I spent in prayer, whether I had a fruitful time studying God's Word, or if I had sweet communion with the Lord throughout the day.

Oh, Lord, give me more of the spirit of Mary. Nothing and no one can move me from the side of my Savior. Nothing. At. All.

 

This post has taken several months to finish and I know this is a very raw and real post. Thank you for bearing with me. This has been written for me more than anyone else. I started this back in May while driving in the car to Florida, and have worked on it in little segments (or just stared at the screen) several times in the last several weeks, but as I am sitting here today, I know that this article needed to wait until now for me to finish. I am in a season of life right now where I struggle to keep a quiet spirit and where the Holy Spirit has been convicting me of apathy that I have developed for Him and His word. 

If I was living at my Savior's feet, would I ever want to leave?

I am in a season where I have questions.I am almost 21 years old. No job. No boyfriend. No college. No nothing.  I have insecurities when people as "Do you have a boyfriend?" "Do you have any prospects?" "What do you do?" "Are you in college?" 

If I was living at the Savior's feet, would I even care about what other people think of me?

I am emotional right now. I could cry or laugh at the same thing and sometimes at the drop of a hat. I fall into my work like I have something to prove. I am struggling to keep my eyes on my Savior. 

If I was living at the feet of my Father, wouldn't His comfort be all satisfying? 

 "...when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I." 
Psalm 61:2b

I was sitting on my younger sister's bed yesterday sympathizing and comforting her in the midst of a disappointment. She was expressing some feelings and the conversation led me to ask her a question. Could she not trust that the God who raised Jesus from the dead, and who saw the bird who fell out of it's nest and the God who knew the number of hairs on her head had something better for her than what she had hoped for? In many ways, I have to ask the question back at myself.When I become anxious and stressed, isn't it doubting God's goodness? His sovereignty? I wouldn't say it in words, but isn't it obvious in my actions? I have taken my eyes off my Savior? I am no longer sitting at His feet. Mary had the quiet spirit of trust that no matter what, her Jesus could take care of it all. That He was in control.

Am I trusting that I am happier right now, right where I am in life, with all it's challenges and surprises, than I would be if I was living my "dream life?" 

If it was best for me, my Father would have given it to me.

"If ye then, being evil, know ho to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?"

Matthew 7:11 

Isn't at my Father's feet the absolute best place to be?

My heart's desire is that I would stay at the feet of Jesus, that I would live at the feet of Jesus. Abiding at the Master's side? Looking to Him alone. It is when the I begin to look back at the world and desire the praise it offers, that is when I become a "Martha" again; cumbered with many things. 

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me."

John 15:4

A quiet spirit. Dear sisters, this is my prayer. That I may always, always be abiding right at the feet of Jesus. Safe at His side. Looking to Him alone for my affirmation, my worth, my purpose and my marching orders.

Live at the Master's feet.

Summer Recap

Yes, it has been a while. Just about two weeks after my last posting, I left for another prison ministry trip to Florida. It was a wonderful trip, full of unseen challenges and incredible breakthroughs.

Two days before we left Little Rock for Florida, some water pipes burst in the ministry headquarters and flooded the downstairs lobby.

Even in the disaster, the Lord provided help in so many ways. We knew the foundation was just being laid for a miraculous 2 weeks in the prisons. 

My quiet times in the mornings were so vital to the rest of my day.

Our girls team, (L-R) Britta and Greta Solberg, Susannah Hulin, me and Faith Walker

I arrived home May 24th and had about 4 days to unpack, do laundry, spend time with my family and repack for the entire summer. I had decided to spend the summer with Emma serving at the Bill Rice Ranch as operational staff! I was a cook and spent the summer cooking for groups the varied in size from around 80 to almost 800! It was a good summer full of its challenges and triumphs, but I have walked away closer in my relationship to the Lord and with lessons that will go with me for the rest of my life. I was very blessed by the relationships that I formed as well. I am so thankful.

Me with 3 of my fellow cooks, Sarah, Emerald and Rebekah.

It was fun to have Caden and Olivia there for 2 of the camp weeks for the Ministry Internship.

It was a blessing to be able to spend the entire summer with Emma. She is amazing!

And now I am home (along with a cough) and settled back into my routine. I am glad to be home, but grateful for all that I experienced this summer. 

...and hopefully, you will see more of me than you have these last few weeks.

The Great and Precious Promises of God

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
2 Peter 1:4

 

 

In 2014, my heart was hurting. Rejection always hurts and as a young 15 years old, unsure and insecure, I was looking for comfort. 

In May of that year, our family attended the highlight of our year: a family conference! Encouraging speakers, reunions with friends from past years, and programs for all ages; our family loved that conference, but for me, one speaker would change my life. 

Katherine Allen Ritchie.

Her message?

My identity in Christ.

Who I am in Christ. What Christ says about me. 

The sweet speaker shared her own story of rejection, the pain of losing her older sister when a drunk driver jumped a curb while their family was serving as missionaries in Russia, her own injuries incurred from the accident, and more. 

My heart was grieved as I listened to her story, but it was her message of truth that struck me the most. As a young teenager looking for identity and hurt over years of rejections, that message was designed for me.

The promises of God that she reminded me of were mine for the keeping and have only become more precious and applicable as the years have passed.

Application.

I typed out the promises that had resonated the most with me and pasted them on the wall around my bed. One night as I lay sobbing over loneliness and the hurt of rejection, I just turned to my wall and began quoting those promises over to myself. 

The comfort of His promises.

In the back of my Bible, you would see this....

I had picked my favorite promises and had written them in my bible to be readily reminded.

• I am Beautiful - Isaiah 62:3 "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God."

• I am Precious and Honored - Isaiah 43:4 "Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou has been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life."

• I am Loved - Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I love by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."

• I am Accepted - Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise and the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved." 

• I am Chosen - John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you..."

• I am Secure - Psalm 18:33 "He maketh my feet like hind's feet and setteth me upon my high places."

• I am Delighted in - Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."

• I am His - Isaiah 43:1 "...I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine."

• I Glorify God - Psalm 50:15 "And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me."

• I am God's Friend - John 15:15 "...but I have called you friends."

• I am Not Forgotten - Isaiah 49:15 "...yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget you."
  
  

Do you believe that all these are true about YOU?

Do you believe that His love extends past mistakes and sins? Do you see yourself the way your Heavenly Father sees you? 

The promises of God are not small to them that love Him. His love extends above and beyond all that, we could ask or think. His comfort sustains and renews.  

His promises are for YOU!!!!!

"For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."

2 Corinthians 1:20

He Heard Me!

Tears rolled down my face until caught by my hand, covering my mouth to smother the sobs that came bursting from my full heart, aching with a hurt none could cure.

I have cried a lot over the last two months. Cried in hurt. I cried as I have watched God shut doors that I wanted to remain open. Cried with loneliness. I cried as I was asked to sacrifice to the Lord long-held dreams. I cried as I have experienced new meanings of pain. Cried as I was enveloped in the loving arms, that reminded of His everlasting love.

The last year has been a refining year, but over the last few months it intensified and at times my heart called for relief through tears.

One of my favorite scripture passages for an overwhelmed heart is:

“...when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

Psalm 61:1

There have been times when I have repeated that phrase to myself. What comfort and assurance!

Even in the pain of my Father's refining fire, I have found new meaning in His love. He has come so close. In my pain, He has put His arms around me and promised me peace. I have had a renewed vision of His love for me. I have seen my value to Christ. He lived 33 1/2 years perfectly and died a horrendous death on a cross for me! He would have gone through all that even if I was the only human creature alive that needed salvation! Even now, He is praying for me, cheering me on. Supporting me through the dark valleys, the challenges I face, and holding me through the tearful nights.

Life's valleys can be long and hard, but they are only seasons. Some seasons are longer than others, but they are all just seasons and on the other side of winter is always spring. New hope and new life.

Last week, I felt like I had reached the top of a mountain after a very long valley.

I was reading my Bible and although not looking for any particular passage, I ended up flipping open to Psalm 40. The first 3 verses struck me in a way I will never forget.

“I waited patiently for the Lord: and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”

Psalm 40:1-3

He HEARD me!

He brought me UP!

He brought me OUT!

He SET me on my feet again!

He ESTABLISHED my path!

He gave me a new SONG!

This is ME!

As I was thinking over the verses again this morning, I thought about mire. A miry pit is what the princes of King Zedekiah put Jeremiah into, with the reason of not liking Jeremiah's message of the coming judgment; in the form of enslavement to the Babylonians (Jeremiah 38) Scripture says that Jeremiah sank in the mire. I see mire almost like quicksand, the more you struggle, the more you sink.

In the miry pits of life, I cry to the Lord and He hears me! He always hears me. He brings me up, out of the pit, and sets me on the path. I pictured the Pilgrim, pulled out of the mire, and set on the road, in clean, fresh robes, no sign of the past filth. He sets the Pilgrim on the road, shines a light on the next step, and sends him on his way with...

A new SONG.

He puts a new song in my mouth. A song of deliverance. A song of hope. A song that many shall hear and it shall turn their hearts to the King. They will hear it and fear and shall trust in the Lord.

It is a song of testimony.

Each one of us has been in miry pits and has been drawn out and established on the path. So, write your song. Your song matters. It is a testimony to God's goodness in your life. Don't hold back singing your song out of fear.

One of my new favorite things to do in one-on-one prison ministry is to ask them for a story of when God showed Himself strong in their life recently. What am I doing? I am asking to hear their song. I love it!

If you are in the pit right now, God hears you.

If you are reestablished on the path, write your song.

God heard me, He brought me up out the miry pit and established my path and gave me a new song.

To Him be the glory!