My Heart Is Protected-Isaiah 27:3

"I the Lord do keep it; I water it every moment: let any hurt it, I will keep it night and day."

Isaiah 27:3

I don't even remember what had me reading in Isaiah on that particular day, but I came across Isaiah 27:3 and it touched my heart in exactly the way it needed it. This particular verse was a rhema to me that my heart was protected by God. It was such a moment of comfort and sweet peace for me with Jesus. He had my heart. He was protecting it. He watered it and held it in His hand as something too precious to hand over to another. 

I was in the middle of my summer away from home, and I was surrounded by many fellow staff members who either had a "significant other" when they arrived for the summer or, as it can often happen when you gather a large group of single Christian young people together, "interests" begin to form, and couples can begin to pair off. I was not one of those and I was feeling the loneliness that being in such situations can cause.

Then, I read this verse and my whole perspective changed! No longer was I unwanted, undesirable, and “single”. To my Heavenly Father, my heart is a treasure worth keeping and cherishing! He supplies everything that my heart requires, He nurtures it, He protects it with a jealous love, and is forever watching out for it with an everlasting love.

When I read that verse last year, and even as I write today, I am at peace knowing I have a Father Who’s chief joy is to carry my heart in His hands; He protects it!

Recent Life Recap

It is May already! That is hard to believe considered in many ways it still feels like March. It has been busy several months for our family, despite the quarantine, with lots of farm work in the warmer weather and finishing school for the year and supporting some family through some health struggles.

So since pictures tell a thousand words and I love pictures anyway...here is a Smith family update from the past few months!

We have lots of babies born at this time of year.

I love spring and all that it represents.

Working and weighting year-old calves. Joel's job is to push the cattle up the lane to be worked. He is a very hard worker.

Joel, Olivia, and I prepared to get up a group of cows and calves to sort.

1 of our 7 bottle babies. He's so tiny!

Joel and Dad weighing calves.

Dad and Mom looking over calves ready to ship.

We shipped a load of cattle up north a few weeks ago. After feeding them for months, the excitement was high as we loaded.

The truck.

Right before the cattle left, we gathered for a quick picture.

Teaching English to Joel. I've learned more teaching him than I remember from my own schooling! 

Daily laundry.

We celebrated Joel's 10th birthday this week!

It has been a wonderful few weeks of spiritual and physical grown for our family. It isn't easy, there are a lot of struggles as we grow together, but God is good and so there is never a wasted season.