I read a comment this morning on a blog about feeling the "pride of being self-sustainable". These words sparked my curiosity almost instantly and I felt the urge to 'Google' it. One of the 'sponsored' links that came up mentioned earning a college degree in self-sustainability. Hmm...interesting indeed so I clicked the link which took me to the college website. The first article was regarding all students need for transcendental meditation. Who needs that ?!? Self-sustaining is the ability of supporting oneself, as defined by Webster's. Even the word "self" solely concentrates on "one's own interest." It wasn't long after I read these things that I began to see the connection between self-sustainability and pride.
Now I am certain the writer who left the comment certainly did not intend to condone pride but it left me pondering how casually I use words at times as well as how easily it is to step into 'self'. Pride is not one of the traits I wish to attain in this world. The Bible warns repeatedly about the sin called pride. Proverbs tells us that, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud." Proverbs 16:18-19 (NKJV) Haughty...now there's another word for you! Basically, it means you have an ego problem. I love the way The Message Bible puts the same verses: "First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. It's better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous."
Various verses within the scriptures talk about pride, or being puffed up. It either comes as a warning of what not to do or it tells of consequences that happen to those who succumb to it. When I read the words "the pride of being self-sustainable", I had not seen things in this light. What I am talking here about is this independent spirit that takes God out of the details and keeps Him at arm's length. Most folks are happy to place a God tag on just about anything these days. You cannot operate independently from God and with God at the same time. The Bible calls this trying to serve two masters and, in the end, you will love one and despise the other.
I have settled in my heart that being self-sustainable isn't all that attractive. If I am dependent on my own accomplishments, abilities and plans then I have left God completely out of the picture. It is such a subtle thing to begin a task out of your skills, even in those talents that are God given. Perhaps this is yet another example of what the motivation within our hearts is in the first place. Is it an attitude of, "Hey, look at me and what I can do" or is it one of "Hey, look at what God has done"? I find myself casually looking at something I have 'done' when actually I have merely been the instrument God worked through at a given time. Keeping that tenderness of heart towards the Lord is imperative. It is so easy to get puffed up when something we have shared in succeeds. The Bible tells us that no man (or woman) will glory in God's presence and that God will share His Glory with no man (or woman). Let our mouths give glory to Him alone in everything. It is His grace that enables us function in this world and our steps, actions and reactions should give Him glory, not pat ourselves on the back.
As I look at our farm, our flock and our garden this year, I truly am humbled by it all. We have been blessed with sheep sales, a good hay crop and an overflowing pantry. God alone deserves the praise for everything we have been entrusted with. You see, I don't really 'have' anything, I don't own it. It belongs to the Lord. He has entrusted many things to me and I pray daily for His grace, wisdom and favor as I perform the duties of shepherdess, gardener, farmer and wife. Walking in my own strength brings instant death to the Life He has provided. Walking in Him, through Him, beside Him, behind Him, literally IN Him is the only way I can truly live as He has ordained. Everything must be "All for Jesus"!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
A Shepherd's Moment...
After we returned home the wedding, we discovered many garden chores awaited us. Quarts of beans and pints of apple sauce are now lining the pantry shelves and more abounds for us to do. It is easy to get overwhelmed among our tasks at hand these days. I did, however, find the opportunity to visit my ewe flock the day following our return home.
It's always a joy to see the flock of ewes running to great you as you come into the pasture. Of course, most of them are just checking to see if you brought "food" in the form of grain (which I did not). Not wanting to visit empty-handed, I did take to them a bucket of loose minerals, which they eager licked from the troughs. A head count is always first on my things-to-do list when sitting with the ewes. Some of my girls, now retired, are old and I worry about them maintaining weight before winter. Everyone seemed to quite happy in their pasture and seemingly had full bellies. Cooler temps while we were away tends to make the sheep a bit lazy, often not rousing from their beds until later morning.
The usual visitors who each personally greet me are Birch, Delilah, Jewel, Ingrid and Forsythia, our bell ewe. (Feel free to browse our flock pics online to "meet" each of our sheep @ http://www.paintedrockfarm.com/.) As I sat down on my bucket next to a tree, I noticed Rue, the barn cat, had followed me to the ewe pasture. Sitting down is an open invitation for her to become a lap cat, which she only does AWAY from the house. :) The sun was just coming up over the trees and began to warm my face as I watched my sheep. Birch laid down next to my feet while Delilah, Jewel, Ingrid and Forsythia competed for my attention. I actively scratched their cheeks, rubbed their chest and patted their sides all the while talking to them, telling them I had missed them (this is TRUTH). My Jacobs are so attentive, at least they seem like they are really listening as I talk!
Most of the flock began to graze a bit and slowly created a small amount of distance from where I sat. Occasionally, I would see one lift her head to see if I was still there, then return to eating. The faithful few, however, remained at my side, awaiting a turn to be petted. Slowly, each one settled in her place and stood quietly around me, save Birch who remained at my feet and Rue who slept in my lap. Forsythia had her head cradled in my left arm and Delilah's head rested on my left leg. Jewel rested her chin on my knee while Ingrid laid her head on my right shoulder. This would have been a really cool picture had someone else come with me!
As I soaked in the morning sunshine, the Lord began to speak to me about His sheep and the Great Shepherd, Jesus. He revealed this picture to me: "You see, this moment is much like what is going on the Body of Christ even now. The flock as a whole is always within eye sight of the Shepherd, who lovingly looks over them. Most of the flock gaze contentedly at the Shepherd, comforted by His presence. They enjoy His company, glad to be part of His flock and are often found simply doing their own thing and eating from the table. But there are those few, those special ones, who seek to sit at the Shepherd's feet and love on Him. They gently push their way in nearer just to touch Him, to rest in His presence. At that moment, nothing else matters to the sheep. They aren't wanting to go anywhere else, not wanting to do anything else and also not wanting anything from Him. They are simply trusting the Shepherd fully with all they are and, all the while, resting on Him. This doesn't mean the rest of the flock is any less loved by the Shepherd nor does it question their position of being in the flock. It is just the simple fact that not all are willing to press in close just to be with the Shepherd. In fact, many are the ones who have entered into the Kingdom but choose to remain in the outer courts. Only a few will choose to sacrifice all, be willing to give up all they desire to do, merely to rest in His presence."
In my flock of 45 ewes, only 5 chose to remain close to me that day. The rest were indeed content with grazing, lying down or otherwise doing their own thing. The handful that stood by my side rested there with me for more than 1/2 hour. I was so humbled by God's revelation at such an unexpected moment, but such are His ways, aren't they? My heart cry is that I remain in that Mary-place of worship. Oh, how my heart longs to hear His voice call me "Beloved" as He did with John! Lord, forgive me of the times I get up from that place next to you to pursue my own desires. Teach me to walk in that place of worship throughout my days!
Quoting a GodChasers devotional I received recently: "Don't confuse being a Christian with being a disciple. Every believer is a Christian but not every believer is a disciple. Disciples are believer's whoa re committed to going deeper and deeper with the Lord - as deep as they can go. Most believer's are content just to be saved. They're just happy to have their ticket to heaven. The demands of the deeper life of Christ don't really attract them....The deeper you go into the palace, the fewer the people you will find. Why? Because few people are willing to pay the price of moving deeper." Read LUKE 14:25-33. Jesus clearly lays out the true cost of discipleship.
It's always a joy to see the flock of ewes running to great you as you come into the pasture. Of course, most of them are just checking to see if you brought "food" in the form of grain (which I did not). Not wanting to visit empty-handed, I did take to them a bucket of loose minerals, which they eager licked from the troughs. A head count is always first on my things-to-do list when sitting with the ewes. Some of my girls, now retired, are old and I worry about them maintaining weight before winter. Everyone seemed to quite happy in their pasture and seemingly had full bellies. Cooler temps while we were away tends to make the sheep a bit lazy, often not rousing from their beds until later morning.
The usual visitors who each personally greet me are Birch, Delilah, Jewel, Ingrid and Forsythia, our bell ewe. (Feel free to browse our flock pics online to "meet" each of our sheep @ http://www.paintedrockfarm.com/.) As I sat down on my bucket next to a tree, I noticed Rue, the barn cat, had followed me to the ewe pasture. Sitting down is an open invitation for her to become a lap cat, which she only does AWAY from the house. :) The sun was just coming up over the trees and began to warm my face as I watched my sheep. Birch laid down next to my feet while Delilah, Jewel, Ingrid and Forsythia competed for my attention. I actively scratched their cheeks, rubbed their chest and patted their sides all the while talking to them, telling them I had missed them (this is TRUTH). My Jacobs are so attentive, at least they seem like they are really listening as I talk!
Most of the flock began to graze a bit and slowly created a small amount of distance from where I sat. Occasionally, I would see one lift her head to see if I was still there, then return to eating. The faithful few, however, remained at my side, awaiting a turn to be petted. Slowly, each one settled in her place and stood quietly around me, save Birch who remained at my feet and Rue who slept in my lap. Forsythia had her head cradled in my left arm and Delilah's head rested on my left leg. Jewel rested her chin on my knee while Ingrid laid her head on my right shoulder. This would have been a really cool picture had someone else come with me!
As I soaked in the morning sunshine, the Lord began to speak to me about His sheep and the Great Shepherd, Jesus. He revealed this picture to me: "You see, this moment is much like what is going on the Body of Christ even now. The flock as a whole is always within eye sight of the Shepherd, who lovingly looks over them. Most of the flock gaze contentedly at the Shepherd, comforted by His presence. They enjoy His company, glad to be part of His flock and are often found simply doing their own thing and eating from the table. But there are those few, those special ones, who seek to sit at the Shepherd's feet and love on Him. They gently push their way in nearer just to touch Him, to rest in His presence. At that moment, nothing else matters to the sheep. They aren't wanting to go anywhere else, not wanting to do anything else and also not wanting anything from Him. They are simply trusting the Shepherd fully with all they are and, all the while, resting on Him. This doesn't mean the rest of the flock is any less loved by the Shepherd nor does it question their position of being in the flock. It is just the simple fact that not all are willing to press in close just to be with the Shepherd. In fact, many are the ones who have entered into the Kingdom but choose to remain in the outer courts. Only a few will choose to sacrifice all, be willing to give up all they desire to do, merely to rest in His presence."
In my flock of 45 ewes, only 5 chose to remain close to me that day. The rest were indeed content with grazing, lying down or otherwise doing their own thing. The handful that stood by my side rested there with me for more than 1/2 hour. I was so humbled by God's revelation at such an unexpected moment, but such are His ways, aren't they? My heart cry is that I remain in that Mary-place of worship. Oh, how my heart longs to hear His voice call me "Beloved" as He did with John! Lord, forgive me of the times I get up from that place next to you to pursue my own desires. Teach me to walk in that place of worship throughout my days!
Quoting a GodChasers devotional I received recently: "Don't confuse being a Christian with being a disciple. Every believer is a Christian but not every believer is a disciple. Disciples are believer's whoa re committed to going deeper and deeper with the Lord - as deep as they can go. Most believer's are content just to be saved. They're just happy to have their ticket to heaven. The demands of the deeper life of Christ don't really attract them....The deeper you go into the palace, the fewer the people you will find. Why? Because few people are willing to pay the price of moving deeper." Read LUKE 14:25-33. Jesus clearly lays out the true cost of discipleship.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
New Beginnings...8/08/08
May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Leonard....God really blessed us with a lovely weekend down in Gulf Shores, AL for my oldest daughters wedding. Jessica and Bryan were united in marriage on Orange Beach, Friday, August 8, 2008. With friends and family watching on, they exchanged vows on the beach along with numerous guests observing from their condo balconies. It was awesome to hear the cheers of our new "audience" once they kissed and were presented as Mr. and Mrs. The wedding was stunningly beautiful and God was so faithful to provide His creative touches to everything, from the smallest details to the big stuff.
Sometimes I don't think the whole idea of my daughter being married has really sunk in just yet. I pray God gives me the grace to be faithful in my promise not to be a meddling mother/mother-in-law. And I ask the Holy Spirit to prompt me in faithful prayers not only for my new extended family, but also for my son-in-law and my daughter as they begin their lives together as husband and wife.
My prayer for these newlyweds is simply this:
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you a d be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
May you both seek His presence in your daily love walk, both with each other and also with Him. May you keep Him as Head of your household at all times. For Bryan, I pray you do indeed love and cherish Jessica as Christ does His own lovely bride, the church. For Jessica, I pray you love and honor your husband, as unto the Lord. May God keep you close to His side, whisper gently into your ears of His love towards you both and may He alone reign as you serve Him by serving one another. I LOVE YOU! MOM
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