No More January Blues

   I don't post on this blog much anymore. Most of my posting is on our farm blog at ariseandshinefarm.com., where I tell about farm life and raising our animals. But I can't let this time of year slip away without praising God for my life now.
   When I started this blog four years ago, I was carrying around the pain and deep depression that had stayed with me since a child of sexual abuse. Over these past four years, God has brought me healing through His Grace and great love, leading me one step at a time out of the darkness I was in.
    I suffered with a debilitating back pain three years ago that kept me sidelined for six months or so.
I spent my time in the Bible and praying to Jesus and became closer to Him than ever before. About this time my husband started talking about moving to a farm. That was the absolutely last thing I wanted to do or felt like I physically could do.
    But God led us to the right farm for us and buying it has been one of the best decisions we've ever made. I have fallen in love with the farming lifestyle. If I start to slip down into depression, I just look out one of our big windows, at the life and the beauty of nature outside. Or I go give a treat to one of our animals and my spirits are lifted.
    I praise God and give Him all the glory for loving me and wanting the best for my life. He took the mess that I was and transformed my heart so that I could see His love and goodness for me. For the first time in my life, my days are filled with joy.

Rammed

Last week, I made the mistake of going into the pasture to see Rosemary, my pet sheep. Our 275 pound ram, Wildcard, was in there with the ewes for breeding season and  I had forgotten my husband's warning not to go in there while Wildcard was there. Sure enough, he rammed me off of my feet and I flew through the air and onto my bottom. I never saw him coming. I was loving on Rosemary and he blindsided me.

 

I thought later that that was what Satan does to us. We are meandering through our journey of life. Everything is coming up roses then Wham! Satan causes something to happen that knocks us off our feet. But just like Jesus protected me from broken bones, Jesus' grace covers us when Satan attacks. Jesus gives us victory over Satan because He showed us on the cross that He is greater than anything Satan ambushes us with.

 

"But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over these people, BECAUSE THE SPIRIT WHO LIVES IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE SPIRIT WHO LIVES IN THE WORLD", 1 John 4:4.  

One Thing

   My schedule really gets busy this time of year, with preparing our farm for winter on top of the holidays, etc. etc. We all have that problem, don't we?  I'm trying very hard to live by the mantra I read on Emily Freeman's blog, "Chatting at the sky": "I want to live small, move slowly, and hold one thing at a time in my hand".
   Since we moved to the farm my life has become simpler. I refuse to push myself like I used to, trying to multitask a dozen things at once. But I have to really, intentionally, stick to my mantra or life pushes me back into craziness.
   Living small, moving slowly, and holding one thing at a time works best for me at this stage of my life. And if I make Jesus that one thing, then He gives me His peace. "Be still and know that I am God", Psalm 46:10. "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled and afraid", John 14:27.

Life's A Puzzle

   Don't you feel sometimes like life is a puzzle and you are always looking for that missing piece? I do! But I think that missing piece is Grace, and if I let Grace into my life, then all the pieces will fit together.
   Here is what Calvin Miller has to say about Grace in his wonderful book, "Into the Depths of God":

"Life's not always easy to assemble. Just when you think all the pieces fit, you discover the whole assembly is a bit off. A kind of dread occupies your thoughts. You have the overwhelming feeling that nothing will ever make sense again.

" 'Meaningless! Meaningless!' says the Teacher. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing", Ecclesiastes !:2,8.

"What puts life back together? Grace! Grace is the healing generosity of God that touches us so powerfully that nothing is ever quite the same again. Grace is never to be deserved, yet Grace assembles the odd pieces of our lives."

   What is Grace, you may wonder?  Grace is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense". Grace is getting more than we deserve. Certainly, Grace is these things but mainly Grace is the man, Jesus Christ.

 
   "For the law was given through Moses, Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ", John 1:17.
   "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of Grace and truth", John 1:14.
   "From the fullness of His Grace we have all received one blessing after another", John 1:16.

Leaping for Joy

 

 

   In the Ozark Mountains, where I live, it's beginning to look a little like fall. Not the full blown color that stops you in your tracks, but just enough color to keep me feeling hopeful. The air is cool and crisp, less humid, and it has the animals on our farm leaping in the air for joy. Really!! You should see the sheep jumping straight up on all four legs. Even the alpacas are getting in on the act.
   On these gorgeous, sunny, fall days, it just makes you feel good to be alive. I'm tempted to leap in the air myself; and would, except for the fear of breaking something that I need. I'm thankful to God to live in an area that has all four seasons. I'm realizing on the farm that they each have their own special beauty.
   It would serve us all well this year, to meditate on and find joy in the beauty of God's creation, and not to let the crazy mess our world is in get us down. Joy can be found in the simplest of ordinary moments if we share them with Jesus.
"I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow", John 15:11.

My Faithful Companion

   Lord, You pulled me across that chasm forever, drawing me close to You and away from that disabling shame. When I was in my teens and twenties, spiraling quickly downward, Your hold on me kept me from drowning in my recklessness.

   Now, as I journey through my autumn years, the certainty has grown in my heart that You've always been faithful, You've always been good. You've never failed to meet a need I had with Your perfect provision. I love you, Jesus. thank You for being my faithful companion.

"But the godly will flourish like palm trees, and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit, they will remain vital and green. They will declare, "The Lord is just! He is my rock! Their is no evil in Him", Psalm 92: 12-15.

"The Lord will hold you in His hand for all to see-a splendid crown in the hand of God. Never again will you be called "The Forsaken City" or "The Desolate Land". Your new name will be "The City of God's Delight" and "The Bride of God", for The Lord delights in you and will claim you to be His bride", Isaiah 62:3-4.

Arise and Shine Farm

   We launched our new website, ariseandshinefarm.com. I am writing a blog there about our animals and farm life. Most of my posts this past year have had that theme anyway. Living the farm life has changed my husband and myself-for the better. We are more relaxed and peaceful, healthier and happier, more contented.

   I praise God for knowing that this is where we needed to be and for working out all the details. He has shown us anew that He is good, that He answers prayers, that He knows our needs better than we do, and that He can be trusted.

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me", Psalm 13:6.

   I've loved getting to know my blogging friends. I will come back to this site to post and to keep up with everyone. I hope you will visit me at ariseandshinefarm.com.