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Had to walk the rocks...to see the mountain view. |
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June 18 Lessons from the not-so-smart sheep Somehow time just seems to slip by so quickly! I am still surprised every time I look at the calendar and see it is June... I'm still in the spring mindset, and with the stormy and rainy weather that has plagued our state so recently causing quite a pause in our planting, perhaps the fact that we are still planting beans tricks me into thinking we are still in the previous month. I continue to enjoy the peaceful serenity of the country. For some unexplainable reason, I really enjoy looking out the window and watching the sheep grazing in the pasture right by the house. Although I don't have the kindest words for these creatures when they choose to escape. One morning while talking on the phone with Brian's aunt I looked out to see sheep in the driveway. She sent her son, Barry, down to help. Up until my marriage to a farmer with sheep, a very handsome farmer I might add, my knowledge of these animals was rooted in what I heard from sermons. Yes, that's right, sermons. With many passages of Scripture including accounts and imagery of sheep and shepherds, many pastors preaching on these passages would explain the nature of sheep to shed light on the fuller meaning of the passage. While assisting Barry in corralling the sheep into their pen, I witnessed the nature of sheep myself and couldn't help but to see a greater picture. The sheep were scared, they really weren't interested in freedom, just food and the grass looked green and tasty on the other side of the fence, and the hole in the fence provided the door. However after wandering around the barn, down the road, into our driveway, and being spooked by us approaching them, the safety and security of the pen was what they really wanted. But no matter how hard we tried to help them, they just didn't seem to understand that all we were trying to do was lead them back to where they wanted to go. The most powerful illustration for me during this experience was after we had all the sheep corralled, but two. As Barry slowly approached them they ran to the closed gate of the pen. Ramming their heads into the corner by the gate, frantically trying to get in. Barry's approach did not ease their distress, and he had no choice but to quickly grab one, pick it up and put it over the fence into the pen. While this was successful from the standpoint that both sheep ended up in the pen, their frenzied fight - resulting in more of a drop on the other side of the fence, got me thinking. How often does Jesus, our Great Shepherd, try to lovingly lead us back to where it is safe, yet we run from Him? And how often do we fight and resist Him when He picks us up because He knows that ramming our heads into the gate is not going to get us inside? And how often to we get angry with God and blame Him when our landing hurts a bit? At the conclusion of this episode I said to both Barry and my husband... these sheep are dumb! And in thinking about this metaphorically to our sometimes response to the Great Shepherd, well.... I will let you draw your own conclusion. Thank You Lord for Your love. For understanding the big picture that we can not always see, even when we think we can. Thank You for Your patience and Your unfailing love, even when we resist You. March 22 WaterLast week we were without running water for the better part of 5 days. With the loss of this modern convenience I was reminded how precious water is. Water satisfies our thirst and hydrates our bodies. It is also needed for laundry, cooking, washing dishes, showering and last but not least, to flush the toilet. While running water is a convenience, water itself is a necessity. In the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus offers LIVING WATER to the Samaritan woman at the well. "Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." - John 4:10 [NASB] The Samaritan woman does not understand the true meaning of living water because she asks Jesus how he would draw it from the well. Jesus continues in verse 13, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." The Samaritan woman came to the well to draw that which is essential to life on earth, and she walked away having conversed with the One who gives eternal life. February 23 Marriage is...GREAT! It is hard to believe it has been just over 6 months since Brian and I were married. We both really enjoy married life, and think it suits us just perfect. I have been adjusting to life on the farm and getting settled. I love life out here in the country (except when I forget to get something at the store or am craving fast food.) Brian and I are a part of a wonderful church family as well as rural residents of a very nice community. While marriage to Brian in general has been nothing short of delightful :) my health has been a challenge. Once we returned from our honeymoon, the fatigue and muscle aches that have been increasingly plaguing me over the last several years became too great to ignore. I was diagnosed with Grave's Disease (an autoimmune thyroid disease) in October and things continue to be very up and down. Brian has been incredibly supportive and encouraging, as has my family - Mom has spent many hours doing internet research - thanks Doctor Mom :) Through it all God has remained faithful. While at times I get very frustrated and discouraged, I am quickly reminded of all the great blessings God has abundantly bestowed on me. I married to an amazing man and have wonderful family and friends. Most of all I am loved dearly by a God who sacrificed His only Son so all who would believe in Him would have eternal life. Our time on the earth will be filled with times of joy and times of trials. The eternal splendor that awaits us who are in Christ when He calls us Home will be more appreciated because of the pains we experienced during this life.... we have to walk to rocks to see the mountain view. My hope is to get back into blogging... life on the farm is far from dull :) And the Christian life is always a work in progress. Although I'm not sure if anyone will want to read my scattered thoughts - other then perhaps my husband and parents. PS. Most of the wedding photos were taken by Bradley Spitzer, Spitzer Photogaphy, with a few from Mom :) March 15 I said YES!Two weeks ago Brian was getting ready to go on a snowmobile trip with a group of guys for the week, and while he was gone I was going back to GC to spend some time with my family. On that Friday night before we went our separate ways, I was over at his place watching TV while he was packing. He suddenly comes in, turns off the light, goes up to the fireplace and then sits down next to me. He then proceeds to ask me what is over by the fireplace. I look over, see only a nice roaring fire that is keeping the room nice and warm. He suggests I go over and look. I get up and walk over.... there sits a box with a ring in it. In my shock and surprise I turn around only to have Brian at my side and down on his knees... “Will you marry me?” My answer of course was... YES! Later he tells me he's had the ring for a couple of weeks and was planning on us going behind his corn crib (the same place we had a special night earlier in the fall when we sat underneath the stars and talked for hours about what we thought God was doing in our lives and what the next step was in our relationship), and have a bonfire so we could keep warm and sit under the stars. He even thought about stringing the ring around one of the cat's necks. But the weather just wasn't cooperating for his idea. He also knows I get cold really, really, really easy. We've set the date for August 18 (the only day this year that works for Brian, Jenny AND the hogs) and the craziness of planning a wedding has quickly began. I will still be going back to PLCC for the summer and will finish at camp a month before we get married. While I'm excited about planning a wedding, I am most excited about the fact that I will become Brian's wife. The wedding will be one day. The marriage will be a lifetime :) Every time I look at this beautiful ring Brian picked out and has given me, although I love the way it looks and the way it sparkles - what is most precious to me about this ring is what it stands for. There's no question about it... I love this guy and am so thankful that the Lord has brought us together. My brother said it best... “Jenny, he's the right guy for you.” November 30 Introducing...It has been awhile since I've last posted and I thought it was about time I wrote about what has been filling up my time lately. His name is Brian and he's that handsome farmer in the pictures :) We've been dating for three months, although we actually met almost 10 years ago, we never really got to know each other until a couple of mutual friends decided that we would make a great pair. And after these past three months Brian and I would agree they are right! I even made the move to Siouxland, as this part of the state is apparently called. I'm currently living in a small town 15 miles from Brian's farm, which has allowed us to spend quite a bit of time together. We both believe that God has brought us together and are praying about what the future holds. Brian is an all-around great guy... he's kind, funny, thoughtful and most importantly a solid follower of Jesus Christ. Since I've known people in the area for over 10 years it has made the move here easier - before I moved to KC to go to seminary I actually considered this area like a second home! I'm enjoying helping out with the youth group at Brian's church as well as attending a women's Bible Study. I'm also getting a crash course in farm life... I spent quite a bit time riding with Brian in the tractor during harvest... he's even teaching me to drive. (I need a bit more practice, but I did drive the grain cart alongside the combine for an unload on the go... okay, so Brian did have his hand on the steering wheel of the tractor a good percentage of the time, but technically I was the one in the driver's seat and he the one riding in the buddy seat so that has to count for something!) All in all it has been a great three months and my family agrees Brian is a keeper :)
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