Posts Tagged ‘spirituality’

26 Apr

At the Cross

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , .

Billy and I were born and raised in the city.  We had the typical pets growing up.   I had dogs, cats, fish, birds, turtles, rabbits….all those kinds of things.  I admire my mom for being so open minded when it came to pets.  She loved life and got a kick out of seeing the personalities in these little creatures as much as we did.

A  few years ago Billy and I moved here to our land….where there is a lot of life going on.  It is around us all the time….even in the city…but for some reason…I tend to notice it more here.  I have found that I see God in so many things like never before.  I have seen the Bible come alive in a different way.  In Scripture there are a lot of references to plants and animals.  I think people many years ago could relate better than we do as a whole today. My family encouraged me to start a blog……intersting because I had already felt like that was something God wanted me to do too.  I’m not a writer and I am not bold….but it is what was laid on my heart…so I did.  And so that is why I share stories like this one today

We started our little hobby farm with four Holstein cows, now we have many different kinds of animals.  Moses is one of them.  He is our Jerusalem donkey, also known by other names as well.

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He is very kind and calm.  His previous owner said he couldn’t get to known him very well, Moses tended to stand off.  When he first came to the farm…he was that way with us too.  However, it didn’t take long before he would come up and seem to long for a little attention.

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I was more than happy to give it to him….

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so was Billy.  Moses is still reserved, and calm today.   I would have thought maybe all donkey’s were this way if I had only been around him.  But his wife Zippy has shown us that is not true.  She is very different from him.

There is something about his big brown eyes that steals my heart.

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It’s as if  I can almost see his kindness…..

Before Easter I had asked Billy if there was anyway he could construct a cross to put at the farm.  It just seemed like the perfect place to put a cross.

He burned his hand the same night he had set aside to build it, so I assumed we would have to wait until next year to do it.   I underestimated the determination of my husband.  He doesn’t let anything stop him from accomplishing his goals.

The next day I was pleasantly surprised when I came up on the wood shaving where he had been working.  He had indeed built the cross and placed it in the pasture.

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It was then that I looked at the cross and Easter in a different way this year.  I thought about the man that might have made the cross for Jesus.  That was probably just his job.  He more than likely made a lot of them in those days.  But I wondered what he might have thought…after the crucifixion…looking down on the shavings of wood and knowing that he had built the cross that held Jesus.

Did he feel bad.  But, he probably didn’t really know who Jesus was….did he?

I went on to the pasture.  When I arrived I didn’t see any of the animals.  But by the time I got to the gate…..Moses greeted me.

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He actually placed his head through the gate opening to see me.  I could have made him move back away from the gate so I could enter….but it was as if he just wanted me to spend a few quiet minutes with him…..so I did.  There again my mind was flooded with thoughts of how Jesus arrived on Palm Sunday upon a donkey like Moses.

I can’t help but wonder why these creatures wear the emblem of a cross on their backs.  Folklore….maybe so….but still…it does look like a cross.  Maybe it is put there for us to remember…to reflect on our Lord, and the price that was paid for us.

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After a few minutes passed I unchained the gate to enter.  It was then that I noticed the post hole digger that Billy had used earlier.  I flinched as I thought about his sore hand.  Why just the night before he had sat with it in cool water to ease the burning sensation.  It was now blistered and sore.  Instantly I thought about the pain Jesus felt from scourging that he endured….before he even got to the cross.  The pain must have been excruciating.

I draped a purple cloth on the cross…..representing Royalty.

Moses didn’t follow….which is unusual…he just stayed there watching.

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I had brought some nails and a hammer so I could secure the cloth from blowing away with the wind.

I started to drive the first nail in….all I could hear was the sickening thud that it made.  It was if all other noises around me had silenced….and this sound had been amplified.  Tears filled my eyes and sadness filled my heart.  How did the soldiers feel, the day they drove the nails into Jesus hands and feet.  Surely they had done it before…it was their job.

What about at the end of the day…..after they saw the sky turn dark and the felt the earth quake.  After they heard Jesus cry out…..Father forgive them….for they know not what they do….  WOW….I wondered what went through their minds, surely they didn’t really know.  Did they?

On Good Friday, I placed a black cloth…..representing His death.

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A ring of barb wire…represented the crown.  Hmmm… you can know that I was very careful while I twisted the wire so as not to get stuck.  I remembered the thorny bushes I encountered while picking black berries last year.  Man……it just hurt….and the hurt didn’t quit after the stick…..yet, that was nothing in comparison.  Once again I reflected on the fact that someone made the crown…..maybe they too looked down at their hurting hands and wondered about what had just taken place.  Surely they didn’t know who Jesus really was…did they?

Sunday….was Easter!!!

Upon Waking….I made my way to the coffee pot when Billy asked me where the white cloth was…he wanted to place it before we went to church.

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The White represented that the Lord had risen….the tomb was empty!

The next day I made my way over to the farm to take the cloth down, when I noticed all these prints at the foot of the cross.

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I wondered who all had been there…..

I had not seen any of the animals anywhere near the cross whenever I had gone to or passed by the farm, but obviously some of them came.  Curious I suppose.  Maybe it was the cows?…the ponies?….the donkeys?….or the goats.

I suppose it is a lot like that today for us humans.  There are some people we may never see at the foot of the cross…..but they have come….quietly in the privacy of their homes and hearts.  Maybe out of curiosity….maybe out of a heart that wants to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We’ve debated….do we take down the cross and put it back up next year?…or just leave it year round.

Yesterday I saw Zippy grazing.

Time has passed since Easter, the grass is green…the ugliness of the mud has gone away.

When I saw her…… perfectly content….I was reminded that I often forget about the ugliness of the events surrounding Christ.  I enjoy all the green pastures in my life and often forget to do the one thing He told me and each of us to do.

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Go…and tell others…..all over the world.  Maybe that is why I felt God wanted this blog to exist. This is one form of sharing all over the world.

Perhaps that is why He talks to me in the stillness of my heart and mind, with the things I encounter daily.  Maybe it is so I can be reminded that nature proclaims His glory everyday….and so should I.

I’ve often wondered if I would have believed back in the days when Jesus walked the earth.  Would I have really known that He was the Son of God.  Sometimes it seems like it would have been easier to have believed back then…because you would have seen all the miracles and…..and possibly seen Him face to face…

But I’m not sure I would have…..

I was born on this side of history…..I think for me it is easier this way.  I am fortunate enough to have God’s Word to tell me of the past and the future.

I suppose in either time of life…..it comes down to faith.

What now?

What did the cross maker do?….The soldiers? The crown maker?   Me and You?

What do we do with the knowledge we now have?

I share this with you because I find that this scripture really bothers me…..enough in fact that I must share Christ.

Luke 13:28

There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

There are many interpretations of this scripture.  Every time I read it….I think about the end of time….maybe this will be the way the ones we didn’t bother to tell about Christ will look at us.  Look us…straight in the eyes….gnashing their teeth…as they say…WHY…WHY didn’t you tell me how important this was?  Why?  

WOW

What will you do with Christ?  Now that you know.

Maybe you have been at the foot of the cross.  Maybe you have already accepted him….if not I urge you, do it today.  Please don’t wait…..don’t walk away without Him.

His love is so wonderful.

If you have accepted Him…GO…..Go share with others…just as He has told us too.  

It’s not just a story…..it’s TRUTH.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

 

6 Mar

Here’s your sign…..

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , .

I have posted signs a couple of times.  I mentioned before that I find myself thinking long and hard once I’ve read them.   Interesting that these all seemed to be along the same theme.

Also, the very subject that I have been pondering about myself.

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In my Bible study class we have been studying Abraham….Isaac….Esau and Jacob…..as well as their spouses.   They had a lot going on in their lives.  There are a lot of times in Scripture that it looks so obvious that they should have done this or that.  Like if they would have only prayed before they tried to “help” God out in a situation.  Often, they did pray but they must have felt like God wasn’t moving quick enough.  So they started figuring out a way where they could get the answer they wanted in their timing.

I suppose if we had our lives written down and looked at all the details….with our family situations…. we too would see area’s where we have done the same thing.  Moving ahead of God.  Doing things that made sense to use…..at least at the time…it made sense.

I might be a little guilty….of doing that myself.

There have been times when I thought I could handle certain situations….without taking it to God first.

I know praying is communication with God.  We don’t have to always be on our knees to pray….But….there are times when knees are appropriate….Humbling.

There are times too …. when face first doesn’t even seem like it is showing enough respect.

HE IS GOD.

Yet, He still longs to hear from us….

When I saw this sign I thought….hmmmm….sometimes I act as if the doorbell doesn’t work….when I pray.

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Maybe I need to ring the doorbell more than once.   Or maybe I should just wait…(Be Still and Know that I AM GOD) ….until HE opens the door.

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When I am weary…and have a heavy heart….I go ringing the doorbell.  I suppose I think that the door should OPEN immediately after I ring the bell.

Maybe I need to ring the bell…and leave it at the door.   Letting God deal with it….in HIS timing.   Besides after I have carried that burden and am weary….He tells me in scripture that if I do ( leave it)  he will give me REST.

I can know that … “HE’S GOT THIS”…..and I don’t have to worry with it any more.   However, if I pick it up and take it back with me….I don’t get rest….I get exhausted….emotionally….and spiritually.  Still….I seem to do this over and over….when will I ever learn.

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It is the Patience thing that is hard.  We live in a world of  instant gratification.

There are so many examples in Scripture about praying….and waiting…. on God’s timing.  I suppose every generation has dealt with this.  And due to impatience…. mistakes are made. Many great men of faith in Scripture…..made some HUGE mistakes in their lives.  Consequences for them and their loved ones resulted from them.

That helps me when I look at the many ways I have failed God in my own life.  Yes, I have paid consequences, and others have also had too…because I did things my way.

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It is because of my mistakes that I am so humbled by HIS mercy.  I have been and continue to be the recipient of it…..because HE loves me.  He loves us all…more than we can ever imagine….really.  Sometimes I have to just let that soak in a little….it is mind boggling.

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He just wants us to give our hearts to Him.

HE already knows everything about me, but I have so much to learn about HIM.  That is why studying the Bible and praying is so important.  It is how I will really be able to know Him.  His character….

I love it when I see places in the Bible where someone was really, really close to God.  Like David…He was a man after God’s own heart…and Enoch…..it says that he pleased God.  How cool is that….

Can you imagine being close like THAT…to GOD.

Being that close….means that even the little things were important to share with each other, which only happens when time is spent together.

Praying is obviously a big part of building that relationship.

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Yes, I know He hears my knock….and the doorbell always works!

10 Dec

Thinking about Mary…..

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

I went to a baby shower this weekend for our daughter Holly.  She is due in February.    Her body shape is showing that the time is drawing closer.  Hard to believe…. seems like she just shared the ultra sound picture with us the other day.   Amazing how early they can tell if it will be a girl or a boy.  You couldn’t really even tell she was expecting.  Now she is experiencing all the normal pregnancy issues, tiredness and trouble getting comfortable.

Everyone is different and every expectant mother will experience some things the same and some things differently.  But most mothers can recall many things that they went through….even many years after child birth.  I found it to be the most wonderful miracle I have ever been able to be a part of.  Amazing how you can fall in love with that little person…before you even lay eyes on them.  Before you have a personality to put with them.

With the Christmas season, I couldn’t help but think about Mary, the mother of Jesus.  I suppose too…. just coming back from a mission trip… made me think about possibly similar conditions in which she might have lived.  No running water, no electricity… she would have experienced those things for sure.  Many people even today all across the world still experience those conditions.

We gathered together Saturday with great excitement over our new little fellow that will be joining us soon.  There were gifts of cute clothes, towels and blankets just waiting for his arrival.  We had blue punch, cupcakes with blue icing, and lots of finger foods as family shared in the celebration.

I wonder if Mary had a baby shower?  Did her Mom, Aunts, cousins and nieces gather together for a celebration of Jesus’ arrival?

Did she have someone make her some cute little boy clothes…or a handmade baby blanket?   We don’t know for sure…scriptures do not say…and where scripture is silent we need not add words.  It does make one think though.  There are some things that scripture does tell us.  When Mary was first told that she would carry Jesus…she was told about her relative Elizabeth.  Elizabeth had not been able to have any children.  The angel informed Mary that Elizabeth was expecting.  Mary went to see Elizabeth and found that she was six months along with John (the Baptist) just as the angel had said.  Scripture tells that when Elizabeth was greeted by Mary…..John the Baptist gave a leap for joy inside her womb!   How exciting!!!

The circumstances of an angel coming to a virgin girl and declaring her to be the chosen one to carry the Christ Child was probably not celebrated outwardly from the village people.  Maybe there were many days when Mary felt excluded or slighted by her friends and possibly even family members.  Not to mention Joseph.  Scripture tells us that Joseph wasn’t too sure about all of this news either.  Then it goes on to tell us that an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream.  The angel explained the details and told him that it was alright to take Mary as his wife, then he understood.  Still….there were probably whispers and smirks that both had to endure.

Holly is entering the last stages of her pregnancy…they are already preparing to stay home and have a quiet Christmas.  No traveling…the doctor would rather her not.  Now…I think about Mary…she had to travel by animal or foot no less…right at the time of her due date.  WOW.  I cannot imagine how she must have felt.

One of the things I vividly remember about my pregnancy was how swollen my feet would get.  I was a cosmetologist and stood up all day on concrete floors, I continued to work up to a week after my due date.  At the end of the day I would go home and elevate my feet on pillows, trying to get the swelling to subside.  It wasn’t terrible…it just wasn’t comfortable.  The very thought of having to walk miles and miles or ride on an animals back for hours upon hours is just mind boggling to me.  Mary must have been a very strong woman….physically.  She must have also been very strong emotionally.  She had left her home…and her family.  That meant that she would have this baby….her first child on top of that….without the moral support of her family being by her side.  Yes, she had Joseph…..and I can only imagine that he must have been really nervous.  No cell phones…to call a doctor…or her Mom for advice or just to hear some words of comfort from someone with experience.  She must have been a very strong woman Spiritually too.  She had trusted the Lord thus far, surely she felt the presence of the Lord with her at that very difficult time.

An Angel appeared to some shepherds tending some sheep…..we know that they believed what they were told…because they hurried to the stable.  They found baby Jesus lying in the manger.

However, we really don’t know who was there to help Mary or Joseph with the delivery…the very moment he drew his first breath.  Possibly it was just the two of them….experiencing this miracle that they were told would come to pass.  They knew even without the technology of an ultrasound ….that they would be having a son.

I remember the moment I had my son…instantly the pain was gone….and the sound of his cry was the most wonderful sound I had ever heard.  I couldn’t wait to see the face of this one that I had been carrying inside.  Like most mothers, I thought my baby was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen, from head to toe.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Mary immediately smiled and anxiously awaited a peek at Jesus as soon as she heard his cry too.  It must have been a very special moment for her and Joseph as they thought about all that had transpired over the past few months.  And all that was still to come.

Most mothers think their babies are perfect….the difference with Him was that  He truly was perfect…..He was God’s One and only Son.

Have you ever noticed when mothers all gather together to talk, they often share special memories about their children.

Perhaps that is why this Scripture verse is one of my very favorites……………Luke 2:19 …But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

In a lot of ways she was a normal mother…but in other ways she was not.  She was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus  Obviously a very special person to have been entrusted with God’s only Son.  Mary and Joseph were blessed…. for they were chosen to be the earthly parents of Jesus Christ.  What a huge responsibility.

God gave the world the most perfect gift ever given.  Given not only to Mary and Joseph…but to all of mankind.

But….as with any gift given to us… we first have to accept it.

11 Oct

Lesson learned….from a child.

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , .

My granddaughter Layla  is four years old and attending Pre-school.   She loves to go to school and play with all her friends.   I was surprised the other day when I received a phone call from her.  She was bawling her little eyes out.  I asked her what was wrong.  She explained to me through the sobs that she had gotten a red face.  The teacher sends a folder home each day, containing papers the students have completed or important information for the parent’s.  Her Father had opened the folder and found the paper.  Surprised, because it was her first one…. he questioned her about it……she became very upset.

I asked her why she got a red face?

“Because I didn’t get off the tire swiiiiiing”….sob…sob…sob.     So the teacher told  you to get off the swing? I asked….“yes”…sob, sob.  And you didn’t mind? “Nooooooooooo….sob, sob, sob.  And I goooooot a RED faaaaaace”…..sob, sob, sob.  “It broke my hearrrrrttttttt”…..sob,sob,sob…..booooo hoooooo….hoooooo……….”ohhhhhh….I’mmmm so SAAAAD” sob, sob, sob.

My goodness that is hard to sit and listen too.  Yet, I know how important it is for her to obey.  I, of course being a Mom and now a grandmother thought I should talk to her about what she could do differently next time.   I asked her why she didn’t listen to the teacher and get off the swing.  She said….“Because I didn’t want to get off……..I wanted to keep swiiiiiinging”….boooo hoooo…..  “But now it makes me sooooo sad”……sob…. sob.

I told her that God wants us to obey.  If we will do what we are supposed to do, we really are much happier.  By disobeying and staying on the swing she ended up not being happy…even though she did what she wanted.  I explained that the teacher was probably sad too…. because she doesn’t like to give red faces.

We talked a little more and the sobbing finally subsided.  She told me that next time……. she was going to get off that swing.  Sniff… Sniff….

Later, I was studying my lesson for a new Bible Study Class I am attending.  We just so happen to be studying Adam and Eve.  We are at the part where they chose to disobey God.   As I reflected back on the conversation with Layla ….it helped put things in a different light.  Helping me to relate on a personal level.  I suppose with age I have become, well…… calloused….. to the wrongs that I do.  I couldn’t help but wonder when was the last time I  had a broken heart over disobeying God.   When was the last time doing something wrong brought me to tears, or the last time I sobbed, over doing wrong.   How long has it been since I took sin that seriously.

Then, I thought about how hard it was to listen to Layla cry.  Her little heart was so heavy, once she realized the consequence of her actions.  From just listening to her…it broke my heart.  Even though I knew she was having to learn this hard lesson for her own good.

I thought about God….how His heart must break when He hears our cries…Especially after we realize the consequences of our actions.  Why do we choose to learn… the hard way?  Knowing that we usually aren’t happy…until we do what is right.

Layla went to school the next day….smiling and ready to try harder.  She was careful to mind.   She had a great day and came home with a green face!  She and the teacher were very happy!   Of course so was I!

I know I am happiest when I live according to God’s guidelines.  He made me…..He knows what is best for me.

I hope that I too will be more mindful like Layla.   And before I choose to do wrong the next time…I pray I will think twice.

Sin breaks God’s heart…. it should break mine too.

So, I thought I was going to give Layla wise words of wisdom……but it seems that she lived her example out, and it spoke volumes to me.

I suppose we are never too young or too old to learn from one another.      Thanks Layla.

26 Apr

The Ice Cream Man

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized. Tagged: , .

AMAZING!  Even in a place where there is no electricity, there is an ice-cream man.

On Sunday he pedaled his unique bike down the street.  When it is hot, there is a need for something cool.

He had Mango ice cream.

He provided a nice sized scoop for .50 cents.

Billy especially enjoyed seeing him come each day.

Actually,everyone waited with excitement to see him pull up.

Everyday he had a different flavor, this was coconut day.  Complete with real pieces of coconut throughout.

This happened to be strawberry day.  For the price….everyone was able to be treated to ice cream.

I mentioned that Billy and I worked the reading glass table.  One day this lady sat down to see about some glasses.

After trying several pairs, she finally found the ones that worked for her.  A beautiful smile came across her face.  She grabbed Billy and I and started praying the most beautiful prayer in Spanish.  I do not know the language, but I do recognize a few words.  She was saying gracious over and over.  Thanking God and Christ, I did recognize those words.  More importantly than me understanding the words, was the connection that was made with our hearts.  As she prayed such a sweet sincere prayer, tears rolled from my eyes.  I was so moved by her sweet spirit.

After she finished she went to wait for her turn to see the doctor.  In triage I saw the nurse begin to cry.  The interpreter who was helping went to speak to the ice cream man.

I saw both of them begin to cry.  Billy and I watched, still not knowing what was going on.  It was later that we learned that they were a married couple.  They had a 16 year old son who was killed just 4 months ago in an accident.  The father, the ice cream man, has turned away from God…in anger and hurt.  Our hearts broke for this family.

Interesting how you really never know what someone else is going through.  Sometimes wounds are physical and we can see them, sometimes wounds are Spiritual and they can go unnoticed until you get to know the person.

The next morning, the ice cream man came again…we bought our ice cream as usual…and we all hugged him. We asked if we could pray for him.  He said yes.

Billy prayed, the interpreter was there, we were all around him showing him that we loved him.

He cried, we cried…..it was sweet.

He came back the next day…and everyday after that… until we left.  We also told him when the group would return and that everyone would be ready for ice cream again.

He smiled.

He brings great joy to people…he’s the ice cream man!  I pray joy comes back to him….that his heart will be healed.  That can happen, if he let’s it…because God…is God!

Scriptures tell us that we will have trials and tribulations in this world.  I do not understand why certain things happen.  God’s plans are higher than our plans…I suppose if God told us why, we still wouldn’t understand it.  It is much deeper I think than we can even comprehend.  Our family has suffered through accidental deaths, it is a terrible experience.  When I was growing up we would talk about those things, my mother would say, it will either make you bitter…or better.  If we trust God through those hard times, we will grow close to Him, and He will walk with us through the hurt.  Making us able to help someone else one day who is experiencing something similar.  Just because we love God…it doesn’t make us immune to hurt and loss.

We continue to remember him, his wife and the other children in their family, in our prayers.

I ask that you will too.