Food For The Soul
Moving to the country may be done for a variety of reasons: to have a simplier life style, or to raise the kids with less urban influence or perhaps like us, to be able to grow our own food and start the self- sufficiency journey. One side effect, is that as your life becomes less complicated, the Lord seems to talk to you more. It wasn't that He was not talking before, it's just that maybe we were too busy to listen as closely. To encourage your heart, we offer "FOOD FOR THE SOUL", as some of things He has been showing us. Its purpose is to be a BLESSING to you and a source of encouragement!
PRAYING AHEAD AGAIN – 2008
We have a general business policy, here at Milk and Honey Farm, that if something works—we do it. If a project or plan does not work for us, we discontinue it. This is a sensible and realistic way of managing our resources, our gardens, our animals, our time and money. IN 2007, I began to pray ahead over the coming year. The prayers always began with a scripture that spoke to my heart. It was followed by asking the Lord to watch over His Word and cause it to become a reality in my life and in the lives of my loved ones. No situation was too large or too small. I am amazed at His goodness that covers 2007.
I will continue to PRAY AHEAD over 2008. Some of the prayers will remain the same—and others will be expanded. There is a new confidence in my spirit that the Lord is pleased with this. There is a new closeness of His Presence as I go into each day. I worry less. My stress level is way down, and His peace rules and reigns in my heart and my mind.
Where ever I go, whatever I do, and whatever happens in 2008, I will “run into” the prayers. This is a great way to live. I believe it is wisdom to do what works—on our small farm in Minnesota—and in my prayer time with the Lord. My hope for you who read these words, is that you will PRAY AHEAD in 2008.
Scriptures that I pray – 2008
- Psalm 115:14,15 May the Lord give you increase, more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
- Psalm 119:173 Let your hand become my help, for I have chosen Your precepts.
- Psalm 46:7 The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge.
- Psalm 91: 10 No evil shall befall you nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.
- Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shied; The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
PRAY AHEAD - 2007
Each January, I do a lot of planning of what I want to accomplish over the New Year. This year, while constructing my “to do” list, it seemed that the Lord was talking to my heart. It went something like this.
“You plan ahead and it is good. But now I want you to PRAY ahead too. Pray my words over those you love, over what you want and do not want for yourself, your family, and your world.”
This seems like a very good idea and I have started a “Pray Ahead” notebook. Its purpose is to remind me that I have prayed about and covered with God’s word every situation that may come up in the New Year. In other words, as I go along into 2007, I will run into God’s plans, purposes and promises for me. This is reassuring in looking around at the world’s desperate situations.
Here are some of my “Pray ahead” scriptures that are ahead of me in 2007.
Psalm. 92:4 - For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
Psalm 84:11 - For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 37:5 - Commit your way to the Lord, Trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
Is. 54:10 - “For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord who has mercy on you.
I find this whole thing very comforting. Whatever I run into, whatever happens, I have Gods word over that situation even before it happens. Each day, I have been adding more and more “Pray Ahead” scriptures to my note book. It is going to be a very good year!
TO DO LIST
“To do” lists help me organize my multitude of farm activities. They keep me focused and on track. I make a weekly “to do” list every Monday morning. This morning, while reading in the scriptures, it seemed as if the Lord was giving me a “To Do” list.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” Psalms 37:3
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10
“Cast your burden in the Lord and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalms 55:22
This week, I will work on the Lord’s list.
BE DIFFERENT!
You have to be different to make a difference.
Christians are supposed to be different from everyone else. The Word of God teaches a lifestyle that is separate from the things of the world. If you look, think, act, and live like everyone else, you are probably not a true believer in Jesus Christ. He was different and He made a difference.
It does not matter what people say—they can say anything. It is what they do that matters. Jesus said, "By the fruit you will know them"...
Take courage, stand up, and dare to be different. It is the first step in making a difference in your family, in your neighborhood, your town, your state and your nation. You have to be different to make a difference.
The Sign
I have a sign that hangs over my kitchen door. It says” STRESS LESS PRAY MORE”. That is wise counsel for all of us. Think about it!
Prayer
It is never a good time to quit praying!
God will not give up on you. Don’t you give up on Him.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Jonathan Edwards said it all in his amazing "Time Management" message.
"I resolve never to lose one moment of time and to improve my use of time in the most profitable way I possibly can. I resolve never to do anything I wouldn’t do if it were the last hour of my life."
This is an amazing way to live each moment of each day. I am going to do the best I can to make good use of my time.
If you add to Edward’s message, the words of W. N. Taylor, the truth behind them becomes stronger. Taylor said, "Temptation rarely comes in working hours, only in leisure time that men are made or marred."
To complete the "Time Management" message, I would add what John Maxwell said. "If you keep doing what you’ve always done. You’ll always get what you’ve always gotten."
A lot of us need to look at this and ponder our own "Time Management."
STILL FIGHTING
Our troops are still fighting. Some are dying. We, as a country, as individuals, and as Christians, need to pray.
Psalms 91:9-11 "For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways."
Thanksgiving day, I heard on the evening news, that two of our boys were killed in Iraq. My heart goes out to their families.
The shopping frenzy, the day after Thanksgiving, did not go over well with me. It did not fit with the reality of war. What will be the "wake up" call in America?
SMALL THINGS
Mother Teresa said,” We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”
What are your small things?
WHEN I BLOW IT
Psalm 86:5 “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all who call upon you.”
COURAGE
"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." Isaiah 7:9
TOMORROW
Del Way said "You can not live in yesterday and find tomorrow". If I lived near Kerrville, Texas , I would join his church! It is called CALVARY TEMPLE CHURCH and we were blessed to visit on a recent trip to Texas.
THINGS OF QUALITY HAVE NO FEAR OF TIME
This is true of good music, good literature, and good friends. It is also true of a good WORD.
With the news media blasting our President and the "want-to-be" candidates unable to distinguish fact from fiction, I have a good word for the leader of our nation.
God bless America and God Bless, YOU, Mr. Bush!
It is written, "For the Lord gives wisdom, from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding: He stores up sound wisdom for the upright: He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints." Proverbs 2:6-8
This Word has no fear of time.
SEEDS IN THE DIRT
Today I planted a lot of seeds in potting soil and put them under the grow lights in the basement. It is snowing and blowing outside and the thermometer on the back porch reads 10 degrees. Spring will come, but it will be awhile. The herbs and flowers that I planted don't look like much. There are just a lot of trays with dirt in them under the grow lights.
My seeds in the dirt are like some of my prayers. I don't see anything happening. Nothing is growing or blooming. Only the Lord and I know about the seeds and about those prayers. There is promise in my seeds. There is promise in my prayers of things to come.
Lamentations 3:25-26 says, "The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord."
That doesn't mean it is easy.
GOODNESS
Henry David Thoreau said, "Goodness is the only investment that never fails." In this day of stock market ups and downs, problems with retirement accounts, and an unsteady financial future, it is good to remember.
Last week, it was minus 20 degrees here at the farm. Bob was out of town and I had chores to do by myself. One of my neighbors came over to help me. She had her own work to do, but came here to fill water buckets, toss out the heavy hay bales for the sheep, and collect the frozen eggs. I really appreciated the extra hands. This is an example of basic "goodness". It is prevalent among the farm folk who are my neighbors.
Luke 6:31 says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."
SMILE
I think that a lot of Christians look like they have been sucking on sour lemons. Maybe they think that a stern look makes them spiritual. That is not what God says.
In Proverbs 15:13, it is written, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful."
Chuck Swindoll said, "It is often just as sacred to laugh as it is to pray." He is right.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON
"By perseverance, the snail reached the ark." These are wise words spoken by C.H. Spurgeon. One of the hardest things to do is to keep on keeping on. As that snail saw a cheetah race on by, I imagine that he was intimidated and discouraged. After all, snails are not known for their speed. It would have easy to quit.
The Word of God says in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up". I will remember this today.
Things are moving very slowly. But at least, they are moving.
THIS I KNOW IS TRUE
"For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1.37
Andrew Murray was right when he said, "We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
The Lord absolutely loves it when I pray outrageous prayers. The more impossible a situation is, the more He seems to enjoy it when I ask Him to do it anyway.
Oswald Chambers said, "The impossible is exactly what God does."
Last Christmas, I was considering how impossible it is for a virgin to have a baby. Yet, God caused Mary to do the impossible and become the mother our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you are facing an impossible situation or circumstance today, be encouraged. The Lord loves to do the impossible. Take some time, and pray those outrageous prayers. Then, watch and see what the Lord will do.
"Go for it."
I REFUSE TO BE AVERAGE
A. W. Tozer had some excellent advice when he said, "Keep your feet on the ground, but let your heart soar as high as it will. Refuse to be average or to surrender to the chill of your spiritual environment."
Today, I will refuse to be average. I will not let the coldness of the spiritual conditions around me, cause depression or discouragement. My heart will soar, as my feet stay on the ground.
I will choose to remember what is written in Psalm 31:24
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."
This is my choice for right now. It is yours too.
EVERYTHING HAS A SEASON
It is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
Sometimes the season that I am in, is not to my liking. It is hard to stay grounded and hold on to what is true.
I love what Chuck Swindoll said, "When God is involved, anything can happen. Be open and stay that way. God has a beautiful way of bringing good vibrations out of broken chords."
Today, this encourages my heart.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
My Father was killed in an airplane crash. I was a small girl who never really knew her Daddy. Years later, I came across an old trunk that had scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and general memorabilia in it. Spending that rainy afternoon sorting through my family history, I came across an envelope that included a note that said "Bill's favorite scripture". (Bill was my father's first name.) Up until that time, I did not even know that he was a believer.
It said, "He has shown you, O man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
Sometimes, my life gets complicated. Even my walk with the Lord gets too "busy". It is then, that I recall my Father's favorite scripture. Today, I will keep it simple. I will do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God.
MY HEROS
Helen Keller is one of my heros. I love it when people overcome and become!
She once said, "God is the light in my darkness, the voice in my silence."
It is written in 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him".
Today, I need strengthening. I need the kind of encouragement that only the Lord can give. It is good to remember that all I have to do is ask. He is looking for me.
Another Hero - Lisa Beamer (Her husband, Todd, was killed on flight 93, 9/11/2001)
Lisa said, "The choice for me is either to look at all things I have lost or the things I have. To live in fear or to live in hope. Hope comes from knowing I have a sovereign, loving God who is in every event in my life."
I would love to invite her to the farm for a few days. She would be a good lady to have for a friend.
Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."