Since we moved to the country, our view coming into our city is always the steam clouds roiling up from the refinery south of town. "The wind's in the north today," I remark when I see the plume is going in a southerly direction. Or, when the "smoke" is drifting north, I invariably announce that the wind is in the south. Sometimes we get an east wind, and the column leans to the west, or vice-versa.
My predictable, casual announcement is an almost unconscious observation, an idle tidbit punctuating the quiet atmosphere of the car as hubby concentrates on his driving. Yet it does offer a clue to the day's weather and temperature. Do I need this heavy coat, or would a jacket have been enough?
Thinking of the wind reminds me of the scripture in John 3:8, where Jesus says, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Jesus is talking about the movement of the Holy Spirit. We cannot see the Holy Spirit, but we can see the effect of it in peoples' lives. We see the effects of the wind every day, from clouds, tornadoes, or just fallen leaves skittering along the streets and sidewalks. Sailboats are good examples of the effects of the wind as it carries them along, or not, if it stops blowing.
I once read of an experiment where scientists were going to make an artificial earth. They created a huge orb in their laboratory, managed to have oceans and land, and even trees. But the trees always died. They finally realized that the trees could not develop a good root system, because there was no wind! Earth's natural wind that blows and bends our trees causes the roots to grow deeper and more tenacious.
By the same token, the wind of the Holy Spirit strengthens Christians, helping us to stand strong in the face of adversity, putting our roots deep in our faith! Galatians 5:22-23 reads, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Where is your wind blowing today?
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Threshold
Howard has been wanting a goat to add to his menagerie, and at last he located one. I went with him to check on it yesterday. We finally found the edge-of-town address in a distant community--a big, old-fashioned house with a red barn in back. I opted to stay in the van on this damp, chilly day, but I enjoyed the panorama opening up before me.
First, I noticed a flock of well-feathered, plump hens of various description in a large enclosure, happily pecking and strolling around their environment. Not only were there hens, but also a few turkeys and ducks! Then I became aware of interesting looking dogs which seemed of expensive breed in their own pens.
Presently two small, well-bundled children came out of the house, accompanied by their mother. Shortly they were petting and walking with several miniature donkeys who followed them like puppies. This looked like a petting zoo, and I hadn't even seen the goat yet!
I got a glimpse of the longish-haired billy when the men emerged from the pasture beyond the out-buildings. The owners stressed that it was a Nigerian goat, and generally docile and easy to handle. We will see, as it comes home tomorrow!
We had to stop on an errand at Lowe's on the way back to town. At this big store, entry is at one end of the building, but the check-out is farther down at another exit. Our vehicle was not nearly as close as when we went in.
"Is that our van?" I asked my fearless leader, pointing to a silver one not far off. He said he thought so, but a look-alike was parked in a lane beyond us. I hurried against the cold wind and came around the van when I gasped! Someone had put a long, ugly scrape and dent in the side! Why do these things have to happen to us, I groaned! We'd had a hit and run incident on our sedan several months before!
I grabbed the door handle and looked up to see a very large lady with a plump elbow in the window! I had almost gotten into the wrong car! Ours was the one in the distance! What a relief!
Jesus said He is the door to the sheep fold. Seeing all the animals and the tender care they were given made me think of this. His is the only door I want to enter!
"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily,I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep...I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and go in and out and find pasture." John 10:7,9.
First, I noticed a flock of well-feathered, plump hens of various description in a large enclosure, happily pecking and strolling around their environment. Not only were there hens, but also a few turkeys and ducks! Then I became aware of interesting looking dogs which seemed of expensive breed in their own pens.
Presently two small, well-bundled children came out of the house, accompanied by their mother. Shortly they were petting and walking with several miniature donkeys who followed them like puppies. This looked like a petting zoo, and I hadn't even seen the goat yet!
I got a glimpse of the longish-haired billy when the men emerged from the pasture beyond the out-buildings. The owners stressed that it was a Nigerian goat, and generally docile and easy to handle. We will see, as it comes home tomorrow!
We had to stop on an errand at Lowe's on the way back to town. At this big store, entry is at one end of the building, but the check-out is farther down at another exit. Our vehicle was not nearly as close as when we went in.
"Is that our van?" I asked my fearless leader, pointing to a silver one not far off. He said he thought so, but a look-alike was parked in a lane beyond us. I hurried against the cold wind and came around the van when I gasped! Someone had put a long, ugly scrape and dent in the side! Why do these things have to happen to us, I groaned! We'd had a hit and run incident on our sedan several months before!
I grabbed the door handle and looked up to see a very large lady with a plump elbow in the window! I had almost gotten into the wrong car! Ours was the one in the distance! What a relief!
Jesus said He is the door to the sheep fold. Seeing all the animals and the tender care they were given made me think of this. His is the only door I want to enter!
"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily,I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep...I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and go in and out and find pasture." John 10:7,9.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Down, but not Out!
Coming home from church Sunday, Howard drove into the yard, and we couldn't believe the scene at the bottom of the slope near the barn! "Howard!" I cried out, "The chickens are out of their pen!" And they were! The whole motley flock, including guineas, was scattered--happily pecking at their leisure as we panicked.
The gate to their pen was open! How did that happen? Then something shiny on the fence caught my eye. The pin that holds the latch shut on the chicken pen door! Maybe I had forgotten to put it back after I fed them a couple of days ago, and the wind blew it open!
Howard jumped out and was shooing them back in, when a feisty rooster flew into him and attacked his leg! This angered my husband and he gave it a swift kick. From inside the van, I saw my unsuspecting mate walk off, when the rooster flogged him from behind! Turning swiftly around, Howard landed another kick! Suddenly he disappeared from the windshield where I was watching. Oh, no! I jumped out and found my hapless spouse on the ground! He had lost balance with the kick! I helped him struggle up, but he was not hurt, just furious!
A couple of days later, I watched from the kitchen window as he fed the animals, when I saw Pebbles, the dog, chasing the guineas. She loved it when she could make them fly into a tree or to the top of the shed. This was okay for the "wild" guineas, but our younger ones that we hadn't been able to corral were more vulnerable. When I saw her catch one, I rushed down to rescue it.
What a mad dash and scenario that was! I grabbed a net, caught the guinea and was trying to get her back to the pen when I lost my footing and found myself hitting the ground! Thankfully, it was soft from the rain, and no casualty but muddy jeans.
These unruly creatures made me think of our adversary spoken of in the Bible: the devil! I Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Just as the fowl came from behind, the enemy loves to take us by surprise at a vulnerable moment and knock us down! And, unlike my efforts with the net, his goal is to toss over us a net of worry, fear, or despair, and ultimately trap us for destruction.
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (11) To him be glory and dominion fore ever and ever Amen." I Peter 5:10-11.
Never leave the gate open for the enemy!
The gate to their pen was open! How did that happen? Then something shiny on the fence caught my eye. The pin that holds the latch shut on the chicken pen door! Maybe I had forgotten to put it back after I fed them a couple of days ago, and the wind blew it open!
Howard jumped out and was shooing them back in, when a feisty rooster flew into him and attacked his leg! This angered my husband and he gave it a swift kick. From inside the van, I saw my unsuspecting mate walk off, when the rooster flogged him from behind! Turning swiftly around, Howard landed another kick! Suddenly he disappeared from the windshield where I was watching. Oh, no! I jumped out and found my hapless spouse on the ground! He had lost balance with the kick! I helped him struggle up, but he was not hurt, just furious!
A couple of days later, I watched from the kitchen window as he fed the animals, when I saw Pebbles, the dog, chasing the guineas. She loved it when she could make them fly into a tree or to the top of the shed. This was okay for the "wild" guineas, but our younger ones that we hadn't been able to corral were more vulnerable. When I saw her catch one, I rushed down to rescue it.
What a mad dash and scenario that was! I grabbed a net, caught the guinea and was trying to get her back to the pen when I lost my footing and found myself hitting the ground! Thankfully, it was soft from the rain, and no casualty but muddy jeans.
These unruly creatures made me think of our adversary spoken of in the Bible: the devil! I Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Just as the fowl came from behind, the enemy loves to take us by surprise at a vulnerable moment and knock us down! And, unlike my efforts with the net, his goal is to toss over us a net of worry, fear, or despair, and ultimately trap us for destruction.
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (11) To him be glory and dominion fore ever and ever Amen." I Peter 5:10-11.
Never leave the gate open for the enemy!
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Locked Out!
"How would you like potato soup for supper?" I asked my husband. We'd had a hearty lunch eating out, so I wasn't in the mood for a big meal.
"Sure! Sounds good!" Howard replied. I'm thankful he is so easy to please.
I set to work peeling and dicing potatoes and chopping an onion and a rib of celery. I soon had the pot on the stove with a low setting. Clearing up the counter, I impulsively decided to throw the vegetable leavings to the chickens. Howard was already out tossing corn to them, but how they loved kitchen scraps!
Though it was chilly out, I dashed out without a wrap and hurried down the slope to the chicken pen, enjoying watching the motley brood of hens and guineas scrambling for the tidbits.
Just then my farmer wanna-be called out with something he wanted me to do.
"No, I have to get back to the soup on the stove!" I protested, shivering as I hurried, half running, back to the house.
Imagine my surprise and shock when I couldn't get the back door open! I ran to the front door, hoping it wouldn't be locked. It was!
"Howard!" I yelled, but the wind was catching my voice carrying it away from him! He went on with his chores, oblivious to my shouting that the door was locked and the kitchen was probably in smoke!
Frantic, I tried the back door again. No use! I knew our grandson was upstairs in his room, but he usually couldn't hear with his door closed, which is why I use the phone to call him. I had no phone with me! I had already tried the front door bell, but no response!
I was desperate! I leaned on the doorbell over and over, even rapping as hard as I dared on the window glass! Then noticing our car was parked nearby, I threw open the driver's door and held down the horn! Just then the front door opened and there was Adam, looking puzzled.
"Oh, at last!" I breathed. "How did you hear me? The car horn?" He said no, it was the rapping on the window!
I rushed into the kitchen, and to my relief, the soup was barely simmering. Thank you, Lord! No smoke was in the air, nor any burning stench!
It's not fun to be locked out! Many references in the Bible speak of being "locked out" of heaven. Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Verse 27 says, "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."
Matthew 25 records Jesus' story of the ten virgins, five of whom could not enter heaven because they had neglected sufficient oil for their lamps. "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Make sure you're not shut out!
"Sure! Sounds good!" Howard replied. I'm thankful he is so easy to please.
I set to work peeling and dicing potatoes and chopping an onion and a rib of celery. I soon had the pot on the stove with a low setting. Clearing up the counter, I impulsively decided to throw the vegetable leavings to the chickens. Howard was already out tossing corn to them, but how they loved kitchen scraps!
Though it was chilly out, I dashed out without a wrap and hurried down the slope to the chicken pen, enjoying watching the motley brood of hens and guineas scrambling for the tidbits.
Just then my farmer wanna-be called out with something he wanted me to do.
"No, I have to get back to the soup on the stove!" I protested, shivering as I hurried, half running, back to the house.
Imagine my surprise and shock when I couldn't get the back door open! I ran to the front door, hoping it wouldn't be locked. It was!
"Howard!" I yelled, but the wind was catching my voice carrying it away from him! He went on with his chores, oblivious to my shouting that the door was locked and the kitchen was probably in smoke!
Frantic, I tried the back door again. No use! I knew our grandson was upstairs in his room, but he usually couldn't hear with his door closed, which is why I use the phone to call him. I had no phone with me! I had already tried the front door bell, but no response!
I was desperate! I leaned on the doorbell over and over, even rapping as hard as I dared on the window glass! Then noticing our car was parked nearby, I threw open the driver's door and held down the horn! Just then the front door opened and there was Adam, looking puzzled.
"Oh, at last!" I breathed. "How did you hear me? The car horn?" He said no, it was the rapping on the window!
I rushed into the kitchen, and to my relief, the soup was barely simmering. Thank you, Lord! No smoke was in the air, nor any burning stench!
It's not fun to be locked out! Many references in the Bible speak of being "locked out" of heaven. Luke 13:24, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Verse 27 says, "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."
Matthew 25 records Jesus' story of the ten virgins, five of whom could not enter heaven because they had neglected sufficient oil for their lamps. "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Make sure you're not shut out!
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