My Rolling in the Hay Adventures

Not only do I blog every day, but I also write in my journal the highlights of each day -- the "God" encounters, the strange, the off-kilter, the wacky, and the wild adventures. Truly I amuse myself. Believe me, I have plenty to write about -- even outside of my normal routine. A couple of weeks ago I volunteered at the "Roar" VBS which spotlighted the wild exploits of jungle animals and in our Faith Station where I was a co-leader, we taught about the wild adventures that took place in the Bible.

Those Bible adventures carry on in the wild adventures I take on when I take care of my family's critters: 8 hens; 2 ducks, a huge longhorn, 8 goats, 3 donkeys, a dog and a cat, plus the wildlife (note the wild turkeys that showed up a couple of days ago) AND all the varmints that lurk in the dark at night.

I read my journal for this date a year ago and I was here, like this time, while the family was on their summer vacation. Oh my! Here's an excerpt: "OMG -- again! I went to check on the chickens and get in the eggs, and lo and behold, two hens were outside the pen. Blistering hot outside and they were running from me. Finally, one flew to the top of the wall and I chased her back into the pen and the other, I finally lasted longer than she did and caught her. Thank you, Lord, for strength in this day!" Here I am one year later saying "Bring it on, girls and boys!" Now we know that those hen girls regularly fly out of the pen for a little adventure of their own, but they fly back in. Now we give them a little leeway and they always come home where they belong. There's just no place like home!

Sometimes it’s a good thing to explore and experience some out-of-the-box times that produce growth, some new muscle, new insight, and a fresh new perspective. When I take on the care of these animals, it is definitely out of my comfort zone. Last year, I knew those animals sensed my trepidation. The goats and donkeys took advantage of me, the novice farm-hand, by overpowering my obvious inexperience. And then some of the chickens escaped under the fence and I was chasing them -- pardon the pun -- like a chicken with her head cut off. And if you didn’t know, chickens are fast. I’m sure you would have been greatly entertained if you had seen me. I finally cornered them and took them home, and then commenced to haul over rocks to the fence to cover the just-big-enough-to-escape holes. This time it’s easy-peasy. Note my relaxing morning devotion location and sweet Bentley, their Havanese dog who is my side-kick!

I am so pleased to report that my mentality changed from “out-of-sync” to “I’ll show you who's boss” this year! It’s smooth, calm and in-sync here at Old Mac-Donna’s farm. In fact, I think I’ve conquered any fears or concerns. The bigger animals respect me when I come out with their feed bowls. Now, I have a well-thought-out plan that calmly separates them, respectfully, at meal-time. They love it when I scratch their heads and backs. The ducks and chickens are behaving like well-behaved critters (instead of “gangsters” like I called those who escaped their pen last year), and those mama hens are producing a lot of eggs for me – so yummy! There’s nothing like fresh eggs.

I am so blessed to have a “King David” moment (1 Samuel 30:6) when he encouraged himself. I encourage myself by God's words about “taking dominion” in Genesis 1:28. “And God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” I muster up that dominion attitude with wisdom and strength and an empowered mindset. I take matters into my hands that are empowered by God's strong and mighty hands and even celebrate His marvelous creation – His critters and His masterfully designed scenic view! Life is good because God is good. All the time.

God's Rhythms Include High AND Low Notes

Life is interesting, isn’t it? We go through different stages of life in what seems like a blink of an eye. After my sweetheart left for his heavenly assignment, the sweet rhythm of God’s grace and love had a steady flow that kept me wrapped up in such peace and security. I had my family, church, church family, a home in a lovely community and the friends that went along with it. Sure there were highs and lows, but they came in and went out – like the tide’s ebb and flow. Beautiful rhythms.

Then the big change came for me when I moved from those comfortable rhythms in that season of life to Texas where the rhythms weren't as in-sync. Sometimes it’s part of God’s grand scheme of things to break up the monotony of our lives so that we don’t become “matter-of-fact” and take life for granted. Sometimes it’s a good thing to explore and experience some out-of-the-box times that produce growth, some new muscle, new insight and a fresh new rhythm.

When I took on the care of these 32 animals (my idea) at my children’s place here in Austin, my rhythms were way off. I think those animals sensed my trepidation. The goats and donkeys took advantage of me, the novice farm-hand, by overpowering my obvious inexperience. And then some of the chickens escaped under the fence and I was chasing them -- pardon the pun -- like a chicken with her head cut off. And if you didn’t know, chickens are fast. I’m sure you would have been greatly entertained if you had seen me. I finally cornered them and took them home, and then commenced to haul over rocks to the fence to cover the just-big-enough-to-escape holes.

I am so pleased to report that my mentality changed from “out-of-sync” to “I’ll show you who's boss” rhythms! Now, it’s smooth, calm and in-sync here at Old Mac-Donna’s farm. In fact, I think I’ve conquered any fears or concerns about handling this experience. The bigger animals respect me when I come out with their feed bowls. Now, I have a well-thought-out plan that calmly separates them, respectfully, at meal-time. They love it when I scratch their heads and backs. The ducks, chickens, hens, and roosters are behaving like well-behaved critters (instead of “gangsters” like I called those who escaped their pen), and those mama hens are producing a lot of eggs for me – so yummy! There’s nothing like fresh eggs. I feel like I have an enjoyable rhythm playing now.

I had one of those “King David” moments (1 Samuel 30:6) when he encouraged himself. I encourage myself with remembering what God said about “taking dominion” in Genesis 1:28. “And God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” I mustered up that dominion attitude with wisdom and strength and an empowered mindset. I took matters into my "rhythmic" hands that are empowered by God's strong and mighty hands and made some positive decisions. The best part, I realized I have the opportunity to use my faith to make those “walls of barn stalls and fences of chicken coops of discomfort” tumble down by getting into God’s rhythm of dominion over those things and animals that try to overpower me. THAT includes the enemy of my soul! Dumb devil!!!

Thank you, Lord, for learning more about You from your creation. The flowers have a rhythm to bud and eventually grow; your animal creation has rhythms of living in-sync with your creative abilities in them. I really appreciate the slow and smooth rhythms that are so sweet, but I thank You for even the staccato, disconnected rhythms – because more than anything I desire to be in sync with Your ebbs and flows – in tempo that connects me to your ways which are so much higher than my ways!

Well...Bless Your Heart

I'm called a typical “southern girl” because I speak those words quite often when someone is sharing their concerns or difficulties with me. It rolls off my tongue like water off a duck’s back. But when I say those words “Bless your heart”, I sincerely mean them, because I’ve had a broken and aching heart and I needed my heart to be blessed by someone, so I want to bless others.

Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another. It isn't just words. It's the actual putting forth of our will for the good of another person. It always involves God, because when we will the good of another person, we realize only God is capable of bringing that.

When I was in a store on Valentine’s, I saw this little “Bless YOUR heart” sign and I bought it for ME. Two reasons: 1) After all, it was Valentine’s and since my Sweetheart is in heaven, I knew I wouldn’t be getting another love letter like I received for so many years. I was a little on the wimpy side on that special day, so I encouraged myself with that little “southern girl” statement, and 2) My Mom had coronary heart disease so I wanted that little plaque with those "Bless Your Heart" words to face me while I'm sitting at my office desk that speak blessings over my own heart.

I placed that little plaque by a Certificate of Appreciation I received in April at the conclusion of months of walking out a faith journey with a beautiful young woman in our RCIA classes (discipleship classes). The scripture verse on that certificate is “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:2). The inscription on the certificate says “Because you have served the Lord in His Church through the faithful exercise of your gifts, and because the Body of Christ has been enriched by your faithfulness.” My "heart" was blessed by those words.

A few days ago, that little plaque and that certificate spoke to me more than ever before. I was having one of “those” unexplainable and very recognizable days of wimpiness. Truly I have no good reason to ever be discouraged. I’m way too blessed to ever complain, but sometimes those days just come and I know I can wimpy-along all day there OR, as I did at the store on Valentine’s day, when that wimpiness hits me, I can encourage myself with those words “Bless your heart!” Blessing (encouraging) myself. I remembered King David’s model: “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him… but David ENCOURAGED himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6)

Uh – no! I don’t think I’m in any danger of being stoned, but I’m learning to take David’s example into my sometimes-weary-wimpy-heart, and when those times come, I’m going to also encourage myself in the Lord my God! Another scripture of King David was this one in Psalm 103:1 “Bless the LORD, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Yes, we can and must bless and encourage ourselves! After all, we are our closest ally and friend to ourselves. Isn’t that the kind of friend we need and want? Bless YOUR hearts, dear friends!

The Rhythms of Life and How They Ebb and Flow

Life is interesting, isn’t it? We go through different stages of life in what seems like a blink of an eye. After my sweetheart left for his heavenly assignment, the sweet rhythm of God’s grace and love had steady flow that kept me wrapped up in such peace and security. I had my family, church, church family, a home in a lovely community and the friends that went along with it. Sure there were ups and downs, but they came in and went out – like the tide’s ebb and flow. Beautiful rhythms.

Then the big change came for me when I moved from those comfortable rhythms in that season of life, to Texas where, honestly, I’m still endeavoring to establish some consistent rhythms again. I get it -- I've wandered for a while from city to city and church to church – store to store – street to street – looking for familiarity and a consistent rhythm.

Night before last, I went to bed feeling completely out of sync. But, during the night, I had one of those “King David” moments (1 Samuel 30:6) when he encouraged himself. I encouraged myself. I determined to give the worries to God and recognize that I can’t, but HE CAN! He tells us so in this scripture: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest (sweet rhythm) for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29.

I bounced out of bed yesterday morning with an empowered mindset. I took matters into my "rhythmic" hands that are empowered by God's strong and mighty hands and made some positive decisions. The best part, I realized I have the opportunity to use my faith to make those “walls of discomfort” tumble down by praising and thanking God for so many blessings. Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, but in EVERYTHING, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Did He say EVERYTHING? Yes, and what’s so exciting is that we are told to come in confidence, knowing, with relief, that He loves us enough to want us there, right at His feet resting in His love and grace.

Most importantly, I got out of myself and into sharing God’s love and encouragement with a young tow truck driver (that's a story for another day) and an air conditioner technician (another story for another day) -- and was even able to pray with one to find his way back to God. It’s amazing how people open up when they sense "a rhythm" of God’s love coming at them.

Thank you, Lord, for the slow and smooth rhythms that are so sweet, but I thank You for even the staccato, disconnected rhythms – because more than anything I desire to be in sync with Your ebbs and flows – in tempo that connects me to your ways which are so much higher than my ways!

Being a Self Leader Before Becoming a Leader of Others

Yesterday morning, in our devotions, the subject of self leadership came up. Self leadership is a discipline that causes us to first strive for being a good leader to ourselves, even before considering being a leader to someone else. Self leadership is introspection and awareness of how and what we think and how we react. Self leadership is having a developed sense of who we are, what we can do, where we are going coupled with the ability to influence our communication, emotions and behaviors on the way to getting there.

Here's an example: Someone tells a lie about us and we take in that negativity. As a self leader, we can think I'll get even with them. I'll give them my two cents worth. I'll expose the truth about them. Or, as a self leader, we can have a little visit with ourselves and offer suggestions for a better way to handle the situation. We can say things like I need to confront them with kindness to see what caused their actions. I could speak to myself about patience and tolerance and be quick to forgive them.

I can't begin to tell you how many times the enemy pushed me beyond my strength. In reality, I wanted to throw in the towel and retreat to a place of self-pity. I longed for someone to talk to about it, and I realized the one I needed to talk to was me. I recall the story of David in 1 Samuel 30 where this future king of Israel was learning to lead his troops. He wasn't by any means a highly skilled soldier at that time. Even though God poured His favor on David, one terrible day, he and his troops returned home from fighting another enemy and David and his men discovered their camp sites destroyed and their women and children had been dragged off. That would be defined as a bad day for any leader. His soldiers were tired, angry, and worried sick about their families. They were miffed at God. Some of his men spread word that they'd had it with David's leadership. They figured it's all David's fault, and they decided to stone him to death.

In this crisis David's leadership was severely tested. Eventually, he has to decide who needs leadership the most. His soldiers? The Officers? The enemy? The answer? None of the above.

In that critical moment David realized he had to lead himself first, before he could lead anyone else. Unless he had his mind and spirit together, he had nothing to offer his team. So in 1 Samuel 30:6, we read that "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God".

David understood the importance of self leadership. And although self leadership isn't talked about much, I assure you, it is the leadership that our world seems to be most lacking. How can we expect someone else to fix what's wrong in our world, our churches, our schools, our government-- if we can't fix ourselves? How effectively can any of us lead others if our spirits are sagging, our courage is wavering, and our emotions are always on the edge where we respond with knee jerk reactions instead of weighing what our next words will be, or should be?

Here's what I considered about leading myself. If a problem comes to my attention - - first, take a deep breath and have self control. Rather than having an immediate knee jerk reaction, ponder the ways to correct the problem.

Leadership is an art that I want to master. I desire to be able to remind myself who I am and how much my Heavenly Father loves me. I want to self lead myself to be patient, calm, focused and steady in the midst of my days. I want to self lead myself to be on time, attentive to others, be laser focused on them when we're speaking, and I want my first response to be kindness, gentleness, and love. Yes, I'll probably have to take myself into my mind's conference room to keep striving to get it right, but like David, keep strengthening myself in the Lord my God, until I get it right.

She Needed a Hero, So She Became One!

Lately, I’ve noticed that I've been getting "surprise" bruises on my hands, legs and arms. Most of the time I don't even remember bumping into anything. I understand that it's incredibly common in the 60s+ to have thinner skin that's more susceptible to bruising. I'm taking matters into my own handsand amping up the Vitamin C which I understand is a good remedy and my nutritionist gave me a supplement that should help curb the bruising.

Since I fell a couple of times last year, which required many chiropractic appointments, I’m paying closer attention to my walking and running. During this time of year I go up into my attic to get my seasonal decor and bring it down. I’m being very wise with my maneuvers in getting there. In fact, I'm becoming even more wise in lifting those boxes that are up in the attic, because my back sure feels it after.

Not often, but when I could use help with lifting those heavy boxes or someone to give me advice on important decisions, someone to lean on, someone to repair something around the house, I start thinking I need a HERO to see after me! Honestly, there really are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a HERO again, like I once did, who I could go to for support and encouragement and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, boost me up with compliments and encouragement.

Of course I know I have my Father God Who is more than enough. He is so faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His indescribable love. I may be alone but I’m not lonely. He is for me and encourages me with His Word on a daily basis.

BUT, still there are times when, it's up to ME to set ME free. It's up to me to apply the bandaids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "woe is me" or "pitiful me" to POWERFUL ME! It's up to me to do what King David did in 1 Samuel 30:6 "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him...David ENCOURAGED HIMSELF in the LORD his God."

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or sister or FRIEND and it’s ME. I never leave me. I never forsake me. I don’t EVER let ME beat ME up and I don't let me pity me. I put on my armor and hold my sword high. I have come to realize I am my own HERO.

Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to JUST BECOME ONE!

Excuse me, I need to get my 6' ladder and climb it to change the air filter in my 10' ceiling!!!

She Wanted a Hero, So She Became One

Day 246 of Photo Inspirations -- She Wanted a Hero, So She Became One!
I really amused myself last week -- actually, I hurt myself several times..... which eventually amused me.....and others.

I'm respecting my sweet Mom's ways more and more all the time. My strides would be so big, but she'd just pace herself and lag way behind. The older she became, the more meticulous she was with her walking. She had too many friends who had fallen and broken a hip or an arm or a leg. So, intuitively, she watched where she walked and it didn't matter how rushed others would be to get where they were going.....she never succumbed to their peer pressure.

As I’m “maturing” I’m realizing I need to pay more attention to what I'm doing.  Last week, I put on a shirt and I saw in the mirror that it had some wrinkles on it. Rather than doing the sensible thing of taking the shirt off, setting up the ironing board and ironing it, I thought, I can iron it without taking the shirt off.  I held out the fabric and got the front done just find, but over to the right, it needed one more swipe, so this time I used my leg as the ironing board. And, the iron did what it was supposed to -- the steam came out bellowing – my shirt steamed nicely and so did my leg. OUCH!!   I still have iron scars on that leg. Seriously?  What was I thinking?  Now, my confession is “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a SOUND MIND!" 2 Timothy 1:7. Yes, a sound mind NOT to use my body as an ironing board EVER again!!!

Then last week, I burned my forehead with my curling iron, and if that wasn’t enough,  I took a nose dive onto the pickleball court, cutting my arm and hand.

And then there was a sticky confrontation with someone that I had to deal with!

After all that in one week, I started thinking -- I need a HERO to see after me!  LOL!   Honestly, there really are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a HERO again, like I once did, who I could go to for support and encouragement and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, boost me up with compliments and encouragement.  

Of course I know I have God Who is more than enough.  He is so faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and PROTECTOR OF WIDOWS is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His indescribable love.  I may be alone but I’m not lonely.  He is for me and encourages me with His Word on a daily basis.

BUT, still there's times when, it's up to me to set me free. It's up to me to apply the bandaids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "woe is me" or "pitiful me" to POWERFUL ME!   It's up to me to do what King David did in 1 Samuel 30:6 "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him......David ENCOURAGED HIMSELF in the LORD his God."    

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or sister or FRIEND and it’s ME.  I never leave me.  I never forsake me.  I don’t EVER let ME beat ME up.  I don't let me pity me.  I put on my armor and hold my sword high.  I be all God's Word says I am -- conqueror, overcomer, victor.   I have come to realize I am my own HERO.

Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to JUST BECOME ONE!

What Do You Say and Think Each Day to Encourage YOU?

Who do you hang around with the most? YOU!
And guess what, YOU are your own role model and mentor and encourager..
What do you say and think each day to encourage YOU?

Being aware of what we say -- really does make us feel better.....or worse. Do you de-value yourself by saying..."I'm so stupid. I'm so fat. I'm so sick and tired. I'm so sad. I'm so lonely. I'm so afraid." Then, that's probably your reality.

Don't you love to hang out with those people who encourage you and make you feel good about yourself. You probably have a natural, encouraging response to others -- so why not do that, today, for YOU!

Believe me, I am my own greatest cheerleader. I have a wonderful family, and very special friends.....but they are busy with their own lives. So depending on them to be my 24/7 cheerleader, would be ludicrous. I encourage myself DAILY, and here's how!

I do it like David did. "David encouraged himself IN THE LORD." 1 Samuel 30:6. David sang "Oh, magnify the Lord with me." "Magnify" means "to enlarge or make bigger in perspective." We can't make God any bigger than He already is—we can't increase omnipotence—but we can magnify our perspective of God. And, perspective has everything to do with whether we are encouraged, or discouraged.

We can magnify God by speaking of His greatness, His power, His might, His love for us. And, bottom line, when we make God bigger, we make our troubles smaller. Indeed, as David sang his songs of praise, a change came over him. A spark of faith brought a glimmer of hope, and David could feel himself becoming encouraged.

And it's the same for you and me. When we encourage ourselves in the Lord, we recover our joy! I'm not talking about a surface joy, but a deep, abiding joy, that can be present even in the middle of sorrow. I promise you.....I know that JOY, because I get encouraged everyday by my closest friend.....ME! AND, YOU CAN BE ENCOURAGED BY YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND, too......YOU! Now, get your pom poms out, and create a pep rally FOR YOU! "I've got spirit, yes, I do; I've got spirit, how about YOU?