Standing up for what you believe.

Ah, to be a Daniel....... something all Christians have dealt with in one capacity or another. We've all been challenged at certain times in our lives to take the high road or speak up and be counted when justice was waning or some entity was attempting to sink their hand too deeply into our pockets, but I doubt any of us have ever been threatened with our very lifeblood if we didn't compromise our faith. Recently I ran across one of Ben's old textbooks from Liberty University, and found some pearls of wisdom; the courageous faith of some of our old testament heroes. To say the least, I was convicted and encouraged to share this treasure with others.
Shadrach, Meshach an Abednego are standing before King Nebuchadnezzar, being threatened with execution for not worshiping the king's idol. "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand he said."(Daniel 3:15).
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we...will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold"(Daniel 3:16-18).
'Humanly speaking, they had everything to gain by compromising. Spiritually speaking, they had everything to lose: their character, their integrity, and their commitment.'
We know how this account ends - The boys are thrown into the furnace and survive the ordeal unharmed. "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants" Nebuchadnezzar said. "They trusted in him....and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God" (Daniel 3:28).
'Two things are apparent from this account. First, it was an incredible testimony of Nebuchadnezzar. The pagan king was impressed by their courage and by God's power. Until you are willing to take such a stand, the power of God will never be evident in your life.
Second, the Hebrews put their fate in God's hands. They were willing to give up their lives for their beliefs. When people are willing to die for what they believe, they will also be willing to live for what they believe.
Very few Americans ever face this option. Rarely are any of us called upon to die for our faith in Jesus Christ. But until we are willing to die for Him, we will never fully live for Him. The true martyr is the one who believes his testimony is more important than his safety, and his faith more important than his life.'
The following confession of an African Christian was found among his papers after he was martyred:
" I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit's power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my gait is fact, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, stored up, and stayed up the cause of Christ."
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear."
May this be every Christian's banner. The days in which we live are perilious and full of compromise at every level. May we have the courage to stand for Christ and His righteousness always.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! Till next time, adios.

Black Friday Madness......

You bet I was in the big middle of all that....wouldn't miss it for nothin! The way we work this deal, is the day before, which would be Thanksgiving, right after dinner, all us cousins pull out out the store adds and start a tactical logistics plan to maximize our dollars spent in the shortest distance possible. This year, we had 82 at our little family get- together so we had a battle plan that would shame our military.....the most important rule we follow has nothing to do with being courteous or tactful, but to have fun. We compare deals, clip coupons to maximize early bird specials, and then compare the percentage of Christmas Shopping successfully completed. After the crafts fair, we all meet for hot chocolate and brag about all our big deals.....then we hug each other bye and start our diet and exercise program to get in shape for next year's shopping extravaganza. Tomorrow I start wrapping, undecorating the fall decorations and start cleaning and preparing for Christmas. Baking will start when that whole mess is cleaned up... Well peeps, it's been a long day and I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving and successful black friday.....till next time, adios.

Growing up or just old.....

As I sit here sipping my eggnog, in the quiet of the afternoon, I am forced or maybe even privileged to recall how the day started out not so quiet. Early on, I had seven people wandering about, drinking coffee and getting ready to start chores, vaccinate the tail end of the cattle we'll be putting on wheat next week, and loading up horses to check the cattle we just put out on wheat. There is never a dull moment at my house and for that I am thankful....I'm too ADHD to begin my knitting lessons just yet and actually thrive on drama and adrenaline. If the drama ever gets to be too much, I am happy to retreat.....not scared.... just old.
I love my life right now.....the kids are growing up and starting lives of their own, and that gives me an incentive to ponder what I'll be when I grow up. I've always felt jipped somehow, not believing I ever had the choice of following a passion. After high school I was never asked or encouraged to go to collage - just told I needed to get me a job and start living and thus started years of wreck less living and bad choices. I realize now, however, that at my age, no matter what career path I would have chosen, I would be right here in this place with grown children and grandchildren. I've mothered kids for 25 years now and my life has been dictated by those who needed me the most each day. I have grown comfortable with myself, my abilities and lack thereof, and have the confidence to defend what's right, against those who choose wrong.....and won't apologize for that. I have no one to impress and am accountable only to Him who created me and those who He has given me to be in relationship with. I know my job here on this earth is not done and want to make the most out of each day I'm given. I've been around enough people to know who I want to be more like and those I don't want to be anything like; and the older I get, the more cut and dry that becomes. I know what is important and what is not and if it's not going to matter in 50 years, don't worry about it.... if that makes me uncaring or "insensitive" get over it. People invest too much time on worthless projects that have no eternal value. My life is well more than half over and I simply don't want to waste anymore of it dwelling on the past that I can't change or the future that I really don't have any power over. Here lately, I've been going through my house, pitching anything I don't like, won't wear, hate to look at, or simply have outgrown no matter how much "value" I once placed on it. I've done that with my life and mind as well. There are experiences I need to forget, wrongs forgiven, and people of the past that need to be forgotten. The more simple my life and my house become, the better I like it. I choose to surround myself with what is beautiful and what will last forever. I am now who I always wanted to be......almost. Till next time..adios!

From a Full Quiver to an Empty nest.....

Ah Fall...the time of year when life begins to slow down....really? This year seems like I've tried to squeeze 20 pounds of taters in a 10 pound sack...especially the past couple months or so. We will be hauling hay up till Thanksgiving, we have almost a thousand head of cattle in the feedlot, just now got our calves weaned, had our daughter's wedding at the house last weekend, Jake's wedding in January....and the holidays are upon us - that's okay though; it'll give me something to think about when I'm 80, sitting on the front porch knitting socks.....

Weddings are always fun....so unpredictable...doesn't matter how much or how little planning is involved, something always happens that makes the day memorable! The most humbling though, is the friends and family who threw in their time, resources and talents to make this day happen. My sweet brother, put on a feed that will not soon be forgotten. He brought his right hand man Pat, homemade smoker, coolers full of ribs, pork loin, and brisket, poured on his famous secret rub and cooked all afternoon.
Dirtroad Scrapper graciously dropped off a pickup load of mums from wal-mart on her way home, Ranchwife who is now affectionately called "The Ciderwoman" brought a potload of beans, whooped up several gallons of the best spiced cider I've ever had and kept the wedding, and me on tract. We had people bringing in potato salad, wedding cakes, decorations, setting up tables and all were smiling! The weather even cooperated a little....still a tad chilly but that's November in New Mexico for ya! Hope you have a blessed week! Till next time, adios!

Potty Training and Wedding Planning......

My confession is....I have been sucked, hook, line and sinker into the facebook scene and have no excuses except...well, I have none....It's been a busy summer, between hay hauling, wedding planning , ranch rodeos and now, we are in the throws of potty training Karli...and none of the above mentioned is conducive to anything else. To bring ya'll up to speed, Ben came back from Afghanistan in May, Jake proposed to his sweetie that same weekend and now we're planning a January 15th wedding. Jake also started his senior year of college as did Ben. Katie still loves working for Gateway Christian School and we still love taking Karli with us everywhere we go. Ross and I did take a week vacation in Cozumel Mexico, cruising on the infamous Ecstacy ship that listed and made the CNN news. Here of late, I'm putting up sweet corn that Sweet Farmer so generously plants for friends and neighbors and if I don't quit eating 8 ears of buttered sweet corn every night, Ross is going to put me in the feed lot. I start a Bible Study in the morning and having an engagement party planned for next weekend so......I'm really going to be better after all this and .......till next time ....

People are like cow turds...and vise versa

Was visiting my favorite spot the other day....a windmill about a mile from the house. Karli has decided this too is her favorite place to visit, so we frequent this spot about three times each day. She likes to watch the windmill turn and the dogs run through the mud. If we time it just right, the cows will be there watering and she gets a kick out of that. One afternoon, on one of our adventures, I happened to notice all the piles of turds lying about and couldn't help but notice how different they all were....yeah, I kinda need to get a life. Their appearance, depended on the journey they had taken till they landed there. Some were splattered all over, and some almost looked artistic, as if they had been sculpted. Don't ask me where these thoughts come from....my mind can be a scary place. They reminded me of people I've come across over the years. I've met saints well into their eighties that didn't look a day past sixty, and some poor folks that look like they'd been rode hard and put up wet that were in their 20's. I certainly don't plan on winning any beauty contests before I'm laid to rest but I hope that an inner beauty will show that the struggles in my life were met with courage and dignity and a willingness to help others get through the turds of their lives. Till next time, adios

It's Good to be home!

Well now, lets see....it's been a while since the last post which was.....can't remember back that far. Guess that means it's been long enough. Yes indeedy, we went cruising to the land where Mexicans can, and are willing to speak English. Too bad we had to travel thousands of miles to find out that fact, but that's all I'm gonna say about that. The bathing suit...yeah it fit and I really shouldn't have been so self-conscious about that whole ordeal....all my important parts were well covered with the exception of those few parts that got broiled, blistered and downright crispy crittered. Not for me to judge, but some of our fellow cruisers should have been a little more courteous. There are just some body parts that NOBODY needs to be subjected to unless under the care of a licensed professional. They obviously took the phrase "what happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico" a bit too literal.....and that's all I'm going to say about that. All in all it was a fantastic get-a-way. We saw ancient pyramids, swam in pristine water, met some very flavorful folks, and just enjoyed each other away from life and living. We did however experience a little excitement on the last leg of our cruise that tickles me now but caused me to make sure my relationship with Jesus is in good standing. Not really sure what happened....only the captain knows for sure and he's not talking. At 12:55 pm, on the last full day, our boat suddenly listed, they say 12 degrees....whatever. All I know it was shear panic for those with a fresh drink in their hands. The swimming pools and hot tubs emptied out completely....people and all. The gift shops, liquor shops, bars....any shop with lots of glass was trashed, and the dining halls looked like a grade school food fight was in full swing. Ross and I were on the Serenity Deck which means no obnoxious, ill-behaved children were allowed. We had purposely on purpose left our sweet,well behaved children at home....so be it. Anyhoo, for about two minutes, we were deciding if we should save the bucket of beer if we went over or just save ourselves....beer might come in handy if we had to float for too long. Funny how nobody remembered to go to their "designated area" in case of an emergency. People just grabbed their life jackets in one hand, their beer in the other and hoped for the best. People have a strange way of dealing with life-threatening situations, no matter how small. Shortly, everything righted itself and life on a floating city was back to normal. There was a heart-attack victim, several broken bones and a few got stitched up...luckily there was 200 nurses on board for a convention....and after the free party in the Starlight Lounge, I was feeling pretty good about the whole incident. Looking back, Ross had wanted to just do an all-inclusive vacation at a resort. But after the Haiti earthquake,I just couldn't bring myself to stay in some tall building built by who knows who. I figured I would be much safer in a boat....Till next time, adios