Life is Good

First warm weekend after a long winter with cold snowy days. Us Southerns tend to whine after the little white stuff stays around a few days.

Today 65 to 70 degrees. So my day started at 6 am with a 3 mile walk with a friend, then rode Gracie for a 3 hour ride (a 3 hour tour--you know -Gilligans Island--never mind). What a great ride. Gracie was ready to go.

This next picture may just look like an abandon machine to you

But it represents so much more to my turn-around-gang. It means we just came up John Deere Hill a long hill that the horses gait and compete going up. We are always grinning at the top.

Then I took a bike ride. I didn't want to come in the house..Hmmm the neighbor has a jet ski and we have a lake...I wonder if I can google how to hot wire a jet ski.

CONTENTMENT

This is the way I have to do my Bible Study in the mornings. Moving a dog's nose to turn the page.

I read this morning a quote from a book that I have read and enjoyed "Calm My Anxious Heart". The quote is from a missionary who worked in Africa with temperatures above 112. In an old diary she had wrote her prescription for contentment.

• Never allow yourself to complain about anything-not even the weather.
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
• Never compare your lot with another's.
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
• Never dwell on tomorrow-Remember that tomorrow is God's not ours.

The secret is in her last statement. Her eyes were fixed on eternity. Her tomorrows belonged to God. And because all her tomorrows were nestled in God's strong arms she was free to live today one day at a time. She could make the right choices and grow to possess the holy habit of contentment. Her focus was on eternity and her focus led to an internal contentment. Most of us base our contentment on our circumstances or our feelings or on other people. Contentment is a state of heart not a state of affairs. (also from the book--I agree but not my words)

"I am  not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. Whether fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me stenghth." Phil. 4:11-13

Paul wrote this while imprisoned in a dark dreay dungeon. Paul recognized that the source and strength of all Christians is God Himself. We must learn to be content.

My Sunflowers Ride Each Year

For several years now we get permission to ride in area that they plant fields of sunflowers. They are beautiful. I usually can't wait and keep checking them for the blooms. 

Sometimes my riding buddies get a little weary of this. To them a sunflower is a sunflower. Seen one, seen them all.  

My"Turn Around Gang". We got this name because most of the time we will leave this perfectly clean path and head through the branches and ditches and one of us will say "We can always turn around!" But back to the sunflowers, I will always love taking their pictures and look forward to this year's crop.

"You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be sure, because there is hope, You will look about you and take your rest in safety.  You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid..." Job 11:16-19 

Under his wings

My sister told of an incident that happen to her friend that reminds me of God's protection. The young girl was home in her apartment when a man broke in. She had her cell phone and ran upstairs and called 911. They told her to run to her bedroom and lock the door and hide in the closet. She did and talked to the 911 operator as she heard the man downstairs. She heard him breaking into the bedroom and then heard him open the closet door. She was crouching there in plain sight. He looked in, then slowly closed the door and walked out of the room. What did he see?

The next day in their Ladies Bible Study they studied this verse

"Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge: His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night..." Psalm 91:1-2

She said the ladies all said they could just see a young girl with angel wings covering her in that closet.

Machseh is the Hebrew name for God is our Refuge.