The Lost Flock

You would have seen a very funny sight this evening if you were traveling near our house in Kents Store.  A parade of sorts was marching up our road in the rain, and I am certain it drew some rather curious glances.  It all began with the disappearance of our young turkeys and guineas.  After two days with no sign of the fowl, we had all but counted them gone for good, but in the grand tradition of our funny farm, the story was not quite over.

Just before dinner, our neighbor stopped by to ask if we were missing any birds.  It just so happened that our turkeys and guineas, no longer enamored with the security of our yard, had wandered several farms away.  Observing that these animals were not wildlife, she rightly assumed that they belonged to us!  Anxious to bring our lost flock home, Jerry and the boys jumped in the truck and drove down to the neighbors house.

After considering several ways of capturing the birds that would require a lot of chasing, our neighbor suggested that they simply walk the poultry back to our farm.  They slowly corralled the turkeys and guineas by walking behind and beside them.  Not feeling threatened, the birds were easily guided all the way home where they were happy to retreat into the safety of their coop.  Had the guys tried to chase them, the likelihood of retaining all of the birds is slim.

As Jerry described these hilarious events to me this evening, I couldn't help but think of my brothers and sisters in Christ who have wandered from the flock.  The security of living safely within the guidelines of God's law has worn off and suddenly, other fields look better than their own.  We often want to run after them in order to capture them and bring them back home, but our techniques sometimes do little more than push them further away.

My neighbors suggestion holds merit with more than wandering animals, it works with the people we love as well.  People are much more likely to allow themselves to be guided by someone they trust than with someone hurling insults and pointing fingers.  Simply surrounding our wayward loved ones with love, comfort, and wise direction will most often bring them safely back to the nest.

James 5:19-20 says, "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins."

I am happy to say that my wandering flock is safe and sound in their house on this rainy night.  They will enjoy the shelter of their coop for awhile before they get the chance to taste freedom again.  Hopefully by that time they will understand that our farm has all they need for a happy, healthy life.  

Whether you turn to the right or to the left your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

Snapshots

Sometimes I see my day as a long video with each scene blending into the next, while other days are more like a series of snapshots.  Today was a day of snapshots; vivid images set against a beautiful backdrop of family and friends, commitment and love.

The day began with an email from my friend, Melissa.  She was expressing how my son, Trevor, was a blessing to her yesterday.  Her affirmation and gratitude for his helpfulness was the encouragement I needed to begin my day.

The second image of my day is one of me standing next to my husband in worship service this morning.  I tilted my head to listen as he sang praises to God.  It gives me such pleasure to hear his voice, but knowing that he loves and worships Him together with me causes me to thank God even more.  This morning it brought back memories of me as a little girl standing next to my Grandaddy in church while he sang hymns.  

Another click of the lens reveals two precious children, Hailey and Dylan, professing their faith and rising out of the waters of baptism.  Though I already consider them as a part of my family, watching them become a part of my spiritual family is incredible.

This afternoon, on top of a hill on a beautiful farm, we watched as a couple that we love made vows of commitment to one another.  A beautiful picture was etched in my mind as Briton held the end of a unity cord while Jess braided the ends together.  They were purposeful about their task and all eyes seemed to be upon them - until I noticed their children.  The older two understood what was happening, at least on some level, but the little ones were completely oblivious.  It hit hit me suddenly that this was a beautiful picture of marriage and family building.  As parents, we must be purposeful and diligent in creating a loving, stable, committed relationship between the two of us.  While sometimes our children will witness us doing the work, for the most part, the work itself should be done in such a way that the children can sit at our feet carefree and confident that they are growing up in a family that is full of love.  

It was a special treat this weekend to spend time with my whole family together.  I am increasingly aware that those times are numbered for us.  It wasn't all fun and we weren't all happy and loving the whole weekend, but we were all there - together, and the snapshots that I will take away will be those of us laughing together.  

The State of My Soul

Tonight I uttered words that spoke the truth about the state of my soul.  As soon as they left my heart they were returned to me by a voice that whispered of their fault.  Suddenly, I knew that all of the wondering - all of the wandering - all was the impact of my own doubt.

The words I spoke became a confession; one that would be taken lightly by many, but not by Him.  In an unassuming way, I simply stated, "I am a worrier."  While that may not seem like a confession worthy of such drama, it was highlighted by the months of questions and conversations, the sleepless nights, the tortured passing of time since I last trusted fully.

As I struggled through my crisis of faith, though never doubting His love or salvation, I stepped out of the comfort of His power and strength and into the pit of my own frailty.  I wrestled with my sin, pains of the past, concerns for the future, self-pity, and more, and He watched over me and waited - waited until I found peace that would overcome it all.  He tended to my needs but, in His great love, let me learn from my suffering.

Using the words of others, observations of life, and guidance from His gentle hand, He prepared me for the truth.  He hadn't changed.  All was as it always had been.  By the grace of God I had changed, but only by returning to the truth I had always known.  He is sovereign. He is eternal. He is all that I need.

The revelation that came from His whisper was a tiny transformation of the characters in my own pronouncement.  "I am a warrior," He corrected.  After all of the uncertainty, all of the inquiry, all of the dispute, He simply reminded me of who I am in Him.

Oh that I had never forgotten.  Time wasted, energy exhausted, precious opportunities lost.  My anxiety solved no problems, protected nothing.  Instead, it only served to rob me of my trust in Him.  Countless moments, meant for waging war against the enemy of my soul, were squandered in exchange for the empty pleasure of wallowing in worry.

Worry sapped my strength - trust restores it.  Worry staled my hope - faith renews it.  Worry stole my joy - He redeems it!  I am a warrior!  I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Fuge Day 1

After an early start and a long, somewhat uneventful, ride, we made it to North Greenville University just before the end of check-in.  

We were quickly shooed over to the field where we got t-shirts, a group picture, and a run through our church sign.

The M-Fuge campers went to a meeting while the Center-Fugers played some games.

Later, we unpacked the vans, ate dinner, and moved between all kinds of meetings and activities, including filling out track forms, worship, Bible Study groups, etc.

We finished out the evening with a meeting for our church group where we shared our track assignments and highs and lows of the day.  Most lows included surprising track choices and camp food, while many of the highs were about meeting new people.  We did a fun group activity and then headed off to air conditioned dorms for a quick night's sleep.

Old Habits

About a month ago, I decided to reorganize our bathroom.  The medicine cabinet has three doors, and for some reason, I moved the toothpaste from one side to the middle of the cabinet.  For seven years, I have been opening the door on the left to reach for the toothpaste and I don't seem to be able to break that habit.  Every time I brush my teeth I open the door on the left, only to remember that it is not there.  I know where the toothpaste is - I moved it!

Habits are like that.  We develop particular actions and attitudes over time and they are very difficult to change.  The way we react to certain things, the way we think, the choices we make, these are all habits.  Over time we conform to those habits simply because we have doing them for so long.

God tells us not to conform to the patterns of the world but to renew our minds.  (Romans 12:2). Easier said than done.  Paul discusses the difficulty of changing our ways in Romans 7:15. "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate."  Paul understood the laws of human nature and habits.  But he also knew the path to that change - renewal of the mind.

What we think determines our actions.  If we can change our minds, we will change our actions.  The only way to renew our minds so that we think and act in a godly way is to spend time reading and meditating on God's word and then practice what we read.  The more we fill our minds with God's love and truth, and the more we actually do what it says, the more natural it will become.

It may take me a while to remember to reach to the middle for the toothpaste, but in the meantime, I am still brushing my teeth.  I won't give up just because I forget at first.  I just hope it doesn't take me seven years to remember!

Asking for Help

This is Curious the rooster.  Our mama hen, Road Runner, hatched him a couple of years ago and we gave him and the other chicks from that clutch to our young friend, Betz.  Curious had a pretty special home, with special attention from Betz and her Dad, who even fed him by hand.  Unfortunately, Curious has a bit of an aggressive streak in him, so he was brought back to the funny farm for the safety and peace of mind of his young owner.  

Curious started out in a separate coop so he could get used to his surroundings.  We planned to let him mix with the other chickens once he got his bearings, but Curious had his own way of doing things. He did, indeed, mix with the other chickens during the day, but even now, months later, Curious still likes to sleep alone in his own coop.

We let our chickens free range during the day, but we shut the chickens in their coops after dark to keep them safe from predators.  As each evening turns to dusk, the rest of the chickens go into their coop and Curious continues around to his own bachelor pad.  We simply go out at dark and close the doors.  Tonight, though, we were later getting home.  Assuming everyone was tucked in tight, I sent Carter out to close the coops.

After a bit, while we were watching a movie, Carter and I heard an awful noise right outside the screen door.  We paused the movie and peeked out the door to see what was making the screeching we'd heard.  It was Curious!  Standing in between our very perplexed dogs, he was standing tall and crowing at the top of his voice.  He had been locked out of his coop and he was not happy, but he knew just what to do.  That rooster knew that the people who could help him were inside that door and he was going to do whatever it took to get him home!

Carter and I tried to shoo him back towards his coop, a little afraid that he might attack us, but he was not about to venture into the dark.  Instead he stood taller and allowed Carter to pick him right up.  With no fuss at all, Carter was able to carry him back to his coop and put him safely to bed.  

Curious is the independent type.  He knows how to take care of himself and he is rather proud, but he also knows when he needs help.  He is not afraid to ask for it and he sure is grateful when he receives it!  As a matter of fact, we were so delighted that Curious asked for our help and that he accepted that help, it actually made us love him more - go figure!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7

New Beginning

One of the things I love most about teaching is that there is an end and a new beginning with every school year.  Right now, I am at the end.  I have said goodbye to my students. My room is neat and organized.  The grades are all turned in and the papers are all passed back.  It is done.  But I am already thinking about the new beginning.

I love that God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us an end and a new beginning to each day.  I love the rest that He gives me and the energy He gives me to start over again the next morning.  Tonight, I am glad it is the end of the day.  I am tired and I love to sleep!  But I am already thinking of the new day tomorrow will bring.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

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