We Are

We are because Christ created us. We love only because Christ loved us. We live only because Christ died for us.



Romans 15:13
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope , through the power of the Holy Ghost."














Butterfly

Butterfly

Monday, December 2, 2013

Faith in the Unseen

Faith:
Forward Always In Trusting Him

Today the act of faith was lived out before my very eyes. And it was such a random and awesome way! I was out at the Never Say Never Therapeutic Riding Center with my friend Emilia and we were working some of their horses. Mia asked me to ride her horse Max! Now let me tell you about Max. He is a big, beautiful Grey (there are no true white horses) Kentucky Mountain Horse and he is just plain grand! He honestly reminds you of Maximus from the movie tangled (that's how he got his name) He will sniff out where he is at and when he listens he cocks his head (which is by the way adorable!) But the best thing about Max is that He is completely blind! As I worked with him I noticed that he needed confidence and security. He needed guidance over obstacles and directed around the arena. At one point he didn't want to follow my direction but the other horses in the arena. I was talking to him and all of a sudden I was like "Max, you need to have faith in me, it's Forward Always In Trusting Him." And just like that all of the spiritual analogies of what Faith looks like and trusting God. To walk by Faith and not by sight. As I was traveling home, I was pouring my heart out to my Heavenly Father about the desires of my heart. And I am realizing even now about how much I don't trust Him, and not walk by faith. My new prayer is that I would walk by the faith in Jesus Christ who has everything planned out for my life!

Jeremiah 29:11
          "For I know the plans I have for you said the Lord, plans not to harm you but to give you a hope and a future." (paraphrase)

Sunday, December 1, 2013

I can only imagine forever!

O to grace how great a debtor 
 daily I'm constrained to be! 
 Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 
 bind my wandering heart to thee. 
 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
 prone to leave the God I love; 
 here's my heart, O take and seal it, 
 seal it for thy courts above. 

This song has been one of my favorite songs to sing for years! And I love to sing the last verse because there are so many times that my heart wants to wander. Wander from this or from that or not give up this or give up that for the cause of Christ. I pray everyday that my heart would be sealed by God's hand and nothing else! So that one day I will will be able to sing praises of His grace and love in His marvelous courts and worship Him all day long forever! 
   Wow, ever think of forever?? It's like.....well....forever! :)The idea of forever is slightly frightening that is for sure but I am really excited!  Imagine,  God welcoming you at the Pearly Gates, and every day, (even though there is no time there) you get to run around and sing, play games, worship, eat amazing food, and the River of Life? you betcha! Gonna have water fights ;) It all just makes me laugh and smile and I honestly cannot wait. Seeing Jesus all the time and being able to ask those questions that you've been waiting to ask Him! And meeting all of the people in the Bible that I've read about and studied for my whole life! Whoa! So fun! I can just see story time with David, or Moses or Adam and talking about Creation....sigh sounds well Heavenly!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes....



Winter.....the word usually brings a smile to my face because it brings memories of snow, friends, Thanksgiving, curling up with a blanket and cocoa, and of course Christmas. But what I so frequently forget is the growth that winter brings. The cold of the winter brings insulation for the grass to reseed the ground and grow strong in the spring. It helps the trees grow strong and tall. It also reminds me of how God walks us through the cold times to grow us closer to Him. And bring in the spring a melting of hearts and a new birth.
Each snowflake that falls to the earth is completely different. There is not two alike. The amount of snowflakes that fall from the sky and knowing that there is not one alike humbles me. I barely have enough creativity for 5!! The sun beams that reflect off the pristine cut edges  making the freshly fallen snow look like diamonds. The world looks brighter whether by day or by night. The sounds of the falling snow is magical and it lays like a heavy blanket. Encasing the world in a crystal beauty.

The correlation between the snowflake and our christian walk is amazing. God takes a simple raindrop and freezes it in perfect beauty transforming it. As it settles in the exact spot where God places it, it reflects the suns beauty! Can you see it now? God takes our hearts and transforms them and sends them to some place that is perfect for us and then we begin to reflect Jesus' light to the world!


Here is a post of photos of snowflakes:
      http://www.boredpanda.com/snowflake-macro-photography-diy-alexey-kljatov/


Friday, September 6, 2013

Special God Blessings

This past weekend has been a very long yet rewarding weekend.  Family Camp is one of the most amazing, and overwhelming weekends at the Ranch. Families from all over come in. Each with a different story, some with tons of kids, others with just a couple. Some families are like family to us, others are just joining. It's so beautiful to see families who don't know each other, become friends and do things they normally wouldn't do, or ride a horse, or go fishing with their children. I also have grown to love them and they are now apart of my Ranch family. God has opened so many doors to build friendships and renew old ones. Also, just seeing the love of God revealed in the smallest of ways!
   Now this weekend we are welcoming all of our new students in! It is incredibly fun to meet all the newbies and their families! Sometimes I feel like they're getting younger and younger coming in but maybe it's me getting older! Well I must go as I am being called by  "the word" aka my pillow. Signing off for now! 

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Lessons from the Butterfly

Today I was out hiking in the mountains of Virginia with my Mom. As our day progressed I noticed that throughout our day was the blessing of seeing multiple types of butterflies. Now, it didn't seem like much until I started thinking about the butterfly (this started while watching one blow in the breeze while clinging to a flower). The life of a butterfly starts off as a worm. A measly insignificant to us, sometimes ugly and unusual to our eyes, but to the Creator it's a beautiful creation with a greater purpose. This amazing bug builds a cocoon for itself as a protection and a growing experience. Then when the perfect time arrives, it begins the arduous journey of breaking out of it's abode and building that strength that is needed to be able to fly and do what Butterfly's do. Now, for me to watch this process reminds me so much of my spiritual life. God takes me through the journey of taking away my old self and putting on the new one in Him! It's a constant journey with trials that strengthen me because I  push through because God has asked me to grow closer to Him. The beauty that arises from that journey is nothing to be compared too. Just some thoughts for the day!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Ending of A Season, the Beginning of Another

My 2013 Kitchen Crew!
Saturday the 17th marked the day that the School of Discipleship class of 2013 graduated. It was an exciting weekend filled with laughter and reliving the year. Everyone got dressed up in celebration of finishing out the year and the banquet was to be remembered. As I sat there and watched "My" kiddos walk down to receive their long awaited and hard earned certificates, and some the cherished Box Cross buckle, I was struck with so many emotions. Tears of joy and pride welled within me as I saw young men and women who had grown so far. Sadness creeped in as well, some of these cherished people I would not see again, others I might not be rid of ;) (not that I would want to be rid of anyone really :) And still others would come and go in my life as God desired them to. Selfishly, I wanted to keep them all so that I could enjoy them longer. But how could I be so selfish to want to keep them for my own gain?? God has commissioned them to walk according to His Word and spread the gospel to all the world! The have the amazing opportunity to walk as Jesus walked beyond what any of us could imagine. The celebration went on late into the night, hugs, tears, and smiles for victory pictures were shared and some even went out on the town!
   Sunday morning broke early and my heart was heavy. Some of my dearest friends were departing that day and I knew it would take everything in me to not let the held back tears flow. I made it to the kitchen for chores and the morning of saying so many "see you laters" began. Hugs, and tears flowed freely and I kept praying for the ability to let these dear people go in God's hands. The season with these amazing people has come to a close. I know that I will again be reunited with many of them and I cannot wait for that day. I praise God, who we all believe in, that He will bring our paths together again someday even if I have to wait until Heaven.
    The new season of my life started honestly with tears and pouring my heart out to God on my way to my parents house for a much needed vacation. I realize that so much of me was put in the security of the people around me, and to see that leave was frightening. In two weeks I will have a whole new group of students arrive and I will begin at ground zero. But I on the other hand, am a completely different person. God has shown me His love and grace over and over and over again. I have been pressured, chiseled and molded. I do not have to fear what this next season will bring, I only need to fear the One who created me! If I do not choose to see this as a growing season it will not be one. I know I will miss the people that God is using elsewhere, but I also know that God has me where I am for a specific reason.  I may never know that reason or see the results but God has asked me to walk worthy of the vocation with which I was called. So, in light of this...Bring it On!!! :D
Congratulations SOD Class of 2013!! I love you and am praying for all of you! See you Soon!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Miracle of Life!



On May 30, 2013 while quietly sitting on my front porch having my devotions I received the text from my dear friend  Emma texted me that my horse Annie had foaled! At first I didn't believe her because we had had so many false alarms but she assured me. I jumped out of my chair and with heart pounding I grabbed my buddy Emilia and we, well I about bounced up there, (while calling friends to come see ;) to the pasture where the mares where pastured. A truckload of my other buddies drove up and we piled into the pasture looking for the newest arrival. My eyes strained to see the lil one I had waited so very long for. And I finally saw running through the grass with her mom a lil white face with a reddish brown body and 4 white legs :) My mare Annie saw us coming and she was like " Hey check out my baby!" It was a little filly who is the most adorable thing ever! She was dry and was up and running so she had been around for a bit before Emma had found her. I fell in love with her immediately and i was literally bouncing up and down with excitment yelling to Emma that it was a Filly :D Yesterday I decided to call her Cricket and she is just a little fireball and a joy to watch and work with even though she is a little firecracker! I marvel all the time about how God created her and she is just the coolest thing ever! Already in the 4 short days of having her in my life she has taught me so much about being patient and working towards building that relationship with her.  I praise God for the lessons He's been teaching me and also for the ones to come as He uses Cricket to mold me :)

Friday, February 8, 2013

Do Not Be Weary But Give Grace Always

    As I sit here at the kitchen counter surrounded by pizza fixins and a pile of chocolate chip cookies I can't help but ponder what God has brought into my life and teach me even within the past couple minutes. Through out yesterday and today God has opened my eyes to something that I knew was there and been working on but brought a deeper understanding to it in my life. I am a very selfish person and therefore if things, or people, do not do as I have planned, I immediately throw up my hands and in a groaning voice exclaim "Dear Lord, give me patience and grace, and help me to love them!" When in reality I don't want patience, love, and grace I just want to get rid of the "problem" so I can have my life according to me. I am ashamed to say that I acted that way. I then purposed to right the wrong I had done. When with talking to a friend he pointed out that it's not wrong to pray for patience, love, and grace but it's the heart behind it. The way I did it was for show not for the actual learning of the discipline. I had to ask myself "Am I willing to put myself out there and train myself in this?" To give grace always? Even when it doesn't go the way I thought it would? What exactly is grace? 
   Again tonight I was blown away by God's goodness as multiple other situations were brought into my path that required love and grace. An apprentice came into the kitchen with an issue concerning grace, love, decisions with consequences. I prayed that God would give me the picture and words of grace. He ever so lovingly impressed upon my mind the picture of His Son Jesus Christ coming to earth giving grace constantly, loving us no matter what we have done and dying upon the cross for our sins. Everyday God gives me grace for the fumbles and stumbles, and the mistakes that I make. Yet He continually loves me and guides me through every decision right or wrong, along with the consequences of those decisions to teach me more of His love! With that reality in mind, how can I not give grace and love to those around me?!? 
  1. Galatians 6:9
    And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

    2 Thessalonians 3:13

    King James Version (KJV)
    13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

    Dictionary.com 
    Grace:

    a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school. forgiveness, charity, mercifulness. animosity, enmity, disfavor.
    5.
    mercy; clemency; pardon: He was saved by an act of grace from the governor. lenity, leniency, reprieve. harshness.
     
     
    Merriman-Webster
     
    a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
    b : a virtue coming from God
    c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
    2
    a : approval, favor <stayed in his good graces>
    b archaic : mercy, pardon
    c : a special favor : privilege <each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage — Rudyard Kipling>
    d : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency
    e : a temporary exemption : reprieve