A Taste of Heaven

Floyd, Iowa does not have a grocery store. There are two truck stops and two antique stores. This weekend there was a Gospel Music Festival with 20 or more groups performing at the concert in the park. The Gospel Lighthouse Church has sponsored this festival since 1995. The gospel sing brings in funds for the Christian school that the church also sponsors since 1988.

This little town was booming. People came from many states to attend this amazing concert. Visiting with many attendees gives us much hope for our nation.

On Sunday we attended Lighthouse Gospel church and heard Keepers of the Faith. Their harmony is heavenly and their testimonies rich. We think that we tasted a bit of heaven! The Farmer and I were truly blessed to be in attendance. The group are Hawaiians that have moved to Washington State.

Some football was on our schedule Saturday. I and the Farmer drove to St. Paul, MN and the University of Northwestern to see our grandson. He is a Freshman there and is on the football team. It was so great to see him and to take him out to eat. The Christian atmosphere there on campus was tangible. Josh picked a restaurant called Kahn. The Farmer was unsure about this kind of Mongolian cuisine. He did find meat and potatoes so all was well!

“Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He surveyed the fence, and all gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board fence nine feet high. Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden. Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged. Jim came skipping out at the gate with a tin pail, and singing Buffalo Gals.”

Mark Twain

It sounds like this week was all fun and games and it was. But we worked very hard. Four of us are painting the exterior of a two story dining hall. It was red but is now tan, trimmed in brown. We used 20 gallons of primer, 15 gallons of tan and five gallons of brown so far. Yes, there are some sore muscles. And yes there are some sorer muscles. Some of the area has been sprayed, brushed, and rolled.

Jim and Cathy are our leaders and have really carried the load on this assignment.

“All you need to paint is a few tools, a little instruction, and a vision in your mind.”

Bob Ross.

This is our last week to work here and we would sure like to see it completed.

What did the painter say to the wall? One more crack like that and I’ll plaster you.

Alot of Play and a Little Work

Floyd, Iowa is our late August destination. The Farmer and I are working in September at Cedar Springs Camp and Retreat. It is beautiful and green here. And well, the trees are stunning for a couple of prairie kids. The trees are so tall and the shade is delightful. The smell of the pines is breathtaking.

We met the other couple we are working with this month and they are a blessing. They have only been married 41 years so they are younger than we are. They ran a Boys Ranch for a number of years so they have so many dynamic testimonies of how the Lord has worked in and through them and the boys they helped.

The project here is a big one for four people. We are painting the exterior of the dining hall. It is red right now so we started the week with primer. Lots of primer! We are still putting on primer. We have put on 15 gallons so far. We think then it will take two coats of the new tan color to cover.

Because it is Labor Day weekend we have done some playing this weekend. The camp has quite a few here for Family Camp and there have been some great activities. There was a canoe trip down the river, a float trip, water slides, campfires, corn hole tournament and more. The Farmer went down the water slide twice with all the youngsters. The Farmer caused quite a stir when he fell on his rear and then his head as he sailed down the slide. His cowboy hat left his head and made its own descent down the slide. We both floated down the really lazy river. And the Camp Director, Brian has fed us all very, very well. Jim and Cathy our co-workers won the cornhole tournament and we were very proud of them.

“Time is like a flowing river, no water passes beneath your feet twice, much like the river, moments never pass you by again, so cherish every moment life gives you.”

–Unknown

Some precious friends that are SOWERS and are the Sponsors for this camp came to visit today and we enjoyed hamburgers, beans, salad and dessert together. We had all worked together at different times at Alert Academy in Big Sandy, TX. We shared some delightful stories and fun times of working together and with others. Mike and Jackie are some of our favorite people.

“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”

– Jim Watkins

Last Tuesday night after work, we attended a testimony night at a Celebrate Recovery meeting at a local church. My goodness, God is so good and has rescued so many from some terrible situations. Jesus is in the rescue business. Their love for Jesus was so inspiring. When the Lord forgives you of so much, your love and appreciation for Him is very evident.

Luke 7:47 “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Thursday evening after spray painting all day, Jim decided to cook up a Shrimp Boil. I thought for sure he would be too exhausted to cook, but he started up a big fire, got out a big pot and put out a masterpiece! He’s got it down to a fine art for sure. Shrimp, sausage, lots of vegetables and some spicy seasonings and just the right amount of boil and Voila! Delicious!

Friday, the Farmer and I made a little trip to the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, IA. That hymn was an old time favorite of ours for years. We were excited to find that it was only forty miles away. William Pitts wrote a poem in 1857 as he rode by the area on a stagecoach. He had a vision of a little church in the midst of the town called Bradford. He wrote the poem about that church of his vision. He put the poem away and forgot about it.

Imagine his amazement when he returned to Bradford in 1862 and found a little church being built just as he envisioned it. In November of 1864 the church was dedicated and Mr. Pitt’s vocal class sang the song in public for the first time.

The world’s smallest church also beckoned us that day and we drove out in the country to find a little chapel that a family built many years ago.

We prayed together in the beautiful little prayer garden found at the Little Brown Church and were deeply blessed and honored to have been able to see this part of history of a country and a people that church was one of the most important structures to be built in any new town site. They still have church there and thousands of weddings. The bell still has a melodic tone that can be heard far and wide. It’s most important to note that one hundred and sixty one years later, Jesus is still loved here and served here and the Word of the Lord is preached here.

Cousin Camp 2023

In June the Farmer and I hosted my grandparents’ family here at the homestead on the prairie. All but four of my cousins were able to attend. It was just a special time of remembering stories about our grandparents and our parents. One of my grandsons and his dad made the trip to spend part of the day with us. As my grandson listened to all our crazy stories, I told him, “Do you see why I have Cousin Camp at my house for you and your cousins? I had such a great time with my cousins that I want you to know and enjoy your cousins!” I think he understood. We even reenacted an old picture that I found of my cousins and I on the lawn tractor pulling a wagon load of cousins. We spent hours doing that!

“Cousins are different beautiful flowers in the same garden.”

-Anonymous

The first of August this grandma traveled to Olathe to gather the four cousins that could come to cousin camp. We were short eight cousins this summer and we acutely felt their absence. Four had to adult with jobs and internships, three were on a family vacation in Mexico, and one was involved in Cross Country practice already. Grandma still can’t believe that three chose the family vacation in Mexico over some great fun on the prairie!

On our way home from Olathe, we stopped at a Russell Stover shop and indulged in some chocolate! Nothing starts off cousin camp better than chocolate. The two youngest ones got caramel apples which they really enjoyed at the next stop, the zoo. The afternoon was warm, but all agreed it was a fun time. We got wet wherever we could find water. It was nice and cool in one area, but the two girls could not take the smell! They desired the heat over the stench! PU! The boys were undeterred by the smell.

“Cousins are people that are ready-made friends, you have laughs with them and remember good times from a young age, you have fights with them, but you always know you love each other, they are a better thing than brothers and sisters and friends ‘cause they are all pieced together as one.”

-Courtney Cox

Highs, lows, and buffaloes is one thing our daughter’s family does every evening at the dinner table. This makes for some great sharing and discussion of each family members’ day. It was such a great idea that the Farmer and I incorporated it into our evening meal. Each member of the family shares their “high” of the day. This is something that was the best part of their day. Then they go around the table again and share their low of the day, and then their funny, silly, or weird thing of the day (this is called a buffalo). Grandma was delighted to hear what the kids enjoyed every day about cousin camp.

Our youngest grandchild thrilled us when she wanted to pray at each meal after grandpa prayed. She threw her arm up in the air and sing songed, “Thank you, God! Thank you, God! Thank you for our food and all the things you do. Thank you, God!” I know the Lord was so pleased with her enthusiasm!

We always try to make a trip to the local soda fountain in town for some extreme ice cream treats. This year a gentleman from Ohio was there and he paid for our ice cream. I don’t know his name but would like to send thanks. We also went swimming at our local pool and tried out all the slides. It was decided that the purple slide can be pretty painful so should be avoided but the green and blue one are so much fun.

“God made us cousins because he knew our mothers could not handle us as siblings.”

-Anonymous

The farmer had a woodworking project for the cousins. They made a wooden tablet/phone stand. They had fun staining, sanding, and finishing this project. They used the router to make some nice edges. Grandma had them tie dye pillowcases and hair scrunchies. We also did other crafts. A scavenger hunt around the farm is always a must and using the lawn tractor to pull a wagon load of cousins is, well its tradition!!

That’s a wrap! Cousin Camp 2023 is in the books and the pictures and hopefully in the memories!

Gove County Border Prayer

According to Blackmar’s History of Kansas, the county was named after Grenville L. Gove a Union soldier, son of Moses Gove. At the time of the Civil War, Grenville L. enlisted in Company F, Sixth Kansas Cavalry as a private but soon made corporal and later captain.

Trails of Gove County

Living creatures make many trails and leave a fascinating history. Gove county has trails made by the many buffalo that once roamed here. Trails were left by deer, coyotes, pheasants, rabbits and many other wildlife. Indians, pioneers, explorers, soldiers and other people left their marks on many trails in this county. The Pawnee, Kaw, Cheyenne, Sioux and Arapahoe Indians all lived in this county at one time or another. Travelers and pioneers traveled on the Smoky Hill Trail and the Butterfield Trail. Cattle drives used the Texas to Buffalo Park trail. The railroad too made their own trail.

A trail of prayer was our assignment one day this week. We’ve agreed to be prayer contacts for our county. During Covid our pastor encouraged his congregation to drive their community and pray over the city or the region once a week. This seemed like a great way to serve our community while everyone was housebound. This led in natural progression to praying over the borders of cities, counties, states and nations.

Gove county is 30 by 36 miles. There are some incredibly unique geographic formations in this county and diverse types of terrain. Our little house on the prairie is located on some flat farmland that is perfect for growing crops. The south part of the county along the Smoky Hill River is rough, hilly and less populated. The population was estimated at 2,683 in the county in 2014. The county covers 1,071.8 miles.

We traveled 190 miles and were on the road for five hours. We traveled to the four corners of our county and prayed, took communion and placed oil in every corner. These corners were not easy to access. All of the roads were rough gravel roads and due to recent rains, they were had deep ruts in some of them. We crossed cattle guards and drove through herds of cows passing through Pyramid Rocks. In some parts of the county there were no roads, only fields and pastures. Castle Rock is another unique formation found here. Many fossils, arrow heads and shark teeth have been found in these areas.

“When America’s early pioneers first turned their eyes toward the West, they did not demand that somebody take care of them if they got ill or got old. They did not demand maximum pay for minimum work, and even pay for no work at all.”
Paul Harvey

It was a good journey around Gove County. Much prayer was needed for the agriculture and farmers in the region. And as with all places there are many concerns among our neighbors. Grief, struggle, anxiety, fear, and disappointment are just a few of them. So, we prayed and asked that we could help our county and its citizens in the everyday walk of this journey called life. That the Lord would comfort and encourage them and show them the best pathway for their life. Thank you, Lord for hearing our prayers.

Praying the Kansas Border

My husband and I took our tiny camper and drove 1550 miles around the border of Kansas. We stopped and anointed each border county in Kansas and felt led to leave a stalk of wheat. We decreed and prayed to the Lord of the Harvest for a tremendous harvest of souls in Kansas and more workers for the harvest. (Matt. 9:37-39) We spent time praying in each corner and at the geographic center of the 48 states.

Our goals were to

Anchor Kansas in Hope
Appeal to Heaven
Apply the Oil
Activate the Harvest of Souls

We spent time at Mt. Sunflower also. It was a beautiful green at Mount Sunflower, and some friends met us there. Connie played the shofar, and that was so powerful. The warfare seemed intense there, and we were exhausted after we left. It was difficult part of the journey but rewarding. We thank our dear friends for organizing this.

As I prayed about what we could leave in each county and at the geographic center, I thought about seeds. But because we are retired farmers and love this season of harvest, I felt the Lord say this is the season of harvest, not planting. So I gathered stalks of wheat that we carried and left one in each county as we prayed and decreed. It is not time to plant seeds, but it is the time to call in the workers for the harvest because it is harvest time. Matt. 9:37-38. So using our Appeal to Heaven flag we asked the Lord of the Harvest for more workers to bring the great harvest of souls in.

As we drove around the border of Kansas, we thought about all the green we saw the entire way. There was never a more beautiful time to drive the Kansas border as we saw the lushness of green. The harvest of the ripe wheat was a beautiful sight to see also. We saw wheat that would not be cut, due to the early drought, and wheat that was hailed out, and wheat that was being harvested and wheat that was ready for harvest.

We met wonderful people on our journey and met a couple from Atlanta, Georgia at the geographic center of the United States. They said Kansas is beautiful. And we certainly had to agree.

We read Give Him 15 by Dutch Sheets every morning and we have read Gina Gholston’s book “Carry On”. We felt led to take our teardrop that has Psalms 139:25 and Proverbs 3:6 painted on the sides of it and drive the borders.

We were met with a bald eagle that sat in a tree outside of Baxter Springs and waited for us to get his picture. We had to turn around, change camera lenses and get some nice photos. His head was held high. What a beautiful sign from God!

We prayed at the Mine Battlefield museum, and were particularly touched by the battle that took place here in the Civil War. We are in a battle now, not physical but spiritual. The Union forces won this battle in one hour, even though they were out numbered 8000 to 1200 troops. We read the “Gettysburg Address” here and sang all the verses of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” This was a very moving experience. My husband said the Union troops had the advantage by being on the higher ground. May we battle this fight with the full armor of God from the higher ground.

In several counties, we used the words of Abigail Adams in the letter she wrote to her husband on June 20, 1776. These words seemed to be very fitting words. She wrote, “I feel no anxiety at the large armament designed against us. The remarkable interpositions of heaven in our favor, cannot be too gratefully acknowledged. He who fed the Israelites in the wilderness, who clothes the lilies of the field, and who feeds the young ravens, when they cry, will not forsake a people engaged in so right a cause, if we remember his loving kindness.”

In White Cloud, KS in the NE corner of the state a beautiful zebra striped swallowtail butterfly landed at my feet and flew in between my legs several times while three hawks (we weren’t sure what kind of birds they were) soared high above our heads.

At the geographic center of the United States, we soaked several stalks of wheat in oil of frankincense and left them there. As we were leaving, I felt the song “Spring Up Oh Well” in my spirit. We prayed and decreed in the tiny chapel. This is another key spot. We braided three stalks of wheat together and left it there. This represents the three strand cords’ strength. Our God is so faithful.

We came home, exhausted, but thrilled that the Lord had given us, safety, protection, and many prayer warriors to help us complete this journey.

Springtime on the Prairie

May has come and gone and June is here. Springtime has come to this prairie, the place where thousands of buffalo or bison used to roam. I can still find on our land the places that my grandfather pointed out to me as buffalo wallows. The indentation in the ground is still there. The bison here weighed from 1800 to 2200 pounds. When they rolled on their backs in a mud puddle, they packed that ground so that even 100 years later the indentation is still there. Just three miles from our spot on the prairie thousands of bison were killed in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Thankfully, they are being restored in many places.

Today on the prairie we don’t see the bison roaming free anymore. The buffalo grass is still covering many acres in this area. It is the perfect grass for this country. In this drought it continues to hold the soil to the ground when our winds blow as long as it is not over grazed. With just a tiny rain the buffalo grass comes to life and greens up and begins to grow. We are celebrating today as we had almost an inch of rain today. It has been at least a year since we’ve had an inch of rain. It was a beautiful sight to see and hear. Almost immediately the Buffalo grass comes to life and begins to green and grow. It will provide great nourishment to cow and sheep herds in the area.

“Cows run away from the storm while the buffalo charges toward it and gets through it quicker. Whenever I’m confronted with a tough challenge, I do not prolong torment, I become the buffalo.”
Wilma Mankiller

Our God, our Creator knew what He was doing when He said this is the right prairie for this grass. It will do well here and it will sustain the livestock in this region. I celebrate His wisdom and His creation. I love to see how He made the tiny hummingbirds to fly and how the neck of a giraffe works. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. (Gen 1:1) Over and over again in Genesis it states “And God saw that it was good.” (verses 4, 12, 18, 21, 25). Psalms 104:31 says, “May the glory of the Lord endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in His works.” In His creation, we see His glory. And that is worth celebrating. The firmament proclaims His handiwork. As it says in Psalm 19.

“I rejoice in what I have, and I know that fresh new experiences are always ahead. I greet the new with open arms. I trust life to be wonderful.
Louise Hay

Psalms 104:14 says, Thou dost cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth.

Celebrating means to praise, to extol, to commend; in my online dictionary from 1828. It means to honor or distinguish by ceremonies and marks of joy and respect. The Lord has been speaking to my heart that it is time to celebrate

This month of May has found us celebrating the high school graduation of two of our grandsons. We are so thankful that these days of celebration were not on the same day and the Farmer Grandpa and I could attend both parties. We are excited to see how these young men will take on life and the great adventure ahead for both of them. Life is just beginning for them. Grandpa writes a Faith Vision or Blessing over each grandchild as they graduate high school. We wrote one for each of them when they were born but Grandpa thinks that as they step into adulthood his desire is to send them off with a blessing from God. He has been able to speak this blessing over four of our grandchildren now. How they are growing up when the Farmer and I are still so young is hard to understand.

“Celebration has many different outfits, but she always wears the same beautiful dancing shoes.”
Mary Anne Radmacher

These times we live in are ripe for celebration! These are troubling times, but God is with us, He never fails us and He carries us through. My heart can get so grieved and sad as I see things in the world that my grandchildren will have to deal with long after I’m gone. But God has given us a mandate for a good life: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.” Phil 4:8

The God, who can do all things is more than able to help my grandchildren with all the things they will face in life, just as He has directed and assisted the Farmer and I during our lifetime. The God who made the hummingbird and the neck of the giraffe is more than able. The God who made the buffalo grass and the buffalo and taught them to wallow in the mud to protect them from parasites and for just the joy of wallowing, is more than able! This, my God and my Savior, is able to do the impossible.

“I think what we owe each other is a celebration of life and to replace fear and hopelessness with fearlessness and joy.”
Vandana Shiva

As the Lord has been showing me, it is time to celebrate Him and all He has done for us. Not because He needs our celebration but because we need it. Bring on the cake and ice cream and let us rejoice!

Loaves and Fishes

Heart of Texas has won my heart. When we arrived they told us many SOWERS wind up just staying. Now I understand why. The whole town is so friendly, the stores still understand customer service, the cowboy church we found was an inspiration, and the camp has made a difference in the Kingdom of God since 1946. The folks there wanted to take us out for lunch our first time there. Another big plus is there is a lot of green. They said they were dry but they are not as dry as home.

The camp was having a big Senior Day celebration with a special concert by the McNeil family. Senior groups came from many churches around that area.

I was delighted to work in the kitchen again minus the chicken deboning. This time we made fruit kabobs. We had grapes, strawberries and pineapple. It made great looking fruit kabobs. We needed at least 200 of them. We had to ask the Lord to increase and multiply our pineapple. Because we were running short. We knew the Lord had experience in that from the stories of five loaves and two fish being used to feed the multitudes. We had enough and the kabobs were a hit with the Seniors. We also put together a Make Your Own Granola Bar. All the ingredients were in mason jars and was quite an attractive bar.

The McNeils put on a wonderful concert of many special songs. They are a couple with ten children who are all very musical and gifted.

It was a great finish to our month at Heart of Texas camp.

The farmer and I broke camp on Wednesday morning to pull the camper to Joplin,MO. We had planned to go to Big Sandy, TX for the 40th SOWER Reunion but I had received a phone call from my cousin who is more like my sister, with tragic news. Her 19 year old grandson was found deceased at his home,in his bed, from the onset of a sudden illness. His funeral was to be Saturday. We praise God that Clay knew and loved Jesus. He was in church every time the doors were open. This is the third time one of my dear friends has lost a grandchild in the last few months.

Earth has no sorrows that heaven can’t heal.
Thomas Moore

Grief is so difficult to navigate especially when it is a child or grandchild or a young person in the prime of life. We have hope and assurance because as lovers of Jesus we know His words are true and we will see them again.

God Answers Prayers, or Fabricating Chicken

On this assignment at Heart of Texas Camp I have done an assortment of jobs. I started in the office working on Policy and Procedure manuals and job descriptions. Then I boxed up old records and organized the new years information in the files. I really enjoy this kind of office work but also missed the opportunity to work with the other two women. We seem to bond so well working together. I arranged 50 jars of flowers. They may have to rearrange them as this is not one of my talents.

If God had intended us to follow recipes, He wouldn’t have given us grandmothers.
Linda Henley

We cleaned, painted rooms and helped in every way we could. I thought how neat it would be to be able to work in a kitchen in one of these camps. I asked the Lord to give me an opportunity to help in a kitchen sometime and somewhere. I didn’t know He would answer my prayer today. After crawling on a floor for an hour painting up against the wall, we were summoned to the kitchen ASAP. I was the first one to arrive and see that our job was to fabricate 59 chickens. I guess fabricate also means debone. For the next three hours, four of us deboned 59 cooked chickens. My prayers were sure answered quickly. My legs hurt, my back hurt, and my fingers were numb. But it is going to make some wonderful soup to feed 300 people tomorrow at a fund raiser. Thank you, Lord for answering my prayers.

How quickly the time goes. Our work at Heart of Texas is done. Our good friends from Minnesota have left but we will see them again next week at the SOWER 40^th reunion in Big Sandy, TX. We will miss our leaders Don and Betty. They are a precious couple.

The farmer and I are helping with a Senior Day program here at the camp on Tuesday then on Wednesday we will leave for the reunion also.

“Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been.” Jimmy Buffet

I think we could stay in Texas. We love the friendly people and the “Howdy Y’all” we’ve heard at the camp, at church and even in the stores. It’s such a delight to see those friendly faces. They still know how to do customer service here in the heart of Texas.

We took a weekend trip to Austin to see my brother and his wife and girls. It was such a delight to be with them and to get to attend church together. He is my only sibling so he’s pretty special.

Tomorrow I’m working in the kitchen again but not on chicken. Maybe this will still be my dream job.

The Ninety and Nine

We do devotions on SOWER assignments every morning at 7:30. We all take turns leading these devotions. This morning the farmer felt led to share his testimony in song.

But first he had an important story to tell. He heard it at church Sunday. There was a guy who went ice fishing in Minnesota. He got all set up, cut a nice hole in the ice and caught nothing! Not one thing. He noticed that the guy close to him was catching a lot of fish. After awhile he decided to ask this guy what his secret was. The man told him, “hmm, mmm, mmm!” He said, “I’m sorry but I didn’t understand a word you said.” The good fisherman answered him just the same. He just had to know the secret so he asked him one more time. The good fisherman spit out something from his mouth into his hand and said, “the secret is keeping the worms warm.”

In 1868 Elizabeth Clephane of Scotland wrote a poem. In 1874 Ira Sankey, who was Dwight Moody’s song leader saw this poem in a newspaper in Scotland as they were conducting revival services in the area. Ira thought the words of the poem were powerful and cut the poem from the newspaper. A few days later after Dwight Moody finished a strong message on the Good Shepherd, he said to Ira, “Mr. Sankey, I believe you have a song to close the service tonight.” Ira couldn’t think of anything but that poem, but it had no music. The Lord gave him the music right on the spot and he sang the words of the poem.

The farmer sang this song, which he sees as his testimony.

1 There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold,
but one was out on the hills away, far off from the gates of gold,
away on the mountains wild and bare, away from the tender Shepherd’s care,
away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

2 “Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine: are they not enough for thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer, “This of mine has wandered away from me,
and although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep;
I go to the desert to find my sheep.”

3 But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed,
nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through, ere he found his sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert he heard its cry, sick and helpless and ready to die,
sick and helpless and ready to die.

4 And all through the mountains, thunder-riven, and up from the rocky steep,
there rose a glad cry to the gate of heaven, “Rejoice! I have found my sheep!”
And the angels echoed around the throne, “Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own;
rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own.

The farmer said, “It’s not about how good I am or how bad I’ve failed. It’s all about Jesus.

Then I shared about the scriptures we read this morning.
Mark 12:32 so the scribe said to him, well said teacher, you have spoken the truth. For there is one God, and there is no other, but he.
Verse 34 now Jesus saw that he answered wisely. He said to him, you are not far from the kingdom of God.
What was he missing to be a part of the kingdom of God? He was missing Jesus. Jesus as the son of God and not just a teacher.

There are four stops on the Romans Road.
Stop # 1: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Stop # 2: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Stop # 3: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”(Romans 5:8).

Here’s a multiple-choice question: How good do you have to be to go to heaven?
A) Pretty good
B) Really Good
C) Better than Uncle Joe
D) Perfect
The answer is D. If you want to go to heaven, you have to be perfect. And I don’t mean “sort of” perfect, “mostly” perfect, or 80% perfect. Being 80% perfect is like being 80% pregnant. Either you’re pregnant or you’re not. Either you’re perfect or you’re not.

Stop # 4 is part of our passage for today–Romans 10:9-10.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (vv. 9-10).

God made it simple; I want to make it available. Maybe you are religious, you probably are, you have probably gone to church before, but the question is, “Do you know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?” Here is a prayer that can help you express your faith: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that he died on the cross for my sin and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Texas Time

The farmer and I attended a powerful, dynamic Cowboy Church, Sunday morning and Wednesday night. The pastor gave a powerful message at both services. That was what the farmer and I have been looking for. He didn’t mince words, but spoke powerful truths that are relevant to our situation in today’s world. The congregation was so friendly and welcoming. We could all learn much from them. The cowboy hats were prevalent and so were the cowboys and cowgirls. You could tell it is an active church with all of the children that were in attendance. We could sure attend here every Sunday.

That was a great way to start the week for sure. On Monday we were back to work at the camp. This camp was started in 1946. I love to think of the faith of the people back then who had insight and vision to donate land, provide funds and labor to provide a camp for their children and grandchildren to hear of Jesus. Since 1960, 452,904 have attended Heart of Texas camp and there have been 15,953 salvations since that time. That’s a lot of lives changed for the Kingdom of Jesus.

Remodel. Farmer is flat on the ground in the background.

The men are still remodeling the staff cabin for the male staff. The farmer is installing plumbing and doing some electrical work. This cabin has been empty for awhile so it is taking some time to make it usable. It is basically gutted and redoing all of the interior. I have helped the women some with cleaning air conditioner units in all of the cabins and motel rooms. Policy and Procedure manuals and other filing and organizing documents for storage from past years, have kept me busy in the front office. This work has been enjoyable to me as it reminds me of the days in the clinic office where I worked before retirement. I enjoy organizing things.

Tuesday night was game night. We played several hands of Sweep. This is a popular game among SOWERS. The rules seem to change with each SOWER. However, the official Sweep rules were recently posted online so all SOWERS can get on the same page before our 40th anniversary of SOWER’s ministry reunion in Big Sandy, TX at the end of March. Thursday night we taught a new couple how to play Marble Pursuit. I think they enjoyed the game. The farmer makes the boards for this game in his wood shop at home.

The director, Rhonda of the camp and all of the staff are the best. Rhonda has been here 23 or more years. The input she’s had in all of the camp staff and camper’s lives through the years is amazing. The Lord has used her mightily. She is so creative and has done chainsaw carving on the tree stumps around the camp with some unique works and also some precious scriptures. God said He made us in His image. He’s so creative and I know He put creativity in all of us. I just have trouble finding my creative talents. She also made this beautiful hymn and bird picture.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58

Week two has been busy and full. The farmer and I are going this weekend to see our son and family in Flower Mound, TX. See you next week.