My Hiding Place

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun”. – Mary Lou Cook

An old threshing machine was a delightful plaything for my cousins and I. We made it to be everything we could possibility imagine. It was also a great place to hide in games of tag or hide and seek. It used to be very useful in agriculture but they had outlived their day and were just sitting in pastures and along roadways everywhere. Combines pulled by a tractor had made them obsolete. My Pap-paw and Granny were the most fortunate people that I knew with one in their pasture just past the old chicken house. When my cousins and I could gather at the old ranch and traverse through the old cotton field we found that old threshing machine. My, it turned into a spaceship, a battleship, a pirate ship, and anything else our imaginations could think of. We spent hours there just enjoying our own creativity and using our imaginations. We invented so many ways to use this equipment. We took tremendous risks and we broke some rules and we made mistakes and we had some fun.

The more we could stay away from the house the better. Back at the house our parents and grandparents probably had green beans for us to snap, or Pap-Paw had use take a sample of wheat and vetch and had the cousins and I count the quantity of each in that sample. (I think it was his way of keeping us busy!) Or maybe there was an ice cream freezer that needed cranking. We loved that ice cream but not the cranking part, although the end result was worth it.

Today my hiding place is any place I can get alone with the Word of God and allow Him some time to speak to me. He speaks to me much but I don’t always take the time to listen. How can I not take the time to listen?!? How can I not listen to the Almighty God! When I do listen, I am amazed at His goodness and His kindness to me. He is no respecter of persons and He will and does speak to you also. I am not special as He loves all His sons and daughters and His desire is for us to hear Him and follow His heart.

Psalms 119:114 TPT You’re my place of quiet retreat, and your wraparound presence becomes my shield as I wrap myself in your Word!

Psalms 119:114 ESV You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

“Come Up Higher”

Come Up Higher!

“Beloved! Come up higher! I have more for you.”

Tommy Tenney says that God is calling you to a higher level of commitment. Forget the plans you made for yourself. Die to self. (Jer. 50:14)

Claim your upgrade. Perhaps you have been asked to move from the normal section of the airplane and have been upgraded to First Class. Would you refuse the upgrade? Come and accept a move to the upper level.

Is 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Eagles fly higher than any other creature. As they catch the wind, it carries them even higher. The eagles’ eyes are sharper and keener than any other. Eagles are discerning. Eagles know just how to make the wind currents work for them and they have the highest view of all that is happening below them.

IS 43:18-19 Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

As we embrace the beginnings of a new year, 2025, a powerful message from God resonates: God is urging us to embrace the new beginnings that lie ahead. There are new dreams, new visions, new beginnings and new adventures with the Lord ahead of us. But as Paul says in Phil.3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things with are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

There it is “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God!” God is calling us to come up higher. This will require us unloading some of the baggage we have held onto for years. Do we have hurtful words stored in our memory banks, unforgiveness, shame, unrepentant hearts, wounds and other heavy memories? Our Lord says to cast our care on Him. That will certainly lighten our load and set us free to accept the call to come up higher with Him. We can’t take the next step higher if we are loaded down with the burdens of the past.

Accept the upward call of God. Accept the upgrade.

There is an interesting story in the Bible in Judges 1:14 and Joshua 15:15-19. Caleb’s daughter Achsah was offered as a pawn by her father. She was offered in marriage to the man who could attack and capture Kiriath Sepher. Caleb’s nephew Othniel captured Kiriath Sepher and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah in marriage to him. One day she asked her father for a blessing. She asked for the upper and lower springs of water on the field that he gave to them. She knew she had her father’s favor and she did not see herself as a victim but as an heir of her father, a favored heir. She had every reason to have the attitude of a victim. But she had the attitude of an heir. What if she asked only for the lower springs then the upper area would have been dry and unusable. We can’t receive an upper springs inheritance with a lower springs mindset.

Understand who you are in Christ.

“Come up higher!” This is a word that has the power to pull you into the more God has for you. We must know that we are heirs in Christ. Rom. 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory

Mornin’ Glory

Morning Glories have graced the gate of this yard for many years. They climb up the trellis and cling to the frame to cover the gate and welcome visitors or turn them away. Our new UPS delivery man was hesitant to come in the gate as the Morning Glories had completely covered the gate. The Glories love the morning and bloom at that time of day, closing up in the afternoons. Morning glory vines bring old fashioned charm and a quaint cottage feeling to this yard.

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”

Lady Bird Johnson

“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”

Francis Hodgson Burnett

“Every flower must grow through dirt.”

Laurie Jean Sennott

When I hear the word glory, I always think of my Savior. Glory and honor is what I desire to bring to His name. His glory is what we need in our world. It’s so like Him to create all the beautiful colors we enjoy with the Morning Glory and all the other flowers around us. As we head in Autumn I think of how He is so creative. He could have made our world just in hues of gray. But He couldn’t as He loves beauty, too. His love for us caused Him to create such colorful things for us to enjoy.

Psalms 50:14-15 Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

Glory in Hebrew is kabowd or kavod. There is more than one meaning. God may have designed this beautiful language of Hebrew to give dimension to our understanding of Him and His love for us. It is from the root word for weight. It can mean glory, honor, respect, distinction and importance. It is abounding in honor and reverence. Exodus 24:17 is a prime example of this.

“Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.”

Our God is so worthy of reverence and praise. His glory should activate in us a response of praise and worship so full of the recognition of His mighty strength and the honor that is due Him. When we encounter the majesty of God, we must respond with reverential worship, awe and devotion.

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34-35

We must embrace His glory and let this fill our lives and our world. Only then can we understand fully the difference the glory of God brings to us individually and corporately

Glory to God in the Highest!

Some of the words used to tell of our 2023 are: graduations, cousins, prayer journeys, reunions, loss, kids, grandkids and praises.

Texas and Iowa were the places we served in church camps with our SOWER ministry. New friends, old friends and ministries that are making a difference in the Kingdom of God were found in both of these places. We take our camper and go to work in these camps for a month in March and in September. Painting, remodeling, office work, kitchen duties and other responsibilities are some of the projects we are involved in. It is such a treat to be able to be a blessing to these facilities.

Conrad lost his last brother, Jim, this March. Three brothers have now advanced to their heavenly home. The youngest brother is now left alone to try to keep three sisters in line. That thought has now terrified the little brother. His oldest sister, Dorothy has informed him that he will not succeed in trying to keep her in line.

Two grandsons graduated from high school in May and one grandson graduated from KSU last weekend and has accepted a new job. He has now joined the adult lifestyle of work and more work. We are very proud of all of Jordan’s accomplishments. Anna is a Junior at KU and Joshua and Roman are Freshmen at UNW and KSU. We are very proud of all of our grands.

Hosting a reunion of cousins here at the home place for the Jamison’s made for a fun June. All but four of my cousins were able to come. Then in August we were able to have Cousin Camp also here at the farm. This is a special time for this grandma and I cherish every moment. Grandpa and I also traveled to some of our children’s homes and spent time with grandchildren for various reasons.

Our little teardrop camper headed out on a journey in early July to travel the border of Kansas. We decided to answer the call to pray the border of our state and to stop and pray in every border county. We traveled 1550 miles, we met beautiful Kansans, camped in special places and prayed and anointed the borders with oil. We spent a little time at the geographic enter of the continental US. We couldn’t have picked a more beautiful time to travel our state. The Lord blessed this trip tremendously.

Pam completed the book of her childhood memories for her grandchildren. The Lord put it on my heart to write my story for my future generations. This is not really a story of my life but more of the story of what my Savior has done in my life. I also completed a king size quilt for Haley. This was my fourth king size quilt to be finished.

Conrad has been busy making 75 wood boxes for Operation Christmas Child boxes, being creative with the wood lathe, and driving semi in harvest season for some neighbors.
May you all be blessed with the greatest gifts of God and may this Christmas season find you all well.
Merry Christmas from the farmer and I.

Tools in Hand for 2023

A determined soul will do more with a rusty monkey wrench than a loafer will accomplish with all the tools in a machine shop.
Robert Hughes

Every project that I seem to dream up in this house or on this farm, I know my farmer husband can make it happen. That doesn’t mean that he always wants to do it or that he agrees to do it. I have been banned from watching any DIY shows or videos. He does always have one comment when it is something that he agrees to do. That comment is, “Hmmm, that’s probably going to involve buying some new tools.” Are you serious?? I’m sure my farmer has three of every tool imaginable. What else could he possibly need? Invariably this leads us to a trip to the lumber yard and/or the tool store.

Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.
Winston Churchill

Many times, through these 50 years, I have been the farmer’s gopher. That means that I stand ready to go for whatever it is he needs. I lost my job for a few years when he had sons at home to help him or even when the daughter could help. But now they have all gone onto their own adventures and I am once again the designated gopher. One day last week I was on duty again. The farmer had his head under the fender of the pickup, and he needed me to gopher a flashlight. When I got back with it, I tried to hand it to him, but he didn’t look to see where I was with it. This is when the teacher in the farmer came out once again and he carefully explained something to me. When he and the boys were working on equipment around the farm or repairing windmills and he needed a tool, they understood that they were to slap that tool into his hand. This was so that he didn’t have to take his eyes off the piece that needed mending and he didn’t have to reach for the tool. This way he knew exactly where the tool was that he needed so desperately. (Just a side note. I have never measured up to be the kind of help to him that his sons were.) But that’s ok. He likes me anyway. He is a very good teacher and may have missed his calling for teaching instead of farming.

Man is a tool using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.
Thomas Carlyle

For everything that we need to accomplish and every job that we’ve been called to do we need the proper tools. I’ve learned this from the farmer. God has a plan and purpose for our lives. He has projects that we need to accomplish. He would not send us out to do His good work without the proper tools. He has placed all the tools we need, to do His plan into our hands. He has fully equipped us. Our Lord and Savior does not call the equipped, but he equips the called. He has given us the proper tool, the perfect gift, the words to say, and we lack nothing. This is not in ourselves but because of Jesus. Many times, I have hesitated because I didn’t think I had the gifting to do His bidding, or the tool to finish the project but the Lord slapped it into my hand so that I would know that the gift was at my fingertips. All I had to do was put it to use. I needed to be the Lord’s hands and feet. I needed to be the one to move, to just do it.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
1 Peter 4:10

May our prayer be:

Lord, help us to use the tools that you have given to us, and to put them to work to bless and encourage others, and to accomplish the work you have for us to do. May we see meaningful fruit in our labors for you. May we have the full ability to complete and finalize all the tasks you have for us to accomplish. Help us Lord to keep our eyes on you and to hear your voice and be guided by your hand. In Jesus name. Amen

Happy 2023!! The tools you need for a productive year have been placed in your hands.

Grace, the Overflowing Favor of God

Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed.
Oswald Chambers

The Farmer has been driving a semi for some friends in fall harvest. They are keeping him on the go with two combines picking corn and one truck driver to keep up. He is hauling it to the local elevators and has been into four different locations with the corn loads. Many times in these last few weeks of hauling he has been selected to unload his corn in the fastest line while others have had to wait longer in line. This has been a concern for the Farmer as he does not desire the wrath of the other drivers and farmers. He has even been moved ahead of his own crew in the line. This has happened at all four locations.

I keep telling him it is the mighty favor of God upon him. We pray for him each day and speak a blessing over him and the trucks he will be driving. God’s favor is for all that receive Him, but not all know they have it or how to take advantage of the favor God has gifted to them.

For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor, You will surround him as with a shield.
Psalms 51:2

On one trip to town the other day with the loaded semi, the accelerator stuck and he had to use the brake only to slow it down and then shut off the engine. When he got under the hood, he saw the spring for the accelerator was broken. Just as he was attempting to connect it, a mechanic friend showed up and they got it repaired and he ordered the part they would need to get it fixed correctly. Once again the favor of God.

Humility is the gateway into the grace and the favor of God.
Harold J. Warner

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime.
Psalms 30:5

God’s favor is lasting. His favor is for a purpose. It is not for us to sit upon, but His favor is for us to do something with. We receive blessings so we can be a blessing. The Farmer is being a blessing to the friends that he is working with in bringing in the harvest. It is so important to bring in the crop before the winter comes. He is being a blessing to the young handicapped man who rides with him in the truck. God is greatly blessing us and we pray that we can bless His loved ones. That is everyone. No matter their political stance, no matter their post on social media, or their dislike of Him; God loves them all.