“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 TPTYou’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.
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
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
“There is much more of God available than we have ever imagined, but we have become so satisfied with where we are and what we have that we don’t press in for God’s best. Yes, God is moving among us and working in our lives, but we have been content to comb the carpet for crumbs as opposed to having the abundant loaves of hot bread God has prepared for us in the ovens of heaven! He has prepared a great table of His presence in this day, and He is calling to the church, “Come and dine.”
Tommy Tenney, “The Heart of a God Chaser”
I can’t think of a more delightful smell, than that of bread baking in the oven. That incredible aroma just wraps itself around you, like a very precious hug from a grandchild or someone special. Smells bring up all kinds of memories and remembrances. A certain smell can take you back to a place in your memory and it becomes so real that you can see it again. Bread with its irresistible taste and aroma have made it a culinary delight.
Whether it is a freshly baked loaf shared with loved ones or a comforting slice of toast on a cold day, bread has the power to nurture both body and soul.
When the Farmer and I were married 52 years ago, there were some conditions in our vows. The Farmer’s mother had always made all of the bread in their home. She had seven children and she had to bake bread almost every day. She was truly a saint. Since the Farmer had been raised that way he thought his new bride could also bake all of the bread for our new union. Since his uncle was the pastor that was marrying us, the Farmer said he would have Uncle Curly put it in our vows. Because I was young and so in love I agreed to make and bake bread for our family. I did make our bread until I began to work outside of the home full time.
The Farmer’s dad enjoyed a really hard crust on his bread. If his wife had to leave him to tend the bread in the oven for a bit, he always let it stay in the oven until the crust was so hard.
“Remember, man does not live on bread alone: sometimes he needs a little buttering up.”
John Maxwell
On November 6, 1987, President Ronald Reagan declared November to be National Family Bread Baking month. He said, “Bread, the staff of life, both gives and symbolizes sustenance. Until recent decades the American people baked their bread at home and today many families enjoy this tradition, not simply for its wholesome nutrition but also for its rich association with the well-being and security of family life.”
Bread is pretty amazing. I think we can all agree on that. It was pretty amazing in the Bible too. It is mentioned at least 492 times in the Bible beginning in Genesis and continuing right through Revelation with a variety of meanings and symbolisms. Jesus declared himself the Bread of Life.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35
I’ve made many loaves of bread in my life. That’s perhaps why I am drawn to the story of when Jesus made bread.
There was a large crowd of five thousand people who had gathered to hear Jesus teach. It was in a remote location outside a small village and the teaching went longer than planned. Soon the sun grew hot and the day grew long and the people were too far from the city to buy themselves food.
Jesus’ disciples wondered aloud what they would do with this hungry crowd. “You feed them,” Jesus said. But the disciples confronted Jesus with the reality of the situation. There were five thousand people gathered. Even if they could buy all the fish from the local fisherman and all the bread from the local bakery, there would not be enough in this small village. Jesus decided to show them his power. By taking the five loaves of bread and two fish that a little boy had, he made enough bread and fish to feed the entire crowd AND have leftovers. I don’t know what that bread tasted like. But I imagine if the Son of God himself, who invented the idea of wheat and yeast and water, were to make bread then that bread would be unbelievable!
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Luke 9:16-17
When our family gathers together, Mae-Maw’s rolls are always the most requested item on the menu. My mother could sure make delicious rolls. As long as she was able she would gather the supplies and make bread for her family. Her great grandchildren were always delighted and there were usually none left over.
Here is the recipe for Mae-Maws’ Buttery Crescent Rolls
1 cup milk scalded 1 package yeast
¼ cup butter ½ cup warm water
3 T. sugar 2 eggs beaten
1 tsp. salt 4 to 5 cups flour
Add butter, sugar, and salt to scalded milk. Stir until butter melts. Let the mixture cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl. Add milk mixture, eggs and 2 cups of flour. Beat with mixer at low speed until smooth. Stir in flour to make a soft dough. Knead 8-10 minutes on floured board. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise one hour. Divide in half or thirds and roll out. Cut with pizza cutter and roll up to make crescents. Place on greased cookie sheets. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Brush with butter. Makes 24-30 rolls. Enjoy. Note: we always double this recipe.
Throughout the Bible bread is a symbolic representation of God’s life sustaining provision. He alone is our true source of spiritual life, both in this present world and in the everlasting life to come. Even in the Old Testament in Leviticus 24:9 and Numbers 4:7 the Lord gave instructions to build a table called the table of showbread in the tabernacle. There were twelve loaves of bread on this table on every Sabbath. This symbolized God’s eternal covenant relationship with his people and his constant care and provision for them.
Don’t just pick up the crumbs of this provision. The Lord’s desire for you is that you would savor His fresh bread right out of the oven of heaven. Will you come and dine at His table? The invitation is still open.
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.
A lady that was blind and her seeing eye dog, were on a plane flight that they take frequently. This time there was a layover and the pilot who knew the blind woman well asked her if she would like to stretch her legs. She told him that she was fine, but her dog might like to stretch his legs. The pilot took the seeing eye dog on a little walk in the terminal while they waited to reboard the plane. He also had sunglasses on. The passengers saw this and began to try to switch flights and airlines. This is a true story. The pilot was misunderstood and misjudged.
Have you ever had a time in your life when you felt misunderstood and misjudged? How did that feel to you?
For the first seven grades of my education, I moved every two months because my dad built telephone and electric lines and we moved our trailer home wherever dad needed to be. His whole crew moved together. I was the new girl in a lot of schools. It is hard to be the new girl so much. Girls already have their friend groups. We looked very strange to most of them as we moved to town in a caravan and settled in trailer parks until we moved on again. Many times, we were called gypsies. I felt misunderstood many times.
David was misunderstood by his older brother. 1 Samuel 17:26-28
Hannah was misunderstood by the High Priest Eli 1 Samuel 1:13
Jesus was misunderstood by many Matt. 12:24, Luke 5:20-25,
Jobs friends said that surely, he has sinned. He must have had trouble. Surely, he has done wrong. Their conclusion is that God sends calamity on the wicked only. Once again God was misunderstood.
Job 42:7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite; “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
Many times, we have misunderstood God! Many times, His actions have taken us by surprise. But then He is God and He created even us. And He said HIs creation is good! He continues to love us even when we misunderstand. His mercies are still for us when we think the worst of Him. This we can know… God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!
I do not know anyone else who would send His son to die on the cross because of my sin so that I could be set free. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
We can take the mercy of God and we can use His mercy for the foundation of our life.
CHRISTIANITY is to glorify the mercy of God in Christ. We exist to display God’s mercy!
Build your life on the mercies of God. Our lives need to be built on something and rooted in something. Build and root your life on the mercies of God.
Mercy here implies not only forgiveness for the guilty, but especially tenderhearted compassion for the helpless and desperate. See if you hear both in Romans 5:6-8.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for the righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Did you hear both sides of mercy? One side is we were weak and helpless, and the other side is we were sinners and guilty. Have you saturated your life with that? Have the mercies of God in saving you sunk to the center and core of your life, so that you are living from a deep spring of humble, brokenhearted happiness in the God of mercy?
While we were in Iowa, we attended a testimony night at a church for their Celebrate Recovery ministry. Everyone there gets up and says “Hi, my name is Pam. I am a faithful follower of God and I deal with _________.” The testimonies of some of these individuals are so powerful. God has rescued them from so very much. God has set them free from addictions, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual sin, and many other sins. God has delivered them from the trauma they have experienced in their lives. These captives have been set free. And you see it in their hearts and their lives. They love Jesus in a big way because He’s delivered them in a big way! They do not misunderstand Jesus. They really know Him. They have a real relationship with Him and His mercy, firsthand.
Scriptures on Mercy
2 Pet. 3:9 Matt 5:7
2 Sam 24:14 Matt. 9:13
Col. 3:13 Ps. 23:6
1 John 1:9 Ps. 25:6
James 2:13 Ps 86:5
Micah 6:8 Lam 3:22-23
Titus 3:5 Heb 4:16
1 Pet. 1:3
My Pap-paw was a nice man until he drank alcohol and then he would be mean to his family and people around him. He would hop on a freight train and disappear for weeks. His depression haunted him around every corner and emptiness filled his heart. Three men kept inviting him to the local church, but he would not go. Finally, he did go to a revival meeting there and he gave his life to Jesus, and he found what his life was missing. He never touched another drop of alcohol. He told me when I was 10 that the most crucial decision that I could ever make would be to give my life to Jesus. So that is exactly what I did.
I received Jesus as my Savior and began to live my life for Him. About twenty years ago I gave my son some wrong advice and I could not forgive myself for this. I have asked God to forgive me, and He has but forgiving myself was another story. I am supposed to be a Christian and make right decisions. The Lord showed me that by not forgiving myself when He had that I was making His sacrifice on the Cross worth nothing. I have had to forgive myself.
Maybe you are like me, and you have a relationship with Jesus, but you have failed to understand His mercy to forgive you and others?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Matt. 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
No matter your age, no matter your story, no matter your history, God loves you unconditionally and His desire is for you to come to KNOW him.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
If you are still unconvinced, read this story in Luke 15:1-7. Jesus would leave 99 others and go looking for you. That is how important you are to Him. Jesus will ford every stream and climb every mountain just to find His one lost sheep, but He will not make you receive Him. It is a free gift, but you must accept it.
NOW is the time to receive Jesus as your Savior. It is a FREE gift. All you must do is receive it. And here is the road to take to receive that salvation.
Roman Road
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Prayer for salvation:
Dear Lord,
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 for my sin and that you raised Him to life again. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide me Lord and help me to do your will. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen
We can afford to be wrong about saying we are going to a certain city, but we cannot be wrong about going to heaven. Once you have prayed and received Jesus as your Savior, here are some scriptures to help you to know that you can have assurance.
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.
Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete.
Marcy DeMaree
With another SOWER (Servants on Wheels Ever Ready) assignment on the horizon we departed our little house on the prairie and headed south. South seems like a good place to go in the winter. However this winter has seen freezing temperatures all the way to Mexico. We had twenty below zero at the little house on the prairie.
Loading up all of the dutch ovens and heading south until we found a place to use them outside seemed like a reasonable idea. Our dutch ovens weigh more than our little 19 foot camper. Okay that is not absolutely the truth. They are heavy but we love them and wouldn’t go anywhere without them.
Our first destination was a trip down memory lane. We pulled into the old yard in front of my grandparents ranch in Oklahoma and I really expected to see Granny running out the door to greet us, just as she did for so many years. Some day I’ll see her run from her mansion in heaven to greet me. She did make me feel that she had been watching just for me all day. I felt like the most special little girl in her life.
Baptist Church
Camping in their yard was a dream come true. Granny and my Pap-paw were very influential in my life. They gave me a little Bible when I was two and told me to read John as soon as I could read. Granny made sure I went to church and Vacation Bible School. Pap-paw told me the most important decision I would ever make would be to accept Jesus as my personal Savior. He knew firsthand the difference Jesus could make in a life. Pap-paw was a mean alcoholic all of his first 35 years of life. He fought depression and sometimes hopped a freight train back to his old home in Kentucky. Three men at the little Baptist church pictured above, kept inviting Pap-paw to services and he would say no. They didn’t give up and one day he said, “yes”. He went and was saved by the precious blood of Jesus and he never touched another drop of alcohol.
I accepted Jesus too because my Pap-paw said it was a good decision. I have never regretted following his advice. The farmer and I trekked all through the woods on that old ranch just like we cousins used to do when we were kids. I don’t think there was an inch of that place we didn’t cover as kids. An old threshing machine was our pirate ship or our hideout from the bad guys. Oh the imaginations we had.
Love is the greatest gift that one generation can leave to another.
Richard Garnett
Jesus is the greatest gift one generation can show to the next generation. I pray for my grandchildren each day that they would know and follow Jesus as their personal Savior.
Where the Dutch Ovens Roam 