Lessons from a Farmer and Jesus as a Horse Whisperer

Hey all... ... sorry for the blog absence, that seems to be happening a lot lately. Lately I have thought a lot of things to write on the blog... just have not done it. So finally here's an update, hope you enjoy. Lessons from a Farmer: (James 5:7-8) The lesson here is patience... 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

But it's not just about patience... it's about how the farmer waited.

I can remember when I was little we had this huge family garden (literally seemed like the size of a football field)... and until he died, Daddy continued to plant a garden every year though they seemed to get smaller and smaller. Harvesting those crops was only the end of a long process that began months before some times. Daddy and Pawpaw would get out and prepare the field by tilling the ground, then planting the seeds. But that wasn't the end of the process... you don't just leave a garden and expect all of your vegetables to be ready weeks or months later. No... there are things to do during that waiting period.

The farmer has to tend the garden...

Daddy would water his garden daily depending on the rain, He fertalized the soil and the plants, he pruned the plants or in the case of the beans wrapped the stems around the trellis. He would check the plants to see if bugs were enjoyed the fruits of his labor before he did... and if so he would spray the plants to get rid of the bugs. His little enemy in the last few years were the bunny rabbits. They loved to come into the garden and eat off the plants, so he event put up a little fence one year to keep them out (it didn't work too well). He did all of these things to ensure that the plants would grow so that he would be able to provide nourishment for his family...

We must be patient and wait in the same way... actively.

When God shows us His will, we shouldn't just sit on that information and do nothing... you have to proactively work toward the goal. In my case, I feel like God is calling me to go home... so I am looking for work at home. My family is somewhat planning in expectation for me to be there as well... I think of the things I would like to do once home... that's been constantly on my mind lately. Some of my girlfriends and I were talking tonight about how we are waiting on a husband... waiting for God to bring us together. However, in the meantime, we must work to prepare ourselves for that future mate by making ourselves better individuals, better women, better christians.

So what do you do while you wait??

Jesus as a Horse Whisperer: Luke 19: 28-37 I think we are all familiar with the image of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. However, are you familiar with the text? We read it today in Sunday School and I was blown by a certain detail in the story that I never knew before... and for those who are not familiar with horses and other livestock, this detail in the story could go unnoticed. 28 When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33 But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” 35 Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36 And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen... Have you ever seen someone sit on a horse that had never been broken? Let's just say... they don't usually stay on. Breaking a horse for a rider can take days, weeks even... especially a colt who may not be as used to being around people. The process takes baby steps... lots of them, to get an animal comfortable being touched, being maneuvered, being controlled.

So think about that... and think about the fact the Jesus just saddled up for the ride.

There was no time to break that animal, but there was also no need for it. For our Master is, was, and will always be in control of everything... including that horse/donkey/mule/? that He rode into Jerusalem. I don't think Jesus picked that animal because He wanted to be the first to ride it, but because He was the only one who could ride it. I hope that the significance of that act is not lost on you. Love Y'all, Kacey