To The Fair!

The girls (mama is one of those girls, remember) will be in the Puyallup valley this week at state fair. The Fair marks our official rollover of seasons...When we return, Fall will commence.

Here we work the exhibit of heritage breed turkeys for one of our family’s farms. Five days of the public multitudes, little sleep and eating Fischer scones; shoveling manure, re-acquainting with familiar faces and deep fried indigestion. Did I mention the Washington Junior Poultry Expo-tition (as Pooh would say)? The daughters will be entwining turkey husbandry with that of the responsibilities of the state poultry barn and showing their own hens and ducks. Fhew (wipe brow) I’m tired already!

It’s no doubt a love-hate relationship; late September is an awfully busy time around here to disappear for five days but corn dogs and throngs of people are too, too hard to resist.

Here we go into the mission field ready to do God’s work for His Kingdom; Holy Ghost, teach us and make us able.

The girls get ready for fit and show by washing thier cochin hens.

Hello Old Friend

A longtime friend called the other day. We hadn’t talked for years. Her sweet voice was like a soothing, enlivening, balm to fatigued muscles. This week I’ve cried tears of joy upon hearing from her again and the more-than-exciting news she brings of her family. It is a precious thing to renew an acquaintance but when it’s God’s hand that re-establishes contact, how can human words describe the elation, or the song my heart sings, not for my own pleasure of her company but of God’s dear heart toward me and the weaving, interlacing He creates in His Body.

* * * * *

Now, the personification of a life yielded, she worships her Creator as her sole (soul, perhaps?)source of joy, salvation and healing. She has ministered to my heart and will share in my walk with Christ in a new and profound way.

Thanks for loving me, old friend, and showing me, that the mercies of Christ bring complete healing for those who ask and cede into His hand. Your jingle over the line was testimony of love and obedience.

Pride Vs. Pleasure. Which Describes God?

Let’s do a word study.
Our vocabulary is so very limited- we, even the most educated of us, use words improperly or quite narrowly.

A friend dispatched a conversation she’d had with another friend on whether or not God was proud or if our being proud was EVER appropriate. She asked me my thoughts:

“Well,” says I to said friend over the phone, “I teach my children against pridefulness, but I do say ‘I’m proud of you’ because I am…so…I am proud of….er… well, isn’t God…but…I take pride in….hmm...... I guess not”.
This has been another Holy Spirit awakening through the use of His Body. If you dare to go Deeper, take a peek…

Proud-
Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though they join forces, none will go unpunished. Prov. 16:5
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. Luke 1:51
…he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions…1 Timothy 6:4
God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Prov. 3:34
Pride-
I know your pride and the insolence of your heart…1Sam 17:28
A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor. Prov. 29:23
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 1 Jn 2:16

Out of 98 verses found in Strong’s Concordance, NOT ONE suggested that ‘proud’ or ‘pride’ are words that represent godliness. If God asks us for humility, any pride, at all, is a sinful weed in the humble heart and must be pluck out. The two CANNOT co-exist; they are the exact opposite.

Moving right along. Are you still with me? Scripture reading is not for the faint of heart, but Martin Luther got that ball rolling for us so let's not look a gift horse in the mouth. Shall we continue? Oh, no. After you....

Pleasure-
I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. 1 Chron.29:17
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Ps. 103:21
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor. 12:10
…having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself…Eph 1:9

Pleased-
The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 1Kings 3:10
By this I know that You are well pleased with me, Because my enemy does not triumph over me. Ps. 41:11
And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mt.3:17
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Heb 13:16

So which describes God? Proud or Pleased
Do I take pride in my work or does my work give me pleasure because I am occupied by the things of God? Am I proud of my children or am I pleased with them. Proud American or pleased that I live in the greatest nation in the world- a pleasure God has given me. Words mean things. Pride or being proud is a word we think we deserve to use, an attitude we think shows a healthy self-confidence or illustrates how well we progress with societal evolution or technological advances but as Apostle Paul tells us “for when I am weak, then I am strong”.

All of this said, it is not I who says it, but the Scriptural evidence is clear(if you trust God's Word as just that) that God is NOT proud, therefore to be like Him and display His Character we mayn't partake of such behavior hence it would behoove us to remove it from our personal vocabulary as a word describing anything other than sinfulness.

Here at the homestead we're implementing 'pleased' for 'proud'. Change has already abound. No longer do we invite the godless spirit of haughtiness into our home. Can we invite you too, to bury 'proud' and live with the humble heart of 'pleased'.