7-9-09
OUT ON THE RANCH I thought it was hot yesterday @ 103. Today, it is 106 and it is supposed to be hotter tomorrow. We still have the baking South wind of 15-20 mph. The good news is that the swimming pool is crystal clear and ready for action, so come on down (or up, whichever the case may be) and join us for a swim. We had guests, today, from Kansas City, Kansas and Oklahoma City join us for the day. Rev. Dawn Richards brought her beautiful daughter Morgan (now a senior in college), her brother Mike and his daughter Ashley out for a day of fun in the sun. They toured the ranch and enjoyed an afternoon in the pool. Dawn and Morgan are like part of the family. Dawn was Lorene’s pastor for several years in Carter.
This evening we have two families of five coming from Dallas, Texas for a few days on the ranch. I am sure that will mean some early mornings saddling horses. But that will seem like a piece of cake after cleaning those darn windows at the bunkhouse. We are loving our life on the ranch -- just wish we had the energy we had twenty years ago. But God provides the strength that we need for each day, and for that we are grateful. I am going to get out of my king size (have you seen me since I weigh 260) recliner in a few minutes and turn some water on the lawn.
Today, I cleaned the boys' bunkroom at the bunkhouse. The girls' bunkroom wasn’t too dirty…except for the windows. The boys' bunkroom was a mess. I know that I was never that messy!! (Right Sisters?) LOL It reminded me of this Scripture from Proverbs:
Prov 14:44 An empty stable stays clean-but there is no income from an empty stable. TLB
We could have a nice clean bunkroom if it wasn’t for those darn boys. But then if it wasn’t for those boys, girls, dads and moms what would our purpose be. We are here to provide refreshment for the minds and bodies and nourishment to the souls -- people. The people are what are important, they are eternal. The rooms, swimming pool, and Bible Studies are to serve God’s precious people. And you are one of those precious people. I remember as children one grandmother that opened her home to us -- everything in it was ours. Another grandmother opened her home to us as long as we didn’t make any noise or mess. Which grandmother do you think we preferred to go see?? SELAH
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
7-4-09
OUT ON THE RANCH it is Saturday morning and the day we celebrate our nations’ independence. We have guests staying at “Grace” and Elizabeth is out with riders as I write. I helped her gather horses this morning and Danny and I helped her saddle. We have a 34 year old truck driver (Ruben) and his 9 year old daughter (Cynthia) joining Elizabeth for the ride this morning. I cannot express enough how much it touches me for fathers to show such interest in their children. While it may be a loving sacrifice for this father to shut his truck down for the day and come out here, his daughter will remember and be blessed for a lifetime. Dad (Ruben) is taking his daughter on his trip to California. It just doesn’t get any better than this for a little 9 year old angel.
The phone rang as I was writing this. It was Elizabeth on the phone and the neighbors cows are out on the river. I have been looking for a phone book, ever do that?? I called but guess what, the line was busy. Press 3 and you will get a call back if the line becomes available in the next 30 minutes. So many conveniences, and it doesn’t help with the frustration one little bit. Now, I think I will pray ………….. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?? OK….Love your neighbor as yourself…If they were my cows what would I do? I would go put them back in. That isn’t the answer I was looking for………I thought maybe go take a nap, relax, and they will get back in by themselves. Oh well, I am off to herd cows!!
Everything was OK on the river. It looks like our neighbor is letting his cows get into the river for water. That works fine as long as we don’t get a big rain. We are about to do the same thing next week, but we fence the river off temporarily. I did my part. I listened to hear what the Lord would have me do. I believe that He answered and I obeyed. My heart is at rest. Now back to the days writing and tomorrows’ sermon. In my mind when I started as a pastor I could see myself sitting in a nice office studying for the message. I find experientially that most of the messages come just like this. Some problem comes up while I am trying to study and I end up learning something from it that turns out to be the message.
So what did I learn from this? Or rather re-learn. Getting out of my chair and taking care of my neighbors’ cows was not what I had in mind for a Saturday. What I have discovered over the years and continue to re-discover is that I am always blessed when I obey the voice of the Spirit.
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
1 Sam 15:22-23
22 So Samuel said:
"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord ?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
NKJV
OUT ON THE RANCH it is Saturday morning and the day we celebrate our nations’ independence. We have guests staying at “Grace” and Elizabeth is out with riders as I write. I helped her gather horses this morning and Danny and I helped her saddle. We have a 34 year old truck driver (Ruben) and his 9 year old daughter (Cynthia) joining Elizabeth for the ride this morning. I cannot express enough how much it touches me for fathers to show such interest in their children. While it may be a loving sacrifice for this father to shut his truck down for the day and come out here, his daughter will remember and be blessed for a lifetime. Dad (Ruben) is taking his daughter on his trip to California. It just doesn’t get any better than this for a little 9 year old angel.
The phone rang as I was writing this. It was Elizabeth on the phone and the neighbors cows are out on the river. I have been looking for a phone book, ever do that?? I called but guess what, the line was busy. Press 3 and you will get a call back if the line becomes available in the next 30 minutes. So many conveniences, and it doesn’t help with the frustration one little bit. Now, I think I will pray ………….. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?? OK….Love your neighbor as yourself…If they were my cows what would I do? I would go put them back in. That isn’t the answer I was looking for………I thought maybe go take a nap, relax, and they will get back in by themselves. Oh well, I am off to herd cows!!
Everything was OK on the river. It looks like our neighbor is letting his cows get into the river for water. That works fine as long as we don’t get a big rain. We are about to do the same thing next week, but we fence the river off temporarily. I did my part. I listened to hear what the Lord would have me do. I believe that He answered and I obeyed. My heart is at rest. Now back to the days writing and tomorrows’ sermon. In my mind when I started as a pastor I could see myself sitting in a nice office studying for the message. I find experientially that most of the messages come just like this. Some problem comes up while I am trying to study and I end up learning something from it that turns out to be the message.
So what did I learn from this? Or rather re-learn. Getting out of my chair and taking care of my neighbors’ cows was not what I had in mind for a Saturday. What I have discovered over the years and continue to re-discover is that I am always blessed when I obey the voice of the Spirit.
GOD BLESS
ALWAYS YOUR FRIEND
RIDGE
1 Sam 15:22-23
22 So Samuel said:
"Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord ?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
NKJV
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