The Inheritance

by   August 16, 2019 with No Comments

The Inheritance

By Lynna Clark

My beloved mom-in-law passed away a few weeks ago. She was such a beautiful soul. And funny… oh my word! The things she would come up with. She had special names for certain things in her life; like the big white robe she wore in the winter. Often she warned us not to be alarmed if we saw a polar bear ambling around her house as it was just Big Bertha.

When she could no longer walk with just the assistance of a cane, she began using a walker with a seat. It had a little basket where she would load her gardening tools as she puttered around the yard. Inside the house she would load it with cleaning supplies or laundry for that long trip down the hall. She dubbed it her “Cadillac.”

She had a pink blouse which she always wore to the doctor. More accurately it was mauve, that dusty rose color which was popular in the eighties. Her daughters tried every way they could to get her to wear something besides that godawful shirt as it did her no favors. However she always went back to it. Though mauve is code for ugly, she brightened it with her smile.

We’ve begun cleaning out her home of over fifty years. You can’t even imagine the treasures we’re gleaning. So far we’ve only gotten to the kitchen. We checked expiration dates on the foods in the pantry and laughed so hard at the things she hung onto. David suggested that if the date began with the words “In the year of our Lord,” we could probably assume it was too old to consume. In the back of one especially low cabinet was an unidentifiable figure. It appeared to be a dried corpse of an animal from yesteryear. David’s sister bravely pushed it into the floor with a broom. The four of us stood hovering over it trying to make out what it could have been. David finally scooped it up with the dustpan and took it outside. It was larger than a squirrel and had a funky shape. The sisters told me I could have it as part of my inheritance. I was more than thrilled.

Later as I thought again about the dried up mystery animal, I remembered bringing Nina some driftwood from the beach many years ago. She had expressed wanting a piece to put a little ceramic bird on that I had brought her the year before. Apparently the two treasures never met as she always had lots of projects in the works. In fact that bird is probably buried somewhere in her craft room which our middle daughter lovingly renamed Nanny’s Crap Room. It is an accurate description and we can hardly wait to go through the treasures there.

What I love about Nina’s kids, Jo, Gail, and David, is that they’ve been able to maintain their mother’s great sense of humor as we do the necessary things. No pushing, grabbing, or resentment; just working together to honor their mother’s last wish of having a happy home. The closest we’ve come to fighting so far has been over a pack of bacon.

Very graciously I have been included in the dividing of assets. Along with the driftwood shaped like a varmint, I’ve been given her cement pineapple which was always her southern symbol of hospitality. Though I do not share that same sentiment, I love that she did. I tucked it by my side entrance behind a large hosta lest anyone get the wrong idea. You know how I feel about entertaining visitors I do not know. All you “angels unaware” might as well fly on down the street to someone more Godly. However, if you do happen to knock on my door, don’t be surprised if I’m wearing a mauve shirt. Too bad it didn’t come with Nina’s sweet smile.

Proof That I am Not Alone – Part 2

by   August 14, 2019 with No Comments

Proof I’m not riding along – By David Freeze

Part ll

     Part l with the surveyor still is one of the best stories about my bike rides and of my life. But this summer’s ride to Alaska has a continued lesson about His presence on my cycling adventures. You’ll see why I ask every day, “Lord, ride with me.”

     On just my third day of the Nevada to Alaska cycling adventure, I found myself on a warm day with lots of hills and my water consumption had increased to the point that I needed water soon. I had left Doyle and then Milford, California, assured in both places that there were supply points ahead. I had all my bottles filled with water and a squeeze filter strainer should I need it to drink out of a creek or stream. This option didn’t appeal to me unless the water was moving significantly, although the packaging said that even standing water would be safe. I had 3,000 miles to ride and didn’t want any gastric conditions.

      With temperatures in the lower 90s, I kept pushing north through the challenging terrain. On US 395 in these parts, traffic is insignificant. I did find on my map that there was a Federal Land Management fire station well north of where I was, but there was no guarantee of available water there.

     On a day that reminded me of the day six years ago when I needed water, the same situation soon became a reality. I was out of water again and if the FLM facility wasn’t staffed, would still have close to 50 more miles until the first town. It was a time to stop the bike and say again, “Lord, ride with me,” and this time I was specific about the need for water and how soon it was needed.

      Just a few miles after the prayer and on another steep and hot uphill, I spotted a no longer used rest area. This one had signs and concrete barricades to keep cars out. I stopped a quarter mile away and prayed something like this, “Lord, its hot and dry and I need water. I have never seen a rest area out here with water, particularly an abandoned one. But Lord, if its OK with you, I ask you to provide me with a source of water.”

     I pedaled on and rode through a gap in the barricades and looked around. The bathroom buildings were locked and signs were everywhere to keep out. But off to my left was the most uplifting sight of my trip, a long galvanized pipe spewing spring water at a constant rate. My incredibly selfish prayer had been heard, although that pipe had probably been there for years.

     Within minutes, I drank three bottles of the wonderfully delicious water, ate a few cookies, and felt wonderful. The peace of knowing that my prayer connection has such power comforts me incredibly.

     I left the rest area with a huge smile, but wondering how often those around me realize the power of prayer. No doubt that the Lord does ride along daily.

     On ahead, once I topped the summit of this particular mountain, I did find that FLM fire station. Firefighter Ryan Rodd had me come in for a fantastic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, made even better because I was no longer thirsty. Still Ryan, from North Carolina, told me that I could top off my water bottles in his station. I did, but nothing could possibly have beaten the taste of that spring water!

      Lord, Ride with me today! is the title of my first book and remains my thoughtful request to start a cycling day. I have no doubt that He is with me today and every day.

Give the Gift

by   August 11, 2019 with No Comments

By Ann Farabee

Our eyes met as I was rounding Aisle 7, while hurrying through the grocery store. I had to do an after school pickup in 20 minutes and honestly, there was no time to talk to my friend that I had not seen in quite a while. But, I knew I needed to talk with her – and I wanted to talk with her. She had lost her husband a few weeks earlier – and I saw the grief in her eyes.

 We hugged. We cried.

She talked. I listened.

Oh, how my heart hurt for her.

 Our short window of time that day came quickly to a close. Our conversation ended as I knew I could not leave my grandson without a ride home from school. So, we prayed a quick prayer together, and as we parted, I said these words, “I’ll be praying for you.”

 I did. That day, I could only think of her – the grief, the hurt, the pain. I prayed. Then, I prayed the next day. And the next. And probably even the next.

 But… one day I realized that it had been days since I prayed for her – during the most difficult time of her life. My promise had been short-lived.

 I put the blame on my memory. I put the blame on my busy life. I put the blame on _______. (Just fill in the blank with any excuse.) I put the blame on everything – but myself.

 I’ll be praying for you. Those words seemed so empty even to me – and I was the one who said them.

 That is when I gave myself a good talking to – through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

 I remembered:

 *When we pray, God hears. God listens.

*When we say a name in prayer, we are giving that person an amazing gift – their name transcends from earth to the God in heaven.

*A connection is made from our lips, our thoughts, and our hearts to the ears – thoughts – and heart of God..

 It is called the power of prayer.

We forget sometimes that we have a direct link.

Luke 18:1 says we ought always to pray – and not to faint. To faint means we lack in strength or enthusiasm.

Do we believe it matters?

Do we believe God’s Power is > than our power?

Do we believe God hears our prayers?

Do we believe we are really talking to God?

I believe we do.

Do we believe we pray enough?

I believe we don’t.

Can we change that?

I believe we can.

Will it be worth it?

I believe it will.

Lord, help us to remember to pray always and not to faint. Help us to give – and receive – the gift of prayer. Help us to remember to pray for someone when we say we will. Amen

Ann is a speaker and teacher. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com

Social Life

by   August 10, 2019 with No Comments

Social Life – By Doug Creamer

            When summer rolls around I keep a very full social calendar. After a busy school year, I look forward to catching up with friends and family. I meet some people for breakfast, others for lunch. I only get the chance to see some of my friends during summer break.

My wife has a hard time keeping up with my schedule. I have to admit, I have a hard time remembering all my commitments, too. I have been learning to use Google calendar, which helps me stay organized. The trouble is, I still like to write things on the calendar near my desk. I have got to move over to Google exclusively, then I can share my calendar with my wife.

            I like catching up with friends. I like it when the conversation flows naturally, when we share equally. I also like to be with people who are mutually encouraging. I know that I have a gift to encourage people, but sometimes the encourager needs encouraging, too. I have several friends who challenge me to think deeper or to see things from different perspectives. Sometimes I find myself meditating days or even weeks later on something that was said…I really like that.

            Through the years I have been blessed to have a good relationship with my pastors, both past and present. I love getting them to laugh, sharing our journeys in the Lord, and just hearing about their daily lives. Conversations do not have to be all about spiritual things, sometimes it’s about how we live and endure the daily craziness. I count it a high honor when I get the chance to encourage or lift their burdens.

            Some may wonder, is the Holy Spirit present when you are talking about the mundane things of everyday life? I can assure you from many past experiences that the Spirit of God is present when we share some time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have interesting and sometimes crazy experiences that are fun for others to hear about. When we can share and connect with another believer on a normal, everyday level, then the doors open to share on a deeper, spiritual level.

            We need each other in the body of Christ. God did not design the Christian walk to be done alone. Life is hard and He wants us to be there for each other. The crazy things you experience are there to help lift the burden of others who need a laugh to carry on. Two people in my church this week experienced the loss of a loved one. That’s when the body of Christ is called to come together to encourage and support those who are hurting.

            We all have good days when we need to spread some sunshine in the lives of others. We all struggle with times when we are feeling kicked down by the daily hassles of life. That’s when being in fellowship with other believers can be critical. God wants to encourage us and lift our spirits. Sometimes God does that when we are around the family of God. That’s what brothers and sisters do.

            When you are feeling down, ask someone to pray with you. It doesn’t have to be the pastor; all your brothers and sisters in Christ can pray with you. The same goes in the other direction. If you see your brothers or sisters looking downcast, take the initiative to go pray with them. Your prayers are powerful and effective. Your prayers can help the sun break through on someone’s cloudy day.

            I believe God likes to use people who have been through what you are going through to help and encourage you through your storm. The only way they can know is if you are in fellowship and you open your heart to share. It’s hard to open our hearts to others, but if we have been sharing with them during the good times, the connections are already made for the tough times.

            I want to encourage you to connect with other believers. If you will work on building those connections when times are good, you can be sure that help is on the way when times are bad. I can assure you there have been times in my life when I felt I was lost at sea, when all of a sudden a friend braved my storm and threw me a life preserver. We need to be in fellowship, to open our hearts to others who are struggling to walk out their faith, too. That’s God’s plan for how we are all going to make it safely to the end.  

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Living Off The Land

by   August 9, 2019 with No Comments

Living Off the Land

by Lynna Clark

Did you miss the holiday? No, not Mother’s Day. You can’t miss that if you watch television at all. Every jewelry store on the planet makes sure to remind us. Last Saturday was not only Cinco de Mayo, the day for which we stock up on limes and avocados and don’t know why. It was also Naked Gardening Day… according to our cousin Michael. The event seems to be an important one to him as he always reminds us of it on Facebook. Thankfully we don’t live near the man as we choose not to observe the holiday. Our garden is not that big. We did however get our binoculars out and keep them handy in case our neighbors decided to celebrate.

Though we didn’t observe any tiptoeing through the tulips, we did discover a family of groundhogs. The daddy is huge and looks like a bear when he stands on his hind legs. Not like a Kodiak but more like a miniature brown bear with a long tail. His fur is reddish and fluffy but I was not fooled by his cuteness. A few summers ago either he or one of his cohorts stripped the leaves off my mom-in-law’s tomato plants leaving only a naked stalk. The daddy groundhog’s wife is gray and smaller. She tends to make her way over to our yard when she notices the truck is not in the carport. The ground there is soft and dusty and she seems to enjoy rooting around in it for some reason. I nearly soiled my undies the other morning when I stepped outside unaware of her presence. She stood on hind legs as if questioning my being in her space. So I did what any normal person would do. I barked like a dog until she waddled home on her short chubby legs.

Sorry. I have no right to make fun of anyone’s short chubby legs. [Yet another reason to refrain from observing Naked Gardening Day.] I must add she was surprisingly fast for such a plump creature. She scooted her fluffy body under the neighbor’s shed and peeked out at me. Even with binoculars I couldn’t see through the lattice where she hid. I envisioned her gathering her one pup near her side and warning that if a person acts that strange, especially in broad daylight, they probably have rabies.

Hopefully she will not be back. This is the first time David has tried having a little garden in a long time. All he wants is a good tomato sandwich, a few cucumbers for pickling, and a couple zucchinis to make bread. Is that too much to ask? It only cost us $537 to build a raised bed, haul in good dirt, pay the kid next door to help us unload it, and buy the few plants.

Oh and cages for the tomatoes. It makes me laugh at how tall they are compared to the tiny plants inside. David looked at them the other day and spoke with his dry humor. “Somebody has high hopes.”

Yep. We are determined to eat something from our backyard this season… living off the land and all.  I just hope it’s not groundhog.

Home Sweet Salisbury

Proof That I am not Riding Alone

by   August 7, 2019 with No Comments

Proof that I’m not riding alone – By David Freeze

Part 1

    Back in 2013, I decided to give long distance cycling a try. Maybe just a tad more than a try. I decided to ride from Anacortes, Oregon to Myrtle Beach. I knew I would learn a lot about myself, but I didn’t know how much these adventures would deepen my faith. I have included a short recap of three events, two of which assured me of God’s intervention. Or at least that’s the way it looked to me. You may understand why I never worry what might be ahead, danger included.

    In 2013, my flights were delayed to Portland and I missed a shuttle to Anacortes, the point where I would pick up my bike and begin the biggest adventure of my life. With the late arrival, I had to hire a van to drive just me from Portland to Anacortes where the bike was waiting on me. Previously, I was planning to get the bike on Saturday afternoon and begin riding east right away. With my late arrival on Saturday, the bike shop had already closed, and I picked it up on Sunday morning. The owner wanted me to try out the bike before I left the area, just to make sure everything was working right. He said, “Make sure you ride up the only hill in town. You’ll see it.” I was about to ride over 4,000 miles across our great nation, climb across the Rockies, the Ozarks and more.

     I struggled to climb this small but steep hill and had to stop to let my legs catch up about midway. Just an elevation increase of 500 feet had given me trouble. I was demoralized but then headed back to my room to pack the bike. I sat down, asked God to protect me, help me make the right decisions, provide strength when needed and simply to hear me say, “Lord, ride with me today!” The strange peace that came with saying that statement to Him was unbelievable. I left that room with a calmness that would continue all the way through nearly 12,000 feet of elevation in Colorado. To this day, I won’t start my daily ride, no matter the circumstances, without saying, “Lord, ride with me today.”

    A couple weeks later, on the same ride, I was in a vast national park on a Sunday and running out of water. Water is the key supply that matters most to a long distance cyclist. Without it, energy leaves quickly, the mouth feels like rough sandpaper and the tongue just sticks to the roof or bottom of the mouth. I was to this point, knowing that I had no chance of supply for at least 12 more miles, all uphill. I had a swallow left in one bottle. Yes, poor planning on my part, but the facts were that I would probably not die but the next three hours would be miserable unless something happened.

     I stopped to say my prayer again and ask for Him for help. This park was nothing but wilderness in the area, no place to stop until I saw the sign for a rest area ahead. Rest areas out west don’t have water, at least any potable (drinking) water. My hope was that someone might stop with available extra water. No cars were passing me, and I did feel more alone than I should.

    At the rest area, no one was around. Two portajohn style buildings and a trash receptacle were the only amenities. I sat for a minute wondering what to do, knowing that this would be the best chance to find help until I reached the campground 12 miles ahead.

     Just then, I looked up to see a white surveyor’s truck pull onto the grass next to the parking lot. When the driver got out, I walked over to ask him about water. It took no courage to do this because the situation was soon to be serious.

      Remember that this was a Sunday, less traffic than other days, and that I was out of water. The surveyor told me, “I never work on Sunday, but we needed some data today and I’m here to get it. I don’t have any water. No wait! This isn’t my truck and this truck does have some bottled water in it. You are welcome to what you need.” The surveyor had driven this truck because his normal one was not available. I got the water I needed, thanked him and rode on ahead nearly 12 miles to the campground where my supplies were topped off.  

                                                                 Continued……

Feeling Refreshed

by   August 3, 2019 with No Comments

Feeling Refreshed – By Doug Creamer

            It was wonderful to get a break in the summer heat last week. The Canadian front pushed the heat and humidity south and we had a wonderful week to be outside. I was outside almost the entire week. Although I was pulling weeds, I can’t deny that I loved being out there. I have noticed that the heat and humidity have returned, and I will retreat to the cool of our home. It’s August in the Carolinas; heat and humidity are here to stay.

            I was outside working in both the vegetable and flower gardens. I made it out early some mornings and stayed out late into the evenings. When the air felt so refreshing, I didn’t want to come in. I am blessed in my yard to have the woods on the west side. By late afternoon, we have shade across most of our yard.

            It’s been hot since school let out. I haven’t had any desire to work in the yard…that is, until last week. When I got out there I knew I was going to have to do the one thing I really don’t like doing…pull the weeds. The air felt so fresh and clean, I didn’t care. We pulled so many wheelbarrows full of weeds out that I lost count. As we cleared an area, I got some mulch and put it down. Some parts of our yard are looking quite good.

            Don’t misunderstand; there is still plenty that needs to be done. Good gardeners are never finished. There are plants that need to be moved, removed, planted, pruned, etc. There are always plans and dreams of how you want things to look. We have lived here long enough that we have started to rip out things we planted. A gardener’s work is truly never complete.

            You might think I was tired after working outside all week. Well, I have to admit that there are a few muscles, especially in my arms and back, that are complaining, but I am feeling surprisingly refreshed. I think getting a break from the heat and humidity has actually helped me feel better. I also get a certain joy out of being outside working in my yard.

            Life has a way of wearing us down. It is important that we discover ways that we can be refreshed. I know we can be refreshed when we go on vacation, but the reality is we have to work to pay the bills and keep the lights on. How can we be refreshed when life seems to go at breakneck speeds? We all have so many demands on our time. What can we do within our daily routines?

            First, it’s important to discover for yourself what makes you feel refreshed. For my little sister, it’s going for a run. She feels better after she exercises.  Some people need to soak in a tub. Others might like to escape into a good book. Still others might curl up and take a nice nap.  Knowing ourselves is a key to refreshment.

            Second, I believe music has a way of touching our souls. I know the music of our youth has the power to awaken something special in each of us. But the kind of music I am talking about here is the kind that lifts up the Lord. Again, there is such a wide variety of music styles that honors and lifts up the Lord. If old hymns stir your soul, go for it. There is so much new and various styles of worship music out there; find yours and run with it.

            Why does this work? When we lift up the Lord, He is drawn to us. When we are in His presence, we are going to be refreshed. No matter how tired and weary we might feel; one touch from God can completely restore us. When our spirit connects with His Spirit, we will be changed, renewed, refreshed, and restored. Music has the power to move us if we will open our hearts to Him.

            I want to encourage you to seek the Lord for a refreshing touch this week. I believe that God wants to draw closer to you and renew you. I know life is busy and hard, but taking a few moments to do the thing that helps you feel refreshed is important for your wellbeing. Add to that music that honors and lifts up the name of Jesus and you will be refreshed. God wants to be closer to you. When you open your heart in worship to Him, you will sense His presence in a beautiful and wonderful way.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Grizzly Encounter

by   July 31, 2019 with No Comments

By David Freeze

So many things were happening Tuesday morning (July 2).

I needed to check my messages and also needed to submit my photos and story before leaving. I had been told to not expect to get online until late in the day. Plus, I wanted to see if somebody from the truck stop would talk to me about what to expect headed north.

I have a copy of “Milepost,” which describes what can be found along the road mile by mile. So I quickly looked through the current section. I found only one place where I was sure to get water.

A man named Bob was the grill cook Monday night when I got to the Nugget Truck Stop. He never did say much. I couldn’t get free water. I couldn’t have Wi-Fi, and everything cost a lot. Plus, there were only sleeping rooms.

I found out there were no food stops and maybe two stops for water. Bob told me to just turn left and keep riding. I bought more snacks, fruit and pastries and started riding north.

I immediately began to climb and kept doing that over and over, just a few miles apart sometimes. Only once did the pace go well. The rest of the morning, I just couldn’t get going.

A little into afternoon, I came off a big climb and noticed my first grizzly beside the road. It was about to walk out in the road, but it turned back just in time to keep from getting run over.

When the grizzly walked across the road, I took a picture. Then it started walking toward me. I put away my iPad and started pedaling away on the flat ground.

Just about then, a woman in a truck stopped and pointed back. The bear was running after me and another truck was stopping. I just kept pedaling and didn’t look back anymore.

I have now seen a grizzly. The two that Juergen, the veterinarian I previously met, encountered were aggressive. It seems they know they can be, although we don’t hear about this nature.

The first water stop Bob suggested had a pump, but no water would come out. I looked in “Milepost” and found one for the next day.

I didn’t have enough water to finish the day, much less for the nighttime hours. I asked Jeannie and Lee Kanter, of Ortonville, Minnesota, and they filled all my empty bottles, even giving me another one.

It was a nice meeting, and I hope to hear from them again.

Then almost right away, Thomas Lesperrier and Lise Faron, of Paris, met me as they headed south. They had experienced some of the road repair that I had when the dust was so bad. We all had it for about a 10-mile stretch, along with several shorter ones.

My diet has been pastry-heavy the last couple of days, but all is off to a good start. With just 11 days left in this section of travel, I think the towns and food stops will get more frequent, which suits me.

I plan to get a motel in the community of Teslin, Yukon, Canada, on Wednesday night. No real shower for me is crazy after six straight days. I am ready.

I completed 86 miles Tuesday and also had my second flat tire just before I planned to quit. It was a front tire this time, which is always my favorite because they are quicker to fix.

I planned to camp and set up among another storm of mosquitoes.

Some of you have emailed, and I haven’t answered you. I cannot send on ctc.net email until I’m out of Canada and, possibly, Alaska too. So, use runner.david.freeze@gmail.com and I will answer you.

Another day has come to an end. We have 11 days to get to Anchorage. Let’s go do it!

The Lifeguard

by   July 28, 2019 with No Comments

The Lifeguard

Salisbury Post- July 27, 2019 – By Ann Farabee

While perched comfortably in my beach chair, surrounded by all the stuff you carry to the beach with you, I was watching my two children play in the waves. Although still young, they were old enough to give me the freedom of watching their every move like a hawk from my chair, instead of being in the water with them.

Watching intently and staying focused on them only, I realized they were now oblivious to me, as they waited on the next wave to break.

Ride a wave. Go back out. Ride a wave. Go back out. They were quite entertained, and unaware that they were continually drifting further and further down the shore. But I knew.

​

Each time they ran up on the sandy beach, I waved my arms to let them know I was still there, but they never looked my direction.

​

Even though I did not have their attention, they sure had mine. I kept my eyes totally on them – because I knew there were things they needed to watch out for:

*The undercurrent – An undercurrent is water that is below the surface that moves in a different direction from the current. The powerful channels of water can pull swimmers out, knock them down, or push them to a place they never intended to be.

*The underwater – Anyone who has spent time in the ocean has probably felt something swish by their legs, leaving them with a question, “What is in the water with me?” Hmm? Maybe fish, sharks, debris, trash, broken seashells, seaweed, jellyfish, assorted marine life? There are things we cannot see – and we need to stay alert.

*The underestimated – And how about those things we just do not think about? Like how the shallow water could quickly become areas of deep water. How the sunny day could bring about a painful sunburned evening. How the cloud coverage that cooled things off could become a dangerous storm that created damage. How the wave coming toward you that looked like ‘a good one’ could bring you to your knees.

No, my children were not watching out for those things – but I was watching out for them – because I was their lifeguard.

What is a lifeguard? It is one who guards your life.

Even though this was years ago, I remember vividly the look on their faces as they finished riding the waves, burst out of the water, and ran with ‘shore faith’ that I was there waiting in the beach chair for them.…and then realizing they were not seeing the one they were looking for – me- their lifeguard.

They had drifted far from where I was – and far from where they needed to be. But, even though they were not seeing me, I had not taken my eyes off them.

Nor will I forget the relief on their faces as they looked around for me – and saw me coming toward them, waving my hands in the air, and calling out their names.

The first question they asked when we reunited, “How did we get so far away from where we were?”

Good question, kids. Good question. I have had to ask myself that often.

  • 6000 waves break at any given shore per day – Our Lord sees them all.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:9 says that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.
  • Aren’t you glad to have the Lord as your life guard?

Getting a Harvest

by   July 26, 2019 with No Comments

Getting a Harvest – By Doug Creamer

            How are your weeds growing…I mean, how is your garden doing? My garden is doing better this year than last. We are getting a harvest and enjoying it. We have gotten some tomatoes, unlike last year when we only got a few. The squash is doing well. We have also enjoyed the blueberries and raspberries this year.

            Early in the season, I was working hard to try and keep the weeds down. Things were coming along well and then we hit the hot spell, and I don’t like being out in high heat and humidity. Then being away at the beach gave the weeds an extra boost. So overall, we have a healthy crop of weeds this year. Too bad there isn’t such a thing as weed soup.

            I’ve also been fighting the deer again. They really like my string beans, but they will eat the butterbeans, too. I have replanted several times this year. My mom gave me a plastic fence that I put around them and I think we might get some beans after all.

            We’ve also been fighting some yellow bug which is eating the squash leaves, and we’re fighting diseases, as well. The cucumbers have been producing nicely, but something has gotten a hold of them and the vines are dying. The tomatoes have gotten some yellow leaves, and that has hurt us, too.

            The weather forecast is calling for a cooler week. It’s supposed to rain on Tuesday for most of the day, but then give us some nice weather for the end of the week. I hope that is right so I can get out there and work on the weeds, and maybe dig my potatoes. The potatoes have lived much longer than usual, which I hope implies a big harvest. I know there is plenty more heat and humidity to come, but a nice break would be great to catch up out in the garden.

            I am eagerly awaiting the c-o-r-n; I don’t want to say the word lest the deer and raccoons hear me and plan a party out back. The rain this week might be perfectly timed to give me some big full ears of c-o-r-n. I am hoping to enjoy that in the next couple of weeks.

            If you want to grow a good garden, flowers or vegetables, it takes time and effort. The same thing applies to our spiritual lives. No one becomes a strong Christian in a few days. It takes time to break up the crusty soil of our lives. There needs to be a good place for the Word of God to take root in us.

            That means that we have to pick up the Word of God and read it so it will fertilize the new growth in our lives. Naturally, prayer will water our new garden so the seeds will have the best chance to grow. We can’t grow in God if we never talk with Him. We have to spend some time with the Son.

            We begin our spiritual lives with faith, then we add the Word of God and prayer, but we can’t stop there. We have to add goodness. Being good is a choice; it’s like the food we eat. There are so many things to eat; some are good for our bodies, while others can harm us. God wants us to choose goodness. That implies that we have to exercise some self-control. It is extremely hard to have self-control during the holiday season when there is so much delicious food around. God expects us to work on self-control through our temptations.

            It seems that once we start to make the right choices, trials come our way. We have to persevere through those tough times. God is with us. If we take on His character, we will make it through. One thing that can help is being in fellowship with other believers. Your brothers and sisters can help you when times are tough, and you can help them, too. Sometimes the simplest gestures on our part can show the love and kindness of God.

            I want to encourage you to let your roots grow deep in the soil of God’s love. When you allow your roots to draw in the Spirit of God, you will grow strong and produce a heavenly crop. We can’t do it alone. We need each other, God’s Word, and the desire to work in the soil of our lives, so we can produce a harvest for God. No one is perfect, we all have weeds in our lives, but that shouldn’t keep us from being fruitful for God.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

1 … 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 … 183