In A Nutshell

If you’ve stumbled across my Blog, welcome.  If you have been here before, welcome back. 

Those of you who have visited often know “something’s up”.  I have gone from checking in an average of 30 times a month, to 2. 

Honestly, it is God-driven.

There’s no easier way to say it, other than God is doing some pruning in my life, and that of my husband, Russ. 

Almost 3 years ago, Russ and I said a special prayer together, asking the Lord to lead us, as we follow Him.  {To “…take up the Cross”…Luke 9:23}   And he has led us.  He has been faithful, and present for us EVERY day. 

In some ways, it hasn’t been easy to slip into “God’s economy”, where you trust Him for your every need.  But it has been good.  And He has never (and I mean NEVER) failed us. 

Some of you know what I’m talking about.  Blind trust.  To walk by FAITH, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).  Sometimes it takes BLIND TRUST to get you through a day…an hour…a minute.  But it is amazing to see what He chooses to do with you during that time. 

I have my husband to thank for keeping me from worry.  When things are so financially strapped or we are facing a crisis, my husband asks “…do we have what we need for TODAY?”, to which I reply…yes.  “OK then…give us THIS day, our daily bread.  No need to worry.”  {Side bar:  Did you know that we are told not to worry 365 times in the Bible?  One for every day!}

Additionally, it meant the Enemy (aka the Devil) put us at the top of his chalkboard, with our names underlined, in BOLD.  The Enemy was relentless in trying to oppress us.  We had to call on the name of Jesus to keep him at bay. And it has worked, because the Lord doesn’t lie.  I remember stopping outside and huddling with my husband, our arms around each other, calling on Jesus to protect us from the onslaught of the Enemy. 

So, how did these changes come about over the past couple years?  

We started our pruning with no longer having television, several years back.  (A very wise decision…we no longer allow SIN to come into our home, un-invited, invited, or otherwise.)  We will never view television again.  No DVD's, nada.  Simply, no TV.

Then, we removed the Internet from our farm. 

We do not have a “fancy” phone.  No Internet on there either. 

Radio is our media, and it is honed on the Christian station during the evening. 

Next, my camera went.  This was difficult at first, as I “prided” myself as a photographer, having won several contests in the past and been published in a dozen or so media outlets.  As the year rolled around four seasons without hearing the sound of a shutter release, I knew it was good to be without a camera.  For me, it was taking too high a priority in my life.  {Idols come in many forms...}

In addition, we have reduced our goat herd to zero. 

We have reduced our horses to one.  Raz.  

Funny thing, we spend more time with him (both of us) and he seems happier being by himself.  As you can see by his hefty frame, he spends most of his time eating anyway, as horses should.

Another big change for us…we have “retired” from our dog sledding business.  This winter, for the first time in over a decade, we will have the dogs to ourselves.  I will not be booking appointments and answering the phone and returning emails.  Our website has been taken down, several emails went POOF, LinkedIN, Paypal, tweets have stopped Twittering and more.  (My life is getting simple.…er.)  Upon telling people, they say “where are your dogs?”.  They are here, and will be until they pass from this earth, back into this earth.  We have 19.  That number includes two 15 year olds, and several 14 year olds.  We only have 5 under the age of 7.  In simple terms, our kennel is aging out.  Kinda like us.

So what do we do all day?  We still have pigs (sus domestica, for you DNR folks...).  

We have chickens, with several broody hens who, in their patience and sitting, blessed us with 9 more chicks this summer.  Along with the rooster...couldn't have done it without him.  

And we have our free-ranging rabbits, both adults and several white/black/and gray bunnies skittering about. 

Although we keep very busy each day, our main focus is on our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We rejoice that He is in our life, leading us daily.  We rejoice that Jesus will return…perhaps soon.  We rejoice that we welcome His return, and look forward to being with Him.  We hope others around us will become lovers and followers of Christ, as we are, so they can have an eternity with our triune God.  Until that time, we continue to have our weekly Bible study at our place each Wednesday evening.  We always look forward to meeting in the presence of the Holy Spirit and talking about the Bible, the Living Word, and giving the glory to Him.

One last thing - one thing I haven’t talked about in a while - is my relationship with the Amish community.  My interest in the Amish people spans nearly 30 years. It has grown leaps and bounds in the last year, since I attended an Amish church service last summer.  Since then, I have been meeting regularly with an Amish woman, circa my age, at her home for Bible study.  I met with her yesterday, in fact.  Driving home last evening, clutching a container of freshly-popped warm popcorn she made for my road trip, made me wish I could stay forever, in their world.  I glanced over at the loaf of fresh-made bread sitting on the front seat of my truck, straddling the animal feed bags I had picked up from another Amish friend.  The bread had risen and was baked in her wood cook stove while we sat and visited that afternoon.  But more importantly, I take home the lessons learned during our day of delving into God’s word.  I truly know this friendship, and that of her family, is God-sent.  I treasure it like all my friendships with Plain People.  What I love about being with them is seeing the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…) played out before my eyes.  Perhaps some day, I will immerse myself even deeper into their way of life, Lord willing.  It will be the Lord’s doing, for both Russ and I.  Right now, I am just following the path before me.  

So, in a nutshell, I plan to take a break from yet another medium in my life.  My Blog.  It’s been coming for some time.  And now is the time to take a much-needed break. 

I hesitate to remove it entirely, like I did my “older Blog”, which showcased our early years on the farm.  Truth is, I poured my heart and soul into those blog posts.  And I miss pulling them up when I desire to check on something.  So this Blog remains.  (For now.) 

Those of you who are also on Facebook have not seen me on there, as I have deactivated my page for a couple months, perhaps forever.  We’ll see where the Lord is leading me…and what He is preparing me for…

So, taking up the cross daily, in addition to this pruning process has been interesting.  {Read John 15}  

How about you…have you made a decision to take up His cross and follow?   I would love to hear your testimony.  

Blessings to all, and enjoy this beautiful summer.

Sherry

Prayer on the Island

Perhaps you noticed my Facebook Badge further down the right-hand side of my Blog page.  For those who know me, you know I’ve struggled with this media phenom.  I’ve written about it several times, on this Blog.  And this past summer I deactivated my “Facebook page” for two months, feeling the need to walk away.  Also, I wanted to see if I would miss it.  Strangely enough, while I was “deactivated”, I didn’t.  However, this story below, tells why I am now re-activated.  See if you agree.

A year ago, in the Autumn months of northern lower Michigan, I headed to Mackinac Island with a good friend.  We were excited to once again return to Win-Some Women, a Christian conference that has been in existence since the 1970’s.  On a whim, the day before leaving, I posted on Facebook saying I would be happy to pray for anyone, while on the Island, if needed.  Note, I stated I didn’t need to know their need.  God knows.  Having posted, I shut the computer off, and didn’t think any more about it, until I returned late that night to see if there were any requests.  Upon checking my Facebook page, I gasped.  I was steadily climbing to 100 requests, some did so with just a click of the “like” button, some with private messages, and even a phone message.  I was stunned, to say the least.  And now, what had begun as a whim, turned into a task.  I grabbed a pen and wrote everyone’s name on my nearby steno pad.  I also noted the specific prayer if they stated it.  Ironically, many stated it in the public forum, feeling no shame or concern.  While writing their names, which took me late into the night when I should have been packing, I was overcome with emotion.  But little did I know, that emotion was to peak once I arrived on the Island.

Heading north to the Island, the thick wad of notebook pages tucked in my pant’s pocket, I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world with me.  I had to do this right.  People were counting on me. 

I enjoyed the drive north, chatting and catching up with my friend, Lana, and once in Mackinaw City we parked and headed to the dock to board the boat.  Once on board, we enjoyed sitting at the front, in the belly of the Ferry boat, as we crossed the straights in cool, windy October weather.  Upon arriving, we took a carriage ride to the Grand Hotel.  (No motorized vehicles are allowed on the Island.)  We checked in and began attending the afternoon sessions.  The conference was underway. 

Between each session, I knew I had to complete my task, to pray for the folks listed.  I also knew God would lead me to do it at the right time, so I wasn’t worried.  So I waited.  That evening, after a delicious dinner of many courses, my thoughts again turned to my “list”.  As we walked past the appointed “Prayer Room”, I would look in, seeking solitude.  With 1000+ women at the Hotel for the conference, I knew solitude may not be the easiest request.

I went to bed that night, looking at the “list” sitting on the dresser, knowing we would leave the Island the next afternoon, making way for the new group to come in.  This particular conference is repeated in three sessions, many times “selling out” all three sessions.  I drifted to sleep knowing I must accomplish this task.  Again, knowing that people were counting on me.

The next morning, after another amazing Grand Hotel meal, I knew I had to act.  We had two hours before the morning session began.  I told my traveling partner, Lana, I was heading to the Prayer Room and would be praying for the folks.  Upon arriving, I found the room empty.  I took out the papers, unfolded them, and began to go down the list in prayer.  It was then, I realized I needed someone to join me.  The scripture about “…where two or more are gathered” kept going through my brain like a ticker tape.  It was then I realized a woman from my childhood had walked in and was getting settled.  Jane.  I knew her as “Mrs. A”.  She and her “dentist” husband raised their family about a block from where I grew up, in my hometown.  I had actually babysat for their children once when I was in my early teens.  Jane was also very involved in the church I attended while my children were growing up.  She was always easy to spot, impeccably dressed in beautiful colors, that made her entire being shine.  Now that I spotted her, I rose and hesitantly went over to where she was in the prayer room.   You know, I don’t even remember what I said.  I just know that she smiled her amazing smile (you know the kind…Jesus filled) and she led me to a table nearby.  And then it began.  We first began with a prayer.  Then, the names.  

I slowly read a name.  Then another.  And another.  Tears flowed.  I couldn’t stop.  I was mumbling the names through a deep, sob-restrained voice.  When I got to the bottom of the steno-lined page, Jane, with tears in her eyes, placed her hands on mine and knowing this was bigger than her or me, suggested we pray after each page.  Upon doing so, I began reading the names again.  Twenty names.  We prayed.   Another page.  Tears flowed.  Another page.  Sobs were caught.  Over an hour went by.  And so it went, until every name had been spoken.  And more prayer covered the process.  Both Jane and I were overcome with emotion, and for me, exhaustion.  The Holy Spirit was there.  He was full, and enveloping, and all consuming.  And comforting, for he IS the comforter.

Upon thanking Jane for being there, she suggested I leave the names in the prayer basket so the folks listed can also be prayed for throughout the next six months, as the conference leaders do each time.  They would be prayed for until the conference next May.  I released my burden, and left my “list”. 

After sharing our story with other conference leaders who had entered the prayer room, I hugged Jane and left, looking back to my folded steno-pad papers sitting in the basket, lined with names scribbled late in the darkness several nights before, taken from my Facebook page.  It was such a blessing to be able to deliver the requests.  To bring them to light.  Such an honor.

And the blessing was to begin, as the days following the event, turned into weeks.  On Facebook, I could see the prayers coming true.  Relationships were mended.  Jobs were obtained.  The list went on and on.  I was seeing prayers come true before my very eyes.  And I knew right then, that in all the 13+ years I had attended this conference, most years both spring and fall, this simple task of prayer made it the most important conference ever.  The day there was prayer on the Island. 

Romans 12:15  “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”

Until next time, dear friends, Lord willing.

Sherry

Focus on Him

It's true.

I don't fit in.  

But that's o.k., for my world is taken up with all that I love.

My unique home life, and an abundance of critters.

My best friend, 

hubby Russ, 

who had a birthday yesterday...

he's catching up to me...

And most of all, Jesus.

From whom all blessings flow...

My focus is on Him.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 

neither angels nor demons, 

neither the present nor the future, 

nor any powers, 

neither height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from the love of God 

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39

It's quite a journey.  

Until next time, dear friends.  God willing.

Sherry

P.S.  I'm officially off Facebook now, FYI.

I feel lighter already...more on that later...
(...and yes, I miss all my Facebook friends, but...we can connect in so many other ways...)

Welcome Beautiful October

It's hard to believe it's here already.

October.


Next month brings the Thanksgiving holiday.

But there's no reason to look ahead.

For these days are keeping us busy enough.

Russ has been whittling again...

Benches.

Saddle racks.

Little wood-wheeled wonders.  And more...

And me?

I've been trying to figure out the architect of life.

My heavenly father.
 And follow the path I'm meant to follow.

These warm fall days have cooperated in basking in all His glory.

And some decisions have been made.

I'm not going into solitude...I'll still be here...posting a blog about our life.

However, I'm backing out of other social media.
(Facebook...)

I know, I know...I've talked about going down this road before.

But now, I truly feel it is what I need to do.

So, I'm following the nudge of the Holy Spirit, and complying.

2 Timothy 3:2 

I'm not saying it's the right choice for everyone, but I believe it is for me.

Perhaps it's short lived.  Perhaps not.

But right now, my eyes need to be on scripture.

For I'm preparing for a test...

A test of being able to share testimony at a moment's notice.

And to do this, I must know the word inside and out.

Wish me luck.  I'll keep you posted.

Until tomorrow dear friends, God willing.

Facebook

It was time...to follow the scripture that has graced our Website for years.

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

But please folks, contact us if you wish to connect. 

We would love to hear from you.

By email, Blog comment, or smoke signal.

I may be back on Facebook, as many friends are just a click away.

But sometimes easy isn't always the answer. 

"It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself--anything that carried with it the suggestion of abnormality, of having something to hide. In any case, to wear an improper expression on your face...; was itself a punishable offense. There was even a word for it in Newspeak: facecrime..."

- George Orwell, 1984

Until tomorrow, God willing.

Wi-Fi at Waldon Pond? What if?

This is a question I've been pondering (no pun intended) for the last couple days.

Earlier in the week, I made a decision to move even further away from civilization.
Quite frankly, what I was seeing in society wasn't too civilized.

Since we no longer have any TV viewing of any kind,
I assumed the next step would be Internet.
So...
I made a Pro/Con list,
seeing if "deactivating" my Facebook account might be the proper route.

The list read something like this:

Pro:
More time with nature.

Con:
Will miss connecting with family and friends.

Pro:

See less negative information/gossip.

Con:

Will miss connecting with family and friends.

And so on...

Bottom line, I felt I needed solitude.

My thoughts wandered to Henry David Thoreau as he began his 2-year journey at
Walden Pond back in early July of 1845.
Young Thoreau felt he needed solitude when he built his 10 x 15 cabin,
to write and live rent free on his buddy, Ralph Waldo's, land.
However, Thoreau liked visitors.
Ralph W. Emerson visited almost daily that first year.
(Word has it, he was also checking on his land and pond...)

Thoreau liked visiting.
He even wrote a chapter in his book about "Visitors".
As he said: 
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.

So, you ask...would Henry David Thoreau have plugged in?

Would he have kept his social network of the day going?

You bet.

This past week, with urgings from friends and relatives,

and even husband,

I prayed about my decision to get off Facebook.

And in doing so, received some very interesting insights from God.

I realize now that Facebook takes me to a new level.

I'm not afraid to use it as my ministry.

To lift up.

To spread the word of God.

I was willing to give it up.

But in turning away from Facebook, I would lose that connection.

I would lose, perhaps the chance to witness to someone.

I like the written word. I love the written word.
I always have, and will to the day I die.

I need to be connected.

"Secluded" does not equal solitude.

We must be here for each other, especially in these troubled times. 

Like family should…FB family.

And... I have the BEST Facebook friends in the world.
Hands down.
Some are relatives, some are old friends, some new friends. 
But all have a face.
Facebook is just that…putting a face, to a book.
The book of life.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Thank you Lord ~ for giving me the clarity in this decision.

Until tomorrow...God willing,



Why Facebook is like my Sled Dog Kennel

Most folks come to Facebook because they are curious.





And they want to connect with old friends.





And perhaps meet up with a whole bunch of new friends.





They are happy folks, who enjoy their 'puters.

And, they like to "chew the fat", as they say.





Some folks don't say much ~ they simply ride on the backs of others.





Some of the older and wiser and more wordly, don't care for such things.





Sometimes discussions get heated.





Because folks care and are truly passionate about their beliefs.





But we are all friends who support each other and pull together.





There's also the shy types, who watch and learn.

Quietly ~ from a distance.






Yes, Facebook reminds me of my sled dog yard.





A place where dogs love to work and play and relax.





A place where a kind gesture is acknowledged and appreciated.

Until tomorrow ~ truly God willing,