My Daily Gift

 

It’s still early morning as I sit on my little cabin porch, enjoying my Amish-made hickory rocker.  Thinking back, it’s been 25 years or so since I first hauled this rocker from mid-Michigan to northern Michigan.  It has served me well over the years with comfort and memories.  (It bears the chew marks from my Border Collie pup, years past.).  But I digress…

I’ve been up for hours soaking in, and studying the Word of God.  John 1:1…”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  I fell asleep last night doing so, and began once again upon awakening.  I feel like I’m working on a Master’s Thesis.  And in a way, I am!  About the Divine Master, my Lord and Savior.  Actually, when I attended college, right after high school and then later on, I studied hard.  (Unlike high school…).  I even made the President’s list for a perfect grade with 12+ credits per semester.  In addition, I was asked, and joined, Phi Theta Kappa (a smarty girl’s honor club).  But that study was NOTHING compared to this.  I’m studying as if my life depended on it.  And it does! 

A friend of mine wrote these words: 

“The grace of God, and the leading of the Holy Spirit will always direct our lives to full obedience of the established principles of God’s word.  This is the true freedom in Christ.  Any other direction is tragedy indeed.”

So far, my Berean Bush Living is working out as planned.  A beautiful setting for God’s creatures and creation – and to study His precepts.  As I write this (by hand, later typed for your retrieval) my morning visitor lets me know it is breakfast time.  A chipmunk waits for his morning snack.  I started putting cereal, or walnuts on one of my logs on the wood pile.  Now it has become a ritual.  (I adore “chippy’s”.)

This morning a couple hours into my study I needed to stretch my legs.  Upon stepping off the porch I thought about retrieving my side arm.  I thought twice.  Naw…I’m just going to the clearing – no need.  I can sprint back to the cabin if necessary.  (Oh how our minds trick us…me sprint?? J)  So I headed out to the clearing, surrounded by nearly neck high green ferns.  I scan the vast area, looking for any sign of deer.  (One time, myself and my dear “cattle dog” Zip came into that same clearing and saw a buck’s antlered head “floating” on the ferns.  At least that is what it looked like.  The deformed antlers on one side added to the floating “creepy factor”!)  Today I only saw a cloudy, rainy sky to accompany the cold northern Michigan weather.  As I was about ready to return to the cabin, I saw to the east a large animal swiftly emerge from near the base of the ferns, cross the lane,  and enter the woods.  I had to blink twice.  I t looked to be the size of a wolverine, but the large (and I mean large) white stripe gave it away.  I stepped into the woods for a better look and watched as it headed in the direction of my deer blind area.  This summer, several skunks have found their way into a live trap, so it is time to get it reset.  (Skunks are notorious for devouring our baby bunnies.) 

Barely a day goes by when God doesn’t share one of His wonderful gifts with me.  Wildlife, or sign of such.  Raw beauty abounds in my wooded abode.  The nightly dance of the firefly brings awe.  Who can deny thy creator?  Not I…

I was getting to the point of asking God for a daily gift and I had to stop myself.  (Something along the lines of…”God…would you please send a deer through so I can see its beauty?”)  But He does it anyway!!  He knows how much it pleases me.  I can almost imagine His smile (we are told we are made in the likeness of Him) when my heart beats faster upon seeing a deer or smelling a possible bear while walking at the cabin at dusk.  All are gifts.  From Him.  Thank you Father.

But my greatest gift of all is His Word to me.  To YOU.  It’s contained in His God-inspired Word.  Dive in.  Read your Bible.  Start where you wish.  I don’t follow a routine, I go where I feel I need to that day.  I use King James Version (KJV) only.  I do not use a study Bible (one that has notes written on the page next to God’s Word, by people hired for their opinion.)  They are not God-inspired.  They are someone who needed a writing gig.  {Very dangerous to lean on a study Bible.}  Remember the serpent in the Garden…ssssssssssssssss…”Ye shall not surely die…SSSssssssss”

Your Bible is a gift – open it.  Read it.  Live it.  Some people say it is Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth.  So true.  And if you desire information on how to order a nice, but not expensive, KJV Bible, contact me.   I can assist. 

I hope you enjoy your gifts today!  However small. 

I’ll check in soon, should the Lord tarry…

Sherry

P.S.  When reading the Bible…keep your ears and eyes open to His still small voice.  So that means…No TV, NO phone beeping interruptions, NO radio, NO distractions.  Only you…and GOD.  Blessings to you!

Berean Bush Living...Begins

Wendell W. Price said this:

“There are many activities I must cut out simply because I desire to excel in my pursuit after God and holiness.” 

This describes my living deeper into simplicity and solitude.  Berean Bush Living.  

{At the Bear's Den...}

In the Book of Acts 17:11, it is stated that the Berean’s looked deeper into God’s Word (scripture).  I want that…

For me, it boils down to small cabin living.  Essential living only.  Lots of quiet time – no outside stimuli such as TV, radio, computers, or Smart phones.  {I still have a radio, but that is “wearing thin” also, and will soon be the last to go.} 

Nope, just my Bible and books.   And what is needed to continue my card (snail mail) ministry that has become so important to me.  {And hopefully others…}

This past April, I spent my first night in my 10-acre wood.  Despite going to sleep hearing the crackle of a wood fire, I awoke to seeing my breath.  April still holds onto winter on the 45^th Parallel.  So does May…June...

The mornings are beautiful.  I’m awakened by increasing light, accompanied by melodic bird songs.  I start the small woodstove to perk coffee and make breakfast (oatmeal, dotted with granola given to me by a friend who makes it and sells it). 

While waiting for the camp coffee pot to perk, I turn my devotion toward God’s Word.

The Second Night

I arrived at the cabin after dark, thankful for the lighting made by flashlight.  The cabin is sans (minus) electric or plumbing.  I quickly started a fire to take the chill off and then settled down to read before retiring to my bunk.  It had been a long day, moving more items into the cabin.  Over the years I have made my life very simple with regard to material items.  My books will be my greatest bulk, and even those are scaled down to just a very select few.  I’m very appreciative for the rustic hand-made bookshelf that newly adorns one wall. 

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt , and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

The cabin living resembles my “normal” living situation for the last 16 years, although this time without electric.  Outhouse isn’t as “fancy”, but it is adequate. 

Wood is put up for winter already – that is a good feeling.  (Thank you “AC Ellen”.)  Twelve cords should bring the winter into spring.  I hope. 

A new stove also sits, waiting to be swapped out.  (Again, thank you “E”.)  Heat is good.  And wood is something I’m careful not to covet.  Oh, how I love a stacked pile of wood. 

As I write this in the early a.m., the sun is streaming in.  I hear the resident pileated woodpecker knocking out the bugs in a nearby tree.  Earlier this morn, before the sun rose over the trees, I heard the gobble of a wild turkey.  This is the first year in the last three that I haven’t bought a hunting tag for the Spring season…  He has no threat from me.  (Did he ever?)

Once I’m settled and get used to the rhythm of the woods, I’ll bring a dog in for the night.  Come winter I’ll definitely bring one of the sled dogs.  They will enjoy the outing.  And the warmth of the woodstove. 

Third Morning:

Arrived at dusk last night.  Much better.  No fire in the woodstove needed.  Settled in to read, no clock to limit me.

Woke to the “Tom’s” calling the hens, circling the ten acre wood.  Lots of deer tracks (sign).  My stand (which is actually a “sit”…) is just steps away through the woods. 

My smaller space feels good.  Very good.  I like tiny cabin living.  Just the essentials – know just where everything is.  My mind goes to “Temple Grandin” and her “hug” machine.  Yes…I am MORE than content to live in an 8 x 10 cabin.  It feels like it’s giving me a HUG.  

I’ll sign in soon.  Lots of wildlife to report!  I had a nightly visitor…with 4 legs.  Can you guess? 

Plus, I had a visitor in the outhouse with NO legs.  Can you guess?  YIKES!!

Until next time, should the Lord tarry…

Sherry

Trapline Chatter

Hello folks.  It’s been a while since I checked in.  We don’t have Internet on our small farm, so it’s a trek to “connect”.  I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the silence of this winter season.  As I told hubby Russ today, “I think we are slowing down to the speed of life…”

Days on our {cold} snowy 40 acres seem to revolve around a couple necessary events.  Firewood, sled dogs and eats.  Hubby’s day starts very early, and ends early.  As for me?  I read about 4 books per week, enjoying the quiet evenings for this enjoyable pastime.  Chores begin the day and chores end the day.  Bracketed by chores, it seems. 

As for eats, we keep it simple.  This morning I fried up potatoes and sweet onions in plenty of butter, whipped up some blueberry pancakes (using gifted Bader Blueberries from Holland, Michigan) and topped it off with our homegrown bacon and sweet maple syrup from our trees.  Later in the day, I made our usual loaf of bread, via hand kneaded…no bread machine or fancy devices in our small 15 x 20 cabin.  Just good old-fashioned bread, that rises nicely by the woodstove.  This evening we will have grilled (yes, outside) pork chops from our hog, slathered with BBQ sauce, noodles with butter and green beans from our summer garden.  Snacks and munchies fill our stomachs in between the meals.  I make cookies every few days – oatmeal chocolate chip – which go good with a hot cup of coffee from our woodstove trivet.

Our sled dogs are probably wondering about now just where all the people went to this year.  This is the first year, in over a decade, that we haven’t provided rides to the public.  Yes, we are officially “retired” from the dog sled ride business.  However, I’m in the process of training new leaders.  Taking a couple out at a time seems to work well.  (Less dogs to tangle when they are confused and both turn in different directions.)  It’s fun to see things “click” in the minds of these young dogs.   Since we are no longer doing “rides”, we can’t justify paying someone to put in trails with a snowmobile, so the old-fashioned “wood and leather” snowshoes go into action.  Our trails are now made by snowshoes, not snow machines, like in past years.  Although it is hard work, I love the feeling of stomping down the trail, knowing it will serve a purpose – not only for our dogs - but also as a trail system for coyotes and game who have always enjoyed (and taken advantage of) our trails. 

I go into town about every ten days or two weeks.  That seems to be a good fit for me this winter.  I pop into the Post Office (where we are on a first-name basis) to mail letters and packages, and then check the Internet at our local Library (also first-name basis), in addition to getting another armful of books for the next week.  {Sometimes our local Librarian calls me to tell me “news” that she knows I wouldn’t have heard since we live without television – a gesture that is truly “small town”.}  Even so, going to town more than once a week would be too much.  Though we have no TV/Internet/Fancy Phone at home, truthfully…I’m finding the radio to be too overwhelming much of the time.  I’m enjoying backing off and finding quality in good conversations, and the Good Book.  My treasured Bible.

My trips to treasured Amish friends, stores, and communities have been significantly reduced due to weather.  The last time I visited my favorite hardware store, I had spied our previously owned goat near a barn.  I had delivered him the year prior, on Christmas Eve, to be a new addition to a small herd.  I was saddened to learn that earlier this month, that there had been a fire in that community – the barn burned.  However, the goat (and other livestock) were saved from the fire and toxic smoke.   Sadly, buggies, equipment and a freezer shared by several families were lost.  I have been in that beautiful barn – such a shame.  But “Praise God” it didn’t spread to the house or hardware.

We, too, averted disaster this past week at our place.  Not by fire, but by testing out a new sleigh, built by hubby Russ and our Farrier friend, pulled by two HUGE strong Percherons.  During the “take off”, hardware failed, and caused a “little excitement”.  Needless to say, once everything settled down, I stayed back, enjoying the scene of the prancing Giants from afar as they headed down our long snowy drive.

As for daily blessings, we enjoy having the winter northern lower Michigan birds appear at our cabin window each day to feed on the black sunflower seeds.  We have only 2 feeders, (one right by the front window, and one on a tree near the window) but they provide a constant flow of Chickadees, Blue Jays, many types of woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, purple finch, brown-headed cowbirds, and the like.  Our “cabin kitty” also enjoys the daily visits of these “camp robbers”.  She “talks” and swishes her tail and at times, pounces at the window, hoping to make a catch.  We’re hoping she doesn’t break the window!  That would put us in a pickle for the cold winter!

Speaking of critters…does anyone out there run a trapline?  I’d love to hear about it. 

The Blog title {Trapline Chatter} might strike a familiar cord with some of you out there.  It is the name of a radio service for those folks in the Bush.  It relays messages to those with limited communication in Alaska.  Tundra Topics did the same back in the 70’s.  Perhaps these services are still being used today?  Does anyone know?

That’s it until next time, dear friends, Lord willing. 

And remember…Rejoice!  The King is on His way!!  {Are you watching?}

Sherry