Be Ye Separate

Daily Devotion 250

Daily Devotion 249

September 6

A Lesson From the Nail

He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30

Philip could have felt that his ministry was being elbowed aside and eclipsed when Peter and John came to the mission he had developed. They just seemed to brush aside recognition of his excellent beginning in planting the church. But he accepted it graciously and moved on to the next assignment the Spirit had for him! He did not seem to care who got the credit for what he did. Because of his faithfulness, his work was effective.

The nail may hold a few lessons for us. After the torturous manufacturing processes, it is driven into its place of service by blow after cruel blow of the hammer. Nothing is left to sight except the head.

The poor finish nail is not only driven to its niche in life like other nails, but the nail set comes along and drives its head well below the surface. As if that were not insult enough, putty fills the hole on top of the head, and paint permanently conceals the place where the nail does its work quietly and faithfully, unnoticed for its importance.

How important is the nail? Suppose all the nails in your house would suddenly go on strike and stop doing their jobs. That would bring chaos.

We, too, are called to silently and faithfully do our work, even if we are not noticed. We tend to think we should receive recognition for the “head-pounding” we endure to hold things together. But God notices all that pertains to His children’s lives.

Our emotions are not made of steel like a nail, but of feelings and sensitivities. So we do need audible and tangible encouragement and compliments frequently. Today, your sincere compliment may be just what someone needs to encourage him to stick with it! Will you give one?

Elmer Schrock, Stuarts Draft, VA

It is amazing what God can do if we don’t care who gets the credit.

Bible Reading: Acts 8:5–8, 14, 27–40

One Year Bible Reading Plan:

1 Corinthians 14:21–40

Proverbs 7, 8

Used by Permission of Vision Publishers

PO Box 190, Harrisonburg, VA  22803

Phone:  877-488-0901

E-Mail:  [cs@vision-publishers.com]

Wonders never cease!

Blessings!

   Well, it seems that wonders never cease and God's provision still staggers me:P

   About two weeks ago we noticed that another one of our hens was missing. Not having caught that rascally racoon yet we assumed the worst. She was a favorite Silver Laced Wyandotte. Knowing that this coon was still around we have been very diligent about keeping the rest of the hens locked up tight at night, taking headcounts (or beak counts:P) and making sure that everyone is accounted for.

   This morning, while Miss Mary-Ann was making her usual rounds to check on the littlest animals after the big chores are finished, she came flying in the back door. I was "indisposed" (sitting on the pot) when she comes dashing into the hall calling something about the Wyandotte and quick as a flash she and Miss Sarah are outside again.

   Gathering myself up and making myself presentable enough to dazzle the goats and chickens:P I get outside to see what the excitement is all about. Well, well, well. Our wayward hen was back! Not eaten at all and what do you know?...she brought company!:P

   I THOUGHT I had heard Miss Mary-Ann's ravings but wasn't sure what she meant. After all our duck has been hatching out chicks and ducklings lately so who knew! Yep...Our miss Wyandotte mystery hen had brought 15 babies with her! No wait...(counting again) 17! Still not sure how many because she won't let them all out from under her so it's quite possible she's hiding more beneath her feathery backside:P

   About 15 minutes later Miss Sarah comes in with a not so good looking chick. It's head was tilted to the side, it couldn't stand, it wasn't able to move it's head without flipping itself literally over on it's back. Sad little thing. I told her we would have to drown it. She insisted that she keep track of it for a little while first to be sure. Knowing full well she was going to have to give up and let it go I agreed but told her that the baby wouldn't live and we were going to have to drown it by the end of the day since I refuse to allow any of the animals to suffer.

   Guess what?...We have an orphaned baby chick that doesn't show any signs of EVER having been upside down or backward:P It's absolutely perfect! God has showered a tremendous blessing on us as usual. And as usual I am amazed:)

   Now I won't have to put in that order for the 2 dozen baby chicks for our fall order so we can have spring layers! Saving us nearly 70 dollars in chicks and shipping costs! We don't have babies in the house cuz there's a momma to take care of them! So no heat lamps, no noise, no dust and no smell! God is amazing! And we have nearly 2 dozen babies that will be laying in spring:) Provided they are all little hens in training:P I'm assuming that God is amazing enough to pull that one off for us too:) Any little roosters will end up in the freezer so I'm really praying hard that at least 80% if them are hens:)

   I will take some pictures tomorrow if momma is willing to let us that close. Right now she's so protective that it was hard enough trying to count them from across the yard:P

   She was unprotected for so long and with new babies I was worried that the coon would soon find them and they would all be gone! Sooooo, the girls and I took the hen fencing down so we could pull the chicken tractor out, put the fencing back up and dragged it over to the momma hen. She was out in the yard having a nice time just scratching, pecking and protecting her babies so we just lifted the tractor over the top of her and her babies and now we can rest tonight knowing that nothing will get them:)

   Miss Mary-Ann and Miss Sarah put some straw in so she could make a nest for her and her babies, filled the portable waterer and feeders (one for momma and one for the babies with organic starter feed) and they seem quite content now:)

   The little orphan? It thinks Sarah is it's mommy:P Between that and the duckling thinking Mary-Ann is it's mommy we have quite the petting zoo these days:)

   Will wonders never cease?

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Patiently Planted

Blessings!

   I have come to realize that we have been so very blessed by God to be living where we are. Not that I didn't know He brought us here and blessed us with what we needed, but I think I know WHY He brought us here on our journey toward self sustaining living as He has led us to strive for.

   As you know we only rent here. Soujourners as it were. Strangers in a strange land. Our desire to own our own land and build our own things and rely on God to provide through the sweat of our brow, sometimes blinds us to the blessings along the way.

   Our last place was "supposed to be the last" before we bought our land and were able to move to where we know the Lord is leading us. We began to save and downsize and all those things in preparation. Then suddenly, without warning, out we go.

   It's a scarey thing when you are in need of a home right away, toting 50 some odd animals along with you. NO ONE wants to rent to folks with a dog and cat let alone ducks, chickens, goats etc. Prayerfully we saw one place after another. Each one "seemed" perfect until they found we had animals. The uncomfortable silence that always seems to go along with that little announcement told us volumes. We move on. ALL of those places had room. ALL of those places had barns, outbuildings, pens, sheds etc. Yet no one wanted it to be used for what it was built.

   Then, one day, we walk into this place. The house is the perfect size. It's all on one level which is good for me and Brother Craig with our little aches and pains. Outbuildings, garden space, plenty of room for everything we needed. Perfect!

   A pickup drives into the drive. We walk over to meet the agent...uh oh, it's not the agent! It's another possible renter! Not long after the agent shows up. We all walk through, looking at what is most important to each of us. The barn, outbuildings, fenced areas and kitchen mattered most to me. Brother Craig wandered through the garage, outbuildings, fence areas, and barn. The other gentleman? Sat on the porch after walking through the house and peeking out the back door.

   We took an opportunity to say hey to him, take up friendly conversation. Then he says he has been looking for a place just like this. He has no need for any of the land or buildings but he does love old farmhouses. He lived in several haunted ones and was sure this one was too:S Now don't get me wrong I've seen my fair share of odd things in old houses but searching for a houses specifically for "spirit" purposes? Seemed scarey to me.

   I don't know if there are such things as ghosts or not but I was certain of one thing. This place was filled with peace. My heart just ached at the thought of the peace being disturbed here. My husband was polite and made small talk then we went to the kitchen to discuss things with the agent. She gave us each applications and left us. The man left, we wandered around one more time and sent to the back by the river and prayed. Was this where God wanted us?

   We felt that this was someplace that we could be happy until our final move so we filled the application out and dropped it off with the agent an hour later. We prayed on our way home that the Lords will be done. We waited. And waited. Almost a week later, after we figured we didn't get the house, we received a call from the agent telling us that she had done all the checks on us and if we were still interested the house was ours! I was so excited!

   If you all remember, Brother Craig and the children and I were living apart due to his job being so far away. This house put us 15 minutes from his work! I phoned him to tell him the news and he was elated! We got straight to work and began packing.

   The story doesn't end there though...

   Several months into our renting the agent informs us that a friend of the Landlord was going to take over the rental when they move here in June (I think it was June). Anyway, we were worried. Very uncomfortable that a complete stranger would have our private information. We prayed. And prayed. The law here in Oregon says that only an owner can manage their own property without the need for being a licensed manager. Were these folks? We had no idea. Pray and pray some more.

   One afternoon, after I had paid the rent as I had not heard from anyone on where to send the rent, we recieved an email from the Landlords. They were taking over the management themselves (prayer answered). They had been seeing on our blog the things we were doing here and they were pleased (prayer answered). They were CHRISTIAN! (A MIGHTY PRAYER ANSWERED) God had overdone His blessing on us for certain this time:)

   Over the last few months we have wondered about where we would go next, when we would be going and how we would do it. As all of you probably have done, we want what we want when we want it. We make plans, we decided where we will go and what we will do. Then God puts His mighty hand up and stops you and reminds you that no matter what we want, He's in control and like a good parent He isn't going to let us go off on our own without His divine guidance.

   Just like our last place, we were concerned that we would have to move within the year. After all the Landlords want to retire here some day. They live out of state and we wondered how things would work out in the long run. We aren't ready to move unless the Lord makes it abundantly clear that we must. We prayed.

   We have been putting away money in savings every month. We would like to purchase our land outright someday. Though we are anxious to get down to buying that land, we know that we simply aren't near enough in finances to do that yet. Realistically it is at least 2 years away or more. Unless we come into money, I just don't see that happening any time soon and I certainly don't want anyone to have to die for us to get it so we wait:)

   Then just a few days ago we received another email from our Landlords. They WANT US TO STAY! We couldn't be more thrilled or feel more blessed at this time:) God has made it possible for us to stay put as we continue to save and prepare for our next adventure:) Our Landlords seem to be a true answer to prayer. They are wonderful and we look forward to getting to know them better as time permits:)

   So for now, we are patiently planted by  God here in our little haven on the river. Looking forward to our first Christmas here. Welcoming in the winter as it slowly approaches us. Knowing that we can relax and settle in here. Unpack those last boxes without the uncertainty. Blossoming as we continue to let the Lord guide us in His time:)

So are you patiently planted?:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

A Favorite Family Outing

Blessings!

   Despite my aches and pains we went on a favorite family outing:) We do this many times a year but we hadn't taken any time at all since our move so we decided to pack it up and head for the coast:) To go CRABBING!:P

   We arrived in Port of Alsea late morning. We normally start out at sunrise but this was our first time to Port of Alsea and so took our time getting there and getting set up.

   We chose a nice place on the docks where we wouldn't be in anyone elses way (there are LOTS of crabbers), and set up our chairs, crab pots and cooler.

   You can see more folks on the other dock across from us.

Sarah chooses a goot spot near us.She casts the first pot...And sets it on her mark...It's important to pull and check pots often. Mary-Ann is checking her pot.The crab she has in her pot is big enough to keep but sadly it was female so back into the water it goes:(

Pulling up my pot.Sarah, untangles the crab and turns it over to check to see if it's male...IT IS! And it was big enough to keep so into the cooler it went:)This one was big enough but it was female:(We had such a great time:) Notice the sky? Here in Oregon, unlike California, our coast is more overcast and misty throughout most of the year. The day was very warm but windy. We wear a light coat or sweater to help against the winds. Sometimes the winds can be quite harsh. This day it was mild:) I also helps to have something over your neck to keep you from getting sunburned. And sunburn we did indeed:P We get sunburned worse on overcast days than in the direct sunlight. It just doesn't seem as sweltering that way:P

   We recognize folks that aren't from around here by the clothing they wear:P Here in Oregon, short sleeve weather begins at around 60 degrees. My dear Sister visited us from Virginia last year and she was freezing:P Of course, she's used to the humidity and the sticky heat. We don't have that here. It's a dry heat and we tend to start melting around 50 and by 60 we are ready for the AC:P

   It was a little sad that our boys are no longer home with us. But he girls had a good time and we had such fun just being together:) I sat most of the time to avoid making my ribs hurt worse. I admit I overdid just a little but it was worth it to spend such a sweet day with my husband and girls:)

   I can't wait till next Wednesday. We'll be doing it again only earlier:) Crabbing season will be over come September so we want to get it in before it's too late:) Actually it's not really a "season" by the law, it's seasonal by the month. We don't do shellfish in months that end in R. Something to do with the mercury poisons or something like that. Anyway, we want to get a few more in before it's time to do some fishing:)

   We will be setting our crawdad traps this weekend in the river behind the house and get some fishing in while we have some good fishing weather:) Usually we do better with the fishing come November but we live on a river so hey...why not?:P

   Have  a very blessed week!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori