A Snake In The Grass--Temptations

Yesterday The Boy burst in the back door.

"Mom!  I think I saw a baby poisonous snake." The drama of the moment slightly elevating his deep, subsonic rumble of a voice.

Snakes are generally my duty.  I am the most comfortable around them of our family.  I know which ones I want to keep around (the green snakes that are harmless and eat bugs, the king snakes that are harmless but eat the venomous snakes.  Even the rat snakes that keep the mice and vole population down). I know which ones need to be killed on sight.  I am not afraid of snakes at all (wasps? Terrified.  Snakes?  Not remotely).  The Wonder Sweetie takes care of the stinging bugs and I take care of the snakes.

Me, hopping up from the computer to grab my shoes
"Is it in a cup?" (Thinking he and TWS caught it for me to identify)
"No"
"Does dad know about it?"
"No"
"Where was it?"
"On the walk between here and the barn.  I'll show you."

This was troubling because we have seen no venomous snakes up near the house.  There are rare copperheads in the fields, but we have not seen any up close.  To be on the walk between here and the barn means it was very close and if it was venomous, we will have to be a lot more careful.

We went along the path and searched for the baby snake to no avail.  This meant we still didn't know if it was a danger or a nuisance or a benefit, if my babies and dog and ducks were in danger or if we had little slithering allies to eat any vermin that would spread disease or to eat venomous snakes that would hurt us.

So we spent over half an hour googling images of baby snakes with The Boy commenting "It was more reddish than that.....almost like that but the head was more blunt.....no, that has more splotches, this one had more diamond shapes...."

We still don't know what snake it was.  As ar as I can tell, it sounded like a baby copperhead.  One baby means more babies.  It also might explain a sudden swelling in a hind foot and general malaise in our dog the past few days.  The leaves are thick on the ground right now, providing wonderful hiding places.  I am going to have The Wonder Sweetie, blow/mow all the leaves away from outbuildings and yard and we are going to be especially watchful.  No lifting logs or rocks without careful looking at where our fingers are.  No wandering around barefoot where we can't see.

This reminds me much of tempting thoughts.  There are some potential sins that, for each of us, we are fairly untempted by.  I have no desire, for example, to rob a bank.  However, I do have the temptation of fear sometimes or pride sometimes or anger sometimes.  Like this baby snake, sometimes other people are better equipped to see our temptations and wrong actions or thoughts when they are small and we can avoid them.  They do us a great favor by coming to us in love and saying "Honestly, your anger at this person is making you bitter" or "Your anxiety is not healthy." or "That tone you use with your children sounds really really mean.".  We might not like the idea that there is a tempting snake in our mental yard, but we can't fault the person who points it out to us.  What we have to do is to be diligent to listen, thankful for the care someone is giving, and be earnest about ridding the dried leaves that allow the temptations to hide close to our hearts.

For example, if our problem is snarky tones with our husbands or children, then getting rid of those leaves might mean to stop watching snarky television shows or unfollowing snarky facebook pages.  If our problem is bitterness, we might need to actively pray for those to whom we feel bitter.  If our problem is alcohol, we might need to ensure that we keep none around.  If our problem is gluttony, we might need to ensure that we keep no tempting foods.

It disturbs us when someone points out a snake in our grass, but they are doing us the greatest kindness.  That baby venomous snake means more are around and they will grow until their venom poisons our mind and bites those around us, the people with love, withering their hearts and bodied and spirits and minds.  Let's not lash out at those who say "I don't know if this is a problem, but this is what I see".  Let us thank them and the Lord who brought us wisdom and knowledge that we did not have.

PS Here is a cute picture of a duck to keep the idea of snakes out of your mind if you are afraid of them :D

Daily Done 2Nov15

-Wrote in this blog and spent time with the Lord.  I don't want to sound pious!  It REALLY is just one of my favorrrite times of the day to curl up in the quiet with coffee and pray and read.  It is not "I am a good Christian, so I am pretending this is fun because I should" but actually is so enjoyable....I think because I am starting to let the love of God actually soak in.  I find I put so many barriers up to His love because I feel guilty or like I am in trouble, but I am learning that is not how God sees me.  He sees me perfectly through the blood of Christ.  Yes, He gently corrects me when I am wrong, but He LOVES the me that is me.  So yeah, it is fun to be with Someone who loves you :)

-Baked peach pie (I had made and frozen it in the summer, took it out to bake today.  Love looking like I have been industrious when I just popped something frozen in the oven ;))

-Made my gift list (jigsaw puzzles and biosilk if anyone is interested :) )

-Cleaned kitchen, including bread baking station.

-Did laundry

-Reassemble bed kits.  I reuse those big plastic bags that you get with comforter sets to make complete bed kits of pillows, a whole sheet set, a blanket, and possibly a mattress pad.  This makes it really easy to get ready for guests.  I will store these in Maisy, our pull behind trailer, in case we have to evacuate due to weather or whatever (plus I am running out of room in our house to store things).  I have two queen kits, two twin kits plus another two that would be more for little kids (smaller blankets), and several towel kits.

-Dinner:  baked breaded pork chops, baby carrots, cheese Texas Toast.

-Supper:  "fend fer"

A Morning Round My Table

I love to spend time in quiet contemplation early in the morning.  I find it incredibly settling and recharging at the same time.  My day works best when I make it wait for me and the Lord to finish our time.

I have redone the screen porch and, even if it is cold, I bring my breakfast, Bible, notebook, pen, ipad, kindle, coffee, and phone out.  I am not sure if I will still do this in the deep winter, but I hope so!  This is one of the most restful places in the whole house.

I pray.  I spend time talking with Jesus.  I read the saints and philosophers and modern Christian writers.  Breakfast with Augustine, coffee with Teresa of Avila.  Sometimes I read Jacobsen's "He Loves Me" when the enemy tries to make me feel unloved.  Sometimes I read Brother Lawrence when I need plain uplifting refocus on the Lord.  Jennie Allen (Restless) and Brant Hansen (Unoffendable) sit around my table along with Pascal (Pensees) and Kierkegaard (Sorrow Unto Death and Purity Of Heart).  They are easy guests:  they don't eat much but they have fabulous conversation.

Here are more of my guests.  They are engaging and well worth your time:

Bonnie Gray (Finding Spiritual Whitespace)
Carey Scott (Untangled)
St Augustine (Confessions)
St Ignatius (Autobiography of)
McDougall (Jesus Was An Airborne Ranger)

Don't be put off by the idea of reading the saints or philosophers.  For the most part they are VERY easy and quick to read (especially Kierkegaard.  I always pictured that he would be obtuse and murky, but he writes in a refreshingly simple, modern style).  Some translations are easier to read than others, so if you find one that seems ponderous and confusing, try another one.

A Rainy Morning and a New Start

For many years I have struggled with who I am, what I am supposed to be.  The Lord has blessed me with talents and abilities, just like He does with all.  However, I was always looking for THE right path, THE only way.

I think we Christians think that if we do everything JUST RIGHT that we will never have sorrow or grief.  We fear that there is only ONE right path for us.  I realize now that that is wrong.  First of all, we are going to havegrief and sorrow even if we are perfect (which we can't be), because this is a fallen world.  Jesus had grief and He never did anything wrong.

Secondly, I think we, all humans, tend to focus on the here and now--how we are supposed to make our mark (for either material or spiritual gains).  Sometimes we want the fame and respect, but sometimes we want to just "do what I am supposed to do".  So we fret over whether to be a painter or a banker, a stay at home mother or a truck driver, a writer or a computer tech.  We look for an identity, a tribe, a reason for our being.

We also may struggle mightily to find a "holy" job, not a secular one.  We might want to be missionaries because that seems more "holy" than a restauranteur.  We make our work our mission.

 But we miss the truth when we focus on the now:  bank accounts and computer programs, even beautiful art and excellent writing will all pass away.  What is eternal is our souls and the souls of others:  have we accepted the Lord and loved Him and loved others?

All Christians must be holy and loving and forgiving and generous and joyful and self controlled.  But not all Christians need to be tentmakers (like Paul) or sellers of purple cloth (Like Lydia).  Our careers are merely more vehicles for us to love God and love others.  My kindness to an employee at the ice cream shop is not any different or more or less holy than my kindness to an employee at a bank.  Our love to our children (such as a SAHM) is not any less holy or "official" than love shown to other children (such as a teacher or day care worker).

I finally have, thank the Lord, adjusted the error in my thinking that I had to find the one right "thing to do" with my life.  I DO have to follow the Word of God--to love my husband and children, to be busy at home and make my home, to be kind.  I must be gentle and forgiving, loving and humble.  I must act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with my God.

Whether I do that selling purple cloth or making tents or as a theoretical physicist or as a computer tech, it is all good.

So instead of finding a path, I have found a mission that works on any path.
-I will try to keep my focus on God always, cultivating love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, humbleness, and self control
-I will show the love of God to all as much as I am able:  being nice to snippy waitresses or asking weary moms if they are ok and if I can help or dealing with any grouchy bosses or clients I may have someday with humor and forbearance
-I will start at home, with my husband and children, and see what they need from me.
-I will spread my net to see if anyone else I know needs anything from me.
-I will be diligent with my chores (be they house chores, farm chores, or work chores)
-I will look at my talents and godly desires (for He makes us to Will and to Do for His good pleasure) and opportunities and be earnest in developing them for His glory.


It is raining this morning, a fresh, drenching, cleansing rain that fills dry ponds and plumps up withering leaves that had used their last resources to try to stay alive.  This rain is washing away my errant thinking and starting me refreshed and renewed, with the scent of petrichor and wet leaves and clean air.  My little oil lamp has seen me through the dimness of pre-dawn to the bright, soft light of a diffused sun.  I have prayed and thought and resolved.  I am ready for my new start.

PS, this is what Bonnie Gray, author of Finding Spiritual Whitespace, posted after I wrote this blog!  The Lord confirmed and affirmed--let me never forget!!!

"i woke up to the sound of soft rain, for the first time this autumn. so i put on my shoes, took my raincoat and umbrella, and walked across a wooden bridge and some freshly, fallen wet leaves. it was so quiet and peaceful, i whispered, thank you, God. and i felt Him whisper in return, "you don't have to wonder...i will make all things new again. i make all things new in you." // "then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil." deut.11:14 -- 🍃 think of everything that is beautiful -- then, remember, everything beautiful will be made new in you. with Him. new grain. new wine. new oil. 💕 ‪#‎SpiritualWhitespace‬"

Chickens and the Word of God

Hey!

We have two new additions to our fowl farm:  Meet Catherine the Great and Pavelandreievich!

They are a breed of chicken called Naked Necks.

Now, here is the thing...I know they are not as drop dead gorgeous as (any) other chicken.  They have few to no feathers on their necks and shoulders.  The bare skin on an exceptionally long neck looks actually unattractive to most.

But let me tell you why these might be the most beautiful chickens there are.

They:
-are dual purpose meat and egg chickens
-lay a good quantity of large brown eggs
-are hardy to both heat AND cold
-go broody enough, but are not always broody, so they will hatch their own eggs
-are good moms for raising their own babies
-have incredible tasting meat
-are equally happy confined or free ranging
-are docile, calm, and gentle
-seem to be immune to most chicken diseases
-have an excellent food conservancy ratio so the food costs are down
-are excellent foragers.

So though they might look "ugly" to some, they actually are perfect homestead birds, providing meat and eggs in a sweet, calm, thrifty, hardy bird.

Let's even talk about their detractor--their lack of feathers.   Actually this is a huge plus for the homesteader for two reasons.  Firstly, they have much fewer feathers everywhere, not just their necks, so plucking is much quicker and easier.  Secondly, because they have fewer feathers, more of the nutrition they take in is put to egg and meat production.

So even their bad points are actually great points.

To be honest, it sorrows me that people would pass over this chicken because it is not as stunning as other types of chickens.  It shows such a shallowness that I also have to address in myself.  How often have I chosen "pretty" over "good"?

This reminds me of what the Lord says in His Word.  He does not judge by outward appearances but by the heart.  He said this when He was choosing a new king for Israel and did not choose any of the 7 magnificent brothers, but rather chose the smallest, youngest brother, David.

Then in the New Testament, He tells us that He chooses the weak things to shame the strong, the things that are not to outshine the things that are.   He does not look to appearances but to our hearts.

So I am training my eyes to see more deeply, and I am keeping two of the most beautiful chickens ever as a reminder of the Lord and His mercy and perfect wisdom :)