Sabbath Keeping

"If racing against mere men makes you tired, 

how will you race against horses?"

If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"

~ Jeremiah 12-5 ~

"Our labor preserves us from three great evils - weariness, vice and want."
~ Voltair ~

"Negative people need drama like oxygen.

Stay positive. It will take their breath away."

"A work is never completed except by some accident such as weariness, satisfaction, the need to deliver, or death: for, in relation to who or what is making it, it can only be one stage in a series of inner transformations."
~ Paul Valery ~

"When everything feels like an uphill struggle

just think of the view from the top."

"As I thought of these things, I draw aside the curtains and looked out into the darkness, and it seemed to my troubled fancy that all those little points of light filling the sky were the furnaces of innumerable divine alchemists, who labour continually, turning lead into gold, weariness into ecstasy, bodies into souls, the darkness into God; and at their perfect labour my mortality grew heavy, and I cried out, so as many dreamers and men of letters in our age have cried, for the birth of that elaborate spiritual beauty which could alone uplift souls weighted with so many dreams." ~ W. B. Yeats ~

"Nothing can wear you out like caring for people."

"I am old, Gandalf. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-reserved indeed! Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a change, or something." ~ J. R. R. Tolkien ~

"When fearful, we have a choice:

Forget Everything And Run

or

Face Everything And Rise"

"God doesn't need more critics.

He needs more encouragers."

"You are brave, strong, capable, loving, kind, caring, faithful

Because God Is."

"Do what is right.

Not what is easy."

"God shows us He's in control
by putting us into situations
we can't control."

"On

the 

straight

and 

narrow

path

there 

are 

no 

corners

to

be 

cut."

~ Neal A. Maxwell ~

"For the one who is tired:
Dear heart: God does not say today, "Be strong!"
He knows your strength is spent;
He knows how long the road has been,
how weary you have grown;
for He walked the earthly roads alone,
each bogging lowland and
each long, steep hill He can understand,
and so He says, "Be still and know that I am God."
The hour is late and you must rest a while
and you must wait until life's empty reservoir's fill up
as slow rain fills up an empty upturned cup.
Hold up your cup, dear child, for God to fill.
He only asks today that you be still."
~ Grace Noll Crowel ~

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

We do not know what we ought to pray for, 

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for God's people 

in accordance with the will of God. 

And we know that in all things God 

works for the good of those who love Him, 

who have been called according to His purpose."

~ Romans 8:26-28 ~ 

Please join me in pray ~ Alicia ~ Nancy ~ Anita ~ my family ~ and you, as God brings you to our minds ~

For more encouragement, please click here. A. J. Gossip, a Scotsman, wrote "BUT WHEN LIFE TUMBLES IN, WHAT THEN?" after his wife suddenly and unexpectedly died. A long read but well worth a moment of your time, especially if you are exhausted, tired, weary.

We Christians have the Trinity - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - to help, heal, guide, intercede, strengthen. This week has been intense for so many (myself included)...Christians, in the name of Christ, coming against each other; satan coming against Christians; exhaustion and weariness overwhelming so many. We are in trying days and times; evil is on every side and sometimes we become so weary in 'fighting the good fight' we forget it's not in our strength that even the next breath is drawn.

In Him, we are able because God is able. 

Unpacking Summer

A recent visitor to Thistle Cove Farm is still here. This fawn and mother were in the hay pasture when Mom decided to jump the fence. For some reason, the fawn wasn't comfortable following, stayed behind and, eventually, made her way to the yard. To allow the fawn access to pastures, I opened gates and she made way to the upper pasture, "helped", I'm sorry to say, by Sam P. Spade. Hopefully, Mom is able to find the baby but if nothing happens, this fawn should be old enough to make its way. It's really too young yet but I've done what I can do.

~ Good Golly Miss Molly ~

"To lie sometimes on the grass

under trees on a summer's day,

listening to the murmur of the water,

or watching the clouds float across the sky,

is by no means a waste of time."

~ John Lubbock ~

Dog days are winding down as Sirius, the Dog Star, wends its way across the night sky. The traditional time period is July 3 - August 11 due to the ancient Greeks interpretation of the Canis Major constellation. Sirius is the dogs nose or dog star and chases Lepus, the hare.

Sadie and Sam just think it's hotter than Hades and spend their days finding the cool spots. I'm spending my days mowing and moving hay bales.



To each their own, Dogs. I wear bib overall's that are too tall for my shorter frame. Fortunately, each leg can be rolled up and snapped to shorten the legs. Recently, someone told me to cross the straps in the back and that will take up a little more fabric which will, hopefully, help. Behind me is a stand of thistle that was mowed down; in fact, the entire field was mowed. Some folks wanted to bale the hay in this field, change their minds and I mowed everything down. It took me about 3 days 9 days...1 to mow, 2 to recover, 1 to mow, 2 to recover, 1 to mow, 2 to recover. Knees are wrapped like babies in swaddling clothes bandages yet still manage to feel the pain of working the clutch, brake, gas. When using the tractor, both hands, both feet are called into use and all feel the agony. Usually I wear a visor but lost it somewhere along the way; haven't found it yet.

Not a bad day at work...good scenery, nice breeze, great equipment and God's strength to keep me going. The fields haven't been sprayed since 2009 but this coming spring, they'll be sprayed for weed control. In case someone wanted to buy USDA 'organic status', not spraying chemicals is important but I no longer care. The weeds are terrible and I'm too old to keep up; I'd rather have a good field of hay than weeds.

 This morning, a heavy fog covered the valley, making the round baled hay resemble Shredded Wheat in a field of green. This cutting yielded 33.5 round bales 5x5 feet and weighing about 1100 pounds. Even before cutting, someone asked to buy so they'll be contacted to bring their trailer and, using the tractor, I'll load their hay straight from the field. My bales will be moved to the barn lot, stored under shelter, waiting for winter.

Thornless blackberries have a good harvest; enough for several cobblers or one cobbler and some to freeze. Some years ago, Dad gave me the slips and this is the first year they've born abundantly. The apple tree is going to have an abundant harvest as well...delicious apples, I believe them to be Punkin Sweet, a heritage apple that, after a hard frost, eats well out of hay, makes delicious pies, cakes or can be dried, canned or frozen.

Soon, very soon, I'll have a Youtube site where videos of Thistle Cove FarmLife! will be shown. Last week was my 21st wedding anniversary and I left home, thinking to take myself to lunch. Instead, I found myself at Sam's Club where I bought a GoPro (expensive non-lunch!), brought it home and managed to take a video of me doing tractor work. One of my errands is to stop by Studio Addison, take a cake, my GoPro and some other things to wheedle them into helping me ask them to help me.

Leaving you with a photo of Sadie, above and Sam, below

Happy Dog Days.

Ponder this ~ make the least of all that goes and the most of all that comes ~

Sabbath Keeping

"A fool gives full vent to his anger,

but a wise man keeps himself under control."

~ Proverbs 29:11 ~

"Anybody can become angry, that is easy - but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy." ~ Aristotle ~ 

"You will not be punished for your anger,
you will be punished by your anger."
~ Buddha ~

"The greatest remedy for anger is delay." ~ Seneca ~

"Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding." ~ Gandhi ~

"When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred."
~ Thomas Jefferson ~ 

"For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
~ Emerson ~

"I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him."
~ Booker T. Washington ~

"Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one." ~ Ben Franklin ~

"Anger is not the opposite of love, for the opposite of love is indifference. To be angry is to care tremendously. It is a signal that your caring extends beyond polite conversation, and that you are willing to risk a confrontation to share how you feel."

~ Doris Moreland Jones, God's Gift of Anger ~ 

"It's important for people to keep in mind that while anger is a feeling that everybody has, aggression is a choice." ~ Carole D. Stovall ~ 

"Don't rehearse your anger."

"Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear,

little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure 

to give you the Kingdom."

~ Luke 12:32 ~

Please pray for ~ Nancy ~ Bonnie Jean ~ Patty and family ~ Stephanie ~ Donald ~ Dori ~ Jim ~ Steve ~ Sandra ~ 

Up a Tree - why I am NOT voting my conscious in November

Good Golly Miss Molly

is growing like the proverbial weed. As she should be because she refuses, as in turns up her pert little nose, at any and everything unless it's warmed milk with goat kid formula mixed in. Pure fat! The globules are thick, yellow and the resulting mixture is high in fat and calories; an excellent choice for kittens as well as for any little thing that needs to be grown without Mama.

In the past, I've used kitten formula, designed especially for kittens which is reflected in the enormous cost. I don't mind giving kittens a good start; what I mind is when they refuse to take the next step...as in eating kitten kibble. Not Miss Molly! She's approximately 12 to 15 weeks old and still refuses to take the next step! Someone said, "Don't feed her formula; she'l eat when she gets hungry." Ummm. Yeah, she will but I don't have the heart to do that and assume (dangerous, I know) she'll eat kibble when she's ready. After all, she knows more about being a kitten than I know. Right?

The Very Expensive kitten formula has given way to kid formula...as in baby goat formula. It's expensive but pales in comparison to kitten formula so what Miss Molly doesn't eat drink, I pass along to Moonbeam (about six weeks old and eating kitten kibble!) and her Mother, Girly. Yes, another kitten. SIGH I believe in, and practice with the religious intensity of the newly converted, spaying (or as they say around here...spayeded) and neutering. Especially neutering as it's less expensive, less invasive, less hard on the male than spaying on the female. (No matter what males would have females believe.)

~ Girly and Moonbeam ~

I'm always dealing with feral cats and have shed copious amounts of blood, spent copious amounts of money and time taking care of them. Should that national association call wanting money for their non-profit, I advise I'll send them money just as soon as they send me money. During the 1/3 of my life here, I've had rescued goats, sheep, alpacas, horses, guineas, dogs and cats. I don't waste time considering how much money I've spent on animals, four and two legged, that have come to Thistle Cove Farm for food, shelter, medicine and succor. I figure if God sends them, He'll send the means to take care of them; He has not failed me, or them, nor will He.

Recently, a deer (I'm hoping not the mother of the twin fawns in the upper pasture) was found dead in the neighboring pasture. I don't know if she died from a coyote attack or some jackass killed her with a shot from the road. One recent morning I watched as juvenile eagles tore at the carcass while a black crow tormented them. Every now and again, the young eagles would give way to a mature eagle, bowing to his claim, knowing s/he'd give them a rip if they didn't.

o

Almost dead center, the adult eagle comes in to the carcass, knowing it will become available before s/he even arrives.

In every wee bit of Thistle Cove Farm Life, I can find similarities for my Christian crawl, walk, run life. Watching the eagles and crow, then vultures as the days passed, makes me think of this country and the way we're settling into a lower common denominator. People on all sides cry foul, believe themselves to be a victim (not a victor!), think their opinion is the One True Opinion (and you know what is said about opinions), distort facts (if indeed, they bother to give facts...most don't) and, in general, show a determined disdain for any who believe otherwise. I'm probably as guilty as the next so am giving my facts and figures to support why I will NOT vote my conscious this November.

I used to meet with a group of lovely women to quilt; they taught me a lot, started me out on a Turning Twenty quilt and certainly put my feet on the path to making quilts. The love of quilting was already there, inbred, a racial memory as I'd watched Aunt Bonnie and Aunt Esther make quilts for decades. Anyway, one evening we were discussing Presidents we've loved and hated I mentioned what a statesman Ronald Reagan was and how I believed he and Margaret Thatcher brought the world through an extremely tumultuous time. One woman snorted and exclaimed, "I hated Reagan; he was an awful President!" I asked, "Why?" She replied, "I don't know, I just hated him." I looked at her. "Yes, I get you didn't like him but what specifically didn't you like? Was it his foreign policy, his economic policy, his environmental policy...what didn't you like?" She looked at me and shrugged. "I just didn't like him and don't have to give a reason why."

All righty then. That makes NO sense to me whatsoever. I don't like Obama and can give facts and figures to support my extreme dislike of his Presidency; same with Clinton and, truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of Trump.

~ fighting over the carcass ~

Obama promised to change America and he has in such a dramatic way the Founding Father's wouldn't recognize this government. The USA, as it's now called, was founded on Judeo-Christian principals and values (but not denomination) as evidenced by original and early State Charters and, contrary to popular opinion, is NOT a democracy. We are a Republic and quickly losing it (apologies to Ben Franklin).

The first Virginia Charter (April 10, 1606) was granted by King James I (yes, he of the King James Version of the Bible) begins, "We, greatly commending and graciously accepting of their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of His Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages, living in those Parts, to human Civility, and to a settled and quiet Government. ..."

Hmmmm, mouth hanging open now? Yes, this country, from the very beginning, was founded on, with grateful recognition and prayers given, to Almighty God and this does make us different from other world nations.

Likewise, the Massachusetts Charter, March 4, 1629, granted by King Charles I reads, "...For the directing, ruling, and disposeing of all other Matters and Things, whereby our said People...maie be soe religiously, peaceable, and civilly governed, as their good life and orderlie Conversation, maie wynn and incite the Natives of the Country to the Knowledg and Obedience of the onlie true God and Savior of Mankinde, and the Christian Fayth, which, in our Royall intention, and the Adventurers free profession, is the principall Ende of this Plantation. ..."

Oh Goodness...I believe I hear the crumbling of fast held "truths" as propagated by liberal media. Early days America saw all 13 Colonies having some form of state supported religion which, in some cases lasted 200 or more years and didn't end totally until after the War Between the States! To further read how the Christian religion has changed America, click here.

Ted Cruz made a list of illegal  acts committed by President Obama (added note...Cruz went with Obama on Air Force One to the "interfaith ceremony for the fallen Dallas police officers...Cruz is now persona non grata with me) and this article has a list as well. My problem with Obama is how he has torn asunder the fabric of the County and Family by his support of LGBTQ's and their agenda of men in women's bathrooms, same sex marriages, etc. I am also bothered by his downsizing of our military (implications cause me to quiver), his refusal to acknowledge ISIS, terrorism or radical Islam (more quivering), the fact this nation is now a debtor nation to the tune of more than $19 TRILLION (actual trembling). The grandchildren of children born today will be born into a debtor nation unless something changes or Christ returns. Don't get me started on illegal immigrants! I believe in immigration but I do not believe in illegal immigration as do none of the legal immigrants with whom I've spoken. There are those whose opinions differ, crying "What about the children?!" Yes, a very excellent question...what about the children? Those children who are already here, legally and born here who go to bed hungry, who live under bridges, who are enslaved in human trafficking, who don't have shoes, the thousands of abortions on a daily basis...and the list goes on and on. Here, a list of changes since Obama was elected...unbelievable!

Another Clinton in the White House? Dear God, have mercy and save us! I don't care what Comey says...after all, wasn't it he who "investigated" Bill some twenty years ago? I'm wondering what political appointment he expects traded for?

As to Trump...he's brash, arrogant, mouthy, pushy, loud, generally what a lot of Southerners think of when they think "Yankee" (apologies to my Yankee friends and acquaintances)...in other words, not so different from a lot of Presidents. Trump isn't my first pick; my conscious dictates writing in/voting for Allen West, Condy Rice, Ted Cruz (see note above) or other Christian conservatives for the White House. My conscious dictates me vote for a other conservative other than Trump, yet, in defiance of my conscious, I'm voting for Trump. Yes, he's been married, several times, and should he choose Gingrich as his running mate, they'll have six (6) marriages between them. (Oh how the evangelicals are cringing...)

Let's see...how many marriages did David have? How many times did he commit adultery? How many concubines? And didn't he have someone murdered so he could marry that man's pregnant by David wife? How much of the Bible is comprised of fallen men and women (Rahab) and are even acknowledged in the lineage of Christ?

That's the takeaway: fallen men and women who, having fallen, return, time and time and time again, to God for salvation and God, in His extreme grace and mercy, welcomes them Home again. Is Trump a Christian? I don't know; God hasn't told me and I'm too busy working out my own salvation with fear and trembling. It's a safe bet Obama isn't; the proof is in the fruit of his words and actions.

Three of the current Supreme Court Justices are age 77 or older; the next President will have the privilege of putting (due to retirement, death or sleeping on the job) as many as four men or women on the bench and Trump has promised Conservative men and women, which will, for the rest of my lifetime and, probably, my sister's children's lifetime, make a huge difference in this country continuing on the path our Founding Father's placed us...a Christian path and not a Sharia path.

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind; again, that's not my job, it's God's job to make us into men and women after His own heart. I'm explaining why I'm not voting my conscious and am voting for Trump. Another Clinton or Bernie in the White House will be the undoing of this country. We face both a challenge and crises; we're at yet another crossroads as we face another Presidential election but if God's people, who are called by His name, humble themselves and pray and seek after Him and turn from their wicked ways, then He will hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land."

May it be so.

Ponder this ~ "Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person." ~ Mark Twain ~ (oh! how we fall short)

Sabbath Keeping

"It is God alone who judges

He decides who will rise

and who will fall."

~ Psalm 75:7 ~

Self confidence has limited potential

God confidence has unlimited possibility.

~ Renee Swope ~

"Confidence is not based on you having all the resources you need to take care of yourself; confidence is based upon the truth that God is faithful."

"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand
at the time." ~ Oswald Chambers ~

CHRISTIANS: REDEEM THE TIME

"The most beautiful women I've ever observed are those who have exchanged a self-focused life for a Christ focused one. They are confident, but not in themselves, instead of confidence they radiate with Christ confidence." ~ Leslie Ludy ~

"God sometimes takes us into troubled waters...

not to drown us, but to cleanse us."

"Doubt is a lack of confidence or assurance that God will keep His promises. Faith is an active confidence that God's promises are always true." ~ James MacDonald ~

"Unshakable confidence is not built on someone, something or someplace
but on our unshakable God." ~ Lynn Cowell ~

"Every doubt, every fear is a crime against God."

"Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God,

you may receive the promise."

~ Hebrews 10:35-36 ~

Please pray for our great country, the USA. This Presidential election is the most important in my lifetime of 60+ years! Keep in mind whoever wins the November Presidential election will determine the direction this country will take FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. The next President will be in a position to put conservative, even Godly men or women on the Supreme Court. If you want your children and your children's children children to live in a country that was founded and based on Judeo Christian values, vote for the one who promised to put conservative, pro-life judges in the Supreme Court.

Happy July 4th, 2016

The Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America are called the Bill of Rights and list the limits of governmental power. Our Founding Fathers saw the need for people to have freedom to worship as they wanted as well as freedom of speech. In short, the Bill of Rights prohibited Congress from making laws that were against the Constitution.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. (italics mine)

"I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that, 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we, ourselves, shall become a reproach and a byword down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service." ~ Benjamin Franklin, here ~

Ponder this ~ freedom is not free ~