I Hate~Hate~Hate Change!

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 For I am the LORD, I change not;  Malachi 3:6a

 Did I mention~I hate change? I am one of those boring people who prefers that things always stay the same. I just hate it when life brings changes~I admit it! It is a huge character flaw~ I am in recovery. At least I hope I am making progress.

When we built our retirement home I thought I would never have to move until my children wheeled me into my old age retirement home. But guess what? Things changed!

 If I eat out at a restaurant~ I almost always order the same thing. I love Taco Bell and I have been ordering the same four things~give or take at any one given time~ since I was a teenager. I Like to eat at the same restaurant and order the same thing. I like life to stay the same~steady Eddie all the time!

I find my security in things staying the same. 

As the mirror reminds me every day that I am getting older~I realize life is one constant change. And I don't like it but~ if I can't handle change, I will never be happy. So I am striving little by little to handle change.

I am so thankful God never changes!  The past couple years have ushered in change after change in my life. I have to be careful because change throws my whole self out of balance.  It gives me great security to go to My Heavenly Father and rest in His promises that I find in His Word. He is always the same. He never changes or changes His mind. His character is always the same. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I just love that. My God never changes. That is wonderful and exciting news to me who hates change. I can rest my security in that promise. 

Our seasons change. People change and change their minds. Our circumstances are always changing.  Everything around us is in a perpetual state of change. But one thing that will never change is that a changeless God loves and cares for me and my ever changing life. Now that can bring security to this ever changing heart of mine!

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I Have Been Here Before~

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I think spring has finally arrived at Farming On Faith. Oh my stars~ I thought it might never get here.

I have this saying written on my chalkboard on the porch in hopes it really is true!


No Winter lasts forever ~
 No Spring skips her turn.


This morning as I sit on my deck listening to all the glory of a beautiful spring day I am having my devotions with Emilie Barnes. I raised my family on Emilie's books. I just love her!

My devotion is titled~ Neverending Desires.  


Philippians 4:11

 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.


I am reading this devotion for the millionth time~ truly! I have to remind myself of this because we are in the process of selling our home and moving back to town. Have I ever told you I would rather do anything except move? It gives me horrible nightmares and keeps me awake at night! So I am just having the hardest time being content in this state~ that I hate.

We have been looking for a home for about a year and that has not gone so great either but I just want to get where I am going. I hate being stuck in the middle and I need my roots to take hold somewhere~ anywhere. 

Emilie states~ "We don't happen to live in a society that puts a lid on anything, let alone our desires. As a capitalistic and consuming society we strive upward to the next level of prosperity; bigger apartments or houses, luxury cars, the next raise, fancier vacations, and more expensive toys. The echo of our success says that our happiness depends upon processions that show those around us that we have succeeded in the business world."

In and of themselves, there is not a thing wrong with owning things. But to love them so much we are not willing to give them up makes them a little god. I never thought we would be asked to give up our retirement home but that is exactly what God has asked us to do.

My husband has been called to a job that impacts way more lives than just ours. So ~ we are selling and obeying the call that God has called my husband to do.  

The part I am struggling with is the process. Sigh..... I have been here before!

 Paul is telling us in this verse above to have contentment in today ~ right now~ not the desires for the future. I have been here before and I really didn't pass the test with flying colors. In fact ~ if I were to give myself a grade it would be more like I verily passed by the seat of my pants.  I want to pass the test this time with faith~ and grace.

So today I am focusing on just living in the moment for today and being content even without my roots being planted.

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The Pages Of This Life Keep Turning~

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The pages of this life are turning way too fast. This is my baby and his date for the Homeschool Prom this weekend. I think they are just too cute! Where does the the time go? If if only we could turn back the hands of time. This momma is having a sentimental moment~ sniffle!












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Yummy Cherry Jelly~

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Homemade Cherry Jelly~ 


PSALM 34:8 


 8O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.


I love to buy jelly and jam from My Amish Friends~it is oh so good. Last year I started making my own. My neighbor brought us some wild cherries. Oh this recipe is so good and simple. ENJOY!

I did pit mine because they had worms and I wanted to make sure we had no worm jelly~tehe!

3 1/2 c. cherry juice (about 3 lb. or 2 qt. boxes sour cherries and 1/2 c. water)
1 pkg. powdered pectin
4 1/2 c. sugar

To prepare juice. Select fully ripe cherries. Soft; wash and remove stems. Do not pit. Crush cherries, add water and cover. Bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Extract juice.To make jelly: measure juice into a kettle. Add pectin and stir well. Place on high heat and stir constantly. Bring quickly to a boil that cannot be stirred down. Add sugar, continue stirring and heat again to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute. Remove from heat; skim off foam from top quickly. Pour jelly immediately into hot containers and seal. Makes about 6 (8 ounce) glasses.


Have a blessed day~

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Mind Your Own Business~ Please!

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Luke 6:42 

 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

I attended my old church for almost 40 years. Last fall we were led by God to move to a small country church and we are so excited to see what God has in store for our little church! I have been so blessed with many wonderful people in my life. I was a bus kid that someone so lovingly picked up and started taking to church.  God has done miraculous things in my life and the lives of my family. I am so thankful for the love and grace of my Pastor for all those years. I am thankful for the many times God and my church family have shown love, grace and mercy to me. I did not always know how to act or what to say. But~because they loved me I am where I am today. 

 This is not always the case~ I have seen so many people over the years who were wounded and stopped coming to church over people who thought it was their business to micro~manage other people.

 Why do we think it is a good idea to manipulate people into serving God?~ It truly doesn't work.

 If we have to attack fellow Christians or tear them to shreds with our words and gossip we are NOT walking in the spirit of God but rather our flesh. We harm our family in God and create wounded causalities. We are destroying our own brothers and sisters in Christ.

 As a parent when my children were fighting and bickering~ I would spank them all. I wonder if the Heavenly Father might just feel the same way. When we attack his children~ even if we are His child~ I am sure it grieves His heart.

 I have had it with this kind of behavior and I just want to scream to high Heaven. STOP IT! We are all on the same side!  We best be so careful the damage we do when we think that we are jury and judge. I truly believe we will give an account for those we have wounded inside and outside the church! 

What about this verse?~

Proverbs 18:19
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

May I be so kind to say~"Please~Mind Your Own Business"!  Many times people who like to find fault and criticise others are failing to see the beam in their own eye. I can honestly tell you when I am being all that God wants me to be as a child of God, wife, and mother I do NOT have time to be figuring out what is wrong in your life or your child's life! Nor is my place.  God does not give us the right to micro~manage other peoples lives.

John 21:21-22 

 21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
 22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Jesus was talking with Peter about the hardships he would have to endure in order to serve and glorify Him. As soon as Jesus finished speaking, Peter turned, spotted John and immediately asked Jesus what His will was for him. Peter wanted to make sure that if he was going to go through rough times, that John should also have to go through hard times. Jesus politely told Peter to mind his own business.
You should be encouraged and take hope in the fact that Jesus' disciples struggled with many of the same things we do. Jealousy, envy, and comparing yourself with others is childish. As with the disciples, Jesus has great patience with us. But it helps to remember that minding our own business is more than enough for us to handle. 





1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (King James Version)

 9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
 10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
 11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.




*We all have moments in our lives when we make this kind of mistake, and it is often with good intentions. But it's truly sin and needs to be confessed. It can be destructive to the relationships in our lives. That’s why Paul warned the Thessalonians to mind their own business, live quietly, and work diligently. He wanted non-Christians to notice a difference between their lives and those of Christians. He wanted the love in God's family to be obvious to the lost and dying world.
 If you profess to be a Christian but are always causing heartache by getting involved in other people’s business, the world will take notice. I think we all will be better off if we strive to live a quiet life that points to Him in every way and learn to mind our own business.


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Feeling Insecure?

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 I hate to have my picture taken. I take horrible pictures. My husband and my children are all photogenic but not me.   WHY? You may ask~ well let me tell you. 

I have fat cheeks~I have always disliked my fat face. Even when I am thin~ I still have a full face. My mother always told me I would be glad when I grew old~ because fat faced people have less wrinkles. I am still waiting~hmmmm. I think she lied! My fat face has always been a source of insecurity for me. However~I finally have learned to make peace with my chubby cheeks and accept the way God has made me.
We all have insecurities. It is the truth. It is okay to breathe a sigh of relief and realize that it is not just you~ we all feel insecure from time to time. Feel better?  Now that we have that out of the way, how do we deal with the issue of our insecurity?



 We are all fearfully and wonderfully made~ just as God designed us to be. Constantly criticizing ourselves is questioning God and that He made a mistake. We all know that is just not true.

 I can minimize my feelings of inferiority by deciding to dwell on others and making them feel loved and accepted. In fact~ when I am looking for ways to make someone else feel important~ I pretty much forget about myself. Truly~ it works.
Let's make this practical. Our human nature is bent on negative thinking. It is natural to immediately think that someone does not like us or is judging us. Wouldn't it be great to make everyone we walk away from totally convinced that we think highly of them and want to be their friend? 

 I am blessed with a friend that always does this. Everyone I know wants to spend time with her because she makes them feel so wonderful. What a blessing she is to all who call her friend. I want to be more like this. 


I wish I was better at this and could say that I always encourage others all the time. But I am sure trying!  We can forget about our own insecurities long enough to help someone else over theirs.


Romans 12:10, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another."

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I Just Need A Sign ~

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I have been getting emails asking if we are okay. Yes~ we are all just fine. I have just been too busy to blog. Dog-gone-it~ I hate it when that happens.

Can you tell where the picture above was taken?

 We just returned last night from the snowy state of Colorado and landed in the tornado warnings of Missouri. Honestly~ give me the stormy weather. I think I have had my fill of snowing and blowing. I was so excited after we got through the stormy black clouds to see the green ~ green grass of home. 

Have you ever just needed God to give you a sign? Not that I need a sign that God is and that He is still in control~ I know that to be true. I truly want to live for God and do His will for my life. But do you ever just feel you don't know which direction you are suppose to go? I am at one of those such dilemmas today. 

I mean we know God's will for us is to serve God with our whole hearts, to give thanks no matter what, to be modest and discreet, to avoid immorality, to live under the Holy Spirit's control and to love Him with our whole hearts. But what about which direction we should take in our every day life? Should I go left or go right?

After reading how Gideon put out the fleece twice ~  he was tempting God by demanding a sign. I decided I am just not sure that is such a good idea for little ol' me to do. I am thinking twice about that. I in no way shape or form measure up to Gideon.

So what do we do when no answers come?  I have come to the conclusion today that we continue to obey the Scriptures and do what we know that is right to do and seek God and wait for Him to reveal His will for the future. I am sure that as we submit to God in the areas we know to do~ according to the Scriptures~ it will lead to God's guidance for the future.

Praising God in the hallway while I am waiting for Him to open the next door~ that is where I am at today. 


Knowing God's will for the future
Comes when we follow today
What He's revealed in the Scriptures
As His commands to obey. - Sper



 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.- Romans 12:2




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Picture Perfect~

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Happy Monday~ It is s rainy one here at Farming On Faith. I am ever so thankful. I have been praying for God to fill my pond. The drought in Missouri has taken it's toll. My poor fish need some water. 

 There is nothing worse for a "recovering perfectionist" than keeping a house picture perfect. I never feel like it is quite good enough so I drive myself crazy to no end~ well and everyone around me too.


The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.  Psalms 138:8

I tend to be too "cranky" with myself and others when I get in my "gotta be perfect mode." I tend to set my expectations too high for myself and others at times as if maybe we should be toting angel's wings or something. Perfection is a strict task master who offers no free lunch let alone a recess break. 

I am a clean freak ~ you can ask my kids. To a fault~ at times driving my family crazy.  Things in life ~ even a house are going to be less than perfect.  There is going to be dust and those floors I waxed today will need cleaned tomorrow. It is just life. 

We live in a fallen world and I am always going to be less than what I hoped for at some level until I meet the Perfect One. That is why Christ made a provision for our imperfection when He died on the cross to take away our sin. 

One day we will all be as He is ~ perfect. But until then may we continue to forgive ourselves, forgive others and let go ~ not of goals ~ but of perfection. 

Have a blessed Monday~


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Do You Ever Feel Like Running Away?

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We Mommas have days we want to run away when life gets rough. I remember many days that I wanted to pack a bag and take a little vacation.  Now what I wouldn't give to have them all little for just one more day.

 Some days we just feel like we are not "good enough." Sometimes it is our own "stinking thinking." Yet at times~ it may be the rejection of others. I hate rejection~ it just doesn't look good on me at all. 

Just lately I had a huge dose of it thrown my way~ it hurts and it leaves one feeling that you are not "good enough."

My first thought was I wanted to just run away and take a slow boat to China.  But~I am sure My Brian would come looking for me at supper time.

There is someone in the Bible who did run away when she felt she was not good enough. Let's face it ~ we all feel that way sometimes.

God had promised Sarah and Abraham a child but she grew tired of waiting on God and decided to take matters into her own hands. She told her husband to go marry and conceive a child with her maidservant so Sarah could have a child. What in God's green earth was this woman thinking? She had to be one abscessed woman to go to these lengths. I say she was plumb out of her cotton picking mind! So like any man who wanted to make his wife happy~ yeah right! That is exactly what Abraham did~ give me a break here~ but does this not make your blood boil?

Only there was a little problem. As Hagar's belly began to fill out~ Sarah  became jealous and bitter. You think?  So she told Abraham to get rid of her. This story is in Genesis 16 if you wish to read it. 

Poor Hagar~ a servant who was used ~ abused and abandoned had no choice in the matter. Sarah was cruel to her, mistreated her with cutting remarks and angry words. Hagar could take it no more so she ran away. 

Genesis 16:8

King James Version (KJV)
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

God knew where Hagar was but just as he asked Adam and Eve and just as he asks each one of us ~ He asks, "Where are you?"  She replies by telling the Lord she is running away. She was not good enough~ after all she had no say in anything and Sarah just wanted to cast her away. Ouch~ Mother Sarah~ not nice at all!

You see the name El Roi is the name for God that means ~ the God that sees. God saw Hagar in the wilderness and He loved her. He heard her affliction~ He took care of her. 


Hagar was running away from her mistress~ not good enough. But to the God who sees her she was good enough. Just as I am sure that Hagar was surprised that God seen her I am amazed that the God of the universe sees me. He knows everything that is going on in my life and He cares. He loves you too and you are good enough. He sees all that you are walking through today. There is not a thing in your life that God can not fix~ we can trust Him today. 



Psalm 139:17-18


 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! 
how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, 
they are more in number than the sand: 
when I awake, I am still with thee.



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Lord ~ You Know I Need A Brand New Touch

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If you have been a Christian for very long~ then you have been discouraged. Maybe even frustrated in your walk with the Lord. I am just being "real" today.  (This is what my devotion was on this morning.) I have been disappointed with a situation.  If we have our eyes on man ~ we will be discouraged. We even discourage ourselves.

We read in the 11th chapter of Hebrews all kinds of things the Jewish people suffered for their God. They were mocked, scourged, put in chains, imprisoned, stoned, tempted, threatened with death by the sword and they were ultimately homeless.  Now ~ I am feeling better. How about you? Never had any of those things happen to me. So~ I have no need to be bellyaching!

As my devotion stated this morning if we read on to Hebrews 12 we are encouraged by the Israelites and their walk. They endured! Yet~ I really don't want to keep going around the same bush for 40 years. I would rather learn my lessons that the Lord wants me to learn much quicker so I can move on. How about you?



Hebrews 12:1-2

King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This morning I am reminded that I have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding me and so do my brothers and sisters in the Lord that I am disappointed with~ did you catch that?  We are ALL to lay aside our every encumbrance and sin and get all those things that entangle us (Thinking this may mean Facebook in today's world.) out of our way and run the race that God has for us to run.

It is only my job to make sure I obey the Lord and the Word of God~ no matter if others do it or not. But in our hurt feelings we want to hold on to our offenses. This will only enslave us and keep us going round and round that bush until we finally learn the lesson that we are to fix our eyes on Jesus and Him alone.

When I am fixing my eyes on Jesus it keeps my mind off what I think may be an injustice. Jesus is the author of my faith ~ not man. He is the finisher of my faith. He endured the sin of my brothers and sisters and HE ENDURED MY SIN on that horrible cross.

Jesus is seated this morning on the right hand of His Father. That position reveals His power as the Son of God. So~ I don't need to take up offense for others or even myself. I just need to lay it all at the feet of Jesus and trust that He will take care of it all.

When we follow the instructions of Hebrews 12 we will find ourselves encouraged instead of discouraged.

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