A Hunting Story

Waking to continuous news coverage of the bombings in England was so deja-view the morning of 9/11.  If you haven't yet, please say a prayer for  the many who have been affected by this.

As for life in Caneyhead......it is rolling along.  A calm, pleasant week.  We have had many much needed showers.  The little foal is doing well.  Pete decided to call him Thomas Stanley, after a relative.  He seems to name most of his animals after relatives.  It is meant to be an honor, though a sometimes humorous one.  We have been sighting many deer lately.  They are really out and about.  My sister, Edna, and I are planning to take my two kids to Galveston sometime this month.  It is about a two hour trip, including ferry time.  Bubba has been to the sea shore, but never across to the island.  Bug has never seen the ocean and it is one of her greatest hearts desires.  In general Pete is doing well.  But he does have an appointment next week with the sinus doctor (ear and nose man).  Please pray with me that we find something there that can be helpful to him.  And that's about it on the homefront.  Today I am going to share with you another gem that Monica shared with me.  I like it for two reasons.  One it has a redneck flavor to it.  Second it has a lot of spiritual truth in it.  Hope you enjoy.

 There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old rifle and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out hunting and kill some wild game for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit.  He shot at the rabbit and missed it. The rabbit ran away.  Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. The squirrel disappeared into a hole in a cottonwood tree. As he went further, he saw a large wild "Tom" turkey in the tree, but he had only one bullet remaining. A voice spoke to him and said, "Pray first, aim high and stay focused." However, at the same time, he saw a deer which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattlesnake between his legs about to bite him, so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake. Still, the voice said again to him, "I said 'Pray, Aim high and Stay focused."  So the man decided to listen to God's voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey. The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer.
The handle fell off the gun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And when the gun had gone off, it knocked the man into a pond. When he stood up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and a turkey to feed his family. The snake (Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God.

Moral of the story:

Pray first before you do anything, Aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God.

Never let others discourage you concerning your past. The past is exactly that "the past."

Live every day one day at a time and remember that only God knows our future and that he will not put you through any more than you can bear.

Do not look to man for your blessings, but look to God only.

He has prepared in advance for you, in your favor.

Wait, be still and patient: keep God first and everything else will follow.
   Today's journal:  Follow single mom, Rachel, as she struggles from day to day in triumph and tragedy asking the question  What can you do?  Rachel has a big heart and a lot of baggage (don't we all!), and writes from that with honesty.  Lend your encouragement and cheers to Rachel and her daughter Olivia.

 

 The first time I ever read todays scripture it sent chills thru me.  It is part of the Sermon on the Mount, yet you seldom hear it mentioned.  "But I have added to that rule, and tell you that if you are only angry, even in your own home, you are in danger of judgement!  If you call your friend an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court.  And if you curse him, you are in danger of the fires of hell."  Matthew 5:22  TLB  Did you get chills also?  This was our precious Lord elaborating on the commandment not to commit murder.  Very sobering indeed.  I have nothing to add to this, except please meditate upon it and pray accordingly. 

(Roses from Microsoft Outlook Express stationery collection.)