Manure Minded Or Pony Minded

MANURE MINDED OR PONY MINDED

 
Message of faith and love: Gerri Merrick ~ December 2013

Several years ago, when I still owned my "horse herd" of five lovely horses, I was enjoying raking out the manure from my horse corral, singing in the spirit and confessing the Word with joy. This was a quiet time and I always found sweet fellowship with the Lord while not being distracted by much of the world clamor and noises.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me and asked an interesting question. "Are you manure minded or pony minded?" I stopped my work, leaning on the rake and stood still to ponder His words. My mind flew back to memories of a Christmas in the long ago past which held some keys to the answer.

When I was only 3 years old and my brother was a wise 5 years old, my parents gave us a very special Christmas gift. Who could imagine the wonder when we came into the living room that Christmas morning so many years ago. Lots of brightly wrapped gifts with colored lights on the tree, tinsel and garlands. Candy and cookies on the side table and my dear vising grandparents with beaming joyful faces.

All of a sudden, the Christmas tree seemed to move! There in all of her glory, stood quietly hidden in the living room corner, was a beautiful live Shetland pony complete with saddle and bridle...waiting for us to love and ride! Our hearts went wild with delight. We named her "Beauty."

This was the fruitful beginning of my passion for horses and burning desire to know about God for myself. Prayers, singing, going to church and school, Bible lessons, along with learning how to care for a pony became my busy young life. My family encouraged me in all of these activities because it was the obedient thing to do in those years just after WWII. I tried to be a perfect daughter and friend. My family could not have been more kind and gentle. Jesus became my Savior and Lord when I was only 7 which increased my zeal "to do and be good." Only years later, did I learn the power of His Word and how to humbly yield to the Holy Spirit and not depend upon my own "strength, talents and goodness."

In all the years that dear Shetland pony was in our family, I do not remember any "manure." I was the one who led Beauty to the water trough, fed her grain and hay and many snacks since my brother had started school. The family pictures of a small little blonde child leading an "old rescued" shaggy Shetland pony, looking more like a Russian circus bear, brings back a wide variety of memories. I am amazed at my mother's faith in my safety and God's care. Beauty lived until I was 7 and then as all "older pets" seem to have to leave us, she quietly died early one morning in our large back yard. I was the first person to find her and the death of any beloved pet or person is still painful for me to face. I remember everything about the "Joy of the Pony"...except the "manure." That is not remembered at all.

As years go by with the problems, challenges and pains we all face in our lives, it is a normal human tendency to become more "Manure Minded" than "Pony Minded." Even during the bright joyful traditional season of Christmas, we can find ourselves looking more at the "manure" than at the "Christmas Pony."

Yes, dear Holy Spirit, I had to admit to the fleshly trap of becoming "more manure mind than pony minded" with the cares and burdens of daily life as an adult. Anytime our minds and attention are taken from our focus upon the Word, Faith and the Face of our Father, peace spreads its wings in flight and we are looking down again at the "manure" of the world, flesh and the devil. The natural world floods over us again and again with cares and heaviness that strips away the Joy of the Lord, including the "Pony Minded Lesson" of the joyful hope in Jesus our Lord.

So again, I was refreshed in that corral, alone with the Lord and the Holy Spirit being my divine teacher... to Guard the Joy! Maintain the Peace! To let my true love and delight keep faith alive and never allow a "heavy habit of being good, mixed with cares of this world" to rise up....but allow myself to come as a little child with fresh wonder and joy in Jesus over and over..... "Pony Minded" again! Truly we are in the world, but NOT of it!

REJOICING IN THE LORD ALWAYS! JESUS IS LORD FOREVER!

 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for HE who promised is faithful" Hebrews 10:23

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I do hope."
Psalm 130:5

"For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end." Hebrews 3:14

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Rev Geraldine Merrick ~ Rejoice International ~ Rejoice Rally