Christmas December Story shared again......
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"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 w
aits, 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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"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 to never allow a "heavy habit of being
good, mixed with cares of this world"....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!
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Rev Gerri Merrick~ Rejoice International ~ Rejoice Rally
