~My dear daughter

My dear Daughter,
  
  I am for you. I stand ready, willing and completely able to help you overcome your struggles.
You don't realize the many times when you are facing temptations, I am there cheering you on towards victory. I cry too when you fail and fall back into sin, but I am always, always there encouraging you to stand and try again. I love you and have great plans for you. Believe that and live like you believe it!
   
   Love,
Your Heavenly Father 

~Prisoner by choice

The cell was dark and dreary. In the corner sat a girl. She did not look unhappy, but almost content; which is strange for someone in her position. Actually, she seemed oblivious to the chains that held her captive. Their names were fear and bitterness. She had grown rather fond of them. They were her constant companions. 
But one day, there was a rattle and a clinking of locks, and the cell door swung open. A man stepped in. He had such a kind look and way about Him.  
"Dear child," He spoke "I've come to tell you that I've paid to redeem you, and if you'll only come and follow me, you are free."
The girl looked around her, very confused. Then slowly she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather stay here. You see this is all I know, and it really isn't all that bad. I'm sure it would be too hard to leave all this behind."
The man grew very sober and tears welled up in His eyes. 
"It is your choice." He said then quietly left. 
She sat there for only a brief moment before turning back to her familiar world of fear and bitterness, not even caring that the cell door had been left open. Gradually, little by little, the door closed till it was once again shut and locked.
When would it open again? Would it ever?

Ok this may seem a little silly. Why in the world would anyone turn down an opportunity to freedom? Unless of course they didn't know the true bondage they were in. It makes me think and wonder "What things are in my life that I am in bondage to? That I am not willing to give up?" Are there areas in your life that you just wish you could have victory over? You can! If you have accepted Jesus into your heart, the cell door is open! You have to accept it and let it change your life so that you can walk through the door and into true freedom. You have the power through Jesus Christ to overcome any sin and to triumph over any stronghold.

He is the way
He is the truth
He is the life
HE IS THE ANSWER

~Update on Sheika

Well I can finally say she did something. As in something she wasn't supposed to do!
  I was riding Sheika a week or two back (I always do all the groungwork first) and asked her to go into the canter and she started into few little lurching buck/hops. Not very big and not much but I wasn't expecting it and it caught me a bit off guard. I was riding two handed at the time and have a habit of NOT grabbing the horn so I ended up riding it out with just the reins! So the next time I had Marcy lunge me on Sheika so that I could hold onto the horn with one hand and the reins with the other. Annnnddd she did it again. Except it was a big bigger and higher this time. I was really glad for that horn and my right arm was super sore for several days.
 Back to Sheika. I don't think she is mad or anything like that. Something was scaring her when ever I asked her to go into the canter. Quite frankly though it is very small bucking compared to most young horses. The second time she did it we worked a bunch at the trot and then tried again for the canter. I decided I wasn't quitting that day till I got her successfully into the canter. And we did!
The last time I rode her, I think it was Monday, she did A-W-E-S-O-M-E. I did all the groundwork tacked up first and decided to lunge her a bunch at the canter before I rode so she would be completely prepared for when I ask her. So I rode her around in the arena, walk, trot, and I got to a place where I could feel she was ready to go on, I kissed, and she went right into the canter with no hesitation! I was ecstatic! We did several laps that way then stopped for a breather and went the other way. Jess even got it on video! So I feel like that might have been a bit of a break-through, but I won't be surprised if there are more bucks to come. Clinton always says you have to ride the bucks out of them. I would prefer that she never had to buck but I can't expect perfection from her, Because I'm not perfect! Hopefully I'll get some pictures riding her soon.

~A banquet for none

There He sat. Alone, except for the few attendants that stood ready at the edge of the banquet hall. The immense table was filled to overflowing with an unending supply of food; yet no one was there to enjoy it. Still the King waited; eyes on the door anticipating the arrival of a weary subject come to be filled at His table. But no one came. After a while the doors opened and in stepped a page. He walked very humbly over to where the King sat, but could hardly bring himself to look at His Lord.
  "You have news?" the King asked quickly.
The young page wet his lips before replying.
  "Your Majesty...they said they have no need of your banquet." he stopped seeming uncomfortable to go on.
  "They say they are quite content with scraps from the garbage."
The King sat there making no reply. Taking this as his dismissal, the page bowed low and quickly left.
  A single tear slid down the King's face. Then another and another till sobs wracked His whole body.
  One by one the attendants slipped out of the hall, not being able to bear seeing their Lord so hurt and rejected. The last thing they heard as the doors swung shut  was the agonizing plea of 
  "Oh my children! You don't know what I have to offer!"



I have to admit, too often I am content with the scraps and leave my Lord waiting alone at the table. I think "Well I read a few verses and I'll try to remember something from it through out the day."
And God is just like "I have so much to offer you! Joy overflowing, love beyond measure, and peace that passes your understanding. But you have to come to me for it."
Too often I am too lazy or think that I don't have enough time right now. I don't have enough time NOT to! I don't realize how much it truly hurts God when I don't come to Him. He doesn't mourn for Himself, He mourns for what I am missing out on. We can't afford not spending time with Him.
I have to remind myself that its not the quantity of time, its the quality of time!
Is spending time with God your number 1 priority?
Do you do it out of desire or demand?

~Inspiration

Is it hard for you to enjoy reading your Bible? It is for me...sometimes. Most times it seems I do it out of duty and not desire. Satan likes to tell me: its boring, they're old stories, you've read it all before. But how will I get to know God unless I put forth the effort? I WANT to read my Bible, but there always seems to be something else to do.
So I want to share with ya'll a few things I do to help myself understand His word and kind of get myself more interested.

1. Find some verses where God is speaking and put your name in there so He is speaking specifically to you.
2. Pray verses, pray chapters. Change the wording a bit so it is you speaking to God.
3. Look up the words that are confusing. See what they really mean.
4. Rewrite special verses so that they apply to you.
Something for you: Make an inspiration wall
  Write up some meaningful verses or quotes and arrange them on a wall where you will see them often. (I have one right next to my bed.) Change them after a while when you have them all memorized.

~Snow snow snow...

Hey ya'll! A while ago I was waiting and waiting for snow. We were starting to feel like winter had missed us. Well not anymore. We got several snows now in the last few weeks and well...I'm ready for spring.

The horses have been doing really good in it though and I rode 5 times in the first two days of snow we had. I was really looking forward to pulling my sisters around in the snow with the horses and also to try snowboarding or skiing behind a horse.

The first day we rode in the snow it was so deep we ended up riding up and down the road in front of our house, which was plowed but still had snow covering it. It was so fun since we hardly ever ride on our rode.

Normally people drive anywhere from 55 to 65 on it, so it is not very safe for horses. I've done it a few times but found out that some people just ignore you and buz right on by without slowing much or giving me extra room. So yeah I don't like riding on roads much.

But since hardly anyone was out driving we rode the whole way to the end of our road which is somewhere around a mile and a half from our house. I rode Dunny and pulled Jess on a sled and Marcy rode Hank. It was an awesome experience. Mostly we walked or trotted but on some on the more level spots we cantered. There was always that thought in the back of my mind "What if we hit an icy spot?" but we didn't really have any problems. I don't think I give our horses enough credit for what they can do. They are so much more athletic than I think they are.

I love to snowboard and had seen some skijoring movies so I decided to try except with my board cuz I'm a lot better with that than I am with my skis.

Dad was so sweet and came out to pull me. It was actually harder than I thought. I think it was because it was plowed but still really bumpy.

Also I did a medieval dress-up with Kat which was so fun. Yes I still like dressing up. Hehe!

It was really deep though, most places the snow was up to Kat's knees. She was very ready to get back to the barn, which didn't help in taking pictures. She was always moving! We had Hank along to keep her company but patience has never been her strong suite.

                       Note to self: Need to work on getting Kat some patience.

All in all I have had some very good times in the snow with the horses, but I'm ready for spring! And grass, and warmer weather, and dry ground, and no mud, and...etc. (End of thinking capacity.)
 But I'm also reminded of the verse "In everything state I am, therewith to be content." So I will try to be content till spring and maybe even be thankful for all the snow we still have!

~What is love?

Girls there is no man out there who can fulfill you. He doesn't exist. You see, when God created you, He left out a piece. From the day you were born you had an empty spot.
So many people go around trying everything they can to fill the emptiness. But things won't fill it. Pleasure won't fill it. Love won't fill it. There is only one answer and one way. It's through God. He holds the missing piece. He alone can fill it. He alone can satisfy. And He has the missing piece ready and waiting for you!
Oh He wants to give it to you! He wants you to have it!
But until you take your eyes off the feelings, emotions, things, and pleasures, He will be waiting. I don't know how long He'll wait. Only He does. Please don't keep Him waiting.
Seek the Lord while He may be found.

WHAT IS LOVE
Is love just a feeling or a big red heart
A couple fondly kissing just before they break apart
Is love security from rejection and pain
In hopes that loneliness won't come creeping round again
Is that really love? Our culture seems confused
Because that's not the way that God shows its viewed
In the book of first John chapter four and verse eight
He spells it out clearly and quite plainly states
GOD IS LOVE