~I'm back!

Wow! It really has been a while! Don't worry, I'm still living, I just haven't been very active in blogging land!

 Honestly, for a while I either didn't know what to share or didn't have time to do it. I will endeavor to do so now.

A couple months ago I started putting my horse knowledge to good use by giving riding lessons. I now have 6 wonderful students who do their best to keep me challenged. Mentally and physically. And quite truly, the mental part has been the most demanding! When you become a teacher, you have to step back, evaluate and decide exactly what you believe in order to teach it. I have also come to the conclusion that riding is more mental than physical. If riding to you, is simply pulling left, pulling right, and pulling back, you have only scratched the surface of horsemanship. I have always told people that riding isn't easy and that it takes time to learn. In giving lessons I am almost overwhelmed by that fact! But God has also continued to prove to me that He is interested in the little things...even riding lesson plans.  And when I put them in His hands (along with the worries and stresses that go along with horses and inexperienced people) He works it out better than I could have imagined.

My younger students are especially challenging in their many questions. But then, because of those many questions it makes me think more and realize the areas I am lacking in or don't know enough about. Oh the joys of having to stay ahead of your students! They really do help to push me on further in my learning and thinking.

I have to say, y'all who don't ride are really missing out! Looking back I've learned so much in my journey with horses. Patience being the #1 thing. Also perseverance, dedication, confidence, how to be a good leader, the detriment and dangers of frustrations and anger, to be safe, and not take unnecessary risks. I could go on, but I better stop there. I'm sure you get the idea.  But let me be clear, all these came from God. He simply uses horses to bring these lessons about in my life. Yes, I am a horsewoman. But first and foremost I am a daughter of the one true King. So I try to filter my view and relationship with horses through my understanding of Him, not my love for horses.

 Just had to put on some pix of Sheika I took today.

Can you see her blaze? Hopefully I will have a post about her soon. Hopefully.

:)

~His Plans

I wanted it written and planned out. To be able to see ahead and know what's coming. I thought there would be security in understanding the future. But I didn't know. My life felt like an open road map with roads and highways running in every direction, and no idea which to take. Noticing a book lying before me, "My Life Plans" I opened it up. It was empty. The open lines stared back at me as if calling to fill them in. So taking up my pen, I started in. First went in my desires and dreams. They started little but steadily grew with each page till my desires had taken up half the book. Finally I set my pen down with a feeling of accomplishment. What plans I had for myself! I started leafing through the empty pages, thinking of what great things I would write in next. But as I reached the very last page, something caught my attention. A picture of a simple black and white cross held me there. As I gazed at it a voice echoed in my heart "But I had plans for you." Suddenly the truth of it hit me. What had I done? I flipped over to the first page I had written and started to read it again. I felt wretched. Miserable. I had taken God's place, demanding my way and not seeking His. My dreams and desires were all about me. What I could gain. What I could accomplish. How utterly selfish. Turning back to the cross, my heart started breaking. He gave everything for me. What more could I do than give Him my life? Lifting up "My Life Plans" I surrendered them to Him. Grabbing a hold of those horrid pages, I tore them from the book, leaving only empty pages once again.  The torn binding would forever be a reminder of my selfish desires. Then and there, I laid down  my pen along with my will, and gave them over to my more than capable creator.

Just Rest and be Still

The path ahead lies unknown

With twists and turns I can't see

Waiting and waiting it seems 

I wonder what God has for me

Impatience runs on ahead

To get a quick glimpse and scan

But God then so gently chides

"Just wait Child, for my perfect plan" 

Desire is there dreaming

Of what the future may hold

It goes right ahead wishing

The dreams that aren't mine to unfold

I cry and I cry "Lord help!

I want to wait for your will!"

Then God so gently replies

"My Child, just rest and be still"

HML

~Not so great, but it's life

The other day I was working Sheika and asked Tash if she would come out and video a bit...but unfortunately Sheika wasn't doing the greatest because all the horses were at the other end of the pastures and she was working on having a complex. Ok she wasn't terrible. She just wasn't listening like she should. So I was kinda hesitant to put these on and show y'all but...I guess I will. Thats life right? We can't be perfect all the time. ;D (That was just a joke.) So here is Sheika's most recent video.
Note to self: don't lunge while wearing spurs.
I caught myself all up at least once! I was like "For pity sakes!" Do you know how to lunge or not? I guess I don't usually wear spurs when I lunge.
I also rode Kat and she did really good. I even got her to sidepass over a little log that was directly parallel to her. Not down the log but all four feet stepping sideways over it. I had never tried that before.
So that's some of what I've been up to.
Anybody been riding much lately?

~Prove it~

I love the quote:
 "If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you."

I hope it makes you think. Nowadays it seems that as long as you go to church occasionally and try to live a relatively moral life, you're going to heaven! Unfortunately, I've never seen that in the Bible.
It does matter how we live. Our relationship with God is the most important thing. We can't just be good enough. We need to be holy, we need to be sanctified. Everything just keeps coming back to sanctification.
Sanctification: To make free from sin; to set apart as holy; to consecrate
So, if I am sanctified:
I will be set free from the power of sin, and walking in newness of life.
I will be set apart as holy, not conforming to this world.
I will be consecrated, not living for myself, but for God.
Living a sanctified life is living in a way that radiates God's power to everyone around you. People won't have to ask whether you're a Christian, they'll know!
Now I'm not saying you have to be perfect, always loving, always forgiving, never falling, never failing... no. Those things will happen because we are human and our natural inclination is to sin. But we don't have to be held by that. We need to be changing, not perfectly, but increasingly. Always moving upward and onward to a new and better relationship with God.

If your faith hasn't changed you
           It hasn't saved you.

~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.