For the Beauty of the Earth - Pictures from the Ranch

I spent some time the past couple days wandering around the back "40" here at the ranch. All I can say is God is awesome and a majestic Creator. Who would have thought Texas would look like this? God is so good to me! There is tons of wildlife here: deer, armadillo, foxes, wild pigs, even some rattle snakes apparently as one was in the garage the other day.

Therefore will I rejoice in God my Savior who has looked upon me with His favor!

In God We Boast

Psalms 44:3-8 KJV

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

Texas - My New Home

Two weeks ago I was praying for a better place to live here in Texas - I wanted a little less cost and to be closer to work and church as I am currently about 25 minutes away. The next day, the Lord started answering that prayer above all that I could have imagined. I found a new Craigslist posting for a 250 acre local hill country ranch looking for someone to stay on the ranch and do a little work in return for room and utilities/internet. That afternoon, I met with one of the owners and two weeks later, I have the job. To add miracle to miracle, I discovered that of all places the ranch could be, it was within walking distance of my elder's house so I will now be close by Christians from church. And, one of my jobs will be keeping the sprinkler system up and and running - something I have never done before. I found out later that my elder, now my neighbor, used to install and repair sprinkler systems so God planned for my inexperience!

So here is what the Lord provided for this undeserving newbie:

Where is God?

1 Peter 4:17-18 KJV
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Christian, where is God? You say, what do you mean? If others paid as much attention as you do to God and with the same level of devotion, what would you truly feel? Rejection? Where is God in your life? Is he a road side show that you stop to watch every once in a while? Do you go to the movie every weekend to get a little longer version of the snippets you may have watched during the week?

Where is God? When you read the book of Acts, where is God? Front, center, side, top, bottom. He turned the world upside down. How can we be the same church? Are we an insult to all that is called holy? God says he calls his people to weep and to pray. Do you weep and pray? God says to Derek his kingdom first. Do you seek his kingdom first? God says that the life we now live should be lived in the faith of Christ. Are we living this way?

W have been given all spiritual blessings, all the riches of glory, are we rejecting them for the temporal things of this world? Where is God? Is he with you every moment of every day? Do you walk in the spirit, live on the spirit, pray in the spirit? If he walked beside you every day in person would you be happy for him to see your day?

Oh God, stamp eternity on our eyeballs! May we put aside the American dream and give ourselves as a living sacrifice! Make us love you as Christ loved you. Make us know that we are but dust, made to bring glory to God. Make us see the riches in Christ, the glory of eternity, the power of the spirit, the love of God, the end of our being! May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!
Again, where is God in your life? This is the question only you can answer, but eternity hangs on that answer.