Tag Archive for: Blessings

The Unhitched Disk

Driving by a field where corn had recently been picked, I found this disk. It was waiting for a team of horses to pull it back and forth across the field.

Sitting there, that disk was a reminder of a couple of truths.

First, there’s a season for everything. Just as there are times to plant and harvest crops, each of us experience seasons – such as when we go to school, work and have families. Inside of these years, are smaller seasons when we’re blessed with different opportunities – things that we may only get a brief chance to experience.

The other truth that emerges from this picture is that most things in life – at least those things that really matter, don’t always come easily. We may have to sow and nurture our opportunities and dreams to see them come to fruition. In the end though, the final outcome isn’t based on just us. While we have a responsibility to work with all of our hearts, God has the final say – knowing what we need to draw us closer to Him.

Even in those quiet moments like we see here, there are still things happening behind the scenes. Sometimes we just have to work at quieting our lives so that we can hear the voice of our Creator more clearly.

Have a great day! 🙂

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When the Sap Runs

Looking out of my dining room window as I wrote this, I could see remaining islands of white among patches of green grass.  It’s the last days of February and spring is almost here.  Robins have started to return to the nearby trees, as the last piles and patches of snow melt away.

Amongst this late winter backdrop is another common sight for this area are bags, buckets and plastic lines suspended from Maple trees. As the temperatures fluctuate, drawing the sap out of those trees, the rich brown liquid that’s collected is cooked down in many sugar houses like this.

Many of us enjoy the results of this processing as we pour the rich, amber liquid over pancakes or use it as the means to sweeten different foods and beverages.

These little shacks and the syrup that flows from them is also a reminder of the goodness of God. We see His blessings all around us – even if you and I don’t recognize them. Like the sap in Maple trees, God’s gifts are often given to us disguised in problems, adversity and times that stretch us. Further, like maple sap being processed into syrup, you and I must go through periods of refinement and “cooking down” that help to make us into the product – people that God can use.

Just like a Saturday morning treat of pancakes covered with butter and syrup, are God’s blessings given to us at the right time. These little shacks are a reminder of those gifts.

Have a great day!  😊

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” – Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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A Rural Blessing

Thanksgiving is a time when we remember our blessings. One of the traditional images that many of us have seen is that of cornucopias – filled with the fruits of a successful growing season. By the time that the holiday is held on the fourth Thursday of November, many farmers are done harvesting their crops.

This corncrib full of ears reminds me of a bountiful harvest. It means that livestock will have feed to eat during the upcoming winter.

As I look at this picture, I’m also reminded of how God provides for us. We don’t always readily see His provisions. Yet, God’s blessings are new every morning. You and I can be sure that He will always provide and work things out for our good.

On this day, let’s reflect on all that we have to be thankful for. As we do so, let us also look for ways to share God’s blessings with those in need.

Have a great day! 😀

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” – Psalm 118:1 (NIV)

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Counting Blessings (and Turkeys)

It has often been said that if one can’t fall asleep, then they should count sheep.  When I was growing up, my Mom put a little twist on that.  She told my sister and me to count our blessings if we couldn’t sleep.

A few weeks ago, I drove by a farm with this large flock of turkeys.  I’m sure that this pasture is now empty.  Those birds have gone from feeding on grass, to being the main feature of many Thanksgiving Day meals.

While I don’t know how many turkeys were in that pasture, it reminds me of sheep.

There’s no doubt that this year has been challenging for many people.  Yet, even in the midst of struggle, there’s often a glimmer of hope – something to give thanks for.  What if we thought of each of these birds representing a blessing that we have been given.

As we begin this holiday season, I hope that you’ll join me in counting our blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!  🙂

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”  –  Psalm 118:1 (NIV)

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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