I first passed this country church on a delivery a couple months ago.
The building, with a small picnic shelter nearby, was well-kept. Seeing this church that afternoon, I knew that I’d have to photograph it sometime.
Several weeks later, my family was out for a Memorial Day drive to visit some cemeteries. We made a short side trip so that I could get a picture of this setting.
In a world that is marked with busyness and hurried reactions, this location speaks of peace and tranquility. It’s a great illustration of the kindness and mercies of God – asking us to rest and give Him our burdens.
Just like the gravel road that it’s along, this church asks us to slow down. It’s then, when we can truly enjoy the peace that the Father has to offer you and me.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
https://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image_e73eed9f-0a18-41dc-a3cb-18538c2be915.jpg768576nathankpattersonhttps://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/rural-journal-logo-2_03.pngnathankpatterson2022-06-07 20:48:422022-08-02 10:22:00A Story of Tranquility
It’s been many years since any services were held in this old church building. Yet, it’s history speaks to another era.
Across the road, and out of the picture, is a cemetery once belonging to the congregation that used to meet here. Just beyond the church, a crossroads is barely visible.
You may say that based on the location of the cemetery and roads meeting nearby, this structure stood at the intersection of faith and life.
There was a time when buildings like this were at the center of many communities. From raising children to follow God, to providing a final resting place, churches played an important role for generations of families. Passing along the cemetery today, one will see many last names that have ties to the area.
While times have changed, these old church buildings are a testament to the Bible’s timeless truths of Christ’s love and forgiveness to those who seek Him.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
It may be a little hard to tell, but part of this field is being farmed using the contour method. You can see the one row going off in the middle of the picture. Another row follows along the tree line along the right side of the picture.
Here in the Appalachian foothills of eastern Ohio, contour farming is common. Unlike flat land where all of a field can be cultivated, farmland on the side of a hill has to be done like this. It helps to control and prevent water runoff – allowing the crops to get much needed moisture to grow. This type of hillside farming also minimizes erosion from plowed fields.
This picture is also a great image of how our Creator sometimes guides you and me. If we didn’t have His guidance to help us navigate the ebbs and flows of life, how would you and I survive?
As another growing season takes place, these fields allow us a unique glimpse into how the Father takes care of each person.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
On my way to a recent delivery, I passed this farm. In a pasture near the road, nearly a dozen head of Scottish Highland cattle grazed.
Separated by a vast ocean, these animals were thousands of miles from their native homeland. Yet, they seemed content eating the fresh, green grass of an early Midwestern spring day.
Like those head of cattle, we often find ourselves in places that may seem foreign to us. Do we adjust to, and perhaps even thrive in, our circumstances? Or do we make them a place of hardship and grief?
You and I may not always have a choice in where we’re placed. But, we can decide to allow our Creator to help us make the most out of each situation.
We may not find grass very appetizing. However, there’s always something that can help us grow in every situation if we’re willing to look for it.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
https://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/image_871fac30-4d21-4f0e-9fc4-68a0c9461895-e1661357756454.jpg432432nathankpattersonhttps://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/rural-journal-logo-2_03.pngnathankpatterson2022-05-08 00:40:092022-08-02 10:32:02A Scottish-Type of Spring
Recently, I saw these three head of cattle in a pasture that I was driving past.
From the intent look of the closest animal, I felt fortunate to have a fence between her and me! It was as if she was protecting the other cow with its calf.
How often do we show concern for others around us? After all, we’re all created by God.
Each individual shows the Creator’s love in unique ways. Perhaps, we could take a lesson from these animals and show concern for each person who comes into our lives. In the end, we will experience God’s love in ways that may not have been possible otherwise.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
Lambs come to mind for many people when they think about spring. They’re fun to watch as they play and run around open pastures near their mothers. The docile, gentle, defenseless animals have come to represent Easter.
Yet, young lambs running about in pastures also have a significant religious meaning.
For the Christian, these animals represent the people who Christ came to die and come back to life for. As the Bible tells us, people are like sheep. We are prone to get entangled in problems and make bad decisions – just like those four-legged critters. Jesus is also referred to as the Good Shepherd. Just as a farmer or rancher who cares for and protects his sheep from danger, Jesus came to save us and protect us from the consequences of our sins.
In other passages of scripture, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God. In this, He is likened to the young sheep that were continually offered as sin and fellowship sacrifices to God. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He paid the ultimate price for all who would place their trust in Him.
As the weather warms and becomes mild, it’s fun to observe the newness of life that’s happening around us. Lambs are one of the many signs that God has given us showing that He still makes all things new.
Have a great day!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
It’s that time of the year when tree buds and early spring flowers are starting to appear like what is seen in this picture. One can imagine the young livestock – calves, foals and lambs, that are enjoying their first days of new life in many of the nearby pastures.
As the cold nights give way to warm days, there’s a faint earthy smell as farmers begin to work the soil. Of course, the last loads of manure are being hauled out of barns as livestock are beginning to find their way to green, spring pastures. So perhaps, there’s a chance that what I’m smelling is some “fresh country air”.
Spring is a time when the world awakens all around us. It’s as if everything comes alive after a long winter’s nap.
We look at all of the signs of new life that surrounds us and see an orchestrated beauty there. Even when the world seems out of control, the newness of life shows a certain order. But perhaps there’s more, as that gentle rhythm allows us to see the delicate designs and intricate patterns of a loving Creator. In these moments, we have the ability to be awed by such beauty and grace.
As this new life returns, gone are the cold, dark, damp nights of winter. In their place, are the warm, fresh, invigorating days of spring. With the weather changing, take time to enjoy the new life that is appearing all around us.
Have a great day! 😊
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
https://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/SIGNS-SPRING.jpg1334750nathankpattersonhttps://theruraljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/rural-journal-logo-2_03.pngnathankpatterson2022-04-03 21:29:272022-07-01 15:51:05Signs of Spring
At one time, the sight of a windmill was a common sight on many farms. Used to power a pump, it was an integral part of helping to draw water out of the ground for both the people and animals that called the place home. Rising above the house and other outbuildings, the metal framed structure stood like a lone sentinel guarding the property.
Windmills are still found in many places but aren’t as common today. They are still located on old farmsteads and also at Amish farms in place of electric power. Miniature reproductions can also be seen as part of landscape displays.
Just like the water that comes from the ground, there are emotions, attitudes and thoughts within us – beneath our surface. What comes out, when we find ourselves facing different situations, is a reaction to what’s inside.
How you and I respond to others is a reflection to what – and Who – is in us. Let me encourage you to trust the Savior – drawing deeply and finding satisfaction from the well that will never run dry.
Have a great day!
(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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How often do we take our surroundings for granted? Many of us seem to be in a hurry. In our haste, you and I may not make time for others. Likely, we will pass through our days without taking opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenes that are unfolding around us.
The sunrise and sky in this picture may capture your attention. Yet, if the scene was overcast or the sun was higher in the sky, would we notice the beautiful colors that are announcing the arrival of another new day? We may see them – or our eyes may wonder to the ground below. You and I may catch glimpses of the stubble from last year’s corn crop – waiting to be plowed into the soil.
Our perception can change how we see things. One person may choose to set their eyes only on the cold, late winter day that this picture was taken in. Another individual may envision the beauty of the surrounding hillside and the incredible sky that’s being illuminated by the morning’s early light.
The reality is that we often choose to view much of our lives in the same manner. Likewise, we also decide if we will trust our Creator. While there’s many things that you and I may not be able to change, we are able to adjust our vision of what we see. That, my friend, can make all of the difference in how we go through our life.
Each day offers beautiful scenes. It’s up to us to decide how we will choose to view what we see.
Have a great day! 😊
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
How often do we stop to think about the greatness of God? The reality is that we often live in such a busy, fast-paced world that we don’t give much thought to the blessings and gifts of our Creator.
Consider the lyrics of this old hymn and allow them to minister to you. May we know and enjoy the beauty of our world in a new light.
HOW GREAT THOU ART
Carl Boberg, 1885
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)
