What I Learned in 2005
       
 
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Acts 3:6
 
 


Well, I don't know if I have the faith resources to speak healing, but like those disciples, I have more words than money, so that is what I am giving you. The end of the year is a time for reflection - and the holidays for staying in touch with loved ones, so I'm going to do both with this long Christmas note. I hope you'll remind me of these items whenever I begin to whine, moan or complain.

Merry Christmas and may health, safety, love and peace be yours in 2006.

Lora

This year has been the best of times (the CD, recorded July 11th and debuted November 5th) and the worst of times (on February 11th I loss my job and therefore my insurance and income while not qualifying for unemployment), but it has also been a time of study, service, and seeking. The following is: The 7 Things I've Learned This Year - 2005
(This is not in any particular order. It is just how it flowed out of my head and onto the keyboard.)

 
 
1) When I am so tired and frustrated about the farm and tired of taking care of the llamas, the sheep, the goats, the turkeys, the geese, the ducks, the chickens, the dogs and cats, the bird in the house, and when I don't want to mow the lawn or weed the garden or put up produce, I remember that the first task God set before humanity was to tend a garden and care for animals that belonged to someone else.
  
 

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Gen. 1: 26-31
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till and keep it. Gen 2:15
 
 
2) When I am looking at the unfinished home-repairs and contemplating selling the home for which we've worked and saved so long - and when I wonder if I'll ever own a home that I'd be proud to invite people to - I am reminded that this world is not my home.
  
 

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:16
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom. 12 2
 
 
3) When my bones and joints and muscles ache and my lungs are congested and my voice gone, I am reminded that we have this treasure in earthen vessels and that clay pots are fragile and temporary - and in our weakness His strength is made visible.
  
 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. II Cor. 4:7
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
 
 
4) When I do not have the resources to pay the bills - I realize that true riches are not gold and silver, but are laid up in heaven.
  
 

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6: 8 & 19-21
 
 
But there is the flip side . . .
  
 

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Luke 16:11
 
 
5) When I wonder where the food will come from, and when I agonize over all of my allergies (as well as Rene's vegetarianism) and how it would be very difficult to even shop in my mother's cupboards or to go to a food closet - I remember what Jesus said after a 40 day fast:
  
 

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4

 
 
- I need to be dependent upon the word of God to quench all hunger and depend on God to take care me. And fasting is a good spiritual practice and I'm too fat anyway! And Jesus said when you fast, not if.
  
 


Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matt. 6:16-18
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Matt. 6:25

 
 
6) When in the midst of this crazy feast and famine existence - especially when the weight isn't coming off very quickly even though I do not indulge in everything I want to - when I have the opportunity - when I deny myself many sweet temptations I am reminded that beauty is not the goal . . .
  
 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. I Peter 3:3-5
Set before the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. I Tim. 4:12b
 
  7) When I feel like a nobody and not valued by anyone because I've not gotten any great ministry responsibilities, no valuable possessions, or a "real job." I remember that I am called by God to be his ambassador to represent the King of Kings and Lord of Lords - I have ROYAL responsibilities to love, to make disciples and to comfort, edify, and exhort.
  
 

But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (Amplified Bible)
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Eph. 4:1
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness. II Thess. 1:11
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. II Tim.1:9
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt. 28: 18-20
 
 
And He has been with us this year (even if the money hasn't :) The best things - the eternal things - are those things done for, through, and with him - especially those things done in cooperation with others. The CD was a group project - you can't sing in harmony as a soloist. This year and this season are all about relationships! God loving the world, Jesus loving us, and we celebrating and returning that love to Him and to each other.

 
   
 

Merry Christmas! And it will be merry if we remember our baptism, the salvation made possible by the tiny babe in a manger, and the kingdom in which he now lives and reigns!!!

I bless God for bringing you all into my life. You are part of the "best stuff."

Love to you all,
Lora (and Rene)