Never Doubting

Courtesy of Pinterest.

Dry, parched farmland stretches for endless miles.  Tender wheat sprouts are beginning to wither under early June’s hottest sun.  Will rain arrive in time to save this year’s crop?

At the intersection of two country roads sits a small, wood-framed church.  The location is called Fertile Prairie, which seems appropriate with the scattered farms up and down either road. 

Today the church gathers farmers and their families.  They have been assembling daily to join as one voice in prayer.  Their petitions focus on God’s faithfulness.  According to His plans, in time He will release nature’s rain-filled drink for their wilting fields.

While prayers continue to be lifted from the inside of the church, dark clouds are filling the outside sky.  Will they finally bring the Lord’s blessed rain?

At first, a few drops find the parched ground.  More follow in unison until a steady, grace-filled rain is watering the fields.

Outside the church stands six-year old Tommy.  He has been waiting outside and smiling at the darkening clouds.  His young heart feels joy as the rain begins to nourish the land. 

Inside the church, the assembly hears the falling rain.  They gather at the door to look out.  Smiles, filled with hope, share praises to the Lord.

They realize that Tommy is standing under an umbrella.  He is the only person who brought an umbrella.  This young boy has never wavered in his own faithfulness.

Tommy’s mother asks him, “What on earth caused you to bring an umbrella today?”

Tommy confidently replies, “Last night during my prayers, God reminded me to bring an umbrella.  Never doubting, I made sure that I brought one today.”

Monday Memories: Faith Sees Us Through

Photo by Giuseppe Russo on Pexels.com

Throughout much of my teaching career in Montana, I personally witnessed the labors and hard work of farmers and ranchers on the eastern plains.  Their faithful perseverance will always be a testament of their faith in a God who will see us through.

The labors of a family wait for another harvest.  Fields of spring wheat are maturing rapidly under the blistering hot, August sun.  The heads of grain are filling out and turning harvest gold.

A year’s worth of income rests in these fields.  Three generations view God’s bounty with praise and thanksgiving.

An aging grandfather has witnessed the good times and bad.  While he has slowed down a bit, he still looks forward to operating the combine at harvest time.  He becomes as excited as a young boy while watching the header cut the ripened grain.

His son, now a mature and tested father, has followed in his footsteps.  He returned to the farm ten years ago when his father suffered a heart attack.  He manages the day-to-day operations as skillfully as his father ever did.

A teenage boy, both grandson and son, has observed his father’s long hours and hard work.  He values his grandfather’s wisdom and experience.  He plans to attend the state’s land grant university during the upcoming fall semester, but first he needs to help out with harvest.

One evening, with harvest set to begin soon, these three generations of men view a field closest to their homes.  The grain is heavy, filled with high protein content, and will fetch an honest price at market.

Dark clouds loom to the northwest as a storm appears heading away from their farm.  The three men turn in for the night, feeling confident and safe.

The next morning, the sun comes up right on schedule, but this season’s harvest has been cruelly cancelled.

Overnight the storm changed its route.  Heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail shredded every bit of grain far and wide.  Not even a cow would be able to find any nourishment.

The grandson has never seen such devastation, and he is emotionally numb and filled with shock.

His father knows the coming year will be filled with hardship and uncertainty.  With God’s guidance, somehow he will carefully balance the books. 

The grandfather prays to God, asking the Lord to provide for the family as He always has—in the best of times, and now the darkest.  He opens his Bible and reads the following verse from Isaiah 40:10: 

“Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

Photo by Eduardo Braga on Pexels.com

Steadfast Prayers

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Drought hardens fertile land

Faithfully sowing seeds

Reaching out to God’s hand

Praying for farmers’ needs

 

Weather forecasts no rain

Boldness in faith remains

Praying for crops of grain

Holding tight to God’s reins

 

Clouds covering high plains

Showers dancing away

Leaving tears, without rain

Filling hours with prayer

 

Faith shall never waver

Perseverance, God’s domain

Seeking His good favor

Waiting out this campaign

 

Steadfast prayers prevail

Bountiful, earthly grace

Sharing rain without fail

Bringing smiles to each face

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Returning Home

Photo by Kerry on Pexels.com

Retreating from urban scene

Tasting sweetest land of peace

Montana’s scenic prairie

Rejuvenating new lease

 

Returning home at long last

Embracing much simpler ways

Montana’s dry farming life

Waking to morning’s fresh praise

 

Laboring in nature’s soil

Farming begins at sunrise

Montana’s fields now planted

Waiting for harvest’s lush prize

 

Walking in tall grass so green

Unearthing life’s inner core

Montana’s rural anthem

Fielding life’s daily chores

 

Photo by Magdalena Krekels on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Waiting For Rain

long exposure photography of water drop

Photo by Fabiano Rodrigues on Pexels.com

What is so special about simple rain?

Have you truly witnessed God’s gift of rain?

 

Everywhere, anticipation of rain

Withering crops crave God’s rainfall today

Farmers wait faithfully for rains to come

Without rain, hearts and plants start to decay

 

The farmland depends on these vital rains

Last year, little rain arrives to help out

Sunny skies chase away clouds too often

“Next year” cries out from thirsty lands of drought

 

Farmers sow their spring crops on faith alone

Waiting for nature to moisten the ground

Praying to the Lord, asking for His rain

Rain arrives, new life rising skyward bound

 

God sends righteousness, in the form of rain

Fulfilling prayers, easing farmers’ pain

From Isaiah 45:8:  “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it.”

green tractor

Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

Monday Memories: Dang Jack Rabbit

Photo by Hilary Halliwell on Pexels.com

Bill runs into his neighbor Fred at the local feed store.  In conversation, Bill tells Fred, “I noticed that there back tire on yer truck is a mite bit low on tread.”

Fred replies back, “Ah, dat there tire has quite a few miles left da go.”

The men depart and finish up their business in town before heading back home.  As Bill drives down the road, he comes upon Fred’s truck, rolled over on its side, off of the road.

Bills stops and surveys the situation.  Fred appears okay, much of his cattle feed is scattered on the ground, and the suspected tire has blown nearly clean off of the rim.

Bill calmly asks Fred what has happened.  With eyes growing bigger by the second, Fred excitedly tells him, “A vig jack rabbit nearly ran me self off this here road.  Look vat he did to ma perfectly good tire.”

Sunrise to Sunset

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Summer sunrise lights up the vast Montana prairie

Fields of grain smelling like sweetest confectionery

 

Farmers and ranchers always start up their days early

Full and hearty breakfast, making any man feel burly

 

This morning’s itinerary calls for baling hay

Alfalfa windrows cannot wait around all day

 

With tractor pulling an old baler, creating perfect bales

Gentle morning breeze fills out the air like a ship’s sails

 

Midday arrives, there’s time for a quick, tasty bite

Wife packs dinner with her usual special delights

 

Afternoon heat and wind suspend all baling for now

Starting up the swather, cutting hay as time allows

 

Thinking about next week, wheat looking to ripen by then

Combine stands ready and dependable, just like Big Ben

 

About an hour before sundown, pick-up truck returns home

Just enough daylight to check a few cows where they roam

 

Supper bell will be ringing soon, so need to finish now

Washing up, sitting down with wife, enjoy hearty chow

 

Praying together, evening transcends with the setting sun

Thankful for the Lord’s help with another day’s work done

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Faith Sees Us Through

Photo by Giuseppe Russo on Pexels.com

Throughout much of my teaching career in Montana, I personally witnessed the labors and hard work of farmers and ranchers on the eastern plains.  Their faithful perseverance will always be a testament of their faith in a God who will see us through.

The labors of a family wait for another harvest.  Fields of spring wheat are maturing rapidly under the blistering hot, August sun.  The heads of grain are filling out and turning harvest gold.

A year’s worth of income rests in these fields.  Three generations view God’s bounty with praise and thanksgiving.

An aging grandfather has witnessed the good times and bad.  While he has slowed down a bit, he still looks forward to operating the combine at harvest time.  He becomes as excited as a young boy while watching the header cut the ripened grain.

His son, now a mature and tested father, has followed in his footsteps.  He returned to the farm ten years ago when his father suffered a heart attack.  He manages the day-to-day operations as skillfully as his father ever did.

A teenage boy, both grandson and son, has observed his father’s long hours and hard work.  He values his grandfather’s wisdom and experience.  He plans to attend the state’s land grant university during the upcoming fall semester, but first he needs to help out with harvest.

One evening, with harvest set to begin soon, these three generations of men view a field closest to their homes.  The grain is heavy, filled with high protein content, and will fetch an honest price at market.

Dark clouds loom to the northwest as a storm appears heading away from their farm.  The three men turn in for the night, feeling confident and safe.

The next morning, the sun comes up right on schedule, but this season’s harvest has been cruelly cancelled.

Overnight the storm changed its route.  Heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail shredded every bit of grain far and wide.  Not even a cow would be able to find any nourishment.

The grandson has never seen such devastation, and he is emotionally numb and filled with shock.

His father knows the coming year will be filled with hardship and uncertainty.  With God’s guidance, somehow he will carefully balance the books. 

The grandfather prays to God, asking the Lord to provide for the family as He always has—in the best of times, and now the darkest.  He opens his Bible and reads the following verse from Isaiah 40:10: 

“Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

Photo by Eduardo Braga on Pexels.com