Stuck in the mud...

When I was a young man I worked on a farm in Sheridan, Indiana. It was a large farm by standards in that day. The name of the farm was “Waitt Feeder Pigs”. I loved to be part of watching things grow. Sure it was hard work but I was young, tough, and committed.

One day as I was driving a tractor through one of the fields I drove straight into a very wet piece of the field. Before I could get the tractor back to the dryer part of the field I found myself completely stuck. Wheels were spinning, mud was flying, and I was in a panic. I had to get myself out. I did everything I could think of…I rocked it back and forth, gave it more gas, put some wood under the tires…anything for more traction…the end result…buried to the axels. It was only when I realized I was stuck and couldn’t get myself out that my tactics changed.

It was pre-cell phone days so I got out of the cab of the tractor and began the lonely ‘walk of shame’ back to the farm house. I met the owner, Warren Waitt, obviously surprised that I was returning without his tractor. With my head down I explained the situation. Warren was not the least bit concerned. He explained we would take his 4 Wheel Drive Case tractor, which has way more power, go back to the field with a long chain and pull the first tractor out of the mud.

Things worked out just as he told me. What a relief…I was sure that tractor was going to be stuck in the mud for the rest of my life.

Warren did leave me with a parting statement…”the next time you get stuck, just stop, once you’re stuck you ain’t getting out on your own”.

What’s my point?

Stuck in the mud…call on the all powerful one, Jesus Christ.

It Came to Pass...

Did you ever wonder why God sometimes does things immediately and sometimes we wait for him to do a work? OK…I admit it. I always hope God acts right now…not later.

Hey I will even cheer him on!!!

A remarkable thing happened in the last half of 2009. Sandie and I were joking about the 3rd phase of our life. Phase I was no kids. Phase II was raising our kids. Phase III is no kids again but this time with an empty nest. We called it Phase III the final chapter. We laughed and joked…Phase III will be the best part of our life. I don’t think we really believed it to be a fact…but it did sound good. So there we were settling into the reality of going it alone once again and suddenly out of nowhere it “came to pass”.

I looked this up. It “came to pass” is used 456 times in the KJV of the Bible. It’s used a lot like a mile marker on a road. The amazing thing about it is…someone is about to have a really good day when it’s used or the opposite is true, someone is about to have a very bad day. It’s used for God to announce a moment when a step in his plan is coming into effect.

I really didn’t grasp it at first…a few days after our first discussions about Phase III the final chapter the Lord put in my mind this thought, “it can be if you do it my way”. So I kind of half embraced it and went about my normal business. Within 24 hours I really began to talk to the Lord about it; I could not let go of that thought. I did not know but Sandie was having the same struggle with the same message at the same time. During our morning coffee we found out God was working on both of us.

We both waited to hear from the Lord…if he was going to direct us we would have to point us in the right direction. I know both of us thought we already new the Lord’s next move. Wrong…so wrong…we weren’t even close…he went straight for the heart, and still is BTW. Every time he makes another cut he gives me an option to do it my way. I’ve settled that question for now and the future…we do it God’s way. He is doing the work and transforming us.

Why now and not years ago?

We where waiting on the “it came to pass” moment.

The Green Sweatshirt...

My brother gave me a hooded green sweatshirt about 20 year ago. I wear it all the time. I wear it hunting, fishing, around the house, to the drive-in, drinking coffee on the porch, camping…you get the idea right?

Anyway…on Friday morning I’m at work and I get a text message from my wife.

“I am wearing your sweatshirt because it makes me feel like I am getting a big hug.”

For the next 3 hours I am a happy camper, feeling great about myself…what an awesome message. So on the way home I am driving, listening to some music, and talking to the Lord like most days. I am saying…well Lord I have got to tell all my female friends…send a message like that to your husband and boy will he be happy. Somehow it felt like I was missing something so I’m thinking…well Lord maybe I should tell my wife to tell all her female friends…send a message like that to your husband and boy will he be happy. Something still felt like it was missing.

Then the “ah-ha” moment…”hey Rick…don’t you think I would like a message like that too?” Oh wow…took me about 4 hours to get outside my own feelings and focus on the Lord.

Then I remembered I Peter 5:5 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

Now it’s my turn to send a text message…

”Lord I am wearing your humility. It looks really big on me…but it makes me feel close to you.”

Who's on first...

What a great comedy routine. Yes that was a statement and not a question. It's the premise behind the entire bit. Man asks question, question is answered, man interprets answer as a question. Of course what makes it funny is the poor man asking the question is the only one on the planet that doesn't understand what is taking place. It sometimes resembles my spiritual walk with the Lord.

I ask the question and he responds. I can't except the answer as the answer. I ask more questions. I get more frustrated. Soon I am totally confused. Have you ever been there?

Maybe when he tells me 'who's on first'...my response should be naturally.

You can watch the bit on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M

Maybe you will see yourself, I know I did.