Richard Craig, Author at GraceAndWorks - Page 15 of 60

I’m writing this for those who have never experienced farm life and have no idea what happens. Also for those of us with memories, or living the life now. The skies are clear and the air is fresh and pure. No haze or smog. The sun shines bright during the day and the sky opens up wide at night with wonderful views of the moon and stars. You can see as far as your eyes will let you.

Life is not easy as a farmed/rancher, but is very rewarding. On our farm, we had 125 head of cattle that calved in the spring, 1280 acres of pasture, approximately 1300 acres of wheat, alfalfa, cane, prairie hay, oats, barley, and rye crops. We drove the tractors through the fields pulling equipment tilling the ground for new crops. We had haying equipment (Swathers, mowers, hay rakes, and balers) to put up the feed grain crops so we would have feed for the cattle in the winter time. There is nothing as succulent as the smell of fresh mowed hay or freshly tilled soil. The picture of combines coming through the land as they separate the grain from the stocks and the grain being augured into trucks to be taken to the elevator or bins for storage , is a picture of success, pleasure, pride, and satisfaction. We put up approximately 10,000 bales each summer from the alfalfa, cane, and prairie hay for the cattle feed. We also would bale wheat straw for bedding, so when winter came the cattle would have dry places to lay.

Our food was the best there is. We raised our own beef, pork, and chickens. We had farm fresh eggs, milk, cream, and vegetables from the garden. Mom would store vegetables and fruit in mason jars so we would have them in the winter time. Bing cherries were to kill for–so delicious.

Storms would come up as the sky would fill with huge bellowing clouds in the western sky line. In the summer time, that would mean thunder storms filled with moisture for the crops. A welcome to all unless there were hail stones in the clouds which would reek havoc on the crops. In the winter time those clouds would bring snow storms. If there was wind in the clouds with heavy snow, well, you can imagine the drifts and problems on the farm, especially when we had to keep the cattle fed. Getting tractors started and hauling hay to the cattle could almost become impossible, but somehow we always managed to get the job done. Life on the farm–rewarding, yes–hard work, yes, but what a satisfying way of life and when the skies clear everything is back to normal.

As I thought about this, I realized my walk as a Christian parallels in many ways. The work is hard (God never said it was going to be easy), the walk is as clear as the skies, it’s rewarding, and very satisfying.  There will be storms that reek havoc, but won’t last long and after they pass, all will be back to normal. God will see you through those storms, if you let Him

Have a good week all!!

Thursday I had an appointment with the skin cancer Doctor. I arrived at my appointment about 20 minutes early. Got checked in and was just sitting, waiting for the Nurse to call me back to see the Doctor. This wasn’t my first rodeo, so I kind of knew what was going to happen. As I was sitting there, I got to thinking about how cancer is like sin, if you don’t address it and get it taken care of, it can create major problems. I thought to myself, how nice it would be if one could take a sharp knife and just cut the sin away just as the Doctor would do with my cancer. Then it came to me that with God and His living word, I don’t need needles or knives, all I need to do is talk to God and ask for His help. After all, He is the Great Physician and can solve any problem. Thankful for no knives or needles.

The Nurse called my name and took me back to my room and soon the Doctor came in. He looked at the spots and said, “This one we can freeze off.” YAY!! I thought. That’s easy enough. Then he looked at the second  one and said, “This one can be scraped and frozen.” YAY!! I thought. That’s easy enough. No knives or needles. Then he looked at the third one and said, “This one needs to be cut out for biopsy and sent off.” Oh, no!! Knives and needles, I thought. This isn’t going to be good. He leaves and here comes the Nurse with a HUGE needle (Not really, but it’s the thought that counts). I don’t know if you all have ever had a needle poked in your forehead, but it hurts like crazy. 4 shots later all was numbed up and in came the Doctor to use his knife on me. I was laying there still thinking about sin and cancer and I thought about Jesus, how he died for my sins and the horrible death He had gone through for me. He carried a crown of thorns on His head. Now I just had the “BIG” needle and the shots, so I knew how that felt. I can’t imagine how a whole crown of needles digging into my head would feel like, but it has to unbearable. Here I am complaining and Jesus has no complaints to offer. Thoughts like these really puts things in prospective.

Have a good week all!!

Find a safe place in times of trouble. Hail storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and life itself all have times we find ourselves looking to find shelter. I remember one time when my uncle was on the golf course and a hail storm came up quick. He found a culvert to take refuge in. The problem being was that he was a big man and couldn’t fit all the way in. He did get his head and upper body covered but his backside was exposed and got pretty badly bruised. The Midwest has storm shelters underground to shelter them from tornadoes. Those who live in the gulf coast states sometimes have to evacuate to higher ground for refuge from a hurricane. All different, shelters in times of storm, yet they all serve the  purpose of protection.

We have trials, tribulations, and storms in our daily lives that we take refuge from. These can range from a falling out with friends or family, job loss, loss of a loved one or friend, loss of a home with fire, flooding, or some type of storm, depression, fears, illness, and the list goes on endlessly. How do we cope with these situations? Where do we find refuge? Many will rely on friends or family to help them get through. Some will crawl into a hole and try to deal with them by themselves, many times causing even more problems. Want a better solution? Try taking refuge with God!!

Our belief and obedience to God can be satisfying and very gratifying. The Bible speaks in several places about God putting a hedge around us for protection. Paul’s letters speak about handing our troubles, sorrows, anxieties, and struggles of to God and let Him help us work things out. In God, we always have a “Friend In Need” to find shelter with in times of storm. Take refuge in your storms of life with God. He WILL get you through!! Friends and family may be there for you, but sometimes they just don’t have the answers or solutions. Just like my uncle in the culvert, friends and family can help a part of you but may not be the refuge you seek for a complete shelter from the storm.

Have a good week all.