Prairie Wind

ENABLER
My life is in His hands and He keeps my feet from stumbling. You have tested me, O God, You have purified me like silver.  from Psalm 66:9-19

The next morning Gideon and his army of 32,000 men marched to the spring of Herod, just south of where the enemy camped in the valley below. Being on a hill, Gideon could see the vast enemy camp spreading across the plains. How many were there? Many more than he could count, with their camels and iron chariots and foot soldiers. If Gideon was shaking in his sandals before, his knees began knocking now. What was 32,000 men against such an army?

Who am I to go against such an enemy? I’m just a farmer, certainly not a warrior and definitely NOT a war leader! What is God thinking?

However, there were the signs, not just two, but three miraculous signs that affirmed God had chosen Gideon to deliver Israel. “Go in the strength you have,” God had told him. With 32,000 men his army wasn’t too shabby. Not thousands like the enemy, but they could do this and God would be with them. After all it was His plan. Was it not?

Then God said, “Gideon, you have too many soldiers with you. If you fight with all of them, then Israel will boast it was by their own strength that they beat the Midianites. I want you to know it was by My strength, not yours. So tell all the men who are afraid to go home.”

“Go home!” I can just hear Gideon exclaim, “But God I need those men!” But it made some sense, if these men were afraid they would spread their terror among the ranks and weaken their strength, wouldn’t they? So Gideon made the announcement and watched while twenty-two thousand men walked away. Gideon counted every man and when the last one left the camp he knew exactly how many were left. Ten thousand. Against thousands and thousands. What was God thinking?

Yet, God had said, “Go in the strength you have.” Gideon’s strength was dwindling. Fast.

Then God said, “There are still too many men.”

“Too many? What do You mean?” Gideon cried pitifully.

“Take the men down to the stream to drink and I will tell you who goes with you.”

So ten thousand men marched down to the water and began to drink. Some got down on their bellies and drank directly out of the stream. Others knelt and while keeping their eyes on the surroundings, they scooped water with their hands and lapped like a dog.

God said, “Tell the ones who got down on their bellies to leave.”

With sinking heart, Gideon did so, and when he counted the remaining men is heart plummeted to his feet. Now only 300 men remained to fight an army that could not be counted. What was God thinking?

The Lord said, “With these three hundred men, I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands.”

Go in the strength you have. Not your strength, not the men’s strength, but My strength.

My Neediness, His Strength
“Come to Me in all your neediness with defenses down and with desire to be blessed. As you spend time in My presence, your deepest desires will be fulfilled. Rejoice in your NEEDINESS, which enables you to find intimate completion in Me.” From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Does God want me to be self sufficient?

My physical strength is something I’ve always counted on. I’ve always been strong, capable and fearless, or I used to be anyway. Able to do most anything I put my mind to. When I was single, after loosing Jim, I decided I would not depend on a man, that I would do everything, I possibly could do. I soon found, however, that a man is handy when it came to changing the oil, something I didn’t even want to learn, and getting fire wood. And a few other things too. And I must say, my man is a very handy guy to have around. Did I take pride in my strength and self sufficiency? Probably.

I used to be a die-hard hunter when very few women hunted. Men marveled that I ventured out alone with riffle or bow in hand, shot a buck and usually an elk every year and EVEN gutted my own game. Usually my friend and I would even pack out our deer on horses.

I trained Bloodhounds for search and rescue, and spent much time careening down steep mountains, leaping through snow, jumping over logs while running behind them. Although I usually let the strong hound help pull me up the hills, we went at a fast clip most of the time. It was not easy, yet I could keep going, up and down rugged mountains, all day long while on a search or hunting. I was in top condition. Did I revel in that strength?

I definitely relied on my strong body and good health. Now my strength is diminishing, my health is beginning to fail a bit and anxiety threatens to overcome my mind at times. You can say its age, it happens, no matter how we fight it. But is God diminishing my strength, the power that I have relied on all my life, to make His strength most evident?

God cut down Gideon’s army to impossible numbers, so Gideon and Israel would know it was God who won the battle. Not themselves.

Is God doing that with me? Taking away what I relied on most in my life so I will go to Him ONLY for my needs. I say He is the Rock I stand on. And He is, yet I stand. Am I standing in my strength, not God’s?

Like Gideon, am I relying on the wrong thing? Gideon’s enemy was vast. They were thick as locusts in the valley. Their camels could no more be counted than the sands on the sea shore. Gideon’s original army of 32,000 was stretching it, but now he only had 300 men. What was Gideon to do?

If God takes my health and strength away what would I do? Where would I turn? No place but God. I may have to sit on the Rock but the Rock is where I want to be.

God said, “Go in the strength you have.” What strength do I have? The strength of my legs? The strength of my mind? I have nothing apart from my Lord. The strength I have, the strength I go on, the strength I have always gone on is my God’s strength. Not mine.

Am I willing to lay my self sufficiency on the alter? I was taught to be self sufficient, to make it on my own, to be strong. Not bad qualities. To a point. In the wilds of Alaska, or the tough terrain of western Montana, through the harsh weather in North Dakota, we have to be tough and strong. Life calls for us to be capable and self sufficient. Does it not? There are good things in being strong. But not when I’m grasping it like life line. Not when I cling to my good health like a drowning person clings to a sinking boat.

Its time to relinquish my hold. God is taking my fingers and prying them open one by one. Slowly I relax my grip.

God told Gideon, “Those who are more concerned about getting a drink than gaining victory over the enemy must go home.” Am I more concerned about my comfort, my health than having victory in the battle, in marching through the struggles with my head up looking at my Commander? Than gaining endurance and learning to lean on my Savior? Than growing closer to my Lord and relying on Him as my everything?

I can imagine how Gideon felt when he saw all those men laying down to drink. “NO!” He must have cried, “We’re done for now!” God says to me, “Trust me.” Yet when I see my health flying out the door, I panic and cry.

Don’t I believe even without good health that God will sustain me, keep me and even bless me? That He will enable me to endure what He brings my way? Yet not just endure, but have joy and peace through it? Oh yes!

His strength will be made apparent in my weakness.
I have the need, He has the riches.
He takes my weaknesses not my strengths, and works through them in MIGHTY ways.
He will ALWAYS take care of me, even in sickness even in weakness, even in old age.

He is my Enabler

“You are My child, I have chosen you and I will not throw you away!
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:9-10

You lift me up so I can stand on mountains.
You lift me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders!
You lift me up to more than I can be.

Song You Lift Me Up

Let it Grow
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through as if something strange was happening to you. Instead be VERY glad, for these trials make you partners with Christ in suffering, so you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to the world.” 1Peter 4:12-13 NLT

“Let us not attach ourselves to his gifts, but to Himself and when He plunges us into the night of pure faith, let us still press on through the agonizing darkness.” Herbert Book, Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

It is in the darkest night where even a candle seems bright. In the deep gloom a lit match will brighten a room. If you are walking in utter blackness of the night, this is when you will most see His Light.

Have you ever been plunged into darkness in a single moment? Or maybe the shadows came slowly until the path you are walking is in dark gloom. Have you ever struggled down a forested mountainside in the dark? I have.

One time my late husband, Jim, and I got lost when hunting (well he got lost and wouldn’t listen to me) and went the opposite way from the truck. We ended up after dark, slipping, sliding and tripping down the mountain, heading into a deep canyon. Deeper into the darkness we went, until I couldn’t see Jim in front of me and had to hang on to his coat to keep from losing him. We ran into tree limbs and fought through brush, and felt our way across a small stream, until finally coming out on an old overgrown road at the bottom of the canyon.

It was a deep darkness that we walked through. There was no moon, no starlight getting through the thick foliage. We literally felt for every step along that old road. Until I could see a little bit of light, what almost seemed like a glowing ahead of me. I surged forward thinking we were coming out of the woods. Suddenly my foot was dangling over nothing. I yelled, as I wobbled and almost lost my footing. Grabbing my arm, Jim jerked me back.

“What is it?” he asked.

“There’s nothing ahead of us, it must be a drop off.”

Yet I could see a faint light, or glowing ahead and below. After considering it, we figured it must be a main Forest Service road we were seeing. With fewer trees the lighter gravel of the road was reflecting any faint light until it almost glowed. We had to get to the light, which meant the way back to our rig, but the drop off was in front of us with no apparent way around it.

Jim said he would lower me down until I could touch ground. So I faithfully climbed over the edge and grabbed his hands as he let me down slowly. It felt as if I was dangling over a great precipice, with nothing but darkness below. My feet scrabbled for footing against the bank, and I held tightly to his hands. There was nothing below my kicking feet.

“Let go.” Jim said. “Its not far.”

“No!” I cried, “I’m going to fall! Pull me back up.”

He tried to pry my hands loose, but I clung desperately, refusing to let go. He pulled me back up.

“There’s gotta be a better way,” I decided.

We found a way, although, maybe not better, fighting through brush and young trees and sliding down the bank. With our feet firmly on the wide, lighter road, we trudged the long, three miles back to our rig. Far below the mountain, we could see the small lights in the valley winking brightly in the dark moonless night. Those tiny lights far below greatly encouraged and strengthened us to keep going.

(By the way-some time later, we were walking on that same gated road and in the light of day we saw the “precipice” Jim was trying to drop me off. He was indeed right, I would have dropped maybe a foot!)

Sometimes there has to be darkness in our world for us to seek the Light, for us to see the Light. Oh we enjoy the day, the sunshine, the joyful times, the happiness, but yet it says in James 1:2 “Consider it PURE joy when ever you face trials of any kind.” (NIV)

Not just be glad or thankful for, but PURE joy. Pure Joy! When bad things happen! Is that possible?

The NLT says, “Consider it an opportunity for great joy.” It doesn’t say feel pure joy but consider it pure joy. Consider a trial a chance for joy, an opportunity to gain joy. Maybe not happiness or enjoyment or comfort, but the kind of joy God gives that flows deep in your heart.

Why should we consider it pure joy? “for you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (NLT) Or as the NIV says “the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Sticktoitness. As Webster says, “Steadiness in seeking a goal, persistent effort. Persevere-to persist in any undertaking.”
Standing firm, not backing down.

NO RETREAT! NO SURRENDER!

Endurance. Tenacity. Strength.

His strength not mine, is how I stand on the Rock.
His endurance, not mine, is how I keep marching.
His joy, not mine, is how I keep praising Him.

Welcome the darkness. Seek the Light! Stand in the Light! Draw strength from the Light!

“For you know that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete needing nothing.” James 1:3 NLT
You will need nothing, because everything you have will be from God.
So let it grow.

Bolsterer

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.  You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with Your right hand You save me.

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.  Your Love endures forever!” Psalm 138:7-8

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.  I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

When the massive, enemy army moved in and camped within Israel’s borders, Gideon was afraid; he was shaking like a bowl of jello. However, God’s Holy Spirit took possession of Gideon and instead of running, he got on his phone and sent a text to all the fighting men of Israel. Just kidding, of course. Not having cell phones he used a ram’s horn to announce the call to arms. I imagine they would sound the horns from village to village until the message to come to Israel’s defense spread across the country.

Even though the Spirit of the Lord was with him, and even though all the fighting men answered the call, after many years of not fighting the enemy, Gideon was still afraid. But instead of running or hiding, he turned to God. He asked for a sign.

“If this is really You, God, if You really want me to do this insane thing and rescue Israel like You said, then please show me by making the fleece I put on the ground wet and the ground dry.”

A reasonable thing, don’t you think. If I’m faced with a difficult thing, I want a sign, an affirmation that it’s from God. I will ask him to close the door if it’s not what He wants me to do, or put up a road block, or show me in some way the direction He wants me to go.

So the next morning the ground was dry and the piece of fleece (probably a covering that Gideon used to wrap up in at night) was wet. So wet, he wrung out a whole bowl full of water.

Ok then, that should have been enough of a sign, but it wasn’t for Gideon. He might have explained it away, like, well maybe the fleece which is super absorbent, soaked up all the water around it. Or the ground just dried out quicker. Maybe he just wanted to make sure it was God and not himself doing this thing. Although I’m sure going against a huge army was not the adventure he was dying to have. I’m sure he figured this adventure would be the death of him. Maybe he was looking for a way out.

“Please,” he said very respectfully, “don’t be angry with me but let me make one more request.” Just one more sign, God please. “I’ll put the fleece out one more night. This time let the fleece be dry and the ground be wet. Then I’ll know for sure it is You, Lord.”

The next morning the ground was all wet from the dew and the fleece was bone dry.

How much did God care about Gideon?

      Lover of My Soul

Why is it I forget how much I mean to my God? How special and unique I am to my Savior?

He says He knows and cares when even a sparrow falls. He knows how many hairs are on my head. Yet Jesus says I am more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows!

Yet I forget. And I am afraid I don’t forget how great He is, or how powerful, or how much He loves the world, but I do forget how much I am worth to Him. I forget how deep His love goes for me.

Even after all the dark valleys He and I have walked through hand in hand, after all the pits I have fallen in, after all the tough rocky uphill climbs, even after the sheer cliffs where He has taken my hands and put them in hand holds and taken my feet and put them in foot holds, I forget.

Even after standing on the mountains tops, after running on the heights, after soaring, even after all the dry deserts my Lord and I have walked through, I have forgotten. After all the times He has held me in His hands, when I have fallen on the slippery slopes and He has picked me up, after the times I couldn’t go on any more, or the times I fell to my belly unable to get up and with His arms around me, He gave me strength to walk again, yes even after all of that, I forget how much He loves me.

I have seen my Savior’s face, where I saw the love in His eyes. I felt His arms around me. I experienced His comfort. I have heard His voice. I know He chuckles and even out right laughs at me at times. I know He weeps for me. And oh yes, He bottles up my tears and saves them. He never forgets my pain. He is there always with me. I lean on Him, I walk with Him, I talk to Him. He is the refuge, the cave I run to in trouble. He is the Rock I stand on. He is my Deliverer.

He personally and intimately knows me and loves me. His love is as deep as the oceans, as wide as the universe, as high as Heaven, as abundant as God’s grace, as unending and unchanging as God is Himself. Yet I forget.

And, like Gideon I am afraid. When the very thing I fear most comes upon me in a really big army, my knees knock together and my legs shake. I asked for a signs, yes I did. For affirmation that He will be with me and take care of me and for direction for the path I should go. He has answered. Every one of my tests are normal. Friends have told me they struggle with the same thing I am and they find a way to fight. When I cried out to Him, He said, “Don’t be afraid! You are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”

But yet, I still forget. Then He reminds me again.

The other day sitting on a hill, I talked to my Jesus. I basked in His light for He is Light. I was drawn into His presence and His love surrounded me. I cried out to Him for deliverance from my adversary.
“Child,” came His whisper, “I hold you in My hands. You are very precious to Me.”

That was all, but that was enough. In my mind came a picture of His scarred hands surrounding me, holding me, protecting me. I felt peace flow into my soul.
With love like that on my side how can I be afraid? He has me! He has my back! The King of the universe, the Keeper of the stars, the Prince of Heaven’s armies, holds me securely in His mighty hands. And NOTHING can snatch me away!

Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
What is the price of two sparrows, one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid! You are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows!” Math. 10:19-31

MIGHTY WARRIOR
part two
RELYING
“You, O God, are their glorious strength! It pleases You to make us strong! Yes our protection comes from the Lord!” Psalm 89:17-18a

Gideon was afraid. He was terrified. A mighty army had camped inside their borders. More camels than could be counted. A massive camp that stretched as far as the eye could see. And they were coming against Israel to wreck havoc, as they did every year at the time of harvest. The time when men, women and children fled to the mountains and took shelter in caves and crevices while the giant of an enemy plundered their crops and homes.

But Gideon wasn’t running this time. God had moved him and he had blown the ram’s horn calling together men for an army. This hadn’t happened in a long time. There had been no deliverer, no one to fight for many years. God had chosen Gideon to deliver Israel from this oppressive army. But Gideon was shaking in his sandals.

Yes, he’d just had a victory. After he had gotten things right with the Lord and turned back to worshipping the one true God, his new Lord had given him a job. A difficult job of destroying his father’s alter of baal. Oh my, he not only was going against the god of his people but he was defying his father.

Nonetheless he did it! That in itself amazes me. He took ten of his servants and he smashed the alter to baal and all the idols. Then he offered his dad’s bull on the new alter he built. Isn’t that ironic? The baal keeper’s bull being offered in sacrifice to the one true God of the universe.

Not only that but God worked a miracle in that when a hostile crowd came after Gideon, his father stood up to them on Gideon’s behalf. Saying, “Let Baal take care of himself. Isn’t he powerful enough to defend himself? If he is not, then he is not worth worshiping.” So that being true, and seeing as baal did not defend himself, the men gave Gideon a new name, Jerub-Baal or Baal-contender and decided that maybe they should alien themselves with this powerful man.

Powerful man my eye! Gideon didn’t feel like a powerful man, he didn’t’ feel like a baal-contender. He didn’t feel like a contender at all. After all he was just a farm boy. All he wanted was to stay home in his quiet farm and do what he loved best. Being on the land, planting, nurturing and harvesting his crops. He wanted to be left alone in peace and quiet. Maybe a little trouble from the Midianites was not so bad. I mean they only came now and then and the people had a backup plan to hide in the hills. So what if the crops were ruined, so what if the animals were killed, so what if they didn’t have a lot to eat, they always survived. Now this great army was camped within their borders and Gideon was wanting to run and hide again.

However God was saying “Go out and fight. Go in the strength you have.”
But Gideon was afraid

.

Go In The Strength You HAVE

I don’t blame Gideon one bit. I know exactly how he feels. I feel the same way. I want to run and hide. I would rather stay in the wine press, doing what I have to do to survive than face my enemy. Even running to the hills every now and then and hiding out in a crevice wouldn’t be too bad. I can live with that.

So it seemed I had won a battle. I and the Lord that is. We had victory! My scan was normal so that means no surgery. Praise the Lord! Yes I still have symptoms I must deal with, but I can do that. I can do without a lot of food and give up some things, like coffee, I can do that! I can put up with occasional, albeit almost every night, uncomfortableness and pain. I’m used to it, I can do that!

Then the enemy moved in to camp within my borders. Another issue, more serious it seems, came up. “So why is this happening Lord? I smashed my alter, I gave my health to You. I placed it in Your hands and said, You take care of it. I trust You, I know You have my back. Now I have more problems?”

I imagine tests and doctor visits and possibly trips to the ER. Maybe even hospital stays, procedures and maybe surgery. Yes I’m shaking in my boots. I’m afraid. Yes I know how Gideon felt when he imagined taking his thirty two thousand men against thousands and thousands.

So what did Gideon do? He turned to God for reassurance. He asked for one more sign. Then again he asked, “just one more sign, God please give me one more”.

God tells me, “Go in the strength you have.”

What strength do I have Lord? I am nothing? I am weak. I hate doctors and hospitals and tests! I just want to stay home in my peaceful ranch house out here on the prairie, and enjoy a quiet winter. Bring on the blizzards, bring on the cold, bring on the wind. Tests and doctor visits stress me out. Stress is not good for me, I’ll just stay here in the wine press and hide. Lord, I’ll even run to the hills and hide in a cave, just don’t make me face my enemy.”

This is what He said to me through an old blog that I ran across by accident.
“Don’t be afraid!” the angel said, “For you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be STRONG!” Dan. 10:19

Now these words were said to Daniel, but right now, Jesus is whispering them to me.

“Peace be still. I hold you in my hands. My protecting arms are around you. Through your weakness, my strength will make you strong. You have MY strength. Go in the strength you have.”

The strength that I have is His strength, but it is strength I gained through tough climbs and long rocky trails and dark valleys.

“God says, you can do this in the strength you already have built up, but if you can’t I will give you more strength. I will give you all you need.”

I already have the strength, its inside me, I can do this!

I am precious in His sight, but does that mean I won’t have to fight? No. I may have to march against the enemy and that makes my legs like wet noodles. However my Lord will be with me. He will fight the battle, I just need to go out. I need to stand up to the enemy and march.

He tells me to rejoice in all circumstances, to thank Him, to praise Him in all things. He calls me to be a person who is rejoicing and praising God instead of grumbling and complaining, or stomping and yelling. Does that mean I will always be happy and bubbly? No, but it means I can give thanksgiving and praise who my God is at all times. I can see His blessings and keep my focus on Him. Does that mean I won’t be afraid? No, but when I am afraid I can turn to Him, ask Him for reassurance, lean on Him, seek His comfort, soak up His love. And trust His word. Trust Him.

He tells me, “If I bring you to this, I will carry you through it.” This isn’t something that is just randomly happening to me. God has allowed it, He will use it for His glory, He will teach me, train me, grow me in it and through it. This is His battle, His enemy that has come against me, He will fight it and He will win.

My Jesus says, “Walk in this and I will be with you all the way.”

“He will be gracious to you if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, He will be with you to teach you.
You will see your Teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go.’ Whether to the right or to the left.”

OUT OF THE DARK
“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:17-18 NIV

Ok, ok, I’ll admit it, I’m hiding in a wine press! In the darkness, I am thrashing, and stomping and frantically beating my head against a wall. And oh boy can I whine, in the wine press, no less.

But Lord, I hate doctors! I hate tests! I hate being sick! Put anything upon me, but this! Why, oh why are You doing this?
For you see losing my physical health and strength is one thing I fear and struggle with most.

But let’s go back to the beginning. Actually let’s go back farther than my beginning. Let’s go all the way back through the ages to Israel in the time of the Judges, when God’s people were making a habit of rebelling against Him.

Oh, while Joshua was alive, Israel followed and obeyed God. But once “that generation had been gathered to their fathers a new generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord or what He had done for Israel. Then Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the baals. They forsook the Lord the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshipped various gods of the peoples around them.” Judges 2:10-12

God’s people forsook their God and provoked the Lord to anger, so He handed them over to raiders and plunderers who Israel could not stand against. Whenever they went out to fight, the hand of the Lord was against His very own people so they would be defeated by the enemy. Then, the people of Israel, being in great distress, would cry out to the God they had forsaken.

So God, upon hearing their cries, raised up judges, men and women, who He enabled to deliver Israel out of the hands of their oppressors. As soon as the judge died, the people would once again turn to evil ways, even more corrupt than the generation before them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn sins.

Then God would bring upon them an enemy to raid, plunder and oppress them, until the people, in great distress, would cry out to Him, once again. Then He would raise up a judge, a deliverer, to rescue them from great oppression. This happened over and over for hundreds of years.

Our story opens after the fourth judge, where it says, “And again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.” Judges 6:1 These words are repeated many times in this book.
For seven years the Lord had given His people over to the hands of the Midianites.

Actually the Midianites, the Amalekites and all those other Ites would ban together and came swooping down upon the land like locust, destroying crops, killing animals and ravaging the land. There were so many of these Ites, they were impossible to count.   The former mighty people of the Almighty, ran, they didn’t even try to fight since their enemies were so powerful. They ran and hid in caves, they had prepared, shelters in the clefts of the rocks and crevices, even strongholds as a last ditch protection if needed.

I can imagine how I would find hidey-holes in my Red Hills, crawling way back in crevices in the scoria, braving the rattlers and badgers to avoid some fearsome enemy coming against us. I would stash blankets and food in metal cases and water in these caves. When the enemy swarmed down, like locust on a green field, I would run, with my dog, and husband, to my place of safety and hope against hope they wouldn’t find my caches of food stored for the winter.

The Israelites became so desperate, after many years, they cried out to the Lord for help.
So God sent a prophet with this message, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave their land to you. I said to you, I am the Lord your God. Do NOT worship the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. BUT you have NOT listened to Me.” Judges 6:9-10

It is harvest, the time when the Midianites always swoop down to annihilate the crops and steal harvested grain. Gideon is hiding, not in a cave in the hills, but in a wine press. Gideon, a strong young man of lowly descent, whose father actually owns a Baal alter, seems the less likely person for God to choose as His deliverer.

The wine press was often a hole in the ground, lined with bricks or carved from solid rock. Sometimes a structure was built from bricks, with high walls, but Gideon is hiding so it makes sense it was in the ground out of sight. Usually people would stomp the grapes with their bare feet. (wouldn’t that be fun?) Gideon, however is not stomping grapes, he is threshing wheat.

Normally the wheat would have been threshed on a threshing floor, usually located on the top of a hill, where oxen or donkeys stomped on the wheat, as they were driven around the circle. Sometimes if animals were not available, a flailing board, that had rocks imbedded in it, would be used to beat the wheat by hand. (Some farmers were just not innovative.) After it was stomped on or beat, people with winnowing forks would throw it up in the air so the wind could carry the chaff away and the grain kernels fell to the floor.

I know around here I can tell when the neighbors up wind, even many miles away, are combining wheat. There is a certain smell from the fine chaff that is blowing on the wind and usually my sinuses and eyes attest to the fact that even though I can’t see it there is chaff flying my way.

So Gideon was winnowing wheat the hard way, by hand with a board and with no wind in the wine press to help. Flailing and stomping, thrashing and sifting, he frantically struggled to garner enough grain to last the winter. His head was down as he focused totally on his frantic work. Down in a hole, in the dark, he doesn’t see a man walk over and sit under a nearby oak tree.

This man is not just any man, He is the Angel of the Lord. In the old testament this term is used for none other than the reincarnate Jesus Christ. Yahweh, or the Lord Himself. However, our hero didn’t notice the man until He spoke.

“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Meaning, I, the Lord, am with you.

The mighty warrior part is laughable. Gideon is hiding in a wine press, for a good reason sure, but he is not even brave enough to stand on a hill and thresh his wheat. He’s timid, he’s admitably weak. He is shaking in his boots, er sandals. He whimpers and he whines. I wonder does everyone who is hiding in a wine press whine?

I can see him peek out of the hole and upon seeing the ordinary-looking, Israelite stranger, let out a big sigh of frustration. You know the feeling, “Who is this? Don’t people know I have work to do!” Out of good manners he does climb reluctantly, out of the wine press to talk to this visitor.

He says, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all His wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” (from Judges 6)

Evidently Gideon did not read the prophet’s memo.

Give Thanks

For quite awhile now, an enemy has been coming against me. A powerful enemy that has me shaking in my boots. Digestive problems have plagued me off and on for years, rapidly gaining momentum until lately they are not only camped outside my borders but they are infiltrating and attacking my good health. So, like Israel, I run and hide. Like Gideon, I hid in a dark wine press, concentrating on my tasks at hand, hoping it would go away. I pleaded with God to vanquish the enemy and wipe out my discomfort and pain.

And like Gideon I am a bit cranky. I question God. Why are You allowing this? Where are You in this? I have to say, I grumble and complain. A LOT. Like I said, bad health is something I do NOT deal with well.

So I hid in the dim wine press and I saw only darkness. The grumbling spread to all parts of my life. I could only see the negative. The light did not seem to be shinning any where in my life.

God’s joy was trampled like the wheat Gideon stomped on. Is God shaking me? Is He beating me, like Gideon was doing to the wheat? Is He trying to separate me from sin and bad attitudes? Maybe He’s shaking some sense into me.

To tell you the truth, I was tired of the enemy stealing my joy, robbing my peace and completely annihilating any contentment in my life. And so was my husband! With my head down I was frantically striving to resolve my problem. With my eyes on my task, I beat my head against the wall. I didn’t even realize my Lord was nearby.

Until I heard the voice of my Savior calling, “Wendy! Get out of the dark wine press! Come to Me!
Why are you doubting Me? You trust Me. I am still faithful, am I not? Open your eyes, see My blessings. They are there even in your troubles. They are there especially in your trials. Lift your head. Look at the sunshine. Feel the warmth on your back. You see only the darkness. You forget to thank Me.”

Suddenly I knew He was right. Of course He is always right! I had been grumbling a lot, grumbling about my husband’s irritating habits. Yet what if my husband was no longer here with me? What if I was alone? How can I grumble about my wonderful husband? After all he is the greatest blessing God could give me, is he not?

I had been complaining about my health issues, complaining about the heat, complaining about my work in the garden or house. But yet what if I didn’t have a house to care for? The heat means the corn will grow, and doesn’t lots of work in the garden mean an abundant crop, in a drought year no less, which boils down to provision for the winter? Shelves of canned veggies is definitely a blessing!

I have been focusing on the negative, with my church, with my traveling, with the weather and of course with health issues. Am I missing the blessings?

Like right now I am blissfully (choke, choke) sipping my breakfast of chicken broth since I am on a 2 day clear liquid diet for some tests. Chicken broth! Man what I wouldn’t give to sink my teeth into some ham and eggs or even a chicken leg!
But alas here I am closing my eyes in anticipation of the delectable taste sensation about to hit my taste buds.

Ok, then! I sit up in surprise! It actually tastes good. It’s hot and soothing. “Thank You Jesus for this nourishing broth that I can eat, er drink, that gives me protein and strength.” I could be on a water only diet. Or eating and drinking nothing. Been there too.
You see I have forgotten that little command, that huge lesson learned, not once but many times, to give thanks IN all things.

In fact I forgot the whole passage in 1Thessalonians 4:16-18. This is how it goes:
“Be joyful always.” Not feel joyful but BE joyful. Being joyful is a choice.
“Pray continually.” Always, ALL the time, be connected to God, ready to thank Him praise Him and hand Him my troubles.
“Give thanks IN ALL circumstances.” Not necessarily FOR all things, not just in the pleasant things, but IN all things.
“For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This isn’t just a suggestion, but the direct will and command of our Savior and Lord.
So I climbed out of the wine press. I met my Jesus under the tree. With His finger under my chin, He tipped my face up and said, “Look at ME.”
I saw Him. His beautiful face shining with love filled my chilled heart with warmth. The glorious light of His presence flooded my troubled soul with peace. Sing, He said, and sing I did. With songs of praise to the King of the whole earth, joy flowed into every crevice of my being straight from His heart to mine.

My prescription:
Instead of complaining, be thankful.
Instead of worrying, pray.
Instead of fretting, give it to Me.
Instead of losing your temper, be patient.
Instead of crankiness, be kind.
Instead of grumbling, praise Me.
Instead of being negative, be joyful.
Signed, The Great Physician

“I will go before you and will level the mountains. I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord.” Isaiah 45:2-3

ABOVE THE CLOUDS

“Don’t be afraid!” the angel said, “For you are very precious to God.  Peace!  Be encouraged!  Be Strong!”

When He spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to Him, “Please speak to me, my Lord, for you have strengthened me.” Daniel 10:19

 Last night clouds darkened the western horizon as thunder rolled and lightning jagged to the earth.  The thunder rumbled and grumbled and lightening flashed while clouds moved across the sky.  Pretty soon the rain began, easy at first then a downpour watering the dry earth, renewing all living things. 

What a great idea God had when He created clouds!  Have you ever thought of what the Earth would be like without them?  Like the article below says, our beautiful Earth would be a barren, lifeless desert without the life-giving water and shade of the clouds.

 Oh sometimes I don’t welcome the clouds and storms.  Like when it snows for the hundredth time in the middle of winter.  Or when I want to have a picnic and a huge thunder storm rolls in. Or what about in spring when the clouds bring snow? 

 Or when I sat on the airstrip at the Dickinson airport in a plane for three hours and clouds dumping wet snow kept us from leaving the ground.  The plane was small and stuffy and I wanted nothing but out!  Forget about going to Washington to see my sisters, just let me go home.  Only prayer and reading scripture kept me from pounding my fists on the door and screaming to get out. 

 I wasn’t too fond of those clouds then. Or when we finally did take to the air and it was nothing but white clouds outside the window as the plane climbed steeply into the sky. Clouds laden with wet freezing snow whipping by the small window.  Clouds that hid all things from sight, engulfing the speeding plane.  Oppressive, suffocating clouds that seemed to suck the life out of the screaming engines would certainly be the end of my life on earth.  Surely I would soon be winging my way to Glory!

 Then we burst from the clouds into the sun.  The plane leveled out and the roar of the engines subsided to a quiet hum.  Blue sky met my eyes.  Brilliant sun shone off the glorious white clouds below, the very clouds that were oppressive and terrifying just a few minutes before.

 What a fantastic sight!  White shinning clouds with whipped peaks, like meringue on a lemon pie.  Tendrils of lacy clouds blowing in the wind, like dancing angels on top of a white frosted cake.  Like the author below says, it was breathtakingly beautiful above the clouds.  And peaceful, tranquil, amazingly let-out-your-breath quiet.

 Ok so this is like our lives, right?  Troubles come like storms rolling in on the wind or setting down and dumping snow or rain.  Without the clouds our lives would be barren and dry. Our faith would dry up and blow away in the wind.

 What would we know if everything was good and easy?  Would we know that God is our strength?  Would we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that in ALL things we can trust Him?  Would we know He walks by our sides in the storms?

            Like Maci, my granddaughter said one time, “Without troubles it would be too easy.  We would be weak.”

 Clouds keep moving, as the article below says, so true, storms pass.  Even the long blizzards that sit in for several days.  They too move on.  The sun shines again and it’s glorious!  The earth is renewed and cleansed. All living things are refreshed by the life-sustaining water and coolness.  All things grow and flourish.  So it is for us, the storm rolls away, but because of the life-giving water, we grow and bear fruit.

 However, the key is to find peace in the roiling clouds.  In the midst of the storm, when the thunder is rattling the windows, when the wind is blowing snow against all sides of the house, when the dark night is turned bright as day by continual lightning, when wind blows the trees sideways and screams above the earth, that’s when we need to dig in and hold on to our Lord. 

 Trust that He has this.  All the time.  He controls the wind.  He tips the jars of rain to water the earth.  He has the key to the store houses of snow, and He knows when to open them.  He is not surprised by the storms that come into our lives and He knows what each one of us needs.  The right portion, the right time.

 Find shelter under His wings.  That’s what we need to do.  Hide, hunker down and cry out to Him!  Hold on for dear life and never let go!

 When He says “it’s time to take your sword and march, you have a battle to fight.” Then march we should, into the wind and through the rain, fighting the fight that needs to be fought.  But never fear He is always there.  He is near, He is our bulwark. He has our backs.  He holds us up with His righteous right hand. 

 For even though He may ask us to fight the battle, He marches with us.  He fights the fight.  He has the Victory.  Always.!

 So don’t fear the clouds, but wait for the glory.  It is coming.

“He will be gracious to you if you ask for help.  He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. 

Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, He will still be with you to teach you.

You will see your Teacher with your own eyes.  Your own ears will hear Him.  Right behind you a voice will say “This is the way you should go.” whether to the right or to the left.”  Isaiah 30:19-21

“I WAIT QUIETLY  BEFORE GOD, FOR MY VICTORY COMES FROM HIM.

He ALONE is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress where I will NEVER be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2

Here is the article from Streams In The Desert, by L.B. Cowman that got my thoughts going for this.

 But now, the sun cannot be looked at – it is bright in the skies – after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.—Job 37:21

The world owes much of its beauty to cloudland. The unchanging blue of the Italian sky hardly compensates for the changefulness and glory of the clouds. Earth would become a wilderness apart from their ministry. There are clouds in human life, shadowing, refreshing, and sometimes draping it in blackness of night; but there is never a cloud without its bright light. “I do set my bow in the cloud!”

If we could see the clouds from the other side where they lie in billowy glory, bathed in the light they intercept, like heaped ranges of Alps, we should be amazed at their splendid magnificence.

We look at their under side; but who shall describe the bright light that bathes their summits and searches their valleys and is reflected from every pinnacle of their expanse? Is not every drop drinking in health-giving qualities, which it will carry to the earth?

O child of God! If you could see your sorrows and troubles from the other side; if instead of looking up at them from earth, you would look down on them from the heavenly places where you sit with Christ; if you knew how they are reflecting in prismatic beauty before the gaze of Heaven, the bright light of Christ’s face, you would be content that they should cast their deep shadows over the mountain slopes of existence. Only remember that clouds are always moving and passing before God’s cleansing wind.
–Selected

“I cannot know why suddenly the storm 
Should rage so fiercely round me in its wrath; 
But this I know–God watches all my path, 
And I can trust.

“I may not draw aside the mystic veil 
That hides the unknown future from my sight, 
Nor know if for me waits the dark or light; 
But I can trust.

“I have no power to look across the tide, 
To see while here the land beyond the river; 
But this I , know–I shall be Gods forever; 
So I can trust