THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

July 9, 2025

LIFE IN THE FOLD

Do you remember this children's poem: Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.

I thought that many times during most of the spring season! It wasn't only here where we live in Oklahoma, but parts of Missouri and Arkansas, too, that was getting excessive rainfall.

Our yard is flat and the water had nowhere to go, so would just sit on top of the ground for days. About the time it would begin to soak in, we would get more rain. But I didn't really want to complain too much, because I knew that summer was coming and we would likely need the rain them.

Mowing was a problem. There was a few times when our yard was looking really shaggy by the time we would finally get a day dry enough to mow. But the man who mows our family property in Missouri was having the same issue. We were all in the same boat.

We planted a small garden and the ground was so soft and muddy and rain-soaked that we couldn't even get in it to do any weeding. A few days ago when it finally dried out, I had to take a weed-eater to it so I could even walk around to find the plants. The weeds were as tall as most of the plants. I'm still not sure if all of the plants are going to produce well or not.

With all of the wind and storms that came with the rain, we had so many limbs fall off our pecan trees! We have picked up numerous times, burned some, and our burn pit is already overflowing again with more.

But during all of the rainfall, we did experience blessing. We planted a peach tree probably 3-4 years ago, and this is the first year that we got a bumper crop. Last year there were peaches, but all of them were wormy. This year, Jon sprayed the tree so they did much better. The downside is that with all the rain and wind, we probably had 3 bushels (at least) of peaches that fell off the tree and rotted, which all had to be thrown away. But we picked enough good peaches to make two batches of peach freezer jam, freeze 2-3 quarts, and make a peach cobbler. Their flavor was really sweet and delicious!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."

We like that idea, if it coincides with what we want. But sometimes have you ever wanted God to act according to your will? I have.

"Okay, God! Now would be a good time for you to make it stop raining for a while!" Then in July and August we're like, "God, please send some rain... it's so dry!"

Perhaps we, or someone we know, are going through one tough situation after another, without a break. We tell God, "We need a reprieve! Please just stop all this bad that is happening and turn the situations around. We need a season of blessing and rest!" But then when things are going well and we are being blessed, we forget to give God thanks and just go our merry way without acknowledging the season of abundance.

There are seasons that we like much more than others. The birth of a baby brings excitement and joy, but death bring grief and sorrow. Planting is tedious and we have to wait a good long while before we see results. In the meantime we have to deal with weeds and pests. But then harvest times arrives and we get to eat the fruits of our labor. We'd much rather enjoy a time of laughing instead of crying. The time of grieving fills us with deep emotions that are sometimes hard to deal with; so when the season of dancing arrives, we are ready. We'd much rather have a time of peace, instead of going through war.

Solomon concludes in verses 9-11, "What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all." That doesn't sound very encouraging! People spend years of hard work and labor. We all have burdens that we have to bear.

But then he writes: "Yet God has made everything beautiful for it's own time."

We go through seasons where it's difficult to see the beauty. All we can see is the pain and suffering and heartache and ugliness. All we can feel is the grief and burden and stress and hurt. Yet for it's own time, God will make something beautiful out of our hardest circumstances.

Isaiah 61: 3 says, "To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory."

I believe that promise is for us today, also. Whatever your situation may be today, God will give you beauty for ashes, joyous blessing instead of mourning, and praise instead of despair. Don't give up, don't lose hope, but keep trusting in our Father!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Birds are a good example of ugly and beauty. If you ever see a newly hatched bird, you'll know what I mean. They are amazingly, incredibly ugly. Some species are even uglier than others. But they are all ugly. But after a few weeks, they become cute, or even beautiful.

Even as adults, vultures are a great example. When they perch, they are even more ugly than most hatchlings. But when they fly, something miraculous happens. They soar and circle with a grace and beauty that most birds could only dream of.

But the vultures have to land eventually. And when it's time, it will soar again.

Likewise, the rain will come and go in its time. So will the rain in each of our lives.

ON THE MENEWE:

Cherry Fluff

Still all ingredients together. Sprinkle nuts on top, if desired. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

I don't remember my grandpa, on my mom's side of the family. Everyone called him Poppy. He passed away when I was about 1 year old. I was told these stories about him. When Mama named me Loretta, Poppy always said that he couldn't say my name, so he called me "the girl". He didn't think it went along with the rest of my sister's names and was a fancy name. Poppy had a big belly and would lay me on top of his belly to hold me.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Each morning God deposits 86,400 seconds into our bank of time.

But nothing carries over to the next day.

Spend it well. - Chuck Swindoll

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org