31 October 2012

Wordless Wednesday ~ Sand Urchins



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A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 31} - Walk with Him Wednesday ~ Pressing on towards that grand prix...

Ann has offered the Walk with Him Wednesday crowd an opportunity to write and share what the Lord is teaching them about..."The Practice of Joy…. What does it mean to choose Crazy Joy? How do we authentically walk through hard times?" I've also participated in 31 Days of Change, which has added its own twist as on Wednesdays I've considered how an unfadingly beautiful gentle and quiet spirit, they type of spirit God deems lovely - encourages this practice of authentic joy regardless of the circumstances or how hard the times might get.
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." I Peter 3.3-6
I wrote earlier about how this verse first stood out to me while reading in my French Bible because the equivalent expression for "great worth" in the French was "grand prix." I don't know about others reading in a second language, but when you see a phrase that is recognizable in your mother tongue, it is like someone highlighted it for you in brilliant neon green or pink! And that was actually what started me along this 31 day adventure with the above verses. As a total aside, one of the neatest things has been spending so much time meditating upon and just dipping my big toe in the the deep waters of those 103 words.

Today, however, to conclude this series, I'd like to show you what else God's Word says about that phrase "grand prix...," or prize.
  • Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. (1 Cor 9.24) -- Winning that prize is something I can work towards... and it isn't a given. I must work for it; I must conduct myself is a specific and diligent way to have the Lord hang that garland around my neck.
  • I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3.14) -- The prize spills out of the striving upward and moving towards the Lord.
  • ...let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and in worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh... (Col 2.18, Young's Literal Translation) -- Directing attention away from God towards other things, even those that seem to be good or heavenly in nature, hypnotizes and lures away, directing our focus from intentional pursuit of the grand prix.
  • Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. (2 Tim 2.5) -- I've no hope of receiving the prize if I "do it my way."
  • ...in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Tim 4.8) -- The prize is intrinsically linked to an insatiable desire for the indwelling influence and presence of the Holy One.
  • Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1 Cor 9.25) -- Gaining the prize involves self-control, but its worth it for the celebration and benefits are eternal.
  • Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. (1 Phil 3.12) -- This prize requires persistence and continuing effort... a never looking back or relent in the pursuit. It is a journey. The receipt of this prize is why Jesus first pursued me - He came after me just so I could "win" this grand prix.
  • but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Cor 9.27) -- I can disqualify myself by lacking in self-control and by hypocrisy, where my words and comportment  don't agree.
  • ...simply fixing our gaze upon Jesus, our Prince Leader in the faith, who will also award us the prize. He, for the sake of the joy which lay before Him, patiently endured the cross, looking with contempt upon its shame, and afterwards seated Himself-- where He still sits--at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12.2, Weymouth New Testament) -- The prize requires continual movement towards the Lord. When I arrive, I wonder if He awards me with Himself?
  • For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? (1 Thess 2.19) -- Our prize also incorporates those like-minded others who press hard to reach Jesus.
  • He who, while he was in the form of God, did not esteem this as a prize, that he was the equal of God. (Phil 2.6, Aramaic Bible in Plain English) -- This prize Jesus laid aside for a time, so that I'd someday have the opportunity to receive it.
  • Thus says the LORD, He that remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prize, and shall live. (Jer 38.2) -- Obedience and following the Lord are prerequisite, even when doing so insists on action that makes no sense to me or appears risky and dangerous. It is all about trust and movement towards God. It is also the only way to completely live and appreciate the gift of this life.
  • For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but your life shall be for a prize unto you: because you have put your trust in me, says the LORD. (Jer 39.18) -- Ummm... see my comment on the previous verse.
  • And seek you great things for yourself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring disaster upon all flesh, says the LORD: but your life will I give unto you for a prize in all places where you go. (Jer 45.5) -- Seeking great things, prizes, for myself results in disaster from the Lord. He gives the prize... He is the prize.



Winning that Grand Prix, I'm beginning to think, means living a life filled with joy. Regardless of circumstances around and within, I am continually consumed by the presence of God through His Spirit. His Spirit gentles me,  teaches me, guides me, empowers me, both shows and enables me to trust... and I become less like the carnal me but more like the me He created me to be. I live more completely in unity with others who seek to continually move toward Him.

 God places great value in this. It pleases Him.

 When this is what He sees, He smiles and says, "Lovely!"


What will that be like???
...to hear the Heavenly Father say,

"My dear, the unfading beauty
of the gentle and quiet spirit 
you've allowed me to grow within you is 
simply exquisite." 

I can only imagine the joy.

 What do you long to hear the Father say to you?

-------------------------------------------------

(Photos, taken by a member of our community here, are of Elsie Mae and one of her classmates @ Sahel's Pep Rally before the NUTS, the annual softball tournament in October.)



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30 October 2012

A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 30} ~ Ever thankful that airport wish came true!

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." I Peter 3.3-6
Charles De Gualle Airport.

Blech! 

(For what it's worth, I still can't stand that airport!)

It was the very first time I'd ever flown through the place, though, and I was nearly dead tired with four wiped-out exhausted but somehow still super hyper and death-spiraling kids. French French seemed harder to hear than Quebec French. I'd also concluded that we'd brought WAY. TOO. MUCH in our carry-ons yet we still had to board one more plane, endure one more long flight and then who knows what might meet us in the Niamey airport...

We hadn't even gotten there and I was already ready to go home.

And then this gal gifted me with a sympathetic smile, one that whispered, "It was a bit different for me, but I've been there, done that. You'll be okay. God's will see to it." That encouraging smile marked another missionary, returning with her family after their first year-long home assignment. Her boys were playing or reading or something nearby and she was surrounded by some single lady missionaries. We chatted for a moment, and I discovered we were all heading for Niamey. She'd probably already determined that - there were very few other options for passengers waiting in that particular lounge. I was ecstatic on the inside. It wouldn't all be strangers when we landed. For this introvert who struggles with the necessary pleasantries of initial conversation, the fact that I'd already hurdled a first hello relieved just a tiny bit some of the fear. Loudspeaker voices soon interrupted the conversation, however, as Air France employees called for boarding...

 That first meeting stuck with me, and I remember hoping and praying that the Lord would some day, somehow, grow a deep friendship.

Our paths crossed fairly frequently our first year on the backside of the Sahara. We were a part of the same home schooling co-op, my boy loved playing with her boys, much of the expat community hung out together at the pool on Saturdays and then there was always the English worship and fellowship time on Sunday nights. I remember calling once when the car wouldn't start... she took pity on me several times and came by to give the kids and I a lift so we wouldn't have to flag down a taxi. Then there was the time I got stuck in the sand outside her house... and had to borrow some change to pay the guys who pushed me out. My girls loved her - even timid, painfully shy Anna would sit on her lap for a few minutes by the end of that first year. Rebekah had her first little-girl crush... on her husband!

 Just as it is for most missos, that first year in our place of ministry stunk for a boatload of reasons. We decided that instead of a four year first term, we were going to do a two year term with a 6 month furlough. Right after we made the decision to go home, I found out we were expecting baby #5... Victoria! It was in the weeks before we left that I had a brief, but momentous conversation with this dear lady. Those words are one of two reasons I came back to Niger after that almost unbearably-difficult-first-year. She told me that she'd watched and seen... that I was going to not only be OK, but that I'd make it... that she could see clear evidence of God working in me.

 God hadn't answered my airport prayer for a close friend... yet... but in that critical moment, He did use her to perfectly speak courage into a heart that was desperately flailing and failing.

 Then there was furlough... and a baby... and Tim left for Niger... and then I followed with my mom and the kids... and all of the sudden, we were back in Niamey. It was better. Sometime during that next two year term that God began to answer my airport prayer, and I've thoroughly enjoyed, been enriched and very often challenged by her friendship ever since.

 There are so many things I appreciate about her. She doesn't let me gripe and complain about my husband... she'll listen and then say something that softly points out where my thinking was wrong all along or remind that I need to be gracious. Times when I'm feeling overwhelmed-discouraged-totally out of my league, her typical first response is to pray and trust - so unlike my internal kicking and fighting and fearfulness.  She doesn't just suggest that I do, but often prays with me, right then and there. She even pulled the truck right over to the side of the road to pray one time when she knew that was what I needed  most. On top of all that, she's the auntie who loves on my kids without reserve... the first person ever, outside of family, with whom I felt totally and completely at ease leaving my children.

 One of the things I so appreciate about her is how she challenges me and will confront me when she sees error or an area of concern in my life , but does so with a gentle persistence that gets me started thinking without becoming defensive. I keep trying to imitate this behavior so well modeled for me.  I've still got a very long way to go.

 There's so more I could say, but if I tried, I'd probably start crying...

Suffice it to say - 
thankful  is an understatement...

and seems a trite word to use... 

when I think of this lady and the other women 
God has used  
to turn the words of 1 Peter 3
into real people with 
smiling faces and arms ready to share a big hug ~ 

... and, who sometimes show up to share a pot of coffee 
carrying a plate of no-bake cookies for the kids!



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29 October 2012

A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 29} ~ Multitude Monday - 1000 Gifts ~ "undering" with a grateful heart

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." I Peter 3.3-6
If I told you I was thankful for those words, "...like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master," I'd be lying. The proud, independent, self-sufficient, stubborn, competent, often power-hungry and driven woman inside resents these words. A lot.

The original Greek includes the idea of God arranging it so that a wife is under her husband. The other Biblical expression of "under" that immediately springs to mind is that the Lord waiting at the right hand of God, for His enemies to be made a footstool under his feet... or  Heaven as His throne and the earth as His footstool. Who wants to be a footstool?

Jesus chose to... 

He chose to abase Himself completely. He subjected Himself to the will of His Father for my good. Can I likewise subject myself to the will of my husband out of love and obedience to God, as an expression of thankfulness for all He's done for me, and because I've put my hope in God and can trust Him to care for me in and through this man He's provided for me?

God arranged it like that for Jesus... and He's arranged it like that for wives... and we know that all things work together for good... whether we think we like it or not, right?

The word obeyed in the Greek literally means "under hearing."

The word master means "exercising absolute ownership rights over."

There's a lot of "undering" in this verse.

God, however, didn't describe wives as footstools to their husbands. That was just the image that jumped to my mind. The image He tells us to fix in our minds as far as what this looks like in the husband-wife relationship is Sarah and Abraham. Stop and think about it:

 "Something tells me she just wasn't a pushover. She lived some hard and scary stuff! Any woman who 
  • could live the nomadic lifestyle as she followed her husband (Do you ever wonder what she thought when he told her they were moving, but didn't know the final destination?), 
  • by God's grace - survived her stay in part of a king's harem and still spoke to the husband who allowed THAT to happen, 
  • watched her man give their nephew the best land and then head off to battle to rescue him from his foolish choices, 
  • (se) husband valued her counsel, even though it was sometimes wrong,
  • willingly entered into the adventure of parenthood at a rather advance age, 
  • apparently had a temper when crossed, and
  • watched her young man leave with his daddy - sensing that something significant and hard was about to happen...

She doesn't seem to be a woman to mess with." (slightly edited from this post)

That isn't a list I'd normally associate with "undering." But God did. She was all of this and still... God described her beauty as unfading, a gentle and quiet spirit, and something He valued immensely.

I wonder what my marriage, life in my family, and life serving God here in Niger might just be like if I decided to practice "undering with a grateful heart" ...all of the time... if I put my hope in God and made that choice? Don't you?
this week's gratitude list:
(#'s 3224 - 3241)

long weekend

electricity again... finally

major project accomplished

little girls with really cute haircuts

little girls with lots of attitude

lots of lemons

new writing opportunity

vitamin c for colds

finally finding out that those power points did suffice

November's right around the corner

on line friends

college football games - even if they're only on TV

watching Survivor, at least occasionally

looking forward to that pumpkin maple torte next week

challenged by that whole idea of "undering" 

Thanksgiving is coming up soon... I LOVE Thanksgiving!

friends soon to be visiting town


A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 14} - pictures of gentleness
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 15} - Multitude Monday ~ all Greek to me!
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 16} ~ she came from the Land Down Under
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 17} - Walk with Him Wednesday ~ How did you answer my question from last week?
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 18} ~ that fictional frontier lady who inspires me ~ 
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 19} - Five Minute Friday ~ Look 
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 20} - should not come from
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 21} ~ Why do braids, gold and fancy clothes matter?
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 22} - Multitude Monday - 1000 Gifts - Today I'm thankful for the word INSTEAD...
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 23} ~ three missionary heroes I've never met... yet!
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 24} - Walk with Him Wednesday ~ the "Czar" of our yard
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 25} ~ a gal from England
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28 October 2012

A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 28} ~ He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us ..."

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers.... We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us..."

The Apostle Paul wrote those words to the church at Corinth. He and Timothy had walked an impossibly difficult season, so hard that they considered death more probable than life. I've had some challenging moments in my life ~ but I've never actually despaired of life itself.  

I thought immediately of this verse as word by word I've made my way through the verses in 1 Peter I've been studying this month... wondering if the expression "set our hope" was the same one as "put their hope."

They have the same Strong's Concordance number... but I don't want to dwell on the Greek today. I was just curious to see if both English expressions came from the same original word, and they do. That'll probably come up again, later!


"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear." I Peter 3.3-6
For this is the way
I think a good synonym for this phrase, in this verse, would be thus, even though it makes the sentence a bit awkward. Thus works like some sort of combo adverb and conjunction; it includes the idea that a woman's present behavior should result from the knowledge of God's pleasure first, but also because other women have walked well this same path. Not only does God value this behavior, it is one of those things for which God enables and empowers women - otherwise we wouldn't have the examples set before us of Sarah (or Ruth, or Naomi, or Rahab, or Esther, or Hannah, or Elizabeth, or Mary... to name a few). Peter reminds all women - two mitigating factors are undeniably present: 1) God's Spirit, and 2) the faithful example of those who've walked before. Therefore any other choice or behavior reflects clearly a spirit desiring neither quietness nor gentleness. Another way to state this phrase might be "in the manner now being indicated and exemplified..." Today's women have an amazing heritage to consider - and both a challenge and an encouragement.

the holy women 
Holy refers to set apart or otherness, encapsulating the idea of a likeness in nature to the Lord evidenced by a nature clearly different from that of the world. One other definition was distinguished - because identified as special or unique by God. Isn't it neat how this idea ties right back into the idea that God esteems women characterized by a gentle and quiet spirit. I can't forget, either, that these women would have had no native tendency in themselves to holiness; they were holy because God had called them and then declared them so.

 I searched for other verses containing the two words holy and women - and found 16 references. Several of those verses, Old Testament references, referred to men consecrating themselves and therefore abstaining from relationships with women. In other verses, the words were not at all  specifically linked. But check out the following verses: 

  • But you speak the things which become sound doctrine:  That the aged men be sensible, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becomes holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things... (Titus 2:1-3)
  • To the Church of God in Corinth, men and women consecrated in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord as well as ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2)
of the past 
The original Greek word here in a word for word translation is "formerly;" it can also mean in the old time, in time past, once, when... My favorite? Once upon a time... just like all the princess stories start. I think I like that because it reminds me of three things: 1) princess stories always have happy endings, and the princess ends up delighting her prince;  2) those women fought their battle, were declared victorious and are now resting, redeemed and always beautiful;  and 3) their stories are there to encourage us

 who 
I can't think of the word "who" any more without thinking of the Dr Seuss inspired movie, Horton Hears a Who! and the line "a person's a person no matter how small." That thought sent my mind down a path - these women might seem unreachable or so good that their standards are far and above what I could ever achieve. If I say that, I'm just making an excuse. Each one was a person, an individual who mattered to God, just like me. The similarities between us most likely outweigh our differences. Their struggles may have been different, but they had struggles. Things and circumstances and imaginations tempted them to fear, just as they tempt me to fear. They had to fight and cling to hope, just as I do. Yet who were these women? They were holy women, putting their hope in God and making themselves beautiful as God had directed - in gentleness and quietness and trust.

 put their hope  
There are two common connotations of the word hope: a confident expectation or a desire one would be delighted to see realized. And those two are very far apart. Hope in this verse is much more the first: an active waiting for fulfillment. It is not a question of if, but rather a question of when - and the waiter is so sure of the eventual outcome, she stands at the window, watching continually, preparing and readying herself for the imminent arrival.

 I also love the intentionality of these words. When I tell my kiddos to "Put their toys away," or to "Set the table," or "Put your book bag in the car," I mean for them to deliberately and usually carefully place something in an exact, pre-specified location. Women are to intentionally, deliberately, precisely, specifically and carefully place their hope in an exact, very specific location....

 in God 
...and this is the exact, very specific location: God. It is good that this is specified. So often, the temptation is to place hope in a husband, or a marriage, or kids. I often struggle with this because I can't "hear," "see" and  "feel" God as readily as I hear, see and feel my husband. I have to work at and practice the presence of God. His still, quiet voice is easily drowned out in the raucous world and family in which I live.

 used 
I love the two connotations possible with this word. The first directs minds towards the past, looking at history (or "His"story)  and what has happened before. But is also includes the idea of a tool employed and put into service for a reason. It intimates that a person is availing oneself of what is obtainable and accessible. That thought amazes me. Working towards the unfading beauty of a gentle, quiet spirit, putting hope in God - those are the tools available... obtainable... accessible as we seek to make ourselves beautiful in God's eyes.

 to make themselves beautiful.
Here, we return to the idea of adorning... or decorating. It is not those things we hang all over the outside to cover up or distract from the imperfections and faults that give a woman a lovely appearance. Rather, it is the presence of the Spirit within, shining through unfettered and unhindered that pleases God.

A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 14} - pictures of gentleness
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 15} - Multitude Monday ~ all Greek to me!
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 16} ~ she came from the Land Down Under
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 17} - Walk with Him Wednesday ~ How did you answer my question from last week?
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 18} ~ that fictional frontier lady who inspires me ~ 
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 19} - Five Minute Friday ~ Look 
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 20} - should not come from
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 21} ~ Why do braids, gold and fancy clothes matter?
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 22} - Multitude Monday - 1000 Gifts - Today I'm thankful for the word INSTEAD...
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 23} ~ three missionary heroes I've never met... yet!
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 24} - Walk with Him Wednesday ~ the "Czar" of our yard
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 25} ~ a gal from England

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27 October 2012

A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 27} ~ Have you ever seen the movie "Touching Wild Horses?"

We have.

In fact, we own it.

But first, a quick disclaimer. Obviously, I enjoy several movies where Jane Seymour plays a predominant role. Two posts featuring her cinematic efforts is such close proximity could give some the idea that I'm a Jane Seymour groupie, but I'm  really not. It is purely coincidence that my girlies like this movie and watched it several times over the period of a few weeks last month. Apparently she chooses to act in the same types of movies I like to watch with these girls of mine!

:-)


That movie pretty much has nothing to do with the point of this blog post, except that I wanted to borrow the name ...and the fact that we've viewed it several times over the last weeks in this house inhibited creativity in coming up with something original for a blog post title!

We've got three girls riding horses now... (brief disclaimer - it is hard to get photos of Nadia and Anna because their class happens after it gets dark and while I've got a nice camera, there's only so much it can do. The two younger girls are doing very well as well and are supposed to start jumping soon... I don't just have pictures of Rebekah because I love her the most... we'll keep trying to get some decent photos of the younger girls!)



It is interesting to sit and watch the lessons.


When I watch people riding Western style, I can usually pick up on at least some of the signals the rider uses to direct the horse. Neck reigning is fairly obvious, as is the nudging of the ribs to motivate the horse to move. Verbal signals are often heard, as well.

As I watch the girls, riding English style, I remember how Rebekah used to really have to "kick" the horse to get him to gallop. And there's the times the instructor reminds students to lean over, caress and pat the horse while thanking him for his cooperation - that one is pretty impossible to miss!

As Rebekah's matured more as a rider, most of the time I simply see the horse change direction or move from one gait to the next with very little visible signal from Rebekah. The horses are directed by gentle, slight and  imperceptible-to-me differences in tension and weight on the reigns, shifting position in the saddle and changes in pressure from the legs.  It is pretty amazing how such tiny, gentle movements can direct such a powerful mass (that very much has a mind of its own) and is moving quickly. 



The stallions at Equestrian Club also give their riders very clear, honest and almost instant feedback. They like uncluttered and gentle leading, and do not respond well or as desired to harsh, violent or aggressive handling, particularly when anger or fear motivates the rider. 
Horses have their own particular "retort" to weak, unclear, ineffective or indecisive direction. If the horse feels like his rider is not truly the boss or lacking in confidence, or when the rider does not gently assert clear boundaries and limits, the horse pushes to see what he can get away with. Watching this as a parent with my child on the horse's back wracks the nerves! Gentle leadership and direction is visibly safer and more secure for all involved. 
Riders must also be trustworthy -  consistently gently guiding the horse about the ring. It's easy to think the horses are the ones really in charge and the kids are simply along for the ride. These horses are used for variations of the same lesson, day after day. So what makes a horse perform well with one student one hour and then act up the very next, with a different rider?  Perhaps it has to do with a change in riders... or that the second rider is just not as consistent and gentle directing the animal. 


Watching the girls practice...


while at the same time having been meditating on the words of 1 Peter 3...


I've received a very visual illustration of the amazing strength contained in gentleness and quietness and subtlety.




"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do  what is right and do not give way to fear." I Peter 3.3-6

One other thing flitted through my mind as I was watching Rebekah jump the other day. When the rider becomes afraid, she quickly becomes harsh, aggressive, or jerky - over-reacting, over-correcting because she feels out of control. Fear might just be the thing that prevents a gentle spirit more than anything else. Fear of looking foolish, fear of what's unknown, fear of pain and injury, fear of humiliation, fear of falling... there are so many words to use to fill in that blank. Once a rider starts feeling fearful, it isn't necessary to see his or her face. Panic, distress and alarm unquestioningly show themselves in the posture as well as the increased movement of the rider on the horse's back. Horse and rider are no longer in partnership...

That connection I detected for the first time ever...

...just the other night.

It bears more reflecting, don't you think?



A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 14} - pictures of gentleness
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 15} - Multitude Monday ~ all Greek to me!
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 16} ~ she came from the Land Down Under
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 17} - Walk with Him Wednesday ~ How did you answer my question from last week?
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 18} ~ that fictional frontier lady who inspires me ~ 
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 19} - Five Minute Friday ~ Look 
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 20} - should not come from
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 21} ~ Why do braids, gold and fancy clothes matter?
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 22} - Multitude Monday - 1000 Gifts - Today I'm thankful for the word INSTEAD...
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 23} ~ three missionary heroes I've never met... yet!
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 24} - Walk with Him Wednesday ~ the "Czar" of our yard
A 31 Day Grand Prix {day 25} ~ a gal from England
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