My sister Jan shared this poem with me from her Hanlontown (three miles east of our hometown of Fertile) monthly newsletter recently. As we are back to harvesting here, it seems fitting (we have some unwanted showers this morning but weather forecast is pretty good!). Written by a local, Clayton Rye:

Setting the Record Straight

"'Farmers fee the world'. Well, that's what they say.

I've given this some thought and it doesn't work that way.

Planting those sacks of seed is the beginning of my year.

But where did they come from? And how did they get here?

I load those seeds in a planter painted green.

But I had nothing to do with building that machine.

"I start to plant in a field that's been fertilized.

And now I know I'm not alone and then I realized.

It takes a lot of people to grow and get the crop in.

And the work hasn't ended even when it's in the bin.

The crop is sold to processors because they have a need.

To turn it into other things like ethanol and feed.

"Or to load it up and ship it out to other parts of the Earth.

It is these many users who give my crop its worth.

The crop stops moving only when it's in the bin.

Does this circle ever stop and where does it begin?

The growing of food requires nature, man, and machine.

We farmers do our part and move it on again.

"So thanks to the many users who purchase my grain.

Thanks to the railroad who hauls it on the train.

Thanks to the growers who furnish me my seed.

Thanks to the dealership who stocks the parts I need.

Thanks to everyone who keep me in the know.

The analysts on the Internet and on my radio.

"Another important person I really want to thank.

Is the officer who approves my credit at the bank.

'Farmers feed the world?' It doesn't make any sense.

When I'm only a link in an endless chain of events.

Now I've had my say. It's time to be quiet.

Think you can feed the world by yourself? Go ahead and try it!"

*

And adding to Rye's verse, I'd like to add God who makes all the growth possible:  the sunshine, and, yes, the rain! We are thankful that He takes care of the details........and us!

This is yesterday's "Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence" by Sarah Young. It's a good one:

"Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me.

So the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me.

When you turn your thoughts toward Me,

you can think much more positively.

Remember to listen, as well as to speak,

making your thoughts a dialogue with Me.

"If you must consider upcoming events, follow these rules:

1) Do not linger in the future, because anxieties sprout up like mushrooms when you wander there.

2) Remember the promise of My continual Presence; include Me in any imagery that comes to mind.

This mental discipline does not come easily, because you are accustomed to being god of your fantasies.

However, the reality of My Presence with you, now and forevermore,

outshines any fantasy you could ever imagine."

` Luke 12:22 - 26; Ephesians 3:20 - 21

***

The Greatest News in the World

"The greatest news in the world is not that God made the world but that God loves the world. He loves you. You did not earn this love. His love for you will not end if you lose your temper. His love for you will not fade if you lose you way, nor will His love diminish if your discipline does.

"Someone told you that God loves good people. Wrong. There are no good people. Someone told you that God loves you if you love him first. Wrong. He loves people who have never thought of him. Someone told you that God is ticked off, cranky, and vindictive. Wrong. We tend to be ticked off, cranky, and vindictive. But God? 'God is sheer mercy and grace, not easily angered, he's rich in love' (Psalm 103:8). God loves you! And because God's promises are unbreakable, our hope is unshakeable!"

~ By Max Lucado

***

As all of you who are Karen's Korner's readers know, our daughter Merry was killed in a car/truck accident 19 years ago this past summer.

Every year her husband Ed (he has been married to Heather for 15 years and is dad to two elementary-aged daughters) makes the trek to Clarion to put a dozen roses in her grave and in her memory.

The roses remain in a floral sleeve for a number of days. Then a family member or two take the wilted arrangement and walk the fading flowers to the White Fox Creek which divides our cemetery.

One by one, we toss a flower into the creek and watch them as they wind their way individually down the stream. It always makes us think of the 'river of life' and how it doesn't end. It just flows!

It reminds me of what I have heard and learned about heaven and God. Want to find God? Or where His 'throne room' might be in heaven? Follow the 'river of life'.

"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,

proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb."

~ Revelation 22:1

***

A 'verse of the day' emailed me by our Uncle Bud last weekend. And I am sharing with you; pretty current thought:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore, we will not fear though the earth should change,

though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains trouble with its tumult."

~ Psalm 46:1 - 3 (RS)

*

"Despite the hurricanes and the earthquakes, God is still our refuge and He still grants us power to endure these physical storms in our lives. But the spiritual storms are not exempt from His help either. We can be certain that He is right here with us, whatever may be falling or whatever hurts our hearts. Do not fear! He helps us no matter what the trouble may be. Believe and obey!

~ Taken from crossmaker

Some lovely thoughts to take us into the weekend from "101 Inspirations from Touched by An Angel 'Everlasting Love'":

"All your life you've been afraid of life.

You'd decide you were too fat or too short or too anything,

as long as it could convince you to hide.

But God made you and He knew what He was doing."

*

"When life keeps you in the dark,

that's when you start looking for the stars."

*

"Sometimes it's the simplest things that are the hardest to say......

like 'I'm sorry'; 'and 'I didn't mean to hurt you'; 'I love you'; or

'we'll get through this.......'"

*

"God's timing is not our timing."

*

"Faith doesn't get you around trouble;

it gets you through it."

****

Something sent out today by Anne Graham Lotz. Some sobering statistics:

Paying the Ultimate Price

"No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."

~ John 15:20 NIV

Today's email of encouragement from Max Lucado:

Why Did Jesus Raise Only A Few

"I've often thought it curious how few people Jesus raised from the dead. He healed hundreds, fed thousands, but as far as we know He only raised three:  the daughter of Jairus, the boy near Nain, and Lazarus. Why so few?

Could it be because He knew He'd be doing them no favors?

Could it be because He couldn't get any volunteers?

Could it be that once someone is there, the last place they want to return to, is here?

Isaiah said, 'The good men perish, the godly die before their time and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from the evil days ahead. For the godly who die will rest in peace.' (Isaiah 57:1 - 2)

What a thought. Could death be God's grace? God's protection from the future? Trust in God, Jesus urges, and trust in Me!"

***

If we live long enough, chances are  pretty good we have had some things come our way that we'd rather not have happen to us.

Something I read earlier this a.m.:

"When Stradivarius was asked why he used only wood taken from trees

that had weathered the biggest storms to make his violins,

he replied,

'Weather-beaten wood makes the sweetest music.'

So persevere keep trusting God,

and you'll sing a song of victory."

***