Who is that?
Love this pic of Dakota looking at his reflection

Sara digs up a skunk cabbage-brave and wild (they stink!)

Oh, what a beautiful day on the farm. The sun is shining, the sky is blue. It's so funny how sunshine just seems to make everything bright inside and out. It is still brisk here, but the horses are out romping and rolling in the mud. If you don't know horses, that is the first thing they like to do when they escape from their stable prison...a good roll in the mud! I'm enjoying it as well, but don't feel inspired to go roll in the mud. We had a leisurely morning enjoying morning conversation with the collegiate. Put the corned beef in the crock-hey I'm Irish (1/4 at least), gotta have the brisket! Then off to do barn chores. Lunch, blog, next comes tackling some mess. The clutter is calling for spring cleaning! It will at least get a start today. Barry has diligently been digging through box after box of old records and papers and purging this week. It's a big chore.


Yesterday was a sabbath rest day. Wonderful worship, wonderful nap and wonderful fellowship with the kids friends visiting. Sara and her friend Peter trekked about the woods looking for photo ops. and exploring woodpecker habitat. Matthew had the guys over for video games, pizza/wings and general "hanging out." Sunday is usually the only nap day I get unless I'm sick or extremely worn out, and that makes it sweet.

Easter is less than a week away now, and as we prepare our home with spring cleaning and clean up for relatives or friends, I want to reflect on the cleaning that I don't have to do. I don't have to "clean up my act," do good works to earn my way into heaven. I couldn't if I tried. Jesus did the spring cleaning of my heart when he humbled himself to death on the cross on my behalf:

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Phil 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As I dive into the spring cleaning this week, I will remember as I work, the exalted Christ who humbly died on a cross to cleanse me from the sin which I could not clean up.

God's Holy Mountain

I am grateful today, and this is why:

Hebrews 12:22 ...But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

What proceeded this passage was a reminder of how things were, how they used to be before we had this opportunity to come to Christ. God thundered, the people feared, no one could even touch the Mountain of God. God gave the people the ten commandments so that we would clearly be able to see the sin in ourselves which separates us from Him. Have you ever lied...you're a liar. Have you ever stolen...you're a thief. Have you ever lusted...you are an adulterer. Have you loved God perfectly? You are a guilty sinner and cannot approach God in that state. He won't simply overlook our sin.

Exodus 19:12- ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’

But now because Christ has removed the barrier caused by sin (my sin), I can come to Him. I do not fear that he will put me to death for coming to Him, contrary, He calls me to come to Him, "Come unto me..." This is only possible because he paid the penalty for my sin through His death on the cross, so now God sees me with the righteousness that belongs to His son Jesus. I am grateful because I can come to him. I belong to the Kingdom, so I will not be shaken- nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord. Are you certain that when God shakes the earth and heavens you will stand? You can be sure... turn away from your sin and receive the pardon which he has offered... before it's too late. And if you already have, be grateful today.... and enjoy the festal gathering.