The fox & the chickens...

 We HAD chickens. 27 hens, 7 peeps, and 1 rooster to be exact. One day, not too long ago, ShaLyn informed us that she had only counted 18 hens that day. It seems our chickens were disappearing. It was decided, in order to stop further elimination of our chicken population, that we would need to be more proactive in closing the barn door every night. Simple solution!!! But foxes, which we believe was/is the culprit, have a way of getting in places that not every critter can. Our chicken disappearing problem continues....
  Let spiritualize this-
The barn, where our chickens are housed, is like a persons soul. Similarly they both have areas that have not been secured, openings where the foxes can come in. The fox represents the devil, the enemy of our soul. Just like our fox here that has access to the barn because we have left doors open and there are holes in the barn, the devil has access to areas in our life because we have not closed doors. Areas of pain in our lives that are unhealed are an open door. Generational curses passed down through the family are open doors. There are many different areas that if they're not taken care of by the authority given in Jesus name and curses that have not been broken off in Jesus name, can become a stronghold for "the fox". And day after day he'll come back to "the barn" and continue to steal your "chickens". He'll steal your joy, your identity, your freedom in Christ, anything he can. BUT- we have the opportunity to "clean house" and sure up the barn. We can tear down the strongholds in Jesus name, close the doors that we've opened by our sinful choices etc, and break off the generational curses. That way when the fox returns we can stand back and watch as he tries to get in the barn, only to discover that we have  a new strategy. He no longer has the rite of passage into our "barn". We've been made whole, we've sealed the entrance and we've closed all the little holes!! What a victory to see that fox turn and walk away with his tail between his legs!!!

the Father's Presence

  I read a quote by Oswald Chambers today- "Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God". So, true peace is found in God's presence. That is where I SO long to be, in the Father's presence. That way, no matter what is going on around me, whether it's life in general, my housework, the things piled on my desk that need attention, my children- no matter what, I am at peace because of the Father's presence in my life. I am convinced that we do not come into Father's presence by chance, I believe we choose, and we are intentional about being in that place. Busyness keeps us from the Fathers presence!! And you would think that living at a place like the Haft, that I would have ALL the time in the world to "sit at the feet of Jesus". Afterall, some people think we really don't have much to do here in these hills (ha! guess again). But I struggle every day to set aside time to come into the Father's presence. When I refer to the Father's presence, I'm not just refering to morning devotions. I'm speaking of "falling prostrate at His feet" & asking the Father to come, to fill you with a peace that passeth all understanding. I'm refering to LISTENING for that still small voice, the one that guides us into all truth. The Father's presence is that place where there is no time, no space. It's the place where you feel His nearness, you feel His heartbeat, & you want to stay.
  Maybe the idea of what I'm trying to say here is foreign to you. Maybe you think I've gone off the deep end. You're thinking that that kind of thing "isn't for this day"!! But I believe that those who do not understand these things I'm talking about, may find it very diffucult to stand strong in this crazy world. When push comes to shove, when times get hard, it will be those who can run to the safety of the Father's arms that will stand strong until the very end.
  Learn to embrace your Heavenly Father as though He were right beside you. Start your day by inviting the Father, through His Holy Spirit, to help you understand the things you read in scripture. Then take some time to be absolutely quiet in His presence, allow Him to speak to your heart. At first it may feel awkward, you may think that He didn't say anything... but continue to invite Him & listen. Eventually you will hear Him, feel Him & bask in His presence!!!! When that happens, you will find peace like you have never known.