Fisher family update...

This is a letter I wrote to send as a newsletter. I'm posting it electronically for those of you that aren't on our personal mail list. Those of you that are on the mailing list will receive a hard copy of this in the mail in a week or two....　

FISHER FAMILY NEWS

1 Haft Lane ~ New Albany PA. 18833

Greetings once again from the Fisher family~

Just a letter to update you on our lives here at “The Haft”!! God is good all the time and all the time God is good!!! Yes, there are days that we lose sight of what God is doing. And yes, there are days we become weary in well doing, but the richness of what God is doing in our lives and the lives of the ones that we serve, far outweighs the bad days!! It seems like we’ve had a lot of people in and out here lately. Some are good friends of ours that we love to spend time with and encourage on their “life journey”. Others that have come are looking for a quiet place of rest, and they enjoy having a quiet time with the Father, seeking direction for their lives.

Several exciting things that are happening here- DARE Wilderness Trips and IMPACT Discipleship Institute are programs that we are now offering through the Haft. DARE trips are short wilderness trips that we custom design for your group. The goal of these trips are to build character and draw closer to the Father through the wilderness and the great outdoors. IMPACT is a year long mentoring program that consists of monthly events throughout the year. It consists of weekend classes at the Haft, a hiking trip, hands on experience such as a prison crusade and a trip to Asia.

As for our personal lives- juggling all our responsibilities such as showing hospitality to guests, working together on the administrative duties, working on program development, plus raising a family provide a continuous platform for ridding ourselves of any and all things in our lives that are not from God. While many think we have endless hours of family time, there is a great deal of sacrifice on our part as well. Any time you’re serving others, you sacrifice your own time. Let me put it this way- we have to be “intentional” about creating family time here, we have to schedule it!! And once in a while we get to do something really special like father/son 2 day canoeing trips!! J

There are ways that you can help us at the Haft. You can be a daily prayer partner for us. Praying specifically for Gods presence to be on this place, that every person that sets foot on this property will feel His presence. Pray for safety for all the on-site team (there are 12 children on this property). Another way that you can help is by partnering with us. Financial support for us personally is huge. Its what enables us to do what we’re doing. Yes, Dutch has the option of getting a job several days a week, but at this point we see that taking away from the ministry we are trying to build. God has provided in amazing ways, and we trust He will continue to provide as long as He’s called us here to serve!!

Blessings~

The Fishers - Dutch, Rosa, ShaLyn, Madison, MaKayla, Gabby and Baby #5

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.

LOVE THIS!!! Hawk Nelson: Words [Official Lyric Video]

Love love this song!!!

Truly the cry of my heart right now, especially with my children!! Words can build you up & they truly can break you down....

Sometimes I Wonder....

On one particular frustrating day, my daughter sat down & put her thoughts on paper in the form of a poem/song... she wrote it all in a short amount of time & I only helped her with 2 lines. It really comes from her heart~

Sometimes I Wonder

Sometimes I wonder why I can't get my way

Sometimes I wonder why did I have this bad day

Sometimes I wonder why I was made

But then I remember Your words
And I know I have a purpose
And the best is yet to come
And You will come back some day-

Sometimes I wonder why I am here

Sometimes I wonder if you are near

Sometimes I wonder why I can't hear you

Sometimes I wonder about all that you said

Sometimes I wonder about it in bed

Sometimes worry fills my head

But then I remember Your words
And I know I have a purpose
And the best is yet to come
And You will come back some day-

Written by: ShaLyn Fisher 2013

My son is hilarious...

Madison is so funny. His understanding & use of phrases and big words can be pretty hilarious at times. He said two "doozies" (that's what we call em around here) when we were in FL. & I've got to write them down before I forget.
The first one was when he & ShaLyn were having a discussion or disagreement rather in the back of the Suburban on our way home from the beach. After letting them go for a while I finally said something like- "Hey you two, what's going on back there"...???
To which Madison replied- "Oh never mind mom, it's just a DOMESTIC argument".
Say what???
Of course we all cracked...
And only a short while later, during the same drive home, they got to discussing a math problem. Madison said that 12x5=60 & Shay disagreed saying its 70. So they finally decide to settle it and ask me. I did the calculation in my mind & agreed with Madison. And he says- "See Shay I knew I was right, I have a 'working relationship with my math problems'.
A working relationship with his math problems??...
Where does he come up with this stuff??
Funny funny kid:):):)

Take Time to Feel His Presence-

It is on lovely spring days like this that I absolutely love this place that God has entrusted to us!! How can one not feel His Presence here- the gentle waters of the pond & stream, the mountains surrounding us, & the wild life (turkeys in our front yard this morning):):) It is so peaceful. And while I'm here enjoying these surroundings, I think of people who are busy, & burned out, people who are serving the Lord but are longing for a quiet place to rest & refresh, and I wish that I could bring them here even if its only for a couple days. I would want them to come & feel the presence of Jesus, and rest.
So if you can't make the trip to the Haft to find your rest, I encourage you to do so somewhere. You can do it in your home if you can stop thinking of all your work;). Just stop & come into the presence of Jesus. Take time to worship him in spirit, allow yourself to be transported to that place where there is no time. Curl up on Jesus lap & rest- & receive His love, let it surround you & fill you with peace!!