The Morning Hunt

I have the tremendous blessing to have been raised farming. Having been surrounded by agriculture all of my life, there have been so many opportunities to draw spiritual correlations with the agriculture world of which I am a part and my dad has done a wonderful job of helping draw those out for our understanding. Although having lived around baby calves all my life, I have never lost the beauty of each new life, and helping a distressed cow calve or getting to cuddle a newborn is still a favorite of mine. 

While sitting out on the backswing the other morning, I had a lovely view of the back field behind our home which is the current home for calving cows. It was still relatively early and little brown and black calves dotted the field, but as the sun rose higher, so did their need for nourishment. I have seen the scene many times over the years and there is a preciousness to it each time, the hunt of the child for their mother. The baby calf begins hunting, hunger propelling the search. He walks and perhaps lets out a bawl, hoping to receive a reply from its mother to disclose her whereabouts. The moment gains in sweetness as soon as the mother is spotted and the baby begins to run, eager and joyous with anticipation of the comfort and nourishment they are about to receive. The moment of the reunion is precious as the baby finds what it seeks and the mother stands, contented that her baby has found her and is receiving what it was desirous of. 

As I sat a watched a little red calf begin the hunt yesterday morning, I thought how much that should be for us as Christians rising in the morning. Christ stands ready to speak to us from His Word and through His Holy Spirit. We, however, must be ready and seeking. So my prayer to the Lord was that I would be like that calf, hunting eagerly every morning, with anticipation for the fulfillment of my spiritual nourishment for the day. 

"O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hand in Thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches. Because Thou has been my help, therefore in the shadow of They wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by Him shall                                        glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped."                               ~Psalm 63

~As the Deer

As the deer pants for the water                                                                                                                      So my soul longs after You;                                                                                                                            You alone are my heart's desire,                                                                                                                    And I long to worship You.                                                                                                                          

Refrain:                                                                                                                                                         You alone are my strength and shield;                                                                                                       To You alone may my spirit yield.                                                                                                                You alone are my heart's desire,                                                                                                                    And I long to worship You.