Follow On

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."

Hebrews 10:35-37

May I still receive the soldier spirit, and when life takes the rocky paths, may I see that I am under the same Captain. My orders have not changed. My Captain says "Give up your rights to yourself, take up the cross, follow." He has been over the course before, Will I refuse to obey then?

"From prayer that asks that I may be

Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,

From fearing when I should aspire,

From faltering when I should climb higher, 

From silken self, O Captain, free

Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From suble love of softening things,

From easy choices, weakenings,

(Not thus are spirits fortified,

Not this way went the Crucified,)

From all the dims Thy Calvary,

O Lamb of God, deliver me. 

Give me the love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay 

The hope no disappointments tire

The passion that will burn like fire,

Let me not sink to be a clod:

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God. "

( Poem taken from "A Chance to Die" by E. Elliot)

Family Life - Summer 2021

Happy September y'all! Crazy isn't it? Fall is already peeping over the horizon! I really do enjoy the fall season, coffee, orange, cooler mornings, light sweaters, what's not to like? I am not as big on winter though...at all, so fall is accompanied by some bittersweet feelings. 

July and August were busy months for us. At the end of July, it was time for an update, but then it got later and later into August and I decided to give it up and wait for September and just cover the two months into one post. So here is a peek into our summer! 

On July 3rd, I had the joy of celebrating the wedding of my friend MaryEllen. 
Above is the 4 of us girls who have done prison ministry together for the last few years. 

It was a treat to get to see AmyGrace after only just a few weeks!

It was such a blessing to see my friend Emily after 3 years. We had not seen each other since her own wedding and now she has a little boy! Emily has faithfully stood by me in prayer and in heart even though we are separated by over 700 miles. Such a treat to spend even that little time with her.  

Celebrating the 4th of July (on the 5th) at the Bill Rice Ranch with friends.

More blackberry picking.

I did some engagement pictures for Emma and Stephen. 

Meeting my aunt and uncle's new puppy, Beau. I fell in love immediately!

On August 1st, Leah and Joel were baptized!

We took 4 days for a get-away with Mom's family. We got a Vrbo down near Nashville and just enjoyed being together. Here is my van all loaded up and preparing to hit the road!

Watching Studio C together. 

The house had an outdoor pool which was a huge hit!

Joel, Kate and Leah.

All 11 cousins!

Staying altogether in one house was a lot of fun! 

My cousin Matthew and I.
Even when our schedules get full, and communication gets sporadic, we still know we will always be there for each other. 

Belle and her bull calf from this spring. 

"My girls" will never win any awards, but they will always be the best in my book. 

Carrots, all ready to ferment.

More laundry!

September looks like it is going to be another busy month, but I am desiring a new train of thought. Instead of focusing and exalting in how busy I am, question and then rest in how profitable I am. That is the way a true servant is defined.

May each of you be blessed!

Material for Sacrifice

Recently my cousin, who is so supportive of my endeavors, asked me how the blog was coming. I had to admit it wasn't. This just isn't my blogging season. There are a lot of details swirling around the Smith household with normal home responsibilities, farming, planning for Emma's wedding which is just about 10 weeks away, caring for my grandmother, and school starting for the kids next week, and so brain cells have had to be pulled from the "Blog" brain file to be utilized in other areas. All that for this, I wish I had a good and long post to publish here, but I don't. It is just a simple (yet not so simple) principle that I read a few weeks ago that was impressed upon me then and has continued to do so. It is from the book "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot, one of my all-time favorite books, and one I couldn't recommend more (age suggestion would be 18+). I was reading the chapter "Material for Sacrifice" and read the following. 

"What has been like water from the well of Bethlehem to you recently? Love, friendship, spiritual blessing? Then at the peril of your soul you take it to satisfy yourself. If you do, you cannot pour it out before the Lord. How am I to pour out spiritual gifts, or natural friendship, or love? How can I give them to the Lord? In one way only-in the determination of the mind, and that takes about two seconds. If I hold spiritual blessings or friendship for myself they will corrupt me, no matter how beautiful they are. I have to pour them out before the Lord, give them to Him in my mind, though it looks as if I am wasting them, even as David poured the water out on the sand, to be instantly sucked up."

Mrs. Elliot goes on to say,                                                                                                                                 "Chambers's (the above quote comes from his book "My Utmost for His Highest") reference is to the story of David's sudden longing when he was hiding from his enemies in the cave of Adullam, for a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem. Three of his men risked their lives to pass through the Philistines' line and get it for him. David poured it out on the ground, refusing to "drink the blood" of his men.                                                                                                                                                              God gives us material for sacrifice. Sometimes the sacrifice makes little sense to others, but when offered to Him is always accepted...Our offerings to Him may very likely be seen as senseless or even fanatical, but He receives them. Jesus receives the precious ointment from the worshiping woman, although those present thought it a foolish waste...I have tried to explain it sometimes to people who are lonely and longing for love. "Give it to Jesus," I say. The loneliness itself is material for sacrifice. The very longings themselves can be offered to Him who understands perfectly. The transformation into something He can use for the good of others takes place only when the offering is put into His hands.        What will He do with these offerings? Never mind. He knows what to do." 

I know, that was a lot. I had to read over the quote from Oswald Chambers several times to grasp what he was saying, but personally, it boiled down to this, what is it in my life that needs to be offered up to the Lord as my "material for sacrifice? A dream? Loneliness? A secret love? From personal experience, there is such a peace when my "sacrifice" is laid on the altar and burned before the Lord. Keeping it to myself shows such a lack of faith; doubting that Christ will do the best for me with my "offering". He knows what to do with my "sacrifice". I can leave them with Him, trust Him with them. My encouragement to you is to look deep in the heart and find what needs to be offered up to your Heavenly Father.

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord." Psalm 4:5

Family Life - June

Hello everyone! Happy July 1st! It is raining here, for which we are very thankful as we have been a little dry here. What is the weather like where you are? 

June was a good month. Jesus continues drawing me closer to Himself, teaching me, sharpening me, refining me, making me most dependent upon Him, and I pray I am more like Christ than I was in May.   

The rest of the family? Well, I pray for my family that we all have Jesus as the center of our lives, but as for daily life, here is an update from our last few weeks. June was busy for the Smith family! We had some visits from out of state guests, some traveling, we farmed, a special event occurred for our family, but especially my sister =), playing outside in the sun, grocery shopping, regular laundry, and all the quirks to large family life. So, here's to June!

On May 29th, I flew down to Florida for a week of ministry in women's prisons! 
It was over 18 months since I had been in prison (ha!), but in this case, I gladly say I 
am a multiple offender! =) It was such a blessing to be back in prison and it was an incredible week of watching God do the work of breaking the bonds of sin that hold captive. 

We 4 gals all safely arrived at the airport in Panama City!

After over 18 months of relying on calls, texts, and FaceTime to keep in touch, 
I was reunited in person with my friend AmyGrace who started prison ministry
with me  3 years ago. It was wonderful to be with this special girl again. 

The 3 Amigas! This was MaryEllen's (far right) last trip for now as we
celebrate her upcoming marriage! I was so thankful to be able to spend that
last week with her though. She was (and always has been) such an encouragement and support for me.

Most of the team from the June 2021 trip.

Just a few days after I got home, we shipped out a load of cattle.

Snoopy was having a hard day. =)

I had such a special time visiting with my cousin Matthew's special gal, Katie. 
We had a delightful 2 hours together walking and talking about life and Jesus. 

Drumroll, please! We have an engagement in the Smith family! 
Stephen Seaford proposed to my older sister Emma on the 18th! 
We are excited for them and all that God is going to do through them.

Father's Day 2021

Dad was able to speak at my cousin Chase's high school graduation. 

The awarding of the diploma! Congratulations Chase! We are so proud of you!

It's wild blackberry season again and we are back on the job!

I am grateful for June. Was it perfect? No, but Christ is and that is enough. May He be glorified even more in July.