You got HOW MUCH RAIN??????

 

Our crops are almost all planted.  WOOHOO!!!  We just had 1 field left when it started to rain last week.  In a WONDERFUL ending of the drought here (hopefully) we have received 5+ inches of rain!  PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

  I don't know how many of my readers live on farms or ranches but, seeing as we're only 1% of the population, I'm going to assume that most of you do not make your living farming.  So this is what it's like for those of us who do.  

Yesterday Robert and I got to spend the day away from the farm seeing as it's too wet to do any work in the fields.   As we did our shopping, we would run into other farmers who know my husband.   They would smile great big smiles at each other. That's what it's like when rain finally comes to an area.

The first question one of them asked their fellow farmer was "HOW MUCH RAIN DID YOU GET?"  Then the information was happily shared with a mutual understanding that now there may be a crop to harvest this Fall!

There's a lot of pressure living off of the land.  Maybe there will be a crop.  Maybe there won't.  Maybe we'll get it harvested.  Maybe hail will come and destroy it all in an hour.  Maybe bugs will move in and eat the corn. Maybe ergot will move in and destroy the wheat. Maybe we'll get a price for what we produce that is above the cost of producing it.  Maybe we won't.

Did you get that?  For so many years corporations have stolen our crops from us and given us pennies on the dollars.  I know very few farmers who don't also have to work off of the farm to be able to feed their families.  How do you like that paradox?

But I have hope.  For the first time in my life, I have a President who sees how family farms have been swallowed up.  I heard President Trump say "We have to save the family farm.  They have been brutalized by unfair tariffs used by the government against them."  He sees what it's really like for the family farm!

That's only part of the problem.  As I already mentioned we have to take the prices given by greedy corporations.  One year we were paid $6,000 for a semi load of our organic sunflowers.  When we figured out how much the corporation made off of our work, it was more than 100 TIMES what they gave us.  I've heard it said that they could pay the wheat farmer DOUBLE what they're paying and a loaf of bread would only go up 17 cents.  THAT'S HOW MUCH THE FARMERS HAVE GOTTEN RIPPED OFF FOR DECADES!!!

So we put our trust in God meeting our needs and He does!!!  I praise the Lord for keeping us on this farm but we live on next to nothing.  It's a good thing I know how to make bread and cook from scratch.  We wear our clothing for years until there are too many holes in them to be proper and we're always grateful when people give us their used clothing.  We buy used everything and make it work.  Our guys mechanical skills are AMAZING.....

Well, I never meant to go on that rant but I guess it had to come out.  This is my therapy after all.  Thanks for listening.

So I take comfort in God's word--especially the Passion Translation.  This is today's meditation from them.  I encourage everyone to sign up for their free emails and be feed these thoughts that God sees our needs and WANTS to help us face them.  

We got 5+ inches of rain and that is an answer to many prayers.  Praise the Lord!!

Grateful,

Dawn

I Hear His Whisper...

There’s no better time.

Today is the day I have given you. Have you been ruminating over the failures of the past? Have you been rushing ahead in your plans? Let the power of yesterday’s regrets dissipate in the warmth of my very-present love. Let the questions about tomorrow rest in the palm of my hand as you lean into this moment where you and I are one. Ground yourself in my truth as I speak my words of life over you. You have everything you need for all that you face today. I am your sustenance and your provider. Nothing that you come up against is outside of my knowledge. I have equipped you with all you require.   You are a reflection of a generous king. When it is in your power to graciously give to others, do not put it off until another time. Do what you know to do when it is at hand. My wisdom is better than the world’s, and I will not lead you astray. When you choose to sow seeds in laid-down love, the return will always be sweet. Continue to persevere in kindness and compassion, for there is no better time than the present.   From I Hear His Whisper for Women written by Brian Simmons

Proverbs 3:28 The Passion Translation   When your friend comes to ask you for a favor, why would you say, “Perhaps tomorrow,” when you have the money right there in your pocket? Help him today!