Letting Go

My heart beats standing on the edge,
but my feet have finally left the ledge.
Like an acrobat there's no turning back..

I'm letting go of the life I've planned for me
and my dreams..
I'm losing control of my destiny
it feels like I've fallen and that's what it's like to believe.

This is a giant leap of faith,
trusting and trying to embrace.
The fear of the unknown beyond my comfort zone.

I'm letting go of the life I've planned for me
and my dreams..
I'm losing control of my destiny
it feels like I've fallen and that's what it's like to believe.

Giving in to gravity, knowing you are holding me
I'm not afraid....

I'm letting go of the life I've planned for me
and my dreams...
I'm losing control of my destiny
it feels like I've fallen and that's what it's like to believe.

It feels like I've fallen and this is the life for me...

This is the song I connected with when I started the bible study I was teaching. It really gave me a joyful spirit and spoke to me, encouraged me. It was something to get out of my comfort zone and really do something for God. Not that I haven't before this just felt different. I hope and am praying that God will use me in this avenue again.

Romans 8

If God is for us, who can be against us?? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31,35,38-39
This is the verse I am thinking about today. Even though I am separated from my church family and friends, nothing can separate me from the love of God!!!

I am reading a book given to me by a co-worker and sister in the Lord, "The Complete idiot''s Guide to The Bible" and it is a splendid read! Full of history which is exactly what I am thirsting for. A rundown of the high points of each biblical book.

Handspinning clinic

OK, this blog will still be about the happenings around the farm and spinning! Crimp Haven Alpacas invited me to give a Drop Spindle clinic and it was this weekend. I had 6 students and by the end of the sesson everybody was making yarn!! Mike and Jeanne Wilson of Lexington, VA were the gracious hosts. They supplied the place and Elizabeth Jackson of Saville Hill Farm supplied the spindles. Elizabeth's husband makes these. As you can see we had a terrific time. I supplied the knowledge and some roving and we were off! Elizabeth also provided kits for sale and several people bought them. Four of these people were Alpaca breeders and others knitters. It's great when you can create something that you helped God raise right in your own backyard. Awesome!!

Romans 12:2 "Why am I like this?"

It seems that I was spiritually connected somewhere. The pastor at my old church preached a series on the very same thing I was teaching in the bible study. Interesting... He just does a lot better than I ever could. I learned quite a bit and with his permission will try and share it here.
We focused on Romans 12:1-2 last week in the bible study. Pastor Eppard focused on Romans 12:2 which reads..

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2.

The devil wants us to be "conformed to the world" and he, I believe helps us to create comfort zones. It was explained as if you have cattle and you need to confine them so you put them in a pen. The pen or fence is the comfort zone where you feel "secure." This really got into my spirit because in stepping out and leading a bible study, I "got out of the pen." I got outside my comfort zone of just sitting in the congregation. So as I see it the devil has been chasing me around for two months trying to throw me back in the pen!!! but now I'm not happy in the pen and I keep getting out!
Pastor Eppard also said that you need to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind." How many times have we heard this?? If you were in the bible study, you heard it every week. He explained it quite nicely, "not by praying you'll be different but by applying the Word to your circustances and experiences and finding out what God says." God wants the new creation that you are to shine thru. You implant the Word into your spirit. This doesn't happen by osmosis folks, it's by repeatedly choosing and doing what the Word says for that situation. It's like grafting a branch to a new tree. It doesn't happen overnight, it takes a few weeks for the tree to "accept" the new branch. (accept is the key word here) You also have to "receive and believe" what the Word says about you, about who you are as a new creation in Christ.

Pastor Eppard taught that you need to make a "Quality decision" that your life will not remain the same. Did I ever learn that! Doing something God called me to do and stepping into that role changed my perspective on a lot of things. When you feel and see the spirit working how can you not make a quality decision ?? Well some people can. The definition of a Quality decision is a decision that you do not pull back from. Don't let your past experiences dictate what you do today!! Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. God will help you face your "giants" but you have to want to step up to the plate and say you're ready. I am going to keep on teaching and give the devil a run for his money!!

Ministry

Well God gave me an idea that I can still do ministry, on what else, my blog!
On Wednesday, the worst day I had this week, God gave me this scripture and I finally decided to stand on it. (I can be kinda stubborn)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

Yeah, "count it all joy", being separated from my friends at church is really a reason to be joyful!!! Never to worship with them again, or so it seems to me. I cry like three times a day and just about every time I think about it. But God is faithful and he will give me the strength to endure it. Tomorrow I go back to my old church in Staunton. I will reunite with some friends there. I know they will be glad to see us. I just didn't have the bond at this church as I did with CC of VA.
If I read the rest of the verse in James it says count it all joy when you fall into various trials. (I'd say I'm in a trial.) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. The "testing of your faith" well I suppose since I stepped up a level now I need to see how faithful I am. God told me to continue on remaining faithful to him. My friend Rhonda said to me, "new level, new devil" and I know how true that is turning out. Satan had to send one of his meaner demons but it isn't going to get me down!! I will stand on the promises and authority that God has given me and go on.
So if the testing of my faith produces patience I need to wait and see what God has up his sleeve now.
The rest of the verse says this, But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Perfect and complete, lacking nothing....
So I best practice some patience even though my will says "I wish patience would move a little faster!"
I know God will not fail me.

Cowboy Church of VA

Well, a chapter closed temporarily in our lives for now. I have a strong hope I will be back and hoping for my family as well. Maybe it is not for them to serve in ministry?? Who knows. It all just seemed to fall apart, Satan just ripped it to shreds and used family members against us. And I mean a family member! My husband was so blinded that he got upset and took some things a little too personal and stated that we all have to have nothing more to do with Cowboy Church. So we can't even attend. I had to step down from my bible study I was leading and the sadness I felt from having to leave all my friends was very painful. I had formed a bond with these folks stronger than any I have ever had with any other church group. They literaly were my extended family, my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I know it seems quite unfair but God's got a plan and I know he doesn't like to see things separtated. Especially families. I got a bunch of encouragement and lots of prayer and I am praying that my husband will see things thru different eyes and repent (turn back). I am also hoping that God's grace will be able to move hearts and also change minds to see things as he sees them. Humility is a big key to this. I will be in constant prayer over this ministry and of our situation.

Storm

Yesterday we had a horrid storm. Worst I've seen at my house. I was at work when it came thru Lexington but when I got home the damage had been done. Praise God nothing major happened! I had two big limbs off the trees next to my house break. One broke over the neighbors fence with no damage as I could see. The other broke and landed on my powerline that went to my house! Scared me to death!! I made a call to the power company and reported it. I had bible study last night in Roanoke so by the time I got home we had power and the branches were cut. I don't really know who cut the trees but they cut both of them up. Thank you to whoever did that!! Now this afternoon I get to clean up the mess. I still can't really get in my front door!!

Soncee

Soncee, yes Soncee. She is the littermate to Eclipse. I kept her to show. This girl has it all even if she is a German cross (62%) She weighs 10 + lbs, not exact on the weight but it's been a while since I weighted her. She has great body type, real solid and nice even fiber with good density. Even more so than Eclipse since REW's tend to have better density. She is about 2 1\2 yrs old. A maiden, never been bred. Non- matting coat and a decent temperment. She's not going to take your hand off or anything as she's quite shy, a scaredy-cat even. Being so nervous I'm not sure what kind of momma she'd make. For sale and yet $50 with pedigree. (you can see how shy she is, won't even give me a face shot)

Eclipse

This is Eclipse. She is a 62% German cross in black and my second generation attempt at a black Giant. Was hoping to breed her to a black buck so to set the color more and boost the percentage a little bit. But be that it may have nowhere for bunnies to go and no market for meat either so that's why she's not been bred. Her sire is LW Samauri and her dam is LW Miranda who is half French. (hence the color) Sam is a REW. She has excellent not matting fiber, great crimp and density. I think I sheared 10oz of prime off her 3 mos ago. (during the cold spell) She is in the process of shearing now as I have yet to do the front of her. (that will be today) She has no white spots but some of her siblings did. She is for sale, $50 with pedigree.

Tannis

This is Tannis. He is as close to 100% German as you can get in color. He is a rich chestnut. Real nice fiber with good density. He's got nice ear tasseling. His mom is ISS Autumn and his dad is Sting. Sting is a 100% German buck. Good temperment and pretty easy going. He's a bit on the small side maybe weighing in at 7 lbs. He probably produces 10 ozs of fiber easy. I just can't remember what the weight was last time I sheared him.

Rabbits

LW Mirage

She is a German angora with courser fiber than all my other rabbits. She has a French angora-like quality to her fiber. Good guard hair which would mean a better halo on a garment. She has a bit of a drop ear on her left. But she is a big girl weighing 12 lbs. Her temperment is that of any other doe, she is a "no touching" kind of bun. I have never shown her because of the ear, (it used to be lower, now it sticks out kinda horizontal.) I haven't bred her because of the economy and it seems that I just do not have a market for the bunnies. Everybody else seems to but not me. I will be lucky to find homes for the rabbits I have now. Her mother, LW Mystique I have shown and she was a awesome bun. Took lots of BOB's and I think she still does now. I am asking $50 for her just to at least find her a good home. She is worth more than that. Her fiber alone is worth $50 every three months.

Leadership with Cowboy Church

I have been attending our Cowboy Church for over a year now and about 2 months ago I asked to lead a bible study. Well Wednesday of last week was my first day. I did very well, we are studying the book of Romans. It should last about 7 more weeks. This past Sunday Cowboy Church held a "Leadership Conference" and it was amazing!! The conference pretty much sums up how Cowboy Church came into existance and how things are run. It gives you a "what you can expect and why". This is my third conference and this one was the best one yet! It was a little different and we had worship interspersed within the lectures. We also had breakfast, lunch and dinner. My entire family has a call of ministry and we now need to step into that call. I have been waiting patiently for the Lord to make his will known and he had done so. My family has been called to lead a new team to pastor two Cowboy churches which frees up the original team to plant more. In this new call of ministry I have to make some sacrifices, one is my rabbits all have to find new homes. I will be traveling alot and will just not have the time it takes to keep them all clipped and groomed. I am sad but God prepared my heart for this some time before. Our horses will be traveling with us if the need arises as they are a part of the ministry. The dogs will also be going and the cat can take care of herself. Our finances have reflected the cost of traveling already so we know we can do this. God has already made the provision. I will be posting photos of the bunnies and a small paragraph about them in the coming weeks. Their price will be wooler pricing, $50 each. Please keep our family in your prayers!