"The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls:
because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." --Isaiah 43:19-20
because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." --Isaiah 43:19-20
The beasts of the field honor God by being exactly what He made them to be: examples of His great handiwork and design. We can honor and praise God too by acknowledging Him as our Creator and Savior and thanking Him.
But God is not the only power working on this earth. The devil is working overtime to fill people with hurt, hatred, and bitterness. He's claiming as much territory as possible while he can, and every time I see the news, I can tell he's making progress.
It's not our part to stand idly by. If we're on Jesus' team, we need to get to work. Where the devil sows doubt, we need to speak of trust in an unfailing and all-powerful God. Where the devil brings despair, we need to whisper words of hope. Where there's bitterness, it must be replaced with the sweetness of God's love. The Bible says "Resist the devil and he will flee." Someone must stand and fight the good fight. Let that someone be you.
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love." --St. Frances of Assisi
Linking with: The Barn Collective and Roses of Inspiration
What a stately looking farm. The classic gambrel roof barn glooms with it's white paint job. Tom The Backroads Traveller
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see barns in good shape and well cared for!
DeleteHello Bethany, I love the cute sheep and the wonderful barn and farm.. I am always happy to see working farms.. They seem to be disappearing around here. Have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteYou too, Eileen! Here in Iowa there are lots of little farms everywhere, but the number is decreasing every year as the older farmers die or retire, and the bigger farmers buy them out.
DeleteThe picture is excellent.
ReplyDeleteGreat farm. We have thought of raising sheep.
ReplyDeleteIt was neat to see this farm as we drove around the area. Raising sheep sounds like work to me, but so is raising any animal.
DeleteI love this post and that farm is so nice! Btw, glad the Packers won, for your family's sake! ;0)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tori! :)
DeleteLovely, nice photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Birgitta!
DeleteBethany, farm is lovely but the worlk is very hard. Definitely not for me..
ReplyDeleteLife in the country is peaceful, but you are right that a farm takes a lot of work.
Deletelovely farm and sweet sheep!
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
Deleteoh now you are really talking my language!! LOVE these images!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie; it's a lovely part of the country.
DeleteLove the rural pictures and your comments too!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Aimee
Thanks Aimee!
DeleteWonderful photos, Bethany and I love the quote of St. Frances of Assisi
ReplyDeleteSt. Francis said many wise things. I watched an interesting movie based on his life once.
DeleteWonderful Bethany. Love all these barns and photos you've shared.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen!
DeleteI have always loved that quote by St. Francis of Assisi. Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lois! The prayer that quote comes from is beautiful.
DeleteGorgeous photos, Bethany! And I love the quotes you've included. Love heals all.
ReplyDeleteTrue. The Song of Solomon says "Love is as strong as death," but Jesus proved that love, God's love, is stronger than death. God is love.
Deletelove the pictures and the scriptures...just what i needed to hear...thanks friend
ReplyDeleteThanks Soraya!
DeleteFabulous thoughts and fabulous photos! "The beasts of the field honor God by being exactly what He made them to be." Perfectly said, Bethany! Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, you too Stephanie!
DeleteOooh, rural areas! I love areas; and I love animals, too; following God's vision. XD
ReplyDeletexoxo Morning
The country is a nice place to be. It's peaceful and people are friendlier.
DeleteWe live in a beautiful world Bethany. I love your take on life. You do good work and honor the Good Lord.
ReplyDeleteR
God did a good job on His creation!
DeleteI grew up on a farm and loved seeing those farm pics. Adding your thoughts made this a great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mari! I'm so glad my family moved out to the country when I was a little girl.
DeleteI love the Scripture verses, Bethany, and this farm is beautiful. I love this post. :)
ReplyDeleteA fine looking farm, nice pictures and encouraging words, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul! We were driving through the countryside looking for barns and bridges, and the farm with the sheep really caught my eye.
DeleteBeautiful rural phoots! Good work finding the beauty in simplicity. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Paige. Sometimes the most simple things are the most beautiful.
DeleteHello Bethany.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, I love sheep.
Love conquers all.
Best regards, Irma
True. God's love is powerful!
DeleteOh how I love farms...farms just have that "home" feel to them :)
ReplyDeleteYes, they do!
DeleteI loved this!!! Your thoughts, your wonderful animals, and farm life. Filled with inspiration and love of mankind....life itself! Well done.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anni. I can't claim the animals, though I suppose since I shot them, in a way they are now mine--at least their pictures are!
DeleteBethany, the pictures brought back very pleasant childhood memories for me, as I grew up on a farm. We did not have sheep, but I loved being out and about with my father and grandfather as they went about the farm doing their chores.
ReplyDeleteAs for the topic...you are so right...it is not our part to stand idly by. Thank you for speaking it out for us to hear.
I enjoyed the Celtic music as well. :)
There's nothing like growing up in the country, Dianna!
DeleteWonderful post. I like your commentary. As always, the photos are excellent.
ReplyDeleteI love photos like this! Barns and sheep!
ReplyDeleteThey make for lovely scenes.
DeleteHi there.
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to your youtube link right now. I'm visiting from Stephanie's Link Party. I like what you've written in this post. The devil may seem as if he's gaining but we know that his battle is lost! But I'll stay vigilant against his onslaughts! God bless you in all you do!
Thanks for visiting Judy, and God bless you too. In the end the Lord will give us the victory!
DeleteWhat a great post and I loved all the pics. I was just reading this morning, Psalms 36:1. Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a fallen world and watching the news is pretty scary. I'm just glad that I'm a daughter of the one true King.
Enjoy the rest of your week, Bethany... :)
You too, Dee! Psalm 36:1 is sad but true.
DeleteI like the post and pictures, Bethany. Did you take them? Do you live on a farm?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Ashley
creatingpreciousmoments.blogspot.com
Yes, I took the photos Ashley. I live out in the country. It's not a real farm, but we have a dog, cats, chickens, fruit trees, and a garden; probably it would be best to call it an acreage, but our chickens think it's a farm. ;)
DeleteI love nature and this farm is just so nice. You inspiring me to plan a trip out of the city :) Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteIf you do get out of the city, I hope you have an enjoyable outing!
DeleteWonderful pictures brought back so many memories of my grandparents farm.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome. My grandparents moved out to the country and were the ones who inspired my parents to do the same.
DeleteBeautiful farm and sheep - but as someone said before, hard work.
ReplyDeleteTrue! I don't think I'll be getting sheep any time soon!
DeleteBeautifully written Bethany! I love your photos, scriptures and he prayer of Saint Francis is one of my favorites
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favorite quotes as well. Thank you Pat!
DeleteWell written, Bethany, as always. Enjoyed your farm photos, too! and your call to action. What we see happening can be overwhelming, but there is much we can do. Not the least of which is to pray. The devil would be much happier with our inaction and feelings of despair. I'm honored to stand with you in this fight. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know fellow Christian soldiers like you, June. The devil does encourage feelings of despair, but we can always look up to Jesus. He has already conquered death and hell, and He will lead us on to victory.
DeleteOh what wonderful photos of those beautiful sheep and barns. A beautiful message too...great post! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful farm! I love everything from the peeling paint on the barn to the brick to the painted top of the silo!
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely place to see!
DeleteLove the photo of the sheep. It is so important to continue to hope and have faith, and not be discouraged by all the awful happenings in the world. Discouragement is a great tool of the enemy.
ReplyDeleteVery true!
DeleteIt is a very beautiful photo!
ReplyDeleteThis all looks very similar to what we have around us at the moment. The sheep here are now pregnant and we are waiting for the lambs - beauty will fill the fields soon. Take care x
ReplyDeleteThe lambs will make beautiful pictures!
DeleteReally nice photos that go well with your writing! I love peaceful farms.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kira! The countryside is a nice place to be.
DeleteThat's a great looking farm and the animals are so adorable.
ReplyDeletePalavras gentis são um favo de mel, doçura para a alma
ReplyDeletee saúde para o corpo.(Pr 16,24)
Lindas fotos...parabéns pela postagem!!!
Obrigada amiga, pela visita atenciosa!
Beijo grande, Marie.
Good verse Marie! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteWonderful pictures, Bethany. My uncle that lived next to us raised sheep and I always loved them. In the Spring my brother and I each picked one out and brought it home after it was weaned. We would keep it as a pet until it was a bit bigger and then take it back to my uncle's farm. I always picked the black sheep-no surprise there I bet! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a fun experience, Diana! I have friends who have children and sheep--each child has his/her own lamb.
DeleteI like very much the way the barn is aging!
ReplyDeleteOld barns have something special about them. Back when they were first made they must have been their owners' pride and joy.
DeleteNice barn and the beasts are wonderful also. Nice post. Thanks for sharing and inspiring this week!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the Barn Collective, Amy!
DeleteA call to arms. I am ready to pick the mantle.
ReplyDeleteOnward Christian soldiers ;)
DeleteLovely photos, great quotes and verses -they are strong ones- Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura!
DeleteLovely post and a lovely farm!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures and message Bethany! "All we like sheep have gone astray"!
ReplyDeleteYes. I like the last part of that verse best...but have now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. He's the Good Shepherd.
DeleteSuper message, thanks for sharing. Mat 18:12- Hope for those who stray..always. The devil is everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good verse. The Lord cares about each and every one of us.
DeleteAmen! I really prefer books and movies with happy endings. For us who are on the Lord's side the ending is very happy indeed. Jesus will reign.
ReplyDeleteStopping by again to say thanks for your kind comments on my blog. Have a good weekend Bethany!
ReplyDeleteThanks! You as well!
DeleteSuch nice photographs. The sheep look very happy! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like they have a nice place to stay and plenty of good food.
DeleteHi Bethany! Nice barn and sheep pictures! And the scripture that is always good to hear about. Well I haven't been around here for awhile now, and because of other things in my life I don't know when I will be back. But I think I will have time to come visit you. I hope you had a great Christmas! And I wish you the best for 2015, with lots of God's blessings for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to visit, and may the Lord bless you as well! I'll look forward to when you do decide to start blogging again.
DeleteWonderful pictures and a lovely farm:-)
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice place to see on our drive.
DeleteWonderful texture in these photos of barns and beasts, Bethany. Your words are timely.
ReplyDeletePoppy
Thanks Poppy!
DeleteHi Bethany,
ReplyDeleteI see hundreds of sheep in the Colorado when I summer there
Thanks for the instructions for cleaning up my reading list. but, there was nothing in the top right hand corner, except edit profile. I googled instructions...they were very complicated but finally it worked! Janey
Glad you figured it out! Colorado has some beautiful countryside (or should I say, mountainsides)!
DeleteWonderful scripture and words of inspiration for us all in these times of great trouble and despair, dear Bethany. And loved your photos. We cannot give satan an inch, but should be willing to go as many miles as our Lord can ask of us. And stay in prayer to be clothed in the full armour. Bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Marie! God bless!
DeleteThanks for these delightful photos.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
Preach it, young Miss! It needs to be heard.
ReplyDeleteLoved all your photos -
Lindy
Thank you Lindy!
DeleteI love to watch sheep. But I never touch them. I´m allergic to them.
ReplyDeleteAh, that is too bad. I haven't found too many occasions to touch sheep myself, but was able to pet a friend's lamb once.
Delete