Be Still

Recap: Tyler, TX September 12th Hearing God Mini Retreat for Women 

Kathy Taylor of Herdwise and I partnered to facilitate a mini retreat for women.  The retreat was designed to create an atmosphere for women to hear from and increase their intimacy with God.  What an amazing time we had!  We absolutely heard God through the horses. They made His truth visible.

The overarching theme of the retreat came from Psalm 46:10.  “Be still and know that I am God.” Through the actions of the horses, God showed us exactly what He wanted to say.

Four horses roamed loose in the arena, one was visiting from another herd, yet all four laid down several times for several minutes during the day.  At one time two of the horses were laying down across the arena from each other. After a few minutes, Beyla got up, went over to Prize and laid down next to her. This is not your typical horse behavior. To the group, it symbolized stillness, rest and togetherness. It was about being still and knowing “I AM.”

One of the women shared that Ps 46:10 in the KJV says “Stop striving and know that I am God.” It was apparent that the horses were not striving to be anyone or do anything that day. When we interacted with the horses, they allowed us to just “BE” by setting an example for us. It was a beautiful picture of our relationship with God, the kind of relationship He wants to have with us that puts BEing with Him far ahead of doing.

The Lord convicted one woman, an entrepreneur and horse owner that “She didn't allow God to be in charge enough.” She, admitted to “pushing some buttons” on the horse to encourage him out of his comfort zone. When the horse turned his head quickly and bit at the air, She realized the horse was reflecting her own reaction to God whenever He tried to encourage her out of her comfort zone. She would bite!

God was faithful to make the truth visible through the actions of the horse in a non-judgmental, but convicting manner.

Beyla and Val mirrored a very special relationship—the one between a father and daughter. It was remarkable how closely they resembled one another just like we are made in the image of our Heavenly Father. To see how close the daughter stayed to her Father throughout the day was a reminder to more than one of us that “I am my Father’s child.”

Since it was warm, a bucket of water was always available to the horses. None of them drank from it very much, but they sure did want to play in it. Several times the horses would fight over who would get to play with the water. A woman remarked, “Wouldn't it be great if we all prioritized getting to the living water?”

Rom 10:17 tell us that “Faith comes by hearing…” Being still, Peace, listening to God and trusting that “He has it covered” are just a few of the messages the women heard from God that day. There's no doubt in my mind or theirs that their faith has been increased.

If you would like to increase your faith in God by hearing from Him we are offering another mini-retreat next weekend October 17 in Burleson, TX. The details are in the link below. Space is limited to 14 participants per session and it’s filling fast. Register today.  

Morning Session Registration Link: hearinggod1.eventbrite.com/

Afternoon Session Registration Link: hearinggod2.eventbrite.com/

Three Lessons Learned from Zoe

ONE
There is power in community.  What amazing good we can do when we ban together.  I am overwhelmed by the support and help of perfect strangers to rescue Zoe.  

TWO

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop  Don’t discount your part and role.  In Zoe’s case one posted Zoe’s picture to her FB page.  Another shared her picture to a horse networking group and asked questions about the rescue process, organized and rallied others to help, and contributed funds to her rehab.  Another paid for part of Zoe’s purchase fee.  Another offered to pick her up and arranged quarantine.  Another paid for 10 days of quarantine and visited Zoe.  If any one of these had not done their part, because it was too small, Zoe might not have been saved.  

THREE

Dreams are never realized by just dreaming.  Action is always required at some point, even seemingly small steps toward your dream must be taken for your dream to become reality.  Dreams often come with hardship and may not always look like what you had imagined.

What community can you support?  What act of kindness can you do? What action step can you take toward your dream beginning today?

Visit With Zoe

Zoe’s visitor yesterday wrote this about their time together:

"I was reminded today in my visit with Zoe how intuitive horses really are!  I went to visit her thinking I was "being" with her, giving her the usual apples she loves, brushing her, and petting her. The usual routine, but something wasn't right.  She was antsy, yawning, shifting her weight a little which is unusual for her when I visit.

I checked myself and thought, "I think I am being calm enough as I am not at all afraid of her."  Then she began gently lipping me which got my attention as I wasn't sure she wouldn't bite me if I didn't pull my fingers away pretty quickly and in doing so, it startled her. I pet her and talked to her reassuring her that I would never hit her as I felt that is what she feared when I jerked away.  Then she lipped me again. This time, I wasn't as abrupt in moving my hand away and just talked to her and stroked her head. 
 
She did it maybe once more and I still calmly talked to her and stroked her head between her ears until I truly think she went to sleep.  She stood there in that position for 10-15 minutes straight until a noise startled her in the neighborhood, and she even snorted as she awoke, which made me laugh.

It was then that I realized we were in tuned with each other for that 10-15 minutes and that was what she was trying to communicate to me by lipping me.  I realized that even though I was there physically with her out there, I was not mentally with her.  I had a million other things on my mind until she got my attention in her Zoe way.  Then we were in sync!  There is not a feeling like being in sync with a horse and I really enjoyed those sweet minutes really being present with Zoe!  She gave me that nice reminder that I constantly need to be mindful and in the moment! Those other things can wait.  That is how God is, too. He wants more than just our physical presence. He wants our being in the whole moment with Him, too. Zoe was my Earthly reminder. Thanks, Zoe!"

 
  

It Begins

I have looked at kill pen pages and for sale facebook pages a dozen times a day and seen probably a thousand horses.  This one was different.  There was something about her story or her eye that just caught my attention.  I wanted to help her.  I saw others posting comments and wanting to help her.  I figured I’d follow her and she’d find a home.  I asked Chad, my husband, if we could get her (thinking he’d say no and my hands would be tied and all I could do was hope and pray she found a home.)  BUT he said ‘Yes’, without hesitation.  I was shocked!  I said, “Are you kidding?”  He said “no”.  So I began trying to find out for from all the posts if she was spoken for.  It led me on a wild goose chase of trying to contact someone who had been mostly coordinating the interested parties for her.  I was able to talk to the contact over the phone and then spoke with another person who wanted her.  I thought all was said and done.  I did my part she found a home.  At the last minute the home fell through and all my efforts to pass the responsibility off failed.  The responsibility came back to me.  One individual paid part of her fee but she still needed the remainder paid.  Others were stepping up to offer help with her quarantine.  One offered transport but no one to take ownership of her.  I talked to Chad again and he was not wavering from his “yes’.  He said, “I trust you.  What are you hearing?”  I felt God speaking we were supposed to get her.  I had peace about paying the remainder of her purchase price.  But there were so many unknowns about her quarantine and foal and we don’t need another horse.  Where will we put her?  But we stepped out in faith.  Chad paid the remainder owed for her and we own her. 

What a journey.  We named her Zoe for abundant life.  She was moments from the end of her life and we rescued her.  She will give life to her foal and she has given us life.  We have made contacts with amazing people we never would have met if it weren’t for her and her story.  In what would be her last hours she has given life.  Isn’t God sweet?  Isn’t that what he does for us?  He reaches down in our certain path of eternal death and life without Him and rescues us.  He offers us eternal life with Him.  He gave His life that we might have eternal life. 

John 10:10 “¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

“The Greek word translated "life" here is ZOE, and it means "life in the absolute sense, life as God has it" (Vine's Expository Dictionary). Everyone who is breathing has life in the sense of physical existence, but only those who receive Jesus can experience life as God intended it to be. Jesus came not only to save people from the torment of eternal hell but also to give them this ZOE life, or God-kind of life, in abundance. The life of God is not awaiting people in heaven but is the present possession of all born-again believers in their spirits (Joh 5:24 and 1Jo 3:14). Believers can release this ZOE life and enjoy it now by losing their natural lives (Mt 16:24-25, Mr 8:34-37, and Lu 9:23-25) and finding this supernatural life. The way believers lose their lives is to deny any thoughts, emotions, or actions that are contrary to the Word of God, which is life (ZOE in Joh 6:63). When they line their thoughts, emotions, and actions up with the instructions of God's Word, then they'll find this ZOE life manifest in their bodies and souls as well” http://www.awmi.net/bible/joh_10_10

 

The Flip Side:

For me this story actually started on Tuesday evening. I was staying at Lesli’s parent’s house due to having a golf outing on Wed morning across town. Lesli had a networking meeting to go to in Fort Worth. When she called me on her way home I was watching a movie and couldn’t talk to her but we were texting. Something had shifted in her Spirit. I don’t know what it was but something had been let go and something new was beginning. She was happy and refreshed. Lesli had sent me a picture of the mare and asked if we should get her. Initially my thought is generally “no, we don’t need another mouth on the feed bill, let alone 2 mouths.” But the way Lesli was talking about it I could tell this one was different.

Wednesday Morning: We continued to text on and off about it throughout my golf round and I told Lesli to get more information and we would make a decision once we knew more. I had peace to proceed but I hadn’t heard a specific word. After my golf round I was headed to my next stop and speaking with Lesli on the phone trying to make a decision. I asked Lesli to “hang up and ask God what we should do? Pray about it and seek and I would do the same.” When we hung up the phone I began to pray and this is what God told me: “I am birthing something new in Lesli, but it is going to require her to step out in faith.” I knew that the answer was yes lets save this mare and see what the Father does. But Lesli needed to be on board and step out in Faith. (At that point I haven’t told Lesli what God had spoken to me). We discussed it and decided we should do what it takes to save the mare. After we made payment and started working out the details we were able to share this experience with each other. I am looking forward to see where the next step in this journey takes us.

Shedding

Spring is in the air. Sounds of chirping birds and flurries of horse hair carried in the breeze signal spring is here. It is a welcomed warm day of spring sunshine after the most recent winter cold spell. As I groom horses today, I am reminded of the process of renewal.

As the days increase in length horses begin the process of shedding their winter coat to prepare for the warmer weather of spring and summer. It is their form of spring cleaning. Winter coats provided warmth during the bitter cold weather. This extra layer of hair that was so purposeful over the winter no longer serves a purpose for coming summer. In fact if horses are unable to shed their winter coats it will cause them to suffer from overheating in the hot temperatures of the summer. This shedding process is necessary and must take place for their benefit, health and comfort. They must adapt to their changing environment. They must shed the old hair and be renewed. This is a process that will happen over and over throughout the course of their life as they transition every winter to spring.  How glorious they look when they have fully shed their winter coat and have the glossy, slick, shine to their hide.

Where is there shedding necessary in your life? Letting go of a habit, relationship, resource, belonging that served a purpose and was needed for a season but if not shed will cause harm or discomfort? Who needs to help in this process? As I groom my horses I am helping them shed their old hair. I use different brushes to aid in this process: a shedding blade, curry comb, dandy brush, coarse brush. Each has a unique ability to accomplish a specific task. What tools do you need to assist you shed? My horses will not shed their winter coats in one grooming session, or in one day. This is a process that will take time, weeks and multiple groomings. They will do some of the work alone rolling in the dirt and rubbing against trees and I will help sometimes by grooming. I have already groomed them five times and the process is not complete. Will you allow yourself the time necessary to shed?

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