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Post by walkswithsword on May 26, 2006 4:27:38 GMT -5
So we all have the commonality of Jesus as the center of our lives. But additionally, we all have a love of horses. How is the Lord using your love for horses in His work?
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Post by snugbythefire on May 28, 2006 13:52:55 GMT -5
I think in our lives, being able to minister to the ranching community and young cowboys who look up to my husband as a horse trainer and as a mighty man of God. He doesn't talk much when he's riding, he just creates a personal relationship with the horse and guides it, lets it know he has expectations of it, but that mistakes can be made and they can be forgiven, and the relationship and the trust will continue to strengthen and grow. The skills my husband learned in his horse training experiences, he can apply to an individual who is looking for help and wants to know what having a relationship with the Lord is all about.
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Post by walkswithsword on May 28, 2006 14:39:35 GMT -5
I kind of feel like the horse community is sort of an outreach area. So while it shouldn't, it still bothers me when fellow Christians don't get it that I am sharing Jesus with other horse people and that it is a mission field. I am not doing it for the the accolades of mankind, but I do wish that my fellow Christians at church understood better.
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Post by Brian on May 30, 2006 1:24:29 GMT -5
There are times when I get closer to God in those silent moments sitting on a horse than I ever have sitting in a church pew.
Engaging in fellowship and being held accountable are essential but beholding his magnificent creation is equally important.
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Post by Chocomare on May 30, 2006 18:36:55 GMT -5
Well, let's look at where a lot of us came from: COTH
I've been able to counsel with several people who've had crises in life ("ThisIsMyAlter's" unplanned/surprise pregnancy and loss, AMD Farm's husband's passing, J Turner's baby Malcom, Horse_Poor's loss of Aero, etc. etc.) ...always praying that the Lord would use me somehow to reach them for Christ.
Even if I never speak to someone or PM them, it's certainly improved my prayer life. When I post "jingles" I mean that I Am Praying over that situation and those people.
In all I do, horsey or not, I pray that they would see something different in me and want to know what it is.
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Post by walkswithsword on May 31, 2006 0:52:22 GMT -5
You always make me smile, Chocomare!  |
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Post by Chocomare on May 31, 2006 5:52:00 GMT -5
Awww, you're making me blush!  |
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Post by Chocomare on Oct 18, 2006 8:28:00 GMT -5
Wanted to revive this for assorted reasons.
Let's take a look at CROSS itself. This board came about because God brought Kat and I together in friendship. It's just grown from there!
I "met" Erin on Percheron Horse Network, offered to help her with some stuff in Georgia when she moved here and, shazam! She turns out to be another sister in Christ.
I watched HorseCityTV on RFD-TV so decide to check out their forums: lo and behold, I found some more Equestrians For Christ and they came over to CROSS.
While satan sure is having a great time polluting the internet with all kinds of unmentionable filth, we need to remember that GOD IS GREATER and we are His warriors in this internet spiritual battle. Let's use the WWW as our Mission Field! Let us show Christ in every post on every BB we frequent.
Post with the Fruits of The Spirit in mind: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Because the world will take notice of our fruit first!
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Post by walkswithsword on Oct 26, 2006 12:27:05 GMT -5
Amen, Sistah!
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Post by heavenonhorseback on Oct 27, 2006 4:50:05 GMT -5
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Post by pintopiaffe on Nov 21, 2006 11:14:16 GMT -5
well, shoot, I haven't figured out quotes yet...
Chocomare said: "In all I do, horsey or not, I pray that they would see something different in me and want to know what it is."
I really, REALLY want to live that, in every part of my life. I'm afraid I don't do so well at work. <sigh> But thanks for the reminder.
I sort of fell into a niche with the horses which forever changed me. Bear with me--it's a little long.
It started in college when I worked at a 4,250 workign cattle, horse & sheep Ranch--that was also a conference and retreat center. I learned a TON about witnessing, and about how horses & horse training were a perfect illustration/allegory of God's love, the gospels etc. I had to move on when I graduated, but I treasure that time in my life.
I was workign in TV News at the time of the Barcelona Olympics. We invited Michael Poulin's family--his sisters--to the station to watch the sattelite feed of the dressage. It wasn't available like it is now, and we didn't even have cable at all in most of this part of the state back then. So the sports guy brings me up to introduce me (I was coaching him on what questions to ask, on what the scores & movements were etc.) I had grown up watching Mike & his students ride in New England. He was an icon of dressage. Of course, Lendon & Seldom Seen were my ultimate heroes... but I digress...
I met his sisters, and one of them, Sister Lucy (yes, a Nun) invited me to see 'her little horses' some day. Turns out, the farm is actually part of a network of homeless shelters, but it's a co-op. You don't just get a free ride, there is a saw mill, cabinet shop, lunch counter, craft shop, and the farm. You learn job skills, or use what you have. Sr. Lucy's "little horses" were Norwegian Fjords that were being raised and trained to work in the woods, a perfect compliment to the sawmill etc.
First I started working the young horses & stallion for them, then started working with the children and 'guests.' The rest is history.
From there it's evolved... I'm now at my own farm, adjacent to a land trust for transitional housing, and I work with those in the transitional housing. I wanted more, so became a special olympics coach.
It's really hard sometimes, because it's volunteering not just my time & my horses, but most of my paycheck too. But God has blessed it so enormously. Selling one or two foals a year keeps me in horses, keeps the program running for the most part.
There is also something to be said for just appreciating the gift of pure joy and love that horses are. God made them. He is pleased when we appreciate his creation. They are so incredibly unique. One of my biggest crises of faith is when I lost my Integrity mare. She was just 8. I could not fathom that I would never see her again. It's been a long process of trying to figure out how that works. The Rainbow Bridge is lovely, but... theologically it's got some holes. On the other hand, how is a being who is so pure in love, and so giving to the special students she served, just 'ended.'
I don't think I'll have an answer to that until that day comes.
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