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Roots

Isn't our God awesome?! When we look around and see everything that He has made, and ask Him to teach us through His creation.... He will! All the earth shouts His praise and we can learn if we only listen.
"But ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky and they will tell you, or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every living creature, and the breath of mankind." Job 12:7-12


This past week God has been using a sweet horse named Remnant to speak to me. (Remnant is the closest horse in the picture above.) For those of you who don't know Remnant's story, he is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina. This sweet horse was stuck in chest high water, entangled in downed trees and limbs, for three weeks before he was rescued. He was so trapped in the trees that the rescuers had to use chainsaws to cut him free. Because of this experience, Remnant is one of the most level headed horses you will meet! We put hats on his head, gloves on his ears, kids have pool noodle wars on top of him. There was even a time when a firecracker went off near him and he stayed cool and collected! More recently, there were several people in the arena riding, when one horse barreled into Remnant. If you're a horse person, you know that many different things could have happened... none of them being a good outcome. But Remnant, stood his ground and kept his rider safe.
God used Remnant's story and what happened this week to remind me of two things:
1. There is always purpose for hardships and pain. (And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28) God is using Remnants past, as sad and painful as it may be, to honor and glorify Him today. We can share with the kiddos at the ranch Remnant's story, and how God has redeemed and used him. Its a story that the kids can relate to, and see as a picture of restoration.
2. When Remnant was barreled into by the other horse, many things could have happened. He could have been knocked down, or run off, or lashed out at the other horse. But instead he stood strong. The Lord showed me that when we are rooted deep in Christ, NOTHING can throw us off because it is Him who holds us. When we put our trust and faith in God and His word, when we study His Word and seek a relationship with Him, our lives start to revolve around Him. How He wants to use our lives and grow us. When we are rooted in Him, we know no matter what comes our way... pain sorrow, sickness, or death...He is right beside us and will carry us through. ("That according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know that love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:16-19)
I love the song "Roots" from Unspoken:

 I've been through the drought of summer
Weathered winter's snow
Winds of change have bent me
Still I never broke

But I've been sat down by the river
Anchored to the shore
I drink deep of the water
Cause my strength is from the Lord

Let the rain fall, let the wind blow
The more that comes down the stronger I grow

I got roots, I got roots
Cause I'm standing on the truth
It's you, It's you
I'm holding onto, I'm holding onto
So deep down in the ground
Firmly planted safe and sound
And I can't be moved
I got roots

 What about you? When you go through hard times, when you can't seem to take another step, will you choose to lean into Jesus, His plan, His hope, His love? When you do go through those hard times, I pray that you will find comfort and hope in our loving Father, knowing He has a plan. 
"Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10



This weekend the interns went on a trail ride with Kim (founder of CP), Sarah (equine manager) , and Lynn (ranch mom) at Tumalo Reservoir! It was so much fun! Here are some pictures! 

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