You have graced me with more insight than the old sages
because I have not failed to walk in the light of your ways.
101I refused to bend my morals when temptation was before me
so that I could become obedient to your Word.
102I refuse to turn away from difficult truths,
for you yourself have taught me to love your words.
103How sweet are your living promises to me;
sweeter than honey is your revelation-light.
104For your truth is the source of my understanding,
not the falsehoods of those who don’t know you, which I despise.
169Lord, listen to my prayer. It’s like a sacrifice I bring to you;
I must have more revelation of your Word!
170Take my words to heart when I ask you, Lord;
rescue me, just like you promised!
171I offer you my joyous praise for all that you’ve taught me.
172Your wonderful words will become my song of worship,
for everything you’ve commanded is perfect and true.
173Place your hands of strength and favor upon me,
for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways.
174I wait for your deliverance, O Lord,
for your words thrill me like nothing else!
175Invigorate my life so that I can praise you even more,
and may your truth be my strength!
176I’ll never forget what you’ve taught me, Lord,
but when I wander off and lose my way,
come after me, for I am your beloved!
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Change your ways and your behavior, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in the deceptive and lying words [of the false prophets who claim that Jerusalem will be protected by God because of the temple], saying, ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ 5 For if you thoroughly change your ways and your behavior, if you thoroughly and honestly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the transient and the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood [by oppression and by unjust judicial murders] in Jerusalem, nor follow after other gods to your own ruin, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers [to live in] forever and ever.
8 “Behold, you are trusting in deceptive and useless words that bring no benefit. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear [oaths] falsely, offer sacrifices or burn incense to Baal, and follow after other gods that you have not known, 10 and [then dare to] come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My [a]Name, and say, ‘We are protected and set free [by this act of religious ritual]!’—only to go on with this wickedness and these disgusting and loathsome things? 11 Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes [a place of retreat for you between acts of violence]? Behold, I Myself have seen it,” says the Lord.
Yesterday was kind of a big deal around the plantation. After the past fourteen days of working toward sustainability, the plantation is starting to get some milestones. Yesterday was the birth of the first chick on the plantation and the first tomato success story. Both of these milestones were a long fourteen days in the works and thankfully they are now in the past. All the work that began because I wasn’t going to allow government to starve myself or my family, have finally moved into reality. God is good all the time.
There is always a lot that is deserving of our thanks. Sometimes it just takes a little work to find those things and other days those things are very easy to spot. BUT those things are there regardless. I see the steps forward that are being made by myself and others to grow our own food, restore our lawns to native sanctuaries, and become better stewards of the land and the environment. Those are all wonderful things to accomplish with the past fourteen days and beyond.
There will never decrease the amount of people that will not understand the benefit of freedom. The freedom to plant, to harvest, to raise, to heal, to protect, and to prosper. These are all wonderful things to experience. The work of creation is beneficial in its tangible and intangible rewards to our body, mind, and spirit. Getting out there in the dirt and working against the forces of nature to bring an order and an abundance is important work. And doing that without harming the environment with harmful chemicals and poor technique is important for sustainability and regeneration of the land.
We are here to struggle with and for the environment because we are part of that environment. We came from dust and will return to dust. In the time we are here, it is our duty to look after nature and work the earth righteously. Practicing good stewardship to our animals and our seeds as we grow them for our survival as well.
So, even in this lull in the growing process as I get ready for August planting, there are plenty of things to enjoy and give thanks. I pray that your crops, your animals, and your homes are doing well.
Peace to your home. Bless your being. The reign of God is now. Have the day you want. I hope you find whatever you’re looking for.
