OzThoughts – Friday, 29th May, 2009

OzThoughts – Friday, 29th May, 2009

I chatted some time ago with an old farmer. It was at a lunchtime function where I was representing an organisation head office in the city and many of the local people were being thanked for their support. We got to talking about the changes in the weather in both the short term and the long term.

We were at the time in the midst of drought and many people had to hold off from planting new crops and already planted crops were giving every sign of not reaching harvest. My farmer acquaintance was telling me that some of his half grown crops were so lacking in moisture they would not even make good feed for his cattle. He then told me he had already sent many cattle to the saleyards because his money was better in the bank than dying in the slowly in the fields.

He then looked at me and said I laugh at you city folk. I wondered what I had done. He went on to say that you city folk come up here and buy 5 or 10 acres and reckon you can live off it. You tell everyone you are going to be self reliant. He continued that you city folk wander around the yards proving you know nothing about farming while I cant make a living off my land which is hundreds of acres even with my life time of experience.

Then he came back to where we were in our conversation previously and said you know it all depends on the weather. I thought I was in for a lesson on how farmers know about weather but he went on to tell me that the weather can’t be understood by man but is not only understood but controlled by God. You city folk reckon you are self reliant. We are smarter than that. God is in control.
Psalm 103:11-22 (The Message)
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we're made of mud.
Men and women don't live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God's love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.

19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
he rules over us all. He's the King!
So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!
[Listen: Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2099.mp3
or
Band (Tune England’s Lane): http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2623.mp3


For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
Author: Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1835-1917)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 28
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