Bo and Lynn at church

Sometimes I ask, “What is my mission, my goal?” or “Am I serving the purpose God intends?” While these questions still pop up from time to time I know where to find the answers. Simply put, God wants the same three things from me as I want from my horses.

Elements of Right Relationship with God and Horses

Complexity is the stuff of adult humans. Simplicity is the stuff of right relationship with God, horses, and little children. God doesn’t care who you know, how pretty you are, or how much money you have. Neither does a horse or a child. The relationship we have with Jesus Christ is built on faith. The same is true when we are in right relationship with a horse. Where faith abounds no fear may abide.

Problems in any relationship begin when the focus turns inward to “I, me, mine.”  Life lived with God and horses is no different. What is the similar theme in these three questions?

1. “Lord, what shall I do?”
2. “Who should I be?”
3. “What is my purpose?”

The central issue of each question is the one who asks… me. God is not the center of the issue, but “I, me, mine.”

Concepts are easier to manage when the spotlight shines on someone else. I discovered the answer to my questions when I turned the tables to consider my relationship with Bo, one of my amazing grays. How do I know when he is doing exactly what I want? These are the 3 questions I came up with:

1. What do I want Bo to do?
2. What/who  should Bo be?
3. What is the purpose I have for Bo?

The answers to those questions were simple and provided the answer to my own. What I expect from my horses is exactly what God expects from me. Right relationship between me and Bo has the same elements or characteristics as a right relationship between God and me.

3 Things God Asks of a Christian

God wants the same three things from me that I want from Bo.

1. Focus
2. Willingness
3. To show up when called

What do I expect from Bo? I want his attention to be squarely focused on me when we are together. When I show up I want him to stop what he is doing and be ready to come if I ask. The faith Bo has in me continues even when he is not physically with me. My faith in God is founded in our shared quiet times but extends into every moment of the day and night.

When Bo and I are together I want him to be willing, consistent, calm, and confident in his obedience to any new request or lesson. I promised Bo I would never ask him to do something he was not prepared to do. I promised him I would take care of all the big issues of life. All Bo has to do is focus, be willing, and to just show up.

God asks us to be calm, willing, focused, and to exhibit the confidence our faith in Him allows. I ask the same of Bo.

• Should it matter to Bo whether I call him for a quiet visit or to compete at the World Show? Should his response be any different?
• Should it matter to you whether God calls you for a quiet visit or to preach the gospel to an audience of thousands? Should your response be any different?

The answer to both questions is no. God asks us to focus, to be willing, and to be present. He asks us to come, to obey, and to abide. That is all I ask of Bo and all God wants from you.

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Read Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace for a scriptural study of the pursuit of relationship with God, horses, and one another.

Available at the Ministry store and at  Amazon.com.

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Boldness by Faith

Faith is the only antidote capable of killing fear. Fear is far too estimable a foe to be vanquished by anything meager, miserable, or pitiful.

A horse who is ridden toward a seven foot tall wall does not jump because it is meek or broken. The horse jumps in obedience to the rider in whom the horse places its faith and trust. To be submissive is not the same as being broken.  One cannot be obedient if there is no option to choose another path. Obedience is not the lack of choice, but the choice to submit to a request.*

To be meek is to be humble, gentle, and patient. Each of these words evoke an image of quiet strength, not resigned or feigned weakness. Faith is a gift. Faith is a blessing. That blessing is not given to those who give up, but to those who press on.

Horses learn to be bold by faith in a worthy leader. We are the same. Our most worthy leader is Jesus Christ who asks us to be bold; asks us to be humble, gentle, and patient. Faith is the stuff of the warrior whether in armor heading into battle or in faded jeans and sandals working in a homeless shelter.

My Utmost for His Highest – Perseverance and Faith

Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, “I can’t take any more.” Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly.

Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.

by Oswald Chambers.

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Read more: What two errors of Christian faith create fear? – The 10-second answer.

* The habit of obedience is discussed at length in Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace: Pursuing relationship with God, horses, and one another.

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Why do you fear?

Being fearless in the face of a particular threat at a precise moment in time is not unusual in human history. In contrast, there are very few examples of men or women who live day to day, year in and year out, both fearless and sane.

The Two Causes of Fear in Christians

Fear always accompanies an error of faith. Christians experience fear for one of these two reasons:

1. A lack of faith that God can do what He promised.
2. A lack of faith that God will do what you want Him to do.

Whether the fear is one of personal security, relationship failure,  financial ruin, or fragile health, one of these two situations will exist.

Ten-Second Explanation for the Presence of Fear

Yesterday we listened to a noted preacher discuss the causes and nature of fear. After thirty minutes of scripture and illustration the message could have been shared in ten seconds. His conclusion? Fear is the product of a lack of faith.

The greatest theological scholars in history probably wrote volumes on the nature of fear. I’m just a retired horse trainer… the whole matter can be summed up in ten seconds. Just re-read numbers 1 and 2 above.

What issue in your life is too big for God to handle? Go ahead and name it. Is your fear really a lack of faith in God or the fear that you won’t get what you want?

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Blake Hannah Photography

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Does your horse quit on you?

At one point I started to think that I might be putting in more effort than he was. I remembered something Tim McQuay said during a reining clinic years ago, “Your horse is bigger and stronger than you are. Don’t always help your horse. Teach your horse to help you.”

Have You Taught Your Horse to Quit?

Does your horse lose his frame the minute you relax your hand, seat, or leg? If you quit insisting does your horse quit working?

Many horses train their riders to fix, help, assist, encourage, and push in order to keep the horse’s posture, direction, and impulsion up and going. Bo was doing a bit of that with me this morning. Recognizing that the error was mine I relaxed and suggested that Bo put in a little more effort. After all, he’s a 1300 pound horse which means there is 10 times more of him than there is of me. Why should I be pulling the load?

Riding a Horse Properly is Like Driving a Car

Cars are really powerful vehicles. Horses are really powerful animals. Cars have no loyalty, personality, or spirit, but driving one is similar to properly riding a horse. You don’t drag or push a car around; you steer, apply acceleration or brake, and decide whether to travel forwards or backwards.  A well trained horse should be the same.

Driving for long periods can be tiring. You have to concentrate, keep your foot on the gas, and have a limited area in which to sit. But, you’re not going to break a sweat from physical work or pull a muscle. The car provides the power. You control how fast and where it goes.

Bo, one of my Amazing Grays

If you get really tired when you ride your horse may have trained you to do the heavy lifting. It’s far easier to teach your horse to help you.

An Easy Yoke

A rider in right relationship with his or her horse will not be exhausted by the effort required to keep things moving along. Being in a right relationship with Christ provides a similar blessing. If your walk with Jesus is too much work you may be taking on way too much of the load. Be willingly led by the Holy Spirit and accept the peace and joy available to you.

When you accept more of the work load than your horse you are not in right relationship. Your horse is riding you more than you are riding your horse. Become the leader your horse wants you to be. Teach him or her to be willingly guided. The best example of the most worthy leader is Jesus Christ.

A Delightful Ride

When I asked Bo for more effort he gave it. We had a delightful ride and spent some lovely quality time together. One of the greatest miracles I have experienced is the relationship possible with a horse. May the trails you ride be just as blessed.

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Amazing Grays, Amazing Grace is the text book for establishing right relationship with your horse based upon scriptural truth.

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Salvation Deadline

“A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you” – John 12:35-36

Jesus spoke not only of His impending death but to men and women in this time as well. The light that will soon be leaving the world refers to the impending departure of the Holy Spirit when we will be reunited with Christ by the Rapture of the church.

Time is running out. If you are reading this you know there is a decision to be made. There is no open-ended invitation to choose God, to choose Jesus Christ. The offer has been made.

Did you believe the Salvation lie?

Has anyone told you that the offer of relationship with Jesus has no expiration date? Why would you believe such a thing? What, in your experience, would support such a concept other than the convenience of a promise with no requirement?

• When job offers are made they seldom come without a deadline for your decision.
• When an offer of marriage is made does the lady have years or decades to decide while her suitor waits patiently for her to make up her mind?
• If you want your vote to count in the election this fall will the election boards stay open until you decide?

Put yourself first

Call me the next time you get a great job offer. I’ll tell you to take your time so you can get in those last vacation plans. Don’t let that employer rush you. Put yourself first.

Call me the next time the man who loves you proposes marriage. I’ll tell you to take your time to be sure you won’t get a better offer. Don’t let that guy rush you. Put yourself first.

Call me if you’re having a tough time picking a candidate. I’ll tell you to take your time so you can really be sure; after all, this is an important decision. Don’t let any pushy campaign force you into a corner. Put yourself first.

When you lose the job to someone who accepted the offer; when you learn that the one who once loved you married someone else, and when you wake up the morning after the election to learn that the one candidate you absolutely detested won – go ahead and blame me for telling you to wait.

You can blame me for the rest of your life but it won’t change anything. When you chose not to decide you made your choice.

The Offer of Salvation has a Deadline

Who told you that the offer of salvation is open-ended? John’s gospel tells you plainly that it is not.

I’m telling you today that time is running out. If your choice is to wait to “be sure” or until the time is convenient, then here are the verses from John that describe your fate:

“Even among the rulers many believed in Him, but they did not confess Him… for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” – John 12:42-43

“Therefore they could not believe because… he has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.” – John 12:39-40

Whoever told you that the offer for relationship with Jesus Christ has no expiration date will be perfectly content to accept the blame. You, however, will face the consequences alone.

You must choose: God or Not God?

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“To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.”  ~ Milan Kundera

Peace

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He is Risen.

After all the preparation, anticipation, and the event itself, you awake the next day to the same crack in the ceiling, the same chores, and the same face in the mirror that was there before the special day.

Yesterday was a delightful bouquet of scripture, praise, hope, and fellowship with others who love and praise the Risen Christ.The greatest promise the world will ever know was fulfilled and our future assured.

“This is the promise He has promised us — Eternal life.” – 1 John 2:25

Sharing Faith and Love for Jesus Christ

Nothing intruded on the peace and beauty of our Resurrection Sunday; no television, no electronics, no scoffers, no naysayers, and no politics.

After yesterday’s sweet, sweet communion with others who speak the same language of faith and love for Jesus Christ, we awoke this morning to the same old world. Real life has returned. There’s still an economic crisis. Politicians are arguing about the same things they argued about last week. And reality television will reach a new low this week just as it does every week.

This poor creation is winding down, beset by the cumulative sin of mankind. The level of suffering and fear continues to rise and the Bible speaks to future events that look even worse. God easily divides what is good from what is evil, even if men and women debate which is which, with the mistaken belief that their opinion actually matters.

The morning after Easter

”Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” – Pope John Paul II

What do I know about the “real world?” I know that it will be for each of us what we make it. The joy and promise of Easter is evergreen. It is possible for every day to be as sweet as yesterday because the facts have not changed:

• Christ was born.
• Christ died.
• Christ arose.
• Christ will return.

Our home is not in this temporary world, but one of great beauty that will be eternal. “You will know them by their love.” We are the people of the Resurrection.

Let every man and woman count himself immortal.  Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection.  Let him say not merely, “Christ is risen,” but “I shall rise.”  ~ Phillips Brooks

I guarantee you this much, we are one day closer to the Rapture.

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Gethsemane - unknowable agony

The gap between the intellectual and the spiritual cannot be bridged by mere mortals. You can know about Gethsemane and Calvary or you can feel their impact.

Gethsemane and Calvary – Incomparable

Unbelievers scoff at the importance of Christ’s crucifixion because they have no frame of reference for comparison.

Throughout the centuries there have been men and women martyred for their faith in unspeakable ways. Each of these faithful were tortured unto death as was Jesus. His death was a human death, but that is where the similarity ends.

“We can never fathom the agony in Gethsemane, but at least we need not misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin. We know nothing about Gethsemane in personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary stand for something unique; they are the gateway into Life for us.” – Oswald Chambers

There are two distinct differences between the death of Jesus Christ and the death of a martyr. The first is simple enough; Jesus was not martyred. Jesus was born into the world from outside of the world for one purpose – to die and rise again.

The second difference is unknowable except in the spiritual sense. What happened between the moment Jesus “gave up his spirit” and Easter morning? No one knows, nor is it possible to know in an intellectual sense. The simplest explanation is that Jesus was separated from God. Only a human spirit made new by the Holy Spirit can know in any way what being separated from God means.

This is Holy Week. As you prepare for Good Friday and Easter, please consider this message from Oswald Chambers.

Never tolerate the idea of martyrdom about the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken.

The Cross did not happen to Jesus: He came on purpose for it.

The Cross is not the cross of a man but the Cross of God, and the Cross of God can never be realized in human experience.

When we get to the Cross, we do not go through it; we abide in the life to which the Cross is the gateway.

The Cross is the point where God and sinful man merge with a crash and the way to life is opened - but the crash is on the heart of God.

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“Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for HIM.” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Humans have limited vision caused by the straightjacket of mortality.

God answers prayer.

Within the confines of this world it is impossible to know anything exhaustively, that is, to know all there is about any matter or thing.

The unknowns of what is possible physically, mentally, or spiritually outweigh what is known.  Most 16 year old kids think they know it all. Most 60 year old folks wonder if they know much at all.

When faced with opportunity, obstacle, or adversity we pray for God to act in some particular way that suits our limited vision. On those occasions when you prayed for a miracle, didn’t you also specify exactly how the miracle should look?

The simple truth is that the categorization of any event or circumstance as either an opportunity, obstacle, or adversity, is how the matter fits within our present plans and desires.

God’s vision is far greater than ours and He has capabilities and plans that our wildest imaginations cannot fathom.

No matter what the issue or concern, expect God to act, but don’t try to limit the way He acts. God’s timing and judgment are perfect and “all thing work for the good to those who love God.”  [Romans 8:28]

God will act – but be prepared for that action to come in a completely unexpected way.

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Refining Fire

Worldly eyes are drawn to the light from the Enemy; vivid, intense, and passionate. There is only one outcome for a candle that burns on both ends – darkness that comes twice as fast as a candle lit on only one end. The passions of the world lead to death by fire. The light of the Enemy is the furnace of Daniel that will incinerate all who stand in it.

The world is a burning barn. Moses watched in amazement, fear, and awe as God spoke from a bush that burned but was not consumed by the flame.  The family of Jesus Christ will both witness and experience the fire as it first smolders, then spreads.

Like the Burning Bush, we will not be consumed by the flame. And, when the time comes for God’s refining fire to cleanse all the door of the blazing furnace will open and the hand of Jesus Christ will permit our exit into His full resurrected presence.

- excerpted from Rapture and Revelation. This new title will be available from Ark Press this Spring.

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