When God says no

Have you ever had a big decision to make? If you have and if you are a Christian, than you know that lots of prayer is an essential.  You also know if the above two things are true that the Lord doesn't always give us this clear answer.You pray fervently that God would show you his will for your life and give you a clear yes or no, but when he does not, it is our job to be obedient to what has already been revealed about God's will for our lives through his Word. Knowing that we should seek first the Kingdom of God, we should take action. "Just Do Something," as Kevin Deyoung's great book on this topic states (a book I highly recommend if you have bid decisions to make!). All the while, we can trust that if we truly give our lives to God, he will establish our plans. (Proverbs 16:3)

Sometimes, however, God is gracious enough to give us a direct answer to our prayers, one that is unmistakably a yes or no. Praise the Lord for this! It is great to receive this confirmation, and our hearts should rejoice in it!

But what if the answer is no?

Hears where it gets hard. Sometimes you pray and pray about a decision, convince yourself that it is the Lord's will for your life. You take that step of faith towards that open door--only to have it shut in front of you. And it doesn't feel good--kind of like stubbing your spiritual toes, if you will allow me to stretch the metaphor. But hold on a second, isn't this the answer to prayer you wanted? Shouldn't we be amazed that God cares enough about us to give us a glimpse of the perfect plan for our lives? Who are we to set up this farce with God that "Lord, I really want to know your answer to this decision, but since I already know what is best for me, your decision has to be yes, okay?"

So how do we learn to rejoice when the answer is no? Simply, I believe, by holding to the promise of God that He really does have a perfect plan for us! When we truly believe this, we can thank God for the closed doors. Thank you, Lord, for saving me from another rabbit trail and guiding me in those good works you have planned for me! (Ephesians 2:10) I don't know how to say it any simpler: trust God, and you can rejoice in all things and under every circumstance (even trials!)! (Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, James 1:2)

Yes, this is on my mind because God did just answer no to one of the plans I had made. And yes, it didn't feel worthy of rejoicing in at first, but when I realized that God was gracious enough to give me this answer instead of letting me kick down a barred door, I found joy and thankfulness!

God is good, all the time.

A Couple takeaways from the 10th annual Christian Heritage Homeschool Conference

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lack of posts on here recently. I have been really busy (and sick :0/)! My family and I had the privilege of attending the Christian Heritage Conference in Redmond this weekend, and it is always an amazing time of growth in our convictions and fellowship with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ! I can't remember a time when I have taken more away from the conference than this time; it was that good! I have shared a few of my takeaways below, mostly because for me, writing my thoughts down helps me solidify them in my mind. ;0)

  First off, I have to break down my takeaways into two categories: My faith, and the practical "doing" of my faith. For my faith, it was great to hear Vodie Baucham's last key note that basically asked and answered the question, Where is God in suffering? His answer made sense. His answer was Biblical. And his answer really strengthened my faith. God is with us and hears us when we are going through hard times; how dare we think that just because our prayers our not answered right away and in the way we want that God is somehow distant? It is when we realize that God is in control and has a perfect plan for us and the world that we can find peace in suffering, knowing that our Lord is using the hard things in life to strengthen us in Him! It was also great to hear Mr. Baucham talk about what the Gospel really is and what it means to our lives as Christians in an earlier session. The Good News is relevant for far more than salvation; it is applicable (and indeed needed) for every day of our Christian lives! It is our hope!

For the practical "doing" of my faith, I was incredibly blessed and convicted by Daniel Craig's session "Do Something". I've really struggled with applying myself wholeheartedly to the little things in life. It's easy to get caught up in the lie that those "big" opportunities come out of nowhere and all you have to do is sort of sit back and wait around for them. In reality, it is only when we diligently apply ourselves to what God has put before us in the here and now--chores, work for the family, that low-paying job, school--that more opportunities will come. As a young man who is struggling to find out exactly what the Lord wants me to do with my life (and a young man that has had daydreams of that will just zamming him out of nowhere so it will be abundantly clear), the simple message “be faithful with the little things” was something I needed to hear. We are privileged to be ambassadors for Christ no matter where we go in life; let’s make the most of our calling!

A close second in this category was Curtis Browers session on practical advice for running any business. It helped me realize that I’ve let myself get away from my original commitment with my business to use it to serve and bless my customers. I’ve let myself lately become so task-oriented and, honestly, money oriented, that I really have not been blessing many of my customers. Mr. Browers shared how we need to apply the second greatest commandment—love your neighbor as yourself—just as much to our businesses as anything else, and that is so true! It’s part of our witness as Christians and our service to the Lord, and He will bless us for it.

Lastly, Mr. Champs session for young man on purity got right to the heart of the struggles we young men (and older men too) face to keep ourselves pure in a sex-obsessed world.  Radical steps are needed if we want to have victory in this area; young men, let’s take them!

As far as highlights go, it was a great privilege and honor to talk with Douglas Bond during one of the sessions. I love his writings, but I was even more impressed in meeting the man behind the stories. He caught me up on his recent projects (including a book on C. S. Lewis that sounds awesome and the progress of the film adaption of Duncan’s War!), and hey, he even signed the book I bought. ;0)

And of course, a main highlight was catching up with all you friends! It was great seeing you all again! For those of you blog followers who attended the conference, how did God use this conference to speak to you? What main things did you takeaway from the conference?

The Maker--Chris August

Love this song!

The Greatest Story

Hi guys! This is just something I wrote late last night. You can give a sudden flash of inspiration the credit for my sleeplessness and everything written below.

Either that or a coughing fit. ;0)

The Greatest Story

 

What is a great story, I wonder? Are they not the ones that truly captivate us and move us, the stories that point to some bigger meaning that we long to discover? And where are these stories found? Are they found in the happy confines of average life--where nothing unexpected ever happens and the main characters live normal life all their days? No, surely not! To me, a great story is found in two little Hobbits leaving the comfort of the Shire far behind for Mount Doom. It's in a shipwreck and a deserted island or a land of perpetual ice and snow.

It's strange: the stories that truly mean something to me—and probably to a lot of people, come to think of it—are the ones filled with danger and dread. What is a story without woe, betrayal, and treachery?

But no, all that really doesn't make for a great story (unless you are a really, really messed up person I suppose). It's what comes out of the darkness that counts. In the great stories, betrayal is replaced by beauty, treachery by treasure, and woe by wonder.

But how does that happen? Isn’t it by the bravery and endurance of the main characters that darkness turns to light? Yes! Commitment and courage, friendship and faithfulness, Service and steadfastness--all are prerequisites of a main character in these epics. Samwise Gamgee, Robinson Crusoe's man Friday, and little Lucy Pevensie come to mind.

So what is a great story? To me, it's far from comfort and close to calamity. It's full of tension and even terror, but resolved in healing and happily ever after. Memorable characters burst from these stories and captivate us, and we only wish that they could exist outside the world of imagination and inspiration!

To take it one step further: what is the greatest story ever told? Is it found in the fictional worlds of Middle Earth and Narnia? Maybe, but what if even these great stories are only a shadow of the greatest story, the one that has been unfolding in our world since the beginning? 

What if it's found in the middle of the serene gift of a garden paradise, but then in the tragedy of a forbidden fruit and a fall?  What if it is in the mercy of the Maker and the suffering of a Savior? Surely, there is a story filled with betrayal and beauty, treachery and treasure, woe and wonder, and praise be for the mercy of the Maker, the end of this story is healing and happily ever after.

But what does that make us? What if . . . Imagine it! What if we are characters in this greatest story, this epic that outshines all others? Do we even dare to imagine that we could be a Samwise Gamgee or a Lucy Pevensie? When I consider who the Author is of this story, I dare to hope. Placing this hope in Him, I strive to be courageous and committed. I long to be found faithful as a friend and steadfast as a servant!

But no Samwise Gamgee is alone. There be warriors and weapons. There be fears and fortresses to conquer. There be a Lord and a Light to follow. So there is one more question I must ask:

Will you join me?

The Boastful Pride of Life

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NASB)

Our men's group just studied this verse, and what really struck me was "the boastful pride of life". What does that mean? I believe it is taking pride in one's life accomplishments . . . and boasting about them. Which gets me thinking, how many times have I stepped outside of my Father's will and boasted about my life achievements?

One of the easiest places to do this is on social media. As I examine my past posts, if I am honest, there are many posts that I have shared in pride . . . all under the guise of keeping you all informed with what God's been doing in my life. It is humbling and convicting.

Social Media allows us to hide behind a shiny, white-washed version of ourselves, where sin is swept under the mat and our best foot is always put forward. How often do we post selfies because, "hey, we are looking good!" How often do we post videos or pictures of ourselves doing some crazy thing or another--all for laughs, right? Or are we secretly motivated by our deep desire to receive attention and admiration?

From the moment we are born, we are driven by our sinful nature to bring glory to ourselves. You see this even with toddlers, as they hold a crowd of onlookers captive by their cute little antics. Their little faces practically glow with three words: Look. At. Me. I don't think we ever outgrow this hunger for glory on our own. It is only when we surrender ourselves to the Lord's will that we truly find freedom from pride. It is through the Father's love that we find fulfillment and freedom from the constant pressure to prove how awesome we are. Instead, we can finally live the life we were created for: to prove how awesome God is.

So my challenge to all of you is to take a serious look at your Social Media pages. Can you honestly say that they are bringing glory to God . . . or do they more resemble a world that shouts those three little words: Look. At. Me?

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
(Mathew 5:16 NASB)

I'm alive!

Yes, it's true! I'm not dead, in case you were wondering--just "mostly dead" as Miracle Max would put it. ;0) Haha, life has been incredibly busy, but it has been good--except for this nagging cold I've been fighting for the last week, which has made my voice rather hoarse and close to unintelligible over the phone I'm sure--but I digress. I just have not had time to keep up this blog, so I thought I would patch together a quick post to catch up anyone who is interested with what has been going on with me in the last few weeks. ;0)

First of all, Hershey the Cub Cadet mower is sold! She sold a few days after I posted her on Craigslist, which was a big blessing!

Secondly, I got my new trailer!!! I outgrew my little 4x8 "wagon" really quickly, so this past offseason I have been on the hunt for a new trailer. I could not find something that would fit my needs off of Craigslist, so I eventually found a good deal on a new, custom made 6x12 cargo trailer at a dealership in Chehalis. After waiting for a few weeks for it to be built down in Texas, I was able to pick it up last Thursday!

It matches the trim on my truck quite nicely!

 



 

The inside. I put a couple coats of Deckover on the floor to protect it against any water my mowers might track in. I will post a picture soon of all the stuff I have done to customize the inside!

 

I am really looking forward to using my new mowers this season!

 

 My zero turn mower!

 

 



A 36" walk behind. It's an adventure mowing with this beast. ;0)

Kyle's Clipper has really been picking up steam. I am mowing all but a few of my lawns from last year this week (though I have been mowing some lawns since the middle of February!), and I have already (most likely) picked up 6 new lawns this mowing season! Praise the Lord for His blessings!

I am also officially a Limited Liability Corporation now. Oh the joy of being on the state's radar and paying taxes!

-_- Moving on . . .

I am still working part time with the tree service. The plan was to end work there the beginning of this month, but due to a delay with my replacement, my boss has really wanted me to stay on for a couple more weeks. I don't mind the extra work, but yeah, I've been super busy as a result. ;0) It's been a good job though. I've learned a lot!

Oh, and on top of all that, I am considering a 4 month missions trip this coming winter. I know, I am terrible with details! One of these days I will put together a more complete post on how the Lord has been leading my heart to pursue a missions internship, but suffice to say for now, I really feel led to consider if the Lord might have me serve cross-culturally!

So yes, please pray for me! Specifically that my head will somehow stay upon my shoulders during this busy season so that I can stay only "mostly dead". ;0)

She's just as beautiful as the day I met her . . .

Last spring, I met this gal, and I knew instantly that I had found the one. We worked together all of last year, and she was the best ever, in my opinion! I spent many, many hours with her--in the wind and rain or in the bright sunshine, on the good days and the bad days. We made a great team! Those days I will always remember as some of the most awesome in my young life.

But alas! It did not last. This was my decision, I must admit. I have decided to move on. But as I look at her picture, I wonder if I made the right choice . . .

Because, you see, I realize that she is just as beautiful as the day I met her . . .

So, um, anybody want a mower? http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/grd/4893475867.html

:0P

(Yes, this was supposed to be a Valentine's Day joke being that I am not at all a fan of your typical "tragic romance", but I didn't get the chance to post it till today) ;0)

(and I should also mention in my defense that when you name something and then spend a whole summer riding around on it, you do naturally get kind of attached . . .) ;0)

God is sovereign? But--*gasp*--that must mean we are robots!!!

Or does it?

If God has written out our story from eternity past, do we have a choice to live out our lives the way we want to? And really, this question sounds pretty selfish, but this same question is the one many people will turn to again and again to try and disprove that God is at complete liberty to shape His creation how He wills. In the end, it all boils down to this same question that Paul asked almost 2,000 years ago:

Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?

 (Rom 9:21 NASB)

 

I know a good many friends and acquaintances who might mumble a begrudged "yes" to this question, but in reality--if they were completely honest--"no" would be their answer. "God's created us with free will!" they are quick to point out. "We have choices; we're not robots!"

 

But hold on a second, don't we want God to be in total control over His creation? If the Lord is not sovereign, than how are we to rest in the promises He has made us? Can we still have that peace that surpasses all understanding--that peace that says "God's got a plan, and all these things, good or bad, are working out together for our good"--if we don't believe He is completely sovereign?

 

No, I would say, not really.

 

A this point, some of you might be thinking, "Wow, Kyle, I didn't know you were one of those whacky people who believe man doesn't have free will!" Don't worry; I'm not. In fact, I believe in both God's sovereignty and man's free will. Our choices really do matter. We aren't robots. But yet, I also believe just as emphatically that God is completely sovereign!

 

The idea seems completely incompatible, doesn't it? But before you dismiss me as crazy (which, depending on your definition, I may or may not be) ;0), take a look at these verses:

 

Proverbs 20:24 NASB - Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?

Proverbs 16:9 NASB - The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps

Proverbs 19:21 NASB - Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.
Proverbs 16:1 NASB - The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD

 

I know I blinked a few times when I first read these verses. What if it is true that despite man planning his way, God is still in control of his steps? What if despite our free will, God is still in control of every decision that we make? These verses seem to say so, and as I have studied this topic more and more in Scripture, I am more and more convinced that this is the correct balance to have to this whole debate between God's sovereignty vs. man's free will. Both are true. Man really does make choices. God really is sovereign over everything, from when the lowly deer or mountain goat will give birth or when the hawk will soar (Job 39), on up to every decision man makes--even man's decision to sin.

 

And yes, this is just about precisely the time my friends who err more on the side of man's free will will argue something like: "But Kyle, God NEVER forces man to sin!" I wholeheartedly agree. Our holy, holy, holy Lord never forces anyone to sin. Yet, I still believe our sin never catches God off guard. He has never resorted to a "Plan B". So yes, by definition then, I would say that even sin is not outside of God's plan. When we choose to sin, it is a terrible, terrible thing. We should repent and live righteously, but what if God almighty can even use the ugly things in our lives to fulfill His purposes?

Take a close look at these passages:

This Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

(Act 2:23 NASB)

 

"For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

(Act 4:27-28 NASB)

 

So wait, it was clearly a sin to crucify the Son of God, and Peter affirms in Acts 2:23 that the men who nailed Jesus to the cross will be held fully responsible for their heinous actions, but yet . .. this sin was still all part of God's plan?

 

 And this is not the only instance in the Bible where God uses man's sin to bring about His plan. Really, there are quite a few. Another great example is Israel's rejection of their Messiah. That was clearly sin, and Jesus was genuinely grieved by this sin when He said in Mathew 23:37:  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." I think you would agree with me, though, that Jesus was not distraught because somehow His purpose for coming to Earth had been thwarted by the Jews unbelief. In fact, it was all part of God's plan so that we Gentiles could be "grafted in"--and so that ultimately, Israel could be brought back to God. (see Romans 11)

 

How amazing to believe that despite the terrible things--evil, godless things-- that have happened or will happen in the world, God can and will still use them to work together all things to both bring glory to Himself and for the good of His chosen people! Does this mean that we should have a nonchalant attitude towards sin and evil? No, definitely not! As God's people, we have been given the task of destroying fortresses of evil and everything that raises itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5), and we should be constantly striving to put off our "old self" as we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience through the Holy Spirit. (Colossians 3:12-17) In short, we must as Christians continually desire to become more like Christ! However, with God's sovereignty over sin in mind, we need not be dismayed over anything that happens in our world. Now that is the peace that surpasses all understanding!

 I can only conclude with Paul:

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

(Rom 11:33-36 NASB)

 

Amen indeed!

 

25,000 words down!

I just hit the 25% mark, or 25,000 words, with my new novel, The Land of the Luminents! I'm excited; it's coming along nicely! I really hope I will actually finish it. ;0)

For anyone who's interested, here is a another peek into the story!

-----

 

Chapter Eight

The Strangest Thing Ever

When I woke up, it was daylight. I was lying on my back in the cave with a patch of sunlight falling on my face. I groaned and shook my head to clear my groggy brain, and it all came back to me. That’s right, I had been sick or something, and for some reason, I had wanted to see the cave again. And I had. But then I had passed out. It must be morning now.

So I sat up and crawled to my feet. I walked towards the entrance. My groggy mind was giving me this faint sense that something was wrong, or at least peculiar, but I was too tired to care. All I wanted was to get back to my little bedroom and get some more sleep. Forget about the morning chores. They could wait. Even breakfast could wait for all I was concerned.

Then I stepped outside of the cave, and the warning flags in my brain finally got my attention. What? This was strange. The last I remembered, my cave had been on a slope, but now I was standing on flat ground. At the same time, it occurred to me that I had been walking completely upright out of the cave, which it was too small for. So either I had shrunk or the cave had gotten bigger. No big deal, right?

WHAT? My mind suddenly snapped to full consciousness. I turned around and stared back at the cave entrance. It wasn’t exactly how I remembered it. At all. Instead of a small hole almost hidden by the forest underbrush, now the entrance had been widened about three times over. A smooth dirt ramp led down from the lip of the enlarged entrance into the cave, which had also grown much bigger it seemed. Then there were the statutes, one on either side of the entrance. They were massive chiseled-stone images of men. They stood straight and tall, with a hood shadowing their grim faces. A sheath of arrows was slung over their shoulders, and each statue held what looked like a longbow--all this carved in great detail in the white stone.

I stared up at the statues, dumbfounded. This was the strangest thing ever! Where had those giant things come from? Then an idea struck me. I looked around to see if anything else had changed, and yep, it had. The trees for instance, they had grown. Instead of being 40 foot tall Maple trees, they were now 70 or more foot tall Maple trees. No, check that, they weren’t even Maple trees anymore. They looked like some sort of pine. What on earth?

It finally struck me: what if this was not my cave, or even the forbidden forest? But how was that even possible? I looked closer at the forest. The pine trees were indeed large and spaced apart majestically, with patches of grass and smaller trees interspaced between them. Here and there, these jagged rock outcrops dotted the landscape. It was all strangely beautiful, but definitely different than the forest I remembered.

I wondered if it was possible that I had wandered into a different part of the forest last night. But no, I remembered following my markers down to the stream, and then the stream to my cave. So what was I doing here in the morning? I was starting to feel a little weird—and even scared. I racked my brain for any detail last night that could explain everything . . .

And suddenly I remembered the light, that strange, clear blue light that had shined suddenly in the cave. And you know what? That didn’t make me feel any less scared. I looked back at the cave entrance I had just walked out of, and then at the solemn statues that almost seemed to be guarding its entrance.

The thought, as strange as it was, came to me immediately. A portal, I thought. A portal to a whole new land.

I think it was then that I sensed him.

I had this sudden strange feeling that I was not alone, and I spun back around, searching the patchy forest underbrush. Then the man stepped out into sight from behind a tree. He stood only ten feet away from me.

I jumped, and a cold tendril of fear wrapped around me even tighter. The figure who stood before me was strange. I mean, his features were ordinary enough—a smooth, tanned face with fine features and a thick mop of curly black hair. He was young, probably only a little bit older than me. He stood about five and a half feet tall—short for a man, but that was not what was odd about him. It was the way he was dressed. He wore a green shirt with this strange cloak made from what looked like twisted strands of leather. His pants were dirt brown, made of some sort of course fabric.  He had a sheath of arrows slung over his shoulder and carried a long, curved bow in one hand and a smooth staff in the other.

Then he opened his mouth and tried to talk to me. But his speech . . .  it was strange, unlike anything I had heard before. It was not like a foreign language where you cannot understand anything that was said. This was different. I felt like I was really close to understanding what he was saying, but yet . . . but yet I didn’t understand a word. It sounded like he was asking a question. I guessed he was probably asking me for my name.

“Hi, um, I’m Ken,” I said hoarsely.

The man stopped talking, and he looked at me strangely. His eyes, I noticed, were a deep brown, and you know how sometimes people’s eyes can look kind of distant or thoughtful? Well, his eyes looked kind of like that, only a little different—inquisitive, I thought, or curious. I had seen the same look in the eyes of a deer once, and I realized that that was what they reminded me of.

But wait, the man was no longer staring at my face. He was staring at my upper torso with that same look in his eyes. He pointed at my chest with the hand holding his walking stick and uttered a single word. “Luminous,” it sounded like.

I followed his fingers with my eyes, and my gaze settled upon my chest. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I was glowing! I’m totally serious; the center of my chest glowed faintly through my t-shirt with this clear blue color—the same color, I think, as the one in my cave last night. Now I was freaked out—really, really freaked out. I took a step backwards, still staring at my chest. I realized suddenly that all I wanted was to get home. Home to my bed, away from all this sudden craziness. It occurred to me that if the cave behind me was a portal to wherever I was now, than it must also lead back to where I had come from. I could get back through it . . .

I took another step backwards, faster this time, and another. The young man in front of me said something. This time it sounded like a command, almost like, “halt”, and I’m guessing that was exactly what it was. But I didn’t care. I turned and fled towards the portal entrance. There was another harsh yell behind me, and I heard footsteps coming after me. I panicked. I looked over my shoulder to see that the strange young man was right behind me, lifting his staff up over his head . . .

Then he struck me square on the head, and my last thought was on how such a little fellow could move so fast . . .

One year of Kyle's Clipper in the books!

Hi y'all! One year of Kyle's Clipper is officially in the books! So, how did my first year go? The short answer: it went really well! Though I started the year with only 4 steady customers, I ended the year having worked for 41 different customers, including about 20 steady lawns. It was a great learning experience! I learned so much about so many different things, from learning how to work with customers and meet their needs, to lawn mower repair, mechanics, and accounting. In short, employing myself was one crazy, awesome adventure!

I could tell you many interesting stories that happened throughout the year, from the hilarious to the intriguing to the just plain strange. Like that time a man who was clearly not "all there" tried to give me tar to spread on my arms to keep the mosquitos away, to my many great conversations with one dear older customer who has dementia. Then there were the times where I wanted to melt into the ground with embarrassment or the times where I wanted to burst out laughing at some of the quirky things I ran into . . . You'll have to wait for a future blog post for those stories. ;0)

In the profit and loss department (which, thanks to some instruction from my dad, I can tell you given my new-found accounting abilities), I made just over $18,000 gross, though a little over $10,000 of that went to expenses (including my major truck purchase). So, that puts me at about $8,000 net. Not too bad for my first year! (I've heard that you don't really make any good money with a business till its third year)

Sure, there were some ups and downs, but overall I wouldn't trade last summer for anything! I look forward to another year of owning my business, and to seeing what the Lord will do with it. It is to God that all the praise is due, for He is the one who has allowed me to own this business and to grow through it. I thank God for His blessings!

So, here are some of my goals for Kyle's Clipper this year:

--Become fully licensed and insured
--Expand my service area to Morton, Onalaska, and Salkum (all within 25 miles still)
--"Upgrade all my equipment to commercial grade (which I have already done, in part, by purchasing a 52" zero turn mower and a 36" commercial walk-behind mower. :0D Another post coming on that!)
--Expand the number of widows I serve for no charge. This is something God has really laid on my heart, to consider my business as a way to serve. With James 1:27 in mind, I want to reach out to the widows in my community that truly need help with their lawn care.
--Have 50 steady lawns by the time the mowing season hits full blast
--To continue to offer weeding and manual labor services, but to "sub-contract" workers to do this for me, so that I can focus on lawn mowing. (which makes the most income)
--To have made $30,000 dollars in net income by the end of the year.

I know some of these goals may seem a little far-fetched, but I am confident that with the Lord's blessing, I can meet them. Please pray for my business, that the Lord will use it as He see fits and that it will continue to grow into something that I can make a living from. Pray for me personally that the Lord will direct my steps, keep my safe, and help me to be diligent with this business, as it is where I think He has led me for now.

What will this year hold for Kyle's Clipper? I can't wait to find out!

To Be Continued . . .

Hi everyone! The adventures of Joe Smith have hit a lull the last couple days, so I have decided to postpone writing the rest of the continuous story with y'all till January after Christmas and New Years. Where will Joe Smith, Martin Macintosh, and the newly created dwarf figure go next? That is up to you to decide when next we pick up the story! (you can read their previous adventures in the post below this one) :0)

Continuous Story--take 2!

Hello everyone! It's that time of year again! The rain is pouring down more often than not (at least here in WA), and come on, admit it--those outdoor activities just aren't as appealing, which means some of us have the tendency to get bored as we stare wistfully at the rainy weather out our window. It's rather depressing. Then again, I am reminded that every season offers special opportunities. Though we are less likely to venture outside, we are more likely to retreat to a warm corner of our house with a good story in hand. That's fun. Sort of.

Which gives me an idea: Instead of reading a good story, why don't we create one?

Last year we spun a fantastic tale of a wee lad named Tiny on this blog. You all pitched in, and we had one hilarious story on our hands by the time it was all said and done. (you can read the full post here:http://anextraordinaryexistence.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-need-your-help-blog-followers.html.  I thought it would be fun to do that again! Who's with me?

The only rules to writing this story are as follows:

1. I get to start it (the story).

2. Try to keep it unified. Let's keep characters to a few, and events well coordinated (in other words, try to keep the story following some logical sequence). Having said that, you can still surprise us, it can take twists and turns, and it can definitely be funny!

3. Unique handicap: (This is a rule.) You can only add one sentence at a time (but you can add a short exclamation such as Oh! along with your sentence), and your sentence must start with the letter the last person's sentence ended with.

4. You can post as many times as you want, but you cannot post just after your last addition. You have to let there be 2 sentences in between each of your turns.

So, let's get started! I will type the first sentence in the comment section below. To add to the story, simply add your sentence below mine in the comment section. I am looking forward to writing with you all!

Thanksgiving for a Sovereign God

This Thanksgiving, as I reflect on all that the Lord has done for me, I am especially grateful for His sovereignty. The more I read His Word, the more I am humbled by this truth: we are the clay in the hand of the Potter--not the potter of the clay. And the more I wrestle with this truth, the more I appreciate it. I am thankful, very thankful, that God is a sovereign God.

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

(Proverbs 16:9 NASB)

 

It's an amazing thought that despite our free will, God is still in complete control. How are we to believe in the promises He has made to us otherwise? How do we know for sure that if we commit our works to the Lord, our plans will be established? (Proverbs 16:2) How do we know for sure that God will work all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Isn't it accurate to say that if God is not sovereign, than what kind of a god is He?

 

But praise be to the Lord, the Bible is overwhelmingly clear that God is completely sovereign! Nothing happens outside of His predetermined plan. He has never had or will ever need a "Plan B". Everything works together after the council of His will. (Ephesians 1:11) What an amazing truth this is, and what an amazing God we serve!

 

This is equally true of salvation. God is in sovereign control of all those He will draw to Himself, and even this is an immensely comforting truth, for we know that of all whom the Father draws, Christ will not lose a single one! (John 6:39,44) So then, it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. (Romans 9:16)--and God is a merciful God!

 

 

Let us praise God for all He is and all He as done for us this Thanksgiving, amen?

 

 

A Psalm of Praise, of David. I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You.

(Psalm 145:1-10 NASB)



The Heart in the Silver Birch Tree

Hi y'all! I've written a story for most every genre . . . Fantasy, Futuristic, Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction (barely), and just plain old fiction in general. I realized, though, that I have never written a God-honoring romance type story . . . So, I fixed that. ;0)

In all seriousness, I had this great idea for my first story on love--really, it shares my desires for what I believe a Christian romance should look like in contrast to what is typical today. Then I started writing the story, which I have titled "The Heart in The Silver Birch Tree" and realized how in over my head I was! In fact, my first line reads "Romance, who can understand it?" for more reasons than one. ;0) But after much tinkering, I am finally happy with the finished product, so I hope you enjoy reading this short story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

The Heart in the Silver Birch Tree

To the amazing, beautiful young lady the Lord will lead me to someday. Claiming God’s grace and forgiveness for the mistakes in my past, may I keep my heart for you, complete and pure, so that my love legacy will not be one of a rotted stump, but of a vibrant, thriving tree.

-----

Romance, who can understand it? A man and a woman attracted to one another. Two lives intertwined. Two hearts falling for the other. Two souls bound forever. That’s how it should be.

But often it’s not. Hearts can be broken. Love can be lost. So beautiful, yet so dangerous. So pure, yet so easily defiled. How I wish I could understand it! But I am old now. I have experienced it all—first love, lost love, true love, enduring love—and I still am no closer to solving the mystery.

There is an old, rotted stump at the edge of my property, and it brings a pang to my heart every time I walk by it. So much heartbreak, so much pain. But no, there is joy now as well, for God is gracious. That stump was not always bug ridden and crumbling with decay. Once it was a beautiful Birch tree—thriving, it’s silver bark a sharp contrast to its cloak of dark green leaves.

A young boy roamed the land in the days when that Birch tree was vibrant and pure. He would splash across a clear trickling stream and throw himself on the lush green grass, eyes merry, head thrown back in laughter. How I can see him, even now! With legs outstretched and hands behind his head, he lay there under the Birch tree in the grass, dreaming of what he would become and what he would do.

She was there too, smiling down on the boy. Her brown hair was in beautiful disarray from running with the wind, her clear brown eyes sparkling. They had been friends from early in childhood, but as he held her gaze that moment, something changed forever. The boy was new to the mystery, but he did not wait for caution. His heart went out to the girl, and it seemed a small price to pay to love her, so pretty and perfect she seemed.  

The boy walked the girl home that afternoon feeling as if he was walking in the clouds. On the way back, he stopped by the Birch tree again. The boy knelt and carved a heart and a pair of initials deep in the silver bark of the tree and then threw himself back on the lush green grass. He gazed up into the silver and green canopy above him, now tinted golden with the last rays of the sunset, and at the heart carved at the base of the tree, and he dreamed another dream.

But it never came true. The boy loved the girl, and she loved him, but one day the girl’s eyes were not sparkling when she met the boy under the Birch tree. Her father had taken a job at the opposite corner of the nation, and they would be moving soon. She had come to say goodbye.

The boy swore to her that this wouldn’t be the end, that one day, when he was a man, he would come for her. The girl smiled sadly and promised to write him, and the next minute she was gone. He watched her go, helpless and brokenhearted. How he wished he was older and could somehow save the girl from leaving! But he was but a boy, and for the first time he wondered if it would have been better to wait till manhood to love.

They stayed in contact for a few months after the move, but overtime, the letters started coming longer apart, than not at all. The boy wandered aimlessly through the forest, no longer carefree and innocent, but sober and hurt. He found himself under the Birch tree one day, staring at the heart and initials carved into its trunk, and somehow the tree was less beautiful to him. He suddenly threw himself to his knees and removed his pocket knife, carving away feverishly at the heart and initials. In seconds, they were gone. But the pain wasn’t. He wanted to forget—but could not. For though the symbol of his lost love was gone, there was still a deep scar in the Birch tree.

The boy grew older, and then he met his second love. She was perfect, he thought—beautiful, smart, funny. They lived hours apart, but he found ways to keep in contact. Soon they were e-mailing every day, and he felt himself again giving his heart away. He was no longer completely naïve to the mystery, and caution warned him to be careful lest he be hurt again. But she was worth it, he thought. One fresh, crisp morning he splashed across the stream to the Birch tree, and clasping the same knife that had been used on the tree before, he carved a heart around another set of initials in the trunk. To him, it was a new beginning in every way, and he barely glanced down at the scar in the silver bark. It felt good, very good.

Months later, the boy used his knife to shave off strips of bark, till all that was left was another ragged scar. His stomach was tight, and he felt sick. How could this happen to him again? Yet though he had tried to rationalize and ignore it at first, he had learned from their e-mails how different he was from her, his second love, and she had too. The relationship had felt good, but now it was over. It hurt, almost more than it had ever been good. He promised himself that the next time he carved a heart in the Birch tree, it would hold the initials of his wife. In his grief, he couldn’t imagine it any other way.

Years passed, and the boy became a young man. He purchased a small chunk of land from his parents with the intention of building his own homestead on it, and 23 found him striding along the clear, trickling stream at the edge of his property. He glanced up at a withered, silver tree as he passed, and his stride faltered. A flood of memories came to mind.  A smile played at the corners of his mouth as he remembered a young boy stretched out under the tree, carefree and dreaming.  He had spent so much time like that!  But then his eyes traveled to the scars carved in the trunk , and his smile faded. He looked away quickly, not caring to count the scars. Not again. Not anymore. How quickly he had pushed aside his promise in the thralls of infatuation, but again and again the relationship had not lasted. He was so sure that she would be the one that it seemed silly to wait till the wedding day to carve anything more on the Birch tree, but he had been proved wrong so many times that he no longer cared to even think of the tree. It was dying now, perhaps from some disease, or perhaps from its scars. The young man shook his head and strode past.

A gust of wind played among the treetops, dislodging the last few crisp brown leaves from their precarious perch. With the wind came the sound of an axe ringing through the forest. The young man hacked away at the Birch tree. The biting wind seeped through his coat and gloves, but he kept swinging relentlessly, ignoring the cold. The rhythm of axe on wood was steady and unbroken. It was as if he wanted it this way, as if he was willing himself away from any other feeling. He needed firewood to last him through the winter, but deep down inside, that was not the only reason why he was cutting down the Birch tree.

The tree finally fell with a loud, splintering crash. It lay there on the frozen ground—a pathetic, leafless thing—and the young man stared numbly at it. But something inside him had snapped with the tree, and he tossed aside his axe and collapsed. He lay there once more in the grass, but he no longer dared to dream. Instead, the tears he had bound up for so long came loose, and he hugged his knees to his chest and sobbed silently.

I know the site of a young man in such a prideless position is foreign, but I hope you can understand what a broken, empty heart can do to a man. I can, for I was that young man.

Yes, it’s true. It is painful for me to tell my story, but I must in the hopes that you will see the truth in it. Some will say that heartbreak is just all a part of life, but I don’t believe it has to be that way.  I finally understand this at least: love was not made to be broken. It is made to thrive, to grow ever stronger till in death do us part. Thankfully, my story didn’t end that bleak winter day. I finally met the woman I was to marry, and 25 found me with a ring on my finger. I held my wife’s hand, and we walked together down a little, winding stream. She carried a shovel in her free hand. I carried a tender Birch sapling in mine.

Together, we planted that Birch tree by the stream. It was a symbol to me of a new chapter in my life, a commitment to the everlasting love I would have for the woman beside me. For a long while we sat together in the lush green grass, her head on my shoulder, and admired our work. The little Birch tree, as twig-like and unaspiring as it was as a sapling, seemed all the more beautiful to me. At the same time, my eyes traveled to a rotting stump a short distance away, and I smiled sadly. Yes, the hurt was still there, but the joy and contentment was so much stronger than that now. I pulled my wife closer and kissed her. My dream had finally come true.

In a few years, the children came, and I was launched into the daunting occupation of a father. How often I needed God’s grace to raise my family! I strove to train them up in the Lord, and praise be to Him alone, my children all accepted Christ even from a young age! My family grew and thrived just like the little Birch tree at the corner of our property.

My oldest son reached the teen years, and hormones took over. One day I took him to the old, rotted stump and told him my story. How I wanted something more for him than what I had gone through! I cried out to God that He would help my son keep his heart pure and undefiled for the young woman he would marry.

My son saw my pain, and he saw my love for him. I will never forget the day that he came to me and promised that his love legacy would be different. In the same breath he implored my help, for he was just as baffled with the mystery as I was. And it was hard. My son noticed quite a few pretty girls, of course, and then the time came where he was interested in one in particular. It was all he could do to keep his feelings for her in check. He began to question if it was all that wrong to start pursuing the girl, and I implored him to hold fast to his promise to guard his heart as I had been unable to do. I urged him to give it time. He was still so young, and so much could change before he was actually ready for marriage.

And they did, of course. The girl turned out not to be the one the Lord intended for my son, but praise be to God that he didn’t have to find that out the hard way! You could often find my son down by the Birch tree in those days, sprawled out on the grass, reading the Bible I had given him. I smiled when I saw him down there. Like father like son, a Birch tree had become a part of his young life too. He asked me once if I would mind if he carved a heart and a pair of initials in the tree when he was married. I told him that nothing would make me happier.

The Birch tree grew stout and vibrant, and in much the same way, my son matured into manhood. Finally, the waiting was over. For several years his friendship with a certain young lady had grown only stronger, and after much prayer, my son decided to pursue a relationship with her. In the season of courtship that followed, he got to know her better and seriously evaluate if she would be a good match, and every day they drew closer together. Still, though it must have been hard at times, he waited to carve a heart in the Birch tree, steadfast in his promise.

At long last, there was a wedding ceremony. My son kissed his bride for the first time that day, and with that kiss he gave her his heart, complete and pure, to love, honor and protect her all the days of his life for as long as they both shall live. What a joyous day that was!

They had a honeymoon to run off to, but their first stop was at the corner of our property. They splashed across a little stream hand in hand and ran across a bank of lush green grass till they stopped before a lone, silver tree. They were still in their wedding clothes—my son in his tuxedo, my daughter-in-law in her gown—but they didn’t seem to mind.

What they did next can still be seen to this day. My son knelt down, and with great care he carved a heart and a pair of initials in the silver Birch tree.  

 

A couple of awesome Andrew Peterson Songs

Wow!

 While doing a little looking around on Amazon both with some birthday money to spend and on request from Mommy, who likes us to give her our Christmas lists as early as possible, I stumbled upon a series of fantasy books by Andrew Peterson. This was kind of surprising to me. Wasn't this Andrew Peterson guy a songwriter? I only knew his one song, "Dancing in the Minefields", so I decided to look him up really quick and stumbled upon these two songs of his that I absolutely love! His style of music is so refreshing from your typical Contemporary Christian song. Enjoy!

 

 

And hey, his fantasy saga gets amazing reviews on Amazon! Woot woot!

Birthday Celebration!

  Okay, okay, so I know that these Bowes birthday posts are getting pretty old by now, and I promise this is the last one for a few months, but I thought you all would like to see some pictures of us quad's celebration! It has become a tradition for us to spend a day to ourselves in "the big town" on our birthday ever since we got our driver's licenses, and it has always been a great time for bonding.

And craziness. :0P

A "quadie" before we took off in my truck!

 



Our first stop, Applebee's for lunch!

 

Thanks to a generous gift card from Lydia and Richie, we could order whatever we wanted! It was so much fun to dine somewhere other than a fast food place for once. ;0)

 

We got to pretend that we actually really, really like and love each other! Just for the pictures, of course. ;0)





 

Haha, they totally bought my line about being 21!!! I know, right? Kind of . . .  strange.

 

 

Okay, so don't freak out. It was only beer . . . root beer. ;0)

 

 

Our waitress learned that it was our birthday and brought us ice cream . . . for free!!!

 

 

Our next stop was this awesome black light miniature golf course!

 

 

It was so cool!

 

 

My three glowing sisters. Do I believe they're angels? Yes I do. 

We did great!!! (Speaking in general terms) ;0)

 

We also found plenty of opportunities for some cool pictures and to just goof off in general. ;0)

 

Here I am riding the whale . . .

 

 . . . and the Dinosaur.

 

No comment.

 Kickin' it back and enjoying my multiple stroke lead over the competition!

 

 

But what's that behind me?

 

Agh!

 

(I can see you skeptical ones muttering, "Staged, totally staged!" And you would be correct)

 

So yeah . . . I think this one was my idea . . .

 

 

After golf, we next to Amish people couldn't resist trying our hand at a video game. ;0)

 

 

 

Next came some shopping. Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures, but for my part, two words sum up my shopping pretty well: Home Depot. ;0)

 

Our last stop was DQ for dessert!

 

 

It was such an awesome day!

 



Today's the day!

I feel so much . . . older! Now that I have finally bridged that nearly "meaningless" gap between 16 and 18, just imagine all the possibilities!!! I can register my truck in my name; I can buy stuff off those super cool TV ads; I can get a membership to COSTCO!!!; I can, I can try cigarettes and if I remember correctly .  . . chewing tobacco!  Woot woot!

Haha, not.

Moving on . . . When I finally get thrown in the slammer for my deeds against the law, I will get to go to the "big house!"--whatever that means. I get to have an "officially official" driver's license. I can vote! (next year) -_-

Life is good!

What is more awesome, I get to live another year with my awesome family! God has blessed me in so many ways just by letting me live with this awesome family, not to mention Him adopting me as His beloved son!

Think about that. The God of the Universe chose me, the one who murdered His one and only Son, to not only be pardoned from my death sentence, but to live with all the privileges of a child of the King. What's more, God loves me more than I can fathom! The status of "child" He has given me is more than just a title; it is an everlasting relationship!

And . . . GUESS WHAT! No matter what my age, I never have to move out of God's household. ;0)

WOOT WOOT!!!

Bowesification!

 

Hi y'all! This is me, the incredibly cute little girl having a bad hair day in the picture below (I hijacked my brother's blog). Just wanted to ask, any reasons you guys can think of why I shouldn't become a Bowes? Speak now or forever hold your peace, because my official adoption day is tomorrow!!!

 

What's that? Cat's got your tongue?



 

That's alright, because in all honesty, I was a part of this crazy, awesome family from the second they laid eyes on me. I'm too cute to be stood, you see. They couldn't resist. 

 

And now that I will be officially "Bowesified", guess what! You will be seeing my adorable little face quite often on this blog and my mom's! Yep!!! Haha, I no longer have to be hidden by a heart shape or something. Cuteness overload!

 

Well, I've gotta run. Apparently even the princess and ruler of this household needs her beauty sleep. If you want to catch up with me, just mention Brielle Jubilee Bowes to any of my people, and they will get you in touch with me. Goodnight, people!