Many folks today think that confidence means we are on our own. That we are self made. That we are the reason for our accomplishments. We aren't. Just like Noah 4000 years ago, we belong to God. And we're included in Noah's rainbow promise: "That as long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night will not cease." This rainbow came last evening just before dark.
Yes. We make a living by what we get. However we make a life by what we give. We have been blessed so we can be a blessing. Harvest continues on both corn and soybeans. Corn yields go from remarkable to one of the best as we move north. Soybean yields are also really good as we move from 7 inches to 17 inches during the growing season.
Getting contracts in to the processor was a struggle last week. We were hampered by short hours and long lines. The corn crop in this part of the country is going to be big. I'm not optimistic about prices.
Alex moved BJ's tiling equipment to a harvested field. Mike continues to build terraces. Mark's family handles harvest when he is needed by a cement contractor to dig a basement.
When we were created in God's image it includes relationships. He promises a relationship with us if we acknowledge Him and accept His help. We also have relationships with each other. The remaining stories this morning show that faithful promise through the generations of His promise to Noah. And us.
Last Monday the Oskaloosa Christian School 8th graders including Adi and Anton (grandkids), and Michael (nephew), came out for an 8th grade day retreat which included lunch by Jan and Ranger rides.
On Tuesday in-between sprinkles, classmate Duane who lives in Pleasant Hill, brought out three friends to experience harvest. Thanks Jim, Jason, John, and Duane. It was fun making new friendships.
Last Sunday afternoon on a ride south of Rose Hill, Jan and I randomly stopped at couple we saw sitting outside. Leroy is a generation older than me. At 84 he has a few health issues. His favorite past-time is talking about the old days. The Wright tornado that leveled his farm house, his trucking days, his family.
Dale is not only my generation. He's my classmate. He announces Pella Christian High School's home football games. I would describe Dale as a walking miracle. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and couldn't eat. Chemo wasn't working so he was sent home to put his house in order. Two years later he's still here on earth, productive, and an asset in God's kingdom. Dale is also part of this blog family.
Solomon was correct when he wrote a Psalm about children being a blessing. I would encourage younger couples to realize this promise. We had very little financial means during the 1980s and the 12 years our 6 children were born. God has more than provided. Below Kurt is unloading soybeans in his bins. Emily has started an Instagram and Facebook page called boenderadventures. She is excellent at sharing their lives. Check it out.
On Friday morning's shortened hours I was in line behind Ethan who was delivering corn for his father, Mark. I thought about the 37 years I have been hauling corn to this facility. With half the kids in the old straight truck, and the other half in the combine with Jan. In all those years I never gave it a thought I would see my children's children harvest. God's promises.
We have a 3rd smaller combine. I call it a grandkid's combine. It does the smaller jobs, maybe a little customwork when the bigger combines are busy. It helps us combine corn and soybeans at the same time. Yesterday Malaki helped me combine his Dad's (Karl) test plot. Having the younger grandkids help is a confidence builder for them.
We had two corn test plots this year. A corn on corn at Kurt's place. And a corn on beans at Karl's. Plots take time. However they help us firsthand determine and recommend hybrids for ourselves and our customers. If you look close you will see Mike in the background building broadbase terraces.
These two little cheerleaders and 1st graders are cousins. Sydnie (Karl and Kristin) and Hazel (Becky and Brian). They and a crowd of other little gals cheered at halftime at the PCHS football game. Both of these little gals definitely have a positive opinion on life and with their personalities and God's promises, will be making things happen in the future.
So, does the Bible frown on confidence. Absolutely not. In Hebrews 12, Paul says, "Do not throw away your confidence. It will be richly rewarded". "We are God's workmanship which He prepared in advance for us to do". Most folks at the end of their lives don't have regrets for what they did. But rather for what they didn't do. As the devil uses leaders to attack our families and culture, remember Who's in charge and wins in the end. Blessings.
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