“Ferocious Love” & "Dad this has been the best day ever"

Fishing report; we will fish this week hopefully the weather is warming up. I checked out a new stretch of water yesterday with the family (see pics with this post).
Here are some random things for you to think about, because this is what I have been thinking about lately. First off, a friend of mine loaned me his truck this week he is out of town and my truck (from here forward referred to as the Schooner) is in the shop, a bad manifold gasket is a bad thing. This is such a blessing to my family and helps us to better handle the week. God’s provision is great. Anyway back to the story, I climb into the truck this morning to drive to work and the CD player popped on. The CD in the player was from another friend of mine Nathan Shaver, what a powerful CD. One song in particular stands out in my mind. The open lyric contains the words “Ferocious Love” describing how God loves us, never have truer words been spoken, He loves us with and unending jealous love and he defends us to the end. Thanks Nathan for reminding me of this and by the way what a great album. Second thought as of late, yesterday my family and I check out a stretch of water in Western Indiana. After hiking and exploring this particular drainage we walked back to the car set the coolers out and popped the back door on the wagon and had a picnic dinner. My daughter looked at me and said “Dad this has been the best day ever, we got to go to church this morning, I got to do my homework and then we went on a hike and picnic”. Man it doesn’t get better than that. No screens, beeps or ear buds, just creation in its entire splendor. God tells us in Thessalonians we should live a quiet life and I tasted that yesterday. Thanks to a loving family we wiped Saturday off the books (Saturday did not go as planned just busy and not very relaxing for me). It reminded me of a scene from “A River Runs through It” when the brothers take Neal the future brother-in-law fishing and they only catch 1 small trout. Paul looks at Norman and says lets fish with dad this weekend and wipe this day off the books. By God’s grace I was able to experience the wiping away of a bad day and it being replaced with a day full of memories and smiles. I guess that is just a picture of God’s grace in a small way. This is the big picture of grace my sins were wiped away and replace with purity and life, what a great relief it is to have a life of shame and sin wiped off the books. That is it for now but there is more to come in the near future like why bees are a good example of the life we should lead. See ya.

Get Ready

Fishing Report: things are looking up it is 70 out and the bees are flying. I better hit the water.
Not a lot to write about today other than God is good! We have resolution to a 10 and a half-year issue with our property. Wow what a blessing. There are so many blessing I have experienced lately or maybe I am just noticing them more. I am as a friend put it a salmon swimming up stream. God is providing for us in ways I never imagined, our marriage is new and fresh almost as if it woke from a deep sleep. Much like the spring is starting so is the next volume of our life on the Big Walnut. We are gearing up for a huge garden, chickens, and a summer of camping and fishing.
I find that we are acting much like my great-grandparents must have acted in the late 20s and 30s. We are being prepared for what life may bring. We will garden, and keep chickens to start. We are concentrating on the family and those that are close around us building our relationships deeper and getting to know those who we are living life with. This time in our lives that everything seems to be in upheaval is I believe God’s way of bringing us back to where we should be. We have gotten derailed along the way by every form of diversion. No diversions here at least not to the extent that it is hurting our relationship.
So get prepared and get to know those you love and those that are around you. The times are changing you better be ready. You will need those that are near and they will need you.

Tying for Spring and An Evening at the Spa, Getting Out of the Box

Fishing Report 16/Feb/2009; my youngest son caught several bullfrog tadpoles and that is it, the stream is clear of ice but the weather is still cold. We are ready for spring.
We are trying to get started tying flies for the spring but I am not making much head way.
So here it is. Valentine’s Day came and went and it was probably the best thing I have ever given my wife. I gave of myself. As most of you know, we here on the Big Walnut are working our way out of some tough times. I prayed “God what can I give my wife for Valentine’s Day to show her I love and cherish her.” The God Idea I got was…well let’s just say out of my comfort zone. I am a guy who loves to fly fish, hunt and has been known to butcher his own meat. The Idea “Give your wife a day at the spa”, I thought to myself, #1 I don’t have that in the budget and #2 if I don’t have it in the budget how do I do any of those things they do at a spa. I mean I have never even been in a spa. So I had no choice I started reading how to give facials and massage, got the DVD on foot massage and shopped in an area of the super center that I didn’t even know what all things did or why I needed them. I compiled nail polish, oils and various creams, and what ever else you need for a spa experience. I fancied the house up with classical music, candles, and cleaned, hung gauzy drapes over the large windows for privacy; I even lowered the wattage and color of the light bulbs for atmosphere. I made all kinds of foods to have out, purchased some wonderful sleep wear for her, and collected more women’s magazines than a library to have for her reading enjoyment. But I am not done, I also printed out an invitation to an evening at the spa with the details of what lay in store and a card with a poem I found that was very much how I thought about my wife. Last but not least I got some wonderful chocolate. She followed all the instructions and called from the church, kids were there for parent’s night out. I directed her to the invitation hidden under the seat in her car. She arrived home and got ready for an evening at the “Spa”. I did all the things that I knew she longed for, her “Love Language” is acts of service, we did it all manicure, pedicure, a facial (that I made), and a full body massage. She was thrilled and I was content, I had showed her how I loved her.
I tell this story not to brag or boast; because it wasn’t me, it was God leading me to serve. I am sharing this for all of you out there that did not step out of the box maybe you have never stepped out of the box, well it is time to get up and step out. Men do something totally unexpected for your wife take her out; shower her with something you know she would love. Ladies surprise your man, let him know how you feel, show him that you love him. I know that it is extremely uncomfortable “to paint your wife’s nails” like I did but it is so worth the effort, you will feel a great contentment knowing that there is no doubt that you love your spouse.