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GRACE
I was contemplating "Grace' one day after listening to a wonderful series
of teachings. I agreed that the definition "unmerited favor" really didn't seem appropriate; after all, that seemed a good
one for "mercy".
The teaching I had been listening to defined Grace as God's enabling presence; equipping us for whatever
God has set before us to accomplish. There was just something about the idea of His Presence & His Power that sent a resounding
"Yes!" through my spirit. The idea of leaving the word "favor" out didn't quite seem right though.
As I was seeking
the Lord about this, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a few years back when we owned several horses & worked on the Bar
Bolster ranch arround the Miller, SD area. The Holy Spirit asked me "Who did you loan your horses out to?"
The answer
was "Very few people."
The Holy Spirit asked "Who did you let ride your horses even with you there?"
Again
the answer was "Very few people." I could easily count on one hand the people we would just turn the reins over to. Part of
it was just a cowboy code - we didn't want our horses mistreated in any sense of the word.
Then the Holy Spirit asked
"What if Roger or Vikki had come to you and asked to use one?" Roger and Vikki Day are our much beloved Pastors of the Hosanna
Restoration Church in Highmore, SD.
The answer was an "Of couse they could use one of our horses."
The Holy
Spirit asked "What would you do if they had came to you asking to use a horse?" It seemed the Holy Spirit wanted me to be
specific so I went through my mind what I actually would do.
First, I'd find out what they were planning to use the
horse for so I could give them the best horse for the job. If they were just going to pleasure ride, I'd give them Little
Al, a gentle & dependable bay gelding who walked out good & "you could do anything on".
If they wanted a horse
to sort cattle in the coral, then it would be Relic, a tall, athletic Palomino who chould spin on a dime & had a temendous
ability to "read" cattle.
If they wanted to race or catch some wild stock in a large area, then it would be Shorty,
a tall American Saddlebred whose speed & power were amazing.
If it was just a genuine all around cowhorse or "game"
horse they needed, it would be Apple, my husbands pride & joy Leopard Appaloosa mare. You could rope off her in a pasture
or coral; do any "playday" event on her & then turn her over to a small child & let her "babyset".
I would
also make sure they had the right equipment --- would they need a light-weight racing saddle or a heavy duty roping saddle?
I'd make sure the stirrups were adjusted to the right length & give them any tips or instuctions they would need. Depending
on what they were planning to do, I might even offer to ride along & help.
The Holy Spirit asked "Why would you
do all of that?"
My answer: "Well, I'd want them to have an enjoyable, safe ride & be able to accomplish whatever
they set out to do."
The Holy Spirit said "That's the kind of favor My Grace is. It's an intense desire to see you
succeed at whatever I set before you to do. It brings My Presence, & all My resources available to you so you can &
will accomplish whatever I call you to do."
God calls us --- equips us --- & goes with us! We can have the confidence
that if we are willing to listen & be guided by the Holy Spirt --- nothing God sets before us is impossible to do.!
HAVE
A SAFE, ENJOYABLE, SUCCESSFUL RIDE!
Marla J. McGeorge
nowalive@hotmail.com
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