Riddles, puzzle pieces, and boats...

                I am not a huge fan of riddles, but some people enjoy telling me them anyway. If you have ever been stumped on one you've probably been told, “it's easy! Your thinking too hard.” I tend to think over the simple solution and complicate things. Usually the answer lies right in front of me and I can't even see it.

I think we tend to do this with God's will also. We're sit there trying to figure it out, and God stands there thinking, “it's easy! Your thinking too hard”. He asks us to follow Him like children (Mark 10:15), He doesn't ask us to get a Master's degree in “God's will”.

God tells us that He knows all His plans for us, and they are beautiful (Jeremiah 29:11). And then benefit us! His plans are what is best for us, even if we can't see that. It is like we are a puzzle piece carefully shaped to fit into the puzzle of God's big picture. When we fit ourselves in, not only does it add to the beauty of everything else, it's best for us because we fit in the spot. We're aren't forcing ourselves somewhere we don't belong. Psalms 34:7 says to “Delight thyself in the Lord”, because then “He will give you the desires of your heart”. So if we are seeking God with out whole being, He changes our desires! We want what God wants, and if we fulfill God's wants, we're fulfilling ours! I can't stand the attitude of “Well I like horses (using that because it applies to me), but I want God's will so I'll do something else.” What? You mean God didn't make you? And knew you'd like horses? He wants you to use how He made you for Him! That is why He shaped your puzzle piece that way!

So we sit there asking God how to serve Him, where does He want us? How do we know? When a boat sits in the ocean the captain can move the rudder whichever way he wants, but the won't turn unless it is moving. Serve God today and ask him steer. He can't turn you at a standstill. Look at the Apostle Paul. He didn't sit in Rome and ask for direction, he went to preach and when God led him elsewhere he went. Today you can serve God, then ask Him to steer!

Round Pen of Life

     The other morning we were blessed at the ranch to have a group of young energetic people come for a week to work. One thing we do the first day with such groups is to have a bible study prepared were we train  a horse while drawing a mental picture of how God "trains" us. This morning is usually my favorite  because of a passion God has given me to use His gift in my life (working with horses) to show His love and wisdom to hurting and confused hearts. Well it just so happens that the gentleman who normally does the devotions that morning was gone and it fell upon me to do them. I was a little nervous because this was my "first rodeo" so to speak, and because naturally I am a one-on-one kinda guy. However in spite of that God used it, and I would like to share what happened.
      When I got in the round pen with Noah ( a four year old gelding) I had planned out what to say to the group.... but stage fright set in the minute that Noah didn't do what I intended, and I forgot what all I was gonna say. In fact I still can't remember what I was going to say! It was then that I left it to God to speak through me, and I began to see some things that I shared with the group.
       I, the master, had taken a horse into a different situation than he wasn't comfortable with. Why? Because I saw something in Noah, he has potential that I love. I wanted to make Noah into a useful horse in the Kingdom  of the ranch. So I pursued a relationship of respect with him. Now he is very good at being a horse, and horses aren't naturally born with a saddle on their back following a man around giving rides. They are a prey animal who either runs or fights what scares them.  So my presence with this horse sent him running around the pen, because he, being a horse, naturally wants freedom. So he ran away from the master and fled to do what he would rather do and be "free". But what is freedom? Is it the capability to do what we want? I believe that Godly freedom is better described as "the power to do what we aught"! So was Noah really free? He was doing what he wanted, but it was hard... it wore him down. I kept asking Noah to rest in me, but he couldn't see the freedom I offered, so he ran. Then I saw a softening in Noah and he dropped his head and came to me, and rested. My heart was glad that Noah had found me, and rested in me, and desired to be with me. It was then that I was able to pet Noah and he could feel my love. My love for him existed while he was running away from me, but since he had distanced himself from me he could not feel my love. Now my love could be expressed into him.
       It went on from their to explaining how I brought Noah through hard things to continue to shape him into a usable horse, but that is the part I wanted to talk about. Were is your heart? Is it resting in the master? Is in fleeing to outsides of the round pen of life seeking it's own will and false freedom? Trust me His love is there, but you need to choose to rest in Him to feel it.

Toy Cars and Christians

I want you to picture something for me, a toy car. I'm sure most of you have one laying around somewhere. I am going to use a Ford Mustang for an example. If I asked you what is was you would probable respond, “A Mustang”. Is it really a Mustang though? I mean, can you take it to work, drag race between the lights, or take it to a car show? Not really, but we still call it a Mustang, why? Because it looks identical to real Mustang, just smaller. It was made to look just like Ford's muscle car, so much close in-fact that it carries it's name!

In Acts 11:26 is says that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch because of the work they were doing there. The very word Christian was actually made up to make fun of the believers, it means “little Christs” The disciples acted so much like Jesus, they were called “little Christs”! What was made to poke fun was really a compliment, and a great one at that!

There are several verses in the bible that encourage us to seek a life like Christ's, I'd like to share a few..

“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked”

I John 2:6

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Galatians 3:27

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. “

I Corinthians 11:1

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. “

I Peter 2:21

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 2:5

What a challenge, but a great goal to aim for! That when someone see's you they can say, “oh that is a little Christ!” Lets keep our eyes on the Savior!

Update on ride

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Yesterday at two o-clock I was near Columbus Georgia, one hundred and thirty miles from home. I had spent the past week on beautiful south Georgia back roads. I saw many rolling hills of young crops and canopy roads with the Spanish moss and mysteria in bloom. God really blessed this trip thus far with the people I have met and the way he provided. Unfortunately Cash (my black gelding) stepped in a hole while riding through a creek yesterday afternoon. He cut his leg badly in two places. Thankfully God provided a trailer for me to get the horse to the vet quickly. It took us a while to get the bleeding stopped and finally got four staples and three stitches in place. Daniel, a good friend of mine, trailered me and the horses home late last night and I have Cash contained in a small area until his leg heals. The vet said at least two weeks before he is riding again. So Lord willing I will start my ride again in a few weeks and go from there. Thank you all so much for the prayers so far, please continue to pray for me and cash!

Day three!

Well, I'm three days into my ride! For those of you not on facebook I had a very blessed start. I was humbled to have so many people there to send me off! I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed, but also very excited about what God will do through all the prayers and love shown! I am currently 60 miles out, in north Lees county GA. Walb news came and shot some footage last night wich opened a lot of doors to talk to people today as I rode through the heart of Albany. God blessed me tonight to be able to keep my horses at a stable with plenty of hay and water. He also provided a ride to church tomorrow wich was a big thing on my prayer list this morning! "blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteosness, for they shall be fiiled!". I am including some pictures of soms of my camp sites! Keep praying! Love Ben!

Here I go!

Ok, here is the official announcement! As some of you know, on Thursday I am setting out on a journey. When I got back to Georgia after working at His Ranch I began looking into going on a cross-country horse trip as a chance to get to talk to people and witness. At the beginning I wasn’t exactly sure if God was behind me in this, or if this was just something I wanted to do. However he made it very clear by opened doors, words of encouragement, and peace that His will was there. I would love to sit down with y'all and tell you some of the things that He did to bring it together! I get excited just thinking about it! Anyhow, I leave Thursday morning at 10:00 A.M. From Ochlocknee, Ga to Taylor, Mo, going through 900 miles of God's beautiful country, back roads, and small towns. I don't know exactly what all God has for me on this trip, but I know he is there. So I would covet your prayers as I ride for about a month and a half. Pray that God would prepare my heart for the people I will meet, and give me His Spirit and words. Pray for strength to follow His will as I go and to seek His face in all situations. Pray for those I come in contact with, that God would touch them, even if it isn't through me, maybe the horses. For those of you who want to follow me as I go I will be able to keep Facebook up as I go, and my blog (hebledforme.blogspot.com). Thanks again! God bless!

Mighty Counselor

“He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”! (Isaiah 9:6).

As I go about my life, God keeps teaching me new aspects about Him. I am a horse trainer, and every once in a while I find something new I want to teach my horses so I introduce it to them. It keeps them on their toes, and focused on me, taking away the opportunity to get bored and lethargic on me. It seems that God enjoys doing the same thing to me. Just when I think I've figured out what He is telling me about Himself, He adds a new exciting twist. It also keeps me on my toes and seeking Him! What a blessing! I don't know that I will ever figure Him all out, until I can sit at His feet in heaven, but I would like to share one thing He has shown me recently. Did you know that in the bible there are over 180 names used for God! You can view most of them at http://smilegodlovesyou.org/names.html . Each one is unique and powerful, but the one I would like to talk about is Mighty Counselor.

A few weeks ago a minister read the verse on top during a sermon and it really stood out to me. It probable stood out to me a little more because I feel led to be a counselor to young men. But anyhow it really opens up a lot of understanding to how God teaches us.

I love to sit across from the table from someone and just talk about them, get to know them, really know them. And although I don't like it that they have problems, I really cherish it when they share them with me. I get quite the picture of God when I view it from that perspective, as a counselor. The difference is that He always has the correct answers! He is the Mighty Counselor, without failing. Sometimes I might be indifferent (unknowingly) He always loves and cares. Sometimes I can only be empathetic, I haven't gone through it all. He can always be sympathetic, He was temped in all ways as we were. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). As a matter of fact, any christian counselor can only tell you what God already has taught them! He is the one with the wisdom, they just get it from Him!

I don't know that there is anything above that can really change the way you do things, but I found it really encouraging to see that side of God. I hope it makes you love Him more. God bless!

Great Gain!

“Now Godliness with contentment is great gain”! (1 Timothy 6:6). What a exciting verse! If God had promised great gain, we can rest assured it is better than we could ever imagine! He himself saw that contentment, with Godliness, was great gain. Godliness without contentment may be gain, but why settle for less that God's best?

Of course the paragraph I just wrote makes contentment sound like a easy thing that you can turn off and on like a light switch, but it goes much deeper than that. I realize that most of it is indeed by choice, you can choose to look at your current setting from a pessimistic view. You do have to choose to view all things working together for good. (Romans 8:28) I am currently sitting at a coffee shop early in the morning. There is a wide range of customers coming in the door getting their morning boost. Some of them are bright and cheery, others barely say a word as they put cream in their coffee. Some are obviously happy with were they are at, other are not so happy, or at least neutral (not content). Did some just wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Did some choose to be happy? In Philippians 4:11 the apostle Paul says he learned how to be content. “For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” He had to learn it! He didn't say “In whatever state I am I choose to be content”, he said he learned it. Maybe you wish you were content with were God has you, but just can't flip that content switch on, don't feel bad. You may have to struggle with it, and learn it(and want it). But when you find it, you will find great gain!

I know I've said it before but do you realize that God loves you more than you love yourself? His love for you wants what is absolutely best for you. Maybe God has you were your at because it has such a huge blessing that it doesn't even compare to were you want to be! I said maybe, but their really is no doubt in my mind. If it weren't that way, then God would have you somewhere else, he promised in His word! We really don't know for sure the reason , it may be just to teach us contentment so we can reach great gain, but we know it is best!

I heard a saying once what really affected me. “It is easier to change your actions to change your heart, than it is to change your heart to change your actions”. You may have to read that again to let it sink in. Are your actions telling to world, “God loves me and I am happy about what He is doing?” Just a few verses before Philippians 4:11 (were Paul says he learned to be content) He said, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be anything praiseworthy – meditate on those things”! Do you want to be content? You are going to have to seek God, ask Him to teach you! And look for the best in what you don't like. If your earnest, God will change your heart, and then when he chooses to move you on, you will miss were you are now. Are you willing to find great gain? I guarantee it will be a bigger blessing than what you are wanting.

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

(Psalms 37:4)