10-2-2004
Dear
friends,
So do I
start with how I killed the rattlesnake, or the way God provided propane for
me, or how someone slashed one of my tires, or how good and simply awesome God
is, or the boat, the dryer....... :-)
Yes, lots
happening here *grin*
I guess
I'll just go in order then *good natured shrug*. I killed a 2 foot
long 5 year old rattlesnake down at church last week when he jumped out of
the bushes alongside the driveway where I was jogging. Startled me pretty good,
can I say that? *chuckle*. But I was apparently moving too fast, and he took
off over the edge of the hill, so I followed him down into the brush, and
now I have a rattlesnake skin to go around my cowboy hat *chuckle*..... And
yes, I was careful.... I don't typically like killing things, and there
has to be a pretty good reason before I will, but I had already killed one
rattlesnake at church this summer that was in the children's playground, and I
wasn't about to let another one move in and take its place. Snakes in the
playground is not a good thing....
And
propane. I was spending ten bucks or more a week some weeks just on propane for
this place, between cooking and the hot water heater. But when I got to looking
around the ranch, I noted that the propane tank behind the unused conference
center still had about 450 gallons in it. So I was able to scrounge enough
copper pipe and buy the right tools to run line between the conference center
and the house, so now I have enough propane in the house to get me through the
winter! That was a HUGE answer to prayer.
Let's see,
what else....
Oh yeah. I
went into Idaho City last week to a big yard sale where I got an excellent deal
on some stuff for the ranch like lots of candles, some kitchen utensils, etc
and so forth. But while I was parked there, someone knifed one of my car tires!
I couldn't believe it. One of the neighbors that came over to see while we were
all standing around marveling, said it could have been as simple a thing as me
having Ada County (Boise area) license plates on my car instead of Boise County
(Idaho City area - go figure). I almost had to laugh when I realized that the
tire that whoever had slashed was the one with steel tread showing, that I
already needed to replace anyways! So that was a God thing. I pumped it up with
a little 12Volt air compressor that also happened to be for sale at that same
yard sale (which I then bought), drove down the road several blocks to the tire
station, and had a $10 used tire put on instead. But God totally worked that
out, even so far as making me buy that air compressor, because yesterday, I had
another flat tire way out in the sticks, that I was able to pump back up
enough to get home with. And then I can pump it up again tomorrow and get to
church and then into the tire station again.... God is SOOO good at taking care
of all the little details *thankful smile*.
I was also
asking God very specifically for a gas or propane dryer to dry my laundry with.
And low and behold, while poking around another one of the storage areas in
back of the ranch last week, I found a gas dryer stashed away! I was so happy!
*grin*. I don't care if it doesn't work, I earned a living for quite awhile
fixing appliances, so I'm not worried. But that was such a cool little answer
to prayer.
Oh, I was
also praying for an aquarium, and pricing them and looking around at them,
because a healthy fish tank can be very therapeutic for people to spend time
around, kids especially. And Thursday, someone I was doing some work for
donated a BIG 200 gallon Plexiglas to us in return for a tax write-off
receipt. God is so good!
But that's
not all! I was also praying for a boat, that we can take kids out on Lucky Peak
resevour with next summer. And someone donated a 14 foot aluminum fishing boat
to us just yesterday! It needs some repair work that I can easily do this
winter, but it's a really nice boat. Now I just need an outboard motor and a
trailer for it *chuckle*.
And someone
else, also yesterday, said we could have an extra car that they had,
also in exchange for a tax write-off receipt, that we can fix up and sell, or
do whatever with!
I
figure that there is about 3 months of firewood split and stacked
now, with 2 more months supply left to gather in. So am making progress there
too.
All this
cool stuff starting to happen..... :-)
Haven't had
any chance at all to dig out the conference center foundation any more this
week, but I do know finally how to stabilize it I think. Trouble is, I am
racing with time to get this done. It has consistently been down in the 30s and
40s here at night, and it's only a matter of time before winter hits. I saw a
bear the other night, and its winter fur was black as night, and
apparently, that only happens when an extreme winter is on the way. And I am
going down to Cortez, Colorado to my younger brother's wedding next week for
several days, and that will cut into my time even further. But it will be
REALLY good to see family for those several days too. I am looking forward to
it.
The other
night I was just online surfing a bunch of different websites, both
Christian and secular, and there was much thought happening deep in my spirit.
Things that troubled me. Yet stirred me. I was (and still am) feeling
a deep need to press deeply into God for direction and understanding, to pray
and fast even, because all was/is not clear to me right now. I am feeling a
deep burdening, an intense call to move forward into something, something or
things that I realize that I truly do not understand completely yet.
Awesome things yet to be revealed. And it was as though as I focused on God in
prayer and meditation, it was as though He suddenly opened the
tiniest corner of His mind to me, and I saw in. And I suddenly
realized the depths of the waters that are God, in a new way and light that I
have not seen before. Eddies. Currents. Thoughts that I could not even
comprehend. The vastness of His character. The depth of his love. Things that I
have always known as head knowledge, and even some heart knowledge, but to
suddenly glimpse the reality of Him like that, the vastness of Him, it blew my
mind. To glimpse just the tiniest corner of the mind of God. And just that
fraction of His mind that He allowed me to see of Himself, left me in simple
and dumbstruck awe. I get the distinct feeling that He was smiling, and
even chuckling a little bit, at my dumbstruck amazement when I saw His mind
like that the other night *chuckle*. God has a DEFINATE sense of humor! But I
am still pondering it all, even now, several days later.
But it all
tied together, because last week, I got really convicted by that verse that
talks about having the same mind that was also in Christ Jesus. So I had
already been thinking allot about that, when God decided to blow me out of the
water by truly showing me a little bit of His mind. Man oh man have I got a
long way to go. Even the little white lies and so called little sins seem
somehow more onerous when I compare them to the absolute perfection and purity
I sensed about God the other night. Talk about conviction! *chuckle*
So the last
several days have indeed been filled with lots of prayer, some fasting, and
lots of seeking God's face. What now? Who with? The next step? How do I help? I
need Him. I need Him so bad, in every part of my life, every cubbyhole. And boy
do I have a lot of mental housecleaning to do. You never realize just how bad
and stinky sin is, and how much it dishonors God and those around us, until you
get a clear view and a glimpse of the true beauty and perfection that make
God who He honestly is. I feel sad for the people that actually think God will
be able to tolerate their stinkiness in heaven, without being washed clean by
His son Christ first. Sad....
Truly I
serve an awesome God *soft wondering smile*. I just wish everyone
could say that for themselves as well.....
I met with
a woman down in the county jail last week. Bad past. She knew just how much it
is that God saved her from. Talk about a broken person, and yet a desperately
hungry person for things of God. To her, coming out of a life of mistakes and
misery, God was/is the only one that cared enough for her to reach out to her,
and touch her, and forgive her when she asked for it, and then gave her the
strength and the will to make things right and go with life making better
choices. It was kinda cool to talk to her. Refreshing even. But another
woman that I know and respect has agreed to take this young woman and pen
pal with her, and walk with her, and disciple her some. That was an answer to
prayer too.
But after
being quite ill for several hours this morning (spent lots of time in the
bathroom), I spent most of the rest of the day today clearing out the
gym-sized shop under the conference building so that I can get at the
foundation wall from the inside where it is crumbling so I can erect some
posts and piers to shore the building up while I dig out the back wall and
get a new foundation in place. Hard heavy work, and I am VERY sore this
evening.... I plan to go build a fire in the wood stove shortly, warm up and
unwind finally with my feet up, and nurse a hot cup of tea while
praying for awhile before finally going to bed.....
I also met
some more of my neighbors this afternoon, to the immediate north of me. That
was good. They really liked the idea of a youth camp and ranch here. Also told
another retired couple about it yesterday, and they are interested in maybe
helping out some. Everywhere I go, God is touching people to provide input
and/or material items to help make the youth ranch a reality. It is really cool
to be a part of *twinkle in eye*.
But in all
honesty, I am really feeling the pressure to get everything done here before
the snow flies. Gotta finish digging out that conference center foundation,
gotta finish all the paperwork, gotta bury the water and propane lines, gotta
get plastic over the roofs of several buildings to keep the snow out, gotta
pack in 2 more months of firewood.... and more! *whew!*
What I
wouldn't give for a team of men or a hard working youth group to
come up and help me for even just 2 days.... *wistfulness*. But progress is
progress, and progress IS happening, so I'm ok. God has consistently
brought along the right people to help out, at exactly the right time. So I'm
not too worried..... yet..... :-)
You might
pray for the church up here where I minister also. In the middle of other
things happening, there was an unexpected death last week that kinda shook up
the tight knit group that is the church in Robie Creek. And pray wisdom
and strength for the pastor there too if you think of it. I really like the guy
and respect him. thanks.
So there
have been setbacks, but also some really cool answers to prayer. To see God
working out the details in a way that only He can, it is very encouraging. He
is good, and I am thankful.
Sincerely,
-Tim
Benedict
Tim
Benedict
Thorn Creek Conference Center
21 Yellowpine Lane
Boise, ID 83716
208-392-6723
tbenedict@bigskytel.net