Greetings and Salutations,

Not a lot happening in our neck of the woods.  We are getting rain, a gentle rain that allows the ground to soak it in – some run off, but for the most part it is going deeply into the garden.

Getting some snow on the mountains, need a lot more, but any is appreciated!

Forecast is for overcast this next 7 days, what does concern me is the temperatures, all above freezing.  Nice for this time of year, but the cold kills a lot of the bugs that create havoc in the garden in the summer – looks like we will have to rely on other measures.

As I work out I cast my gaze over the Columbia River, watching birds flying around.  One mighty eagle was sitting on one of the Indian fishing platforms, looking for a meal.

Now, my question is:  Since those platforms can only be used by Indians to fish off of (even white men married to Indians are not allowed to fish off of them) does the eagle get cited?

Anyway,

Thought I would share this with you, from a reading this morning:

Mathew 18:31-32    KJV  “So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

³² And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.”

The first recorded incident of deviled ham....

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Genesis 25:30-34    KJV  “And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

³¹ And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

³² And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

³³ And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

How many times have I pulled an “Esau” and insisted I get my needs met right now, instead of giving God time to bless me?

While not said, Patience would have been the key with Esau.

With all the servants this family had, someone could have whipped up a meal for him.

It is doubtful he was starving to death.  Yes, he may have been very hungry, he even may have gone days without eating and the smell of Jacob’s meal would have caused his mouth to water.

But, for the sake of immediate gratification, he gave up something that was of immense value, his birth right; the right to all of his father’s possessions.

Those possessions would have been worth millions in today’s markets, and he gave it all up for a bowl of mush.

While many today would say, “Oh, come on now, we know he didn’t really mean to give up his birthright, it was just a way to get fed quickly.”

Esau would agree with those people.  He even later claimed that Jacob had stolen his birthright.

But, he didn’t steal it.  Esau sold it to him for a bowl of mush; he agreed to exchange his birth right for that meal.

But, back then a person’s word meant something and wasn’t to be given lightly.  A man’s word was his bond and if he didn’t live up to it he would be ostracized and never again trusted.

So, he gave up his birth right for a bowl of porridge.  He couldn’t wait a few minutes to have a meal prepared for him; he had to have it right now.

Oh, Lord, so many times I have been impatient and moved forward when if I had just waited I may have received incredible blessings from you.

Please help me trust you; please help me be patient as you work through the many things in my life.

I don’t want to give up a possible blessing for a bowl of mush.

Later, Art (-: