Not doing a lot today, but it will get busier as the afternoon comes along.  Have to help someone move some things.

    Forgot to mention that with all those canned cherries, we ate almost as many fresh, good eating. 

    I have to stand back and admire our orchardists and other farmers and ranchers.  They work hard for months on end trying to get the most out of their labors.

    But if a rain comes along at the wrong time, or the sun is too hot, or the frosts set in too early, or any other manner of problems, they lose their harvest and a whole year’s salary – but still have to pay for all the pesticide, fertilizer, employees, food on the family table, doctor bills, power bills, on and on.

    If the weather is hot and rain comes, the orchardists can actually here the cherries popping as they split open – and know that they have just lost their crops.

    Every agriculture farmer has risks similar to that.  I couldn’t do it, I have a hard-enough time watching our small garden produce, or not, or be ‘invaded’ by the neighborhood deer or being dried out by the sun. 

    They are unique business people who are willing to work long hot hours, get their hands dirty and take those chances so that we have something on OUR table to eat!

    They are among MY most favorite people.

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Psalm 10:1-3 KJV  “Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

² The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

³ For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.”

    I was exchanging texts with a friend this morning.  We were discussing the length of time it takes (or the length instead) to have a text posted and to have it replied to by the recipient.

    We both agree that it used to be weeks, months and even years from the time a letter is sent until there is a response.

But, of course, in today’s world a not getting something posted or getting a reply within a few minutes – if not seconds – is frustrating.

    We have become a world that can’t be patient.  That has to have immediate gratification.

    We are not alone in this of course as the verses above illustrate when we see something that we feel needs to be changed, or something that God has to fix (and must do it by OUR expectations) we can become impatient with God.

    Sometimes He has answered, and the answer was NO, but we don’t want to hear that.  Other times it is wait a while and we don’t like to hear that either.

    We know He needs to do something and we KNOW it has to be right now.

    And frankly, there are a whole lot of us in that mode right now.

However, God’s plans are His plans, based on His knowledge, love and grace.  He is merciful and patient – and I for one am thankful He is, without that I am afraid I would never make it into His Heaven.

    We just need to remember He is in charge, and He knows what He is doing – far more than we can understand:

Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV  “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

    We need to trust Him and have patience He really is there for us!!

Later, Art (-: