Abbie's Feet

Devotion 3

How Firm a Foundation:Abbie’s feet

Matthew 7:24-25

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose , and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Most horse people have heard the expression, no hoof, no horse. It is very, very true. Horses are prone to many diseases that affect the feet or lower legs and then can damage, impair, or even end the life of a horse. Farrier visits and frequent checks and picking are required to keep the horse happy, healthy, and useable.

Abbie is not a very approachable horse. She is still so very scared of what anyone might do to her. Her feet were terrible, they were overgrown and chipped when she got here and needed attention. So we called a farrier out who attempted to get near her much to her disapproval. She exploded. He left and said we would never get her feet done. I was crushed. So we worked with her and tried to gain her trust and get closer. I finally got to touch her body, her head, her legs, and she began to pick up her feet for me.

She was doing great, but still not touchable by many besides my husband and my children and myself. Then she started to limp. I was beside myself, I knew she was in real need of care for her foot, I tried picking it out and looking at it myself. She ran away from me and even bit me in the rear end while I had her foot up. I was beside myself with worry about her.

Finally the farrier came to see her. This gentleman was a different one from the first farrier. He told me that he would try. I was terrified he would get hurt. As much as I love my animals, I don’t want anyone to get hurt. He was so patient and she was so improved. She still jumped and fussed but he eventually through a great deal of patience and the assistance of my dear friend , Cassie, got her front feet done. I was truly joyous.

It was such a relief to have her feet sound and healthy and I know she felt better because she started giving the other horses grief. She was happy and so was I. I emailed people who didn’t care to let them know my horse was doing well. I emailed those I knew would understand my joy too.

We do this to God, we fight his way and fuss with him when he wants to make our foundation sound and keep us healthy. We need that foundation and base to stand on in our daily lives. Daily life can be so very hard and yet we fight the very thing that can help us stand in the windy difficult times. We need to make sure our foundations are solid, that we are praying and studying so that we are standing on his rock not on our own overgrown and unhealthy hooves. Once we are on that rock our joy is so freeing, just ask Abbie who ran and kicked with such complete joy when she finally gave in to the master.

Devotion 2

Submission:

Devotion 2:

Do you give the horse his strength or

clothe his neck with flowing mane? Do you make him leap like a locust,

striking terror with his proud snorting? He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength

and charges into the fray.

Job 39: 19-21

The horse is a huge and magnificent creature. He is usually around 1000 lbs and can outrun predators in the wild. This horse is not a weak or dependent creature but a force to be reckoned with as God's description of them in Job shows. The mare heading a herd in the wild is a brave creature, running her world to protect the herd that looks to her for leadership.

Even in the pasture or the barn, horses will defy you and each other to exert their own will. The dominant horse will make sure he or she is given proper respect and obedience. Abbie was the least assertive horse in the turn out until Poncho came, but she is even magnificent and quite breathtaking in her strength and beauty. She is a wild thing, who came to us unwilling to be even touched or caught. Since she has gained her weight and been brought to better health, she is a beautiful Clydesdale cross, over 1500 lbs, with a massive neck and head. Dark in coloring, she has a wide white bald face. Each little gain in her trust has been a huge accomplishment. I am hoping with either good weather or construction of an indoor ring, we can break her to ride next spring. But this will take her willing submission.

When Abbie gives me her co-operation and trust to let me guide her will and direction, we will be true partners. Each able to do more together than we could alone. But she needs to submit her will to mine. It doesn't make her weaker, it and I would never purposely injure, or harm her. She is able then to be used as God intended her to be used. He created the livestock separately in Genesis from the wild animals. They are mentioned differently, made to be in communion with people.

We do the same thing with God, dance around Him, avoiding his calling to us. Think it would make us have to be or do what we do not want to do. Whatever is good or beautiful about us will serve God and ourselves best in submission to his will. It doesn't make us weaker, or dependent, it makes us fulfilled and productive, a partner in a magnificent relationship that allows the glory of our creator to shine through. The horse in the above verse was not diminished by harnessing his will to that of his master. People were awed by the sight of such a partnership. God doesn't intend to harm or deprive us. He is the good master who will bless the faithful service and choice of sharing and partnering in his will. His will is safe and good, choose it today.

Devotion 1:

“The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with his love

He will rejoice over you with singing”

Zephaniah 3:17

I am a goof ball with the horses. They make me laugh all the time. I forget how cold the barn is in winter when they come in for breakfast. I sing the songs on the radio to them, I talk to them and pray over them. They make my heart laugh with their antics. They are all so individual. Wyatt waits patiently for his breakfast while Bubba neighs and fusses until his bucket is filled. Poncho puts his ears back ,which is not endearing but understandable, since he had to fight for each meal at another home, it seems.

Each horse makes himself very dear to me by who he is. If you have your own horse, you know whether he like root beer barrels or sugar cubes. Abbie LOVES strawberry tops. Grooming them you find each horses particular spot where they love to be rubbed, and it makes them make funny faces in delight. Each horse has its own bad habits too. Though, I rarely focus on them except to correct them and move on.

God is a lot like this with us. Who we are makes his heart sing, he delights and rejoices over us! Zephaniah tells us so. He isn't waiting for us to become show perfect to love and enjoy us. He loves us as we are, however we are right now. He knows what you enjoy and each and every delightful and awful thing about you.

He won't leave our bad habits but will work on them, just as we do our horses, but that does not interfere with his love and adoration for us right now. His focus isn't on our negatives, he won't leave them alone but he won't dwell on them either. When we are out there being ourselves, he delights in his creation, just as we adore our horses whether they come in muddy or covered in burrdocks or amazingly, still beautiful from the last grooming.. But my heart sings at the sight of them muddy or knotted, just as God does with us when we fail or succeed. Just for being you, he finds you delightful.

The verse says He quiets us with his love. When one of the horses is nervous, I love to hold their lead and talk to them. Comforting them with my voice and touch is one way I can show my love and concern. When he starts on the trail, he listens to my voice and touch and guidance to know he is still being led. God works the same way with us. He quiets us. The word brings out such calm and relaxed feelings. He wont leave us, and he guides us through the scary places or situations.

This is the amazing thing about our God, His love and delight frees us to choose him and serve him out of delight too, not just a rule.. . Horses love to serve a good master well and his delight can be the horses reward. This is how we can return our love to him who loves us first.

Since I wrote the introduction to several devotionals I already have prepared, we have had a few more newcomers. Let me introduce them as well.

Ever is a young dark buckskin thoroughbred paint cross who belongs to a young lady in town. She has a sweet personality and a big heart. She is young and has a lot to learn but I think has the heart to progress well.

Montana is a 2 year old Morgan/ Arab/ Quarter horse cross. She is a beautiful bay with a true puppy dog mentality. She loves people! She is growing to be a responsive and beautiful riding horse under the direction of her young owner.

Holly is a 12 year old dark brown quarter horse, professionally trained and a skilled show horse. Her owner is a well trained horse woman who has dealt with a lot in her life. Holly is a balm to her soul. Her dream horse from years ago, now hers.

Lucy is my daughter's new quarter horse. She came from out west and is a seasoned trail horse. She is a good girl with a bad rap form an accident last fall. She is all brown and exudes kindness. Truly, this horse has a heart of gold.

Two true characters you may hear about are Biscuit and Gloria, they are both here just for some training and then returning to their loving homes. Gloria is a halflinger, as blond and beautiful as they come. sweet and docile until you want to ride her. Her young owner is doing a fantastic job of changing that. Biscuit is an incorrigible mini horse, adorable, black, and funny.

SO I think that rounds us out in our cast of characters. I didn't want anyone to feel left out, they would complain when I went in to fill the trough this afternoon. I hope you enjoy these. I promise pictures to come!

Introduction

If you are reading this I am assuming you are a horse crazy kid. I was one myself and I completely understand. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a horse,or have weekly lessons, or just dream about horse ownership, but no matter what you maybe asking what do horses have to do with God.

God created horses, he has written about them and used them for picture lessons in the Bible. Jesus is pictured returning riding a white horse. I have not had horses all that long myself, but it has been a lifelong dream and passion. Even now, as I am learning myself, I am awed and amazed by the great lessons God is teaching me through these magnificent animals. They have a lot to say to us about ourselves and our relation to God.

Let me introduce you to our cast of characters you will hear about in this book. There may be more but lets start with them.

Abigail is a Clydesdale cross, rescued from slaughter. A wonderful organization saved her and fostered her to a local farm. Once she was stablilzed she came here to live forever and finish gaining around 300 lbs. She was abused so she is headshy and untrusting. She is the apple of my eye and, as of yet, unbroke, but we are forging a real relationship and will ride together one day.

Wyatt is a huge black beauty, He is a Percheron cross gelding, quiet and gentle. He is 8 and very sensitive. He is the leader of our small herd. He has a small star on his forehead and three white feet. He also has an old wound that looks like a smiley face on his withers on the right side.

Bubba is the oldest of our crew. He is a 16 hand 20 year old quarter horse. He has a gentle, steady, even demeanor, and loves to run despite his age and arthiritis. He is dark brown and his fur is rich and thick.

Cutter is a retired cutting horse, now used for delightful trail rides. We were all afraid of him at first because his owners had a rough ride on him the first time. But once we knew how to speak to him and he knew what we wanted, he has been a steady and wonderful companion. He is chocolate brown with a wide white stripe and two white feet. He has the thickest winter coat and feels like a giant stuffed horse through the fall and winter.

Last is Poncho, our newest edition. He came here thin and infected with a skin disease. Not well at all but is showing improvement. He is a beautiful roan appaloosa with a white blanket atnd black spots. He is so very thin and very defensive but we are looking forward to improving his health and outlook as we learn to care for him in the way he needs.

You will be reading more about these horses in the following devotional as well as horses in general. I hope you enjoy it, but most of all I hope God uses these examples to call you to himself. The creator of the horse you love, loves you so much. I hope you see glimpses of it here.