True to Course

Beloved,

Today as I studied Psalm 107, I started thinking about how easy it is to get off course in my walk with the Lord. Whether it is by the hand of the adversary (v. 2), my own wandering (v. 4), my rebellion (v.11), my quests for adventure and prosperity (v. 23-34), or when I am needy and afflicted (v. 41), just straying the tiniest bit can prevent me from treading the straight and narrow road where I need to be.

As I pondered how imperative it is to stay true to the course set before me by the Lord, I thought of an airplane whose pilot sets the course for his destination. To illustrate the point, I asked a friend of mine who is a licensed pilot to do the math on a flight from Los Angeles, California, to Denver, Colorado, with the compass only one degree off of the true heading. On the 849-nautical-mile flight, an error of only one degree would cause the plane’s landing to be 14.15 miles off course. Now you may think that 14 miles is staying pretty close to target, especially after 849 miles, but if a pilot missed the Lincoln Municipal Airport in the city closest to me, his error could land him smack into the side of my house! We live almost exactly 14 nautical miles directly south of that airport! There could be serious and deadly consequences for missing his mark by only one tiny degree.

Staying true to the course set before us as believers means that we must deliberately and diligently follow the Lord~~ through His word, His appointed leadership and His still, small voice~~ on a daily basis. Though it may seem safe to travel in the right general direction spiritually, straying off course with the Lord, even slightly, can have severe consequences. Jesus Himself warned us that “the way is narrow that leads to life and few are those who find it.” (Matt 7:14)

Now, I’m not downplaying God’s grace and mercy, or His fatherly attention to guiding discipline and generous lovingkindness. Especially when I wander. He has made me aware today that complacency and distraction can alter my route significantly enough to put me in peril. Unfortunately, it’s in my human nature to downplay the seriousness of being “almost on course.’ I just love verse 30 in this same Psalm 107: “So He guided them to their desired haven.” The haven I desire is with Him, in the shelter of His wings. I am so comforted to know that, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Prov. 16:9)

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,

And for His wonders to the sons of men!” (Ps. 107:8, 15, 21, 31)

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy Hitch, for the Hitch family

Memorial Day Week

A water fight was one of the Memorial Day activities in Big Springs, Nebraska, where we ministered at an All-City worship service on Sunday morning.

Our family was scheduled to minister in Lexington that same afternoon, so we couldn't stay to find out who won the fight. It looked very refreshing, and once-in-a-while, the opponents would shoot the water at each other instead of the barrel.

Avery, Sterling, Havilah and Bristol traveled to central Nebraska for their annual Rodeo Bible Camp, and stopped in the lane just long enough for me to snap this photo. It's going to be quiet this week, with only Lucas and Jim and I home! Don't know if that's a good thing or not. . . .

This bleeding heart is dedicated to all those who grieve and mourn this Memorial Day, 2009.
We also thank those who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces, and to those who have borne the loss of loved ones who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy.

This is my garden today, and the beauty I came home to after the last trip. Bet you can't tell my favorite flower color! Our God is so creative!! There is joy in everything we do, at home or traveling in ministry, because of Him. It's that simple.

Enjoy!

Posted by Kathy.

Mt. Rushmore

On the road again, and enjoying the scenery in South Dakota today! Though we have traveled extensively in South Dakota, we have never visited Mt. Rushmore and explored the history of the site. The Black Hills are so beautiful and the stone carvings are amazing. Another great family day!
We will be singing in Belle Fourche tonight! See you there!

Kathy

Pruning

Pruning Lavender Plants

Beloved,

I've been spending every available moment working in my flower gardens the past few weeks. The spring work includes cutting back the dead and unproductive branches of my roses and lavender and many other perennials that died back during the cold winter months. It's a lot of work cleaning out the spent flower stalks and reshaping the plants so that they will produce an abundance of flowers to enjoy throughout the season. Right now, some of my precious plants look harshly chopped and decimated. If I didn't know what the end results will be, it would appear that I had ruined my garden!

All the work brought me to thinking about Jesus' teaching us that He is the true vine and His Father is the vinedresser. He said, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. " (John 15: 1-2) As I studied the word "prunes" in that verse, I found that the word means 'to cleanse, purify, to be pure, clean, without stain, without spot.' (1)

I've been through some pretty painful pruning in my life. I've felt the painful 'snap' of His pruning shears removing the things I've allowed to taint my life; to stain my heart or mind or emotions. I've resisted His tender cleansing of my dreams and hurts and expectations that had the potential to consume my fruit for Him, or worse, allow unchecked growth in a destructive direction. There have been times I've felt completely cut back in freedom or liberty, only to realize that I have been saved from myself and my own selfishness.

Pruning is good and necessary for the gardener. It is hard work and must be deliberate and consistent. How I wish to submit myself to the most ruthless pruning possible in the faithful hands of my Heavenly Father! I pray for the courage to surrender myself humbly to His tenderhearted cleansing.

"By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." John 15:8

Passionately serving Christ,

Kathy

(1) Spiros Zodhiates, Lexical aids to the New Testament, The Hebrew-Greek Study Bible, NAS Bible, AMG Publishers 1984 & 1990, page 1843.

The Raffle Quilt Winner!

On April 1st, we held our drawing for the beautiful, hand-pieced, hand-tied quilt that was made by our daughters (including Mardel!).
The quilt was won by Irv and Melody Jennings from Arnold, Nebraska.
Congratulations Irv and Melody!

Another quilt is in the works and we will be offering raffle tickets at our concerts.
Thank you to all who participated in this fund-raising project for Simple Grace!
We raised $400 through raffle sales, which was a huge blessing.
The quilt raffles are taking the place of Barn candles, which are no longer available to us.

Salty?

Our family visited a salt mine 600 feet below the city of Hutchinson, Kansas.
Illumined behind us in this photo is a 6,000 pound salt rock. The pillar in
the far back is unhewn salt supporting the tunnels we explored.
Amazing!

Beloved,
My passion recently is the message that there is NOTHING more important than Jesus! NOTHING. There is no relationship, no job opportunity, no spouse, no romance, no child, no project, no emergency, no financial crisis, no ministry, no dream or possession that we can permit to take priority or precedence over Jesus!

If we allow any other thing to take first place, (or when we allow it, since it happens to all of us so easily) we compromise that one-on-one relationship with our Savior. We are tempted to look at circumstances with eyes of doubt instead of eyes of faith and trust. We forget why we are here, and what purpose we have been called to in Christ. We get our eyes on the things of earth instead of the eternal.

He has called us to "love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength." (Mark 12:30) That means Jesus first. If we pursue Him, He will be found by us. (Jer 29:13) It is so beautiful to live our lives hidden in Christ, surrendered to Him and giving Him first place. He has promised that if we seek Him and His kingdom first, all necessary things will be added to us. I want NOTHING to get ahead of Jesus!

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he has trusted in Thee." (Is 26:3)

Passionately serving Christ,
Kathy

Resurrection Joy!

Beloved,

I wish for you this week the time to contemplate the depth of love and the totality of forgiveness that you are clothed with in Jesus Christ, your Savior and Lord!

I wish for you the solemn remembrance of the death of God the Son, His torturous and ghastly death on the cross of Calvary, to present you, righteous and spotless and redeemed, before God the Father, delightfully beloved, a child of the Eternal Father.

I wish for you a time of quiet reflection for realizing your costliness to Him, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Finally, I wish for you the overwhelming joy of new life, resurrection life, in the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain, who died and was raised and of whom "there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace." (Is 9:7)

Precious Sibling, rejoice! Your Light has come!