Photography Contest

David, the man after God’s own heart, recognized this when he wrote Psalm 139. It is one of the most encouraging, personal portions of scripture in the Bible. David recounts all of the ways that the Lord is familiar with him, “Lord, you have searched me, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I stand; you know my thoughts from far off. You know when I come and go and when I lie down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know exactly what I’m going to say, you go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” The creator of the uni- verse, God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit are personally involved in your life. They know everything about you and like you anyway! You are not just a face in the crowd, you’re not just a church giving unit, you were personally created for a purpose by God himself. These personal revelations of David are laid out for us so we can understand our Heavenly Father’s heart.

“For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw

Notice that David says we were “created,” that we were “made,” not evolved. God had personal involvement in forming each one of us and ordaining the number of years we would spend on this planet. That’s personal! And how awesome is it that you are on God’s mind, “How precious are your thoughts of me, God! How vast is the sum of them! If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore.” Try counting that.

You are not just part of a group that God loves. He loves you individually, is familiar with every little thing about you, and you are never out of His thoughts. The next time you need a pick-me-up, skip the caffeine, and fill up on Psalm 139.

Pleasant Grove Methodist at 9:30 a.m. and Harrisville Methodist at 11 a.m.

Homesteading of the past

Terri Brock

I believe homesteading, in some ways, would be similar to how Daniel Freeman lived during his time when the Homesteading Act was first in effect. For example, having to go to the nearest town to purchase the staples for the pantry that he didn’t grow himself; like flour, sugar, and feed for the animals. Or trying to get things he maybe didn’t make at that time, like soap or tonics and medications that he just didn’t have.

Our lives, in comparison to his, are definitely easier in some aspects. If we don’t want to cook some week night, we can go out for pizza or even order it directly to our homes.

But the beauty of homesteading is that you can do it however you want. It may not be how your neighbor or someone in the next county over does it. It’s a choice, your choice, in what works for you and what benefits your family. What works for one doesn’t work for the other and that’s okay.

For me, homesteading changes a little bit every year. Sometimes it’s adding to our farm, sometimes it’s taking away, and sometimes it’s just going with the flow. Expect the unexpected.