Precarious Yates's Blog: Precarious Precipices, page 9

So Thankful for Fathers

 

In the last sixteen years I have spent some time quietly observing fathers. Yes, there have been some deadbeats, and some who have been abusive, but I’ve observed many, many fathers who without fanfare have demonstrated the wide scope of unconditional love. And in the last five years I have witnessed my husband demonstrate such soft and tender kindnesses.

So here’s to you, dads, my husband, my friends, my brothers, and my own wonderful father–you’ve inspired me so much:

Here’s to the dads who change diapers in the middle of the night, and do so with such skill that baby stays asleep throughout the whole procedure.

Here’s to the dads who play blocks with their kids for four hours straight.

Here’s to the dads who go so far as to play dress up or even Barbies with their daughters.

Here’s to the dads who watch the princess movies with their little girls.

Here’s to the dads who giggle, laugh, wrestle, read and create with their kids.

Here’s to the dads who pray with their kids every night.

Here’s to the dads who not only tell their daughters that they’re beautiful, but tell them that they’re intelligent, generous, sweet, loving,  creative, etc.

Here’s to the dads who play the sports the moms can’t physically handle. (Thanks, Logan!)

Here’s to the dads who have loved children who are not their own as if they were their own.

Here’s to the dads who stop their schedule to listen to their children.

Here’s to the dads who spend hours on their knees and in the Word so they can demonstrate the Father Heart of God to their family in a very tangible way.

Here’s to the dads who work grueling jobs without complaint and still make dinner when mom is sick.

I could go on and on and on. It’s been such a blessing to watch all of you dads in action.

You have inspired me, all of you, to be supportive of the fathers immediately around me and to drown out the songs of the masses that say dads are demanding deadbeats. You’ve shown the love of God from your gentle and firm disciple to your carefully crafted praise, from your faithfulness to your capacity for joy.

I am so thankful for fathers!

And to my husband, Logan, it’s been such a pleasure to watch you be a father!

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who have blessed my life!

 

Escape, a guest post by Author April McGowan

Escape

by April McGowan

When you’re young, everything emotional feels overwhelming. What to wear, who to hang out with, homework, parental pressure, peer pressure. It’s big. For some young people, though, they also have to wade through neglect, and sexual and physical abuse. And for some of those, the allure of living on their own, getting away from it all, is too high and they run away. They escape—but where they end up is even more a prison than they’ve ever experienced before.

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Every day, approximately 1.3 million runaway, thrown away, and homeless youth live on the streets of America. Children, both boys and girls, are solicited for sex, on average, within seventy-two hours of being on the street. Some of those are drawn into formal prostitution—from which escape means beatings and sometimes death. There’s a lot of money in sex trafficking—and pimps don’t want to lose their investment.

When I wrote my novel, Jasmine, I was trying to imagine what life for a young woman who’d survived that life might be like—the things she’d have to overcome, and what she might be doing if she’d escaped. In my novel, Jasmine takes up the plight of the runaway, the homeless young women, and tries to save them from their situations—from themselves. She yearns to give them a hope for the future.

My novel is a work of fiction. But if you’ve never thought about the statistics and lifestyle of those kids on the street, you’ve probably hoped for someone like Jasmine. The good news is, those people DO exist. And they can help. They are the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out to the broken, giving them a safe place to live and setting their feet on the path of complete restoration.

Please donate to the Portland Rescue Mission’s Shepherd’s Door at http://www.portlandrescuemission.org/lp/2013lp/jasmine/   (designate women and children’s recovery) and at Door To Grace http://www.doortograce.org/. Both of these incredible ministries aid in rescuing, healing and restoring.

Author April McGowen

April McGowan loves to read and write inspirational fiction. Her novel, Jasmine, releases digitally in June and to paperback in September. She and her husband, two children, and her ‘mews’, Spookers, live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. April is a member of Oregon Christian Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, homeschooling her two children, or playing board games, you might find her at her drum kit, imagining she’s on a world tour. Hey, it could happen. Follow her blog at http://aprilmcgowan.com

Book Blast for Mary Hanks

TITLE: Book Blast: Winter’s Past by Mary E Hanks 6/11/13 – $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

Winter’s Past (2nd Chance Series)

By Mary E Hanks

About the Book:

Ty wants to make things right. Winter can’t forget their past.

Winter Cowan is scheduled to speak in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A city she’s avoided for ten years because of Ty Williams, her ex-husband.

But what are the chances of Ty showing up in church? And didn’t she already forgive him? Even though he broke her heart and ruined their short, six-month marriage? She had to forgive him to go on with her life. To preach the gospel. To share God’s love across the nation.

Then, like a tidal wave, the word “Forgive” crashes over the worn sands of her past. Winter realizes her heart does still rip a little each time she remembers what Ty did to their marriage. To her.

And just as she feared, Ty shows up at the meetings in Coeur d’Alene. Only this man is someone she wouldn’t recognize if she saw him on the street. He’s older, sure, but he’s…different. Radically changed from the guy she once knew, he stands before her in a prayer line, crying—crying!—and humbly asks her forgiveness. This man who broke her heart, betrayed her, is now gut-wrenchingly sincere in his apology, prays for her like a long-lost friend, tenderly reaches into the forgotten places of her heart, and he has a request.

One unbelievable request that could change everything…

Download on Kindle | Purchase Paperback

 

Mary E Hanks

Mary E Hanks is an author of 2nd chance stories and a playwright/director for youth theater. When she’s not writing novels, she’s usually working on a play. She loves encouraging young people to share their talents, and an added bonus is getting to “see” her words brought to life onstage. At present, she’s directing her 24th production.

Mary served as a pastor’s wife in Alaska and also worked in Christian education for many years. She and Jason have been married for 37 years and have raised four children. They now live in the country near Blanchard, Idaho, a place where deer and wild turkeys play in their front yard.

A romantic at heart, Mary believes we all need a 2nd chance sometime.

Follow Mary E Hanks

Website | Facebook | TwitterLINESPACELINESPACE

Enter to Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Enter below to enter a $50 amazon gift card, sponsored by author Mary E Hanks!

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This book blast is hosted by Crossreads.

We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!

Harvest Joys (recipe follows)

Psalm 126:5-6:

Those who sow with tears

will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with them.

Three weeks ago I looked in at the potatoes hoping there’d be some fruit for my labor. Everything pointed to prime harvesting time. Except when we dug up a plant, there were roots, and no potatoes. Not even the tiniest hint of a potato. I have to tell you the truth–I cried more than a little bit.

I enjoyed planting the tubers and being out in the dirt and soil, but phew, I have a lot of sweat equity in those plants! I wanted there to be something to show for all the work I did.

Sometimes it just takes patience.

This morning I cautiously dug up a potato plant. Four ripe and beautiful red potatoes hung down from the roots. Yay!

I just ate my first breakfast made almost entirely from things in my garden and hen house. And not to toot my own horn or anything, but this was a fabulous meal! (see recipe below)

And what brought tears of joy to this mama’s eyes? When my six year old said, “These potatoes are so much better than anything we get from the store!”

Sometimes we pray for friends and family members to know the Lord and there are times where it seems like the harvest is ripe, but nothing comes to fruition. Don’t give up hope! God hears every prayer.

Potato, Mushroom and Dill Hashbrowns with Eggs

I should have grabbed my camera right away! This was devoured so quickly I couldn’t get a picture of the full meal!

Ingredients:

4 large potatoes or 8 small potatoes cubed and parboiled
2/3 cup sliced mushrooms
1 small onion, sliced
2 Tbsp butter, separated
1 tsp minced garlic
1 large sprig of fresh dill
1 medium sprig of fresh cilantro
salt/pepper to taste
6 eggs

Method:

Melt 1 Tbsp butter in a large skillet.
Saute onion and mushrooms.
Add parboiled potatoes and minced garlic and saute for one minute.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Snip the fresh dill over the mixture. Saute for 3-5 minutes.
Move the hashbrowns to one side of the skillet.
Add the other Tbsp of butter.
Add eggs, sunny side up. Cover and cook 2-3 minutes.
Snip fresh cilantro over the eggs.

Serve with a loaf of country bread, either toasted or plain.

UnEmbraceable — Cover Reveal!

Here is a sneak preview of the cover for my next YA novel:

An Apocalyptic Romance

When the pick-pocketing prostitute Tamar steals Leonardo’s wallet, she sparks an avalanche of events  in her life, but are her massive troubles with the law any comparison with what’s going on in the rest of the world? Will she find true love before the world falls apart?  Will she even live through the violence of the advancing horde?

Leonardo is a computer programmer with a unique approach to these zombie-like kids who attack before and after every earthquake. He’s not afraid of death, but can he survive falling in love with someone who’s broken and unembraceable ?

UnEmbraceable is a spin-off of the Revelation Special Ops series, and the characters are based off of Old Testament characters such as Hosea, Gomer and Tamar. You don’t have to read the RSO series to enjoy this romance/suspense/thriller.

Release date: July 15, 2013

Mark your calendar, lock your doors, open your heart and fasten your seat belt.

Sheep Lesson #3: Guided by Voice

We’ve been trying to train our lambs to walk with the harness. Ugh! They hate it so much it makes me almost hate it too! But if we ever want to show our lambs (not likely, but there is the possibility) we need to learn how to have them walk with a harness.

So what do these gentle, sweet lambs to when we put the harness on them? They throw themselves face first onto the hay and dig their hooves into the dirt. Oh so cooperative, eh?

What happens when I don’t put the harness on them?

Both Rachel and Leah will follow the sound of my voice. That’s right, we haven’t had them a week and yet they know my voice and Kenzie’s voice. They will follow us from their pen across a full thirty feet of open land and through a small gate into their pasture.

Frolicking in green pastures.

They would much rather be led by voice than by harness. “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” ~ Psalm 32:9

Does it remind you of something?

It sure reminds me of something:

(from John 10)

2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

…

14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”

Think about that for a moment. Jesus said that just as the Father knows Him and He knows the Father, this is how we will know Him. That’s an amazing intimacy we’ve been called into! He wants us to recognize and follow the sound of His voice. He wants that even more than we want it.

Sheep don’t need a harness. They’ll follow the sound of the shepherd’s voice.

I no longer feel insulted when I’m called a sheep.

Sheep Lesson #2: Clean Water

I was always told that sheep were stupid.

I’m beginning to seriously question this misconception. No way am I saying that sheep rank up there with dolphins, but they are much more intelligent than they’ve been given credit for. It just takes a bit of patience to see the intelligence.

One argument for the stupidity of sheep is that they won’t drink water if it has even the tiniest drop of poop in it. I say ‘Bravo!’ and ‘Way to go, sheep!’ Chickens have no qualms about drinking soiled water, and suffer diseases for it.

Sheep don’t even like dirt in their water. They like it clean. Pure. Fresh.

I like that in an animal.

Inspecting the water before taking a sip.

In Ephesians 5 we see that water is a symbol of the Word.

I’ve heard some amazing and excellent sermons in my life. Some of these have drastically improved my motivation to read the Word of God. There have been some teachings, however, that have soiled the Word of God by interpreting it through a paradigm of lies. Unless I flush out that teaching I’m less apt to find that part of scripture refreshing.

It reminds me of what Aslan told Peter when he’d had his first battle: “Son of Adam, you must clean your sword.”

It’s not only okay for me to clean my sword and to drink fresh, clean water, it’s good for my relationship with the Lord. After all, it needs to be my own relationship God and not the preacher’s relationship with God.

Oh, and while you’re here, check out the before and after pictures of the sheep pen. My husband built this in 4 hours. You go, Mr. Smith!

Chicken coop with overhang that would be made into a sheep pen.

Here’s the transformation of the overhang into the sheep pen. Hope is inspecting Mr. Smith’s work.

My husband spent about 8 dollars total, on hinges, concrete and a lock.

 

Sheep Lesson #1: Eye Level

We had a mad morning dash through wonderland, and at 11pm I’m still breathless!

I awoke at 5:30am and dragged my family out of bed by 6:30 so we could get to the farmers’ market by 7:15 at the latest. Our mission: to find someone selling sheep.

No one there sold sheep, but they knew a waitress at the local diner who knew a sheep farmer.

The waitress was on vacation, but our very friendly waiter suggested we visit the feed store.

We finished the generous helping of pancakes, eggs and home fries, we visited the feed store. While convincing Kenzie that we weren’t there to buy a duckling (no matter how cute the duckling was), we learned the name of the local sheep farmer: Walter.

Walter showed us around his farm, but said he wouldn’t have any lambs ready for another month.

We did get to see a lamb who’d been born 3 or 4 hours before we got there, and we did get to pet this absolutely adorable Hampshire lamb. Priceless.

Walter told us about TJ, who might have ewe lambs ready to sell.

We called and left a message.

While we waited, we visited yet another feed store.

Then, that perfect moment happened: we received a phone call and an invitation to visit the farm immediately!

TJ and his family were so sweet and personable and down to earth!

And from them I learned my first sheep lesson. If you crouch down to eye level, the sheep will come to you gladly and willingly.

Morning swelled into afternoon, and it didn’t look like we were getting our lambs. We had to go home to care for the chickens and do some yard work.

That’s when my husband told me: TJ was going to drop off two of their ewes to us this afternoon. And with the gift we’d received two days ago we could easily afford both lambs.

Rachel and Leah

This meant that my husband had to finish building a pen for them–fast. He did a marvelous job too!

Our twelfth anniversary present to one another this year: sheep.

What a fantastic present too! We’ve learned so much from these sheep! And from God through these sheep.

The biggest lesson by far has been about eye level.

When I crouched down and stretched out my hand, these two adorable ewes came right up to me and displayed tender affection.

In the Bible, God often refers to people as His sheep.

And He came down onto our level, into our day to day lives, meek and lowly, utterly humbled, and stretched out His hands toward us. All day long, as I thought about this, my heart burst with blooms of thankfulness I’d never known of before.

And while I go to hit my pillow in anticipation of my first full day as a shepherdess tomorrow, I think of Jesus, the Great Shepherd of our souls. He came down to our level. And how I want to be close, oh so close to Him. He came so close that He even became a Lamb. Oh! How I love this Man!

More Miracles on the Plains

Yesterday we witness a miracle.

We’ve been steadily homesteading, trying to turn our two little acres into a functional farm. There has been laughter, like the time we unloaded wood onto our muddy backyard and ended up looking like a Scottish warrior afterwards.

And those days when the chickens try to eat my shoes:

At least the chickens think my feet are appealing.

And there were tears, like last week when we thought the potatoes might have been ready, and there was NOTHING. Yeah, I won’t show you a picture of that. Neither the fruitless plants nor my angry/disappointed face were pretty to look at. (Blood, sweat and tears had gone into that project. We just needed to give our baby plants some more time…One more month then it’ll be little Ireland around here with all the potatoes we’ll have!)

And then there’s what happened yesterday.

Let me preface this by saying I’ve been doing a great deal of farming on my knees, crying out to God because I don’t know how to do ANY of this. I’d spent all my teen years telling myself that I NEVER wanted to be a farmer. And here I am. The writer in me loves the irony of that.

Also, we’ve had to scrape together the finances for basics while we waited patiently for harvest. Our dream of having lambs on the farm seemed like it would take months or years rather than days or weeks.

Little lambs. Baby lambs to cuddle, to hold, to let loose so they’d eat the grass that becomes overgrown soooo quickly.

Not ours, but soon we will have one like this!!

Someone gave a financial gift yesterday to fulfill that dream. I’m hoping that by next week I can post a picture or two of my little girl holding a little lamb.

Yet another testimony of this fact:

If God calls you to do something, He WILL provide the means for you to do it. Sometimes much later than you think it will happen, and sometimes much sooner.

 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8

Have a blessed day!

All the Killdeer Games

Before I moved to Texas, I had no idea what a killdeer was. It’s a banded plover and one of the chattiest birds in the world.

My daughter is obsessed with them and wants one as a pet.

The joint venture, mama/daughter drawing of the killdeer. Those are eggs. Yes, really.

This is Kenzie’s version of a killdeer with its eggs (psst…not drawn to scale)

At the moment she has the next best thing.

Just to the other side of our fence, a killdeer has made a nest in the rocks, a nest so camouflaged that it took me ten minutes to find it even after my daughter pointed it out.

She’s been watching it very closely and observing all the killdeer games.

If anyone gets too close to the killdeer’s nest, the mama bird will jump off of it and run away, dangling its wing as if it was injured. The bird does this to lure possible predators away from the eggs. After some time,  when the pursuer has lost interest in the bird and lost track of the eggs’ location, the mama returns to her nest and her sitting.

All the while my daughter sketches, observes and “writes” thank you cards to the mama killdeer.

This mama bird reminds me of someone who walked among us and had all the negative attention focused on him so that he could offer us salvation. Someone who always lives to intercede for us (see Heb. 7:25).

Hebrews 12:1b-2 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

(You are what gave Him joy.)

My daughter continues, with intense observation and rapturous joy, to sit at the fence quiet and still.

I’m taking these quiet moments to reflect on Jesus and the remarkable thing He did for me.