The Joy of YHWH

This week has been, in a word; difficult!  Funny, even as I type the word, I can honestly say, by difficult, I don't mean bad.  This kind of difficult is more like stretching . . . and a change of perspective, also not bad!    I'm feeling a little bit more "called out" and at first I wasn't sure I was hearing correctly, but I did.  This isn't an Elijah syndrome.  I don't think I'm the "only one."  I think many of us are being called out to a place of just alone with YHWH to come into a fuller covenant relationship with Him.

Whether America faces economic collapse, martial law, a military invasion, more wildfires, or a meteor that divides the continent, judgment is coming.  For those of us who are aware and sounding the warning, it's just not always easy.  The direction from which the arguments come can be a bit discouraging and yet, I can't be quiet.  It is fire in my bones.  Not only am I sounding the warning, I also have the answer!  The world has only existed in this present state for a little over 100 years.  Before that, since the dawn of creation, humanity lived agriculturally and as hunters and gatherers.  There was craftsmanship and artisanry, but the craftsmen and artisans were dependent upon those who would bring food to trade for wares.  We didn't have all this stuff that could come tumbling down on us!

There was a time before the industrial revolution and the technological age of instant gratification in which decent shelter, food on the table and clothes on one's back was a good life!  For men, providing that for his family meant he was successful.  For women, taking care of that and raising children to be respectable adults was her success!  Before this time of owning so much we care about nothing, there was a true sense of gratitude and accomplishment.  For years now, I've cringed at the mantra "work smarter not harder."  I have nothing against intelligence, but I'm not so sure what actually happened was so smart!   Workers negotiated with business owners to make more money while working less, and now we have few independent businesses and shuttered factories.  Before this time in which we are now living, there was a contentment in life and a feeling of satisfaction in true accomplishment.  Once being paid for absence became an accomplishment, our society began to silently crumble.

I simply do not have words to express how good my life is and how content I am in what I do.  It's not perfect, I'm in it . . . and there are things that could be better, but I have need of nothing.  I do work every day except Shabbat, and I still check on the critters then.  There is no hourly wage and there are no paid sick days.  If I don't get something done, it's simply not done.  There is no A for effort and no participation trophy.  Accomplishments are required!  I am warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  The past six years my garden has produced bountifully, and I enjoyed a blessed resting of the land this year.  The ministry has expanded while my books and businesses are meeting needs.  The flocks and herd keeps me in eggs and milk and provide pretty good company . . . I have work clothes, chore clothes, town clothes, and night clothes, with the added blessing, I've enjoyed this style for so long, it's actually now back in style.  Most importantly, though, I have the joy of YHWH for my strength and His shalom fills this place.

The difficulty has been in how to convey to others, that this lifestyle works!

Staying Home

I've been blessed to have a life in which I don't need a vacation, and I still work . . . but this past month has been very unsettling, exhausting, and what I consider unproductive.  Since I'm not retired and I don't plan to do so, I was determined to figure out just what my problem was.  Yesterday, for the first time in over 10 years, I thought "I need a vacation." Then it dawned on me . . . for the past month or more, I've made two extra trips to town a week, every week!  As I thought about it, I realized it was the trips to town from which I needed a vacation!

My work schedule is usually ordered and pretty accomplished, but it seems since the first week of May, I've just been chasing my tail.  I had such big plans for how I'd spend my time while the land rested for Shemitah, and now here it is the middle of June and I'm still trying to catch up from the first of May!  I don't like that feeling a bit.  I can't say I'm really behind, but I feel a lack of accomplishment and that doesn't sit well with me.  Six days a week, at the end of the day, I want to be able to look back at the day and feel accomplished.  When I make a "to do" list, I want to see check marks!  It's not that I haven't had things to do in town, like mower shopping, extra orders to ship, and a few really awesome opportunities, but I've found myself just too tired to catch up around here when I land.

Facing the reality that I had to give up on one of milk goats was not easy.  I really liked her, but she was a lousy mother, a terrible fit for the herd and even after a month, milking was still a contact sport.  Feeling defeated wasn't easy, until Abba gently reminded me that the preparation was to be practical and sometimes we love someone or something that simply won't work out.  We have to pick ourselves up and move on.  Upon facing that difficult fact, I did prepare to move forward and have.  Now, to reward all my due diligence, I plan to stay on the place all week!  I don't plan to leave the place, at all!  My lists are already started and I can envision the projects.

I am blessed to have a life that needs no vacation and blessed to live in a place that I feel no need to leave to take a break.  I'm taking a vacation from being gone!   I may even post a few photos on social media with the caption, "Wish you were here!"

Interesting Development

Debate and disagreement about Shemitah was really intimidating to me for a time.  I have prayed earnestly in regard to this topic for many months, seeking Abba's will in the matter.  I finally heard that it was time to stop asking and step out.  So, I stepped out cautiously, which has also resulted in some strained relationships . . . but I stepped out.  I've not been stiff necked about it, but I've also pointed out that most folks with an opinion, or even a book aren't living off the land anyway . . .

As more individuals are seeking Torah for answers, I've seen a great many posts and comments about debt being resolved in 7 years.  My comment on that is simple.  If  you feel your debt should be resolved in 7 years, don't sign a contract that goes beyond 7 years, but that's not the point anyway in Shemitah.  Jubilee is the year of debt resolution and Jubilee comes every 50 years.  Back to Shemitah, and it gets interesting.

When I sold the beginning homestead, I owner financed.  It wasn't until this last year that it dawned on me, that while they were very conscientious in their payments, I still held the deed to the land.  As long as they were paying, the land was theirs to use as they desired; of course, but I did question my possession of the deed through shemitah . . .  I didn't know how to handle that.  They do not believe what I believe.  I've shared my beliefs, given them a copy of "Simply Abundant" and although we have discussed some mutual disdain, such as Monsanto and Agenda 21, their choice of direction at this time is not that of being a "set apart" people.  So, what to do about the "owner finance" contract?

As I looked over the paperwork, I knew the contract would be paid in full just following the planting season next year, which some claim to be shemitah.  I really had no problem just calling it a "done deal" a couple of months early, releasing the deed and moving on in life, if that were the year of shemitah or the jubilee year, but . . . I believe this year is the shemitah and I didn't want any land in "my possession" to be worked this year.

It was one of those childlike moments for me.  Abba had told me to stop asking, but this is a new question, so . . . early one morning in prayer toward the end of January, I simply asked if I should resolve and release the contract before planting season this year.  Planting season officially begins mid February.  I heard an amazing response.  "Stand still and watch."  So, that was my answer and nothing more was said on the matter.  An unexpected town day brought an interesting development.  The message light on the phone was blinking when I walked in the door, indicating a voice message.  An amazing offer was contained in that voice message.  The young couple who I'd financed wanted to make arrangements for an early payoff.  I'd remembered the day of the closing, the young woman had asked if there would be a penalty for an early payoff.  I assured them there would not!

I returned the call, and said I'd make inquiry at the Title Company and relay the information and time to take care of the matter.  I was surprised at their request, as this late in the contract, the early payoff would save very little money in interest, so the principle and payoff were nearly the same; but that wasn't my call or my business.  As of, February 11, 2015, just three days before the planting season officially began, the deed to that land is no longer in my name!  I stood, I was "still," and I saw!