Giving Thanks.......

We should be picking the last rows of our corn by noon today. The combine is in our last field...just east of our house.

SJ still has corn on his place, so we won't officially be done...until we are all done, but I guess I can say, my harvest cooking will be done today. =)

This harvest was such a test of patience with all of the corn that was blown down in that August storm. The crops were still good, but it was tedious and somewhat hard on equipment, trying to get it picked up and run through the machine. With all of our technology and convenience, scripture is as true as when it was written. We have been promised it would not be easy since the days of Adam, when God told him "Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you shall eat of the plants of the field; By the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground...." Genesis 3:17-19.

We can plant roundup-ready seed, and do all we can do to make it easy, and God breaths a strong wind in one day, and makes it the toughest harvest we have had in almost 35 years. It is such a good reminder of whose crop it is and where our blessings come from.

After Steve's stroke a few years ago, we wondered if he would still be farming today, and with SJ's accident with his leg this spring.....who knew he would be climbing the ladders into the tractors and combine. Dad is 80 years old and is out there every hour that the guys are. Wow....we have so very much to be thankful for, and it is worth every bit of anguish.

James 1:2-12 tells us:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.