Monday 22 December 2008

I have been tagged - by Beth!

I was tagged by Beth and asked to go to my fourth picture folder and the fourth picture, post it and explain it. So here goes!

This is papa on Amos, my Morgan horse. He is awesome! In the picture I am riding him in the outside arena - loosening him up for a ride. Before I begin a ride with Amos I like to first ride in a closed-in area and get him use to my voice instructions and my body signals - so each time we go out together we "rehash" them. If I sense he is not really paying attention to me as I bring him in from the pasture to the stall, I may get a 20' rope, tack him up and then put him on a lunge line and make him obey my voice commands of 'walk', 'trot' and 'whoa'. If he shows any hesitation or is not listening, we stay at it until he gets it right. Then and only then do we go out and trail ride together.

It amazes me - we as Christians jump out of bed each day and think that - 'well I was a Christian yesterday, so today I don't need to start my day with any instruction from my Master - I will be fine'. HE wants to help us get started each day - So listen - He may ask you to 'walk' when you want to 'trot'. He may hollar 'whoa' - will you hear him today? Maybe you had better stop right now and take a few minutes to pray and have a devotional time. I think today He is going to put papa on a lunge line - I have been a stinker lately - gotta go!

29 comments:

Unknown said...

youve been a stinker "lately"?

why did that make me laugh?

i pray daily that we, as a family, will choose to listen for Him. that our eyes will be peeled for Him. that our hearts will be attentive to His touch.

we're not always these things. but we strive to be. we're just a family doing our best...

love you mama and papa.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tam - be careful - you need to respect your elders! lol Stinker only lately, you don't believe that ?? Are you saying its a 'pattern'?? I am sure no other bloggers support your opinion (??) ! :o| !!

Carol said...

Funny how you all of a sudden "had to go" after confessing you had been a stinker lately. You can run, but you can't hide! Knowing you, I'll bet God has to rein you in more often than not. You're too much of a stinker!!!!

By the way, Merry Christmas from Michigan Winter Wonderland where the snow continues to accumulate and the windchill is -8 degrees windchill...up from -24 yesterday. CMCN services were cancelled last night, and we cancelled our staff Christmas pizza party for tomorrow, as it's supposed to get nasty again...several more inches of snow on its way. Now tell me....why do you go south in the winter? :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Carol- so far only two votes that I am more than a stinker just recently - 1 so far says not true - my vote. Keep warm! heh heh!

Anonymous said...

Does Mama have a "lunge line" for you? :) I can't tell from the picture but I'll guess Amos enjoys your rides together as much as you do.

"Whoa." Is a word could have used a few times in my life. On more than one occasion I have run, not walked, into trouble. Brick walls are really as hard as they say they are. :)

You guys should really stay in Michigan until the first snow fall. Nothing says Christmas more than a few feet of snow, except maybe the back ache from shoveling it. :) Of course in your case it would be Mama doing the shoveling. :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

This is Mama
and yes, Ed there have been in the past a few times when I would have liked to have had a lunge line on Papa but he "is doing good" :) now.
We also did have snow before we left. In fact we had snow for our "Christmas" on Thanksgiving day. So that was enough snow for us. Ha!
YOU ALL HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS FOR MAMA!!!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Hey ! Now mama is picking on papa - oh my! Maybe it's mama who is the stinker and I get a bad rap! ?? Think so ?? lol

CrossView said...

Ummmm.... another vote here! =P

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - thank you! :o) I appreciate the vote on my side! I was confident you wouldn't turn against me! You are so precious, wonderful and a great friend. Thank you - your vote for me will make me walk with my head held high today. :O)

CrossView said...

As a friend I have to tell you that your being proud of being a stinker is just part of what makes you a stinker! =P

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - I was sure you were voting with me that I Am not a stinker! Please assure me you are voting with papa! Don't vote with the others!

Anonymous said...

Definitely a stinker!!

Janis

CrossView said...

But I DO agree with you!
You said:
"I have been a stinker lately"

I only disagree with the "lately" part!

;o)

Anonymous said...

merry christmas. share my blog with others. i haven't learned yet how to. see you in church sunday robin b

Indian Lake Papa said...

Janis - only 'lately' I said! :o) You make it sound like a pattern - can't be!

Crossview - come on, it's just a recent issue - right??

Robin B - next time I see you we will discuss how to go to other blogs. You have a Merry Christmas as well!

Anonymous said...

Anyone who makes brownies with horse manure in for his Sunday School class definitely causes a "stink"....papa stinker.

Janis

Indian Lake Papa said...

Janis! Hey !! I never claimed to be Betty Crocker!! You have to admit the brownies I made the next week went fast! And - papa did make them! lol

DEb said...

GREAT analogy....never looked at it like that before.

LOVING AMOS!!!

Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, Papa and Mama...

Indian Lake Papa said...

Deb - I have owned several horses, ridden many - but Amos is right at the top. I ride with a friend and she has a beautiful horse that I love to ride as well - it is a quarter horse and is special - has a shuffle gait that is cool. We work our horses together a lot. You stay in 'spiritual' shape as well!

Char said...

Merry Christmas Mama and Papa!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Merry Christmas Char! Have a great New Year as Well!

CrossView said...

Nope.
Not recent.
You are a stinker.

Albeit a lovable one... =D

Happy Holy Days to you and your lovely wife!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - you have a wonderful Merry Christmas - may God bless you on this Holy Holiday Season. Love from mama and stinker. lol - papa

Carol said...

I hope you plan to do a post and share your Christmas Eve devotional with us, Shepherd Jim. This could be very interesting...I want to hear your thoughts!

Anonymous said...

I was at church to hear papa's shepherd devotional. He made a great shepherd, (but is still a stinker!)

Merry Christmas to all who read this blog.

Janis

Nana Trish is Living the Dream said...

I pray Mama and Papa both have a wonderful Christmas. It was so good to meet you. I pray you have a very peaceful and fun day. love you guys, Trish

Indian Lake Papa said...

CArol - I just did a new post - I thought last nights service went well. There was a good crowd. I pray you are having a great Christmas!

Janis - do you really think a shepherd can be a stinker ?? I had fun last night doing the shepherd devotional.

Trish - one of my highlights this year was meeting so many bloggers. You have a blessed Christmas as well!

Annie said...

That's a great thought, Papa!! Are all horses like that, or just this one? Or are you an especially good master? :) Catching up on your posts!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Annie - most horses will 'test' you - they need to learn, and be reminded to respect you. I have a friend who is really struggling with her horse right now - she is accepting behavior that she shouldn't be accepting. It does amaze me that God is so patient w/papa! LOL