FARMING AROUND HERE!

SOME PRETTY DILL WEED FROM MY GARDEN DRAPED WITH THE MORNING DEW! I thought you'd enjoy this picture and a bit about our farm country!

On the last post I re-commented about our farms here in St. Joseph County, Michigan, but I suspect many of my readers don't re-read the comments, so here's a bit of info.

Our field behind our house, approximately ten acres, is planted in no-till soybeans this year. My daughter told me she thinks it will take about a half hour to pick the beans. The farmers have big combines to do the work. We rent them the ground and they have grown several different crops over the years--corn, beans, alfalfa.

Here in St. Joseph County they say we are a seed corn capital. We have several major seed corn companies located in the surrounding towns and we are said to be the most irrigated county east of the Mississippi--largely due to the seed corn industry.

Rhiannon has worked for one of the companies for years. She is an inspector and inspects about a hundred acres a day this time of year (mostly on foot) checking for all kinds of things--bugs, weed problems, rogue corn, etc., etc. It's a fascinating, scientific system that produces this incredible corn. Lots of money is involved in one single field and the farmers and the seed corn companies take the job of raising it very seriously. Lots of people are employed in the business of seed corn in one way or another around here.

In addition to seed corn, we have several farms that raise vegetables for commercial use. Such crops as green beans, carrots, and potatoes are among the variety of things grown in St. Joseph County. On a smaller scale, many people have little home garden plots and fruit and vegetable stands and co-op style garden businesses are springing up lately. This is a large garden operation where people can buy shares and then get an allotment of vegetables, etc. each week during the season without ever lifting a finger to do their own gardening! Most Amish families also raise most of their home fruits and vegetables in their gardens as well. Our county is home to several Old Order Amish.

The picture above is my little patch of dill in one of my raised beds. I plant it because I always think I will use it and never do! Well, once in a while I make "floating vegetables" with it--sliced tomatoes, onions, and peppers, floating in vinegar/sugar water with various spices. I like to eat this fresh.

I hope you enjoyed the little bit of farming education. Sooooo.......This seemed like an appropriate time to announce our big news--WE WERE ABLE TO BUY 13.75 MORE ACRES TO ADD TO OUR NEW LAND! We are just thrilled! For a short while--until we sell our house and adjoining acreage, we own almost 47 acres. This is something we only dreamed of in our wildest dreams! This has been a big blessing the Lord has given us and we are encouraged unbelievably by being able to realize this dream. We now own just shy of 29 acres all in one plot over near our old hometown! It's not exactly farm ground. It's more wooded and rolling hills, but beauitful and we hope to build on it soon. We feel so blessed and as soon as I have a nice picture, I will post it, but I couldn't wait to share this blessing with you!

My third book was finished yesterday and will be going to the publisher early next week! There's one big summer goal accomplished! Blessings, LORI

A FIELD OF BEANS AND SOME PHILISTINES

One of my favorite Bible heroes is "Shammah," one of David's mighty men. He is mentioned in only a few verses of the scriptures, but his acts were very brave.

On Sunday, Clint was asked to preach at a local church where we've ministered before. He asked if I'd like to say a few words as well. All week I struggled with what God would have me share. I was almost ready to believe that I was not to speak this time, when suddenly on Saturday, the Lord seemed to show me clearly what I should say.

I was wading through the soybeans in the fields behind our house heading out to pick berries when I thought for the umpteenth time this month about Shammah, a little-known Bible character. Each time I made the trek across our 10 acres of beans to get to the edge of the woods to pick wild blackberries, I would think of this Bible hero and try to imagine how he defeated a whole troop of Philistines in a bean field! That has always intrigued me. It seems like there is no place to hide in such a field. On Saturday I realized that it would be possible to lay down among the plants,they're taller than they look from the road, but then how would you fight off a whole army if you did? I always believed from the scripture that Shammah was either alone or severely outnumbered as it says in 2 Samuel that "the people fled from the Philistines."

Saturday the beans were waist high as I waded through and I thought about his heroics. He must have been carrying some armor, at least a sword. It is HARD walking through a field. I was dressed in long pants, heavy boots and had a colander strapped around my waist and I was having a hard time wading through. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to run or fight or maneuver over the uneven ground!

Yet the scripture indicates that he "stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory." (11 Samuel 23:12) This nation was the enemy of Israel at the time. I take courage from Shammah's dedication. We as Christians should be passionate about a number of "fields" and refuse to give up territory that rightfully belongs to the Lord. Of course, nowdays our battle is not a physical one, not against flesh and blood, and does not involve such warfare. I am referring to spiritual battles that affect the future of our nation, our children, our faith. Shammah took his stand and fought to the victory. Jesus said that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church and her confession of His Lordship! We need to take courage in these days! Take special note of the fact that though Shammah defended the field, scripture says it was the Lord who brought about the great victory! Blessings, LORI