New Roads and Old Memories

     New roads. :) These bring a smile to my face (especially small gravel roads) and the adventurous, risk taking side in me rises up and off we go! Today I did just that as I took a new road home from Kidder Ridge. It was fun, beautiful, and exciting. (It's the simple things in life...) :) 

 
     My purpose in being on the ridge was to help a couple of fellow 4-Hers with their lambs. I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved being an active part of the program again. It brought back memories (photos above of my goat, lamb, horse and me). Since graduating a year ago, my experience has been limited to leadership type positions, and there are times when I miss being a member. It was a fun, stretching, educational 7 years of my life. 
     However, those 7 years are not without regrets. I wince when I look back and see how focused I was on having the 'best' project and how wrapped up I was in identifying how well I did each year by the ribbons and trophies I received. I missed so, so many opportunities to share the Gospel through this amazing program. I was the 'model' 4-Her, and yet, what did I really accomplish? Only what is done in the spiritual realm is what is going to last. My trophies will get dusty and worn, my ribbons eaten my moths and worn by time. My record books will only be momentos  of time past. 

"But lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal."

~Matthew 6:19

 

     I often wonder how different that time would be if I had been wrapped up in Jesus instead of myself. I do not regret the time spent in the program and helping my fellow members and learning how to care for and use God's creation. I do regret not making Jesus my #1 priority in each situation and event, no. matter. what. God revealed this glaring lack in my life about a year ago. I was learning what it meant to truly surrender when I suddenly realized that I had NEVER asked Jesus anything about 4-H, or given it to Him. This was a huge chunk of my everyday life that I unconsciously blocked Him out of.
     If you are a 4-Her (or member of something else) please, please, don't do this! Turn to your King, surrender it into His hands and follow His lead. His way is ALWAYS best. He has a plan for your life and He can only accomplish it fully if you get out of the way and let Him have complete control. You can trust Him. I know it.
    If He shows you that it takes away from your devotion to Him, reevaluate it and ask Him what He would have you do. If He would have you leave the program, then do so. If He wants you to totally change how it looks in your life, then do so.  And if He keeps it in your life, daily give it to Him, sit back, and watch what our God will do! 

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

~Victoria Eira