2010
This year, as every year, I asked God to give me 3 ‘words’. My New Year Words. This year they are:

1. Healing (Touch)
2. Peace (of Heart)
3. Sabbath (Keeping of)

1. The first one, Healing, is the major one. Years and years ago I asked God to bless my hands so that anyone whom I touch would be blessed by Him. That my hands would be the conduits for His touch. This year, His touch is the “Healing Touch” for the horses with whom I work. I’ve studied and researched and studied and researched more about “healing horses” but, personally, have always been led back to the Hem of His Garment. The hem of Jesus’ garment whereupon people would merely have to touch it and they would be healed. Jesus only had to touch someone and that person would be whole again. I’ve always been able to feel ‘heat’ and ‘cold’ on a horse’s body (or human’s) as I lightly run my hands over the poll, the neck, the back, the loins … I would, upon finding excess heat or cold, administer some TTOUCHES (Linda Tellington Jones) to the area and some soft, non-invasive massage or kneading as the horse could tolerate. I noted over the years that the pain would subside, the muscles soften, the horse relax. I didn’t put it together, tho, with my prayer of so many years ago. This past year I began to earnestly meditate and pray on the ‘healing touch’ and incorporate that thinking with ‘energy’ work. Again, for years, realizing that ‘energy’ is the breathe of God, I, as a devout Christian (albeit a bit ‘unconventional from the norm’  *grin*), “knew” that all energy comes from God and that His energy cannot be separated from the living as that’s when death occurs. Energy isn’t some ‘new age’ thing — its as foundational as life, itself. And, it comes from God. All of it. To all of that which roams the earth or sets roots in the dirt or washes sand upon the shore. So, this year is the year of Healing – for God to use my hands as His conduits to administer Healing Touches for all my Equine friends. I’ll seek only God’s guidance as He touches me and then share that flowing stream of living energy, love and truth to those I touch. Healing.

2. Peace of Heart:  I find my peace in God and His Son. They are my very core of existence and from whom I receive my peace. This year is a year to ‘strengthen my core’ and learn to d.w.e.l.l. in that Peace that is ever overflowing from God. I pray that it will overflow to you and your horses. I pray that if I can be of assistance then God will use me as such and that I would not be afraid or shy to speak and minister to you.

3. Sabbath:  Ahhhhhh, a ‘bone of contention’ with me as I left the formal ‘church’ over two decades ago. After 38 years of Life with Jesus I still hear the words from some ‘unknowing but well-intentioned’ Born Again Christian preaching the importance of ‘going to church’ every Sunday. I haven’t been able to get across to them that my ‘church’ is my life … the woods that teams with wildlife on our farm; the soft, warm breath that washes over my face as a horse or pony investigates my face; the amiable and warm dialogue with a friend or two as we sit by an evening campfire next to the paddocks – that is my “church”.  My family, my friends, the critters whom God has brought into my life – these make up my ‘church’ and my ‘mission’ field. I don’t have the calling to travel to foreign lands as a missionary as our daughters have been called. In fact, the very idea makes my stomach queasy. I have my life mission right here. On the farm, for my family, my neighbors, my clients … to this is what God has called me. To be a missionary in my own backyard church. Where two or more are gathered in His name. I’ve finally rid myself of the guilt of not getting out in the streets and ‘evangelizing’ or ‘witnessing’. I did this in my younger days but do not feel the draw, the calling, the driving to do that now. My testimony lies in my life’s work — and my boss IS God. I go where He leads. I fellowship among fur-suited princes and princesses and all of God’s children. That is my church. That is where I find the peace in my heart. My Sabbath is the day that I truly get on my knees for God. I walk and talk and travel with Him everyday, every minute and we converse on every little thing. The Sabbath is for holding a day that is knee wrenching, heart digging, on your face melded in God. Just for as long as He holds me there. Doesn’t have to be a Sunday; maybe a Monday or a Wednesday – but one day a week, on my face, prone before my Father in keeping of the Sabbath. Maybe in the paddock while my equine family joins me , maybe on my living room floor, maybe out in a sun-bathed field while wildflowers dance in joy around me and the trees clap their hands in worship. I will join them. One day a week. For as long as it takes. That’s my keeping of the Sabbath. To hold all that is precious to my Heavenly Father close to my heart. And rejoice in His love, His truth and His warm embraces.