Thorn in the Flesh

Paul describes a "thorn in his flesh":

2 Corinthians 12:7 (New King James Version) The Thorn in the Flesh

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buffet describes "buffett" as:

Date: 13th century
1 : a blow especially with the hand
2 : something that strikes with telling force

We aren't told what it is that is such a burden on him. He describes this condition after he has told of the vision of heaven. He also tells us that God allows him to carry this cross, to keep him humble.

2 Corinthians 12:5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So great will be the Kingdom of God.

The Ides of March

Home again. The dogs are happy to see us. We didn't have to worry about them going hungry, there was still food left. They are both now back to their "people watching" stations on the otherside of the sliding door, anxiously awaiting bones, rawhides or special goodies!

I opened the door to the cat's home and they turned their heads and gave me the look, like "ho hum...you are back." So laid back are those cats!

Its still a little cool out, but tomorrow is suppose to be in the 60's. Spring is here! Flowers, weeds and grass are all beginning to show green.

Christopher will be back next month. Perhaps by then I can get this scrapbook completed and start something outside!! If I hadn't done so much procrastination, I am sure I could probably have had it finished by now!!!

It was a busy weekend. Pete and Ginger had a family gathering celebrating a birthday and introducing the family to a newly found grandchild! Christopher had a lot of fun with his cousins, whom he only gets to see a time or two during the year. Sunday night we went to The Tooth Fairy. The title brings visions of a movie comparable to tinkerbell...or something. It wasn't. At first, it was a little hard to take a big man in a fairy costume, but by the end of the show we are laughing and cheering. It was a very nice movie!! Four stars at least!

Its a good day here. The Lord always gives us something to look forward to, or the next door that opens in our lives. God is good.

Mowing the Grass

Its time to mow the grass in California again. This time Huimin has called on Victoria to come up and help her; and, to bring her mower too, in case there are snakes out there. I wish I could sit with the kids in the house and watch as those two try to scare all the snakes out of the grass and get it mowed. The scary part is walking past the unmowed section as you push the mower forward. A snake can have quite a long striking distance.

When we first moved into our house in Sun Prairie Estates we had the challenge of mowing weeds, in the first pasture, that were higher than our kids. It was horrible. I got a scythe and then me and the kids knocked down the weeds and piled them into the back of the open scout. We looked like a huge haystack going down the road to the dump. It took many trips.

However around the shed, it wasn't only weeds, it was weeds, very tall grass and spilled over oats from the neighbor's field. Tim was mowing with the rider all the grass areas (around the shed, the lower pasture and the upper field). As he was mowing around the shed something bit him as he was mowing through the grass. He was sitting on the riding tractor with tall leather boots on. A snake had zero'd in on him and bit right through the boot. Luckily we had bull snakes out there, so it was not poisonous.

Here is another site on rattlesnakes: http://www.whmentors.org/saf/snakes.html

It includes their striking distance, first aid for bites and symptoms of the poison. Rattlers are pit vipers. These snakes have pits between their eyes and nostrils which detect heat. They use these "pits" to hunt for warm blooded prey. So, hopefully, if they are in front of the lawnmower, they will confuse the heat of the mower with the body heat of the girls. They can strike from 1/2 to 1/3 their length. Oh yea, another thing..they hunt day and night. One more note of caution--their tails don't rattle if they are wet.

According to this site, Huimin and Victoria will be able to discern whether the snakes are rattlers or gopher snakes by looking at their teeth. If it ONLY has two fangs on top -- it is a rattler. If it has a full set of teeth on top -- it is a gopher snake pretending to be a rattler. So, Huimin and Victoria...be careful!