As many of you know, I live on a working ranch. Today, a Christian school was here for a barbeque, some games and a message. It seems this one man's ministry is breaking a horse while comparing it to our walk with God. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it. I thought it would be a rough experience with the man bullying the horse into submission to "teach" the kids how God will manhandle you if you do not "obey" Him. Boy, sometimes I am so glad that my initial thoughts are wrong, and they were wrong in a BIG way. This man turned out to be a shining example of using his talent to glorify God. There was nothing negative about the entire experience. In case you don't know what "breaking" is, it is teaching the horse to obey commands and getting them to accept a saddle and someone on the saddle. It took about 2 hours total, but with firm guidance and ALOT of praise and encouragement, by the end, he could get up on the saddle. The horse was not a BAD horse, just unbroken, and used to her own way. He started out with simple commands. When she decided to do her own thing, well, then she got to run around until she was tired of doing her own thing and wanted to rest. She learned quickly that she would be allowed to rest, and would reap rewards if she did the right thing. This man was constantly complimenting her, praising her, and stroking her. What he said he wanted was to "win" her heart...not just have her obey because she would have to run the ring. In the end, the horse had on a saddle, which the man could get up on, knew when to turn, and how to turn, and was actively seeking praise from the man. He had won her heart. It was this perfect picture of how God works with us- many of us who are used to the hellfire and brimstone, and the weekly reminders of what terrible sinners we are need to relearn how God wants to communicate with us. Many of us who grew up with angry, punishing parents need to let God be God and not a reflection of our parent's weaknesses. We need to learn to listen beyond all the "convictions" in the Bible and let God win us over. It is fine and natural to fear God, but when we crack open the Bible, and every word fills us with dread and fear, we are not listening to God. First, above all things, we need to let God win us over. We need to practice looking for His Love in the Bible. Then, our desire to repent, and our desire to serve Him is not born of fear of a lightening rod from the sky, or of guilt that we are not doing enough Christian works, but is a reflection, a response to His Love. Brothers and sisters, we must seek out and find His love. When we are filled by that love, we will be motivated, even joyful in doing what He wants us to do. We cannot be spoiled by His Love, instead we will become a mirror of that love to others.

Blyth: Thank you for this wonderful analogy. Your post truly touched my heart. This is the third instance over the years when the Lord has used breaking a horse as a teaching tool or guidance or analogy in my life. God is a loving Father and the Holy Spirit a gentleman. As we look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, I pray that the lessons we are shown will make our hearts tender that we may learn to better love.

Again thank you, Katie

Thanks Blyth,
I really like that analogy.

Thanks, Blyth,
This brought tears to my eyes. I grew up in a very conservative religious environment, and am now trying to bring up 2 small children. So many times I realize I come across overbearing, and I realize this is not a true picture of God. It hurts me to know I am failing as a parent at times. I want my kids to experience His true love for them, not what I grew up with.
I, as well, am trying to find the true heart of God in my circumstances. It is so hard, being preached at for my sexual preference, having been told how wrong lesbianism is all my life. I have it in my head that I believe the Bible has been wrongly used to pound homosexuals, but my heart is having a hard time getting around to it being ok with God. YOur story reminded me that He is not pounding me over the head for it.

I just have to believe that God sees us through the eyes of love. Not the permissive "love" we see when parents try to buy their children off with "things", but real love. I think there are times where fear of God keeps us out of trouble and literally alive but I have found to have a fearful faith is a prison, not a wide field with the Lord waiting to hug us. I am coming to believe more and more the foundation of our faith HAS to be love.
As far as being a perfect parent? Nancy, even the parents we consider the "best" would admit deep failure and fear of forever destroying that little life. I don't have any kids, but I can tell you that as a former child in a completely disfunctional home, that if a child knows they are loved, and a parent is humble enough to admit their mistakes and apologize, in the end, they will be just fine.

Thanks Blyth, for the encouragement. I was one of those people that doesn't remember feeling loved growing up, despite an intact family, and growing up in church. I so want my kids to feel loved (without spoiling them too badly. .) I apologize to them because I don't remember my parents ever doing that. I felt like I had to be perfect. A fundamentalist environment seems to leave no room for admitting your human. I want my kids to know it's ok to admit mistakes, forgive and move on. I have found that when I apologive to them, they so easily forgive. One of those great things about kids, no pretention, none of the adult complications. One of the reasons Jesus said to come to Him like children. So trusting and forgiving. I have a few things to learn from my kids.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39

I just got my daily devotional, and this was part of the verse for today- it seemed so APT in this discussion. In saying I believe that the foundation of our faith needs to be built on trust and love, I am NOT meaning a sort of fluffy love with God looking down like a doting grandfather while we do whatever we want- but it IS also an emotional love and bond. A bond that cannot be broken. Really, if we live in a fearful faith, doing what we do so we don't go to hell, our faith is focused on ourselves..but if we ask God to show us His love, if we learn to live in that bond of love, we will be confident believers who give to God out of the overflow of our hearts. I am learning these lessons myself.

Amen, sister.