Tag Archives: christianity

200 Bale Peace of Mind


How is hay season going for everyone? I hope it’s off to a better start than last year’s. We’re praying for rain across the country and watching the long-term forecasts with a cringe.

Thought it would be a good opportunity to share a few words from my minister’s mind during last year’s hay season when drought put everyone in hard drought in Southwest Arkansas.

There’s nothing better than getting the “hay in the barn” – as the saying goes – and a good peace of mind seems to come over ya when things get accomplished. This passage from Philippians 4:7 sums it up well I think.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

200 Bales Peace of Mind – Explained this to my wife, but the price wasn’t what I was talking about relative to my peace of mind. It was a barn full of hay, and sufficient to say, it will get me through another year (winter). That is short-term peace of mind, and it is my peace of mind for the farm. This is not all we feed, but it is sufficient forage for the calves and horses, since last year’s forage was 40 bales shy of this. However, last year we ran a bit short. You see, my peace of mind began to wane around March/April of this year because we had to buy more hay, and I didn’t want to do that, but such is the nature of this business.

There are abundant lessons to learn about life if you truly live it, and in time, by application so as to be successful and responsible—and of course we are talking about a life viewed from the perspective of God—you will learn your fair share, and wisdom may be yours to own. A wise man endued with knowledge is a valuable asset in life, and I’d like to say I have had great examples to help and aid me in times of need. Their wisdom has helped maintain my peace of mind, and this is most valuable to any one person.

Contentment should be learned in hard work, and herein is great peace of mind.
Image credit: ramracing.com

The Bible says: “Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.” (Ecclesiastes 5:9). There are clear benefits from the land of which mankind was blessed by. There are principles of work untold; life-lessons that man must learn so as to develop both physically and spiritually: “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” (Genesis 3:23).

Man must learn wisdom and discretion in work, and this is from the Lord: “Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech. Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground? When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place? For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.” (Isaiah 28:23-26). Some do not recognize these blessings are from God and show no regard: “For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.” (Hosea 2:8).

There is great wisdom in working hard with balance and godly wisdom: “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.” (Proverbs 27:23ff.)

War is a ravage on the peace of mind, thus doing away with the ability to enjoy hard, toilsome work. Howbeit, because of sin God says this: “I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.” (Jeremiah 51:23). Peace is favorable: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4). “And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.” (Jeremiah 31:24).

Contentment should be learned in hard work, and herein is great peace of mind. However, envy of another’s goods is contrary to this: “Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.” (Deuteronomy 5:21). This destroys man’s peace of mind.

I like this passage, and believe the principle of peace and happiness are greatly deduced: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5).

200 bales loaded, hauled, unloaded and stacked in a barn, at this moment in time, on the hottest day of the year was gratifying to this country-boy, and last night I slept like a baby. That was some good peace of mind. However, the greatest peace of mind is found in knowing the message of the cross and applying it on a daily basis. This peace does not pass away, ever! (cf., Philippians 4:7).

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Even if hay season seems a little rough, remember there’s always something to be thankful for. Keep the Faith. Be thankful when the hay is in the barn. Read more thoughts from Bryan here.

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The Easy Part is Over


When I read Growing Up Colt by Colt McCoy a saying stuck with me, “The Hay Is In The Barn.” Colt confused many of his teammates when he said this in a pregame huddle, but I think it sure sums things up well. I’d like to get to the point where I can say The hay is in the barn and now we can get on with business. It’s kinda like saying we’ve done all we can do to prepare for what is ahead and the rest is up to us and God. Gotta meet Him halfway and He’ll take care of the rest (another favorite quote from Where The Red Fern Grows).

I found this post from a Cowboy Minister in Colorado and thought it well worth the repost. It’d do us well if more people had the attitude to turn things up to God, keep Him in mind in all things we do, and work to meet Him half-way. Just thought ya’ll would enjoy this. Be sure to check out more from Campfire Cowboy Ministries.

There was once a young cowboy who inherited a ranch. This ranch was not a large spread or even one that was desired by others. This cowboy tried his best to always do the right thing when others like him did the opposite. He knew he didn’t have much but with the Lord’s help he could be successful.

This cowboy got up every morning and prayed to God. He asked for the same thing over and over. He never gave up that God would give him what he asked for. He worked daylight until dark. He never worked all that hard, just steady. Oh, there were times when he was gathering his cattle or branding that the work sure took a toll on him just like anyone else, but he never complained. He worked hard six days a week and on the seventh day, he rested.

He never missed a Sunday morning service at the church he attended. That’s not always true, there were a couple of times when a mare was giving birth or the cattle happened to get out onto the road that he missed. He still had his Sunday morning service at his favorite church, but the only ones that attended those special services were him and God and a few animals. And he still prayed that same prayer every single morning.

People marveled at how this young man had turned this little ranch around. He got the same amount of rain as his neighbors did. The same storms that blew across his land blew across his friend’s lands. The cowboy had the same type of grass as everyone else. He ran the same beef cattle as nearly everyone in the county. He bought all of his horses from locals and then spent the time needed on each one. And he prayed that same prayer every single morning.

Folks starting wondering how this young buck was doing so well. Some said he was lucky. Others said he must have some inherited money to afford all those good horses and cows. People said he might be raising a cash crop that might not be legal. A few even said he might have made a pact with the devil. And he still prayed that same prayer every single morning.

The cowboy tried to tell people that it isn’t what you do that makes you successful. He tried to tell them it’s not what you say that makes the difference. He wanted them to know it’s not the kind of cattle or the color of your horse. It doesn’t matter how much it rains or how little.

You see, every morning this young man would get up and say the same little prayer. It wasn’t a prayer asking for relief from problems or material possessions. It wasn’t a prayer filled with 53 ½ “heavenly fathers” or long and drawn out. It was a simple prayer. He asked for one thing every single day.

Upon his knees every morning of all his life, the cowboy who was once young but is now old still prays his simple prayer. Only this time his grandson is kneeling there with him. As they bow their heads, the young boy says in his tiny voice, “Lord, today in everything that I do, let the reason be for you.” As the little boy helps his grandfather up he says, “Well Grandpa, the easy part is over.” The old man messes up the little cowpoke’s hair and says, “It sure is son. It sure is.”