September 23, 2013
“As the deer thirsts for streams of water, so I thirst for you, O God. I thirst for God, the Living God. When can I go to meet with Him?” Psalm 42:1, 2
The fever is coming…it is in the air, in the conversations, in the hearts of hunters across our great land…
Deer season is coming!
For generations, the deer (stag) has intrigued civilizations. They have been hunted for all of the obvious resources they provide. However, some of their greatest contributions have been from the creation principles visible through careful observation of these graceful creatures. I admire the beauty the of the deer’s eyes and their peaceful and graceful movement as they are endowed with long, powerful legs, able to jump high and swim incredibly well. (My garden has fallen victim to their ability to scale high fencing!) The fawns usually take their first steps within thirty minutes after they are born (an amazing sight to watch the new-born taking those first wobbly steps). Deer are extremely sure-footed, able to venture up the craggy mountain rocks scaling the steepness to settle on the mountain peak…I am also intrigued by the fact that a deer will naturally live in its established territory, preferring to overcome obstacles of its environment, weather, food, water, rather than moving on to “greener” pastures.
“But I will still be glad in the Lord; I will rejoice in God my Savior. The Lord God is my strength. He makes me like a deer that does not stumble so that I can walk on the steep mountains.”
Habakkuk 3:18, 19
Our family has also been influenced by these amazing creatures, even to the extreme degree of facilitating a deer breeding business on our ranch. It is amazing how many stories have been lived out through these ventures, and it is also amazing how the Great Creator God has revealed much of His character and Himself to hunters and watchers everywhere, and to our family, through His creation.
“As the deer thirsts for streams of water, so I thirst for you, O God. I thirst for God, the Living God. When can I go to meet with Him?” Psalm 42:1, 2
Our children grew up on our ranch about twenty-five minutes outside the city. It was a beautiful place for them to experience God’s incredible creation. We home-schooled for several years and one of the greatest motivations for the completion of school-work was the promise of after-school activities. One of my son’s reasons to live was the great outdoors, including fishing at our lake, or hunting on the ranch. On this particular day, a fishing expedition awaited him, as he sat fidgeting and gazing out the window, waiting while I inspected his school work before releasing him for the day. He and I had a little joke…I would tell him that he could go, but he had to go and catch a whale! He would look at me with an incredulous look and he never grew tired of instructing me, “Mom, whales don’t live in our lake!” Although, I knew that a large catfish or perhaps a hefty bass would be his greatest catch, my script read, “Well, Adam, you never know!” He would run out the door…looking back each day with a grin…full of expectation…full of energy…full of a thirst and hunger for what made him happy and content.
These are wonder-filled memories. But, I have come to understand that these moments were much more important than good, heart-warming memories…
I have a dear friend who was facing some very serious life challenges. She shared with me that her husband empathized greatly with her needs and her passion for trusting God. He shared with her one morning as she had prayed for God’s intervention, “You have done your part…now, just let God amaze you! Let God amaze you!”
These words resonated with me on several levels…but I went years back to the lessons my family learned together about our great God! In God’s mercy and grace, He desires that each one of His children live lives of abundance. He offers to each of us a great catch! But sadly, all of us, I, often settle for so much less than His best. How often do I fail to receive the abundance and the Hope that God has for each moment of our lives, of my life.
I realized that my message to our son was to live in Hope…expecting great things from God…valuing God’s timetable…His currency…His purpose for our lives, God’s purpose for his life. By sending him out to the beautiful creation, not only did Adam provide food for our family, our friends, and our employees, but of greater importance, he learned much about His loving Father. He learned that God cared about a teen-age boy…and about the things that a teen-age boy cared about. And God amazed him!
Early in our children’s lives, we played a game to help teach them memory verses. I would hide scripture cards somewhere exciting, and they would have to find them. The familiar words of Psalm 119:9, 11 guided us,
“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules…I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Then, they would memorize the scripture and would receive a prize for their efforts. One of the verses that they memorized was Psalm 42:1, 2. Adam had witnessed the thirst of the deer for the drink of cool lake water…he had watched them run to the water and even submerge themselves in the refreshing coolness. He loved to watch them and their grace, their agility, their beauty…and the author of the Psalm had equated the thirst of this animal to our necessary hunger and thirst for our Great God. Our children saw this lesson in God’s creation, in His Word…and it translated into their young lives. God amazed them!
This world tries to thwart the Hope and the Joy that our Lord offers. I have found that it can wear down even the most tenacious Believer if we allow the baggage of our journey to attach itself to our lives…Rather than depending on God’s sure-footed guidance and provision, we find ourselves engaging in self-determination and self-provision. We tend to trade our God-established territory, for the seemingly greener pastures of this world, forfeiting the abundance that God has lovingly given through His out-reached Hand…through our precious Savior Jesus. No, our Loving Father wants to takes us to the heights of the greatest mountain, to experience the closeness of Heaven, to overcome the obstacles in order to relish the view and the relationship with Him, with the Living God! Then, He guides us and directs our steps back down the mountain into the valley to bring the news of His Hope, His Joy and His Truth to a world hungering and thirsting for more…
Today, our son is a grown man with a beautiful wife and three precious babies. He still loves to hunt and to fish, and to “watch”. Two years ago, he and Bill and our son-in-law, Barry, were in South Texas hunting. I texted Adam, “Shoot the big one!” He texted back, “Mom, I’m trying!” He was holding on to the hope that the big one was out there! Somewhere! And yes, Adam got the big one! Our daughter, Christie, Barry, and Adam’s wife, Claire, have had the great hunting and the watching adventures as well! It’s a family tradition! Through these experiences, our children shared wonderful times with Bill, their earthly father, who lovingly pointed them towards their Heavenly Father…
Our family has learned that God truly wants to amaze us. He wants us to Hope big, to Believe big because He is trustworthy…worthy of our trust! God cares about each one of His children…about our son, our daughter, you and your family, about my friend who needed for God to amaze her. (And He continues to amaze her)…And He cares about the nations of people who are hungry and thirsty for Living Water…for the Truth…for Life…He loves to amaze!
As hunting season approaches and as the fever runs rampant through-out our country, I pray that eyes will be opened to the Truth of our Father’s love and grace and mercy. I pray that our amazing God will be revealed through His creation…that lives will be changed as they witness the character of our Heavenly Father…as He reaches out His Hand to touch, to love, and to amaze…
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever, Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
Abundant joy as God amazes you,
