Power of the Spirit
Since I was off yesterday, I able to do some things for which I usually don't seem to have enough time. Monnie went down to the barn with me to tend the horses, and Odell came down in his pickup. As we were putting the horses into the barn, Invicto, a Pacifino, was acting a little unruly. He was either lagging and nearly making me pull him or trying to drag me a long. This behavior was entirely unacceptable, so while Monnie fed the others and Odell brought the tractor around to get hay, instead of putting Invicto into his stall, I lead him into the training pen, where we had a little heart to heart. Within just a few minutes he submitted and a much better behaved Pacifino went to his stall for some grain. Often, we're in such a hurry to finish the morning feeding, that stubborness like this just gets ignored. Good discipline takes time, but it is so very important.

After feeding Monnie wanted us to spend some time with her baby horse, Dixie. She put a halter on her, which for the first time really fit. Then Monnie lead her mother, Jane, from the stall while I lead Dixie and Odell gave her some encouragement from behind. Thus we managed to move bothe mother and baby into the training pen. Although it was much more time consuming than the earlier session with Invicto, eventually we were leading little Dixie with halter and lead roped around the pasture.

Somehow we even found time to put both Flame, our Stallion, and my horse, Beauty, into the training pen for some encouragement in submission and obedience. It was a good morning.

The next item on the day's agenda was to gather supplies and tools to build a dog shelter. I had enough metal roofing left from the house. I really thought it would be a short and simple job, and that I would have a little time left over to do another small plumbing project too. Well, everthing didn't work out exactly as I had planned. I certainly didn't plan on mashing my thumb with a hammer! Well, if all goes well and my thumb doesn't throb too much today, I'll finish this dog project today.

There is definitely a lesson here, if I can tie it all together. Both the horse and and the hammer represent power. Both can be dangerous. In fact, we have a warning sign posted on our barn, that reminds folks that according to state law, they ride at their own risk. Equestrian activities can cause bodily harm or even death. Of course, my little mishap with the hammer is an obvious reminder of the danger present if you fail to control it properly.

There are other powers and passions in our lives that need to be controlled if we are to live godly lives. Paul writes about this struggle in Ephesians 6:12,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We don't have to alow ourselves to be controlled by these powers. We learn here that we can prepare ourselves. The next verse says,

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

God has provided all we need. We don't have to be controlled by powers of darkness. He has given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to even control our own human spirit and it's passions.
As Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:16-18,

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

There are destructive powers in the world, but we can be allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, and bring everthing under submission to His awesome power. Have a blessed day.