Lessons in Living Well from a Wild Week!

Hi Friends,

What a week we had here in the Schalesky household!  After days filled with shingles (Bryan), the flu (everyone except Beanie), a car accident (me), an 8-hour trip (me, to pick up Bethany), getting bucked off a horse (Jayna), and finally a fun horse show (everyone except Beanie again), we've learned a few things in a short time.  And those things are:

--Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6)  In other words, if you get bucked off, get right back up on the horse and ride!  Don't let fear stop you but instead trust God and continue on in the way He has for you. 

--Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)  In other words, be like Ruby, Joelle's horse, and just dig in when you're faced with obstacles in life, and run your own race!

--Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. (Gal 6:9)  In other words, keep doing the right thing, keep practicing, keeping running your race, even when you don't win this time (from Bethany, who ran beautifully, but didn't place in the top 12 of her upper division).

--For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a sprit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)  In other words, be like Bria who has overcome her fear through practice, loving her horse, and learning "power-foot" and is now running like the wind and got 2nd place overall in her division (and won a super nice saddle pad).  It wasn't too long ago that she cried when we wanted her to trot, and here she is running her race.  Don't let fear stop you from what God is calling you to do!

-- Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Cor 9:24) 

Whether you're sick with the flu or covered in shingles scars, keep on going forward toward what God has for you!  (Here is Jayden winning his trophy and pillow pet, and Bryan winning 1st overall, the saddle!!, in his "A" division) ... a good argument for pressing on with hope, no matter what!

--And finally, look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  (Eph 5:15)  We often have no control over how our days go (a big lesson learned last week!!), but we can be wise as we go through them, clinging to God, trusting Him, and walking forward with HIM in the lead!!!