The Road To Wisdom

Have you ever heard sayings of “cowboy wisdom”?  You know, like “don’t squat with your spurs on” or “letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.”   Or, how about my favorite “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”  All are definitely wise words, however, there is another kind of wisdom that plays a larger role in our daily lives.

Webster’s definition of wisdom is “the quality of having good judgement; the quality of being wise”. 

The Bible talks a lot about wisdom.  The word wisdom is mentioned 222 times in the Hebrew Bible.  It was regarded as one of the highest virtues among the Israelites.  The bible urges people to obtain and increase in wisdom? But, how exactly do we do it?

Proverbs 9:10 says “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” This isn’t talking about the “I’m scared of you” type of fear. It is talking about the fear that means you understand God is our Creator and we look to Him as such. We are to be in reverent awe of His holiness.

Proverbs 2:6-8 says “For the Lord grants wisdom!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly.  He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity.  He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him”

In the world today, there are many opinions.  Some of them are backed by wisdom, some are not.  Do you desire to know the difference?  1 Corinthians 2 says to those called by God to salvation, Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God”.  

Today, may you desire to know Jesus as your Savior.  In knowing him, you have the opportunity to accept his gift of wisdom that “is not of the world”.  What a wonderful gift that is.

Yes, if you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.  If you desire to know where you are going, you need Jesus and the wisdom that only God can give.

Max

Tags

Animal Devotion, Christian, christianity, Cowboy Way; Rural Life; Country ;, Devotion, Dogs, faith, Family, Jan Schiferl, WJ Ranch

Some of you know that the Schiferl Ranch added a “ranch hand” a few weeks ago.  We have a new puppy.  It’s been over a year since we lost our Riley and it took a long time to be ready to start again.  It took even longer to find what we think is the right match for us.  We are sure we have found what we have been waiting for so patiently.

Max is 3 months old now.  He is an English Shepherd/Australian Shepherd cross.  He’s pretty cute, if I say so myself.  He’s doing really well and learning things fast, but he’s still a puppy!

It’s been over 14 years since we went through the “puppy stage”.  I forgot what that’s like!  Everything is chew-able.  Everything is “drag-able”.  He can find trouble to get into fairly easily!  Although he definitely has a long way to go to mature, we’re so impressed with him and he has won our hearts. 

Max has also given me something to think about lately.  Max’s most energetic time and time when he is most excited is at the beginning of the day.  For whatever reason, when we let him out in the morning, he is absolutely giddy.  I don’t know if it’s because he’s ready to see us after his quiet night or he is just excited to get going, but whatever it is, it’s consistent every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning”

Psalm 30:5 says “Weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes in the morning”

Psalm 118:24 says “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”

Max reminds me that each day is a gift and an open book for which to be thankful.  When I wake, I can call upon God to show me his ways, his path and his direction.  I can ask him to guide me and guard my heart.  I can look to each new day with immense hope because I know that He loves and cares for me in ways that I cannot even comprehend.  I can face each new day knowing I’m not alone.  I can be excited for the moments that await.

 When we are assured of God’s love, how can we not get up each morning and be super excited?  Just like Max!

Roots

Tags

christianity, cowboy, faith, Family, Horses, Inspiration, positivity, ranch, Rural Life, Schiferl's WJ Ranch

The construction progress is rather slow at the Schiferl Ranch.  This week marked the beginning of outdoor porch work.

Years ago when we first moved here, I decided that I needed to plant trees.  I didn’t know what an arborist was, but evidently I should have looked into it.  I made many mistakes.  As the trees grew, I soon realized the majority of them were planted either too close together or too close to an existing tree to grow correctly.    The one and only maple tree that I had planted was on the corner of where the porch is to be built.   It had grown tall but extremely crooked as it tried to reach for the sun.  It was planted much too close to a large elm tree so getting enough sunlight and moisture was next to impossible for the poor thing.  Despite the leaning trunk, lack of moisture, one sided leaf production and all of its imperfections, it still was beautiful.   I liked that tree, but if I wanted a porch, it had to go.    It bothered me to cut it down.

As Greg and I were digging the trench around what will be a retaining wall under the new porch, we dug into many of the roots of that tree.  They were large, deep and strong.  It took hard work and quite a large amount of “sweat equity” to chop through them as they were steadfast.  That tree had many “burdens” to carry as it grew each year, yet the roots traveled deeper and deeper into the earth.  I have no doubt that it was the secure root system that kept that tree going.

Ephesians 3, Paul tells us “I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love”

Colossians 2:7 says “Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from him so that you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.  Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving”

Proverbs 12:3 tells me “the righteous cannot be uprooted”

I thought a lot about my roots this week.  Am I tending to them so that they can grow deep in Him?  Am I cultivating my “roots” by studying God’s Word, praying, sharing worship with other believers, striving to learn all I can about God and seeking to become more like Him with each new day?  It is only when those roots go deep that I will be able to withstand all that life has to throw at me.  If my roots are shallow, my faith will not only be crooked and unsteady but there will be no foundation upon which to rely upon when storms come or the schemes of the evil one take aim. 

One of the first things that I will do when the porch is finished is plant a new maple tree in the front yard.  I’ll put a little more thought into its location this time and I’ll tend to it diligently so that its root system can grow deep and steadfast.  And, as it grows, I will think about my own roots.

How is YOUR root system doing?

• About The WJ Ranch
• Happy Trails
• The View From My Saddle
• The WJ Ranch Family
• Yodelin' Cowgirl

Veteran’s Day

Tags

Air Guard, Army, Heroes, Inspiration, Marines, Military, Navy, Patriotism, Veterans, Veterans Day

Veteran’s Day is important to me as I think about those heroes who have served and are serving our country to protect our freedom. My husband is a veteran along with 11 members of his immediate family. As I thought about their service, I wrote these lines:

May we be forever grateful to those who defend our country.

Jan’s Newest Album “Waving of the Grass”

Tags

acoustic music, Jan Schiferl, original music, Schiferl's WJ Ranch; WJ Ranch; Cowboy Way, Traditional Western Music

My great grandparents homesteaded to South Dakota from Denmark. It was always told in our family that Great Grandmother never got over being homesick for her homeland. Lucky for me, love for her family kept her tied to America. She would often say “I just want to walk home, but I can’t. I’d have to cross two oceans. One is water and the other is all this waving grass” (of course referring to the South Dakota prairie) I wrote this song in memory of her.

Go to our website http://www.schiferlswjranch.com to hear other sample songs from this album. It contains traditional western, country, gospel, swing and original music.

• About The WJ Ranch
• Happy Trails
• The View From My Saddle
• The WJ Ranch Family
• Yodelin' Cowgirl

Letta, The Littlest Pony

Tags

Horses, Miniature Pony, ponies

Exciting news at the WJ Ranch! My first children’s picture book has been published this week!

This is the story of my little miniature pony Letta. Letta was feeling sad because all the other horses on the WJ Ranch could do things she couldn’t because she was too small. Then one day, something happened to help Letta realize that in God’s eyes, everyone has a purpose (even miniature ponies) and that God loves her just exactly the way He created her!

This rhyming story book has wonderful color photos. We hope you’ll check it out! (Christmas is coming you know and books are always the right size!) It is available on our website at http://www.schiferlswjranch.com or on amazon (search title) in both paperback and ebook forms.

Letta is a special little pony on our ranch ranch. Now you can read all about her adventures!

The Master

Tags

Anxiety, christianity, Church, Give it To God, God, Horses, Inspiration, Jan Schiferl, Schiferl's WJ Ranch, Stress, Uplifting, Western, Worry

Lately it has been easy to be worried and stressed.  2020 has been anything but kind so far.  First the Covid-19 pandemic and now hatred, division and unrest.

I’ve been especially concerned of late.  Maybe it’s because I have young grandchildren.  I worry what the world will be like for them as they grow up.  I want them to experience freedom and pride for their country.  I want them to have opportunity to work and achieve the “American Dream”.  Maybe it’s because very recently, I became the mother of a policeman.  Our youngest son finished the law enforcement program and is now an officer.  The idea of being a “policeman’s mom” seems very different to me now than it did six months ago.

I know that God is bigger than all of this.  I know Romans 8:28 says “For all things work together for those who love God and are called according to His purpose”.  I know that Psalm 23 reads  “The Lord is My Shepherd….. I shall fear no evil.”  I know I need to “Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) Yes, I believe all this to be so very true.  And yet,  worry finds me.  I have been praying for peace.

This morning when I woke, I had an overwhelmingly clear picture in my head of an incident that I experienced years ago.  It was such a strong, dramatic depiction with purpose that I have no doubt that God gave it to me.   Just as he told parables in the Bible, God used stories and images to help people interpret His Word.    I believe that He gave me this vivid memory for the same reason.

On a warm August afternoon many years ago, Greg and I attended a Draft Horse Pull.   Draft horses are magnificent, beautiful animals.  As a driving team, they are taught to pull.  Our ancestors used them for farm work as they pulled wagons, plows, hay equipment and more.  In a pulling contest, pairs of horses are hitched to a weighted sled.  The team pulls to see who is able to pull the most weight for a short period of time.

We watched as the many harnessed teams entered the arena, fascinated by the powerful animals.  Each driver, walking behind his horses, would back them up to the weight sled and drop the pin into the hitch. When the pin dropped, you’d best be out of the way.   The sound would send the team bolting forward, lunging and pulling as hard as they could.  The teams were seasoned.  They knew what was expected of them.  With so much anticipation they were very excited, almost agitated, as they came into the building.

Finally, it was time for the last team.  Everyone watched while a very elderly man entered slowly into the ring with his team of Belgians.   In his striped overalls and seed corn cap, he shuffled across the dirt footing, clearly showing his age.  His horses walked ahead of him, their heads quiet and down low.  They were as calm as could be.  They looked nothing at all like any of the other pulling teams.   You began to hear murmurs and snickering among the spectators, some even laughing.

The old gentleman backed up his team to the sled and dropped the pin.  Nothing happened.  The snickering and chatter got a bit louder.   The horses heads still hung low.  Their tails barely swished.  The man took a couple slow steps to the side and stopped.  Then, in a gentle but audible voice, he said “Okay boys.  Pull!”  The team laid into the traces in such sychronized precision, the likes of which anyone in attendance had never seen.  Because they were yoked together in such harmony, the horses looked as if pulling the load was effortless.  They pulled the sled many yards farther than any other team before them.  The crowd was on its feet. The team not only earned first place, but a standing ovation from an audience that had doubted.

That team waited patiently for their Master.   Then, yoked jointly with the love and guidance of the Master, they could pull the heavy load.  Together.

I am reminded to be patient and wait for my Master.  He is on the throne.  He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  If I am yoked with Him, my burden is light. There is no need to worry.  Walking with the Master,  I find peace.

Calving Time

Tags

Animal Video, calving, Calving Video, christianity, faith, farm family, Inspiration, Jan Schiferl, Kids Video, Live Birth Calf, Music, ranching, Schiferl's WJ Ranch

Spring calving time at the WJ is something I really look forward to experiencing every year.

A few weeks ago, I decided I would do my best to capture a live birth on video.  I knew Momma was going to have a baby that day.  It was a cold morning as I sat watching steam from both my breath and the hot cup of coffee in my hand.  Wrapped in my blanket I waited..and waited..and waited.  What I was able to experience that morning was so worth it.  Yet another reminder of God’s beautiful creation and the miracle of birth:

 

 

 

 

Signs of Spring on the WJ Ranch

Tags

Baby Animals, Baby Chicks, Believers, Chickens Hatching, Christian, christianity, comfort, faith, Family, farm life, hope, Inspiration, Jan Schiferl, Kids Educational Video Animals, Life on the Farm, Music, Nebraska, Schiferl's WJ Ranch, Signs of Spring, Sing A Long Song

I thought it would be fun to create a little “spring series” for my grandkids.  This COVID-19 thing is making a few things in life a little difficult…like spending time with others.  Thanks to technology, however, we can keep in contact.  Signs of Spring on the ranch give me much hope.  Remember that God is on His throne.  Fear has no room in the heart of a believer.  I choose to relish the signs of new life, new growth, sunshine and beauty as I go out every day to care for our animals.  God will use all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28)

Here is the first episode of “Signs of Spring at the WJ” (are you a chicken lover like I am?)  I hope you enjoy it.  Be watching for Episode #2 – Calving Time!

It’s What We Do Here….

Tags

Bomb Cyclone, christianity, Community, Disaster, faith, Flooding, Helping, Midwest, Nebraska, Nebraska Flooding, Nebraska It's Not For Everyone, Verdigre, Volunteering

 

This past week, Mother Nature played a very nasty trick on the Midwest.   A “Bomb Cyclone” is what the weather service called it.   I can’t tell you scientifically what a “Bomb Cyclone” is, but I can tell you what it did.  Heavy rains caused rapid snow melt which sent rivers and waterways to record levels and beyond.  Dams and levees broke.  Bridges and roads washed away.  Complete farms, ranches, homes and livestock washed away, never to be found.  Lives lost.   Some of the worst devastation is just miles from where we live.

Our little ranch is fine.  Are we calving in mud higher than our muck boots?  Yes. Do we have water in our basement?  Yes.  Are we doing okay?  Absolutely.

Today, Greg & I drove to Verdigre, NE where they were beginning clean up as the water had receded.  We have no real connection to Verdigre, other than a few years ago we rented pasture near there.  We would eat at the local cafe and grab a kolache from the bakery.  But today, we joined numerous others from all over our area to pitch in and help.

Let me share some observations from my day:

1. At the house we were assigned, the fire department pumped water out of the basement.  We waited a long time before enough water was pumped so that we could begin taking things out. (note force of water being sent into the street drain.  This went on for a long time)One man suggested the idea of making lines to be more efficient.  There were no debates on whether that was a good idea or how it should be done. Everyone just joined together and did it because it worked.   We were strangers of all walks of life,  coming together for a common cause. It was like fine clockwork.
2. We made a line from the house to the curb to hand buckets of sludge and mud-soaked possessions from one person to the next until it reached the trailer ready to go to the dumping area when filled.  As I handled each item as it passed,  I realized I was holding a piece of that family with every hand off.  Books, child’s toys, family movies, important papers, furniture and so much more, all water soaked and  full of cold, slick, slimy mud.   I saw the hurt in the owner’s eyes.  More like a look of disbelief, really, but an ache just the same.  In that instant, I realized that possessions are just that, possessions…things.  We don’t come into this world with them and we don’t leave this world with them.
3. At another house, as the owner watched his possessions being thrown into the trailer, he said “I’m most anxious about getting a new water heater, taking a shower and having hot water again someday”.  Wow.  He didn’t say “I can’t wait until I can replace my computer or television.”  He was missing hot water.  How many things do I take for granted each day?
4. Born in South Dakota and now a Nebraskan, I am so proud to be from the Midwest.  It’s what people do here.  We help each other in time of need.  So many people came out today to work with people they’d never met to help people they’d never meet.  This morning in our church, one of our members said he was going to put a can in the back of the church and collect money for water and supplies to take to our flooding neighboring towns.  In an hour, there was $2,100.00 in that can.
5. Today, we worked beside policemen, firemen, EMTs, medical personnel and others who either voluntarily or professionally give their time to help those in need.  They do not get the thanks they deserve.  In fact, sometimes it’s the opposite.  As Mr. Rogers would say “there are always the helpers”.  I said a prayer of thanks for them today.  You should too.
6. You haven’t heard about any of this on the nightly news.  You haven’t heard about our massive floods in Nebraska.    You haven’t heard about 500 damaged homes in one Nebraska county alone.  You haven’t heard about the farmer who lost his life when his tractor was swept away as he tried to help a stranded motorist.  You haven’t heard about the ranchers who had to cut fences before they fled for their lives, only praying that their beloved herds could save themselves and now are overcome with grief as they uncover dead stock.  You haven’t heard about the family who’s 5th generation ranch was swept away.    You haven’t heard about the miles of water that have overtaken ranches, farms, houses, livestock, pets and fields.  You haven’t heard about what life changing events are taking place in Nebraska.   You also haven’t heard about the people who are coming together to help each other.  Why? Because the news seems to concentrate most on the “important headlines”.   You know the ones, right?  The Hollywood scandals and never-ending political bashings.
7. They call Nebraska the “flyover state”.   Let me tell you something else about Nebraska.   Nebraskans are tough.  Nebraskans are strong.  There is an unbelievable amount of work ahead of many people.  However, we will pray together, work together and rebuild together even stronger than before.
8. Yes, they say Nebraska “isn’t for everyone”.  I always knew that was a correct statement.  I am proud to call the Midwest my home.