Today’s reflection 1-6-16

January 6 Epiphany  The day Christians celebrate the visit of the wise men to worship the infant Jesus.

Today’s NIV Bible verses: Matthew 2:.2,7,8,11,12

2 “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?” We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, that I too may go to worship him.”

11 And coming to the house, they saw the child and his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

John 13:12-17  When he had finished washing their (his disciples) feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you? He asked them. You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, Now that I your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is the messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things you should do them.

Today’s reflection
NIV Bible verse of the day: Proverbs 14:29,30
29 A patient man has great understanding,
but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones.

When arguments occur; listening and patience
is required to solve a problem; agree to
disagree and change the subject.

How could we ask for a nicer summer, we just experienced one string of days in the 80s, and a couple of days 90 or better, but there always seemed to be a nice breeze.
All you had to do is find a shady spot and things were fine. Well I guess that’s easy to say for people that are in her 80s and don’t have to work outdoors in the blazing sun,
but it is certainly been a blessing to us and we thank God for summer.

What a beautiful summer day;
warm, but not unbearably hot and humid.
The songbirds form a lovely chorus;
a Symphony of all their individual songs.
They seem excitedly happy today;
Orioles never stayed with us a long before.
The other varieties are too numerous to mention,
but their vast array of colors is a spectacular sight.
As the each seek their turn at the feeders.

The numerous shades of green among the trees
are a glorious sight to behold,
tremendously impacting this day,
never more obvious before.
Perhaps my perception was never this great;
even the crops seem to be smiling today.
step into a corn field- you can hear it grow;
as it reaches toward the sky.
Soybeans are showing a spurt of growth;
all the crops are forecasting excellent yields.

Today, I am content! I wish everyone could feel the same.
Thank you, Lord!

About the author

Don was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent as much time as he could on a farm in his youth, the Mertz farm, owned by his mother’s cousin, Armand (Wimpy) Mertz. His preparation for the life of a dairy farmer began on that Washington County farm in the Town of Wayne.

The experiences on that farm etched in his heart the desire to become a dairy farmer. That fact must have been a tragedy to his Grandma Jonas who had her heart set on a life as a Christian Pastor for Don. She would be pleased to know about Don’s Christian music ministry.

He met Ruth in 1956. They married in June 1957, tested milk for a few years. Rented a Waukesha county farm, and purchased a registered herd of Holstein cows. They purchased Cooperhaven Farm, In Sheboygan County, in 1968, raised their 6 children there and developed an outstanding herd of purebred Holsteins. The herd was sold in March, 1998.

Don started making up songs to sing with the kids while doing farm chores. He answered an ad for a song contest in Nashville in 1975, writing “Gramma’s Tattered Bible” and “He Gave Us Jesus” for the competition. He didn’t become a star, but has been writing and sharing his God- given songs since.

He has recoded 2 albums,” We Have A Friend” and “Jesus Is The Only Way To Heaven”. Unable to break into the commercial music business, he began to write poetry. He has self published “From The Heart of an Old Farmer vol.1 & vol.2”, “How a City Boy Became a Farmer”, Has written it’s sequel “The Rocky Road to Farm Ownership” and this book of poetry and song lyrics “From the Heart of an Old Farmer vol.3”.

Don is pleased that The Lord has inspired him to write, and is happy to be able to share it with you.

As I become less involved in the daily farm operations, I will follow my passion for writing about my life starting with my birth in Milwaukee. How I achieved my childhood dream to become a farmer just like my ancestors from Germany were. I had to wear many other hats in order to succeed. Dairy farming has been “our way of life,” for many years. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with my cows helping their babies into the world and working outdoors planting and harvesting the crops they need. I truly enjoyed the wonder that surround me wild animals sc out of my way is under contract through the field esus was at my side guiding me through seemingly impossible trials and tribulations that could’ve ended my career many times. while I was a dairy farmer building up a very fine herd of registered Holstein cows and young stock . I wrote many Christian songs and recorded two albums with some of of my songs along with some of our favorite old hymns written in the style I want to emulate. I began writing poetry after I decided there are already so many songs in the style that I like to write, written by very fine authors . my First book of poetry “From the Heart of Of an Old Famer” is mostly about our farm and our love of Jesus and lyrics to my songs. “How a City Boy Became a Farmer” the beginning of a trilogy, “The Rocky Road to Farm Ownership” is in its final editing stages ais ready to print, the next book “Our Way of Life it’s Ups and Downs” is near completion.

An Unforgettable Christmas

1952 was a banner year for me. In June I graduated from Milwaukee Vocational and Adult High School. My mentor, Wimpy Mertz, offered me a job as his farmhand at my graduation party. The idea of working out home on the farm was actually a dream for me up until that period of my life. I accepted his offer with glee.

While living there, I attended Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church, a small country church located in Wayne, seven miles west of Kewaskum. Most of my relatives who lived in the area were members. That summer a young man who recently graduated from Mission House College Seminary was called to be the pastor of the congregation. Reverend Donald Koehn and his wife Joyce took on the call with great exuberance. The leaders of the congregation, older members, Young People’s group, and the Sunday school children were very pleased with the way they became involved in all of the activities in the church. Rev. Koehn encouraged them to be active in the congregation.

That winter a young family moved into the area. They took up residence in an old farmhouse. Neighbors who were members of our congregation reported to Reverend Koehn that the family was destitute. The father had been informed that the job which he thought he had secured before they moved into the area would not be available for him. The family did not even have the basic items they needed to merely survive. When the congregation heard about their plight it was decided to take up a collection of food and other necessities to give the family.

Reverend Koehn decided for a reason unknown to me that I would make a good Santa Claus. He and Joyce helped me dress for the part, whiskers and all. We delivered the items to the family, consisting of several young children in addition to the father and mother. We also took up a collection of small toys and kid’s items for them. On a freezing cold and snowy night Reverend Koehn and I loaded his car with all of the items we had gathered. We were excited about helping a family who was really in need. We arrived at the house and looked at the snow covered driveway. Will we make it through all that snow? God was watching over us and made sure we reached our destiny.

We loaded up a sack of the food items and trudged through the snow to the door. When the young father answered the door we wished a hearty Santa’s “ho-ho-ho” and a Merry Christmas to him and his family. He was shocked and surprised by our unexpected visit but invited us into the stark, bare house. The children were huddled around the table with their mother, each one of them holding a potato in their hands. The parents were happy and thankful for the food and other items that we brought and they thanked us profusely.

We told them there was more. We returned to the car to get the rest of the items. We placed the toys and other things we had collected just for the children in my bag. When we went back into the house, Rev. Koehn informed them that Santa just might have some special things for each of the children. As we handed them out, their joyful faces are something I’ll never forget.

When we got into the car, we wondered whether we would make it back through the snow filled driveway. We did, and we were glad to be on the road heading back to church. We talked about the possibility that those few potatoes they were holding may have been the only food they had in the house. We were very pleased that we had the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful Christmas surprise for a family who was in desperate need of assistance. I believe the congregation continued to help them to get back on their feet.

I’ve often thought about that wonderful night and wondered how they made it through their misfortune. Rev. Koehn recently informed me that he met them later at church. The father found a job working on an area farm. He was thankful and said that his family was doing very well.

From Proverbs 14 and 28 blessed is he who is kind to the needy……

Whoever is kind to the needy honors God…… He who gives to the poor

will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

Salem Church, at Wayne “Peace”

Just a little country church and it meant so much to me,

established by ancestors who came from Germany.

My grandma, my mother’s mom heard God’s Word from there;

lessons she would not forget, the verses and the prayers.

When “out home” this lovely church was a home to me.

Sitting in those pews, just like sitting at grandmas knees.

As a child those stained glass windows fostered many dreams;

a sunray touching Salem’s glass, was a glimpse of heaven, it seemed.

Instead of listening my mind would fly to that resting place out side;

where bodies lay, survivors pray their souls rest high in the sky.

The tombstones standing row by row mark relatives and friends;

who chose to worship in the church, and a lot out back, in the end.

Wonderful memories trace back to this place;

learning of Jesus’ love and God’s amazing grace.

Law and Gospel were the fare so many years ago.

The very things, still today, each Christian needs to know!

November 26, 2008

D.F. Cooper

www.fcgmusic.com

John 3:16-17For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV)

Most of my close relatives were city folks who would have been out of place in a rural setting. However, my maternal grandmother, Grandma Jonas, grew up on a farm and always cherished her life as a young girl. She told me many stories about her childhood and her youth as a farm girl. She loved the animals, the land, and the walks on the gravel road to school and to pasture with the cows and horses. She walked among the trees and grassy areas near the stream and sometimes just looked at the sky, watching the clouds, some of them friendly puffy or wispy, and some of them dark and foreboding warning to seek shelter. She thoroughly enjoyed the fresh country air and exploring its solitude and vastness. I could easily dream of myself in her place as she re-lived her life on the farm, in her one room school 1/4 mile down the gravel road, and in Salem Church and Bible School in the tiny village of Wayne, just two miles from her home.

Grandma told me about the times her dad and brothers hitched the horses to the buggy or to the sleigh when roads were snow covered. She recounted the wonderful rides on balmy days and the discomfort on inclement days, the heavy blankets needed for the trips on cold and snowy days. I think Grandma shared my love for horses. Hers was a life made for daydreamers, and daydreaming was one of my greatest talents.

When grandma told stories of days long ago

I wished I had been there to watch her grow

To walk with her in those days long past

Sitting in a meadow would be a blast

Watching the clouds so high in the sky

Just loosing track as the hours whisk by

To see the flowing rippling stream

Living out home is my fondest dream.

A Warm Summer Day

A Warm Summer’s Morn

Sitting on the porch, on a warm summer’s morn

Many shades of green, paint grass, leaves and corn

Wheat fields are showing they long to mature

The corn plants are stretching out, proud and secure

Soybeans are growing so fast in their fields

Crops are foretelling excellent yields

Songbirds are happy, singing, eating birdseed

This farmer’s content, and thankful indeed

What a beautiful summer day

Warm, not unbearably hot and humid

The songbirds form a lovely chorus

A symphony of all their individual songs

They seem excitedly happy today

Orioles never stayed with us so long before

The other varieties are too numerous to mention

But their vast array of colors is a spectacular sight

They each seek their turn at the feeders

The numerous shades of green among the trees

Are another glorious sight to behold

Never more obvious before

Perhaps my perception was never this great

tremendously impacting this day

Even the crops seem to be smiling today

Wheat shows a hint of gold

Step into a corn field,- you can hear it grow

As it reaches for the sky

Soybeans are showing a spurt of growth

All crops are forecasting excellent yields

After so many years of financial strain

The Board of Trade hints at generously compensating us

We actually at least perceive to be rewarded for our efforts

A Warm Summer Day

A Warm Summer’s Morn

Sitting on the porch, on a warm summer’s morn

Many shades of green, paint grass, leaves and corn

Wheat fields are showing they long to mature

The corn plants are stretching out, proud and secure

Soybeans are growing so fast in their fields

Crops are foretelling excellent yields

Songbirds are happy, singing, eating birdseed

This farmer’s content, and thankful indeed

What a beautiful summer day

Warm, not unbearably hot and humid

The songbirds form a lovely chorus

A symphony of all their individual songs

They seem excitedly happy today

Orioles never stayed with us so long before

The other varieties are too numerous to mention

But their vast array of colors is a spectacular sight

They each seek their turn at the feeders

The numerous shades of green among the trees

Are another glorious sight to behold

Never more obvious before

Perhaps my perception was never this great

tremendously impacting this day

Even the crops seem to be smiling today

Wheat shows a hint of gold

Step into a corn field,- you can hear it grow

As it reaches for the sky

Soybeans are showing a spurt of growth

All crops are forecasting excellent yields

After so many years of financial strain

The Board of Trade hints at generously compensating us

We actually at least perceive to be rewarded for our efforts

Today, I am content!

I wish everyone could say the same

Thank you, LORD

!

I wish everyone could say the same

Thank you, LORD