Post #3... Clear Creek Ranch (there and back again)
Last Tuesday was my third week to work the sale barn here in Fredonia. I've been stepped on and smashed by angry heifers, slammed in between gates, and hooked in the leg with a horn... and that was just the first two sales. Tuesday was uneventful. It was cold and we only ran about 400 head thru the auction. I suppose if two months ago you would have told me that I would go from being Barn Manager at a prestigious dude ranch to part-time help at a local sale barn, I wouldn't have really jumped with joy at the idea. But God works in mysterious ways...
Three years ago we took a chance on Clear Creek Ranch, and they took a chance on us. It worked out better than I could have ever hoped. It really shows that no matter how crazy something sounds, if God is opening the door it's always going to work out how He wants it to!
We met some amazing people at CCR. Rex and Aileen, the owners, were very good to us and the boys. I know we'll keep in touch and see them again down the road. From wranglers to workampers, we made some special friends while we were in NC. And there were also some very special guests of the ranch that will always be in our hearts. It would take pages to acknowledge everyone that I should, so I'll just say thank you for everything. I love each each and every one of you, and consider myself blessed for knowing you. :)
God moved us to NC and now He has moved us to KS. From the very moment I decided we were going to make the move it just felt like God was opening the door... and now more than ever I know that is the case! We are following God's plan, and that road only leads to greener pastures. I am really looking forward to what next year brings for me and my family.
And speaking of the family, please check out the new "all about the Batzers" page!
As always, God Bless and Happy Trails!
~David
John 10:27 - 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Post #2... Thanksgiving Edition
Happy Thanksgiving!!! I'll keep this short and sweet since I've got another post in the brewing. More than anything else I thank God for all the blessings in my life. My wife, my kids, my family and friends... they are all gifts from God. And I am most thankful for Jesus Christ and all He did and gave for me!
Thank you Jess, my loving wife... I am so blessed to have you as my bride :)
Thank you to everyone else I should be thanking.
God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
John 3:16 - give thanks for the greatest gift of all :)
Happy Thanksgiving!!! I'll keep this short and sweet since I've got another post in the brewing. More than anything else I thank God for all the blessings in my life. My wife, my kids, my family and friends... they are all gifts from God. And I am most thankful for Jesus Christ and all He did and gave for me!
Thank you Jess, my loving wife... I am so blessed to have you as my bride :)
Thank you to everyone else I should be thanking.
God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
John 3:16 - give thanks for the greatest gift of all :)
Monday, November 25, 2013
Post #1... New Beginnings (otherwise known as "Blessed be Your Name")
Change... lately we've undergone a lot of change. By "we" I mean me and my family, and I promise I'll get to an introduction for all of us very soon. First, however, I really want to talk about the change. For us, the biggest and most recent change was the 1000 mile move from Burnsville, NC to Fredonia, KS. It's already been three weeks...
...but it seems like only yesterday that we were piling the kids in the car on our way to spend one last Sunday with our friends and family at South Estatoe Baptist Church. Well, yesterday was Sunday... three weeks removed from our last Sunday service at SEBC.
Change can be a good thing, especially when God is using it to grow us a individuals and ministers of His Word. With that in mind, we went to a church that wasn't SEBC for the first time in three years. I love the Lord and love worshiping Jesus with other believers, so no matter how much reservation I had about going to a new Church, I'm glad we went. It was a blessing!
No, it's not the same... Jeff wasn't in the pulpit, Jimmy's family wasn't to our left, and Michael's family wasn't in front of us. But God is good!!! The first worship song we sang was "Blessed be Your Name" (Matt Redman). For me, one verse stood out above all the others...
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
God gave us our church family at SEBC, and seemingly overnight He took it away. Just as we were beginning to grow awesome friendships, we up and moved away from our friends. But to tell you the truth, we've always been a part of the family at SEBC, we just hadn't met our relatives yet. And those new and awesome friendships will continue to grow and become stronger. Our Christian "network" has grown by leaps and bounds in the past three years, and with God's blessings, it will keep on growing.
SEBC has and always will be a blessing to me and my family. Thanks to all of you who helped us out with the move, whether it was packing up or helping with food. And a very special thanks for those that helped with the kids! :) A day will not go by when I won't reflect on our family at South Estatoe. You are in our prayers daily, and will always have a place to stay should you ever be passing thru KS!
So for now we're trying to get to know our new home, all while keeping in our hearts everyone and everything we love back in the mountains of western North Carolina. It's a transition to say the least... as the days progress I'll regale all of you with tales of valor and heroism... ok, more than likely it will be stories of moving hay on the farm or chasing kids down the slide at ABC park.
And one last thing... I'm new to blogging and sharing my life with the world via the web, but I feel like it's something God has put on my heart to do. It will be a way to stay in touch with NC and all the other places we have friends and family, and to share the name of Jesus with any and all who will hear it. I plan on posting quite a bit in the following days just to get all of y'all up to speed that want to be. After that it will probably be weekly updates unless there is just something I can't wait to share.
A look ahead... in the next post I will reflect on Clear Creek Ranch and the friends/family we spent the past three years working with. I'll also introduce my wife and kids, and maybe even Sage the dog.
Until next time, Happy Trails and God Bless!!!
David
Phil 4:13
Change... lately we've undergone a lot of change. By "we" I mean me and my family, and I promise I'll get to an introduction for all of us very soon. First, however, I really want to talk about the change. For us, the biggest and most recent change was the 1000 mile move from Burnsville, NC to Fredonia, KS. It's already been three weeks...
...but it seems like only yesterday that we were piling the kids in the car on our way to spend one last Sunday with our friends and family at South Estatoe Baptist Church. Well, yesterday was Sunday... three weeks removed from our last Sunday service at SEBC.
Change can be a good thing, especially when God is using it to grow us a individuals and ministers of His Word. With that in mind, we went to a church that wasn't SEBC for the first time in three years. I love the Lord and love worshiping Jesus with other believers, so no matter how much reservation I had about going to a new Church, I'm glad we went. It was a blessing!
No, it's not the same... Jeff wasn't in the pulpit, Jimmy's family wasn't to our left, and Michael's family wasn't in front of us. But God is good!!! The first worship song we sang was "Blessed be Your Name" (Matt Redman). For me, one verse stood out above all the others...
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
God gave us our church family at SEBC, and seemingly overnight He took it away. Just as we were beginning to grow awesome friendships, we up and moved away from our friends. But to tell you the truth, we've always been a part of the family at SEBC, we just hadn't met our relatives yet. And those new and awesome friendships will continue to grow and become stronger. Our Christian "network" has grown by leaps and bounds in the past three years, and with God's blessings, it will keep on growing.
SEBC has and always will be a blessing to me and my family. Thanks to all of you who helped us out with the move, whether it was packing up or helping with food. And a very special thanks for those that helped with the kids! :) A day will not go by when I won't reflect on our family at South Estatoe. You are in our prayers daily, and will always have a place to stay should you ever be passing thru KS!
So for now we're trying to get to know our new home, all while keeping in our hearts everyone and everything we love back in the mountains of western North Carolina. It's a transition to say the least... as the days progress I'll regale all of you with tales of valor and heroism... ok, more than likely it will be stories of moving hay on the farm or chasing kids down the slide at ABC park.
And one last thing... I'm new to blogging and sharing my life with the world via the web, but I feel like it's something God has put on my heart to do. It will be a way to stay in touch with NC and all the other places we have friends and family, and to share the name of Jesus with any and all who will hear it. I plan on posting quite a bit in the following days just to get all of y'all up to speed that want to be. After that it will probably be weekly updates unless there is just something I can't wait to share.
A look ahead... in the next post I will reflect on Clear Creek Ranch and the friends/family we spent the past three years working with. I'll also introduce my wife and kids, and maybe even Sage the dog.
Until next time, Happy Trails and God Bless!!!
David
Phil 4:13
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