Photo inspired by The Fudged Up Murder

So, if you've read The Fudged Up Murder, you probably don't look at fudge the same way! In fact . . . you might even get the urge to pose for a picture! :) :) :)

(Photo used with permission)

The Dog Fight Within

  An old Indian Chief had two dogs. A large grey one, and a large white one. Every week, he'd hold a dog fight, and tell people which dog would win. People came from all around to watch and see if he was right, and every week, he was right. Whichever dog he predicted would win, it won.
    One day, after watching these fights for many months, an old preacher approached the chief and begged to be told how the chief did it. "Every week, you're right! Yet they are the same dogs. How do you know which one will win?"
    The chief responded. "It's easy. Whichever dog I feed that week, is the one that wins."
    The preacher was amazed at the simplicity of the chief's knowledge, but also with it's spiritual significance. "Do you know why you can't seem to win the battle of following Christ?" he asked.
   The chief shrugged. "I don't know why. I fight, but never seem to win."
   "It's because, my friend, you're feeding the wrong dog." The preacher pointed at the dogs. "You have two dogs inside of you. One is the old man full of anger, greed, self-pity, guilt, resentment, lies, and sin. The other, is the new man God wants you to be. With love, joy, peace, longsuffering,gentleness, goodness, faith and truth. If you feed the old man, the flesh will win, but if you feed yourself on the things of God, the spirit will win. Whichever dog you feed, will win."
 

   I'm not sure where the origin of this story is . . . I've heard it in multiple different ways as a sermon illustration, and at campfire services, but every time I hear it, it gets me thinking. So often, we get discouraged, and focused on the pain, despair, and heartache. And we feel like the pain will beat us. But don't let it. Don't feed the old man by allowing it to dwell on wrong things.
   Instead, feed the new man in Christ. Give thanks for everything. Rejoice. Cast your care on Him, Wait on Him, and look to Him. We can't expect to overcome the problems of our flesh, when we feed the desires of stewing, complaining, and hopelessness. It's only when we feed ourselves the truth of God, that the spirit can beat the flesh. The flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other! But TASTE and see that the Lord IS GOOD!!!!

The menu . . .

 So, you know we sell Pogo's/Corn dogs, but what other kinds of things do we sell in our food area?

Well, that's our menu board! And on the back of it, there's a marker board that we use to jot down notes, quotes, or doodling. :)

And with all the crazy weather we've been having, I've gotten to see some pretty neat rainbows!

A few pics . . .

I used to hate the fall. . . it meant it was getting colder, and winter was coming, and all the crazy busy maze season, and I've never really cared for the fall colors, or pumpkin spice, or anything that has to do with fall . . . but these past few years have made me a lot more nostalgic. 

Now, I'm learning to LOVE the fall! First, it means Christmas is COMING!!!! :) And I've developed a tolerance/appreciation for all the fall things. I've even learned to like a bit of the Pumpkin spice rage. 

Above all, I've learned to like the memories we make in the fall. 

Dad's birthday is in October, and so is his favorite hunting season!! He took some of the grandkids goose/duck hunting for his birthday. I love listening to the kids telling about the things they saw on the hunt, and how excited they get about the smallest things.

The maze is going in full swing, and I'm SO thankful for the help I have in the food area!!!! I couldn't do it without these wonderful people! We miss you, Krystal!!!

I found this in my photo roll on my phone. As fall closes, and winter hits, a lot of people struggle with depression. As the days shorten, we don't feel like being thankful. It's easy to forget that God is good. It's easy to think about ourselves and all of our problems. But don't let the colder weather stop you from focusing on God! He's commanded us to be THANKFUL!! And to Rejoice!! Sometimes, life seems so hard. So bleak. So hopeless. But don't forget that God is still the victor in the valleys. He hasn't lost a battle yet, and if you're losing a battle, perhaps it's because you're doing too much of your own fighting. Let go, and let God take the wheel.

Here's a flashback from around nine years ago!

Before Hosanna left, she planted some flowers, and they're just now blooming! Despite all the freezing weather, and the 8 inches of rain, these flowers are blooming!!

We took some of the kids to the maze the other day (BEFORE all the rain) to water the flowers. Here we are in Paul Bunyan's chair.

And a flashback from camp! It's not every day you get to tie up the camp director! Don't worry, it was part of a game and we let him lose afterwards. :) :)

On another note, I pulled out my laptop after a summer with no writing and editing, and started again. It feels REALLY good to be back on the keyboard. It's been a strange fall for me . . . adjusting to life without my roommate and sister of 22 years . . . all the rain . . . the maze . . . and a large amount of strange events. But through it all, God has been so good. I've been learning just how important it is to choose to glorify God and be thankful. It's far too easy to dwell in the dark valley's of the past, or our mind, or current trials, instead of choosing to lift up our eyes unto the hills from whence cometh our help. But no matter what the struggles are that we face, God commands us to rejoice and to give thanks. The more we focus on our problems, and how we feel, the smaller God seems, and the more we hurt. But when we take our eyes and put them on God, and choose to glorify Him, we realize just how small we really are, and the joy of the Lord can be our strength.

Until next time, this is Priscilla J. Krahn reminding you to choose to do the right thing. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.