In God We Trust

written by

posted on

March 7, 2022

Good morning Dear Family Cow Friends,

In these times of global wobbliness, have you noticed that one thing does seem constant? That thing is fear. It’s all around us, it’s everywhere we turn.

Fear of war, fear of inflation, fear of just basic uncertainty... even some lingering fear of COVID.

And all for good reason some may say. There is a lot to worry about! It fills our news, it fills our conversations and for many it seems to fill their hearts.

Maybe it is time to refresh our spirits with this bit of "wisdom that comes from above." Listen to these powerful words from II Timothy," God hath not given us the Spirit of Fear; but of Power, and of Love, and of a Sound Mind."

Fear is not from God! Power, Love and Sound minds are!

We cannot help but feel the fear. That much is true. Fear is a very basic human emotion. Refusing to acknowledge the niggling feeling we all recognize is denial at best, and false macho bravado at worst.

But still, we do not need to succumb to fear. We do not have to respond in 'the spirit of fear.'

Fear is real... but it dare not be our deciding factor.

Fear is normal... but it doesn’t need to master us.

Fear is around us… but it must not control us.

Here is another favorite verse our congregation recently has decided to make into wall art and place on the front wall of our church auditorium.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." ~ Isaiah 26:3

Trust, yes trust. "In God We Trust." So easy to say. Just four words. So easy to print. So easy to choose as a national or church or family motto. So hard to do.

But so necessary for peace.

Think about it... and then just DO it! Trust! :)

I hope you don’t mind that I share this. My own soul needs this advice so often too. May you be blessed and may God be glorified as you meditate on these thoughts.

Below is a short flash back to a message that I sent at the beginning of the COVID panic... in many ways it fits for today just as well.

Peace and Blessings,

Your Farmer ~ Edwin

P.S. I'm also sharing a family favorite song, Never Be Afraid by the Martin Brothers of Pensacola, Florida. If you enjoy the inspiration you may access their full album here.

Fear Not Tomorrow

Written April 3, 2020

I'm not going to even pretend that life is normal. It's not. I'm 50 years old and I've never seen times like these. I've talked with some who are 80 and they've never seen times of uncertainty like this either.

So we are in new territory. None of us really know what is ahead of us. But I do have a feeling that the people and relationships in our lives are going to be more important and special to us than ever before.

And I also know this. We have a God who does know the future and He is in control. So even when our human panic wants to rise, if we instead choose Faith and Trust and Hope in Him, peace and calmness of soul is possible. Yes! Peace even in the middle of COVID's reign of fear.

Since we are in new territory, please allow me to share some food for the soul. Food for the body is good. But in times like these, it's food for the soul that we all really need.

So to each of you... may I suggest that wherever you are, sit back, relax and take seven slow, deep breaths. When you have finished, please take a moment to listen and meditate on the message of this song: Fear Not Tomorrow... God Is Already There

I hope it speaks peace to you.

I typed out the lyrics of the song below for better reflection. Read it and meditate while you listen and let the words sink in.

This song was Courtney's idea. Courtney Lehman is a friend from our church who has been a part of The Family Cow team for close to 4 years. She answers a lot of your email and phone questions, so if you have corresponded with our farm, it's likely that you've talked or emailed with her.

Anyway, I know Courtney loves music and likes to sing so I asked her if she had a special song that she thought fit these troublesome times. This is the one that she sent me. So if you like it also... thank Courtney! :)

Here is wishing Faith, Hope and Health to each of you.

As always, feel free to share these posts with others. Use this link.

Blessings,

Your farmer ~ Edwin

Real Farmers. Real Caring. Real Foods.

Fear Not Tomorrow

In this age of uncertainty...

Questions come to my mind...

What is waiting ahead for me?

And the rest of mankind?

Fear not tomorrow!

God is already there!

He's charting the course you'll take.

He sees each hidden snare.

He's waiting to guide you

Through each burden and care.

Fear not tomorrow!

God is already there!

Are you troubled over things to come?

Is your future unsure?

Are you dreading the coming dawn?

A long day to endure?

Fear not tomorrow!

God is already there!

He's charting the course you'll take.

He sees each hidden snare.

He's waiting to guide you

Through each burden and care.

Fear NOT Tomorrow!

God. Is. ALREADY. There!

Your farmers,

Edwin and Dawn Shank and Family

God Designed it... We Respect it... That Explains it!

Rodrick & Jeanette are moving to Colombia, South America

Good morning Family Cow friends, Today I have some news that's a bit personal, but it only seems right that you should know. Our oldest son, Rodrick, with his wife, Jeanette, and family are planning to move to Colombia, South America next month. Yes, you heard right. Colombia South America. Just above the equator. We still can hardly believe it either :) Our church conference is starting a new congregation there at the request of local Colombians asking for a Biblical church and faith community. But it's also located on the border with Venezuela, so a big part of their work will be to help relieve the ongoing Venezuelan refugees crisis. This new congregation, "Amigos del Prójimo" (Friends of the Neighbor), is located near the border town of Cúcuta, Colombia. Jeanette grew up in Guatemala, and Rodrick has spent time there so both of them are fluent in Spanish and understand the Latin American culture. For this reason, Dawn and I were really not totally surprised that the mission board thought of them when looking for families to establish the new church plant. Their combination of skills and cross cultural experiences made them seem a natural fit. But that did not exactly make giving them up any easier! We are still working on that process! Here are a few pictures from the area near Cúcuta. Distributing meals to the homeless... Música, anyone? 😉 I'm not sure what the point of this car was, but Rodrick said they heard it coming from several blocks away... Checking out the countryside... Sofia with a new little friend Exploring a mountain road (part of the Andes mountain range) After months of prayer and consideration and several visits to Colombia, Rodrick and Jeanette made the tough decision to answer the call to move there for an indefinite length of time. Though it is hard for us to let them go, we do give them our blessing.One comfort is that Rodrick is not abandoning The Family Cow. With today's technology, he'll still be able to do much of the management work and accounting work that he has done before... so this change shouldn't necessarily impact you, but it will represent some definite changes for our family and team.Rodrick plans to work remotely, doing many of the same business administration duties, but he will turn over the General Manager role to his younger brother Wesley. Rodrick also plans to continue giving management support to the Olde Tyme Meats butcher shop team.The other four brothers tell Dawn and I not to worry about the farm and business management, but I know there will be changes. We'll just need to find our way one step at a time.Dawn and I are not sure who's making the greatest sacrifice—the ones staying or the ones moving. :) I guess it is all of us. And that's ok.As far as Rodrick and Jeanette's Amen Acres farm, if all goes as planned, we'll have one of the other brothers live on that farm to manage the care of the grass-fed beef and pastured pork.There is no doubt about it... we will greatly miss having Rodrick and Jeanette, Andre, Clara, Sofia and Leo nearby. But they remind us that airplanes fly both ways, that they will return a few times a year for visits, and that we of course can come down to visit them too.Who knows—maybe someday Rodrick and Jeanette can grow cacao beans and make single origin organic specialty chocolate for our Family Cow tribe. How neat would that be? Don't think it's impossible. Just last week we introduced single origin organic coffee straight from Jeanette's family in Guatemala. :)In spite of unknowns, some things never change. We do know that "all things work together for good to those who love God." (Romans 8:28) So... we'll just focus on loving God and we'll trust Him to work out the good that only He knows! Faith, Hope and Love,Your farmer - Edwin for Dawn too

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In God We Trust

Fear Not Tomorrow

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