By Beckie Thompson
-Thoughts to ponder on this Christmas Eve 2018-

Each November, I love “Looking Back,” sorting through photos and then putting together a slideshow of the entire year’s happenings at the farm. This labor of love (created together with our talented Rachel Tress), is to give our volunteers who only come once a week, a glimpse of all that God does here in a year. I wish each of you could see it!!! This summer, Olivia, one of our instructors sent me the link to the song, Sovereign Over Us by Michael W. Smith (I am including the lyrics and link below). The song arrived right after the death of our dear doggie Brett. He was always with John and I since we moved back to the farm 14 years ago. Following his passing on May 5, we got a beautiful 2-year-old Border Collie who turned out not to be a good fit despite our greatest hopes and efforts. During these same late summer days, we had rain after rain and flood after flood. So as I chose songs for the slideshow, I felt I needed to use this song, Sovereign Over Us, to a grouping of photos of some of the losses and trials of the year, including Banjo’s eye surgery and retirement. Each time the staff and John and I watch it we get tears in our eyes. 

Then on November 10th, we picked up a little Border Collie puppy. Her name is Calli. She is a bundle of intelligent energy and love, greeting everyone with a full body wiggle of joy. Each day before we go out the door and other times as we roam the farm, I say to her, “Calli, Look up”.  As long as she does this, which shows her listening and trusting in my instruction, our relationship lacks chaos and is at peace. We know the wonderful connection of working together. The realization struck me one day that it is the same in our relationship with Jesus. This led me to “look up” passages of Scripture that either show us or tell us to do just that. 

We are sending these thoughts to you today on Christmas Eve. Let's pause for a moment and ponder what it would have been like to look forward to the birth of God’s son, let us “Look Up” as did the shepherds. They beheld a glimpse of the heavenly beings who came to proclaim the coming in the flesh of the answer to mankind’s dilemma.                
Luke 2:8-14 

Even though our eyes can’t see it, remember there is a whole other world around us and above us. There are angels and heavens and JESUS...the one before whom we will someday kneel in total understanding...but for now, continue to “Look Up” and find peace day by day, for surely He is faithful, perfect in love; He is sovereign over us.

Merry Christmas to you all,
John and Beckie Thompson
and your entire Green Meadow Farm Team
 

Sovereign Over Us by Michael W Smith
                Verse 1 & Chorus

There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And You meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
You're sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You're teaching us to trust

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

If you wish to listen and watch, here is the live video.

Verses throughout Scripture reminding us to "Look Up": 
Psalm 3:3, 121:1,123:1; Isaiah 40:25,26; Matthew 14:25-29,17:8, 24:30; Luke 21:27-28; Acts 1:7-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 12:1-2; Revelations 5:11-12