He owns the cattle of a thousand hills

When I was really little, my dad was a youth minister and we spent a lot of time at church camps and youth devotional times. I grew up at the Bible chair center around teenagers. (Maybe that was the start of my passion for youth--that's for another blog).

There were many songs I remember singing with my dad and his kids, but one in particular was my favorite...The Whippoorwill Song.

The chorus:
I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
I write the music for the whippoorwills.
Control the planets with their rocks and rills,
But give you freedom to choose your own will.

It was just brought to my mind...I live in a country called, "The Land of a Thousand Hills" and cattle are a very important commodity. They serve many purposes and are the center of the traditional dances as they are seeking and finding the cows.

The song comes from the passage in Psalm 50, where God is pointing out that He doesn't the our sacrifices, because he already own them. He wants us to honor Him and the teachings He has given us.

Verse 2:
I hold the waters in My mighty hand
Spread out the heavens with a single span
Make all creation tremble at my voice,
But my own children come to me by choice.

O my goodness! What a powerful message. God could make us come to Him, to love Him, but He doesn't--I mean good grief, He made us. But He doesn't.

Verse 4
And if you want me to I'll make you whole
I'll only do it though if you say so
I'll never force you for I love you so,
I give you freedom, is it "yes" or "no".

In the Land of a Thousand Hills, I say "yes". I say YES to love, serve and honor God with everything in my life. I say YES to share the love God put within me to people I come in contact with. I say YES to seek ONE MORE for Jesus. I have the freedom to say no, but I say YES!

Without the support of friends and family-financially and through prayer, I would not be able to be here to say yes. Thank you for helping me to say yes and supporting me, even when it gets hard.

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