A Butterfly's Lesson

The following analogy was emailed to all of us staff members here at Uplands by Brother Neal.  It is so encouraging:

The Butterfly's Lesson

author unknown

One day, a small opening appeared in a cocoon; a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours  as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.   


It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and  it could not go any further. Then, it seems to stop making any  progress.


So the man decided to help the butterfly: he took a pair of scissors and opened the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.  


But it had a withered body,  it was tiny and shriveled wings.


The man continued to watch because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would open, enlarge and expand, to be able to support the butterfly’s body, and become firm.


Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and  shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.    


What the man, in his kindness and his goodwill did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get  through the tiny opening, were God’s way of forcing  fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.


Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life.  If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would  cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. Never been able to fly.

I asked for Strength... and God gave me  difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom... and God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity...and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.

I asked for Courage…and God gave me obstacles to overcome.

I asked for Love...and God gave me troubled  people to help.  

I asked for Favors...and God gave me  Opportunities.  

"I received nothing I wanted...but I received everything I needed."

"Live life without fear, confront all obstacles and know that you can overcome them."

Grateful Monday - by Maryanne Grimmett

Remember this song?  We sang it in Sunday School.  Sing it with me now.  “Count Your blessings.  Name them one by one.  Count Your blessings.  See what God has done.”

Even as I type this, I’m singing that old chorus…waaaay too loud and most definitely off-key.  People around me in the McDonald’s parking lot, where I’m snagging internet connection with my car windows rolled down, are beginning to stare. 

Oh, well.  Perhaps they’ll internalize two things about me.  First of all, granted, I can’t sing.  At all.  But, secondly—and far more importantly—I am blessed.  As in blessed beyond measure.

Today, as I work on the Uplands website, proof blog posts and Teen Camp documents, plant grass around my house, pot plants, and throw pottery, my goal is to be continually counting my blessings…and naming them one by one.  I anticipate a dialogue with God that goes something like this:

“Lord Jesus, thanks for this beautiful day.  Thanks for my amazing family.  Thanks for my faithful husband.  Thanks for a dependable vehicle.  Thanks for two arms, two legs, two eyes, and two ears.  Thanks for a house that’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Thanks for Uplands Reach.  Thanks for old friends and new friends and friends yet to be made.  Thanks for Your Word.  Thanks for knowing me and loving me anyway.  Thanks for listening.”

That’s just the abbreviated version.  The truth is, I could type blessing after blessing…and my laptop battery would die long before I was finished.  God has been good to me.  And you know what?  I have a feeling He’s been good to you, too.  Let’s make this Grateful Monday and get busy thanking.

Never Giving Up! - by Justin Hatfield

Over the past month I have had a horse in training named Cowboy.  When he came to our ranch he was just plain crazy.  Over the past month I have felt that we have gotten nowhere until last Sunday afternoon!  That day, it was like something just clicked in his head and now he is really coming around and making a horse!  This made me think of how so many times it takes me so long to understand and follow what the Lord is trying to teach me.  It is so nice to know that the Lord does not give up on me when it takes a long time for me to get something.  If ya’ll come to camp this summer you will get to see Cowboy and hopefully he will keep progressing until then!  

Selling Out for the Savior - by Neal Hatfield

When we look back on New Testament conversions, we see people who were radically changed.  They sold out totally to Christ.  He became their Lord.  That meant He was their master and they did what He said.

The Scriptures say, “For me to live is Christ” and refer to Christ "who is our life."  That’s what Jesus wants...ALL of us!

Let’s sell out today!

Let Go. - by Maryanne Grimmett

So…I had an interesting drive to Jefferson yesterday morning.  First of all, I ran over a golf club.  Random.  Secondly, I heard a story on 106.9 The Light that stopped me in my tracks.  Metaphorically speaking, of course.   Behind me was a big Dodge driven by a burly dude who probably wouldn’t have appreciated a sudden stop.

Anyway, a guy, somewhere off in radio land, explained how baboon hunters in the jungle craftily catch their prey.  The hunter fills a small hold in a tree with salt.  The baboon is drawn by the irresistible smell and reaches into the hole for a big handful of salt.  Unwilling to relinquish its grip on the salt, the baboon finds itself trapped because its first can’t fit back through the hole. The baboon is helpless before predators and hunters because it selfishly refuses to let go.

Chilling application…Is there something you are holding onto, despite its inevitable potential for destruction?  A boyfriend or girlfriend you know you have no business being with?  An addiction that is destroying both your present and your future?  A habit that is stealing your joy and robbing you of intimacy with God?  No matter what it is, today can be the first day of the rest of your life.  Thanks to a merciful Savior, we are offered hope and healing when we come to Him in faith and repentance. Just let go.

Are You Over Mediocrity?

Hey guys.  This is an event created just for you - by men like you.  Do long to break out of the cycle of mediocrity and complacency that is so easy to fall into in our "culture of convenience"?  Be ready to have your world rocked by twenty-five intense hours of wilderness survival, cooking under the stars, and challenging messages from Brother Neal.  It's twenty-five hours that could change the course of your life.  Forever.

This event is only $35.  So get on over to uplandsreach.org, download your medical forms, and sign up for the event of a lifetime.

Are you ready to start living, not just breathing?

See you at Wild at Heart, 2011.

The Sweet Spot

Kate is by far the cutest thing at Uplands Reach.  She will make your day by teetering on over to you, giving you a sheepish grin, and saying, "Hey!"  Her parents, staff members Matthew and Rachael McNeil, definitely have social butterfly on their hands!

Charlie is one of the newest camp pups at Uplands.  This Chocolate Lab is one of the cutest things you'll ever see - and we're pretty sure he's stolen the heart of his owner, staff member Maryanne Grimmett.  His friendly disposition makes him the perfect tag-along to camp activities.  He hasn't told us specifically, but we're pretty sure he's pumped about this summer!

The Duke is the newest addition to our URCC pups.  He is an Australian Red Heeler, and belongs to Justin, the head of our URCC Equestrian Program.  His spunky personality makes him perfect for working with horses and helping Justin get them where they need to go.  He may be small, but horses don't seem to have a problem listening to him!