Articles by Deborah Subetto

Look at Me

It was a busy morning. One of the barn cats was sitting on a fence post when I let the dogs our into the yard. The cat was watching the dogs. The dogs were watching my husband out in the pasture. The goats were watching the tractor make passes in the field. The ducks were watching the ground in their hunt for wiggly treats. The chickens were watching the ducks (hoping for leftovers). The goat kids were watching each other hop and play.

Everyone was watching someone. We do that too. We are watchers. We are influenced by what we see. If you took an inventory of what and who you were watching today, what would it look like?  Are you surrounded by positive, uplifting influences or are you struggling in a toxic environment – or are you somewhere in between? 

Here is an idea, something to try… Look again. This time, see what you imagine God sees. God sees everything through a filter of love and grace. Can you see people and situations through His eyes? Can you see that imperfect coworker as a lost soul? Can you see that immodest outfit as a cry for attention? Can you see someone’s materialism as an imperfect search for meaning and value?

I see God’s heart breaking for the lost and confused souls that can’t find purpose and security in their lives. I see a community of walking wounded who need love and time and attention. I see opportunity to show His grace and goodness and gentleness. He puts people and opportunity in our path so that we can bring His love to others. 

Greta, my (handicapped) Flemish Giant rabbit is interrupting me while I write. She is on a dog bed near my feet but she wiggles off and tries to drag herself to me. I got up from my chair to re-position her multiple times, but she is not content. So I finally just move myself and my lap top to the floor. Greta snuggles in against my leg and starts grooming (licking) me. Now she is happy, and I can finish my note. She finished it for me really. 

Every living thing wants attention, love, gentleness, security. God has all of that in abundance. We share HIM and we invite people to know HIM, by sharing His attributes. See what He sees and don’t ignore the opportunities that are interrupting you at this very moment!

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as our does for you.” 1 Thess. 3:12

 

Cooperative Play

The kids are 5 months old already! As they grow and develop, we upgrade their housing area. The babies graduated from the kidding pen where they were born, to a Pack&Play in our house, to the garage pen, to the kid pen in the backyard, and to the big girl pen inside the main pasture. 

Currently, Allie, Meg, Lacey and Grace, spend their days free ranging in the pasture with the adult does, and nights in a separate shelter. The next step is full access to the adult pasture and shelter day and night. I am careful not to move them until they are ready.

I observe the interactions among the kids and adults in the pasture. What I see now is “parallel play”. The kids graze and play alongside the adults but they don’t interact. In fact, the adults will keep them at a distance with some firm pushing and gentle head butting if the kids get too close. So for now, the kids are watching and learning from a distance. 

I will release the kids into the main pasture full time when I observe the development from parallel to “cooperative play”.  When the goats interact, play, teach and establish boundaries so they exist as one community – then I will know that everyone will have free access to food, water and shelter.

Physical, social, spiritual maturation is a slow process. It’s not something that happens overnight or in a “ah-ha” moment. Growing in Christ requires commitment over a life time of trials, challenges and celebrations. As we remain faithful and rooted in Him, we can trust that God will bring us exactly what we need when we need it – and when we are ready to handle it. 

When we are in the parallel play level of spiritual development, we are learning and gleaning as much as possible from Him, His word, and the Godly people in our circles. We are watching and applying truths. We practice faithfulness by being obedient.

As we commit to living for Him, we move closer to His heart – and the parallel play matures to cooperative play. Our focus isn’t on ourselves as we seek His face. We hear and recognize His voice. Our prayers “to Him” become beautiful dialogues “with Him”.  His light shines on the paths He wants us to explore and He walks with us along the way.

What a beautiful place to be: in His presence, in unity with His spirit, in His will and sure of His calling! How are you doing? Are you ready for the “upgrade” – to move into a new level of your relationship with Him? I’m praying for you today!

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparable great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19.

 

 

 

Fearless Leader

5:00 am – that’s what time Jethro started barking.

When Jethro sees or hears a threat to his herd, he barks – otherwise, he is a very quiet dog. Jethro sounds the alarm and the goats break into formation…ears up, tails up, hackles up, snorts and hoof stomps indicate they are alert and ready. Jethro’s confident, threatening bark is usually intimidating enough to scare off the potential predator or problem. But it is 5:05 am… and he is still barking.

There is a pink hue on the horizon, the sun trying to wake up through the cover of night and clouds. I stumble into the dark, into the pasture and into an enormous hair ball. Jethro is happy to see me, but still tense.

Then I hear it… a low, deep, rumbling like a fierce battle of kettledrums building to a crescendo. Thunder rolls and booms through the dark morning sky. Following the thunder is the sound of a hard rain exploding through the woods behind me. I turn and can feel, more than see, the wall of water coming towards us. Awareness hits and almost simultaneously, dozens hooves, paws and a pair of boots run for cover in the small barn.

Rain pounds on the metal roof, lightening flashes across the sky and thunder continues to roar. Jethro, our brave defender, our proven protector and faithful guardian – is trying to fit his huge hairy body under the goat bench. Only his head fits. The rest of him sticks out into the sleeping area.

I stroked Jethro’s soft back with one hand and Luna’s sweet chin with the other. We stayed together through the storm. 

Jethro is afraid of storms. Our faithful leader has a fear. We have so many expectations of our leaders, pastors and teachers. People in authority over us have the great responsibility of guiding us with wit, wisdom and by example. They live with everyone watching and expecting super-human abilities.

While they may be “super”, they are not superheros with superpowers. They are most certainly flawed human beings just like us. Our pastors struggle with some of the same fears and insecurities that we do. 

Let’s find time to pray for our pastors and leaders today.  Let’s ask God to continue to encourage and equip them for the important work to which they are called.  A hand lifted in praise, a knee bent in prayer can be the gentle encouragement that gets a pastor through a storm. I want to be that encouragement today.

“But now, this is what the Lord says… ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Isaiah 43:1-2

“But encourage one another daily, as long as is is called, Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13

 

 

Heavenly Hedges

Rosie and her chicks share a large, secure enclosure near the house. They have room to run and play and fly. They have their own house, food, water and shade inside the fenced pen. Nothing can get in – or out of the pen (except me, because I can work the latches and door).

When the dogs are out in yard and wander near the pen, Rosie clucks and calls her chicks to higher ground. They follow Rosie to a roosting spot at the top of their house. Like feathered watchmen on the rooftop, they don’t rest until the dogs are gone.

The dogs wouldn’t really bother the birds.The barn cats however, are another story. This morning, Woody was perched on top of the coop, licking his paws and watching the chicks with interest. Rosie wasn’t concerned – but she should have been. Woody, our best hunter, would eat all three of the chicks if he was able to get into the pen (but he can’t, so don’t worry).

I waved Woody off the pen and thought of the “hedge of protection” God provides around us (Job 1:10). In the Old Testament times, shepherds planted dense, spiny, bushes rather than erecting fences or walls to protect their livestock. The thorny hedges deterred wolves and lions from approaching the sheep and goats. The hedges also kept the sheep from wandering off, usually (there is always that one…).

The hedge is a barrier between us and the “danger” (on both sides). When we pray and ask God to provide a “hedge of protection”, we are asking Him to keep the threat out AND our hearts close to His (keeping us in). Here is the trouble, sometimes, we don’t recognize the things that threaten our relationship or our intimacy with God. Rosie was alert to the dogs, but not to the cat – she did not acknowledge the cat as a threat.

Is there something in or around your hedge that needs your attention today? Is something keeping you at a distance from God. Ask Him to point out the threat/danger that you don’t see…and for the confidence to deal with it. (Psalm 91)

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one…May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2 Thess. 3:3 &5

 

Time After Time

I am convinced that animals can tell time. They know meal time and they know bed time. They know milking time and play time. They know when I’m late – and seem to enjoy letting me know that they know!

They definitely know breeding time. It’s late August and my boys are coming into “rut”. Biology drives breeding seasons. Biology takes over my gorgeous, sweet BBFs (Best Buck Friends) from August to December. I have taken all the pretty photographs of Captain Jack and Sgt. Pepper that I will get for this season. I know what is coming next…it might be nice for a girl goat, but I am not a goat – and bucks in rut are very extra stinky!

You might not know this about male goats, but they like to smell good for the ladies. Since they can’t get out to Macy’s or even Walmart to pick up the latest Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren, they go with something closer to home, or rather, homemade. I guess it’s really “goat-made” since their “go-to spray” is their own urine. Yes, I really said that.

They will spray themselves throughout the Fall and into Winter. They will spray their faces until their soft white fur is yellow and matted. They will spray their legs until the skin is scalded and I am doing all I can to support their skin integrity and keep them comfortable. I can’t make them stop. I can only help them through the rut season with gallons of A&D ointment, herbal skin salves – and give them a bubble bath (or ten) in the Spring. 

We can do that, you know. We can make choices that bring us pain. We can be headstrong about maintaining a behavior that isn’t best for us – or reflective of God’s best for us. We can even suffer along a path for a LOT longer than God ever intended for our stubborn self. 

The beauty of pain is not the pain itself – nor is it our heroic level of pain tolerance. No, nothing like that is beautiful. The beauty is the God who loves us through it. In case you have been  misinformed…God is not pointing a bony finger at you trying to shame you for your choices or mistakes. THAT is definitely the enemy, not our God. 

God is the one who offers the healing salve and prepares the bubble bath. HE is the one who lifts our weary heads and brushes tears from our eyes. He heals, He loves, He makes us clean and even better, He makes us NEW. What an awesome God.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble (“God puts the fallen on their feet again” – from The Message) but casts the wicked to the ground.” Psalm 147:2-6

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing Straight

Luna is my sweetness. She is our oldest goat. She is the queen of the herd. She is good at pushing and bossing the other goats (someone has to keep order!), but at her heart, she is 100% snuggle bug.

Gary Chapman writes about the “Five Love Languages”, 5 different ways that we give and receive love (words, touch, service, gifts, time). Luna’s love language is most definitely “physical touch”.

Luna approached me while I was sweeping the pad this morning. She placed herself between me and the broom and, chin up, looked at me with those beautiful golden eyes of hers and “asked” me to see her.

Now THIS is why it takes me hours longer than it should to get all my chores done. I can’t resist them. I see her. I set the broom down and bend my knees until we are face to face.

I rub and pet and scratch and hug on my girl until she is all loved up. We all want that (maybe not the belly rub, but) – to be seen. To be seen is to be valued and honored and loved for who we are. Our children, our spouses, our friends – we ALL need to know that we are worthy of love.

We focus our energy on being seen, appreciated, valued, affirmed by people, by the crowd, by the culture. I want to re-focus my efforts and my priorities to be seen by the “Audience of ONE”. The One who sees ALL of me, and loves me anyway!

The ONE who sees me now – and sees my potential. The ONE who sees my needs before I even know them. The ONE who sees that I need more than one try to get it right. The ONE who can use my weakness for His glory. The ONE who sacrificed all, so that I could live.

Time to refocus and live today to be seen by the ONE who gives tomorrows. Snuggle in with the ONE who will drop everything to see you through any situation. The most amazing thing happens when you focus on Him… you start to see what He sees – and it is beautiful

“…What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love him.- these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.” (1 Cor. 2:9-10)

Summer Days


Ninety plus degrees and 80% humidity today. Fall (and all things pumpkin) is on the horizon, but Summer isn’t over yet. Jethro is resting his huge furry self under the fan and the girls are grazing slowly in the fields. The sun isn’t high yet, but the day is already hot.

I wouldn’t say that the animals are “happy” in this heat, but they don’t seem anxious at all either. They live in the moment and seem content with whatever is happening in the “now”. Though they certainly possess the capacity to remember, they do not dwell in the past, sulk about their mistakes, long for the old days or burden themselves with guilt.

They have a beautiful habit of living in the moment. They are very aware and alert to what is happening all around them. As prey animals, their guard is never down 100% – although they are a little lazier with Jethro on duty.

No regrets. No looking back and wishing we had said something or done something when we had the chance. We want to live “all in”, fully devoted, faithfully committed in all of our moments!

In the context of setting our priorities in life, the writer of Ecclesiastes tells us to delight in what God gives us. “They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.” (Ecc. 5:20)

Isn’t that an amazing perspective! We can be so thankful for what God is doing right NOW – that regret about our past, and/or anxiety about our future disappear like a gentle breeze passing through the field. Oh how we need that relief in these crazy, busy times!

May you experience that beautiful peace that accompanies God’s grace as you “let go” and let God love you. Capture these moments and enjoy what He is doing in you, through you and around you today. Love Him hard! He is celebrating YOU today!

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Pet. 5:10

Praise Along the Way

I pulled the covers over my head this morning and wanted so much to go back to sleep. My “to do” list was overwhelming me even before my feet hit the floor. My mind was spinning but my feet were stuck – where to start?!! How about if I just stay in bed?

But I can’t sleep because my animals need me and my “to do’s” will not disappear with a nap. So I lifted the covers, stepped into my boots and got my day started.

My last chore of the morning was feeding Rosie and her chicks. All three chicks are thriving with their happy mama. They look like “fourth graders” right now: not adorable, fluffy babies anymore – they are big kids, but just a little funny looking as they grow into their feet and feathers!

Rosie persevered, one day at a time. My small chicken is a mighty bird at heart. She hatched them all out without regard for her own comfort. She kept her chicks warm during the cool nights and cool during the hot days. She taught them to scratch, peck and fly. They still copy everything she does. They are changing and growing one day at a time. They aren’t finished growing but are well in their way!

One day at a time. One step at a time. One small task at a time. Do whatever it takes to keep moving forward. I have found it helpful to break my most difficult tasks down into manageable pieces- and even to celebrate small accomplishments. Praising God with each step fills my heart with encouragement and reminds me that HE is cheering me along the way!

I stopped writing several times during this post to reposition Greta’s legs. She is on the floor next to me while I write. My paralyzed rabbit tries to get comfortable on her dog bed. She tells me she is uncomfortable by grinding her teeth. She tries to move herself and then calls for help.

My chicken perseveres. My rabbit perseveres. I am near and I help my beloved animals. They show me how struggles strengthen my faith. I see how near He is and how He helps when we call.

Be honest with God about your struggles and your desires. He knows your heart and wants to talk with you AND walk with you. He is with you through you. Every. Single. Step.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18.

Quiet Time

I take deep breaths of the still morning. I notice the sparkles of the sunlight reflected off the dew covered grasses -and masterful webs of spider art! I am thankful for cool air replacing the thick humid air, even for a day. Leaves rustle in the soft breeze and birds sing their love songs to their mates. It is quiet enough to hear the goats chew.

Quiet. Peaceful. Still. Thankful for the gentle breath of heaven whispering blessings and reminding me of His promises.

How hard it is to slow down and see God’s view in a culture that honors speed, productivity, technical advantage and convenience!

I do not believe that God’s plan for us includes scheduling ourselves into oblivion- until we are so stressed and overwhelmed that we can’t see straight any more. No, in fact, I see the opposite in scripture.

I see God calling us to follow Him, to allow Him to lead and work and fight for us. God honors us when we REST in Him. But we can’t do that when we can’t hear Him. And we can’t hear Him when we are full of ourselves.

In Exodus 14, as the best of the Egyptian chariots and horseman fast approached the Israelites blocked by Red Sea, God tells his people, through Moses to “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance of the Lord…The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still.” (Vs. 13-14)

In another battle, in 2 Chronicles 20, God told His people, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions and stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…Go out to face them (your enemy) tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” (Vs 17)

Joshua, Gideon, David, and others all received a similar word from God. BECAUSE they could hear Him. He wants us to do the same; to stand firm on His promises; to allow Him to direct our paths; to rest in Him.

There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). I am praying for you on this beautiful Friday morning, that you find time to rest IN HIM today, and listen. Stand on His promises and be encouraged in His love.

“The Lord replies, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14

Dominoes Fall

When I was a child, my image of God was that of a very serious, old man with a beard, ready to catch me doing something wrong. I have no idea why I thought that – but I did. But that was before I got to know Him; before I experienced His oh so personal love and interest; before I understood my need for His grace; just … before.

Today, I KNOW my Amazing, Mighty, Wise, Loving, and Good God – and He has a sense of humor! He has a twinkle in His eye when I chat with Him. (He MAY even wonder some days whatever possessed Him to make such a chatter box!)

This morning I was talking with Him during my morning chores. Yes, it’s like an on-going dialogue… I was praying for several friends who are dealing with crises and asking God to please remind me of something happy to share today, some relief from pain, just for a minute.

I leaned over, just slightly off balance, to fill the goat feeders – when Eve body slammed MaiTai, who thumped into Maddie, who tripped into me – who ended up in a heap of goats on the ground!

“Really?!!” I announced my irritation to the wide-eyed group and then instantly saw the Hand that started it. The Influencer. The Domino Player. The God of good humor!

Side Note: Make sure you pause when you are talking to God. He may be trying to get a word in. If you are too busy chatting at Him, He just might have to knock you over to get your attention.

YOU are a gift, you truly ARE, and you are meant to be a gift-giver. He calls us child, son/daughter, royal, chosen, salt and light… His kingdom grows and the gates of Heaven are opened wide as we share His love and glory and grace just by being exactly who we are.

Whatever stage you are in your life or in your spiritual walk, you are an ambassador, a representative, a living- breathing example of His Amazing Love! Share YOUR stories, your way and let His Spirit do the work in the hearts you touch!

The gospel of Christ, the very good news of our Salvation, flows from your heart and your actions. Kindness, gentle words, time, attention, listening and serving all flow freely from a spirit- filled life. Let it flow out of you and into someone else, who will be encouraged to share with someone else. Watch the dominoes fall – right through the heavenly gates!

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

“…let your light shine before others” Matt 5:16 (and from the Message translation: “By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”