Winter 2021

We are buried under snow. About two feet of the white stuff blankets the ground at the Ranch, and the weather service predicts another large storm this week, another 8- 10 inches. The horses love the snow. It means they get to play out in the larger pasture because with the frozen ground, they won’t turn the grass to mud. They dig in it and roll in it making giant snow angel horses. The cold temperatures often make the condensation from their breath freeze on their whiskers, creating ice beard muzzles. They all have thick winter hair coats and look so majestic, running over to the gate at feed time, their breath freezing and billowing in clouds around them.

The cold weather brings extra challenges for us. We take hot water out to dump in their trough and help encourage them to drink each time we feed. Horses don’t like to drink freezing cold water and a decrease in drinking can make them dehydrate quickly, leading to a myriad of serious health issues. We load our hay and jugs into a sled to pull it back to the pasture. We clear the snow and scoop the frozen poop and wonder about Spring. Through the challenge and dark short days though, there is a peace over the Ranch. In the coldest nights the stars are the brightest they’ll be all year, glittering above and making the snow sparkle.

This afternoon as I was doing chores, I stopped to look at all the snow, the blanket white and clean over the fields, the mounds rounded on top of each fence post and the small flakes falling from the sky, leisurely making their way to a branch, the fence, or one of the horses’ backs. Everything just looks so pretty covered in snow. What once was mud and sloppy half frozen ground now appears pristine. The white spots on Titus are now clean from rolling in the snow. I heard God speak to my heart, “That’s my grace.” The snow? The cold and bleak dark of winter? How could that be grace? He further unfolded the explanation as I continued through the rhythm of chores, moving next to mucking in the barn.

Grace. Pardon. A covering for our sin. This past year has been difficult for everyone. There has been much loss, fear, uncertainty, and instability. There isn’t anyone on the planet who hasn’t been touched by the cascade of events and changes, and yet God’s grace is unchanged. Grace like snow. Falling from the King’s hand of love to us, a pure and clean covering over all of our mistakes, our humanity.

Are there people you haven’t loved well? Areas that in fear, you tried to take control of instead of trusting God? Maybe you’ve been hurt in so many ways that you don’t even know where God is right now. Has doubt immobilized your faith as you’ve looked around at the chaos? Where is God’s love right now? It’s here, as abundant as the snowflakes falling and accumulating to make the mounds and piles of snow around the Ranch.

The snow is covering all of the dirt and mud here at the Ranch. In the Spring when it melts, the soil will appear and the moisture will help the grass and flowers grow. The ranch will be transformed from something frozen, cold and bleak to a place of vibrant colours and new growth. The soil of your heart might be frozen, muddied by the events of the past and seemingly desolate. Now is the time to let the covering of Jesus’ blood, God’s love and grace, cover all of it. He wants every part that is so imperfect and human to be blanketed in sparkling clean white snow. As God’s love shines in like the sun, awakening the seeds He’s planted, Springtime comes.

Soil that was once parched and dry is now perfect for new growth. Invite Him into your heart to change it and watch as seeds of doubt turn to seedlings of hope. Let the warmth of His love melt the frozen ground, making you who He created you to be. Jesus can change your heart, making your life into a masterpiece of love, HIS love, as it radiates to you and through you.

It might have been a dark season, my friend, but transformation is coming. Let the grace that God offers cover the parts of your heart that you don’t want to even admit are there. He’s waiting to love you, to make you clean and give you hope. In his hands He has a crown, as dazzling as the stars shining down on the snow, to place on your head. You are His creation, His masterpiece, made new and perfect, more unique and beautiful than any of the millions of snowflakes that keep floating down.

Ranch Updates

We are looking forward to Spring! It’ll be a while until all the snow melts but we are immensely grateful for our volunteers who continue to come and help even, with the frigid temperatures! We can’t wait to see what God has planned for the Ranch this year. We will plan to start sessions again as soon as we can, which will be dependent on longer days and warmer weather. We are happy to report that the horses have been healthy and happy this Winter and they are looking forward to their kids coming back and getting back to work this Spring. Until then, we hope that you and your family stay well and we invite you to reach out to us if you would like to visit the Ranch!

Prayer Requests

For safety and wisdom as we head into a new season of Ranch activities

For our Ranch kids, as they face challenges every day, and their caregivers, who support them and bring out the best in them.

For God’s guidance as we try to connect with our local community, to raise awareness of who we are and what we do.

That we would be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit as we interact with our Ranch families.

Volunteer Opportunities

We have many different opportunities for anyone who has a willing heart to invest in the Ranch. Whether you’re good with kids or adults, horses or mechanical things, we’ve got opportunities to help here. Let us know if you’ve got a free weekend to help with a proj-ect or two, or you just want to spend an hour once in a while unloading a hay wagon, grooming a horse, or picking up poop! There’s always stuff to do here!

Donate

Donations to support our ministry can be submitted on our website or sent to:
Timber Ridge Ranch, 2691 Route 174, Marietta, NY 13110.

We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.