I loved my speaking engagement this past Sunday! I had a biggo time at the red barn of the Whitewright King’s Trail Cowboy Church. Talk about a loving and friendly group. I could only stand before the packed audience for a few minutes when I said I had something to confess before I could go on. The crowd got very quiet as I painfully began to confess, “I am a city girl.” Among the laughter, a man shouted out, “We forgive you.” And the rest of the service went off without a hitch. What fun!

The biggo red barn began to fill up forty minutes before the service began. Over one hundred stood at the back with seats taken and a crowd of 800 plus. The pastor, Jason, has got to be one of the most sincere, meek men who stood 6’4”. He is a former U.S Army Ranger (that’s the gun toting kind, not the baseball team) and city police officer. I told him that his job had not really changed since people still hold their arms up in surrender when he is in the room representing a Savior he genuinely adores. It was refreshing to see such an authentic group of believers. And, they loved me. From forgiveness to a standing ovation, with laughter and applause in between, they received my message of valuing life and living on purpose with joy.

The band was filled with guitar pickers and some banjos too.  From special songs, to “Do Lord,” to the dueling banjos as his prelude, our front row seats were priceless. Wearing jeans and boots was one great thrill for this city slicker and it was obvious that they accepted you just as you were.  The amazing thing is to see their growth in the last three years from 12 to nearly one thousand. Perhaps serving God with no pretense, but only a grateful heart and teachable one, too, is the answer.

Their large arena on the acreage was amazing and put to good use. I thought how strange that I was from the city of Dallas where another kind of “Cowboys” live, and they ain’t roped nuttin’ for a long time! The big city Dallas Cowboys have a biggo barn called a stadium, but their wins do not have eternity attached to them, like it is at King’s Trail.

Though all were friendly, my favorite was with a sweet cowgirl named, Maylee. She just turned four and what a delight. She approached our van when we dropped by the pastor’s house for a moment before going to lunch. She talked friendly to my husband before noticing me. Her face brightened and she began to wave at me saying, “Well, hey there!” She stood full of personality and hospitable friendly ways. After a short chat, it was time to follow her daddy to the restaurant. She exclaimed, “Y’all runnin’ out of here so soon?” My only regret is that she was not running with us too. Sweet and innocent stood my precious little friend as she waved us on down the road.

Amazingly, the Cowboy Church was filled with twins everywhere. Talk about a double shotgun of blessings. In this crazy day of uncertainties, especially in crowds, I was comforted that the pastor and his wife and many others were former law enforcers and I knew there had to be a gun or twenty in the crowd, regardless of D.C.’s talk. More powerful was their love for the One who could still do miracles, transform lives and forgive sin. Pastor Jason’s congregation seems hungry for more and he is ready to feed his flock the pure Word of God. During the service, leaders were acknowledged and thanked for their services, while others stepped up to new leadership roles. He honored them all with words of encouragement that made you proud to be Jesus’ Cowboy and Cowgirl, partnering with the One who owns all the cattle on all the hills.

My hay broker story and working with my truckers left them amazed at His grace on my life. My world has become richer today as I round up my memories of His divine appointments and some pretty awesome people just outside of town.

Crazy as it seems now, I was near a small town called, “Tom Bean.” On New Year’s Eve I heard of this small community for the first time in my life.  While thinking of mottos that rhyme with 2013, I lassoed a great and funny line. “See you in Tom Bean in 2013! A few days later I was invited to the Cowboy Church just down the road from…You guessed it! Tom Bean!! I should have added more to my New Year’s list like: Hawaii and a new car at that rate of harvest. Could there be any greater joy than His rodeo of blessings?

Happy trails to you this new week.

When you choose to look past the horizon… the sky is the limit!