Site Prep

That’s a big fire! You should have seen it; you should have felt it! We are doing some site prep on the farm and this fire was the start of that work.

We are getting ready to put in more pasture and to do that, we needed to clear more land. In order for us to begin clearing with all of the heavy equipment, husband wanted to burn first. And yes, we had a burn permit.

We started by disking the ground with the tractor all the way around the areas that we intended to burn. This gave some barrier around the area to hopefully stop the fire if it attempted to cross. We also set the fire so that it would back burn. By back burning, the fire would burn against the wind instead of with the direction of the wind. This way, it would take longer to burn, but had less of a chance of getting out of control.

We lit the area, along the edges and then our part was to sit and watch and monitor as the fire did the work. It took all day, but by dark, the fire was smoldering and had done it’s job. It was a long, hot day and there were moments that I was a little nervous.

Occasionally, the wind would shift and in a matter of moments the fire would surge and begin to rage. Thankfully, those moments were short and brief and didn’t lead to anything being out of control or any actual danger.

I was thinking that day, as I made loop after loop, checking every side of the 20+ acres that were on fire, “Why are we really doing this?” “Why not just push it all down with the bulldozer?”

Husband said that by burning first, underbrush, small trees and such, are cleared and it makes for a little easier pushing with the bulldozer. It also reduces the amount of debris that would later need to be burned and removed. Once it is all pushed and cleared, then the tractor can be brought in to disk and plant pasture.

I’m a firm believer that what is going on in the physical is also a reflection of the spiritual.

There is no coincidence that currently there is some minor remodeling going on at our home and some major remodeling happening on the farm! God is also using this time, to renovate and remodel our spirits. Is that happening to you too?

Most people would think that all of the home projects, gardening and such that is going on at their homes right now are a result of the pandemic. But I would tell you otherwise. All of those projects are simply a result of what is going on and should be going on in our spirits. We are all going through some site prep!

You see, not only will that burning make it easier to push and clear the property, the ash from what is burned will strengthen the ground and provide much needed nutrients for the future pasture. All of the site prep, when done right and in order, will make the finished product stronger and better. You can’t simply go build a house or plant some pasture. There is ground work to be done first.

Proverbs 24:27 ESV says, Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Site prep is hard. The fires are hot and the days of pushing and clearing are long and dirty. The planting can be costly, but in the end, the pasture is beautiful and becomes a life-sustaining place for the cattle and the farm.

The preparation that is going on in my spirit is hard, too.

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 NKJV

That site prep, that is going on in my spirit, it’s not only hard, but sometimes it takes longer than I would like. You know what else? Sometimes it is costly too. But there is one thing that is for certain, the end result will be beautiful and hopefully life-sustaining.

He’s preparing me to be a vessel of honor. He is making me into something useful. He is doing all of this site prep so that I can be prepared for every good work!

I wrote not long ago, about spring and all of the changes it brings and how we have a choice in deciding to grow spiritually. But this site prep is different. The ground didn’t decide that it would no longer be forest and become pasture. The owner made that decision. The ground didn’t have a choice in the matter. It found itself under submission to the fire. It will find itself under submission to the equipment and the farmer as he works the land. It WILL be remodeled. It WILL become what he intends it to be.

I’m learning. Site prep is hard. But if I submit to the Master, He will make me what He intends me to be. I will be remodeled. I will be prepared for every good work. I will become useful for Him and be His workmanship.

It’s not going to be pretty; that fire is hot and I don’t like it. But Lord I pray that You will burn away the clutter and push and clear out the things that are preventing me from going where You would have me to go and being what You want me to be. I pray that You would till up the ground and plant Your seed, Your Word, so that I will become a pasture that feeds. I want to be that beautiful, life-sustaining ground that You have designed me to be.

And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2 ASV