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 Barrel racing is fun. It gets in your blood—almost like an addiction. When your horse and you are working together—it is a good, good feeling.
I started out when I was ten barrel racing with a great old seasoned barrel horse. He was automatic and picking up blue ribbons was easy. Then in 1980 I got my card in the WPRA, (I think it really was still the GRA then, but most of you wouldn’t remember that). I’ve been at this a long time. I haven’t arrived yet, not knowing but a fraction of what there is to know about being a great horsewoman. Nor do I even come close to knowing or applying all that is in the Bible. I love competing and barrel racing. By far the deepest desire of my heart is to be like Jesus, and I am running for that goal. I would also love to have one more great horse before I retire, and that probably has no spiritual value, but I still love that feeling of a great run on a great horse.
 To be able to barrel race is a privilege that few people in the world ever get to enjoy. To have a good barrel horse is a gift from God. God loves each of us and He has given us this desire, ability, and privilege to ride horses and compete at a fast pace.
God’s gifts are given for many reasons but one reason is simply for our enjoyment. In 1 Timothy 5:17 we are told ‘to trust in God, who gives us all we need for our enjoyment.’ We should never cease to enjoy this gift of barrel racing.
The overwhelming frustration that comes with barrel racing can ruin the joy God wants to bring to us. Anger can easily set in. We can let the circumstances ruin our day. And worse, we may take our anger and frustration out on others. God has a better way for each of us to compete. He wants us to be filled with His joy and His peace at all times.
It is easy to get messed up in our head. Matthew 5:6 says “we are blessed when we get our inside world—our mind and heart—put right”. Our heads get right when God is first, our spouse second, family third, and then everything else.
 We are blessed when we are content with just who we are—no more, no less. That’s the moment we find ourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. (Matthew 5:5) It is so easy to turn the joy of barrel racing into striving to be better than everyone else. We can get to the point that we are never content with our barrel racing run, our barrel horse, or our life. Making a lousy run should not make the rest of our day lousy.
Becoming obsessively critical of our barrel racing can become a bad habit. We can let it fall into all areas of our life becoming critical of everyone and everything, always expecting perfection, according to our standards.
Neither should making or not making the fastest run of the day have anything to do with how we value ourselves! God loves each of us totally and unconditionally no matter what happens. To have done the best we could at the moment with what was given to us; and have done it in such a way that God was pleased is what is important.
Jesus came to save us. He also came to give us joy and peace. We at Western Meadows pray that each of you will be filled with the full measure of God’s joy when you compete and when you don’t. (John 17) We pray that the Lord of peace will give you peace at all times in every way. (2 Thess. 3:16) May we all run in such a way that each of us will be eternal winners.
First printed in Jesus Loves Cowgirls, Second Issue. All verses taken from Message Bible
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: ©2008-2012 Western Meadows
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Office Hours
Monday through Thursday
9 am - 4 pm
Mountain Time
Praying with you is our privilege.
Phone 719-320-1067
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