The Sickle and Guards

I came home to visit my parents a final time before leaving the States. I enjoy the stillness of the country. Through the years I have learned many things from my experiences on the farm. Below I share some thoughts my dad shared with our fellowship.

The Sickle and Guards (By: David, Lora’s dad)

Ephesians 6:11-13 says to polish your spear and put on your armor. Hebrews 4:12 says for the word of Father is living and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword. LIVING AND ACTIVE! Could it be said that Cs carry out the Word in our lives since it is LIVING AND ACTIVE? The last few weeks my sister and I were cutting hay. The mower has double-edged sections to cut on both sides. Consider yourself as a section. I move back and forth yet move forward at the same time. Having Father’s word in my heart I can stay sharp as my sickle has a breastplate for armor.

Here is a picture of a sickle or section with a double guard and a single guard. The double guard has been broken, like a marriage or relationship that is broken.

Father still uses the single guards! 

It gets even better, these sections slide back and forth in a guard. Perhaps we could call it a guide or better yet our Good Counselor to lead our way as a protector. The field has many rocks of all sizes. Many are hidden. If I take my eyes off Jesus and hit a rock or Satan won his attack then a breakdown happens. A mower bar has 17 doubles or 34 individuals guards and sections like a C Fellowship. If one of our flock is hurting in any way the people all stop for the one in need. The mowing is put on hold till relationships or whatever is broken is rebuilt. As we go through life we need to raise the bar when the rocks are attacking.

Each bar has a head, Ephesians 11:3 says our head is Christ. To conclude, Because of sin in all our lives these guards and sections do wear and eventually need taken off or replaces with new. Like my body it is aging each day. The wore out mower parts will be recycled at the salvage yard. They’ll be re-melted to make new again. My new body after this will never wear out. (Rom. 6) Jesus was resurrected from the dead through the glory of the Father we too may live a new life. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for our Savior, Jesus.

 Imagine your last week as a sickle, how have you faired? Has it been good and active? Or, have you had a bad day and do you have a section coming lose? No matter our situation Jesus can freely forgive us all. 


The neat thing about doing hay is you get to have family time while working and storing up beautiful smelling hay for the winter months. It reminds me to consider where I am storing up my treasure, hopefully someplace where moths and rust and field mice can't destroy the treasure. 

I'll miss you Kansas! Maybe next time I come for a visit you won't be 107 degrees! I will definitely miss your sky! Had to pull over on my drive tonight to take in the sweet smell of the corn and the sun beginning to set. My dad helped be package some alfalfa to take with me (going to see if I can bring the awesome smell to China)!