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Date Posted: 17:26:33 03/03/03 Mon
Author: Cheri
Subject: A New Week. Daily Inspirations and Horse Facts..


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[> Monday's inspiration.. -- Cheri, 17:35:28 03/03/03 Mon



LEAN ON ME

_________________________


Isaiah 40:27-31 (NRSV)


Why do you say, O Jacob,
     and speak, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
     and my right is disregarded by my God"?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
          the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
          his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
          and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
          and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,    
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
     they shall walk and not faint.

_________________________

Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)

_________________________

I found Jesus in the midst of pain. My relationship with my husband had been growing colder with each passing day. The anger and bitterness in the air were almost tangible, and I could see us drifting apart. We tried to save what was left of our marriage. We attended counseling; I tried praying hard; I searched the Bible for answers. None of this worked. I felt pain, loneliness, and betrayal.

After years of suffering, depression hit me hard. I asked my doctor for a sedative. He replied, "The medicine I will prescribe will help you relax and sleep, but it will not solve your problems."

Then I remembered the passage in Isaiah 40:31. I realized that in dealing with my depression I had relied solely on counselors and doctors, forgetting the power of God. My life was so full of pain and disappointment that I did not stop to see Christ's outstretched hands. I did not hear Christ saying,

"Come to me . . . and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

I had exhausted myself searching for answers, and Jesus had been there all along, waiting for me to lean on him. Realizing that changed my attitude - and my life.


Prayer: O God, help us not to wait until our life is torn apart to
lean on you. Amen.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The only one who can make us truly whole is Jesus Christ.

-- Rona Fitzgerald (New South Wales, Australia)

PRAYER FOCUS: Marriages in trouble

_________________________


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[> Monday's horse fact.. -- Cheri, 17:47:47 03/03/03 Mon



Shaping up your overweight horse..


Part 4...


Overweight Horses..


For humans, dogs, and cats, criteria are available to identify readily a person or animal which is overweight or obese. Generally speaking, a 10% increase in body weight over the standard is considered overweight, while a 20% increase in weight constitutes obesity. Unfortunately, no such standards exist for horses. As already mentioned, what is considered an ideal weight will vary between breeds and disciplines. Nonetheless, regardless of breed, horses with a body condition score of 7 or 8 are overweight, while horses with a score of 9 are obese.


For the average size light breed of horse (e.g., Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, or Arabian weighing about 450 kg or about 1,000 pounds), each body condition score unit represents about 16 to 20 kg (35-44 pounds) of weight. Let's assume that this type of horse is performing moderate to vig-orous athletic activity and a body condition score of 4 to 5 is ideal. If, on the other hand, the actual condition score is 7, this horse is overweight by 32-40 kg (71-88 pounds), which is approximately 7-8% above the ideal body weight. At a condition score of 9, this horse would be overweight by up to 80 kg (176 pounds) or 16%. These figures will vary between horses and, to some extent, depend on the composition of the weight gain; lean (muscle) mass weighs more than fat tissue.

Tomorrows fact .. What causes horses to be overweight?


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[> Tuesday's inspiration.. -- Cheri, 19:06:26 03/04/03 Tue



JUDGING GOD'S CREATION

_________________________

John 1:43-51 (NRSV)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

_________________________

Nathanael said to [Philip], "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

- John 1:46 (NRSV)

_________________________

WE came into work one morning and found we had a new employee. I had worked there a long time and so had my friends. We were concerned because this new person was different from us, came from another country, and spoke with an accent. I worried that this stranger would change the whole atmosphere in our workplace, and I don't like change. After all, I had believed the negative things I had heard about people from that country.

So I was rude. I was unpleasant and abrupt with the new worker. When I saw the startled sadness in the stranger's eyes, I remembered the story from the Gospel of John where Nathanael, inquiring about Jesus, asks Philip, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Suppose, I thought, Nathanael had not gone to see Jesus. He would never have gotten to know Jesus or heard the good news.

Like Nathanael, I am wrong to judge others on the basis of where they were born. I realized that God had brought this new person into my life. If I did not open my heart, I might never know the blessing God was offering through this relationship.


Prayer: Teach us justice, Lord. Remind us to love and respect all
your children the same, as you do. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When we judge another, we are judging God's creation.

-- Marie Collamore (Massachusetts, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Minorities who face adversity in the workplace
_________________________


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[> Tuesday's horse fact... -- Cheri, 19:22:17 03/04/03 Tue



Shaping up your overweight horse...


Part 5...


What causes horses to be overweight?


By far the most common cause is overfeeding, particularly relative to activity level. Those of you who "count calories" will be very familiar with this concept--the energy balance equation relates energy input (calories in food) to energy output (calories expended in daily physical activities). If the horse receives too much energy in its diet, over time there will be a gradual increase in weight.

Ponies, in particular, are susceptible to obesity and require strict attention to diet and exercise for control of body weight. It has been proposed that this tendency toward obesity reflects their northern European heritage--in a cold, harsh climate with little in the way of quality feedstuffs, ponies became more efficient in utilizing nutrients in their food. With access to high-quality feedstuffs, this highly efficient metabolism translates into a tendency to readily gain weight.

Among breeds, Quarter Horses and Morgans appear to gain weight readily. In this context, most are familiar with the terms "easy keeper" and "hard keeper." Easy keeper horses readily gain weight when overfed and/or under-exercised (ponies being the classic example). The opposite is true of hard keepers. Even when lightly exercised, these horses tend to be on the thin side and maintaining reasonable body condition becomes difficult during periods of heavy training and competition.

Tomorrows fact .. What is the basis for this difference?


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[> Wednesday's inspiration.. -- Cheri, 18:07:58 03/05/03 Wed



RAISED FROM THE DUST

_________________________

Psalm 90:3-4; 113:5-7 (NRSV)

You turn us back to dust,
     and say, "Turn back, you mortals."
For a thousand years in your sight
     are like yesterday when it is past,
or like a watch in the night.
Who is like the LORD our God,
     who is seated on high,
who looks far down
     on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust,
     and lifts the needy from the ash heap.

_________________________

[God] raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap.

- Psalm 113:7 (NRSV)

_________________________

AS part of a hospital pastoral team, I applied ashes to people's foreheads and said, "Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return." (See Ecclesiastes 3:20.) I received ashes on my forehead too. The ashes used in Ash Wednesday worship reminded me of the ashes of my life.

For more than a week I had been in the doldrums. My body was fighting the flu. I was weary from frustrating work assignments. Spiritually I was struggling to forgive an enemy. Instead of fighting my despondency, I prayed to the Lord to teach me from this experience. I wrote my thoughts in a journal and resigned myself to what God might want to show me.

During worship that evening, I felt a release from the inner weights of life. My burdens were taken up in Jesus' death and in Jesus' rising.

Over the days that followed, I was renewed in strength. I could say with the psalmist, "[God] raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap."


Prayer: Lord Jesus, in your sacrifice we find healing. We give to
you the things that weigh us down. Thank you for taking our sins to the cross and for raising us from the dust. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
When we feel as if our life is in ashes, God offers us renewal.

-- Wesley S. Mast (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those leading worship
_________________________


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[> Wednesday's horse fact.. -- Cheri, 18:57:59 03/05/03 Wed



Shaping up your overweight horse..


Part 6 ..


What is the basis for this difference? Are genetics or problems with metabolism involved with a tendency to readily gain weight?

Unfortunately, we do not have the answers to these questions. But, based on recent studies in other species, it is very likely that genetics do play a role.

Several factors likely contribute to our tendency to overfeed horses. First, it is very easy to overestimate actual energy needs. Most literature concerning the maintenance (non-working horse) digestible energy requirements indicates that a 500 kg (1,100 pound) horse requires about 16 megacalories (Mcal) of energy (16,000 calories) per day. This figure is best applied to horses kept outdoors; horses which spend the majority of the day in stalls will have a much lower daily energy expenditure and thus lower energy needs. Therefore, some nutritionists advocate that the maintenance energy needs of the "couch potato" horse are about 30% lower (11-12 Mcal, or 11,000-12,000 calories per day for a 500-kg horse).

Another factor contributing to overfeeding is an overestimation of the amount of "work" the horse is performing. For example, it is common for pleasure horses to be ridden for one hour at a combination of walk and slow trot, perhaps completing two or three of these rides per week. Some owners might feel that this amount of exercise warrants an increase in calorie intake and will adjust their horse's feeding program accordingly. In reality, however, horses do not expend a great deal of energy during this type of exercise, perhaps no more than 1 Mcal per hour of walking/trotting. If these trail rides represent the horse's only form of exercise with no paddock turn-out, it is safe to assume that energy requirements, at most, approximate the National Research Council (NRC) recommendations for maintenance (i.e., 16 Mcal or 16,000 calories per day).

A basic lack of knowledge concerning the amount of energy in different feeds also can contribute to overfeeding. Beyond recognizing that grains contain more energy than hay (on an equivalent weight basis), it is important to understand that there can be wide variation in the energy content of different grains and hays. As examples, high-quality alfalfa hay has up to 30-40% more energy than average quality timothy hay, and cracked corn has about 10% more energy than oats because of the higher starch content.

Tomorrows fact .. Thyroid dysfunction


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[> Thursday's inspiration.. -- Cheri, 20:35:34 03/06/03 Thu



CALL ON GOD

_________________________

Psalm 116:1-7 (NRSV)

I love the LORD, because he has heard
      my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
          therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me;
          the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
      I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
     "O LORD, I pray, save my life!"
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
     our God is merciful.
The LORD protects the simple;
     when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
          for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

_________________________

Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

- Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

_________________________

I was having a particularly troubling morning at work. Things were not going well. There was talk of financial trouble and possible layoffs, and I was discouraged.
It is my practice to close my office door at noon and to devote an hour to studying the Bible, praying, and reading The Upper Room. On this day, the suggested reading was Psalm 116. As I read it, I reflected on what my life was like before I realized that I could not bear the burden of life's troubles on my own, before I called on the Lord. Reading Psalm 116 gave me perspective on the day.

What a blessing it is to call on the Lord and to trust God's will! Often, we feel as if we bear life's troubles and trials alone. But God knows all our needs before we ask. We can call on the Lord to save us and trust that God hears. Remembering that can restore our hope.


Prayer: God, we give you thanks for sharing our burdens. Give us
faith to trust in your will as we pray, "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."* Amen.


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What keeps us from asking God for help?

-- Rowland Lollar (Texas, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those facing job loss

*Luke 11:2-4 (NIV)
_________________________


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[> Thursday's horse fact.. -- Cheri, 20:47:08 03/06/03 Thu



Shaping up your overweight horse..


Part 7..


Thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism)...


has been suggested as a cause of obesity and a "cresty neck" in horses. The hormones produced by the thyroid gland--thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3)--play a critical role in body metabolism. A deficiency of these hormones will slow metabolism and can lead to weight gain. Therefore, hypothyroidism is an attractive explanation for obesity in horses. Indeed, it is common for overweight horses to be supplemented with L-thyroxine, a synthetic form of the natural hormone.

However, a word of caution here. Hypothyroidism is an over-diagnosed condition, which is perhaps a reflection of our tendency to overlook the obvious when seeking an explanation for obesity in horses. The bottom line is that overfeeding and a lack of exercise are by far the most common reasons for weight gain and obesity.

Tomorrows fact .. Consequences Of Obesity


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[> Friday's inspiration.. -- Cheri, 16:11:52 03/07/03 Fri



SIMPLE PRAYERS

_________________________

Mark 6:45-46 (NRSV)

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

_________________________

[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray."

- Luke 11:1 (NRSV)

_________________________

THAT Jesus prayed is reason enough for us to spend time in prayer. But how do we pray? How do we talk with God?

When I was home from the university, I always attended weekly prayer meetings in my church. The simplicity with which ordinary people prayed made the meetings memorable. They used few prayer-book phrases and prayed as if they were talking to a friend.

One prayer I will never forget. I normally closed my eyes for prayer, but I opened them whenever a particular woman prayed because her face became radiant with love and compassion. She simply talked to God.

What was the prayer I remember? "Lord, one of our lads here is going to be one of your ministers. He's a bright lad, Lord, got a lot in his head; but Lord, please drop it a foot!" As she prayed she moved her hand from her head to her heart. If ever I had a vision of God's desire for me, it was then. Knowing about God is no substitute for knowing God in our hearts as a friend to whom we can talk openly.


Prayer: God, grant that what we learn about you changes our hearts.
Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What we know about God must descend from our head into our heart.

-- E. Philip Schofield (Cheshire, England)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those who model heartfelt prayer
_________________________


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[> Friday's horse fact.. -- Cheri, 16:30:21 03/07/03 Fri



Shaping up your overweight horse..


Part 8 ..


Consequences Of Obesity..


Are there any health consequences related to obesity in horses? Once again, there is very little information available. However, it is possible that overweight horses are at greater risk for bone and joint injuries because of the added weight the limbs must bear. Overweight horses also might be more susceptible to certain diseases, including laminitis (founder). Ponies are particularly prone to obesity. When obese, ponies are very susceptible to founder and a serious disorder of fat metabolism called hyperlipemia. These problems, in part, are related to insulin resistance, similar to adult onset diabetes mellitus in humans. Most importantly, insulin resistance and the risk of developing founder and hyperlipemia are reduced after weight loss.

Overweight and obese horses are less tolerant to exercise, particularly in the warm summer months. With weight gain, fat is deposited underneath the skin--this layer of fat acts as an insulation barrier that is useful during the cold winter months, but it is a detriment during exercise and in hot weather because it impairs loss of heat from the body. Therefore, an overweight horse is more likely to overheat during exercise, a situation that is compounded in hot weather. In these horses, heart and respiratory rates will be abnormally high in relation to the amount of work performed, and recovery following exercise will be delayed. If you plan to ride your horse, particularly in competitions, you must deal with his weight problem.

Tomorrows fact .. Managing Overweight Horses


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