The greatest journey is the journey within…written by Jesse Westfall

The Greatest Journey is the Journey Within.

The most important trait or characteristic a person or a horse can have is a good heart.

What is a good heart? The Bible says “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So what comes out of your mouth? When you speak, do you raise others up or do you tear them down? That’s the easiest place or way to see someones heart.

I’ve only met a few people in my life who had the uncanny ability to not speak bad of people. I’m not talking about people who lift up their friends or people they like, I’m talking about people who seem to be above taking the conversation in a negative direction. Those people are FEW and far between and I am thankful to God that they are here as an example. There are plenty of people who can be kind in good times or to people they care for but when things go bad their heart seems to wilt and the true feelings or thoughts come out. So which of these people are you?

Which heart would you rather have? There is a saying “every where I go there I am” we have to live with ourselves! How do you really feel living inside there? Is it a pleasant place to be or is it a place with little joy? I heard a quote the other day that said “the greatest journey is inward” and I have to agree. The world is going to be the world we create with our thoughts and behaviors and it all starts with our self talk or what we tell ourselves. In your mind are there good thoughts going on or bad thoughts? What do you think or say to yourself or people you don’t like? Do you have compassion for them and the struggles they have in their lives or do you judge them harshly and hope for bad things to happen to them.

That is where you will find out what kind of heart you have and like the Bible says “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”!

Jesse and Stacy Westfall

Jesse and Stacy Westfall

Written by Jesse Westfall. Lives in Mount Gilead, Ohio with his wife, Stacy and their three sons. Jesse is an NRHA judge and has trained horses professionally for 22 years.

26 Comments

  1. John D. Turowski on October 30, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    Mr Westfall please let me know where I can get a copy of your writing, I may be an old man but you and your wife sure exemplify a God directed life I need this. jdturowski097@yahoo.com jt

    • Jesse Westfall on October 30, 2013 at 9:23 pm

      John, I’m honored that you think I would have writings available. The only things I have available are on the blog. Thanks, Jesse Westfall

      • michellemiller334 on October 31, 2013 at 3:03 am

        The first time I saw Stacy at Congress, I was brought to tears….I had never been there before and happened to see her riding Roxy. I had just battled cancer thinking it was over for me…I had went through chemo and radiation and just wanted to be around a horse before I left this earth…and I really feel that my journey began that day…I was introduced to some untrained 2 yr old that was near crazy…but found I had a way with him or maybe he knew I had no power in my arms and tired body…I now feel what happened on that farm during that summer was a miracle because of the horses…I am considered cured…no sign of cancer in 11 years now. I was given a baby I named Gracie when she was a week old because the farm owner was impressed with my passion for her and the willingness the horses had with me to learn…I ended up training her myself and she knew 17 voice commands and I could tell her what to do and she did it even lay down….she never hurt me in the short 5 years I had her…I called a trainer near Utica ohio and don’t think he knew what he was doing even though he had big ad in congress news…Gracie was Easy Jet/Mito Commander lines…and the trainer scared her and she flipped backwards while he was trying to help load her…I was devastated as I watched her head pin under a board fence and her back was broke and it was most horrifying thing I will never forget…I walked in my sleep looking for her for more than a year after her death…it’s been 3 years…and now I have 3 horses…one I was inspired to buy because of Roxy…She is a daughter of Easy Otie Whiz and Hollywood gunsmoke lines…she already had reining license and could do alot, but I’m amateur, this is my 3rd year working with them and I have never rode her since I bought her…I am 50 yrs old and this horse had never been with other horses, never been in a field…and was very unsure of everything…I managed to get past all of this…she is now in the herd as low mare on totem pool with my 13 yr old arabian and my 3 yr old paint. I really would like to get her going and your videos are a great help and I love that you love God…because I know He is the one who led me down this path with my hearts passion. I bought GIA (God is Awesome) at 3 months old…I basically rescued her and 3 yrs later called the little old man I bought her from, I called to tell him how happy he had made me with this baby I got from him…turns out Gia is related by Easy Jet to Gracie…I felt this was divine…a message from the Lord to me…I still miss Gracie…then I got Gemma (Easy Otie Style) and 2 weeks later Roxy died…I cried that day because I traveled a couple hours away to get her because of what I saw Roxy and Stacy do….so thank you…I’m new at this but learning alot and Gemma is such a sweetheart…she is not the same horse I brought to the barn and had to leave her stalled for nearly 4 months of the winter…I was about 1/2 scared of her and I have never took care of my own horses…I watched her do sliding stops and spins and rode her for maybe 5 mins when I bought her…mainly as I said because of Roxy. I got Noelle the arabian who is out of Bey Shaw, Bask, Raffles…she is so smart…and I will never be able to explain how I ended up with her, but she was in a field in Washington state with her mother in a field for 7 years untouched…Tommy Garland worked some with her and she was very nervous of everything like a deer…she was used to help abused women and was with a Christian lady…there are videos of her on lambsend site near Centerburg area…She did 16 of Gracies commands except laying down and the owner had no idea how she knew because she had not been easy to handle…I had never had horses so I was afraid of her and said no a few times in a year to buying her…just too much horse…anyways…now she is a doll and very smart and getting her confidence and the lead mare…she has never tried to hurt me and even pushed me back into barn while Gemma chased a coyote out of field…I think God sent them to me…and I am thankful and just wanted to share…and thank you for being a light in this world. I live in Mt. Vernon not too far away from Mt. Gilead…and am wondering if you know anyone who would be interested in showing Gemma /Easy Otie Style? I have no horse friends and basically not sure of who to contact and not trusting just anyone after what happened to Gracie…I know she has excellent bloodlines in reining and would like to see her excel if she could. I thought I would ask and thank you for any answers you might have…May God Bless you and your family…Thanks for being a light in this world.
        Michelle Miller
        I am on facebook..picture of me with a little paint filly/Gia
        You can see videos of Gemma at michellemiller334..(2012-09–14_10-37-03_95)
        /Gemma is the chestnut..she looks like jac
        Please don’t laugh too much…as I said I am way new to this…

    • michellemiller334 on October 31, 2013 at 2:13 am

      Amen!

  2. Teri Edwards on October 29, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Uplifting. Thank you for a great message. God Bless you.

  3. Pat Grochowina on October 28, 2013 at 6:25 pm

    Thanks Jesse. That is one of the most moving blogs that I have ever read and so true to life!! It is one that should be read everyday!

  4. Kathleen Hagerty on October 28, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    OMG this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. May I try and live this way every day of my life.

  5. simone schulz on October 28, 2013 at 4:10 pm

    thank you jesse for these words from the bible and also that you live it. god bless you and your family

  6. Jenny Martin on October 28, 2013 at 3:04 pm

    I need to read this every day! Thank you, Jesse!

  7. Carol Robinson on October 28, 2013 at 9:28 am

    Amen–you two set the bar high.

  8. Bill Chapman on October 28, 2013 at 8:43 am

    Well spoken (or written) my friend. Continue walking in His steps. I appreciate your example.

  9. Debbie Cormier on October 28, 2013 at 4:28 am

    Not only do I admire you both for your horsemanship, but also your openess of your love for our Lord.

  10. Gail on October 28, 2013 at 3:48 am

    all should take this to heart.<3

  11. Wendy Russ on October 28, 2013 at 12:06 am

    I’m working on this very thing! I like to think I’m always positive, loving and compassionate, but it’s a work of art and faith to walk the walk when tuff times hit. Thanks for the reinforcement and example your family portrays. You are surely an inspiration!

  12. Brenda Fawkes on October 27, 2013 at 11:31 pm

    you bring two of the most important things in my life together on this blog Christ & Horses

  13. Beth kane on October 27, 2013 at 11:10 pm

    Again you both are such a breath of fresh air, real in your daily walk, clear in your communication and so giving to our horse community,again thank you for this gift,the greatest is sharing you love for Christ.

  14. Terri Anderson on October 27, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    Very well said! Thank you for putting that out there….

  15. Hot Rod Cowgirl on October 27, 2013 at 10:43 pm

    You are so very right…thank you for the reminder and for sharing this powerful truth:) God Bless!

  16. Julie Hankins on October 27, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    I think this is one of the best blogs I have read in a long time. People need to examine themselves like this, someday each will have a circumstance where people may show their heart based on how you showed yours. Thanks for sharing!

  17. Eva PoeteX on October 27, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Reblogged this on BeL♡ve ➸ BeLieve.

  18. Pamela G Evans on October 27, 2013 at 10:10 pm

    Thank you ,it makes you stop and think.

  19. irisvillagegirl on October 27, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    Thank you for sharing! Really makes one think!

  20. Alice Corbett on October 27, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    Thank you for reminding us of this!

  21. dusterduck on October 27, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    Hi Jesse, thank you for sharing this gift – the Lord has been speaking to me about this very thing. I’m an aussie and have written some aussie bush devotionals based on life on the land here in Australia. The devotions centre around the horses, cattle and dogs we work with, and the land we live and work in. I gave one of my 31 day devotionals to Stacey at Equitana a couple of years ago and as I’ve been watching her training DVD’s again recently, been thinking I wonder if she read it? It’s called Abundance in the Bush. Anyway, please keep your meditations coming. It means so much to country people to have spiritual guidance from people who can relate to their life and work.

  22. Cathy on October 27, 2013 at 9:28 pm

    I have learned so much from Stacey, following her blog, and know I am learning from Jesse as well. Thank you both so much god bless you!

  23. Dawn B. on October 27, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    Thank you Mr Westfall.

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