But If You Don't

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 
But if not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3: 17-18

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, three Israelite teenagers taking a stand for God when facing their Captor, King Nebuchadnezzar, is one of my favorite examples of courage in the Old Testament. Knowing that their refusal to bow to the king and worship him surely meant death, they chose God and trusted in His deliverance.

None of us can be sure of what we will face tomorrow. We all make plans that may or may not happen exactly as we expect. My dogs trust me to make decisions that will benefit them. We need to rely on the Lord even more. He alone sees the beginning and the end simultaneously. He knows the plans He has for each of us.

Courage to accept God’s design for our lives develops through a close relationship with Him. Whether He saves us from the fire or not, we can trust we will not face the trial alone. Just as He was in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, the Lord assures us that He is beside us during every trial. We can rest in the knowledge that the outcome reflects His love and plan for us.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the plans You have for me and the courage to face whatever trials may come.

A Godly Woman

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fearth the Lord, she shall be praised.” - Proverbs 31:30

May 14, 2017 will be the second Mother’s Day that I will honor my mom without her being physically present. She will celebrate the holiday with our Lord and I will celebrate the memory of her. I am not alone in this quiet celebration. Other family members and friends hold their own memories close. This is a slight departure, but I hope I may indulge.

I am blessed. Born to and raised by parents who feared God. The responsibility of childcare was a team effort. Each of them brought different perspectives to my training, equal in importance for my whole being.

Since this holiday is honoring mothers, I would like to focus on mine today.

The Lord gives gifts and talents to all of us. Mom possessed the gift of mercy. She once told me that she would have enjoyed becoming a nurse. It would have been a suitable match for her gift. She was a caregiver, not only husband and children, but others as well. It was so much a part of her that when she had to move into the nursing home, she wanted a “job” so she could serve. Even dementia could not silence her gift.

Mom also had the talent of voice. The Lord blessed her with one of the sweetest singing voices. She loved music, especially the old hymns. Even now, I can hear her soft alto singing Victory in Jesus.

A mother who fears the Lord and raises her children to do so is precious. She holds her children close to her heart for her entire life. My mother was such a woman and taught me through example. I must repeat – I am blessed.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for allowing me to have a mother who knew the importance of having a relationship with You. 

Homecoming

“But he is now dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12: 23 (KJV)

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators of Oklahoma Spring Conference. Because it was a two-day event, I needed to arrange care for my dogs. The dachshunds were no problem, but my Catahoula required a different arrangement. I boarded him with a local Veterinarian for the weekend.

My dog was ready to be picked up on Monday. Happy to be going home, the closer we got, the more excited he became. The greeting he received from the dachshunds reflected pure joy at being reunited.

Watching my dogs reminded me of the heavenly reunion that believers will one day enjoy with loved ones who have gone on ahead. Passages in the Old and New Testament alike reassure us that we will see them again.

Matthew 17: 3-4 shows us that we will recognize each other in Heaven. Moses and Elijah maintained their identity and were known by Peter, James, and John even though they had never seen them before.

In 1 Thessalonians 4: 17, Paul encouraged the new believers to look forward to rejoining their loved ones in Heaven. The continuity between this life and the next suggests that we will renew fellowship with not only those we knew, but people of God from all ages.

Heaven is a place of supreme joy. How exciting to once again see loved ones, but most importantly, to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face. What a homecoming that will be.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the assurance that ultimate joy awaits us at our heavenly homecoming.

A Good Start

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
 Psalm 103:1 (KJV)

As I age, seasonal and time changes affect me more. My physical body is reluctant to adjust with each one. Taking their cue from me, my dogs are also loath to change their daily routine.

Quiet time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading strengthens both body and mind. It keeps the line of communication open to God. It is a two-way conversation – our hearts and minds need to be clear to receive His word for us.

Some of my favorite Bible passages are in the book of Psalms. Sung by the Israelites in worship, they are hymns of praise, comfort, peace, and hope. Many Christian churches today sing them as choruses or have expanded them into modern hymns. These give me comfort and open my heart for worship.

I have discovered that adding songs of praise to my morning prayer time eases the struggle I face physically. Remarkably, the aches, pains, and tiredness of my body fade when the Lord becomes my focus.

We are to praise the Lord in all things. Set your mind on Him and lift your voice in song. It doesn’t matter if you are blessed with a “singing” voice; we are to make a joyful noise. Not only does it please the Lord, you will experience a special closeness to God.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for allowing me the blessing of worship and fellowship with You.

Squirrel!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

Distractions.

They come in all shapes and sizes. Activities that absorb minutes, then hours, then days. Some are important to our daily lives, such as work, chores, family, and friends. All worthy of our attention. If allowed, less important activities will eat the remaining time. Shallow lives with shallow thoughts can become the norm.

Unfortunately, squirrels (distractions) pull our focus from the things of God toward the temporary. Just as I must remind my dachshunds of the task when they go out to potty, the Lord must direct us.

It has been said that time is a gift. One that, once spent, cannot be replenished. Nor are we guaranteed the amount of time given to us on earth.

The Lord knows the temptations that distract each of us. He provides a light to draw our focus back to Him. As Christians, we have all the tools to help us stay centered: Read the Bible, Pray, Fellowship, and Worship. Time spent on these things increase our ability to ignore the squirrels. The more we ponder the things of God, the less tempted by the world we become.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for Your faithfulness in providing an escape from the distractions that turn my focus away from You. Help me spend my time wisely.

Mind Your Own Business

“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.” Proverbs 26:17 (KJV)

One of the many traits shared by humans and animals is curiosity. We all begin as infants, developing our senses to discover the world around us. As we grow, so does our desire to explore our environment. We also learn to interact with other humans and animals through emotions.

Curiosity can be magical – opening a new world of experiences. It can also destroy relationships. The problem is personal space. Where does one's personal space end and another person’s begin? When does concern become nosy, a request for prayer become gossip, or a friendship become hurt feelings and loss of trust?

An intrusion on personal space can cause damage.

My oldest dachshund is eleven years old, and the youngest is one and one-half, with several in between. They have a pecking order, not necessarily by age, and usually adhere to it. Occasionally, one will meddle in another's business and conflict results. I must then step in and resolve the issue.

The Lord speaks to us throughout Scripture about minding our own business. He wants us to be concerned for each other. However, as our Creator, He understands our natural curiosity. There is a fine line between genuine care and interfering. We will eventually bring trouble onto ourselves by pushing into the business of others.

Respect the personal space of others as we would have them respect ours. Curb the curiosity and show true love and support for those who need it, because Christ’s love is in us.

Dear Lord,
Help me to be mindful of the line between true concern and meddling.

Here Comes Trouble

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
 Romans 8: 37  (KJV)

Everyone has trouble on occasion. It can come because of the decisions we make or through no fault of our own. When it comes often or for a long period, discouragement can easily set in.

With writing deadlines, I planned my week so that I would have no problem meeting each one. The dachshunds like to nap under my computer desk while I work, usually without incident. Everything unraveled when one of them crawled out from under my desk wrapped in computer cords. He had chewed the data cable to my WiFi router into several pieces.  Without WiFi access, my work halted.

Although, my troubles were not life altering, they still disrupted my plans. I was forced to stop what I was doing and change course. Obligations failed to be met.

The Lord knows that we will have times in our life when trouble will interfere with our plans. It could be a simple irritation like a chewed data cable. However, it might be devastating news about health, injury, or death.

Jesus offers comfort and strength to face whatever trouble we face. He is our haven of rest. Reach out to Him in prayer, then have faith that He will carry you through.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving me strength, through faith, to face whatever trouble comes into my life.

Rescue Me

“God is our strength, a very present help in trouble.”-Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

My Catahoula just turned ten years old. He came into my life by accident as a seven or eight week old pup. The couple that introduced us had discovered him in a shallow ditch next to their driveway on a busy highway. They were on their way to the animal shelter, but stopped at my place of employment in one last effort to place him.

I already had a houseful of miniature dachshunds. I wasn’t looking for another dog, especially a large one. However, this pup, with his long legs and huge paws, grabbed my attention. He had already been thrown away once and was about to be tossed out again. Unwanted, unloved, and in need of rescue. I brought him home.

The four-pound puppy that I brought home is now a happy, healthy, fifty-pound dog. He is an accepted member of the family and brings adventure and enrichment to my life. Taking a chance on him ensured his security.

Jesus made a point of searching out those in need. He touched lepers, strengthened crippled legs with a word, wept in sorrow, heard questions about God, and saw a hungry multitude gathered to hear His teachings.

He knew the needs of the people. The sick, both physically and spiritually, required attention. When the Pharisees observed Jesus sitting down to dine with publicans and sinners, they questioned why. Upon hearing it, Jesus answered, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” – Matthew 9:12.

People are still in need of rescue. Only Jesus knows what will make us whole. Just like the couple that brought an unwanted pup to me, we are to bring those in need of rescue to Jesus. At His feet, they will find healing and love.

Dear Lord, 
Thank you for rescuing me – I am secure in Your salvation and love.

Good Training

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

One of the most difficult and frustrating issues in puppy training is housebreaking. It takes consistency on the owner’s part, but success will be the eventual reward. Other areas of dog care require the same diligence on the part of the owner. Once behavior is learned, it becomes a normal part of the animal’s life.

The Lord instructs us to follow the same dedication in training our children. We teach them the basics. However, further instruction helps them become the men and women He wants them to be. God entrusts parents to provide spiritual and moral training.

Sadly, one of the marks of our fast-paced society is the lack of respect for other human beings. We have lost sight of the need for ethical training. We are caught up in living our lives and have forgotten the responsibility we owe our young people.

This training begins with parents. However, all adults in a child’s life bear significance. When they touch a young life, they are to set an example - one that promotes and encourages positive behavior. The reward is children who grow in the spiritual and moral way they should go.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the adults in my life that set the example of Your love. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share that example with the young people in my life.

Roll in the Grass

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” - Psalm 16:11 (KJV)

Seasons in Oklahoma are often milder than in other parts of the country. Extreme temperatures do happen, but they usually only last for days or weeks, not months, at a time. My little dachshunds like to take advantage of the weather breaks by racing to the yard. They will spend hours running, rolling, and rummaging in the grass. Pure joy.

The chaos of this world tends to draw focus away from simple pleasures. What is truly important gets crowded out by obligations and responsibilities. So much “stuff” is crammed into each twenty-four hour day that we can lose sight of living.

This is not unique to people of the twenty-first century. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, many approached Him with interest in His teaching. Some refused to turn loose of their possessions and positions to follow Him. Their “stuff” blocked the view of a life full of joy with Jesus.

It is essential to spiritual health to release the clutter in our lives. Just as my dachshunds find pleasure in rolling in the grass, we may find pleasure in simple things. When we spend time in the presence of the Lord and discover the path of life He has for us, we experience the fullness of His joy.

Dear Lord, 
Help me to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in this life. Teach me through Your Word to be who You want me to be.

Hearing the Master's Voice

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (KJV)

Centuries ago, people realized the advantage of domesticating the canine species. Dogs were receptive to human attention, and over the years, different breeds were developed. Each breed was designed to perform functions that complimented human life. They became working dogs, hunting dogs, tracking dogs, vermin control, and companions.

In today’s world, most dogs are valued as family members and bring unconditional love.

However, that attachment is not immediate. There must be training involved. That means owner and dog must spend time together. A bond is required for complete devotion. That is only accomplished when the dog understands what the master expects from him. He recognizes his master’s voice and focuses on it.

My dogs have taught me quite a bit about devotion. As a Christian, I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. That brings responsibility and training into my life as well. To grow in my faith, I must focus on my Master. Training involves Bible study, fellowship with other Christians, and prayer. It also involves listening.

The more training I receive, the more I learn my Master’s voice. Sometimes it comes like a forceful wind and sometimes it is small and still. Focus insures I will not miss His communication, no matter the speaking volume.

My faith, as a follower of Christ, strengthens by spending time with the Master. I can distinguish His voice from the many voices of this world. He knows me and assures me that I am a valued member of God’s family.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your patience and care in allowing me to understand unconditional love more deeply.

The Importance of a Name

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

I have yet to meet a young couple who is not excited about expecting a baby. They spend the months leading up to the birth in preparation for the blessed arrival. Perhaps the most important preparation is choosing a name for the coming child.

Names hold a special meaning. Whether carrying on a family name to the next generation or adding a favorite one that will be unique to the new addition, the parents plan carefully. The child will bear the chosen name all of his/her life.

As a dog breeder, I also felt a responsibility in choosing appropriate names for puppies. I needed to choose wisely, because these puppies would represent my breeding and kennel. The name would stamp the pedigree of future generations in the show ring.

Names are important.

About 700 years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah reassured the Israelites that there was a savior coming. He declared that this child would be the son of God and defined by several names. Each name held importance; each identified Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Now may be a good time to consider the personality of Jesus and reflect on the names by which He is known. I know Him best as Savior.

Dear Lord, thank you for showing us who You are through Your many names. You are truly the beginning and the end.

First post

Happy New Year! How exciting to begin 2017 with fresh opportunities and adventures. I hope to get acquainted with many as I share on my blog.

I am a devout Christian and a dog lover. Family and friends are also very important to me. This blog will touch on those things through devotionals. I hope you laugh with me and maybe cry with me, but always feel my heart in what I write. Thank you for spending a small part of your day with me - Blessings, Kathy