Feral Barn Cats

But God commendeth (demonstrates) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us. Romans 5:8

I love to hold a soft furry kitten in my arms and snuggle my head against it. I love the gentle purr of a contented kitty as I gently stroke its back. But not all my kittens were so loving and tame. My dad’s friend lived on a farm. He had feral barn cats. When I needed a kitten, Dad and I took a box to the farm to retrieve a kitten Dad’s friend had caught. I closed the box and held it on my lap to keep the wild kitten inside for the trip home.

We had a large basement with lots of shelves and tools and dark hiding places. That’s where I took the kitten in the box. Mom placed a bowl of milk for the kitten near the middle of the basement. When I opened the box, the kitten hissed and raised a paw of claws as I tried to reach in. Suddenly, it made a dive for the nearest hiding place. Mom took the box and left me to my kitten. I sat across the basement and called, “Com’on Kitty.” I watched the little eyes peek out from under dusty boxes. The smell of warm milk filled the basement. I hoped it would tempt the kitten to come out. “Here Kitty, Kitty,” I continued to gently call. I patiently waited and watched as the kitten moved from hiding place to hiding place eyeing the milk offered in the open middle of the room. After several hours of waiting and watching the kitten inched out and eased over to the bowl. After a few laps I tried to move in closer but it dashed away to hide again. More waiting, then it came out again. This time I got close enough to touch, but as I reached out my hand it ran back into hiding. Here I was waiting again but, this time I didn’t move away from the milk. A few minutes later, it peeked its head out again. It tip-toed over to the bowl. Watching me, it lowered its head to the milk and began to lap. I eased my hand to its back. There it went again, running back to a box. The kitten eased over to the milk bowl again. Finally, it allowed me to begin lightly stroking his back. I spoke ever so softly, so it would learn my voice. I heard a little purr start up in its throat. I let the petting become a little heavier so it would know the true feel of my hand. When the kitten finished, I picked it up and put it on my lap, still stoking its soft fur. Now I had my kitten I could love and play with.

I think I’m a feral barn cat too. When God wanted me to come to him, I ran and hid. I’d try a little religion on Sunday and then run back to the world. Then one day, I got it. I understood that all God wanted was to show his love for me and fellowship with me. Thank you, Lord Jesus for not giving up on this barn cat. Thank you for saving me.

Where's the Towel?

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105

“Okay everyone, lay out your towels before you hit the water!” Groan. My family knows that’s the number one requirement before anyone goes anywhere on the beach or in the water. The towels give us a point of reference. By keeping the towels in sight, we know where to find each other. We know when we’re wandering too far down the beach or too far out from shore. If we simply dumped everything in a pile, I’m sure I’d lose myself and everyone else. Keeping our towels in view helps all of us feel more secure.

Opening God’s Word every day before I face the world helps me in much the same way. God’s Word is always my point of reference. It helps me when I’m making decisions. It helps me recognize the right crowd. It makes me feel secure knowing I have the Truth to show me the way. If I simply dumped my Bible on the coffee table until next Sunday, I’d surely lose my way during the week.

When I’m feeling a little misplaced it’s good to know all I have to do is open up my Bible and God will show me the way. Please let us know how God's Word is showing you His way by posting a comment.

What Does It Take to Get the Prize?

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Eric Carle is one of my favorite authors. I love The Very Hungry Caterpillar who eats too much, tries to do better and then seemingly dies but becomes a butterfly- a new creature. Isn’t The Very Busy Spider great in that the fly hangs around and hangs around until hanging around in the wrong place gets him caught in a web that costs him his life. Eric Carle has so many life lessons in such simple stories.

The other day, I was reading Pancakes, Pancakes to my class. It seemed the boy in the story was going to way too much trouble just for a pancake. When he asked his mom for a pancake for breakfast, she said he had to cut the wheat. When he took it to the mill, the miller had him help thresh the wheat. When he finally got home, he had to gather eggs, then milk the cow, then churn the butter. Then he had to tote in firewood. All this for one pancake? I think I would have gathered the eggs and fried a few. But this boy had something we all need. He had perseverance. No matter how hard the job or how long it took, he kept working until he was able to achieve the prize – a pancake! There was also an extra sweetness when he reached the goal. Mom had strawberry jam in the basement for the pancake.

Paul tells us that he presses toward the mark. He has a goal to reach so he can win the prize. He realizes that he has a high calling from God in Christ Jesus. We know God has a purpose for us to accomplish in this life. If not He would take us to heaven as soon as we were saved. He has a high calling in Christ Jesus for all of us. Paul’s life wasn’t easy. He was shipwrecked, chained, and beaten, but that didn’t stop Paul from preaching the gospel. He had that quality of perseverance. He took his calling seriously. No matter what happened he would achieve the goal and win the prize of heavenly rewards.

I have lots of unfinished stuff in my life. I have crochet projects that need finishing, paintings in progress, stories that stop in the middle, and clothes that need folding just to name a few. I wonder how often have I given up on something God intended me to finish for His glory? What am I missing out on? If I can’t seem to get through the little things how will I handle the major problems of sickness, or finance, or death? With God’s help we will persevere.

Got any stories of God’s help in persevering? Won’t you leave a comment?

http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html

Between Twelve and Thirty-three

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Today one of our teens sang a song popularized by the McKameys titled Between Twelve and Thirty-three. The chorus says eighteen years of  Jesus’ life is a mystery. In the last three, He made history.  It reminded me that we know about the Christmas story and His trip to the temple, but then everything is lost in time except that Luke says “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” He was preparing Himself for the three years of ministry and Calvary. I thought back, as a teen, how did I prepare myself for life? I made good grades. I tried to make good choices in my friends. I prepared to go to college. I got saved at fifteen. That was a new chapter of preparation.

At fifteen, I became serious in Bible reading. I won’t say study because I didn’t know how to study the Bible, but I did read a chapter every day. I began a daily prayer life. I evaluated situations to make sure they were the best choice for a Christian. Did I always make good choices? No, I am a sinner saved by grace like everyone else, but Jesus expected and expects me to be a light for Him in a dark world. I was preparing for the work He had for me to do, though I had no idea what that work was. It turns out, I had more than three years to make a difference in my world. I became a wife who influenced my husband’s salvation. I became a mother of three wonderful children who we tried to raise in a Christian home. I became a teacher. That, like family, is a mission field. Now I write blogs and historical fiction with the purpose of glorifying my Heavenly Father.

I’m not meaning to toot my own horn. I am just saying that at fifteen I began to allow God to prepare me for a work that goes on yet today. It’s satisfying and fun.

Teen years should not be lost years though they may be hidden to the world. May God use those years to prepare Christian teens for a purposeful and meaningful life. It will be the best life anyone ever experienced.

If you would like to hear the song please join the McKameys at :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrr78pN3ks

Join us by leaving a message of how God is preparing you to do His work!

Peeking into Spring

Many , O Lord my God, are they wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalms 40:5

Took my phone out with me on a walk to capture all the little signs of spring. This is my thankful journal for today. I tried to capture the wonderful works that God has done in creating the seasons, now moving us from winter into spring. I’m peeking into spring. I cannot declare all of God’s wonderful works. They are more than I can count.

A lone daffodil pushed up beside a stepping stone.

The red maple in bloom.

Horses along the road.

A patch under the dogwood.

A journal of thankfulness can be created in many ways; a few words numbered and jotted, pictures drawn, camera shots. The important thing is that we not let the beauty of God's creation pass us by. Noticing the "small things" will open our eyes to how good God is to us in all things.