Poor Puppies

Today has been a catch up day with my treasurer work for the Thrift shop. I have been on vacation and then on our youth mission trip, so a lot of stuff needed my attention. My poor puppies missed me tons while I was gone and wanted my attention too. But I had to work at the computer no matter what.

They kept fussing at me to play and take them for a walk and give them treats. They got my attention but not the way they wanted it. I finally got frustrated and got stern with them, to leave me alone. Poor doggies. Don't they look sad and mistreated?

Aren't we lucky that God doesn't get frustrated with us and yell at us to leave Him alone? You know that He is always busy keeping the universe going, controlling the tides, growing our crops, feeding the birds, raising and setting the sun. His work never stops. But our creator loves us so much that no matter how busy He is He hears and answers our prayers, gives us strength in our weakness, and makes sure we are taken care of throughout all of our everyday life. The scriptures are full of reminders of this.....

Luke 12:28

The Voice (VOICE)

28 Look at the grass growing over there. One day it’s thriving in the fields. The next day it’s being used as fuel. If God takes such good care of such transient things, how much more you can depend on God to care for you, weak in faith as you are.

Deuteronomy 11:11-12

The Voice (VOICE)

11 But in the land where you’re going to live, the hills and valleys drink water right out of the sky! 12 He takes care of this land; He’s always looking after it, all throughout the year.

1 John 5:14

The Message (MSG)

13-15 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.

Aren't we lucky and blessed to know that God feels this way about us. We never have to beg and fuss at Him to get His attention. Hey, He even gave the ultimate gift for us. Death on the cross. How much more can he love us than that?

Well my dogs finally got to go on a walk after my work was all caught up. Which was just before dinner. Much later than they would have liked to go. I'm so glad you and I don't have to wait on God, the way they had to wait on me.

POOR PUPPIES!

Be sure to think of God and his love as you watch the sun set tonight and remember He won't be too busy to love on you, as He helps it rise in the morning.

Blessings!

Harassed but not abandoned!

Wow, sometimes we humans, and the equipment we use, just seem to make things harder than they need to be! I just spent the morning at the church doing a job that I thought would take only about an hour to do.  It ended up that I was there working at it for almost three hours.

Our computer for worship kind of bit the dust so a new one was needed. I like to help Rodney with computer hook ups because he really does not like that part of using them. Normally I am quite proficient at it, but not this morning. 

First, this is a new operating system and I had to acquaint myself with the nuances of it. Then I had a mistype that made me have to start completely over on the setup. After we got it positioned where we are going to use it, for worship, we realized that the monitor plug is different than the projector's we needed to plug it in to. So, really, I'm not finished yet, when you think about it. We still need to get a different hook up cord.

I catch myself saying, a lot, "Why does everything have to be so hard?" Nothing ever seems to come easy. Even on things that I feel I am more than qualified to do. How about you? Do the things of life get to you too?  

I sometimes just throw pity parties for myself when in reality my life is perfect compared to what others go through. 

There is an American pastor in Iran who has been put into prison because of his faith and is suffering from organ failure. Christians in China are being tortured for their faith. There was a Christian policeman, in Tulsa OK, that was reprimanded because he would not attend an Islamic service where the police were going to be made to participate. I know a sweet little Christian lady who has suffered so much with her health, but every time I see her she is smiling. Rodney and I know of a missionary couple who are about to move away from everything they have accomplished where they are now serving, and start again in another city. We also know of a missionary who lost his son to gunfire in the country he is serving and he is still there, working harder than ever. 

Life for all these wonderful people is hard and challenging but they continue in their convictions. They continue to follow and love our Lord.  

These verses seem to be their motto.....

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Common English Bible (CEB)

⁸ We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. ⁹ We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out.

James 1:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

When I read about these people and I watch the saints that I am around,  I marvel at their strength. I'm sure that they feel like having pity parties too, but they hang in there. They don't give up and they don't give in to the stresses of this world. Instead they look to the one who has promised to always be there for them, knowing that some day the cares of this world will all go away.

So instead of pity parties maybe we could all try harder to remember         II Corinthians 4:9a..."We are harassed, but we aren't abandoned."

Blessings Dear Friends!!!