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“You believe that there is one God. Good!  Even the demons believe that – and shudder.  James 2:19 NIV

Dog trainers tell you that you must be a strong leader.  Dogs will attempt to lead you if you do not lead them.  We are told to establish ourselves as the Alpha  and obvious pack leader or there will be chaos in our homes.  Different methods exist from invisible fences, clickers, E-Collars, to doggie boot camps where your pup resides and is returned to you as a sterling example of obedient perfection.

Jesus was a strong leader wrapped in love.  He led in word and by example.  The disciples boot camp lasted for three years with thorough training.  Just like our pups, they didn’t always get it but they definitely believed that Jesus was the Alpha and worth following.

Atheists and agnostics don’t have that going for them.  An atheist is defined as a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods.  An agnostic doesn’t believe or disbelieve in a god or religious doctrine.  The Bible says that even the demons believe and tremble.

Satan knows God exists and aspires to be the Alpha, failing miserably with his counterfeit lifestyle.  Revelation 12:9 tells us, “The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him”.  Ephesians 6:12 states, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.

Mark 5 records the story of a demon possessed man healed by Jesus.  His body housed so many evil spirits that they called themselves Legion.  In The Message Bible they refer to themselves as a mob.  Jesus commanded them to come out of the man and leave him alone.  The demons begged Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs.  When the demons were forced out of their old home and into their new, the herd of pigs ran down a steep hill and into the water and were drowned.  Verse 13 lists the herd of pigs at 2,000.  That’s a lot of demons who all believed, spoke to Jesus, and shuddered!

Jesus is confident in who he is.  He is a born leader and speaks and acts with authority.     We claim to believe and recognize him as our Savior and Lord but do we let him lead us?  Is he the Alpha in your life?

Demons are on the opposite side and know their enemy.  They recognize him as the Alpha and the Omega.  If the demons believe in Jesus, shouldn’t we?

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“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?'”  John 11:25-26 ESV

Essential.  I considered Danni to be an essential member of our family but she got sick.  After a week of seizures and suffering we were finally told there was no hope and we made a painful decision.  Within seconds our essential eight year old puppy dog was gone.

I am considered an essential employee.  I carry a letter from my place of business stating I am traveling to work because I’m essential yet I haven’t been to work in over a week.  I am staying home unless needed and am essential only on an on call basis.

Jesus was essential in heaven yet he was sent to earth to become a man.  He was essential on earth to teach his disciples to carry on God’s work so that all peoples might know him as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus is essential and yet he died, hanging on a cross for you and me.

Essential is defined as absolutely necessary and extremely important.  It is fundamental, vital, and indispensable.  It is being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character.

We would all like to believe that we are essential and yet we too will die.  While on earth we make an impact on those we love and those who love us but time passes and so do we.

Our longing for time and eternity is found in God.  To him we are essential.  Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created mankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”.  Luke 15:10 tells us, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents”.  Acts 17:28 says, “For in him we live and move and have our being.  As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring'”.

Here on earth, we may be considered to be essential only by a few.  Our status may change from day to day and we may only be needed on an on call basis but with Jesus our status will never change.  He loves us with an everlasting love.  He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  We are loved and important to him.

We will not have to carry traveling papers to prove we are essential in heaven.  Ephesians 4:30 tells us that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption.  I Corinthians 15:52 states, “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  I Thessalonians 4:17 ends with, “And so we will be with the Lord forever”.

Essential things on earth may be temporary and will soon pass away but we will always be essential to our heavenly father!

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Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him”.  John 3:14-15 NIV

Burt has very long, lanky legs.  He can easily jump on our bed but mostly, he stands beside it looking at you with his soulful, brown eyes.  He gently lifts his paw and swipes the bed.  My husband gathers him in his arms and lifts him to the bed where he receives all the love and attention he requires and deserves.

Lucy is another story.  She is like a kangaroo and does not need lifted up onto anything.  She is happy to jump even though she weighs thirty pounds less than Burt.

In Numbers 21, the Israelites are on their journey to the Promised Land.  They have left slavery behind in Egypt and God has provided them bread from heaven called Manna to eat on a daily basis.  Just like us when we’ve been trapped in our cars or our houses too long, God’s people started to gripe and complain against him and his provisions.  Why did we have to leave Egypt?  I’m sick of the desert.  This food you’ve given us is gross and boring.  There’s no water.  Their grumbling continued against God until he sent venomous snakes.

The snakes bit the Israelites and many died.  The people approached Moses confessing their sin and asking him to pray to God for them.  Verse 8 records the Lord telling Moses to make a snake and put it up on a pole.  Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.  Moses did as he was commanded and anyone who looked at the bronze snake that had been lifted up, lived through the poisonous snake bites.

In John 3, Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus and uses the same illustration and compares it to himself.  In John 12:32, he tells us, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”.  Jesus is predicting his death and how he would die on a cross, lifted up from the earth.

David speaks of Jesus death on a cross many years before Christ was born.  Psalm 22:16 states that they pierced his hands and feet.  It goes on to say that people stare and gloat over me.  They divide his garments among them and cast lots for his clothing.  All things that took place at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  One thousand years before Jesus lived, King David wrote a psalm depicting his death on a cross.

700 hundred years before Jesus lived, Isaiah prophesied in Chapter 53 of the man of sorrows who carried our sins.  A man pierced for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.  Jesus the lamb that was slaughtered.  Verse 12 tells us that he was numbered with the transgressors and made intercession for them.  A prophet tells 700 hundred years before it happens that Jesus will be hung with two thieves and will pray to God for their forgiveness.

As  we go through life grumbling and complaining about our journey, snakes of sin, temptation, and discontent are biting at our feet just like the snakes in the desert.  Jesus has already been lifted up and when we lift our eyes to Him for our salvation, we shall live.  Prophets foretold it, history records it, and we must believe it.

Just like Burt stands by our bed, looking to us to lift him up, stand at the foot of the cross.  Look up!  Jesus is there waiting to lift you up and give you all of the love and attention you need. You are forgiven!  You are loved!  You are cleansed!  Though bitten by sin, you shall live!

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“Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”  I Timothy 6:12 NIV

We took the dogs for a walk at the Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg, MD.  They stood overlooking Bloody Lane.  September 17, 1862 is remembered as the bloodiest day in American History with about 23,000 casualties.  The sunken road that was later renamed Bloody Lane was home to a nearly four hour battle with some of the fiercest fighting during the Battle of Antietam, or as the confederates named it, the Battle of Sharpsburg.  Blood flowed like a river inside the sunken road that day, with bodies stacked on top of bodies.

Battlefields appear everywhere in our lives no matter how hard we try to avoid them.  Our homes are filled with discord.  Churches are filled with strife.  Our schools are not safe from bullying.  Workplaces have contention and jealousy.  We are people with differing backgrounds, opinions, and beliefs.

Our own bodies are battlefields.  We struggle against depression, negativity, and destructive thought patterns.  Illnesses come against our bodies from no fault of our own or from neglect and unhealthy habits.  Our checkbooks and bank accounts, our savings or lack thereof is a constant threat to our wellbeing and peace of mind.  The struggle is real.

Jesus said in this life you will have trouble (John 16:33).  He said he has told us that so we would have peace as he has overcome the world.  In John 14:18, Jesus tells us that he will not leave us orphans because he will come to us.  In Deuteronomy 31:6, God tells us not to be afraid or terrified for the LORD your God goes with you.  He will never leave you or forsake you.

Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  Are you struggling spiritually?  Ephesians 6 goes on to tell us to put on the whole armor of God to protect us from the evil one.

Is your battlefield in your mind?  Fear taking over?  Negativity and depression filling your thoughts?  Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will”.  2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”.  Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report:  if there be an virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”.

Having trouble with others at work, home, or church?  Romans 12:18 tells us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”.  Can you hold your tongue?  Not respond to that irritating FaceBook post?  James 4:7 states, “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”.

Finally, Revelation 12:11 tells us, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death”.  Just like the soldiers in the Civil War who gave their lives, Jesus died so that we might have freedom from the battlefields in our lives.  He shed his blood and he hung on a cross for you and me.  The victory was won at Calvary.  Love, peace, joy, and reconciliation all sprouted from the drops of blood that fell from our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.  There might be a skirmish or two left to fight, but the battle has been won and we have overcome!

My mother-in-law always wanted my husband and I to sing this song in church but we only managed to sing it around her piano with her accompaniment.  She was always encouraging and if she lost any battles with her thoughts and words, she would clasp her hand over her mouth and ask Jesus to forgive her!  This song is for you!

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We refuse to wear masks and play games.  We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes.  And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves.  Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.  2 Corinthians 4:2 THE MESSAGE

“You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known.  You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town”.  Luke 12:2-3 THE MESSAGE

Everyone is wearing a mask these days.  The bottom of our faces are totally hidden from view.  When we pass no one can tell if you are smiling at them or frowning unless you have expressive eyes and the smile reaches that far.  Most of the dog parks are closed so even our pups are limited in contact with others.

A mask is described as an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment.  Masks disguise us and keep us from letting others see our true selves.  It protects our feelings and our heart by keeping others out.

Luke 12 in the Message Bible tells us that we can’t keep our true self hidden forever.  The mask eventually will slip and our true face will be known.  We can’t whisper in private and preach the opposite in public.

Transparency is the key.  Jesus sees us as we are.  We stand before Him unashamed and forgiven.  We take our masks off in prayer and share our innermost needs, desires, and thoughts with the God of the universe.

He urges us to be transparent in our relationships with others too.  What we do in private should be able to be seen in public.  2 Corinthians urges us to take our masks off and be truly seen.  We are instructed not to play games and manipulate others and circumstances.  We are to say what we mean and mean what we say.  We are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).  We represent him wherever we are and all will be able to judge us by the word of God because of our words and actions.

When we let our masks slip, others can see how God has changed our lives.  Words spoken in testimonies from the heart reach people where they are instead of judgmental accusations instructing them how to live.  Jesus loves us as we are and because of the confidence we have in him, we can live transparent lives so that others will see Jesus in us.

Drop your mask.  Smile a smile.  Tell others about the one who died for us so that we might be transparent and free before our heavenly father and point others to him.

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“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”  Romans 8:35a ESV

Mercy is a blue eyed Husky.  Mercy was four when adopted and has had a furever family for five years.  Her humans became involved in H2M2 Nation-Operation: Transport, helping to transport Huskies in need of rescue.  Enter Roman, the brown eyed beauty.  He was to head for North Carolina when his adoption fell through and he joined Mercy and her humans as a transport fail.  Since his adoption, the two huskies have become inseparable.  They are besties that are always together.

Life sometimes throws us a curve and we are separated from those we love.  Separation can be temporary or permanent.  It can be with or without our agreement and cause great anxiety.  We long for intimacy and relationship with others; for someone to be our bestie and know us and love us as we are.

Romans 8 tells us of the one who already loves us unconditionally.  The one who will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  The one who saw us as we were and as we are and loved us enough to die for us (Romans 5:8).

Romans 8:35-39 starts out with, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”  The following verses convince us that nothing shall separate us from Jesus’ love when we give our heart to him.  It asks, “Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword”?  Paul says nothing will separate us because in Jesus we are more than conquerors.  Verse 38 and 39 go on to say that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, either height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Mercy and Roman have been adopted into a family that loves them.  They are taken care of and provided with all they need and so are we.  Ephesians 1:5 states, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.  This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure”.

We have found our forever home! We’ve been adopted into the family of God!  Be inseparable from the God who loves you!

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

Burt likes to go to the City Park.  He knows where the stray cats gather and he makes sure all ducks know when he arrives.  He studies his opposition.  He knows their routine and their positions within the park.  He quietly observes and then moves forward on the prowl.  He wants to make sure that every duck and swan is in the water before he leaves the area.

The King James Version of 2 Timothy 2:15 says to study to show yourself approved.  Just as Burt studies his friends and foes in the park, we are to study the word of God.  Psalm 119:11 tells us the psalmist hid the word in his heart that he might not sin against God.  Peter writes in I Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect”.

We study the scriptures so we can praise God in the good and bad times.  We study the scriptures so they are hidden in our hearts and the Holy Spirit can bring them to our remembrance.  We study to know God and his ways. We study because we desire to  become more like Jesus.  Timothy tells us when we do we will not be ashamed and we will handle the word correctly.

We do not want to take scripture out of context or misuse it.  We might think it would be impossible to use the word of God incorrectly but two examples come to mind.  First, in Genesis 3, the serpent twists God’s words to Eve.  Adam and Eve had been told they could eat of any tree in the Garden of Eden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would die.  Satan asks Eve if God really said that?  Surely, he didn’t mean you  will die?  God knows if you eat of the fruit of that tree you will be like God and know good and evil.  Just enough doubt.  Just enough twist to make it make sense to disobey God.

The second example, is when Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness.  Satan hit Jesus with scripture.  He told Jesus to jump off the temple because it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone”.  Makes sense to me but Jesus replied with another scripture, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”.  Satan came back with more scriptures and two other temptations.  He desired Jesus to bow and worship him but Jesus responded, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

How are we to know the correct responses unless we study the scriptures?  I tend to be filled with fear when I read of the temptations in scripture, wondering how I would respond.  Instead of wondering and being fearful, I need to trust the one I have entrusted with my life.  I need to fill my mind and heart with his word and be ready to share the hope that is within me with others.  I need to present myself to God, a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

Away with you Satan!  I belong to the one who was born of a virgin in a manger, lived without sin, and was about his father’s business while on earth.  I belong to the one who suffered and died for me on a cross.  I belong to the one who defeated death, hell, and the grave.  I belong to the risen Lord!

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The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  Psalm 23:1 NIV

Since we got Burt, our dog food container seems to empty quickly.  Add Lucy to the equation and the dry food disappears even faster.  It seems that we are always running to the store for something that we lack.  There is a continuous need for more food, toilet paper, dog food, and the list grows daily.

Lack is described as the state of being without or not having enough of something; to be without or deficient in.  Most of us feel lacking in some area of our lives.  We fear we are not good enough, smart enough, rich enough, and the list grows daily.

God tells us that if he is our shepherd, we lack nothing.  His list of essentials may not be the same as our list.  Galatians 5 lists the fruit of the Spirit and tells us that the Spirit gives us love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to be worried about our need for clothes and food.  He explains that if God takes note of a little sparrow that falls, he will definitely see you and me.  Jesus asks why we worry because worry can’t change anything.  God takes care of the flowers, he will take care of you and me.  Verse 33 states, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.  Verse 34 goes on to say, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own”.  Amen.

When we focus on God instead of ourselves we realize he is our shepherd, we lack nothing.  He is our provider, our God, our deliverer. Jehovah-Jireh is the God who provides.

The third verse of the hymn BE THOU MY VISION puts it this way:

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise; Thou mine inheritance, now and always; Thou and thou only, first in my heart; O king of glory, my treasure Thou art.

God is our inheritance today, tomorrow, always.  When we put him first in our heart, He is our treasure.  We lack nothing!

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“If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back?  Run-of-the-mill sinners do that.  If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal?  Garden-variety sinners do that.  If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity?  The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.  I tell you, love your enemies.  Help and give without expecting a return.  You’ll never – I promise – regret it.  Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst”.  Luke 6:32-35 The Message

Neptune’s photo was posted on Facebook with a caption stating that it was easy being quarantined with someone who adores you.  Dogs love you unconditionally.  They are excited at your arrival.  You are their world and the object of their affection.

I John 4: 7-8 tells us, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love”.  God is love.  John 3:16 states that God loves us so much that he gave his one and only son to die for us. Just like Neptune loves his human, God loves us unconditionally.  We are his world, the world he sent Jesus to save.

Not everyone is lovable.  Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.  We didn’t do anything to deserve his love.  He offered it freely.  In the scripture from Luke 6, Jesus is instructing his disciples to do the same.  Love the lovely and the unlovely without expecting anything in return.  Do it just because he tells you to love.  Do it as an example of Christ.  Do it because you want to be like Jesus.  Do it because Jesus did it for you!

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Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe.  None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.  When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over the doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.  Exodus 12:22-23 NIV

Bella has never liked being locked in her kennel for any reason.  Seneca is an escape artist who has finally met her match in her newest crate.  Burt uses his hound dog howl and rattles his cage while Lucy works to get the floor of her kennel moved out so she can wiggle free.  Our dogs do not like being locked up or down!

The Israelites were placed on a lock down during the tenth plague of Egypt. They were told to slaughter the Passover lamb.  The lamb’s blood was to be placed in a basin.  Dipping a bunch of hyssop into the basin, each household was to put blood on the top and both sides of the doorframe of their home.  They were instructed not to leave their house until the next morning.

During the night, the LORD would go through the land and strike down the Egyptians but he would see the Passover lamb’s blood on the doorframe and pass over that doorway.  The destroyer would not be permitted to enter the houses marked by the lamb’s blood.

The Israelites obeyed and their lives were spared. They lived and were set free from Egyptian bondage.

The Israelites were told to observe this ceremony when they entered the promised land and to pass it down to their children.  Passover is the major Jewish spring festival which commemorates the Israelites departure from Egypt and their liberation from slavery.

Our leaders and common sense has dictated that we stay at home recently due to a deadly virus.  We wear protective gloves and face masks in order to stay healthy and virus free.  We pray that the virus does not strike those we love and mourn with those who it has touched.  We long for a quick cure.

A cure for sin has already been provided.  The Passover lamb has been slain.  When you place his blood on the doorpost of your heart, your sin has been washed away.  Your life has been spared and you have been set free from the bondage of sin and the fear of death.

He has opened the door and set you free!  Celebrate that freedom in Christ today!

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