Tag: faith

AWAKE, O SLEEPER

This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14 NIV

I was sound asleep, but in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, I was awake. Burt was standing by my bed barking.

Grumpily, I got up and turned on the bathtub faucet so Burt could get a drink. It doesn’t matter that there are three other water bowls placed around the house because Burt likes to drink out of the bathtub faucet. It doesn’t matter if you are awake or asleep because Burt wants you to get up!

When Jesus calls, it’s not going to matter if you are awake or asleep! Like Burt, he will expect an immediate response.

I Corinthians 15:52 states, “in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed”. In I Thessalonians 4:16-17, it tells us, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever”.

I’m thinking that Burt’s bark will be tamer and a lot quieter than the trumpet blast of the Lord described in these verses. I’m also hoping my response won’t be as grumpy!

I want to be ready and expecting that trumpet call so I will respond quickly to meet Jesus in the sky. As much as it pleases me to make Burt happy by responding to his needs, my reward in heaven will be much greater.

So this sleeper wants to wake up and be ready! How about you?

To Donate to Help Animals in Need:https://www.luckydawganimalrescue.com

SEPARATION ANXIETY

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 NIV

We live on a busy street about two blocks from an active railroad track. When our dogs get loose, besides worrying about traffic, I worry about them getting hit by a train. I try to give my fears to God and pray for their safety but I’m still searching for them and trying to ensure their safe return.

Recently, I found Burt at the end of the street circling a chicken coop after escaping out our front door. He was chased away by the chicken’s owners. He crossed the railroad track and disappeared into the weeds.

He soon resurfaced as I called his name but then I heard the clickety-clack of the train. He was on one side of the tracks and I was on the other with a train passing between us. I quickly got separation anxiety!

Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs are separated from their owners and experience distress and anxiety. I was the one with the anxiety, not Burt.

I went to the other end of the tracks and started back home with no sign of my runaway pet. Then on the main drag I saw him. He had traffic stopped in both directions with some out of their cars trying to catch him. I opened the car door and with his tongue hanging out and panting heavily, Burt jumped into the car and was safely on his way home. We were reunited!

Just like the train separated me from Burt, sin separates us from God. We are on one side of the track and God is on the other with sin making it impossible to cross over safely.

Thankfully, God is a loving parent searching for his children. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. John 3:17 says God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.

We can be standing in the middle of the road, tired and not knowing what to do and God will come by and offer you that open door. Just climb in and let him drive you to safety.

Don’t let sin keep you separated from God. Don’t live in anxiety and fear. 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.

Just like I sought Burt to bring him home safely, God is searching for each one of us who is separated from him. He wants to bridge the gap, tear down the wall, stop the train of sin and bring you safely home to be with Him forever.

Don’t experience separation anxiety! Be reunited with God today!

Donate today to help animals in need: https://www.noahsarps.com/

NO DOG LEFT BEHIND

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. II Peter 3:9 NIV

We’ve had two extra dogs recently, Idgie and Eleanor. On our group walks, I get the little Chihuahua, Eleanor, and doggie bag duty. I have a hard time keeping up and poor Eleanor wants to be with the big dogs. The other three stop periodically and look around while we try to catch up. It is as if they are saying,’No Dog Left Behind’.

I’m sure the phrase ‘No Man Left Behind’ has many meanings but I am used to hearing it with a military background. Movies and television show people in a military unit that are committed to each other. No one is forgotten or left behind. ‘No Man Left Behind’ represents a comaraderie. Each person is coming home no matter what it takes.

As the church of Jesus Christ, we also believe in the ‘No One Left Behind’ mentality. We are the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12 goes into detail about all believers being part of the same body. We all have different functions. We all have different gifts.

Verse 14 of 1 Corinthians states, “Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many”. Paul tells us that there should be no divisions among the body of Christ. We need each other.

When someone is sick or hurting, the church should have their back. When one person is in trouble, another should lend a helping hand. When we are having a slow day, the pack should surround us with love and pull us along.

No Christian Should Be Left Behind! The body of Christ is there to assure that this does not happen. We are the army of God marching forward to His orders and to ascertain that all soldiers of Christ make it to their final destination, eternity with Him!

Help animals by donating: https://www.longdogsrescue.org/

THE OPEN DOOR

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” Acts 5:17-20 NIV

Burt is seven now. He seems to have slowed down and settled into a routine that is comfortable for all of us. Until he surprised us one day with a glimpse of the old Burt.

We were holding the door open talking and before our very eyes, Burt is out the door and just a distant blur running down the street. Neighborhood folk pointed and called directions as Burt made his way down this street, through yards, and down that alley. The mailman called his name two streets over but the wind whipping his long ears was too enjoyable to pause for friends on his quest for freedom. Burt saw an open door and did not hesitate to take the opportunity to run and enjoy his freedom that afternoon.

In Acts 5, the apostles had been placed in jail. An angel of the Lord came and opened the doors of their prison and told them to go and tell everyone of their new life in Christ. They went and the next morning stood teaching all the people in the temple courts about Jesus.

Jesus has opened the door for each one of us. We can choose to remain in our cells or we can run through that open door to enjoy freedom in Christ Jesus.

We are released from sin and its captivity. We are free to follow Jesus and be renewed in body, mind, and spirit. Free to follow Him wherever he may lead us.

Revelation 4:1 states, “Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us and run the race before us.

Jesus has provided the open door. He paid our debt that we could be free to come boldly to the throne of grace and receive mercy.

The door is open wide. Be like Burt and run through it and experience true freedom. Jesus will lead you step by step as you walk with him.

To donate to help animals: https://bestfriends.org/

I WANT TO STROLL OVER HEAVEN WITH YOU!

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Bella made her own doggie door by chewing through the door!

Enoch walked faithfully with God, then he was no more because God took him away. Genesis 5:24

Bella passed away recently! She was a pointer/hound mix and the last of our original three dogs.

The next day, I heard the song by Alan Jackson, ” I Want To Stroll Over Heaven With You”. I thought that is exactly what I would like to do. I want to grab a leash, attach it to Bella’s collar and walk on streets of gold just to enjoy her company one more time.

I can’t say that over the years, Bella and I really strolled. A better description is dragged, pulled, and, well, you get the picture!

I looked up the meaning of the word stroll. Some of the definitions are to walk leisurely as inclination directs, ramble, saunter, to take a walk. A stroll implies a more casual attitude often done for enjoyment, relaxation or taking in the surroundings without a specific destination or purpose.

Bella’s dog walks usually had a purpose. We were taking care of business. We were sniffing and playing and using boundless energy. As the years went by, Bella slowed down but she could still trot like a horse, roll in the grass, and sometimes when her legs were stronger in the morning, run like the wind!

Bella was faithful. She loved her family and wasn’t afraid to show it. Bella knew what it was to receive love. She was accepted and loved even though she chewed doors, couches, remotes, glasses, her own tail, etc. etc.

She liked food. The only time Bella turned down a treat was that last morning and that was probably because we had given her so many of her favorite things to enjoy, knowing it was our last chance to spoil our little pup.

The Bible doesn’t say to much about Enoch in Genesis but what it does say packs a punch. Enoch walked faithfully with God and was no more because God took him.

Faithful means to be loyal, steadfast, and committed. God rewarded Enoch by just translating him to heaven so he could continue to walk faithfully with Him.

Bella walked faithfully with her family. She was loyal and loving and she too is no more here on this earth but running free in heaven.

I would like to be remembered as faithfully serving and walking with God. Would you?

Let’s all be more like Enoch and Bella, faithful in our daily life so someday we can stroll over heaven with those we love and miss. We will see Jesus face to face. He’s the one that makes it all possible!

Continue reading “I WANT TO STROLL OVER HEAVEN WITH YOU!”