KNOCK KNOCK. Who's There??

 

I want to start out with a little experiment. It's an experiment to see what answers you might give to three things I will ask.  And though I'm pretty sure what your answers will be, my questions and your responses are to make a point regarding this blog. So let's get started. 

Question #1: If a stranger was knocking at the front door of your home claiming he was your brother and wanted to come inside your home, would you open the door and let him in? 

Question #2: What if this stranger standing outside your door had a credit card with your name on it and told you he had been buying lots of things with it. And that by your good name he had the ability to get anything he wanted. Would you then believe he was related to you because he had a credit card with your name on it? 

Question #3: Last one. What if this same man continued telling you all the good things he had done with the credit card bearing your name and began begging you to please accept him as a part of your family because all the things he had done left a really good impression of YOU to others?  Would any of the three things I just mentioned make you want to open the door to your home and welcome him as a part of your family? 

I'm sure your answers were no.  I believe that despite the fact all the good he was able to do with the credit card in your name, you would still see him as a phony and a fraud.  Just because this man used your name for good or for gain does not make him a part of your family at all! Let's look at scripture. Matthew 7: 21-23 KJV "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, BUT ONLY THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, 'I NEVER knew you. Away from me." 

 

 

For the sake of understanding the credit card illustration, I will compare The Word of God to the credit card in my example as an analogy.  On that credit card, a name is written --- the Name Jesus. A Christian possessing that 'card ' therefore, according to the scripture in Matthew 7 can:  prophecy, can perform miracles, and even cast out demons.  And they can do so not because they themselves possess any power, not because they are better than any other sinner saved by grace, but because THE NAME OF JESUS IS THE POWER, like the same clout a credit card carries.   Jesus said IN MY NAME shall they cast out demons (Mark 16:17).  In my example then, without the credit card bearing your name, the guy on your porch could not have done anything on his own because he had no credit, no clout.  The "power" given to him (if you will), was because of your name on that card!  But hear this, even though the man may appear to be someone special because he carried a credit card, still, he was a fraud.  He was just using your name. He was not, nor would he ever be related to you. There was no relationship to connect the two of you.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines the word 'relationship' as "the state of being related; kinship." Much in the same way many people are professing themselves to be Christians, using the Name of Jesus to do great things, yet have no relationship with Jesus at all. THESE ARE THEY who will stand before the door wanting to enter heaven, and though they did things in Jesus' Name what did Jesus respond?  "I NEVER knew you." How could Jesus say these things if those knocking were able to do miracles because the Name of Jesus has power and it comes from God... HE is the very Word of God! In reality, THERE MUST NOT HAVE BEEN A RELATIONSHIP between those knocking to get in heaven's door and Jesus! They never became a part of His family because they were never convicted of their sin, they never truly repented, they never turned from their ways, nor desired righteousness that comes from doing God's will.  Matthew 7 verses 21-23 speaks plainly about those who can and will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, "but only those who do the will of my Father which is in heaven" will enter. If you know a few scriptures, go to church each week, listen to Christian radio, read your Bible now and again, or even if you use the power of His Word to prophecy or cast out demons but have no personal relationship with Him, how can you expect Him to know you as a part of His family? He's not going to open the door to anyone outside His family! Would you open your door?? "I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine" (John 10:14).  Notice the wording?  I KNOW my sheep. That's a relationship! He told those knocking on the door I NEVER KNEW YOU, meaning they had no relationship.

 

 

Growing up, were you taught the people knocking outside the door are unbelievers who wanted to enter heaven? Read the scriptures closely.  Those knocking to get in said with their own mouths and testified they had done great things ... prophesied and cast out demons IN HIS NAME (Jesus' Name).  Have you not read that Satan cannot cast out Satan lest his kingdom is divided? ..... Matthew 12:26 "If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself, how then shall his kingdom stand?"  These were not unbelievers, demons, devils, sinners, or wayward people outside the door!  These were people claiming and PROFESSING to be Christians -- followers of Jesus. Why? They were using the Name of Jesus, but they did not have a personal relationship with Him.  This is why Jesus said, I NEVER knew you DEPART FROM ME YOU WORKERS OF INIQUITY!  You can use the Name of Jesus (it has power), you can say you follow Him (you go to church every week), you can claim you are a good Christian, but UNLESS AND UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY DO YOUR FATHER'S WILL, you are a phony and a fraud when it comes to the faith and you have no part in His family.  Do you say you don't know what God's will is?  If you don't, then you probably aren't doing it either. It's not a matter of trying to figure out what it is because God already told us what His will is for us.  It's in the scriptures! You can find it in Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what that good, acceptable, and perfect WILL OF GOD (is)." Then, 1 Thessalonians 3-5 says, "FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication: that every one of you knows how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the lust of concupiscence (Colossians 3:5-6), even as the Gentiles do who KNOW NOT God." Did you catch that? WHO KNOW NOT GOD. We are to be transformed from workers of iniquity to workers of faith and belief. To know God is to love Him as your Father (relationship), and it is to obey Him by transforming your mind (you do this with His Word that changes you from the inside out), to possess your body in sanctification and honor and present it holy unto God just as an earthly bride offers her body to her husband.  This is the "relationship" He desires of you.  It is a spiritual marriage.  You take His Name as a bride takes her husband's name.  You become a part of Him ---> family ---> relationship. ADOPTION.

 

 

Finally, those knocking I referred to in Matthew 7 can be compared to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22, which describes this church as the "lukewarm" church. Jesus condemns them for their spiritual apathy.  They did not openly reject Christ but neither did they have authentic zeal or love for Him or The Word! They professed to know Christ, but they had no place in their hearts -- no relationship.  How many people do you know just like this?  Jesus said there are MANY of them: "Many shall say to me in that day... Lord, Lord".  CALLING Him your Lord and being in a relationship AS YOUR LORD are two entirely different things! I cannot imagine what sorrow will consume people when being turned away at the door of heaven despite the fact they confess they never did anything bad in their life, went to church faithfully every Sunday, gave their time and money to missions, tithed every time the plate was passed, led adult bible studies, etc.  And though there is definitely nothing wrong in doing these things,  we are called to servanthood as per Christ's example. But if you have no relationship with Jesus and are just going through the motions, you are none of His! You will not enter into heaven according to Matthew 7:21-23 despite doing marvelous things, prophesying in His Name, or even casting out demons (even Satan knows scriptures and can bring fire down out of heaven in the sight of men). Accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior goes far beyond just words if you never allow Him into your heart and by the power of His Spirit allow Him to change you from the inside out.  I haven't written this blog to sound unkind or to be critical of the good deeds done by anyone. I wrote it because GOD'S WORD is specific in its warning to even the noblest and generous people that profess Christianity. 

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

Discouraged

 

Discouraged By Life?

Discouragement is a thief!  It steals your vitality, your zeal, your joy, your peace, and your contentment.  If discouragement dwells long with you, its friends will soon join.  Their names are fatigue, hopelessness, despair, self-pity, depression, doubt, and bitterness. Sometimes discouragement can be so strong that you don’t want to go on living. I witnessed this of a dear soul that recently passed on. He was tormented for years being dissatisfied with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. And though he was a Christian, insecurities that anything could ever be changed kept him in an emotional prison.

If we have nothing to rely on, or we forget our blessing and look to our circumstances, then that is when discouragement begins to take hold. What we need is encouragement.  We need hope and peace and the knowledge that the Lord knows our troubles and has great concern and compassion for us and is not leaving us unloved or uncared for. Keeping your eyes on Jesus is the best way to be encouraged.  In Him, you can have comfort and peace and encouragement.  You need to find Him and His words, and by faith rest in Him. Jesus said, "I will never leave nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Be encouraged because scripture says we are, "Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Corinthian 1:3,4) God is called the Father of Mercies. The word mercy means compassion and pity. It is something that is felt in the heart. In God’s very heart He feels mercy toward you!  He is the author of mercy.  His mercy toward you brings salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from eternal damnation… and this, because of Jesus, because of His sacrifice, because of His shed blood for you.

God is the God of mercy: Psalm 86:5, “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.” The word in Greek for “comfort” is paraklesis.  It means, exhortation, comfort, and encouragement. In fact, a form of this word, parakletos is used for the Holy Spirit as well. That is why the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter in the KJV in John 14:26: “But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. All this shows you that GOD HIMSELF is a God of Comfort, exhortation, and encouragement. 

But you may ask, “How is this Comfort received from God?” 

1. It is by faith – because God says He is the God of comfort, then you need to believe it and act upon it; that is, you need to trust Him and receive His comfort as He provides it. 

2. God directs His people to comfort you.  When you have a problem doesn’t the Lord send someone with an encouraging word, a helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on? Yes, He does. Comfort is found through His Word – reading, and hearing – The words of God are beautiful and are there for our instruction and encouragement.

3. By the Holy Spirit.  He is called the Comforter. He indwells you.

We can be encouraged because God is there in our afflictions.  Verse 4 says, “who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” The word affliction can also be translated as tribulation, trouble, anguish, persecution, or burden. Afflictions come in all different shapes and sizes. Sickness, financial difficulty, loss of a loved one, an unsure future, an auto accident, etc. But also, and this is something very important, the affliction occurs in the heart in that place where we get frustrated, confused, and hurt. Why do we have afflictions? Because we live in a fallen world.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)

So then, in reality, afflictions are a way of making you better.  And that is how they should be tackled: as the testing and strengthening of your faith — through the comfort and mercy of Jesus. You don’t have to worry whether or not He is going to take care of you.  He already has, (THE CROSS), He is currently doing so, and He will continue to care for you.  After all, aren’t you more valuable than sparrows and He cares for them.

Encouragement is something that belongs to you as a Christian.  You do not have to live in a world of hurt and doubt.  You don’t have to live alone. You don’t have to weep in solitude.  You have the body of Christ to lift you up.  You have the Word of God to teach you.  You have the Holy Spirit indwelling in you who warms your soul. You have the God of encouragement waiting to show you His mercy and love. But you need to trust. You need to remember the Lord’s blessing. You need to depend on Him. You need to keep your eyes on Jesus and Him alone. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” (Matthew 11:28). And please, don't be discouraged by the political temperature in this world striping you of joy, peace, and contentment because it will eventually lead to despair, doubt, depression, and self-pity even to the point of not wanting to live another day! (additional reading 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 Corinthians 5:58; Romans 8:38-39).

Until He Comes.

-Pat-

From Frog To Prince

 This past fall I spent some time at our local park. I drove my golf cart down to my favorite private cove which sits along the water's edge. I sat there peacefully while taking in the changing colors, the aroma of dried leaves, and a slightly pungent smell of algae and mud. There was no wind and the sky was painted a magnificent blue with our Creator's brush. My eyes glanced over the still waters to the shore and back again. Inhaling crisp fresh air I filled my lungs and nestled quietly for a moment of thanksgiving and prayer. Suddenly the silence was broken. KURPLUNK! I swiftly turned to my right and looking down I observed a rippling in the water next to a log. I watched and waited knowing with a little patience I might discover what made that sound. Sure enough up popped an eyeball, then another. It was a frog. "Hello!" I said. With that, the frog slowly slipped back into his watery abode. "Aren't you going to come back out?" I asked. "I won't hurt you." For the next five minutes or so we played that hide and seek game. While there, I had plenty of time to think about this frog. Frogs are amphibians. Frogs live and function on land and in the water. They start their lives solely in the water as little tadpoles. When metamorphosis begins, the tadpole develops legs, arms, and the ability to both live and breathe on land. As the changing tadpole further develops, it spends less time in the water and more time on land. Soon, it loses its earlier characteristics and takes on a completely new form. I thought to myself, "Well! Isn't this just like the believer?"

  

As Christians, we are like the frog. Like water to land, our lives begin in the worldly realm and progress into the spiritual realm. In a spiritual sense, we start life as a tadpole (unbeliever), completely unable to enter the spiritual realm (solid ground). However, when we believe in Jesus Christ a type of metamorphosis begins to take place. As NEW Christians we are like tadpoles in their first stages of change. With weak, worldly legs that distract and hinder us, we go places we want to explore and spend very little time, if any, in the spiritual realm. BUT as we continue to grow our spiritual legs get stronger and arms begin to form. We start to lose our tail (old ways) and spiritual lungs begin to function (a new way of living). And just as the transformation of frogs is progressive, so too, are the changes we experience as Christians. As we slowly develop, we begin spending more time in the spiritual realm (praying, reading God's word, a hunger for righteousness) than in the earthy realm (being disobedient, agreeing with sin, not fighting temptations). Spiritual growth does not happen overnight. It is a slow, arduous process. We change "into the image of Christ from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). And, not only that but when we come to Christ the Bible says we automatically become royalty (1 Peter 2:9) ... from "frog to the prince" by the power of His forgiving Blood. WOW! Many people are afraid to become Christians because they have the notion that they must become a perfect person overnight when they know they are entangled in deep sin, so the thought of living for Christ seems not only impossible but unappealing. 

 

 What everyone must understand is, though Jesus forgives of all your sins and tosses them away into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19) real change is a process. Your soul is eternally saved, yes, but His Spirit which comes to live in you will bring knowledge and understanding of His Word. As He does this, your life, your actions, your behaviors begin to align with His Spirit. You not only begin to obey His Word, YOU WANT to obey His Word. He changes you from within and obedience becomes a joy! Philippians 1:6 says, "I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." It is with God's Divine wisdom, mercy, and power that HE completes the change in you as you continue to walk in Him. 2 Peter 1:4 states, "By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the Divine nature (through a type of metamorphosis), escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires." And finally 2 Corinthians 3: 18 says, "We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image (through this metamorphosis) into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit." Change (metamorphosis) is letting go of the old and embracing the new. God said, "Be holy as I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). That sounds like an impossible task but it isn't BECAUSE the possibility comes by the work of God and not the work of man! Sin becomes ugly and abhorrent. Just the thought of sin will grieve your spirit. Remember what the scripture said, "He (meaning God) who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." It's so fantastic because God will do the work inside you through the Holy Spirit and will continue working if you remain in Him.

 

In closing, know and believe God begins perfecting you from the moment you are converted from unbelief to faith in Christ. The metamorphosis is a process whereby the Holy Spirit regenerates us, gives us new hearts with new holy desires (Ezekiel 36:26), then He transforms our stubborn wills and opens our hearts to embrace the Truth rather than reject it, and to believe rather than doubt it. He goes even further! He gives us a hunger for righteousness and a desire for Him. Thus, the new birth transforms the inner person. From that point, everything that occurs in our lives - good or bad - God uses for our own good to make us like Christ (Romans 8:28-30). Don't be discouraged if some of us are tadpoles, some are developing their legs, or that some are spending more time in the worldly than the spiritual realm. We are all growing together as one body from the worldly realm to the spiritual realm, from corrupt to holy. Encourage one another, love one another as Christ loves us. "Christ has put each part of the Church in its right place. Each part helps other parts. This is what is needed to keep the whole body together. In this way, the whole body grows strong in love." NLV

Until He Comes,

-Pat-

The Command To Pray Always- A personal testimony

 

I once thought of Paul's statement to "Pray Always" as absurd.

WHAT?? Pray Always? Are You Nuts? How can a person pray always? In First Thessalonians 5:17, Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray.  His exact words were to, "Pray without ceasing." Then in Philippians 4:6, Paul said something very similar, "IN EVERYTHING, in EVERY SITUATION BY PRAYER and thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Notice, nowhere in either scripture is there is an exception to the rule. It says always, in everything, in every situation, etc.  Does this sound a little impossible for you to always pray about everything?  Isn't that being a little extreme? It sure seems so! It did until I began following the principle of praying about things small and things big.  There was a time I asked some of the same questions I bet you are thinking right now! ...Questions like: Does that mean we should even pray for our pets? What clothes to buy when we go shopping? Where we should go on vacation? The answer is a simple yes and it will all become clear by the end of this blog.

I remember a lady I used to work with at a major insurance company.  She was a born-again Christian. For months I observed that she always prayed over her lunch before beginning to eat.  But I also noticed every day her lunch consisted of the same thing:  cabbage soup! YUCK! One day out of curiosity I asked her how she could eat that nasty cabbage soup every day and why did she always bring the same thing.  Thinking she was low on funds, I was ready to write her a check for groceries.  Without a blink, she confessed that God told her to eat that particular soup. With a slight tone of sarcasm, I replied, "GOD TOLD YOU TO EAT THAT SOUP?" "Oh yes," she said adamantly. "I ask Him every day what to eat for my body and I pray over it."  Curious, I came back with, "WHY??"  Her answer then is the same as what I am telling you today, "Pray without ceasing and in everything by prayer and thanksgiving make your request known to God." It has been 21 years since we worked together and she is still eating cabbage soup to this day. Do you think she was being extreme? Just recently I learned that every one of her siblings and both parents have passed away of colon cancer except her. Her doctor told her that her diet of cabbage soup is the only reason he can account for her being free of the disease which has stricken all of her relatives!  It is very easy to be a skeptic but God is pleased when we bring every aspect of our lives before Him in prayer.  We don't have to worry that we are bothering Him with trivial matters. In this world, we have a lot on our plates as Christians besides just living our normal everyday lives.  Look how much is going on all at once in the world, in the nation, in the church, in the middle east, in our families, and our own lives. God is concerned about everything we do, every decision we make no matter how trivial or unimportant you may think it is.  Do you understand this?  Do you really understand how important prayer is?  You may be asking why we should pray about something as silly as what clothes to buy or when choosing a vacation destination. It is because everything we do or decide affects us. From the smallest decision to the biggest, and as Christians, we should be dependent upon our heavenly Father.  It's walking in obedience to what His Word says. As an example of how decisions can affect you from the smallest to the greatest, look at the idea of praying before shopping for clothes.  I want to help you understand the purpose and power of prayer.  Praying will not only assist you, but it will also give you a sense of control and confidence.  

  

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say my funds are limited and that I must be a good steward of my money, accounting carefully what comes in and what goes out. Employment and incomes can be completely unreliable.  Some of you do not know what next month will look like. So with that, consider this when shopping: 

POINT #1. Because our economy and incomes have become less reliable, this should teach us to completely rely on God. 

POINT #2. We need His wisdom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him".  I need His wisdom more than ever, in every area of my life, and certainly including what I put into my shopping cart.

POINT #3. I want to be a good steward of what He has blessed me with and in a way that honors Him! How can that be you ask? If I am wise with my money, making wise financial shopping choices, it frees up more funds for others...for the poor, the needy, and the ministry. Proverbs 10:3 promises that the Lord will not let the righteous go hungry!  No matter how much I have given to help people in obedience to Jesus' Word, I have never gone without.  My needs are always met.

POINT #4. We should be incredibly thankful for His provision. Remember, He said "EVERY SITUATION BY PRAYER and thanksgiving." I can't just throw whatever I want or desire into my cart that I lay my eyes on. If we focus on how much God has blessed us with, it will cure any temptation to adopt a "woe is me" kind of attitude when we cannot have something we don't really NEED.  Instead of pouting about things you must walk past in the grocery aisle, thank Him on the spot that you are not going hungry and you are feeding your family.  There is nothing like reviewing the faces of hungry and impoverished African children in your mind to make you feel rich beyond belief. Be Thankful.

POINT #5. Remember the poor and needy. The goodness of the Lord is all around us.  We should be incredibly thankful we have never lived a life of poverty as such as the children of Sudan!  And though you may have enough to buy what you need to eat, still cover the matter in prayer.

  

When I tell people the Lord wants them to pray about things such as their pets, where to shop, what to get, and everything that concerns them, then positive things are the result, they begin to see God as a warm, loving Parent to whom they can run with the smallest care.  We have all been taught as we grow up we should become less and less dependent upon our parents. However, in God's Kingdom, as we mature spiritually we are EXPECTED to become more and more dependent upon our heavenly Father! And one way we do that is by laying all of our requests and prayers before Him.  Since I began praying about everything, I have seen God work miracles in situations that I would never have dreamed of praying for years ago.   Here is a personal experience. Many of you who have connected with my Facebook page know I adopted a dog named, Mario. What some of you don't know is that I prayed before finding him by honoring the exercise of "in everything by prayer and thanksgiving make your request known to God." My request was more detailed than just simply wanting to rescue and adopt a dog. Because I needed several things to fall in place perfectly. I decided to literally pray for a special dog. A dog that met several requirements even though the dog had never met me before. Namely: a dog that would not only be housebroken but one that was cat friendly and wouldn't kill my two cats. A dog that would immediately accept my blind and deaf dog and not see her as weak prey and attack her. A dog that would adapt to my disability of using a wheelchair, a dog that already knew several commands, one that would sleep all night from day one, one who would adjust quickly, not be food aggressive, and lastly... a dog who would literally jump onto a golf cart and ride with me though he or she had never seen one before AND be happy doing it!  You can see, my request was not only unconventional and unusual....it was impossible for anyone but God! After all, who tosses a dog out or abandons and gives one away that's perfect in every area like that? But, in faith, I used my power of prayer and believed "THAT" dog existed, and if anyone knew where that dog was, it was God! After all, He is aware of all things and can see all things.  His eyes can see the entire plant. There had to be one perfect dog to fit my needs. After praying (Philippians 4:6), I thanked God and told Him I would watch and wait to find "that" dog. Every day, for three consecutive months I searched online rescues believing my perfect dog was there and that God would lead me to him.  And though I was adamantly looking in the small dog listings for three months, one day I heard a voice prompting me to go look in the "big dogs" section.  Initially, I balked! Big dog? No, I don't want a big dog.  I had never owned or wanted a big dog and was not interested in the amount of yard clean up there is with a big dog, the amount of food they consume, or the higher medical cost for everything they need simply because of their size. For an additional 4-5 days that urge to go look in the big dog section hounded me. It was so strange! Then it dawned on me and I said to myself, "Oh I get it!! Duh.  I bet there is a small dog in the big dog listing that was misplaced and accidentally put into that section! THAT'S PROBABLY MY DOG AND IT WILL BE GOD'S WAY OF TELLING ME HE PURPOSELY PLACED HIM THERE FOR ME TO KNOW THAT'S HIM. A LITTLE DOG STANDING OUT AMONG ALL THE BIG DOGS" Man, was I excited! I just knew my small dog would be there.  A sweet little thing that would fit perfectly on the golf cart seat. I couldn't hit the keys on my computer fast enough to arrive at the heading "Big Dogs."  My anticipation level was so high.  Click click click I was flipping past Great Danes, Shepherds, Burmese Mountain dogs, Pinschers, and Sheepdogs.  No small dog!  Where was my little buddy?  

 

I went back through the list a second time in case I overlooked him in my excitement.  I went slower this time, and while searching I saw an unusual looking, beautifully colored, big dog.  I don't know what he was, but his coat was beautiful.  Too big though, much too big. I remember saying to myself, "Can you imagine the poop piles you'd get from that guy?" I chuckled and moved on.  But honestly, over the next several days I could not get that dog off my mind.  I kept going back to look at him.  His coat was so beautiful!! Too big though, much too big.  That's what I kept telling myself until I finally said, "Surely this isn't THE dog you have chosen for me, is it Lord?  It can't be. I mean, he is too big.  I don't like big dogs, you know that....too much maintenance!"  The longer I looked at him, the longer I questioned to myself, the more I reasoned within myself, "Why do I keep getting drawn to this big 'ol dog? I told myself, 'asking questions about the dog isn't a commitment!  Nothing says I am adopting.  I'll call and ask about this dog because there is a reason I can't get him off my mind!' And so I did.  The rest is history!  I adopted him. Today he weighs 120 pounds!  A far cry from a 5-pound Chihuahua!

Some reading my blog may be thinking..."Well, she never got her small dog and so she thinks her prayers were answered?" Yes, "I" wanted a smaller dog, but THE PERFECT dog with all the attributes I prayed for happened to be in a bigger body! He was the one that fit all the requests I petitioned of God. Only God could know this!  And though things didn't turn out exactly as I had envisioned my life with a small dog, God knew Mario was the perfect fit for me. Had I not listened to that Voice in me (His Leading), I would have missed His blessing! Mario is THE PERFECT dog.  The beauty of prayer is leaving things, even the smallest of trivial things in God's hands and trusting Him and His perfect will. Because I was willing to hear Him and trust His leading, I now have the perfect Dutch Shepherd/Mastiff mix that loves my cats, became the guide for my blind and deaf Boston Terrier, rides on my golf cart with me, helps to balance me when I stand from my wheelchair, he is 100% trained, has never gone potty in the house, on and on.  He is one HUNK OF BURNIN' LOVE!!  Mario was God's choice, HIS perfect choice all because I trusted Him and prayed for something as seemingly as far-fetched as a dog that could match every need I had.  Do you still think it's stupid to pray about the smallest things? I hope not. Begin praying about all things ... decisions, choices, needs, wants, desires, and thank God before you ever receive an answer. TRUST that God will answer what is best for you even though you may think it's not exactly how you imagined it should be. God will always do what's best for you, and THAT is as good as you could ever hope for.

Until He comes,

-Pat-