Friday, August 9, 2013

Free To Good Home







"He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve." Psalm 103:10 NLT




Don't let this adorable face fool you. When she wakes up from this nap, she'll be into some new mischief before you can say "free to good home". We've never had a puppy quite like Ellie before. We have given her the same care our other Boxers have enjoyed: a loving home, a big yard, good food, lots of chew toys....Chew toys will be featured prominently as our story continues. It's not an exaggeration to say that Ellie is the most willful and disobedient pup we have ever had. "Oh, she can't be that bad", you say. Oh, yes she can.

Just a few highlights, by the numbers. She has dug six holes in the back yard. Destroyed five pair of shoes. Four is the number of times she has broken out in full-body hives from sticking her face in, or sitting in, a pile of fire ants. It's also the number of dog toys she has dismembered, de-sqeakered and de-stuffed. Coincidentally, four is also the number of times I have had our carpets cleaned since her arrival. She has destroyed three pieces of very nice patio furniture, including shattering a glass tabletop. She has eaten two pair of rather expensive eyeglasses. Leaving me with one nerve, which she is sitting on.

A couple of weeks ago, I came home to find Ellie sitting in a pile of feathers, which she had extracted from a cushion on our living room sofa. With feathers in her mouth, her head cocked to one side, she looked at me as if to say "What?" I looked down at her and said "I will not be hypnotized by your cuteness!" I have four words for you! Free. To. Good. Home!" She curled up at my feet and looked up at me with sad eyes, a look which the Boxer breed has perfected. My heart melted. In spite of all of her faults and failures to live up to my expectations, she is part of the family, and she is here to stay.

I love how God uses events in my life to teach me about Him. In that moment, He showed me how very much like Ellie I can be. I make a mess of things, fail to live up to expectations, and fall at His feet asking for mercy. Again. And He is full of forgiveness and compassion. No matter how I mess up, I'm part of His family. I'm here to stay. And so are you.

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, thank You that You are rich in mercy. You do not punish me as I deserve when I'm willfully disobedient. Help me to be gracious and forgiving to people in my life, as You are gracious to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Shine!



14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.   Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)
                     

As a young girl in the 1970's, I wasn't very athletic.  Except for snow skiing and backpacking, most of my leisure activites centered around being creative.  I loved to sing, read, write poetry and music, and I always enjoyed creating "art" with our Lite Brite.  Using this simple grid of small holes, brightly colored plastic pegs, and printed templates, I spent many happy afternoons creating sailboats, clowns, and crocodiles. There was something so satisfying about spending time creating an intricate design, peg by colorful peg.  But the real beauty of my picture was revealed when I plugged it in, and the light bulb inside illuminated my artwork for everyone to see!

This morning in my quite time, I came across this scripture passage from The Message translation of the Bible.  While I don't use The Message for verse by verse study of God's word, I often find it captures the theme and application of a scripture.  Maybe you know this verse better from the King James Version: "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) Maybe you even sang about it in Sunday school:  "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!" The Message reads "You are here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world."  And that's what got me thinking about my Lite Brite, and about letting my light shine.

So what does that mean, letting our light shine? The answer is tucked inside Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men,  that they may SEE your good works....."  Those around us see Jesus in the "light" of our good works.  Our obedience, the fruit of His Spirit, they all point people to Christ, and bring glory to God!  My Lite Brite wasn't much to look at without the light bulb.  The colors were dull and the design barely visible.  The light inside was the key to its beauty. And without His light, we're not much to see either! Without the Light, the world sees a dull, lifeless picture of our Savior.  So let's light it up today.  Bring light to someone who's hurting.  Bring light to a dark place.  This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

Prayer for Today:  Father,  You said our light was meant to be put on a light stand, on a hilltop for all to see.  Help me to carry Your light into my world so that others may see You clearly, and give glory to You.  In Jesus' name,  Amen.