January 28, 2018

Animals Teach Us About Love

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.” – Job 12:7-8

Our hearts are broken. An animal rescue in a nearby town burned during the night. One of the rescuers died, as did numerous animals. Other rescues have rushed to the aid of the 27 animals that survived.

Why? How could this happen? It is just so sad that tragedy could and would strike something so good.

The answers will come in the days and weeks ahead. No doubt, fire officials will determine the actual cause. The kind, devoted woman who died will be buried. The surviving animals will be cleaned and treated and loved on, with many people giving of themselves to help these poor creatures overcome the trauma caused by the fire.

Then what? Does life ever go back to normal? What is normal anyway?

My three dogs all came from kill shelters. The oldest was a stray that was picked up by animal control. The first time we were in the pasture when a car went down a bordering dirt road I knew how he came to be a stray. He took off running after that car, completely ignoring my calls to stop. Fortunately, the property is completely fenced so he was never in any danger. And, yes, he’s gotten much better at following commands and not running after vehicles.

My middle dog was just a puppy when she came to be mine. We had lost a dog to cancer and the dog that is now my oldest was lonely. The veterinarian recommended a puppy for him so that’s what he got. She is jet black, with a ferocious bark. She is my protector and the one who rarely leaves my side. She is a sweetheart.

She was not the unanimous choice to bring home. My mother wanted a “pretty” one, maybe grey or spotted. She really wanted a different breed. But I was determined to get the black Labrador/Weimaraner puppy. Black dogs are generally the last adopted. I wanted a dog that was least likely to get adopted.

My baby was on death row. He was about six months old and an owner surrender. That’s something I will never understand. Adoption is forever. But that’s a topic for a different time. The puppy that came in with him had been euthanized two days earlier. This little guy was living on borrowed time.

No one wanted him. No one. Can anyone else relate? So I brought him home with me. He is beautiful, loving, and a bundle of energy. He was just what all of us needed in our season of grief.

Why am I telling you all this? If we truly want to experience the earthly version of God’s unconditional love for us, the best way is with a dog. They teach us how to love and to put others before ourselves. They show us what loyalty looks like. And forgiveness. They remind us of the simple things in life – a good meal, a warm bed, hugs and kisses from those you love.

Every dog deserves a home where he/she is loved. That’s what pet rescues work so tirelessly to accomplish. They take in strays and save as many as they can from kill shelters. They spend large amounts of money on medical bills to heal and care for as many animals as they can.

So today remember those who are lost. And reach out to those who live. Caring for animals can teach us and heal us in ways nothing else can.

Friday, July 20, 2012

God Loves Us Warts and All

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:6-8

What are you trying to hide from God? Seriously. What do you think that God doesn’t see? What are you keeping to yourself in the hope that you never, ever have to go before God, confess and repent?

Well, I hate to burst your denial bubble, but God already knows. Yeah. He does. He knew before you did because He knew the decisions you’d make long before you made them.

He also knows the why. Even when we don’t understand our actions ourselves, God does. He sees it all. He understands it all. So what are you hiding for?

Oh, you’re afraid that God won’t love you because of your past? You think that because you can’t forgive yourself or because other people keep reminding you of your past, that God won’t let it go either? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

God knows every single thing we’ve ever done wrong. He know every mistake we’ve ever made, every nasty comment, every bad decision. Every thing. And He loves us anyway. He extends to us unconditional love. A love so perfect that we can’t begin to comprehend exactly what that means.

I’ll tell you another secret: God cares about the details of your life. Really. He does. Remember this is a God who has numbered the hairs on your head. He cares if your feelings got hurt. He cares if your bank account balance is low. He cares that a special young man asked you out on a date. He cares about it all.

And He wants to talk with you about it. He wants to laugh and cry with you. He wants to cheer you on and pick you up and dust you off when you fall. God wants to have a relationship with you. A real, loving relationship that encompasses all the details of your life.

Another wonderful thing about God: He always wants what is best for you. Always. There’s no underlying agenda. There’s no backstabbing. There’s nothing except pure love. God always knows what we most need and He’ll give it to us every time.

If we reach out and grab hold of His hand. If we accept the loving relationship He offers to us. If we believe, really believe, that He loves us right where we are.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

What Are You Waiting For?

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -- John 8:31-32

What would you do if you knew you were totally accepted, perfectly loved, and supported beyond measure? What would you accomplish if the fear that holds you back suddenly failed to exist?

The truth sets us free from doubts, fear, selfishness, insecurity and the judgments of others. When we begin to realize that God chose us, that He loves us, and that we are perfectly made by Him, then we start to understand the possibilities. That is freedom.

Stop and think for a moment about all those things you have never tried because you were afraid you would fail. Consider all those times you’ve felt a tug toward something more and you held back because you didn’t believe in your own abilities.

Or maybe you’re someone who listens to the court of popular opinion. You seek everyone’s opinion about any idea or activity -- everyone, that is, except God. Your excuse is that you don’t know what God wants. The truth is that you’re so busy asking others and talking about it, that you really haven’t had time to sit down and hear what He has to say.

We’re good at excuses. We’ve got one for everything we don’t want to do. And we’ve got one for every time we hear God calling us to something more, something better, something scary and new. Because we don’t want to step out in faith and believe His promises over our own lives.

We forget that He chose us. That He loves us unconditionally. That He loves us where we are now and for what we can become. We forget that sometimes. We want to wait until we’re good enough, smart enough, talented enough. But we’re already enough for God. And He’s more than enough for us.

The truth will set us free. His truth spoken over our lives. He beckons you forward. Grab hold of His hand. What could you do with Jesus by your side? What could you accomplish if you trusted the One who fed thousands with five loaves of bread and two fish?

Don’t be afraid anymore. Take a step forward in faith and grab hold of His hand. He won’t let go and you won’t fail. You belong to Him and He loves you unconditionally.