601 - Update & Watch for Lurkers

Thank you all so much for praying for my little Sarahjane. She is doing so much better and hopefully will return to regular activity after our next appointment on Friday. I know that I know that I know the prayers you all offered up on her behalf we not only heard, but answered and blessed. Sarahajne went into the "tube" with no fuss at all and never even made a peep or movement the whole time she was in there. It was great and she was great!! I praise the Lord for hearing your prayers - and mine too - and for answering in such a way that made that day easy for us. The results of the MRI were good. There is no bone dieing disease going on, but there was excess fluid around the joint. Because of that we had to do future blood work ruling out things like Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis or a few other things. I am believing it is just fluid built up because she is feisty little thing and may have fallen or just traumatized that hip in some way. I will certainly let you all know, but will still appreciate your prayers along the way.

The cats are at it again. Only this time I got to see everything in action, front row seats, every single details - more than i wanted to know. I thought that Maya was sitting in the yard just enjoying the morning sun as I rocked on the porch swing. But she was doing this weird thing. She would inch closer and closer to this pole. She was as low to the ground as she could possibly go and would come up just enough to get her feet moving closer and closer to this pole. All of a sudden it occurred to me Maya was not moving closer to that pole, there was a innocent bird that was just minding its own business enjoying the morning sun and fresh worms as well that she had her eye on.

I froze in shock. Should i scream and alert the bird of the pending danger or should i just sit back and watch the whole thing go down? Curiosity set in and I decided to watch for myself how this deathly process plays out. Let me just say this...I would scream next time I see this about occur!

Maya continued on in this pursuit. She inched closer and closer not making a sound. All the bird had to do was look around just one time and everything would be fine. She would see the plan of the nasty cat and quickly fly away. But no. She kept her nose to the ground and Maya waited ever so patiently for the perfect time. For a second I looked across the street to see a passerbyer thinking they probably think I am terrible for letting this atrocity happen right before me. Just about to scream and ruin it all and I look over and Maya lunges forward for the attack. Feathers flying, bird squawking, Maya pouncing, and the game is on. It only lasts for a few seconds until Maya kind of looks up at me grinning as to say, "I got him, aren't you proud!" The bird was not dead, but injured severely.

In that moment the Lord Jesus spoke to me on various different levels of what I had just witnessed. Satan too is very patient to wait for the kill. He is willing to wait for the perfect opportunity to go in and destroy. As a Christian eternally saved by grace without the possibility of ever losing that salvation, Satan knows it would be best to just injure me. A lukewarm Christian or one that has totally turned from the way of Christ can do more damage to the body of Christ than a Christian going home to Glory. So to leave me in the game injured, hurt, and in a great need of a healing is better than just doing away with me. I am more likely to doubt, curse, or give up the way Job's friends advise him in the Bible when I am injured.

Another thing God reminded me is to be alert always. There is really no time to let the guard down and just relax. Satan is always lurking around waiting for the most opportune time. I have to be aware and I have to make those that are "playing with fire" aware as well. This war is real and one not to take lightly. I need to get my head out of the sand and pay attention.

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." Satan wants to steal your joy, kill your walk with the Lord, and destroy Christ's reputation. It can not be done. It won't be done! But we must all look up and be aware of our surroundings. We must all alert one another of the Pursuer lurking around!!

599 - Strange Love

I have never ever been a cat person. I am highly allergic and just don't understand them. I don't understand them not coming to me when I call their name. I don't understand them not wanting to lick me. What about this laying around all day and moving at a snail's pace when you are trying to get them to scoot over? They are so stuck up!! So I thought...

Since moving to Illinois we have acquired 2 cats - outside cats that is. Boots and Maya - both boys that we got as babies! As little fur balls I really could see how you could think they were cute and fun to watch. They play well together and do have some amazing stunts. Besides Maya, Boots' best friend is our INSIDE dog, Lu Lu. They do so well laying together and Lu Lu actually gives Boots his baths. It is a sight to see.

I can just get up, walk to the other room and when I return my dog will lower its ears, wag its nub of a tail, and in some way kind of smile at me. I know Lu Lu loves me more than anyone or anything. (She told me, too.) Her love is so obvious and easy to distinguish! I never question her intentions and there is no second guessing what she wants from me. The way Lu Lu shows her love is something I can relate to and understand. I think I could speak Dog!

So last night as we were getting home from a ball game there was a injured, but not dead by any means rabbit on my back steps. The poor little thing was just flopping and spinning on its side trying its best to get up and go! Just in the short distance was Maya meowing and watching the poor little "Thumper" to the very end. Maya would come over and bat at it and then attack one more time. I was so upset with that cat - how could he be proud of himself? My goodness, that rabbit did nothing to deserve such death.

Clay sent me inside with the kids while he "took" care of the situation. I am not sure what he did, but it involved a shovel and a loud thump. Poor Thumper! Then he came in to explain to me and the girls that this is how cats show their love to their owner. (Whatever!!) It was like a thank you prize for all we as humans do for the cats. They kill and come and lay it at the doorstep as to say, "I love you so much that I would kill for you, AND I have and here is the prize."

Don't we do they same thing to people. We don't understand the way one is trying to express love to us and we get all upset and disappointed. In the book "5 Love Languages" Gary Chapman explains that there are 5 languages we can speak to show our love for another. We might give gifts, show physical touch, do acts of service, speak words of affirmation, or even spend quality time with the individual. The problems is that the way we "speak" love may not be the same way the other person receives or "speaks" love. So we have a husband trying to give gifts big and small to his grumpy, frustrated wife when all she really would like is for him to pick up his clothes or mow the yard regularly. He is trying to show her love his way because he loves a new shirt or surprise coffee in the morning, but she does not speak that love. She just wants him to do something - acts of service - that would speak enough love to last her a week!

It has taken some time for me to understand, appreciated, and accept this form of love the cats are showing our family. This rabbit has not been the first - birds, mice, shrew - or littler mice - and all kinds of stuff. Learning to speak your loved one's love language is not easy or will not come natural. It will take some work and much practice. It will seem like a waste of time or money or even energy at times. But the dividends are priceless!

As much as I would like to I just don't appreciate and certainly take for granted the way Christ showed His love for me and you on the Cross. It just seems like there could have been a better way. It seems like there could have been an easier way. It seems like He didn't have to die....... but He did and He had to! It was the only way - HE is the only way! Thank you Lord!

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Here is one of my favorite singers of all time. Meredith Andrews. I just got her newest CD in the mail. She is incredible. Order it today - you will not regret it!! You Are Not Alone!