Can One Love a Dog Too Much?

Shorty Danielle

In response to the above question, I think not.  This morning, I had a real scare.  Every morning, I get up and feed Shorty and Lovey and then invariably, they quickly return to their lush beds in our bedroom.  This morning was no different.  Later, I came out of the bathroom and went over to them both and petted them as they peacefully lay in their beds.  I walked into the kitchen and heard the jingle of Shorty's collar close behind.  When I turned around, she was limping horribly and her head kept leaning towards her hurt leg, the right front.  Because she's had two seizures in her past, I wondered if that was what was happening because of the way her head was bobbing.  Within seconds, several thoughts raced through my mind.  The worst one was that I was going to lose her today.  Oh Lord, please, help her.  Tell me what is wrong with her Lord, show me!  I scooped her up and held her over my shoulder and she began to frantically lick her wounded leg.  I thought maybe she had a sticker or splinter, so I felt it, but nothing sharp stuck out.  I sat her back down on the floor and she began to walk with that horrible limp.  I couldn't stand the thought of her being in pain, so I scooped her up again and began praying over her without ceasing.  In an instant, the Lord showed me that her leg had gone to sleep!  Of course!  It's tingling and feels so strange to her, the only thing she knows to do is to lick it!  I began running around the house to get her to follow me to wake her leg up and it worked!  Oh, praise the Lord!!!

Now, let me explain why I'm even writing about this.  Shorty turned 14 on August 28 of this year.  (That's 70 to you and me.)  Despite her hearing loss and cataracts, she is one of the most spry 14 year old dogs I've seen.  That's a good thing, because, God knows I desire deeply for her to live to be at least 25 years old.  Shorty has been with me through thick and thin.  She has stuck closer to me through some of my darkest days and some of the brightest.  The thought of losing her is almost unbearable for me and I realize that is probably not normal.  (I have never claimed to be normal, by the way.) 

Today, I am so thankful that her ailment was just a leg that went to sleep and that God showed me that so quickly.  I also realize that God knows when she will join Him in Heaven, but I'm praying that's not for many more years.  Many. 

So, I ask again:  Can one love a dog too much?  Never, I say.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.

I Chronicles 16:34 NIV

A New Blog Design

Well, I had to try out a new blog design.  It's like clothes, after a while, you just get tired of seeing and wearing the same thing over and over...which of course, should not matter one bit, but if we're honest...we know we get a little bored with our clothes at times.  Same thing with my blog design.
Anyway, I'm going to leave this design on for a while and see if I like it, if not, I'll change it out again.

I would like to be more diligent in posting because the quick, 10 minute posts are great "jump starts" for writing.  I am about 3/4 of the way through with my first draft of my first (and probably last) book.  This has been a five year endeavor that began in February 2006 with a whisper from God.  Today, there is no more whispering; He is actually TELLING me to finish the book.

Since I was young, I've had difficulty "following through" with major projects and I think there are a myriad of reasons.  The most blatant one is the fear of failure.  If I never finish it, it can never be a failure-in the eyes of others anyway...since they will never see it.  Nevertheless, as I've prayed and cried out to God to help me finish it, He's gently said, "Dawn, don't write the book for anyone else but Me.  Write it for an Audience of One.  I will never reject it and it will never be a failure in My eyes.  I'm the One Who asked you to write it in the first place!" Love, God

God is always so precious to give me the answer I need for that moment.  Writing this book has become an act of obedience and as I know all too well, when I am out of obedience, there is no internal rest at all.  So, with that, I commit to finishing this book and believing God to bring me the perfect Editor to help me polish it up.  It has certainly been a labor of love and I feel as if I've been pregnant for five years and I am MORE than ready to have this "baby!"  (I've actually never been pregnant, but I relate that story from all the women who have been and tell me what it feels like.)

So, with that, I will adjourn my post tonight.  I hope you are basking in God's grace that transforms any and all of us! :)

Stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

FAITH. . .What does that look like to you?

Well, hello there again!  It's been a while since I last sat down and tended to my blog.  My best excuse is that I've been diligently writing "The Book"....you know, The Book I started five years ago because I heard God say, "I want you to write a book about getting off the fence and surrendering your life to Me."  So, I would say I am 3/4 of the way finished with the first draft, which in itself, will be a great accomplishment, to say the least.  But that's another post for another time...

This semester, in Bible Study, we are covering Hebrews right now and the issue of "Faith" has come up.  Faith? What does that look like to you?  In Hebrews 11:6 it says,

"Without faith it is impossible to please God!  You must believe He is God and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." KJV

One word that really screams at me from this verse is: "Impossible."  It is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith!  For me, faith is believing, even though I can't see.  Believing what?  Believing God's word is Truth and Life and Absolute.  Believing God's promises are true, even for a redeemed wretch such as myself.  Believing I am an heir with Jesus Christ and have eternal salvation with Him in Heaven.  Believing that God is working all things out for my good, even though I can't SEE Him doing anything.

Since my conversion in 2003, I have wanted nothing more than to please God.  Without faith, that is impossible.  The truth is, as a Believer, I don't have a choice.  I must have faith if I am going to please the One who saved me. 

Faith is the opposite of Doubt.  Faith is the opposite of Worry.  Faith is the opposite of needless Fear. (False Evidence Appearing Real-type Fear.)  So, suffice it to say, that when I am doubting, worrying, or fearing something....I am not pleasing God.  I want to be a beautiful fragrance to the Lord.  I want to make Him smile every time He thinks of me.  I must exercise my FAITH to be pleasing to God...the same God who has given me Life, not death.  I don't think that's asking too much, do you?

So, think about it. . .what does your faith look like?  It's definitely something to keep at the forefront of our mind if we want to please our wonderful God in Heaven, huh? :)