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Articles from August 2015

Biblical Truths I Learned From My Cats: Be Bold

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It amuses me what God sometimes uses to teach us lessons. Lately, it seems my four cats (and others in my life) have been the source of a few biblical truths.

 

Be Bold

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6, ESV

Toph

TophToph is not actually my cat. Technically, she belongs to Cat Depot, the organization for whom I foster kittens. She was only a month old when she was found running in circles on a busy street because she is completely blind. The vet said she’d probably been blind from birth, most likely from infection as a newborn. This little thing, who weighed less than half a pound, had somehow survived at least four weeks with no vision whatsoever. My children dubbed her Toph after a heroine in an animated TV series – a warrior girl who is blind.

Toph has lived up to her name. She’s never had any sight, but that doesn’t stop her from trying the same things I’ve watched many other kittens learn to do. At first, she was a little cautious, but then she learned to trust that if she were headed for danger, we would stop her. While she’s still confined most of the time to a large ferret cage for her own safety, she gets around just fine. She can find her bed, her litter box, her food and water bowls, and even her toys, by feel and sound and smell. She can climb the ramps to the other levels of the cage. When we let her out, she runs around the living room floor, and seems to know exactly where the furniture is. If you shake her ball that rattles, she will turn and immediately pounce right on it. It may take her a bit longer to figure things out such as how to maneuver a ramp, but she never hesitates to try. When I recently introduced her to another kitten so she’d have some company, she boldly began pawing all over him, “feeling” to see what he was. Then, deeming him an appropriate playmate, promptly pounced on him.

Why can’t we have that same approach to new things in our lives? We should never let fear (or our own limitations) prevent us from going after whatever He sets before us, even if it means stepping outside our comfort zones. God promises He will always be with us, that He will never leave us or forsake us. He tells us to be brave and courageous. We may not always be able to see where He’s taking us, but we know if we trust Him, He’ll take us someplace awesome. If a blind kitten can be bold, why shouldn’t we pounce on every opportunity we can, knowing our God is right there with us?

I know I’m already approaching crazy cat lady status … but I just might keep this little blind kitten to remind me that I don’t have to see where I’m going to know my God’s got this.

Blessings,

Amy

Biblical Truths I Learned From My Cats: Take A Time Out

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It amuses me what God sometimes uses to teach us lessons. Lately, it seems my four cats (and others in my life) have been the source of a few biblical truths.

 

Take A Time Out

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 91:4 NIV

Max

Max_hidingOne of my male cats is an eighteen-pound, long haired mountain of fluff. He’s by far the biggest, but he’s also the shyest. Max was attacked by a wolf/dog hybrid as a kitten, and while he’s affectionate with us, he is somewhat skittish when it comes to loud noises and strangers. When the doorbell rings, he will fly up the stairs to hide. His favorite place is under my bed, a place he feels secure. After a while, he might venture out to see who is here, but only after he has taken some time in his little refuge to calm down, assess the situation, and determine it’s safe to do so.

Life is often a series of sudden twist and turns. Something as simple as a phone call (or an unexpected visitor ringing the doorbell) can change everything. The abrupt whirlwind that often follows can be very disconcerting, but we don’t have to let the whims of the world blow us this way and that. We may not be able to run and hide under a bed when the doorbell rings, but we can turn to our God, and like a mother bird protects her offspring from a sudden storm by sheltering them under her wings, we can know that He will always provide a place of refuge for us.

Psalm 91:4 promises that His faithfulness will be both a shield and a rampart. A shield is designed to protect a warrior in battle. A rampart is a defensive wall, usually around a stronghold, like a castle or fort. When life’s storms rage around you and the world’s enemies relentlessly attack, your God has your back. Not only does He promise to protect you in one-on-one combat, he offers a sanctuary from the battle, a wall behind which you can retreat to regroup, rest, and evaluate your next move.

Next time your paradigm is unexpectedly shifted, take Him up on that promise. Enter into His refuge. Let His faithfulness provide the shelter you need. He’s waiting, with wings wide open.

Blessings,

Amy

Biblical Truths I Learned From My Cats: Seeking Attention

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It amuses me what God sometimes uses to teach us lessons. Lately, it seems my four cats (and others in my life) have been the source of a few biblical truths.

 

Seeking Attention

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? 

John 5:44, NIV

Luna

LunaLuna is my only female cat. She has taken it on herself to be “mama” to my other cats, every kitten we foster, and us, as well. Like many cats, Luna likes to bring us her kills. Since she is an inside cat, her “kills” are usually things like a cat toy (she’s really fond of using her Jedi skills to take down Darth Vader mouse), a hair tie, or even a pair of folded socks. This isn’t unusual for a cat, but Luna has one funny habit I’ve never seen in a cat before. She announces her kills. When she brings something, she doesn’t just leave it for us. She cries and howls at the top of her lungs, walking around with her kill in her mouth until we respond. She insists that we acknowledge her accomplishment, and will persist until we do. We must say, “Thank you, Luna.” Any other response will not cause her to stop. We’ve tried everything from ignoring her to telling her to be quiet, but only thanking her will make her quiet down.

In some ways, we’re all like that. Don’t we all want acknowledgement when we do something? Don’t we all appreciate a pat on the back for a job well done, or a verbal hat-tip when we’ve accomplished something? Social media has taken this to a new level. We post everything from our kids’ grades to photos of our food in a fancy restaurant. How many people post selfies, trying to get “likes” and comments?  How many times do we get frustrated when people don’t notice something we posted? When no one seems to notice our accomplishments? When no one thanks us for something we’ve done?

We all want to be noticed. We all want affirmation. Relying on other people for it will often result in disappointment.  So here’s the thing. There’s a God in heaven who knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows everything about you. And He loves you, so much that He sent his own son to die for you. You don’t need the acknowledgement of a single human being, because your Father in heaven acknowledged you, loved you, and forgave you, before you were ever born.

Don’t concern yourself with who liked your selfie, or who commented on your latest post. Instead, look to the God who created you and loves you. He will never disappoint you!

Blessings

Amy