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¹⁰ The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10

Scripture clearly lets us know that we ought to care for our pets, I’ve had the experience of caring for a 9 lbs. Malkie (part Maltese, part Yorkie), by the name of Micah.  I originally purchased Micah for my granddaughter, but when they moved to a new apartment, they were not allowed to have him there.  So, I took him home to live with me.

Micah possessed a very peculiar personality; I don’t think he knew he was a dog.  He loved to go for walks but would never enter a dog park, we would get to the gate, and he would sit down, refusing to go in. Some of the things I was required to do for Micah was feed, walk, take him to the Vet and have him groomed. In the event I didn’t do those things would have been detrimental to his health.

I certainly learned early on that caring for a pet is almost equivalent to caring for a child.  Whenever I left home, I would have to get a babysitter or a pet hotel when traveling.  When he was hungry, I had to make sure he ate.  Failing to do any of these things for your pet would not be good and would not show that you love them.  It got to the point where caring for Micah was becoming to much for someone who worked very long hours or having to travel at a moment’s notice.  My love for him caused me to make a decision, that even after many years bothers me.  In 2016, I decided to take Micah to a Yorkie rescue in Carmichael, CA to be adopted out by a family with children that Micah could play with and no longer be lonely.  It brings tears to my eyes just writing that.

Another thing about pets, unlike some people they really are a good judge of character, Micah would let you know if he didn’t like you.  My responsibility was to protect him and any one he disliked.  That showed love for him and the people I chose to have around him.

It is important that you love your pet in the same way you love your family or children, because if you chose to have a pet, they became a part of your family!  And If you can’t find that kind of love for them, and this may sound harsh, but find them a new home with people that will love them.  You have the option to do that without judgment and they deserve it.

I leave you with this, Jesus tells us that we are of more value than animals, but he also points out how much God loves animals. He demonstrates God’s love for His creation by how He feeds the birds and meets their every need. They want for nothing and have nothing to worry about because God deeply loves them.  We are to be imitators of Jesus who is the image of his father.

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Matthew 6:26

If you can, give your pet a hug, or at least a good snack for me.

Thanks!!

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

There was a song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie in 1985 that was titled “We Are The World”.  The chorus said “We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day, so let’s start giving.  There’s a choice we’re making, we’re saving our own lives, It’s true we’ll make a better day, just you and me”.

We are inclined to want to talk to God about the people and situations we know, it enables us to pray specifically. Although this is true, it is important that we step outside our comfort zone and pray for people everywhere.  What would it look like if we prayed for the world according to these lyrics, and the Scripture? I don’t believe we would have a problem praying for what is US.

We live in a world where situations and events unfold that require us to come before God in prayer – to petition and plea and intercede on behalf of others.  It takes compassion, persistence, and intentional prayer to reach the heart of God and benefit every people and nation.

If you are wondering whether you should pray for everyone, Jesus was our example when He said these words:

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. . . . Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.   Matthew 5:44-45, 48

He says praying for people outside the church and around the world is part of what defines us as children of God.  We would hope that those who hate us and spitefully use us are not fellow church members or converted believers, yet our Savior commands us to pray for them This is possibly the clearest passage on this topic!

While we are on the subject of Jesus being our example, while He hung on the cross, He practiced what He preached, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” – Luke 23:34.  What is a clearer example than this?

There are ways that we can take part in changing lives around the globe through prayer. Here are some tips for embracing the world God loves in our prayer time.

1. Pray around the world alphabetically
2. Pray for countries seen on the news
3. Pray throughout the day, whenever you hear or think about another country in peril.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, while our world seems to be crumbling, You remain the same, a loving, defending, and protecting Father. Within the rebellion and destruction, You reach down to restore us to the light of Your presence through Jesus our Lord.  Motivate us by your love to diligently pray for our world, allowing us to gather souls for Christ. Show us our place and how we should pray, Father, and encourage us to obey the direction You have for us.  For it’s in Jesus’ name, we pray – Amen!

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Luke 14:23 – (KJV)

Sitting down for family dinner is an opportunity to connect or reconnect and for bonding time with one another.  It is important for many reasons 1) it allows you, your family time to enjoy the social benefits of eating together, 2) studies say that its healthier to eat at the table. That sitting improves the eating posture and that eating at the table is correlated with a healthier overall weight, 3) sitting at the table places you in the position where decisions are being made.

As there are benefits to gathering together, there are also reasons that gatherings don’t take place.  Today’s Scripture Luke 14:14-23 teaches us that there will be many excuses for not gathering at the table, such as tending to your new property, animal, or a new spouse and therefore you can’t come.  Good excuses? Perhaps, but no one likes to eat alone. Eating alone is linked to a variety of mental and physical health conditions, depression is one of them.  In verse 23 of Luke 14, the lord sent his servant out to compel (force) people to join him for a meal so that his house would be filled.  This time he didn’t invite the dignitaries or the well off, he invited those that were downtrodden, maimed, and blind to sit with him for the great supper he had prepared.

Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favor, but the favor will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.”

Luke 14:12-14 (TM)

No matter how hard you hit it square pegs just don’t fit in round holes. So why do we spend so much time as women trying to fit into molds that were never created for us to fit in. Yes Judy down the street has an immaculately kept home and manicured lawn but Judy also doesn’t have 3 kids, two dogs and a husband. If Judy was honest with you she would tell you that she sometimes wish she too could be a square.

Round or square is not really the point here ladies, the point is accepting who you were created to be. Who you are is exactly what the world needs. They need to see you love you for who you are so that you can fully love them. Paul explains this concept in Galatians 5:6 when he says, “For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” (NLT) Paul is solving a dispute over religious activity. I’ll never forget the look on my then 5 year olds face when I screamed at her to finish her nuggets because I had only ten minutes to get to next church service. Nuggets went in the trash, she cried, said she was hungry and I felt horrible as I sang praises to God.

The round hole may serve at every service and the square peg well we are just lucky to get to church before the sermon ends. There is no place to criticize either one, love where you are in your growth and celebrate others. Our service to Christ, our family and our community means nothing without love.

I use to love watching the news and finding out all the happenings of the world. It made this large planet feel so much smaller to me. Periodically there was some devastating event that occurred around the world that struck me deeply and saddened me to no end. Periodically!

Today, it‘s hard to watch the news for more reasons than one. Mainly because that periodic devastating event has turned into a more frequent occurrence. Mass shootings in particular seen to occupy the headlines more than I care to see. More than any of us should see. This is not normal people!

The more we see it, I’m afraid the more we become desensitized to it. Almost as if this is normal. Our children and grandchildren will not know a world without mass terrorism be it foreign or domestic. Frightening! There are some who would like to blame the sitting president but then who’s to blame for the mass shootings that occurred in the previous administrations. I don’t believe this is the fault of one individual. It’s the fault of us ALL.

This is not a political issue. This is not an individual issue. This is a community issue, a heart issue. We were created to be in community with one another. To share in each other’s triumphs and tragedies. We have become so self absorbed and individualized that we no longer pay attention to those around us. We barely know our neighbors, if at all. When was the last time you conversated with a complete stranger, asked how they were and really listened? Encouraged someone lately who was seemingly having a rough day? For far too many of us the answers would be ‘not in a long time.’ This is not normal.

Instead of waiting for the next mass shooting to happen before you respond with compassion, how about we show compassion everyday. We inconvenience ourselves and go back to being a community that expresses love to everyone we come in contact with. Love still conquers all and it is contagious. That my friend, is normal.

About a week ago, our 19 year old daughter moved out of state in pursuit of the adventures God has for her. She will be living out of state for at least 6 months but it’s totally up to God. All He is asking me to do is have faith and trust Him. To be honest I was left with a roller coaster full of different emotions but I am grateful to God for giving her this opportunity.

A few days after my daughter left, a dear sister in Christ reached out to me to see how I was doing. I told her I was doing fine because God had given me a big hug. God gave me a big hug by revealing Himself through his word and ensuring me that everything was going to be okay. I will not lie, I still missed my little girl.

There are sad tears and happy tears at the beginning of every new journey or adventure in life; just like on stormy, windy or rainy days there is a rainbow, and the promise of God is revealed through His beautiful love that we can forever hold onto.

Evelia Moore

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence
there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Psalm 16:11

Until you get to the root of a situation or circumstance it will be a part of your life forever.  You will drag it into relationship after relationship, thinking this can’t be your fault, when in reality it is.

I got this revelation as I was yet again  tending my lawn that is full of dandelions, more dandelions than grass.  I would mow right over the dandelions and it would look good for a couple of days and then they would be right back, multiplied and thicker than ever.  After doing this for months, I realized I needed to get to the root in order to keep them from coming back.  Such is life, you can’t keep rolling over the hurts, and pains, covering them up with stuff to make them look pretty or put together, you have to get to the root of the thing(s) that keeps you from being the awesome person God called you to be.

I got up this morning shortly after the rooster crowed, I put on my gardening gear and I started to dig up each weed one by one, it was hard work, but when I’m done doing the work, I suspect the lawn will be one that me and my neighbors will be proud of.

This is just a start to the things I will start pulling up.  Lord knows there are some weeds that have taken root in my life for many years that need to be plucked out.

Lord, continue showing me the path you have me on, the journey is harder than I like but the destination is worth it, as it leads me straight to you and I wouldn’t change that for anything.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Luke 10:39-40 NIV

Oh my, there is less than 2 weeks to Christmas! Yes, it’s the same time every year, but some how it always seems to catch me off guard. The decorations are up the day after Thanksgiving, or at least some of them. You would think that with the constant reminders that I would be better prepared, but no, every year I’m rushing around trying to get things done last minute. Says more about my procrastination than anything.

This year I decided to unload my Christmas. After all, it’s not about all the hustle and bustle that we make it. If Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus, and it is, then why not make it about the birth of Jesus. When we make the main point, the main point then becoming dysfunctional crazy seems just that, crazy.

So in an effort to unload my Christmas of all the things nonessential I’ve decided to do the following.

1. Enjoy the gifts already present
   I’m surrounded by gifts that are truly a blessing from God, my family. I may not like them some days but I love them always. I’m sure if you looked around, you have the same types of blessings in your life. Gifts that make life worth living. Yes, furry family members count too.
2. Celebrate the reason with what you give
   I’m less concerned about the date Jesus was born and more focused on the fact that He was born. So let’s take the time to truly celebrate the reason for the season. Yes, I know that phrase can become so mundane and cliche’ this time of year but it can help to refocus you on the true meaning of Christmas. Christ was born. Share that and love with those who need it most.
3. Less stress, more presence
   I’ve limited my family members to one present each. Saves me time in the store, indeed, but it also allows us to spend more time with each other. No more stress trying to make sure everyone got what they wanted. Building memories with your family outlast any gift you can every purchase. The same is true of the time you spend with Jesus. So choose to spend time like Mary did, sitting at His feet.