Bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. ~Isaiah 61:3 NIV It was a cold winter’s day. So cold that I debated going for my daily walk with the dogs, worrying that it would be too frigid for their feet. Nevertheless, they were all anxious to get outside, so off we went. As we trudged around the snowy path, I … Continue reading →
Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ~Luke 10:39 NLT Of all the stores my grandfather delivered ice cream to, the one where the dog sat on my foot was my favorite. Who would have guessed I would learn lessons from a dog on a foot? Aside from a few chain pharmacies, gas stations, and small-town grocery stores, Mom-and-Pop stores ran the retail world. Small stores owned by local people. Stores where customers could … Continue reading →
We are a “no dog under the table” kind of family. Or dog on the table. He’s welcome to scavenge for crumbs once we’re finished, but begging or nosing us while eating isn’t our thing. To solidify our stance, we keep a spray bottle filled with water on the edge of the dining table to spray the dog if he crosses the boundary line. The Trespass Our past dogs learned the rules of the dining area quickly. They recognized the … Continue reading →
My dogs and I try to walk every day. Some days, I find that we seem to fly around our route. Our time passes quickly and pleasantly and is over all too soon. But on other days, it’s more like the trudge. The Oxford dictionary defines the word trudge as to walk slowly and with heavy steps, typically because of exhaustion or harsh conditions. Exhaustion or harsh conditions can slow down our physical walk and also our soul’s journey. When … Continue reading →
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. ~1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV I once happened upon a situation where a person was extremely angry with their dogs. They yelled, hollered, and chased after the dogs in a threatening manner, trying to get the animals to move from one area to another. But the dogs were terrified and scattered in different directions, desperately … Continue reading →
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~Romans 12:2 NIV My collie, Kayley, is the leader of my seven dogs. Collies are members of the Herding Breed in the world of dog classification. They have a natural instinct to round up livestock, making them valuable farm and ranch dogs. She … Continue reading →
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. ~Hebrews 12:2 NIV My daughter’s dog is a barker. Getting him to stop is difficult once he gets focused on something to yap about. A bark collar—the spell breaker—emits a tiny shock when he barks and works well. However, the barking spells continue without the collar, robbing our walks of peaceful enjoyment. I discovered, though, that another way existed to break the spell of this negative … Continue reading →
My seven dogs love to be wherever I am. If I let them, they would go everywhere with me in my car. They are forever watching to see what we are doing next or what I may want of them. Or, they are simply content to do nothing if that’s my agenda. Dogs just love being close to their master; that’s their main desire. My two cats, however, only show up when they feel like it or want something. The … Continue reading →
Looking into those big brown eyes, I’d tell her, “If you follow me, you’ll know where I am going.” But, she would stare at me, wag her tail, and insist on leading the way…
Continue reading →No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. ~1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV My daughter’s dog, Pepper, is an escape artist. If there is a way to get outside the yard, she will discover it, which she did once. Twice in two … Continue reading →
