God Lesson #1 from Barnabas

Barnabas's “house” is an old shed in a dog pen on my neighbor's property. My neighbor graciously lets him use it. He is the watchdog for several neighbors from that viewpoint!

I'm up and sitting outside earlier than normal. He hears me. I hear a faint cry. Silence. Then I hear another faint whimper, so soft, others probably could not hear it. I could hear the cry because Barnabas is mine. I can hear his voice. He was crying to be free to come to me. I went to him. I released him to be with me and right now we are enjoying special time just being together.

God hears our softest cries. A low whimper on our part is not missed by Him. We are His. He hears our voice and recognizes our cry to be with him, even more so than Barnabas's cry to be with me.

What joy it is when God comes to us and we cry out to be with Him. He releases us to enjoy His presence. No greater joy than this can be found on earth.

Blessings… Must end now and enjoy God's presence with me and of course with Barnabas.

Cracked Limbs

As Barnabas and I were walking this morning on the back of the Cabin property, I heard a sound as if a large animal was wondering in the midst of the trees.  As I moved forward, I noticed that the noise was coming from high in a tree.  Perhaps another of God's creature, unseen to my eye, was causing the noise.  Then the limb broke and fell from it's original position onto the limbs below. 

Though high above the ground,  I could see the limb was green and looked healthy.  From my perspective on the ground, I could not see a reason for it to have broken.

Then our Lord drew my attention to those of us in the Body of Christ.  Some of us are cracked and broken.  Some are about to fall and some have fallen.  Yet, the rest of us don't see their wounds or their hurts.  That is.. until they actually fall.  From all outward appearances, the person looks fine and healthy.  But God sees on the inside.  He knows our wounds.   He wants  us whole again before we fall  far from the tree.  Even if we should totally break down, just like the branches below caught the falling limb, that is how the rest of us, as Christ's Body, are to catch and care for our broken one.

I don't know to whom I am writing this.  By God's Spirit, I know that there someone reading this post who is feeling very broken and feels like they are about to crack up.  The message is...God sees you. He hears the cries that others may not hear.  He will provide for you.

The Lord has pressed upon my heart this day that I am to pray for the broken in mind and spirit.  If you want prayer for you by name... please email me at vgladding@gmail.com

A Dog's View from the Prayer Bench

While sitting on the prayer bench on the back of the property, God gave me a sweet time of being still with Him.  I talked with Him about all my concerns asking Him to make Himself known to so many of us.  Then just stillness.  Just sitting and "being".

My attention was drawn to Barnabas who was lying down nearby. (This is something he rarely does as he is normally too busy investigating.)  God's Spirit then reminded me of part of the lesson we read in our worship service yesterday.  It's recorded in 1 King's 19.  Elijah is running away from Jezebel who is out to kill him.  He is discouraged, afraid and feels alone.  But God, seeing him, knowing his heart and knowing what lies ahead of him - provides and prepares food for him - which he needs to sustain him in the days ahead. 

(But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.")

Then God's Spirit led me back to Barnabas.  He was God's provision for me even before I knew I would need him.  God literally brought this puppy up to me on the street in rural MS in 2010.  Barnabas then gave me one of his now famous hugs. I was a goner.  We adopted each other soon afterward.  God knew what life experiences I would travel through in the subsequent years.  God knew how He would minister to my spirit through Barnabas and that Barnabas would help me in the years to come.

We are ambassadors of an awesome God who knows our needs before we do.  He makes provisions to help us manage through our journey with sustenance for both physical and spiritual needs.  I am SO thankful I belong to HIM! 

This Is Holy Ground

What do these two places have in common?  Look closely.  Do you see?

Ahhh.  They BOTH are holy places!  Surprised? 

Several months ago I began helping out in the local Country store- the early morning shift.  I mean REAL early.  Four days a week I’m up at the store at 3:20 or so cooking for the early morning customers.  The store opens at 5 am and it is already stocked with all sorts of tasty food items to nourish the body.  But what folks don’t see is that I have already been asking God’s blessing on the food and each one who consumes it.  I spend time praying for not only the owners and co-workers every morning but also for each customer.  Four days a week for at least 1 ½ hours , this kitchen is filled with praises and conversation with our Lord.  God’s presence makes it holy ground.

The bench in the back yard is also holy ground.  I try to get back there often to meditate and ponder on God’s word.  I often just sit and “be” with Him.  There is no better time than to sit with the one who is the True Lover of my soul.  God meets me there.  It’s holy ground.

Now these are not the only two places we meet.  There are numerous times and places we connect throughout any given day. But these two places are special to me right now where I am in my sojourn with my Lord.

Where is your place to spend time with God – just the two of you?  Where is your Holy ground?

A Trip to the Dentist

Today I went to the dentist for my teeth cleaning.  Do I have the words to express how much I HATE going to the dentist?  No!  I hate it! My teeth are horrible. Dentists, in my dictionary, means pain – physical and financial.  I've always had problems with my teeth. So, it hurts every time I go. 

 

Today was better than most.

As the hygienist was cleaning my teeth, I caught myself rehearsing in my mind how much I HATE coming to the dentist.  She was just doing her job and as the minutes paced along (which seemed like hours) my internal attitude kept getting worse.

Then I remembered to “Jesus Pray”.  “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner”.  I repeated this several times and as the time passed my attitude improved.    I began to pray God’s blessing on the hygienist  and all who worked there.

Wow. My attitude was much better when I left than when I arrived.  I am giving thanks to God for helping me this day.

The Word Changes Lives

I just read Antidote to Poison in Christianity Today. Ravi's story is powerful.  In his narrative he notes that while in the hospital, following an attempt at suicide, a Youth for Christ director (Fred David)  brought him a Bible.   Don't miss reading his story for yourself.  This one small fact - about the bible- was such an affirmation for me.  One of my passions is to be able to give bibles - that folks today can understand - to those who do not have one when I serve as a chaplain.  I also raise funds to give bibles to folks in Rwanda - esp. priests.  They need to have their own study bible in their language. Thank you for those who support this much needed ministry.  We'll know when we get to be with Christ in glory how many lives were changed for the better because of your generous giving.  

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/april/antidote-to-poison.html

Tuesday Morning Chores

It is Tuesday.  This is the day that the garbage is picked up in Daleville.  Betty gathers our discards from the downstairs and I from my bedroom and loft.  Next, I routinely let Barnabas out of “his house” so that together we can do the chore of taking it all to the street.  We do all this while I chat away to Barnabas - he just wags his tail as he prances along.

Then we go over to our neighbors’ house and take theirs out too.  I am still a bit stronger and more mobile than they are, so it helps them in some small way. 

Next it’s time to make sure the birds, squirrels and chipmunks have a bite to eat.  We fill up the bird feeders

and spread some on the ground for whoever shall have a need to fill their tummy.  We take some food to put in the neighbor’s yard as well so they can enjoy watching the critters from their porch.

It’s been raining so it’s a bit damp in the yard.  I notice Barnabas’s paw prints on the stepping stones as we go.  Soon they will evaporate.  I give thanks to God for bringing us together.  I needed him. He needed me.  I pray that my memories of the simple tasks we do together and the remembrance of the gift God has given to us in each other do not fade with the paw print on the stone.

Now – to feed Barnabas.  I too will take a bite to eat.  I am so thankful that God has given us both food to eat.

Normal routine tasks.  Every Tuesday they are the same.  But we are not.  We are different from yesterday because of the experiences we have been given.  I pray that we've given time back to God by bringing ourselves in ton God’s presence. I pray that He has transformed us just a bit more in His likeness.  We’ll be different people tomorrow.  I am praying that I will have made some change in the way I think, what I do and who I am because of the experiences He gives to me today. Even while doing the routine, mundane tasks, God’s presence is new every day.  Maybe it will be evident to you that I changed just a bit- and maybe not. Pray for me as I pray for you.

 

Computer is now on the porch. Barnabas is nearby.  I begin to write.  Pray with me that God will use all that He has given to me through experiences of my life – to write His words for you to read this day- or tomorrow.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you this day and always.

Vicki+