A New Thing is Springing Up!

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43:19-21

Several months ago, we decided to get a rescue dog. (A rescue dog is a dog that has been rescued from possible euthanasia after being found as a stray, a dog that has been saved from an abusive or neglectful home by an animal rescue organization such as the RSPCA in the UK or the ASPCA in the USA, or a dog that is simply no longer wanted or can no longer be cared for by its owner. Thank you Wikipedia!)

We decided we wanted a very small, female, lap dog. You know…a girlie dog…a puffy, foofoo dog…not a “man” dog. We started our search. We looked online. We visited every humane society on the island…except one, only because that one is over an hour away.

After several weeks of searching, during a visit at the Hawaii Humane Society, I asked God, “What dog would you have us choose?” I felt a pull to look to the left and I made eye contact with a dog that was larger than we had initially decided on. And he was a male. And he was a “man” dog. I immediately thought, “Can that be right?”

There were several dogs in the same area. There was another dog in the same kennel with this dog but there was a distinct leading for us to get this one particular dog. I walked around the kennel and continued to pray. Again, I made eye contact with the same dog. I knew this was the right dog; however, what God had planned was way beyond what I could ever ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

We took him home and found him (Bodhi) to be very intelligent, calm, and exceptionally loving to people of all ages. Several weeks after bringing Bodhi home we began thinking he had more potential than we had ever imagined. I wanted to maximize Bo’s potential to help others. I began doing research to learn what possibilities were available. I was determined! I thought, if a program is not available, I will create a program! Through research I learned dogs can work in many capacities.

Then I came across an article written by Steve Reiman that stated, “For long-term elders, is it not so much the stress of daily problems, but the boredom, loneliness, and lack of control.” My immediate thought was, “Boredom and loneliness? That is something we can change!”

After several phone calls, a meeting was arranged for Bo to be evaluated. He is now a Therapy Visitation Dog and is a registered employee of the Hawaii Humane Society. We report for duty at a long term care facility next month!

We are also working on our Canine Good Citizen Certification. And we will further our education and expand as He leads. (Psalm 37:23)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_Good_Citizen

Check out our Facebook fan page! Please feel free to share so that we can build a network of Therapy Dogs to help one another to gain information, support, and insight.

http://www.facebook.com/KeyTovDOGography

A powerful aspect of this is…when we adopted our dog, we just thought we were getting a pet. However, God was answering prayer! I had been tempted to feel like I was missing where God was leading me and believing I was getting left behind. I was getting bored and lethargic. Praise God we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Praise God, His timing is always perfect. I know I am created to do more than I had been doing. I had checked into several “ministries” but nothing seemed to click. But Luke 16;10! My spiritual momma said, “Isn’t it just like God to use a dog to answer prayer?!” (Isaiah 55:9) 

Ask-Seek-Knock and it will be answered!

It doesn’t matter to me how He brings about His plan, I just want to be a part of it! (Deuteronomy 12:7)

Many of you reading this are walking in His perfect plan for your life. Some are still searching. Here is something to ponder…

What is God’s new thing for you? 

It’s welling up! 

Perceive it! 

He’s making a way! 

Proclaim His praise!

My Father's Heart

But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. (Luke 15:20, NKJV)

Mike and I dropped our girls with friends so we could take an inter-island trip. Before we were out of the driveway I said, "No matter who we leave them with, it is always so hard for me to drive away."

I will think about them all day. I will look for something specific to bless each of their hearts. My heart is always turned to them. I will even run, fall on their necks and kiss them!

Our Heavenly Father's heart is always turned to us! Even when we sin against Him and we feel like we are not worthy to be His child He sees us from a great way off and has compassion! (Luke 15:21-24)

Who Cares?

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6 & 7, NKJV)

Cast:

• To throw 
• To throw with force; hurl
• To shed; molt.
• To throw forth; drop
• To throw on the ground, as in wrestling
• To deposit or indicate 
• To turn or direct
• To cause to fall onto or over something or in a certain direction, as if by throwing
• To bestow; confer

Care:

• Watchful oversight
• Charge or supervision
• Attentive assistance
• To provide needed assistance or watchful supervision

He cares for us as in He loves us. 

He cares for us as in, He is a loving Father.

How do we care for our children? 

Knowing that, how much more does He care for us!

He provides our every need! (Phil. 4:9) 

Who cares? HE CARES!

Hidden Beneath

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV)

We bought a new house last May (2011). We were so excited and everything was brand spank’n new! Mike and I grew up in a lot of lack so to have this home was a huge blessing to us and we wanted to be really good stewards of God’s blessings. We took extra special care of every aspect of our new home.

Our sliding screen door that opens onto our lanai (patio) was very close in color to the outside environment which made it a little bit of a challenge to see when the screen was closed. Over and over, Mike reminded all the kids (ours, friends and neighbors) not walk through the screen door.

Seven months later, after months of successfully not having any children walk through the screen door, Mike walked through the screen door. I was in the kitchen making a salad and he was going to our outside kitchen to check the grill. He didn’t see the screen and walked right through it knocking it off the track and turning him into a screen wrecking ninja! 

When he first walked through it, he didn’t realize what hit him so arms started flailing and the duck and jab commenced! He moved erratically, thrashing about! It was one of the most hilarious scenes I’ve ever witnessed! Days later, I was still telling the screen ninja story and laughing. After all, Proverbs 17:22!

A few days later…I…walked…through…the…screen…door. In one week, every one of us walked through the screen door, Mike, me, both girls, and our dog. Our dog succeeded in making two trips.

As you can probably imagine, by this time, the screen was not quite what it use to be. Mike did a good job repairing it and it still worked; however, the handle was hanging by its side because one of the screws was missing. For weeks, every time I went in or out of the door, I thought to myself, “If I could just find that screw I could fix my door.” I’d make a quick look around on the surface to see if I could find the screw but didn’t really get down close to the ground and look in the cracks.

Today, I used the hose to wash the tile on my lanai. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if I found that screw and fixed the door?” I got down low and cleaned every crack and crevice to wash out all the dirt, small rocks and dead grass. In one of the cracks of the tile I found the screw and repaired my door! The screw had been hidden underneath the dirt, small rocks, and dead grass.

At the exact moment I saw the screw, the LORD spoke to my heart and said, “That is what I do. I dig deep in the heart of man, beneath the dirt, small rocks, and dead grass and I find what it takes to repair what has been broken.”

Open up your heart to Him today, let your thoughts and the intent of your heart be on wholeness. If there is any dirt, small rocks, or dead grass hidden in your heart, allow Him to dig beneath. He wants to repair everything that has been broken! Let Isaiah 61:3 rule in your life!

Trap'n Little Foxes

"Quick! Catch all the little foxes before they ruin the vineyard of your love, for the grapevines are all in blossom." (Song of Solomon 2:15, NLT)

I like herbal tea, I like it a lot. A friend recently stated I am in tea denial so there…I admit my relationship with herbal tea! I have a special herbal tea drawer that so nicely pulls out so I can see all my organized tea leaves at a glance. (No, they aren’t alphabetical, although I have considered that.) My cabinet smells like herbal tea and it makes me happy as deeply inhale when I open the drawer. I don’t use bags. I use loose leaf with a press. I cut (as my close friend has termed it) my own tea drink every day. I am not ashamed and I shall not be moved!

I like to do research. Sometimes, during my herbal tea research I make new discoveries. I find an herb or spice I can add to my tea that is beneficial to health, hair, skin, etc. At times, I have gone overboard with all my cutting and I cut my daily tea so many times that it tastes terrible. What happened? Experience reveals I have gotten too far from the original. Too many different herbs (little foxes) have ruined the taste of my tea (fruit).

I always start with raspberry. It will always be my first herbal tea love. Then I add a pinch of this and a pinch that (different herbs). As long as I stay close to the original, I have good tea. Once I operate too far from the original, I have bad tea…nasty tasting tea.

The same happens when I operate too far from my Original. When I find myself producing bad fruit I realign myself (Matthew 6:33). Then my first love remains intact and I produce much good fruit (John 15:5).

How closely are you operating to The Original?

Distractions

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)

Recently, my phone rang. My spirit “hit” me and I knew it was not a good report. I said, “I’m not answering that.” The Holy Spirit said, “Answer it now.” The call was from one of my closest friends who is more than a sister to me. She was extremely upset and told me of a completely wrongdoing against her. It was a very evil, personal attack.

Upon hearing of the situation...I felt as if I had spiritually regressed by 20years...

While on the phone, I kept it together. After speaking the word over her and explaining no matter what, we would walk this out together, I hung up the phone. Immediately, this was the conversation as the battled ensued. 

Flesh: I will rip his face off his head! 
Spirit: Vengeance is mine saith the LORD.
Flesh: You are Him on earth performing His works!
Spirit: Pray for him.
Flesh: OH, ho HO-HO-HO you have GOT to be kidding me?!
Spirit: Prayer always works.
Flesh: You know your hands wanna rip his face off!
Spirit: Even though you (flesh) are A LOT of fun, you are going to have to sit down and shut up. 
Flesh: Think on these things...RIPPING!
Spirit: I take every thought captive. 
Flesh: You are boring…
Spirit: I love Him so I keep His commands.

Ok…this is a slight exaggeration for comedic sake; however, I was so upset I was physically dizzy. The sides of my face felt like I had fallen into cactus needles. And I thought, “Oh man, not that physical sensation stuff again.”

Then condemnation tried to hit. Battle number two..."All these years, you had a forgiveness plan. Someone offends. You pray. God gives you a heart of compassion for them. He shows you why they do what they do. You have immediate victory. HA! Now you want to tear someone’s face apart! Your “plan” no longer works!" 

Me: The plan may not. But the Word always does! One sends a thousand to flight...two, ten thousand! Gotta LOVE God's math! I immediately contacted my pastor and his wife. They prayed over me, commanded all condemnation to flee....it immediately lifted. It had to bow to The Name above all names…King Jesus!  Praise God for pastors who can think fast on their feet and who are only a call away! Who are so full of God’s Word and His Spirit and know what to do, say, and pray! Thank you Pastor Micah and Kristy!

This attack was different that what I had experienced because this offense wasn't a direct hit on me. I was indirectly hurt. A collateral damage stat. Be sober, vigilant, alert (1 Peter 5:8)! For a short time, I fell for the attack. If the enemy cannot get to you, or someone you love, he will try someone to get to someone you love. In this case, unfortunately, the enemy had found the weakest link. A person I love dearly was terribly hurt and I was in full on protective mode.

As I began to piece together what had to be done I battled with several things. My primary concern was forgiveness...as in walk in. Yes. I know that; however, I reasoned (my first mistake) once a murderer confesses to killing someone and asks God for forgiveness they are forgiven. However the laws of the land decide the murderer must fulfill their requirements and be locked away for a time so that they can murder no more. I struggled with how forgiveness and accountability is balanced.

Over the next coming weeks, during prayer, Light Was! God showed me how the enemy used this incident to distract me from Him. As long as I was distracted, I was locked into that distraction instead of being locked into Him. I was locked into trying to find a solution instead of being locked into Him. He further revealed to me the next battle that was about to ensue so that I could stand against it. In an instant, He refocused me.

No matter what strikes the enemy makes, when we seek Him first in all things, He adds all things to us. He is everything we need! Don't be distracted!

Does He truly love me?

Several years ago, I heard a friend say something that changed my life forever. She said, “There is truly only one attack of the enemy”. I perked up to really focus on what she was about to say because I thought…hey, this is going to simplify my life! If there is only one battle, I can fight one battle! 

She went on to say, the one true battle is this…does God really love me? 

Light is!

No matter the attack:

• Spousal cheating
• Prodigal children
• Negative doctor’s report
• Financial crises
• A friend turning their back

Would God allow this (whatever the current this happens to be) to happen to me if He truly loved me?

Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19, NKJV)

Why do afflictions come? There are many superficial reasons; however, those are created to be distractions. The foundational reason they arise is for the word’s sake (Mark 4:17). 

What does this mean exactly?

• A spouse may have an affair.
• A child may get arrested.
• A doctor’s report may say a disease is imminent.
• A business deal may go bust.
• A close friend may end a friendship without explaining why.

They all arise to destroy confidence in God’s Word destroying confidence in Him. He is His Word (John 1:1). When all this “comes home to roost”, at the “end of the day” the question is, “Does God really love me?”

I have a good report today! Yes, God really does love you and I can prove it!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God! (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV) Now that we’ve established that and His Word is not a compilation of whatever whoever wanted to write, we can establish His truth about love!

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) 

Now that, my friends, is true love that never fails!