Standing!

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23, NKJV)

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. (Mark 11:24, New Living Translation)

This morning I woke up with the Legacy Church (www.legacykona.com) Praise Team singing in my head. Loud and clear, I could hear William McDowell's version of  "Standing".   

"We are stand-ing... stand-ing...

Standing on the promise of Christ our Savior!"

If you've never heard that version of the song, I encourage you to meditate on it. It will really bless you. I so deeply appreciate the impact worship teams have on congregations! Life giving words set to music and whole heartedly belted out during services in a "corporate setting" continue to minister days, weeks, even months or years later! I consistently revert to praise songs I heard over twenty years ago. Worship teams, don't ever fall for the lie that you are not impacting His kingdom. 

But, praise teams is not what this post is about. Today's post is about standing on His promises! 

After I worshipped the LORD with that song, thanked Him for His great faithfulness, and enjoyed His amazing presence, I asked Him what He would have me write today. He said, "Standing!"

In a previous blog post, I discussed speech issues that we've battled with my youngest child. If you missed that post, you can read it here.  

http://keytovblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/stay-in-it-to-win-it.html

The following Sunday after Gracie's initial consultation, I took her to our pastor,  Dr. Larry Ollison. He prayed for her and declared all would be right with her. Additionally, he spoke life and peace into me. That moment was a turning point. From fear and despair to faith and hope. 

This morning God brought to my remembrance, our family's confession for the past 4 + years during the speech battle with Gracie. Basic, simple and very uncomplicated, every time the LORD brought it to our remembrance or every time the enemy would whisper in our ear, "It's been so long, she will never speak correctly." We laid our hands on Gracie's head and gently spoke, "Perfect speech in the name of Jesus." We also taught her and her sister to stay in agreement with us by speaking the same thing. We refused to get in agreement with what we were seeing and hearing. Instead, we were standing in agreement with His promises. 

Last year, when Gracie was six years old, she was tested by a www.chea-elks.org speech pathologist. At that time, her speech was at a five year old level (one year behind). Last week, she was re-tested, her speech is now at an eight year old level (one year ahead).

In this fast food nation, the temptation to give up if immediate results don't manifest may strike. Strike back! It is more crucial now than ever, to forego what we are told in the natural and hold fast to that which is permanent without wavering because He who has promised is faithful! 

"We are stand-ing... stand-ing...

Standing on the promise of Christ our Savior!"

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!