IF WE DON'T LEAD OUR DOGS, THEY WILL TRAIN US

Just call me "Shorty the Dog Whisperer".  About two weeks ago my faithful pooch, Sir Beauregard developed a food/water bowl phobia.  I have NO idea why.  Post traumatic stress syndrome, maybe (our pit bull found a new home with someone else-don't hate, all you dog rescuers, it was absolutely necessary).  Well, anyway, with a lot of patience and positive reinforcement, he is slowly overcoming his phobia.  He had actually started to get a little dehydrated, but he's good to go, now.  Thank God!  

I don't often ring my own bell, but I'm proud to have been part of Sir Beauregard's recovery.  When I adopted him 6 years ago he was about 5 years old, a total mess, and was near euthanasia.  He had been in three homes and at the Jack Russell rescue twice.  He had severe separation anxiety and would tear up the house and urinate on the furniture if left alone, but now I can leave him alone in the house with NO problem (he still panics if left in a crate, sometimes...go figure).  He was scared of every noise, and person (except me-he took to me immediately) that came near, sending him into a panic and either marking furniture (a fear response, btw), or rolling over on his back and urinating all over himself.  On a scale of 1-5, in the beginning he was less than a 1.  Today?  He's a 4.  It was a year before he ever barked or made a sound of any kind.  It was just as long before he would take a bone or toy.

We human's don't realize how much OUR short comings AND strengths effect our pets.  If your pet is unruly and kooky...look at yourself in the mirror.  We have to be the pack leader, and in order to be the pack leader, we must act like one.  If we don't lead our dogs, they will train us.

I WANT MY LAWYER!

Have you ever been so burdened with the need to pray for someone or about something, but you just can't find the words to pray?  

I personally know multiple people right now who are struggling with cancer or cancer related illness, and I find myself feeling so overwhelmed with emotion for these friends and loved ones and heavily burdened with the need to pray for them, but often times find it difficult to find the words.  

I am reminded of what Romans 8:26 tells us, "So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance."  

As Christians, followers of Christ Jesus, we are given One Who pleads our case for us, the Holy Spirit.  He is our advocate...a lawyer of sorts. He knows what is in our hearts and goes before the King and speaks for us.  Isaiah 65:24 says, "And it shall be that before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear."  Did you know that God hears our prayers before we even utter a word?!  Isn't that awesome???!!!  So don't fret when you can't pray!  1st, God hears what is in our hearts, 2nd, the Holy Spirit speaks for us!  God is an awesome God!  He has provided everything we need to communicate with Him!  Shalom!

REDEEMED

It was just a few days after my 5th birthday.  I remember the conversation.  I asked my mom what I could give Jesus for His birthday, and she told me I could give Him my heart.  We lived in a fairly small craftsman, where I remember very well, kneeling beside my little bed in the old attic that had been converted into two small bedrooms and a small bathroom with just a toilet and sink, as I recall.  I remember giving my heart to Jesus.  That was so long ago.

As I grew up, I rebelled and lived my life for myself, but He patiently waited for me, and a time came when I had finally reached the end of myself.  I had become an ugly, angry, overweight, bitter, deeply depressed shell of a woman who's best friend was a bottle of Mick Ultra.  I had even told my husband that I was leaving as soon as our son left for college for the spring semester.

January 4, 2006 was my day of redemption.  That was the first day of the next three years completely free from alcohol.  During those three years I depended completely on Jesus.  He placed in me a deep desire to be pleasing to Him in mind and body.  I wanted to be obedient in every aspect of life.  I was invited to an awesome church and began attending every Sunday.  I began to eat healthy and exercise, and lost 30 pounds within a year.  I filled my mind with His Word, and was careful what I watched on TV, and began listening to Christian radio.  I was so hungry for Him!  My marriage was restored!  Everything about me was changing, which didn't come without some conflict in our home.  The change in me was a full blown radical change, which was difficult for my husband to accept at times.  A born again believer can be hard to handle at times, and I definitely was, and still am!  

Are you ready for the shocker???  You had better sit down for this one.

Then the year 2009 rolled around.  That moment the enemy waits for had arrived.  I was primed and ready to give in, and the enemy knew it.  I caved before I even knew what hit me.  "But it's okay to have just one drink with dinner once or twice a week..."  Those are the words I kept hearing in my head.  In my spirit I knew that for me, that wasn't true, but I gave in.  It actually worked for a while, but over time the one or two drinks became more drinks, and the once or twice a week became more frequent.  I can honestly say, and I'm very thankful that I am not where I was before I was free from alcohol, but I am certainly not where I was spiritually, mentally, or physically during those three wonderful years of freedom, and for that I am heart broken and ashamed.  

Today is January 4, 2013, the seven year anniversary of the day I tasted real freedom for the first time.  Today, by God's grace and mercy, history repeats itself as I taste real freedom once again!

You might ask why I chose to publish this...I'm struggling with that one, myself.  Seriously though, over the years, I've shared various struggles, but I've been too ashamed to share this one.  The enemy loves to tell you lies like, "Don't tell anyone.  They won't understand.  They have their own problems.  You don't need to burden others with your problems, etc..."  So yesterday it occurred to me that today would be the perfect day stop listening to those lies and start over, and that it was important to share this particular struggle, not just for my sake, but for others who struggle with addictions, whether it be alcohol, drugs, food, etc.  I've shared it with no one outside of my own household until now, and that, in and of itself, is liberating!  No more hiding.  

I trust that this will reach those who are struggling with their own addiction, whatever it may be, and if you are a born again believer, that you will be reminded of who you are in Christ Jesus, and if you are not a born again believer, that you will consider turning over your struggles to Him.  We are not promised a perfect life without struggles, but we ARE promised that He will NEVER leave us or forsake us.  In Joshua 1:5, the Lord says, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."  

Pray for me, and I will also pray for you.  Blessings to each and every one of you, and may you have a truly happy new year.

Click on the link below to hear Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU