Your past or anxiety or mistakes or judgments do not control your destiny or who you are. Let Jesus direct your path. You are made in His image. He tells you who you are. We can be grateful and deeply worship Him because of His great love and mercies.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
“The words (and actions) of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 12:18
“The Dog”
The dog. I tried to give him away. I definitely tried not to love him. I had just lost my cocker spaniel, Lucy, three months ago. This big beast was a pit bull. No one would take him. We made the mistake of feeding him and letting him in the house. He was sweet and gentle and kind. What I had judged as a vicious beast was a big chicken. He didn’t jump on people. He was so downtrodden from his life experiences. Abused. Someone had hurt him and dumped him in our neighborhood to die. He was a very big 10-month-old puppy but would try to make himself small, invisible. He didn’t bark. He was afraid to take up space. If you raised your voice above a whisper, he would hide.
He became deathly ill. Parvo, the puppy virus and puppy killer, had struck him. The vet said that he only had a forty percent chance of surviving if they treated him at their hospital for $5,000. Not even a 50-50 chance. I asked if we could care for him at home and give him the fluids since I lived in a neighborhood with some nurses. We bought the fluids and anti-nausea medicine, and my neighbor gave him IV fluids 2-3 times per day. We hand fed him. I would stick my hand in his big gaping mouth with those prominent jaws 3 times per day with his medications. He never resisted nor did he become aggressive. He was so sick, he accepted whatever. And, He lived.
He lived and he began to change. He began to trust us. He felt safe and seen and loved. And, yes, we decided to keep him after saving him. He became more forward and affectionate. My husband named him General, and I thought to myself….”No way, he’s a chicken, not a general.” Imagine my surprise when he barked for the first time. A bold, deep, loud, menacing bark. We were walking in the country (General on his harness), and a man came walking down the hill unexpectedly. He startled us. General bristled and placed himself between me and the man. This timid, afraid of his own shadow dog was protecting me. Yes, General.
He had a changed posture. Why? Because of a different relationship, one that didn’t condemn or abuse him but that loved him. He is now a happy and loving, albeit big puppy. I love to see him running madly through the house or yard…..overjoyed and confident, knowing love.
I was listening to Pastor Ben Stuart today talk about worship and he said that when you know God’s great love and mercies, you worship Him deeply: “Salvation is not accepting who you are but understanding what you have become and by the power of God’s grace, you can become something else. That’s the Gospel.” Our dog had become loved and accepted and adopted into a new family, just like us when we accept Jesus into our hearts in relationship. When you know God and what He has done, you worship Him.
Application: How can I worship with gratitude and live knowing I am special, I am His (the Holy Spirit is in me)? How can I let God (His love) flow through me?
- Ben Stuart said, “don’t let your heart be cold.” Don’t close the doors to others (or to puppies). Invite others in, to know God.
- My Sunday School teacher said, “Worship should be how we live our life everyday” (not just at church). We should be kind to others, showing grace as well.
- Pastor Stuart: “Marvel at His mercy. Radical grace leads to extravagant worship.” Look at General, running madly through the house in joy, and deeply loving any and all who come in our house. We are loved and accepted into God’s family. Run madly through the world spreading joy.
- Structure matters, too, according to my church pastor today. The habits in our daily lives can make a difference. Stay in the Word and with other believers. A friend shared about A Modern Common Rule and practices or habits since habits can influence our thoughts and actions and heart. Daily: Quiet prayer or scripture in the morning for 10 minutes. During the day, be mindful of speech and use no words that are sarcastic or wounding. Work with presence and offer work as a prayer. Midday check in and pray: Ask yourself if you are anxious, rushed, aggressive, or avoiding and pray for peace and clarity. In the evening, ask yourself….where did I notice God? Where was I careless in speech? Then, give gratitude, repentance and rest. No texts or scrolling after a set hour. Then, weekly, one hour phone call with a friend (listen more than you speak. Encourage, don’t fix). Rest on Sunday for half the day (walk, music, reading, prayer). Digital fasting for an hour daily. Then, one day or evening per week without social media. Weekly church or small group time. Monthly: What habit brought peace, what increased anxiety or pride? Adjust gently, not harshly. With God or a trusted person, share of your truths to bring freedom.
Dear God,
Help us not to seek favor with people but with you this year. Help us to whole-heartedly pursue and worship You and not the world. You see the world differently. Help us to see as You do. Help us see our worth in You (Holy and special) and not in our past experiences, mistakes, or the troubles we’ve been through, or even the number of “likes” or worldly friends or what’s popular. Help us to draw nearer to You in our daily, weekly, and monthly habits. Help us to grow closer to You and to know Your character, and to know your mercies are new every day and then, in sincere gratitude, let us worship you extravagantly.
Tammy
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