Thoughts for Life: DANGERS

Dangers

Kevin Spencer-

Fritz, our large, six-year-old, orange tabby house cat, trotted happily out the door with me onto our front porch. With tail held high, he bounced by my side into the hot, humid August afternoon.

Every day, Fritz would take his “walkabout.” He would take off on a long circuit of his world here on our Tennessee ridge. He is usually gone a couple of hours, returning in time for his supper in the late afternoon. Our property borders a Wildlife Management Area along the Duck River, which is designated a National Scenic River along this miles-long stretch.

The Wildlife Management Area means wildlife is protected, and because of this, we are used to a wide variety of creatures and critters meandering through our yard—deer, turkeys, ’possums, raccoons, skunks, foxes, boar, and a host of the other usual suspects. Fritz is familiar with all these, and despite being quite territorial and possessive of his ridge to other male cats, he adopts a live-and-let-live attitude with nearly all wildlife.

I’ve seen a flock of turkeys pass peacefully around him as he lounged lazily on a rock in the middle of them. (Rodents and snakes are another story, however. Frequently, Fritz will proudly bring those home as gifts … sometimes while they are still wiggling.)

But this day differed. Fritz took a couple of steps onto the porch and froze. His nostrils went into overdrive. Hopping up on a table for a better look, he slowly scanned the front yard while tasting the air, his tail occasionally swishing with concern. Eventually, he focused on the thick woods that border the eastern edge of our property, the tree line about a hundred feet away.

His body went rigid, and his hackles rose. His tail sliced the air. Occasionally, he would look back over his shoulder at me to make sure I was still close, his green eyes as wide as quarters. Something was out there. A something he didn’t like and even feared—and I have rarely seen Fritz fear anything. Cats aren’t called nature’s gunslingers for no reason.

I didn’t see a thing. I scanned the area carefully with binoculars but saw nothing. When I got up to go back inside, Fritz dashed to the door with me and slipped safely back into the house. Definitely no walkabout today.

Fritz sensed something he couldn’t see, and he heeded that warning. I, too, have an early warning system. God’s wonderful gift, His Comforter, His presence in the form of His Holy Spirit, lives in me. The Spirit sees things I don’t, sees across time, teaches me, and helps to guide me through the hidden dangers of this fallen world.

Often, my problem is stilling the clutter in my mind long enough to hear the Holy Spirit’s soft voice speaking. I must focus on God’s Word, let His peace soothe the chaos that usually swirls in my head, and most importantly, listen for and recognize that sweet soft voice."

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Psalm 143:10 NIV

Are you listening to the Spirit’s voice?

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

Let's pray-

Father, I have an early warning system too, as the cat does in this story. Your wonderful gift of Your Spirit, the Comforter, is present within me. You see things that I don't, and over time, you help me through hidden dangers of this fallen world.

Often, my problem is stilling the clutter in my mind long enough to hear You speak softly to me. I must focus on Your Word, let Your peace soothe the chaos that usually swirls in my heart, and most importantly, listen for and recognize Your sweet soft voice.

I ask this in the lovely name of Jesus. Amen.

# 84 Testimony- GrJean

One evening, when I was driving three ladies home from a church meeting in Moria in snowstorm on Rt 11, I asked the Lord to please do something about the snow coming down, as I couldn't see well, and I was concerned that I would drive the ladies safely to Potsdam.

Immediately, the storm turned into just flurries! A car sped by at that moment, and I followed it all the way into Potsdam! I must admit that it was the Lord's doing! I give Him praise now, for His helping me that night!

1456-1460 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1456- Is. 40:28 "Hast thou not known? Hast you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."

1457- Is. 44:8a "Fear ye not, neither be afraid."

1458- Ez. 9:8b "I fell upon my face, and cried."

1459- Ps. 71:7 "I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge."

1460- Is. 63:14b "So didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name."

#84 Hymn- Jesus, Lover of My Soul

The information about this song, is taken from the book by Robert J. Morgan, THEN SINGS MY SOUL (pg. 53)

"We don't know the exact occasion for Charles Wesley's hymn, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, but its words seem to anticipate the huge crowds, lawless mobs, midnight escapes, traveling danger, and flea-infested beds he would encounter in coming years.

As the Methodist movement spread through England, Charles traveled horseback from place to place, an itinerant, homeless evangelist. His fiery preaching incited revival in some people and outrage in others.

He married Sally Gwynne, after publishing his Hymns and Sacred Poems, as well as his journals and sermons. He continued his itinerant ministry until 1756, when, at age 49, exhausted, he and Sally settled down. Charles busied himself preaching, visiting, counseling, fretting about his three unsaved children, trying to keep Methodism within the church of England, working tirelessly on his hymns and poems into 1788, when he became bedfast from a lifetime of fatigue.

Some encouraging words-

The process God takes us through as we wait on Him, is for our good and His glory alone. We're to pray that He will make us strong so we will dare to wait on His perfect timing, not our own.

"No matter what life throws our way, we can know God is in control even when we are out of control. And if God's hands are as big and strong as they are, it does not matter what happens. When the situation is out of our hands, we can place it in His hands, and He will give us victory over our adversity. Even in our worst moments, God will never leave us. He is right there in our situation." Josh Bender

Church Notes:

Jesus was approached by a man who had leprosy for healing, believing that if He could, He would heal him. Christ was moved with compassion for the man, and healed him!

We're to come to Jesus like that man did with our brokenness, for He will meet our needs as we acknowledge that He is willing to have mercy, and that He is able to help us.

God was angry against the fallen state of man, and it caused Him to have compassion on the man!

Upcoming posts:

5/10- SATISFY YOUR HEART- Diane Ohlson

17th- WHY WE NEED TO PRAY- John Calvin

24th- BE PREPARED- Kevin Spencer