Got Mud?

 






As I have said, I’ve always had a pet of some kind. When we decided to get a new dog, we searched different breeds. We looked at their temperaments, what their needs would be, the time they would require from us. And when we settled on one, we settled on Golden Retrievers. We already had a golden before so we thought for what we were looking for this breed would be a fit for us.

Then we set out on looking for a good reputable breeder and we found a gem! We paid our deposit and received pictures of our new baby. I was so excited when it was time to pick her up. We picked up our Stella and I was immediately in love with her. She had coal black eyes that looked like liquid pools of love. It was a match. She promptly planted a big wet kiss on my face and I was in heaven.

Stella is a brilliant dog – one full of love and life. Now while in my mind Stella was near perfect there was one thing that she loved almost as much as me and that was MUD!! Her mother loved mud and her grandmother loved mud. I’m pretty sure if we traced back to the beginning we would see lots of mud in the line. She not only loved mud she loved to roll in the mud, dig in the mud, root in the mud. Good thing she loved water and baths equally as mud. I found bath time for Stella was almost a daily routine. I hated to see rain because I knew the moment she went out she would dig to find – you guessed it MUD! She didn’t only find existing mud she would work rather hard to create the environment so mud would appear when it rained. Then her joy began. You could call her and her obedient nature would come running, but the disobedient nature in her would take in one last roll before doing so.



                                                               


I had her on lead one day walking her to the kennels. She had been clean for 4 whole days – a new record in our home! So I gently explained on the way to the kennels that she was a show dog. She was better than mud. She shouldn’t lay in mud, roll in mud, root in mud or even go near mud. She wasn’t created for mud she was created for far better things. “You Stella are a Show Dog – created for better things”.

But aren’t we created for far better things as well? Sometimes we forget whose we are – who we belong to and we search for mud. Sometimes we work rather hard to even create the environment to make mud to lie in. We like to lay in mud, roll around in it and root through it.

 

 

God is so gracious to clean the mud off us. He gently takes His holy scrub brush and cleanses us from all mud. He continually forgives us for our mud behavior. But shouldn’t we strive for less mud in our lives?

Children of God were created to do better things than to lay in the mud of the world. Have we so quickly forgotten the price that was paid so we could wear His robe of righteousness and claim our identities in Him? Have we forgotten that we are:

• Fearfully and wonderfully made 
  Psalm 139:14 (NASB95)
  ¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Approved by Him

2Corinthians 13:7 (NASB95)
7 Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NASB95)
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

The apple of His eye

Zechariah 2:8 (NASB95)
⁸ For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

Deuteronomy 32:10 (NASB95)
¹⁰ “He found him in a desert land, And in the howling waste of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.

 

His Treasure

Deuteronomy 14:2 (NKJV)
² For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the  Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Not condemned 
Romans 8:1 (NASB95)
¹ Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The aroma of Christ
2 Corinthians 2:15 (NASB95)
¹⁵ For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

  Redeemed 

Luke 1:68 (NASB95)
⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
  Ephesians 1:7 (NASB95)
⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Romans 3:24–25 (NASB95)
²⁴ being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; ²⁵ whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

  …and the list can go on.

As Stella has matured, she is less enamored by mud. Perhaps she has finally outgrown mud. Perhaps she has seen that it is less productive to her daily routine. I take that lead from her as well. As time passes, the world’s mud attraction has grown less and less in my life. Perhaps I’ve grown up a bit, learned His word, understood whose I am and claimed my identity in Him. Yes as I walk past the world’s mud I have less inclination to walk through it. Less rooting and laying, yet knowing that if I fall into it He is faithful to cleanse me from it – again. (1 John 1:9) I too am less enamored by the world.

Just sitting at His Feet….

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An example of a goat, a lesson from the Shepherd

I have always loved animals. As far back as I can remember I have had some kind of pet(s). I was the little girl dragging someone’s poor dog home thinking it must be a stray. I can remember a time when we had so many dogs and cats along with a pony, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs; that finally my mom said no more and put a limit on how many could live there.

 

That really didn’t go away in time. I grew up but as long as Bruce and I have been married – there has always been some kind of pet(s). But so often I learn great things from them. And sometimes I hear God speak to me through their actions. Some of the most memorable lessons have come from a variety of animals.

 

Many years ago I had the privilege to raise dairy goats. I’m not sure if I began with a true purpose other than I just love goats. I always have love their immense curiosity and the fact that they would give milk – well that was just a bonus. Keep in mind I had never raised goats before and wasn’t real sure what to do when I got them. I read everything available on the subject and visited several surrounding farms.

The decision was made on the breed of goat. I chose Nubians. I don’t know if it was because I liked the look or the goat or because they are so vocal and so am I. It’s been said that a Nubian always sounds like it is complaining about something. I always thought they just had a lot to say and said it loudly.

I found two baby does and purchased them. Sadie and Katie and I were big buddies from the beginning. Sadie had the most tender heart and Katie, well she was a true goat but really the most beautiful. They trusted and loved me completely. Now they liked Bruce but they loved me.

I learned the difference between a hireling and a true shepherd. A hireling is there for the money. They don’t care about the animal itself, they take care of the needs of the animal just so they can get paid. A shepherd he cares for and protects the flock. He leads the flocks to eat and drink. He looks for the strays. He loves the animal, cares about the breed.

Goats seem to understand the difference as well. When they saw my husband coming they would bleat softly, but when they saw me….they sounded as if someone were killing them. They would run up to me just for me to touch them.

At night I would lock in them in a stall to protect them from coyotes and other predators. In the morning when I would go to the barn they would try to kick the door down. At first we thought it was just because they wanted out, so when Bruce would go with me he would say “Morning Glories” (our goat greeting to them) and they would bleat ever so sadly, but if I said right after him “Morning Glories” you could hear them scramble to their feet and begin butting the door. When I would open the door they would come to me just to feel my touch.

Upon seeing this, the Lord quickened my heart and I heard “why don’t you kick the door as excitedly when I call upon you?” Ouch.

The Great Shepherd Himself takes time out to touch me or talk with me and I am not nearly as excited as the goats were that day. I looked deep within and changed that –rather quickly I might add.

That certainly changed the way I walked with Him. When He calls my name rather than running afraid He wants me to do something, or ignoring Him because He is correcting me – I kick the door down unable to wait to get to Him. Just for His touch. Just because He wants me. Just because He loves me. Just because.

The Great Shepherd Himself loves us so much. He wants a personal, intimate relationship with us. He is the Guardian of my soul.

1 Peter 2:25 (NASB95)

²⁵ For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

 

What about you?  When He calls your name how do you respond?  Are we as the Body of Christ kicking the door to get to Him?  Today how quickly will you open that door to get to Him for a touch, or a word, or just to sit with Him awhile?

An example of a goat, a lesson from the Shepherd. Many lessons were taught to me. Sometimes we have to see a visual to really understand what He may want from us and for us. I understood that lesson to its fullest.

Isaiah 40:11–12 (NASB95)

¹¹ Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. ¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?

There have been others – from other animals. Perhaps this week I’ll talk more on the lessons from the barn.

Until then….

Just sitting at His Feet,

 

 

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Shy Girl

Once upon a time there was a young girl named Shy Girl. Shy Girl grew up feeling a little unwanted and very much unaccepted. Perhaps she would not have been named Shy Girl if she had the right kind of clothes. She felt very sure everyone could see her tattered attire. She wore a threadbare jacket of inadequacy, the ripped jeans of low self-esteem and the hole-filled shoes of unworthiness and no self-confidence. She walked everyday through the Valley of Fear to her home located on the Hill of Unacceptance. Sometimes she would wander through the towns of Approval Seeking and People Pleasing, but it was exhausting taking that route because the residents often pointed at her and made comments about her clothing. Shy Girl made a few friends along the way and secretly hoped that Prince Charming would come and sweep her off her feet.

Prince Charming did indeed come and indeed he swept Shy Girl off her feet. Oh she thought, now we can live happily ever after. There were bumps and babies along the way, but for the most part it was happily ever after. But then one day Prince Charming changed. He desired to read and study and go to church. Shy Girl didn’t. She was comfortable in their life together. So instead she put on another coat, the coat of loneliness. Her Prince Charming – her only friend, found a new place of comfort, with new friends and he now spoke a new language. Prince Charming’s new friends tried to show Shy Girl how she could be one of them, but her clothing held her back. She did not really like the new people and truth be told they frightened her. Maybe it was because feeling the dirt through her hole-filled shoes of unworthiness reminded her daily of who she really was.
One day Shy Girl met a priest named Much Fun. Her name fit her well because Shy Girl always had much fun when she was around. One day Much Fun asked Shy Girl the dreaded question – Do you want to go to church? Couldn’t Much Fun see her clothes? Didn’t she understand she had nothing to wear – nothing to give? Shy Girl quickly said no and Much Fun then asked if she would like to go shopping another day. Much Fun was quickly becoming much weird, but Shy Girl agreed and soon she and Much Fun were good friends. Much Fun loved Shy Girl just as she was and did not try to get her to change her clothes. She loved Shy Girl so much that when she invited her to church again, Shy Girl agreed to go. Shy Girl felt loved among the people there. So much so that when The Great High Priest knocked at the door of her heart she not only opened the door, but Shy Girl fell deeply head over heels in love with The Great High Priest.
Change was once again on the horizon. The Great High Priest beckoned Shy Girl to wear His robe of righteousness. She knew the robe really would look better if she didn’t have on her tattered clothes, but she could not bear to remove them. They were well worn and very comfortable. Sometime later, Shy Girl sensed something inside stirring and felt change was once again coming. She met another priest who saw her clothes and commented on them. Shy Girl was taken aback by the boldness of this priest called Truth Giver. Shy Girl and Truth Giver became friends, although sometimes Truth – Giver annoyed Shy Girl with all her truth talk.
One day, Truth Giver introduced Shy Girl to yet another priest called Wisdom. Wisdom had soft love filled words and blue eyes that danced when she laughed. Her silver hair shone around her like a bright light. 
Shy Girl felt that she could trust Wisdom with all her hurt and pain. Wisdom walked with Shy Girl through the Valley of Fear. When she walked through the towns of Approval Seeking and People Pleasing with Wisdom, no one pointed at her nor did they seem to notice her clothing. Wisdom showed her the path of Confidence and gave her courage to get on the train of Self Esteem. Wisdom taught Shy Girl the words and desires of The Great High Priest and helped her to understand them.
Soon her clothes became binding and scratched at her skin. She no longer felt comfortable in them, for they were now outgrown. Wisdom helped her remove her old clothing and encouraged her when she decided to only wear the robe The Great High Priest had given her so long ago. She helped Shy Girl change her name too. She was no longer that shy girl who lived on the hill of Unacceptance.
She had moved to the mountain of Abundant Love and Grace and her new name was the Approved Daughter of the Most High God.
  

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