GoD and DoG

In the Everyday Grind of Life, sometimes God uses our very best mutt to share the greatest truth!

As again I sit to spend my time with the One who made me and loves me, I had to laugh.  My dog Zoe seems to want to get in on it as well.  As I sit on the floor she nearly climbs in my lap- her nose pressing and wetting the pages of my journal. She was relentless.

It's happened a number of times now.  I was thinking this morning how she so longs just to be near me.  For me to talk to her, play, and spend time just together... to show her love.  But I get so busy.  Often, she is pushed aside. Waiting.  Patiently waiting until, at last, I sit.

How often do I do that with God?  I did it again this morning.  Although I really planned on sitting down right away this morning for some much needed quiet time with Him, I once again caved to the demands of business. Just this one thing... just clean this one thing.... and ohhh I see that. I cave to what I see, rather than to what I need...  and He waits.

So, once again as I sat this morning- Zoe came.  She nuzzled in. Her wet nose upon my Book. And as I slowed- I saw the lesson. She reminded me how much God loves me.  He longs, not for my work, my clean floor, or sacrifices for him... but He longs for me to love him. To love Him, because... He loves me.  He always has.  He loves you to, my friend.

Love your cell phone customer service agent?!?!- a follow up, pt2

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that." - Jesus Mt 5:43-47

In my last blog-"Love Your Cell Phone Customer Service Agent ????"  I shared my challenge of Christ's command to love my enemies (Mt 5:43-47, Lk 6:35)  regarding a very minor cell phone refund.  To refer to a customer service agent as my enemies probably sounds harsh, unfortunately that was my attitude as I entered the process.  I did not do well.  I was demanding, short tempered.... well, let's compare it to the best definition of love:

Love is patient....   Nope.. I was not.

   love is kind... I don't think my words came out that way

... it does not envy, it does not boast- these... I did ok on those two. 

          ...it is not proud.... ooohhh... Fail!  I was pretty focused on what "I deserved."

...it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

                 Fail.                   Fail.                               Fail.                                           Fail.

   

Perhaps your thinking, it was just a phone call!  What's the big deal?

Love your cell phone customer service agent????

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. ... If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?" (Mt 5:43-46)

Have you been given an “opportunity” to be obedient to the command to love not only those who love you- but those who don’t- the difficult people?  How has it gone for you?  I had a great opportunity that REALLY STRETCHED my patience, mouth and that whole bit on being SLOW to anger.(1 Cor 13:4-8)

It was a cell phone carrier- trying to remove a phone from a program.  After 45 minutes of “opportunity” I can truly look back and say it wasn’t my best, but I was trying. Really, in retrospect, the person on the other line probably thought that I was unlovable.  She really did better than I at being patient, kind, etc.!   So, by His grace, I’ll get another opportunity!?!?!   Don’t you think that so often I can deal with difficult people with more grace and love when I realize the grace and love that God has shown me an shows me daily?

Then I think of the story of the unmerciful servant: 

Life is Like Coffee

Here's a bit of Truth, a modern day parable one might say!
               
                     It's more about Life than coffee

 "Life is Like Coffee" 

Click on the coffee cup to see what I mean!