THE UN-SAINTLY SAINT

My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same. - Job 4:8 (NLT)

     Finding a name for a puppy can be quite the challenge for some. For Harold, it took nearly three weeks for him to decide on a name and when all was said and done, he named his puppy Muffy.  And everyday, for three weeks after that, he made sure to tell everyone he saw what his puppies name was.

     With his new puppy to play with, Harold, believe it or not, managed to stay out of trouble for several months. Every day he would come home from school and from the time he got home till bed time he played with his little puppy. And when bed time rolled around he would snuggle up to Muffy and fall asleep.

     All of this would have been great but there was a slight problem, Muffy didn't stay small. Over the following months, Muffy started to grow and grow and grow. After doing some research, Harold learned that his little Muffy was a St. Bernard and when he learned how big they could get, he double gulped and started to wonder if he had made a big mistake in keeping him.

     By the following summer Muffy had grown from a little adorable puppy into a 175 pound 5 foot long monster of a dog. Muffy still slept on Harold's bed but now Harold was sleeping on the floor. When it came time to eat, Muffy was even out eating Harold, and Harold wasn't to happy with that but he didn't think he would win an argument against his dog.

     In a way, Harold's dog was becoming just like him. He ate and slept a lot, He was somewhat lazy and made big messes and just like Harold he caused lots of problems. In fact, Harold was getting into more trouble because of Muffy than he was getting into on his own.

     “I thought St. Bernard's were suppose to be saints?” Harold mentioned to his grandpa one day, “Muffy has been anything but a saint.” “Sounds like he's growing up to be just like his owner.” Harold's Grandpa replied. “I believe you're reaping what you've sown.”

     “Sew!” Harold said with disgust. “What does Muffy have to do with sewing? - Sewing is for girls!” “Where is Muffy anyway?” Robert asked. “He's, He's..” Harold said as he looked around, “No! He's in to the garbage cans again. I'll never get caught up picking up trash.” Yep.” Robert laughed, “He's just like his owner.”

     I have written many adventures for Harold and even when he tries to be good he seems to find a way to get in trouble and when a person always causes trouble, sooner or later trouble will catch up to them. Of course reaping what we sow doesn't always apply to the bad we do but can apply to the good we do as well. - Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. - Galatians 6:7-9 (HCSB)

     Jesus shows this principal in a couple stories

• Luke 16:19-25 - Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed and who lived each day in luxury. At his door lay a diseased beggar named Lazarus. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man's table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. Finally, the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham. "The rich man shouted, `Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in these flames.' "But Abraham said to him, `Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. (NLT)
• Matthew 25:31-40 - "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' (NASB)

     Some times we reap what we sow within minutes or hours. Other times we may wait for weeks, months or years. Sometimes we may wait a lifetime and still not reap what we've sown but a day is coming when we will stand before the judgment seat of God. For there is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world, will judge all people according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and practice evil deeds. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. - Romans 2:5-10 (NLT)

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you look forward to reaping what you have sown?
• Are you willing to live differently if you're not?

A BABY FOREVER

Let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. Ephesians 4:15b (HCSB)

      Harold sat alone in his secret hideout. He wished he could have been out playing with his friends but after his tantrum the last several weeks, he wasn't sure he even had any left. Not even Barney, who had been his best friend was talking to him. So he just sat in his secret hideout and stared at the ground.

     As he sat there he thought he started making a list of all the things he could hear. There was the light drip drip of water left over from a shower earlier in the day, There was the sound of geese flying high over head. An occasional Chickadee would call out. There was the scurry of a mouse in the leaves in the corner of his hide out and there was what sounded like the whimper of a small puppy.

     Soon enough, Harold's curiosity got to him and he got up off the floor and started scrounging around looking for the source of the whimpering. And soon enough, he found what looked like a picnic basket that was wiggling around. Carefully opening the lid, Harold looked inside and too his delight, he found a little tiny puppy.

     “Hi there, young fella.” Harold said as he carefully picked the puppy up. “Don't you have any friends either?” With a smile on his face, the puppy started licking Harold's nose and that made Harold start giggling. “At least you're happy to see me!” he said, “Do you live around here?” Harold asked the puppy but the puppy just kept trying to lick Harold's nose.

     Carefully, Harold put the puppy back on the ground. “Now that I've let you out of that basket you should go on home.” Harold told the puppy, “And I should be going home too.” But instead of going home like Harold thought the puppy would do, it followed him.

     When he got home, Harold's sister was the first to comment on the puppy. “How cute!” she said “Who's is he?” Harold just shrugged in response. When Harold went in the house, the puppy scurried through the open door and started chewing on one of Stella's dolls. “Maybe I can keep you.” Harold said out loud when he saw the puppy chewing on Stella's doll.

     “Keep what?” Harold's dad asked and then he saw the puppy. “Can I? Can I?” Harold asked with excitement, “He's not very big and he'll probably be a little forever, and I'll take really good care of him. Can I? Can I?” “I don't see why not.” Harold's dad responded “But, you do realize, he won't be a baby puppy forever, he will grow up.”

     With a big grin on his face, Harold picked the puppy up and gave him a big hug. “You're my new best friend.” he said, “And dad's wrong, you'll never grow up.”

     Have you ever wished that someone or something or maybe even yourself, never had to physically grow up. Kind of like the lost boys in Never Land in the story of Peter Pan. I know that as a parent I sometimes wish my little ones would stay little. They haven't and I don't think Harold's puppy will either.

     Of course some of us fail to grow up mentally or emotionally or spiritually, etc. And sometimes its by choice. Years ago Amy Grant sang a song called Fat Baby written by Steve Miilikan and Rod Robinson that went like this:

I know a man, maybe you know him, too. You never can tell; he might even be you.

He knelt at the altar, and that was the end. He's saved, and that's all that matters to him.

His spiritual tummy, it can't take too much. One day a week, he gets a spiritual lunch.

On Sunday, he puts on his spiritual best, And gives his language a spiritual rest.

He's just a fat. He's just a fat little baby! Wa, wa, waaaaa....

He wants his bottle, and he don't mean maybe.

He sampled solid foods once or twice, But he says doctrine leaves him cold as ice.

Ba, ba, ba, ba...ba, ba...ba, ba!

He's been baptized, sanctified, redeemed by the blood, But his daily devotions are stuck in the mud.

He knows the books of the Bible and John 3:16. He's got the biggest King James you've ever seen!

I've always wondered if he'll grow up someday. He's momma's boy, and he likes it that way.

If you happen to see him, tell him I said, "He'll never grow, if he never gets fed."

      In the book of Hebrews, the author had to chew out his readers for their failure to grow up. - By now you should be teachers, but you need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God’s message. You still need the teaching that is like milk. You are not ready for solid food. Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and knows nothing about right teaching. Hebrews 5:12-13 (NCV)

     Likewise, Paul as he wrote to those at Corinth growing up as well.

• 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 - Brothers and sisters, in the past I could not talk to you as I talk to spiritual people. I had to talk to you as I would to people without the Spirit—babies in Christ. The teaching I gave you was like milk, not solid food, because you were not able to take solid food. And even now you are not ready. (NCV)
• 1 Corinthians 14:20 - Brothers and sisters, do not think like children. In evil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like adults. (NCV)
• 1 Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. (NCV)

     The bible reminds us to grow up, to grow in....

• 2 Peter 3:18 - Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes! (MSG)
• Hebrews 6:1 - So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. (NLT)
• 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - And may the Lord make your love grow and overflow to each other and to everyone else, just as our love overflows toward you. (NLT)
• Ephesians 4:15 - But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. (HCSB)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• In what ways do you still act like a baby?
• In what way do you strive to grow?

SURPRISE ENDINGS

No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways. Romans 11:33b (NCV)

      In Isaiah 55:8 we read "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. (NASB) Have you ever been surprised by the way God works things out? Harold was about to receive a one of those surprises, one he never could have imagined - and Harold’s got a great imagination.

     As Harold flopped himself down at the table in His grandparents’ kitchen he looked over at his Grandpa Robert and said “I still can’t believe it.” “Believe what?” Robert asked him. “Why Stella would ever do such a thing?” Harold told him “Do what?” Robert asked. “You, know Grandpa.” Harold replied, “Lose Muffy. I would never do anything like that.”

     “NEVER?” Robert had to question for he knew what his grandson was like. “I never do anything wrong.” Harold quickly replied. But Robert could only shake his head, “If I were to make a list of all the things you’ve done wrong,” he said, “I would have to buy a semi load of paper.” “Yeah, right.” scoffed Harold, “Next you’ll be saying Stella learned her trick from me.”

     After a bit of silence, Robert decided it was time to fill Harold in a few facts about Muffy. “You know, Harold.” he said, “I don’t think Muffy was really lost.” “Of course he was.” Harold reminded his Grandpa, “Stella said so.” “I know,” Robert replied, “But you and Muffy go through the woods a lot and Muffy knew HER way back home.” “I never thought of that.” Harold said with a humph

     “Muffy didn’t come back,” Robert continued explaining, “Because SHE had a special reason to stay.” “Grandpa,” Harold interrupted, “Muffy was a HE not a SHE.” “Did I say SHE.” Robert asked with a smile. “Yes you did.” Harold let him know. “Well,” Robert continued, “I said SHE because Muffy was a SHE and SHE didn’t come back because SHE had seven puppies out there in the woods and they all look like her.”

     “P-U-P-P-I-E-S!!!” Harold shouted in surprise. “What am I going to do with seven puppies?” “I suppose you could give them away” Robert suggested. “But who would I give them too?”: Harold asked “I can think of several people,” Robert answered, “Starting with your sister.”

     “Give one to Stella?” Harold questioned. “She’s hurting too,” Robert answered, “And I think a puppy would cheer her up.” Well,” Harold said after thinking about it for awhile, “I suppose I could and maybe I could give one to Barney and Tracy too.” “I’ll help you.” Robert told him, “Let’s go to the woods and get them.”

     Would you say you like surprises? I suppose it might depend on the type of surprise, if it was a dividend or am unexpected bill. Do you suppose Harold was surprised to find out Muffy was a she and had 7 puppies? Do you think Stella will be surprised when Harold gives her a puppy? For good or for bad, surprises are a part of life. When we read the Bible we find many people receiving surprises - Let's look at a few.

     The first one I'll look at is found in 2 Samuel 12 and comes int the from of a “I know what you did.” David, although he was called a man after God's own heart, was still human and he sinned by getting another man's wife pregnant and than in an attempt to cover it up he had the woman's husband killed. All seemed to go fine till Nathan showed up. To make a long story short, He had to tell David surprise! God saw everything and you're going to be punished.

     Sarah received her surprise in Genesis 18. She was likely minding her own business when three strangers showed up. They must have been important the way her husband treated them and than she heard one of them say she would have a baby. Now having a baby might not be a surprise if your young but Sarah was old – closing in on 90. When she heard she was to have a baby she laughed as if to say no-way. A few months later I'm sure she was surprised to find out she was pregnant.

     Peter was a fisherman by trade and in Luke 5 he'd been out fishing all night but had nothing to show for it. Jesus told him to try casting his nets in the water one more time. Not thinking it would do any good he did it any way because Jesus had told him to and was he ever surprised. He caught so many fish his nets began to break and his boat began to sink.

     Sitting in a Roman jail with no hope of release, Barabbas was just waiting to be for the day when he was to be killed for the crimes he had committed. But that's not what we read in Matthew 27. Soon the fateful day came or so he thought. Prepared for the worst he must have been greatly surprised when he was told he was to go free and some man named Jesus was to be crucified instead.

     It had been three days since she had seen Jesus crucified, three days since His body had been laid in a tomb and sealed in and now, Mary Magdalene wanted to go see the dead body. When she got to the tomb was she in for the surprise of her life. Instead of a dead body in the tomb their were two angels and the man standing outside whom she thought was the gardener was Jesus and He was alive.

     As you go looking through the Bible you'll find many more surprises. As you look back on your life you'll find you've been surprised many times and chances are you'll be surprised again.

     I think God likes to surprise us and I think He will because His ways are so much better than ours. Isaiah 55:8-9 says The LORD says, “My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (NCV) Because God's ways are not our ways we often find ourselves being surprised and sometimes for good and sometimes for worse. Let's be thankful for God's greatest surprise – the risen Lord.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• How has God surprised you?
• How do you react to the surprises in your life?

UNFORGIVEN UN-FORGOTTEN

Forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. - Ephesians 4:32b (TEV)

      Sometimes, it can be very hard to tell the truth, sometimes, it can be very hard to hear the truth. For the Peterson kids, Stella and Harold, this was to become a bold reality.

     Harold, had been grieving all week. In an attempt to try and cheer him up, Harold’s dad, Bill, helped him have a funeral for Muffy and to bury him, he even put a cross up on the grave. All Bill’s efforts seemed to be working and Harold was starting to cheer up but that was soon to come to an end.

     Although it had been nearly a week since Muffy had fought with the bear saving Stella’s life and giving his in the process, Harold hadn’t yet heard the whole story as to why. Stella was about to tell him.

     “What are you doing here!?” Harold snapped at Stella as she stood outside his bedroom door. “I need to talk to you about Muffy.” Stella told Him. “What’s left to talk about?” Harold growled, “He’s gone now, and he’ll never chew on your toys again.” “Well, Uh,” Stella continued, “ Dad wants me to tell him the whole story about what happened to Muffy.”

     “What story? What are you talking about?” Harold asked “Well,” stammered Stella, “Remember how you thought Muffy ran away? Well, he didn’t. Barney and Tracy and I helped take Muffy away and get him lost so he would never come back” “NO!” Harold injected, “So this is all your fault!” “Muffy always got in the way and caused problems,” Stella continued, “and you wouldn’t play with us anymore.”

     “Why would I want to play with you?” Harold shouted back at his sister. “Than there was the bear cub,” Stella started to say. “And you just couldn’t resist going and petting him because he was cute.” Harold interrupted his sister again. “Yeah, and that’s when the mother bear came.” Stella continued, “We tried to run away but I tripped. Than Muffy came and fought the bear. “He saved my life,”

     Upon hearing Stella story, Harold started screaming at his sister, “So you’re the reason Muffy died.” he said, “I’ll never forgive you for that. I HATE YOU. SISTERS ARE WORTHLESS. THAT BEAR SHOULD HAVE GOT YOU INSTEAD. Than Muffy would be here and the world would have one less girl in it. I’ll never forget what you did. I’ll hate you forever.” And with those words he slammed his door in her face leaving her crying in the hallway.

      How do you respond when you learn the truth? Matthew 6:14-15 says If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. (TEV)

     Have you ever felt like Harold? Hurting, angry, and unwilling to forgive? Maybe it was a relative like Mom or Dad or a brother or a sister, etc. Maybe it was a coworker or a friend, soul-mate it might have even been an enemy or God himself that has somehow caused you to feel the way you do. And maybe it has happened one to many times and you've come to the end of your rope. Why should I forgive them – God will understand if I don't.... or will He?

     In Matthew 18:21 Peter came to Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times? (TEV) Look at how Jesus answers him in the next verse “No, not seven times but seventy times seven.” Jesus than went on to explain why with a familiar story.

     The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants' accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay you everything!' The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go. "Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back!' But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in. 'You worthless slave!' he said. 'I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.' The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount." And Jesus concluded, "That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:22-35 (TEV)

     To bring this into perspective 1 talent may have been worth at that time 15 years wages which would mean he owed 150,000 years worth of wages to the king. If you make $25,000 a year that would be the same as $3,750,000,000. Which of you would be able to pay that debt – on demand.

     The other fellow, well his 100 denari was 100 days wages. If you made $10.00 and hour that would be a debt of about $8,000 (more or less depending on what you make.) compared to the first fellow his debt was almost non existent.

     We are the first fellow before God, the second fellow is any body else before us. The money is the wrongs that have been done. Do you get the picture? We need to forgive because we need even more forgiveness than we may ever have to hand out.

     God is willing to forgive us – 1 John 1:9 reminds us of that But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. (TEV) There for we need to be like God and forgive those around us - Ephesians 4:32 be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. (TEV)

      Here's Something To Ponder

• When was the last time you needed forgiveness from God?
• When was the last time you failed to forgive some one who needed it from you?

HE DIDN’T MAKE IT

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, - 2 Corinthians 12:9a

     In the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel, David’s newborn son was dying and he went before the Lord and fasted in hopes that God would heal the child. Seven days later he received word that his child had died. This time God said no. Harold Peterson was about to learn that God doesn’t always say yes

     Randy was the first to find Harold as he sat in the front pew of the church crying. “Have you seen my Dad yet?” Harold asked when he saw Randy walk in, “He said he would come as soon as he got news from the vet.” “About Muffy?” Randy asked. “Yeah” Harold replied, “The vet will make him better and God won’t let him die, will he?”

     “Well, sometimes....” Randy started to tell Harold but Harold interrupted “I can’t wait till Muffy is better and we can go running around again. I keep praying and praying and praying so I know he’ll get better.” As Randy tried to finish what he had started to say, Harold’s dad Bill showed up.

     “Dad!” Harold said looking around “Where’s Muffy?” “I couldn’t bring him” came a sad reply from his dad. “Oh,” Harold said, “he has to stay there to get better. That’s okay.” “If only that was so.” Harold’s dad said, “Muffy didn’t make it.” “What do you mean?” Harold said with a puzzled look on his face, “What didn’t Muffy make?”

     “Harold.” Bill said with a lump in his throat, “Muffy died.” “No he didn’t,” Harold quickly replied, “ He’s just sleeping. I know because I prayed and God is going to make him better. When can I go and see him? I have really missed him a lot.”

     “You can’t go see him,” Bill told Harold “Muffy didn’t make it, The vet couldn’t save him. He died” “.NO! NO! NO! YOU’RE LYING!” Harold shouted back at his dad, “I’ll prove it to you. He’s still alive. He has to be alive, Randy tell him Muffy is alive.” “I can’t” came Randy’s reply “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Harold screamed and ran off. It was going to be a long night at the Peterson household.

     2 Corinthians 12:9a But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (ESV) I wish I could say everything has a happy ending but as we all know not everything does.

     Have you ever prayed for something and received an answer you didn't want? Even great men in the Bible didn't always have things turn out for them the way they wanted. Let's look briefly at three of them.

     The first of our men is David, a man who would be called “A man after God's own heart.” Of all the men in in the Bible, surely God answer David prayers with a yes, but wait, David was still human.

     In 2 Samuel 11 & 12 we read of on not so wonderful moment in David's life. While walking around on the roof of his palace he saw nude Bathsheba taking a bath and though she belonged to another, David called for her, had sex with her and got her pregnant. In attempt to cover up his ill gotten deed, he had Bathsheba's husband killed. God saw it all and as a punishment David was told that the child was going to die.

     For the next seven days David fasted and prayed to God in hopes that he might change God's mind and that he would let the child live but it was to no avail, the Child died. God had said no to David's prayer.

     The next man is the Apostle Paul. Surely God would listen to the man who wrote much of the New Testament and preached the Gospel to the Gentiles convincing many to be come Christians. Yet, like David, Paul was still human.

     Unlike David, Paul did not commit sexual immorality but he needed to be held at bay. Because of his closeness to God, He had been given special revelations and with such special privileges comes the temptation to become proud. God sent Paul a “Thorn in the Flesh” to keep him at bay. Paul didn't like it and he prayed three times to God to have it taken away. (2 Corinthians 12:7) God said no! Paul had to live with his thorn.

     There is no way God would say no to our third person or at least you would think He wouldn't say no, after all we're talking about God's Son Jesus. On top of being God's Son, he was perfect in every way but we are still human, and we have fallen short of God's glory and need redemption.

     To redeem us, God sent Jesus into the world to die on the cross. The night before he was to be killed he prayed asking God for another way but in the end, God turned His back on Jesus and left Him to die on the cross. (Luke 22 & 23)

     God doesn't always answers us the way we would like. Sometimes it's because we don't deserve an answer but other times it's because He has something better in store for us for His ways are so much better than ours. Think of these two verses

• Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. .(ESV)
• Psalm 18:30 The ways of God are without fault. The LORD’S words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him. (NCV)

     The next time you pray and God doesn't answer you the way you think He should remember, He knows what He's doing and we should dwell on the positive out comes we can not yet see rather than the negative outcomes we feel.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• When God gives you the wrong answer do you turn on Him?
• Have you found the positive outcome from one or more of God's answers?

FEARLESS FRIEND

Greater love has no one than this.... John 15:13a (ESV)

      Determined to try and set things right, Stella and Tracy headed back into the woods where they had lost Muffy in hopes that they could find him again and bring him home to Harold. Tracy kept blowing on her dog whistle while Stella kept calling out “Here, Muffy. Here, Muffy.”

     After searching for nearly an hour, Tracy had to ask, “Stella, Are you sure this is the right way?” “Of course it is.” Stella replied, “I’m always right” “Then why did you send Barney down the other path?” Tracy asked “Just in case.” Stella answered. “In case you’re wrong?” Tracy interrupted but was quickly cut off when Stella yelled, “It’s Him!”

     “Where?” Tracy asked as she spun around looking for him. “Behind that tree!” Stella yelled back, “Let’s go get him.” As the girls neared the tree, Tracy suddenly froze and yelled “Stella!” “What, now?” Stella said as she reached the tree. “That’s not Muffy,” said as her voice started to crack, “It’s a bear cub, we need to get out of here fast.”

     Now Stella should have known better but when she saw that bear cub something came over her and she decided she needed to try and pet that bear cub. “NO, STELLA!” Tracy screamed at Stella, “The mama bear won’t like that.” “I don’t see any mama bear,” Stella said as she crept up on the bear cub, “Besides, he’s so cute”

     The next thing the girls knew a great big mama bear let out a loud ROAR and charged at them. “Run, Stella, Run.” Tracy called out as she took off running. Just than Stella tripped and let out a scream “OOOOOOOUUUUUUUCCCCCCCHHHHHHH My leg! I can’t run” As the bear readied to pounce on Stella a familiar Woof, Woof, Woof jumped in front of her.

     It was Muffy and they had found him or he had found them. For the next five minutes Muffy and the bear growled, howled, snarled and roared as the fought with each other. In the mean time Stella had managed to stand up and started to limp away when everything went silent.

     “The bear is leaving.” Tracy whispered to Stella “Muffy saved us” “Muffy is a hero!” Stella shouted out, “Three cheers for Muffy, Hooray, Hooray, Ho.... Muffy’s not moving.” “What’s wrong?” Tracy asked? “He’s, He’s Dying.” Stella said as she started to cry. “We need my Dad and fast.” Tracy told Stella, “He knows the vet. Let’s see if we can find him before it’s too late.”

     John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. (ESV) How much love do we have for our friends?

     In the week prior to writing the original script that became this puppet story there was a real bear cub in my backyard, however the idea of having a bear showing up in the story was not inspired by it. Most people (I hope) should know that coming between a mother bear and her cub is very dangerous yet more dangerous than getting between a mother bear and her cub is giving in to sin.

     Instead of running from danger, Stella tried to embrace it and as a result, she needed to be saved. Thankfully Muffy came to the rescue. People are constantly flirting with sin and while they may not always suffer the consequences immediately, sooner or later, sin's consequences will come due unless of course we have a friend who is willing to take the consequences on himself.

     Think of what our greatest friend went through for us, to take the eternal consequences of our sin upon himself. Here is what he went through:

• John 19:1-3 Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and whipped. (NCV)
• Luke 22:63-65 The men who were guarding Jesus began making fun of him and beating him. They blindfolded him and said, “Prove that you are a prophet, and tell us who hit you.“ They said many cruel things to Jesus. (NCV)
• Matthew 27:27-31The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s palace, and they all gathered around him. They took off his clothes and put a red robe on him. Using thorny branches, they made a crown, put it on his head, and put a stick in his right hand. Then the soldiers bowed before Jesus and made fun of him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!“ They spat on Jesus. Then they took his stick and began to beat him on the head. After they finished, the soldiers took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. (NCV)

     In Matthew 11:19 we learn that Jesus had some unusual friends, they were called sinners - The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' But wisdom is proved right by her actions." (NIV)

     Unless you want to God a liar, the Bible also claims that we have all sinned, therefore we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 is just one such verse that makes this clear. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NIV)

     Add to these two verses Romans 5:8 which reads God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV) We can learn that We are all sinners yet we are Jesus' friends for whom he died so that we may not have to suffer eternal consequences of our sins.

     I suppose Stella could have told Muffy to back off, she didn't need any help taking on the mother bear and I suppose we could tell Jesus we don't want His help over coming the consequences of sin but neither would be wise.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you think you can over come sin's eternal consequences on your own?
• Are you thankful for Jesus being your friend willing to help?

MISSIN’ MUFFY

Do not depend on your own understanding. - Proverbs 3:5b (NLT)

     It was a beautiful afternoon and Barney was wandering around his back yard with his head bowed low. “I don’t understand.” he kept muttering to himself, “I just don’t understand.” “What don’t you understand?” came a familiar voice. It was Tracy’s. “Harold!” Barney answered.. “Does anybody ever understand Harold?” Tracy said back.

     “Just when you think you have some one figured out,” Barney told Tracy, “you find out you don’t.” “Tell me about it.” Stella said as she joined into the conversation, “Harold hasn’t been himself and Mom and Dad are getting worried about him” “It can’t be that bad can it?” Tracy asked.

     “Well,” Barney started to say, “You know how much Harold likes to play ball?” “Yeah,” Tracy nodded, “For the past week,” Barney continued, “Harold has refused to play ball with me, in fact he won’t even say hi to me any more.” “So, he doesn’t want to play ball.” said Tracy, “That’s not that bad.”

     “That might not be,” Stella injected, “But Harold’s hardly eaten in over a week.” “Mr. Garbage Disposal not eating?” Barney said in shock. “Yeah,” Stella continued, “All he does is sit around and stare at, at, at... Muffy’s dog house.” “Wow,” Tracy responded, “That’s not how things were suppose to happen.”

     “I was sure that if Muffy was gone,” Barney told the girls, “Everything would be back to normal and Harold would have more time to play ball.” “Muffy doesn’t chew on my toys anymore and Harold doesn’t pick on me.” Stella added, “ But Harold doesn’t, doesn’t, doesn’t do anything. He won’t even help me with my math and won’t even go to church.”

     “I guess I miss the way things were too,” Tracy added, “Since we lost Muffy in the woods, I’ve had more work to do on the farm.” “What do you mean?” Stella asked. “Harold, and Muffy used to help me chase all the cows back to the barn.’ Tracy told her, “Now I have to do it by myself and it takes twice as long.”

     “I hate to say this,” Stella said sadly, “But I think we need to find Muffy.” “Before things get worse,” added Barney. “Let’s go,” said Tracy and they all took off to find Muffy.

     How often do we think we have everything figured out but in the end we only make things worse, we rely on our own understanding and really mess things up? Proverbs 3:5 says Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. (NLT) How many problems could we avoid if we would only heed that advice.

     Getting back or taking matters into our own hands because we think we know better may seem sweet but seldom if ever is it as we shall see.

     In 2 Samuel 18 we have the story of a man who thought he knew better and took things into his own hands. It didn't make things better and in the end it cost him his life. The man's name was Joab and he served under King David.

     In the previous chapter, David's son Absalom had led a rebellion and took the throne from his father. As result David had to flee and as we pick up the story David is dividing up his troops. He put 1/3 of them under Joab, 1/3 under Abishai and 1/3 under Ittai. He then gave command to the leaders to treat Absalom gently.

     The battle did not go well for Absalom and before long he was the one that needed to flee. Shortly after meeting up with David's troops, Absalom's donkey went under a large oak tree and he got his head caught in the branches where he was later found by one of Joab's men.

     Remembering King David's charge, the man who found Absalom, refused to harm him and that angered Joab. Not wasting any time, Joab grabbed three spears, found Absalom and thrust the spears through his heart. Some of Joab's men than finished him off, threw the body in a pit in the forest and covered it with stones.

     Upon hearing of his son's death David did not celebrate even though the battle had been won. But mourned and lamented, wishing that he might have died in his place. Years later, after the reign of the kingdom had been turned over to Solomon, Joab was brought to justice for his rebellion against the king's command.

     To think we know better than God and to take matters into our own hands can be more trouble than it's worth. The kids in Pupperville tried to fix things by getting even with Muffy, Joab tried to fix things by getting even with Absalom, We try to fix things by getting even with....

     Here's some of what God's word has to say on the matter.

• Proverbs 20:22 - Don’t say, “I’ll pay you back for the wrong you did.“ Wait for the LORD, and he will make things right. (NCV)
• Romans 12:19 - Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it." (MSG)
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. (NLT)

     There are of course many more verses that talk of taking things in to our own hands and trusting that we know best and the problems that can pursue but we'll never need to worry about that, right?

     Here's Something To Ponder

• Have you ever thought you knew better than God?
• Have you ever refused to take matters into your own hands because you knew God would take care of things?

MUFFY’S MESS UPS

The godly are concerned for the welfare of their animals, Proverbs 12:10a (NLT)

     Time and time again, the kids in Pupperville were getting plowed over by one extra large dog named Muffy. Time and time again, the kids in Pupperville had wanted Harold to play with them but he was too busy chasing an extra large dog named Muffy, and now the time had come for somebody to do something about it.

     It was Barney that had secretly sent out notices of a meeting at his house to discuss plans on how to fix the problem of Muffy and soon the meeting would start. Stella, Harold’s sister, was the first to arrive and was she ever ready to do something about Muffy. “Does Harold suspect anything yet?” Barney asked her. “I don’t think so.” Stella answered.

     “What don’t you think?” asked Tracy as she arrived. “I don’t think Harold suspects anything,” Stella replied. “I don’t think he does either,” Tracy said with a big smile, “And I don’t think we should have to worry about him or Muffy the rest of the day.”

     “Perfect!” Barney said “Where is he?” “Well,” Tracy started to answer, “He went back on his promise to take me to a movie.” “That’s right!” Stella interrupted, “He chickened out because they wouldn’t let Muffy in the theatre.” “” Tracy continued, “And, because he broke his promise he’ll be cleaning my dad’s barn the rest of the day.”

     “Do you think we should wait for others to come or should we start the meeting?” Barney asked once he knew Harold wouldn’t be around. “Let’s get started!” Tracy and Stella answered back in unison. “Yeah,” Tracy continued, “We need to put a woof on all of Muffy’s mess ups.” “I think every one including Harold has trouble with Muffy.” Stella added “And we need to get rid of Muffy for our sakes and Harold’s.”

     “He’s been chewing and drooling on all my favorite toys.” Stella told the group. “He dug up all of the flowers I planted.” Tracy added. And not to be left out, Barney told them how Muffy always knocks him down and sits on him every time he goes to Harold’s to play and how Harold never has time to play with him because he has to go catch Muffy.

     “Let’s lose him in the forest.” Tracy said “Good idea,” Stella told her, “But first we need to do to him what he does to us.” “You mean bury him and jump on him?” Barney asked. “Yeah!” replied Stella, “And kick him a few times so he’ll never want to come back.” “Sounds great.” Tracy told them, “I’ve got the dog whistle, so let’s go do it before Harold gets done cleaning the barn.

     Proverbs 12:10 says The godly are concerned for the welfare of their animals, but even the kindness of the wicked is cruel (NLT) Maybe the kids should have read this verse before they decided to be mean to Muffy. How do you treat your animals?

      I don;'t know about you but I smell trouble brewing for Harold's dog Muffy. Of course, Muffy wouldn't be the first dog or animal to be treated mean. I'm sure many of us know we have or know of someone who has at one time or another been mean to an animal. As I think of this story I'm reminded of someone in the Bible who had an animal he was being mean to. Let's look at Numbers 22.

     As we start our story, the people of Israel were still wandering in the wilderness because they had refused to go into the promise land after they had been freed from slavery in Egypt. During this time God had been taking care of Israel and helping them win battles along the way. Knowledge of those victories were spreading and nations were becoming afraid.

     The Moabites were one of the nations whose fear of Israel was growing and their king Balak along with various other leaders decided to try and stop the Israelites buy means of a man named Balaam for they had learned that whoever Balaam blessed was blessed and whoever he cursed was cursed and they wanted him to curse Israel.

     Now the reason Balaam was able to bless and curse people and have the blessing or curses come true was because he was a prophet of God and God was making things happen. So when Ballam got the message he went and talked to God but God said NO and Balaam sent the people away. Needless to say, Balak didn't like the answer so he sent different people and made a great offer of wealth.

     While Balaam laid claimed that he couldn't curse the people for a house full of silver and gold unless God allowed him, That money must have got to him and it led to trouble. When he asked God about going this time God said yes but only say what I tell you but Balaam must have had other ideas for as he went on the way only to meet an angel with a sword drawn and ready to kill him.

     Before he saw the angel his donkey that he had been riding had and three times tried to protect Balaam's life and three times Balaam beat him for it. Finally God had, had enough and let two things happen, he allowed the donkey to talk to Balaam and than opened Balaam's eyes so he could see the angel and the sword. That got Balaam's attention. I wonder how much animals can see that we do not.

     If we go back to the beginning, to the first chapter of Genesis we read that God created human beings in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said, “Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth and be its master. Rule over the fish in the sea and over the birds in the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:27-28 (NCV)

     In those verse we learn that while God created the animals, he left man in charge of them, to rule over them but he didn't give us permission to be cruel to them or to worship them. We have people today that go both directions, they're both bad.

     Proverbs 12:10 which was quoted earlier is good reminder of how the godly should be concerned for animals. And how those who are ungodly (wicked) have no concern. The godly are concerned because they see the animals as part of God's creation and if one doesn't believe in God one has no real reason to care for with out God what self wants is really all that matters.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you believe God is the creator of the animals?
• How do you treat the animals you come in contact with?

THE HAUNTING PROMISE!

It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. - Ecclesiastes 5:5 (NLT)

      “Where is he? Where is he?” Tracy McDonald muttered to her self as she searched the Peterson’s backyard. “He’s not going to get away from me this time.” “Um!” said a man’s voice, “Who are you looking for, Tracy?” “HAROLD” Tracy shouted as she whirled around to see who was talking to her. It was Harold’s dad Bill.

      “The last time I saw Harold,” he said, “Muffy was sitting on top of him. But I would say the chances are pretty good he is chasing Muffy which means he could be just about anywhere.” “Good thing I brought my dog whistle then.” Tracy told him, “I will just blow it and than Muffy and Harold will both come.”

     “A dog whistle!” Bill exclaimed, “Not a good idea.” And before he could stop her, Tracy gave a blast on the whistle. A few seconds later Muffy came running toward Tracy at full speed. Bill quickly jumped behind a tree and Tracy got flattened. “HAROLD!”she yelled “GET YOUR DUMB DOG OFF OF ME!”

     As Harold came running into the back yard, Muffy got up and ran off and Tracy jumped up and tackled Harold. “We need to talk.” she said as she dropped him to the ground. “If it’s about Muffy” Harold started to say but never got to finish. “It’s not about your dog.” Tracy interrupted as they sat up. “It’s about your promise you made to me because you got my Dad lost.”

     “Promise.” Harold scoffed, “Yes.” Tracy responded, “And you’re going to keep it, this time.” “And who’s going to make me?” Harold said as he started to take off after Muffy. “I will!” said Bill as he stepped out from behind the tree. “Dad!” Harold shouted in surprise, “Where did you come from?”

     “But, Dad,” Harold started complaining, “She wants me to take her to a movie about a girls club. I’ll just die if I have to take her.” “Well,” Bill started to say, “I might be able to get you out of taking Tracy to the movie.” “Oh thank you, thank you.” Harold said happily, “I knew you were a great dad.”

     “Instead of taking Tracy to the movie you can do her chores for a week.” Bill told Harold. “That’s a great idea.” Tracy said with a giggle, “I’m sure he’d love to clean out the cow barn for me.” “Clean the cow barn!” Harold shouted “Cow manure stinks! Why did I make such a stupid promise. What time is the movie?”

     How many of us have played the role of Harold, we've made a promise and than tried to to wiggle out of fulfilling that promise? Part of Harold's problem, make that one of Harold's problems was not defining his promise exactly and so was the problem of the man called Jephthah.

     The story of Jephthah takes place in Israel during the time of the judges, a time when Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord … And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, … They went after other gods, … And they provoked the Lord to anger. … So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies,... Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Judges 2:11-16 (ESV)

     If you would like to read his entire story, you can find it in the 11^th chapter of Judges. It is there that we learn that while Jephthah was a mighty warrior, he was also the son of a prostitute and was kicked out of his family by his brothers. We also learn that he settled in the land of Tob where he collected a band of worthless men, and sired a daughter.

     Now trouble was brewing for the Israelites for the Ammonites were making war with them and they were in need of someone to save them and Jephthah was the man who was looked to for help. Jephthah said he would help them if they would make him their leader and the people agreed and he went to work.

     After a battle of words between Jephthah and the king of the Ammonites over who actually owns the land that Israel was possessing in which Jephthah tried to convince the Ammonite king to leave, it was time for war.

     Before heading into war, Jephthah thought it right to have the Lord on his side and he made a vow, a promise to God, that if He would give the Ammonites into his hands that whatever came out from the doors of his house to meet him when he returned in peace from the Ammonites would be the Lord's, and he would offer it up for a burnt offering.

     Jephthah won the battle and when he returned home the first thing to come from his house met him not with bleating or mooing but with singing and dancing. It wasn't an animal but his only child, his daughter. His promise came back to haunt him.

     When it comes to making promises and keeping them, we have a great example – God. Joshua reminds of that in Joshua 23:14-15 - It’s almost time for me to die. You know and fully believe that the Lord has done great things for you. You know that he has not failed to keep any of his promises. Every good promise that the Lord your God made has come true, and in the same way, his other promises will come true. He promised that evil will come to you and that he will destroy you from this good land that he gave you. (NCV)

     When it comes to the rest of us we too need yo keep our promises, especially to God.

• Deuteronomy 23:21 - If you make a promise to give something to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it, because the Lord your God demands it from you. Do not be guilty of sin. (NCV)
• Ecclesiastes 5:4 - If you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it. God is not happy with fools, so give God what you promised. (NCV)

     When we make promises, we need to not only be careful to keep them, but we need to be clear about what we promise lest we end up doing something we never intended to do.

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Are you careful to promise only what you are willing to keep?
• Do you try to get out of promises?

OF COURSE I CAN’T

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

      How many of you have put together a list of New Year’s resolutions for the new year? When it comes to making New Year’s resolutions, some of us are like Barney and think “I can do it,” and some of us are like Harold and think “No way”.

     It was late in the afternoon on the first day of January and Barney was working hard trying to memorize the 23rd Psalm. Back and forth and round and round he would walk as he would try to memorize and recite one verse after another. After several hours of hard work he finally shouted out in triumph, “I DID IT! I DID IT!”

     Upon hearing Barney’s excitement, Muffy, thinking he was missing out on something came running in to Barney’s backyard, plowing into Barney, knocking him over and than of all things, he sat on him. “HAROLD!” came a some what muffled yell, “GET YOUR STUPID DOG OFF OF ME!”

     “Here, Muffy. Come here Muffy!” Harold called out as he came in to Barney’s backyard and suddenly Muffy got up and ran off in the opposite direction. “Harold!” Barney yelled at him, “Why don’t you teach that dog some manners?” “Sorry,” Harold replied, “Muffy heard you yell with excitement and had to come see what you were doing. By the way, what are you doing?”

     “I’m working on one of my New Year’s resolutions.” Barney told Harold. “A New Year’s Res... Roos... Ra.. A new Year’s what?” Harold asked with a confused look on his face. “A New Year’s Resolution,” Barney repeated, “They’re goals you set to accomplish during the coming year. Memorizing verses is one of mine.”

     “I could never do that.” Harold told him, “Memorizing is boring, besides I don’t have time, I’m too busy chasing Muffy.” “Well,” Barney suggested, “Maybe you would have time if you trained Muffy to obey. Maybe you should make that YOUR New Year’s Resolution. You could train Muffy to obey.”

     “Yeah, right! Tell me another one.” Harold laughed, “I could never do that. Muffy doesn’t listen to me.” “Maybe Muffy would learn to listen,” Barney told him, “If you did, besides if you put yourself to it you can do it. Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

     “You really think I could say - ‘Here Muffy,’ and he would actually come?” Harold asked Barney but before Barney could answer Muffy came running at them. “It worked!” Harold shouted and than boom, Muffy ran over both of them and kept right on going. “Than again” Barney laughed, “Maybe not.”

     Which is easier, setting goals or fulfilling them? Starting a task or finishing it? Often times we look at a task or a goal and say I can't and it never gets done. What if Nehemiah had said “No way!” when it came to the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem? His story can be found in the book by his name “Nehemiah” I'm just going to highlight a few points and let you read the story for yourself.

     Jerusalem's walls had been destroyed and its people taken, one captive named Nehemiah eventually became a cup-bearer to the king. He is saddened by news of Jerusalem and how it lays in ruins and sets himself a gaol to restore it.

     In reaching his goal he starts where many of fail, he starts by fasting and praying and than with God's help he secures permission from the king to go and rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Once he arrives at Jerusalem he spends 3 days surveying the walls in secret and than gathers together a work force and starts building the walls.

     Once the work is under way, the goal stoppers come out in force to try and stop Nehemiah from accomplishing his goal. In response Nehemiah shifts people around and eventually arms some of them but the work never fails and 52 days after the project got under way there was a 23 foot thick wall surrounding Jerusalem and the enemies became afraid saying this was a work of God.

     An important verse to remember when it comes to getting things done is the only verse I'm using this week - Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV) Yet, despite such a great promise we often fail to accomplish what we set out to do.

     What is it that hinders you form accomplish a task or reaching a goal? Could any of the following be a problem for you?

• Is the goal or task too big or too small?
• Is the goal or task too hard or too easy?
• Do you find there isn't enough time or maybe too much time?
• Do you find there isn't enough money or resources or maybe too much?
• What about friends and family – do they encourage you or discourage you?
• What about past failures or triumphs?

     I'm sure the list could go on as well as a list of potential goals for the year ahead. Whatever the task or gaols you may have for the new year or even for the next week always remember I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Do you set goals with a goal of failing?
• Is Christ a part of the goals you do set?

HA HA HEE HEE OOPS!

Those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. - Proverbs 17:5 (NLT)

     It was turning out to be a great day for Tracy. Her dad had been found, although he had never really been lost, and now he was home And to top it all off, she was going to spend the night at the Peterson’s for Stella’s sleep over.

     As Tracy got out of her Dad’s truck in the Peterson’s driveway, she was met by a very giggly Stella. “Are you feeling okay?” Tracy asked her as she picked up her sleeping bag. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” came Stella’s reply “I don’t think today could be any better, not even if Frankie Borison came to town and kissed me.”

     “Wow!” Tracy said, “You must really be having a good day. Can you tell me what happened?” “Sure I can.” Stella replied and started giggling again. “Well, what is it?” Tracy demanded, as Stella kept on giggling, “Guess.” Stella said as her giggling turned to hysterical laughter.

     “What!” Tracy yelled not wanting to play this guessing game. “Harold got sprayed by a skunk and now he has to sleep in the dog house.” Stella told her. “I know that.” Tracy replied “He got sprayed while looking for my dad. In fact I can still smell him.” “That must mean he’s coming.” Stella said as she quit laughing. “I’ve got to hide.” And with that Stella took off.

     The next thing Tracy knew she was laying on the ground with a humongous dog sitting on top of her. “Harold! Get this thing off of me!” she yelled as she tried to stand back up. “Sorry,” Harold said “Muffy and I were looking for that pretty kitty Muffy found. I thought I saw him come this way.”

     About that time came a blood curdling scream from the direction Stella went to hide. And than came an even stronger smell. “I think Stella just found your skunk.” Tracy told Harold and headed back towards her dad’s truck, “Tell Stella I’ll come back another day” she continued as she jumped in to the front sit and shut the door.

     “A skunk?” Harold thought to himself “I wonder if I could keep him for a pet?” but before he could think any more about it, Muffy took off chasing it pulling Harold along with him. Proverbs 17:5b says those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished. (NLT) If Stella had remembered that verse maybe she wouldn’t have been so happy so see Harold in the dog house, maybe she wouldn’t be joining him.

     Have you ever thought of getting revenge for some misdeed that has happened to you? God says that revenge is His but how do we act when it finally happens? How do we act when bad happens to those we do not like? Is it the same as those we do like?

     In the book of Deuteronomy God spells out a terrible promise - Starting in 28:15 we read these words - if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: "Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. "Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. "Cursed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. "Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. "The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken Me.... (NAS) The section continues for many more verse but I think we get the picture.

     Despite having such a promise in their midst, Israel failed to obey God, they failed to observe His commandments and statutes and just as God had promise, Israel become a cursed nation. In 2 Kings chapters 24 and 25 we read of the exploits of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and how he fulfilled God's promise to Israel for their disobedience, but this is not our focus.

     If we back up a moment to Genesis 19:36-38 we read of a couple of babies being born - Both daughters became pregnant by their father, Lot. The older daughter had a son and named him Moab, the ancestor of the present-day Moabites. The younger daughter had a son and named him Ben-Ammi, the ancestor of the present-day Ammonites. (MSG) It is the decedents of the younger daughter - the Ammonites that I would like to look at for we read in the Bible that they were constantly at war with Israel.

     In Ezekiel 25 we find that Ezekiel was sent to prophesy against the Ammonites for their reactions to Israel's punishment under Nebuchadnezzar. Say to them, ’Hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says: You were glad when my Temple was dishonored, when the land of Israel was ruined, and when the people of Judah were taken away as captives. So I am going to give you to the people of the East to be theirs. They will set up their camps among you and make their homes among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk. I will make the city of Rabbah a pasture for camels and the land of Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: You have clapped your hands and stamped your feet; you have laughed about all the insults you made against the land of Israel. So I will use my power against you. I will give you to the nations as if you were treasures taken in war. I will wipe you out of the lands so you will no longer be a nation, and I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ - Ezekiel 25:3-7 (NCV)

     So, how do you react when your enemy falls? Remember these words of Solomon - Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him. Proverbs 24:17-18 (NAS)

      Here's Something To Ponder

• Have you been glad when someone falls or is punished?
• Do we really deserve any better?

FOUND BUT NOT LOST

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. - Romans 8:28 (NLT)

      With her dad missing, Tracy new that she had to get the chores done around the farm but she was having a hard motivating herself to do them. All she could think about was her missing dad and the fact that it was all Harold’s fault.

     After doing a few things in the house, Tracy headed out to the barn to start feeding animals. As she was climbing up to the hay loft, she thought she heard her dad’s truck pull up. She quickly jumped off the ladder and headed outside hoping to see her dad but it wasn’t his truck that had pulled in, it was Randy’s.

     “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” Randy hollered as he climbed out of his truck. “How can you be so happy when my dad is lost?” Tracy shouted back. “Lost?” Randy answered back, “He’s not lost, he’s at the hospital.” “That’s nothing to praise God about,” Tracy thought out loud, “What’s wrong with my dad?” She demanded to know.

     “There’s nothing wrong with your dad and he was never really lost.” Randy told Tracy Upon hearing that, Tracy got a confused look on her face. Seeing that look Randy went on to tell Tracy about her dad’s adventure. “By taking the wrong road God was able to use your dad to save the life of another farmer.” “What?” Tracy said with some excitement in her voice.

     “Yeah,” Randy continued, “When your dad realized he was on the wrong road he went to the closest farm house to call you and when he got there he ended up helping a man who had been pinned under his tractor. They didn’t have a phone so your dad brought him to the hospital and he’s still there with him.”

     “Praise the Lord,” Tracy hollered after she heard that, “I guess God really does work all things together for good like Romans 8:28 says. By the way, did you hit a skunk on the way over?” “No.” said Randy as he started sniffing the air and the next thing he knew he was laying on the ground with a rather large Saint Bernard sitting on him.

     “Did you find him?” Harold called as he came around the corner of the barn. “No he didn’t!” Randy shouted back, “Now get this thing off of me.” “What are you doing back here, Harold?” Tracy wanted to know for she was sure he wouldn’t have come back after what he had done. “Muffy and I are looking for your dad.” Harold told her, “But all Muffy’s found so far was a black cat with a white stripe down it’s back.

     Upon hearing that, Randy and Tracy quickly got in Randy’s truck and headed to the hospital to meat up with Tracy’s dad. As for Harold, he took off chasing Muffy in hopes of catching him before he knocked over any more garbage cans.

     Have you ever been frustrated because things are not going your way? Maybe you have been mad at God for letting some terrible thing happen to you or someone else? Maybe you've wished the "bad" had never happened and than later - maybe years later you learn the rest of the story. Let's go to Genesis chapters 37-45 and look at the life of Joseph.

     Now Joseph was one of the13 children belonging to Jacob and while Jacob loved him the most, his brothers hated him and could never say a kind word to him. Eventually, their hatred for him led them to devising a plan to kill him. Fortunately, one of his brothers, Reuben by name, was able to convince the rest not to kill him bu to just put him into an empty cistern. As time passed a band of traders heading towards Egypt came by and Joseph was taken out of the cistern and sold to them as a slave while his coat was dipped in goats blood to make it look like a wild animal had killed him.

     Down in Egypt, Joseph became the slave of Potiphar and there he worked hard and God blessed everything Joseph did . Potiphar to notice of Joseph's success and put him in charge of everything he owned. Potiphar's wife also took notice of Joseph and tried to get him in bed with her. Joseph refused and as a result Potiphar's wife got him put in jail

     Down in jail, Joseph again worked hard and again God blessed him and one day he got some company, some fellow prisoners that worked for the Pharaoh (the king) as a cup-bearer and a baker. While in jail, these two men had some troubling dreams and with God's help, Joseph was able to interpret the dreams for them. The dreams came true and Joseph asked the cup-bearer to remember him when he went back to work for the king, but the cup-bearer forgot.

     Two years later, It's Pharaoh's turn to have a troubling dream and finally, the cup-bearer remembers Joseph and he is called to interpret the dream. Upon hearing its meaning and realizing that something needed to be done to protect the kingdom from the severe famine to come, he appointed Joseph as second in command to see the kingdom through the difficult time to come.

     It was during the time of famine when Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for food and eventually learned that it was their brother they had plotted to kill and than sold to slavery that was the one from whom they had to buy their food. And while the brother were likely fearing for their lives, Joseph forgives them and leave us with the following verse

     Genesis 45:5 - But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. (NLT) What others thought as bad, Joseph realized God was using it for good. In the new testament we read from Paul's letter to the Roman's the following - And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

      Here's Something to Ponder

• When things look bad do you continue to serve God
• When things look bad do you look at things through your eyes or God's eyes

WHO CARES?

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

      Night had fallen on Pupperville and the surrounding country side and over all it seemed like another pleasant evening. The stars were popping out, the moon was shining bright, the crickets were chirping away and a gentle breeze was blowing through the leaves. But for Tracy this night was anything but pleasant.

     As Tracy lay in her bed she kept imagining that her dad had been eaten by giant alligators even though you would have to go over a 1000 miles to find one. And when she wasn’t thinking about giant alligators it was giant kangaroos that had stuffed her dad into their pouches and than bounced away never to be seen again.

     “Where are you, Dad?” she kept crying out as the evening turned to night and the night turned to morning. When she finally crawled out of bed the next morning, with her eyes half closed, she ran to her dad’s room hoping to find him safe in his bed but he wasn’t there. Next she ran to the barn to see if he was out doing chores but before she could get that far a big furry creature plowed her over.

     As Tracy stood back to her feet, bang Harold’s head banged into hers. “Ooooooh, my aching head,” Harold cried out as he fell backward onto the ground. “What are you doing running through my yard?” Tracy asked Harold as he slowly picked himself up off the ground. “Just trying to catch Muffy again.” Harold replied.

     “Have you seen my dad?” Tracy asked Harold since he was there, “He left yesterday and never came back.” “Who Cares!” Harold snapped back “I have enough to worry about trying to catch Muffy. By the way, did you see where he went?” “He went to Jericho.” Tracy replied. “Muffy went to Jericho?” Harold said with a puzzled look on his face. “Not Muffy,” Tracy said, “My dad!” “Uh ho” came Harold’s response

     “Harold Peterson,” snapped Tracy, “Did you do something to my dad?” “Not really,” Harold answered “All I did was point the sign to Jericho the wrong way.” “Where did that road go?” cried Tracy to which Harold said something about an alligator infested swamp with huge sharks and giant kangaroos and than ran off after Muffy.

     All Tracy could do after that was sit and cry for now she was sure she would never see her dad again.

     In 1 Peter 5:7 we read these words "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (NLT) Sometimes it’s hard to find some one who cares about our troubles. While Harold may not have cared about Tracy’s troubles or what happened to John because of his so called joke, we can be assured that God will always care.

     Does anybody know what a worry wart is? It's a little creature to which you are to give all your worries and then nothing happens with them. Do any of you ever worry? Do you ever wonder if anybody really cares? Let's head to Luke chapter 12 where we find Jesus teaching the crowds that had gathered around him.

     Luke 12:16-20 - Then Jesus told this story: “There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop. He thought to himself, ’What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’ Then he said, ’This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and other goods. Then I can say to myself, “I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!“ ’ “But God said to him, ’Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?’ (NCV)

     At first glance, the man in this story doesn't appear to have anything to worry about but a place to put his abundance but Jesus uses this story to help teach the crowds not to worry. Let's pick up the rest of the story and see what Jesus had to say.

     Luke 12:22-32 Jesus said to his followers, “So I tell you, don’t worry about the food you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest, they don’t have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. If you cannot do even the little things, then why worry about the big things? Consider how the lilies grow; they don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So how much more will God clothe you? Don’t have so little faith! Don’t always think about what you will eat or what you will drink, and don’t keep worrying. All the people in the world are trying to get these things, and your Father knows you need them. But seek God’s kingdom, and all the other things you need will be given to you. “Don’t fear, little flock, because your Father wants to give you the kingdom. (NCV)

     We live in a world that relies too much on money and money has become more and more unreliable - 1 Timothy 6:17 - Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. (NLT) We need to trust in God instead of worrying. Here are some thoughts from the passage above.

• Worry is useless
• When it comes to food - The birds are well fed and God will feed us
• When it comes to clothes - The fields are well dressed and God will clothe us
• Basically put - God cares about us and will take care of us if we put Him first

     Psalms 55:22 - Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (NLT)

      Here's Something to Ponder

• What are the things that you worry about
• How has God shown He cares for you