Mamie has a little hopping problem

Maggie the Wonder Dog is my big sister, and she is trainin' me. I'm the apprentice wonder puppy and I am 18 weeks old. That's what Mama said. Really, I don't know what a week is. Well, I don't guess I know what eighteen is, either.

This appren'ice work is really hard. 

I love to run and run and run. I think thass the job I want!  And hop! I love hoppin'!  I like to hop on stuff, too, like Ole Lou, and Maggie, and the cats, and just everything! Nobody minds if I jump on them. Ole Lou just says, "You be careful there Lil' Bit!" Ole Lou is big and I can't even jump on all of him! But he don't care. Oops. Doesn't care. 

Maggie cares, though. She doesn't like it much. Usually she just shakes her head and looks at Mama. My neighbor was here yesterday when I was hoppin'. I was doin' great hoppin'! I was going so high I was jumpin' right on Maggie's head, and she was sitting up. I was thinking maybe I could grow up to be the Wonder Hoppin' Dog. 

You are not gonna believe what Mr. Sam said to my mama. He said, "I wouldn't care if Maggie bit her for that. She prolly wouldn't bite her bad." Can you believe that? All I was doing was hoppin' on her head! What's wrong with hoppin'? The worst part is what my mama said. I hate to tell you this, because my mama is really nice, but you should know. She said, "I wouldn't care either. She's driving Maggie crazy, and she needs to learn. Get her Maggie!" Can you believe that??? I think my mama tried to get me killed!!! Maggie growled at me, but she dint bite me. Thank goodness. (I sure can't thank my mama for that!) 

Anyway, Maggie had tole me about gettin' a little talkin'-to when you get in trouble and I got one last night! Boy Hidy! I don' know what that means, but Mr. Sam says it sometimes. My mama said (among lots of other things), "Mamie you need to learn that your freedom ends where Maggie's nose begins. You be nice to your big sister!" I don' even know what freedom is! And I waddnt hoppin' on Maggie's nose anyway. I was hoppin' on her head! 

Maggie tole me that Wonder Dogs give a lesson of the day. I wish they'd give me a differnt one than "don't hop on your sister's head"! Here's the Apprentice Wonder Puppy lesson but I ain't giving you one every day. Oops. Sorry. I'm not giving one every day. 

Don't hop on heads. Unless it's Ole Lou. 

Sorry. Maggie said that was a terrible lesson, and I have to try again. 

It's okay to hop. But it's not okay to hop on sisters. 

Okay. Tryin' again

Even something that is fun, like hoppin', stops being nice when it hurts someone else. Be careful what you do! 

I finally got it! And that's the end. 

By Mamie the Apprentice Wonder Puppy

Finding Answers (Luke 7:20-22)

When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'" At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. (Luke 7:20-22 NASB)

John, in prison and evaluating a life spent pointing people to the Messiah, the One he believed Jesus to be, needed to be sure.  He sent his disciples to speak with Jesus. "Are you the expected one?" they asked. John was saying, "I need to be certain. Reassure me." 

Jesus was as busy as He could possibly be, curing sick people, casting out demons, restoring sight to blind people, and causing the lame to walk. People were constantly pressing in on Him, wanting to touch Him and the power that emanated from Him. With all the responsibility, fame, and "busyness", He still had time for John. He still had time for John's questions. He still had time to reassure an imprisoned and soon-to-be-executed man. 

I'm not sure why people think Jesus was grumpy with John's disciples, but that's the impression I've been given all my life. In studying this, I hear it a little differently. We might disdain questions, but Jesus was not, is still is not, threatened by our questions. "Look around at the evidence of My impact on these people's lives. See what I am doing and see the miracles. Remind John of what Isaiah wrote. He said the Messiah would do all these things.  Tell John the best thing to do with questions is to look for the answers in Scripture."

Jesus was exactly right. John had spent years in the desert, studying Scriptures and preparing for ministry. Although he did not have a paper (or electronic) copy of God's Word, he had memorized large sections. Now was the time to remember all he had learned, all he had hidden in his heart. He had the answers to all his questions already, safely stored away, deep inside. 

There are two things we need to glean from this passage. The first is that Jesus has time for us, no matter what questions we need answered or how great our doubt. The second is that Jesus was right about finding answers to the big questions of life.  We need to start in Scripture and recognize the fulfillment of those Scriptures in lives changed by Christ. 

Do you have questions? Do you have doubts? Take them to Scripture and find your answers in the evidence of God's word in Christ Jesus alone. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones will turn to Scripture rather than the world for the answers to our questions and our doubts, and that all our doubts will find their end in Christ alone

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Here's the link to last might's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/05/maggie-flees-temptation.html

Friday night with friends: Fleeing Temptation

Maggie the Wonder Dog is our guest blogger tonight. She is an eleven pound Shih Tzu that works on her mama's farm and is able to do all manner of amazing things. (She's herding cows in the picture) She's been very busy recently dealing with her apprentice wonder puppy. Please welcome Maggie back as guest blogger. 

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I am so happy that my mama finally let me write a blog again! Trying to get my little sister trained as apprentice wonder puppy has been a very hard job. It has not been easy, but that is a story for another today. 

Today, I'm going to tell you about gathering eggs. Well, actually, I'm telling about not gathering the eggs. Here's what happened. 

Mr. Bill the Magnificent has been out of town this week. He is very nice and works very hard helping Mama on the farm. He has so many other jobs, I don't know how he does it! My mama said he needed a rest and it was a good thing he took some time off. 

Anyway, I just love for Mr. Bill to take off. When he is away, my mama does all the work on the farm, and she lets me help. This morning, we went to the barn and fed everyone, brushed the horses, and let them out for their day. I found a chicken feather, and Mama let me carry it all day long!

This afternoon, we worked at the new greenhouse. I just love it when mama starts digging!  I really like rolling in the dirt she just dug. I don't think she likes it as much as I do, but she laughs. (Usually.)

This evening, we went back to the barn to feed and I heard the chickens squawking. Mama was going in to gather the eggs and feed them, but she wouldn't even let me in the door of their pen. I thought they were saying, "Maggie, Maggie, let's play," and I tried to explain that to Mama, but she would not listen. 

I really like playing with the chickens and they like playing chase with me. When I bark, they will run and squawk, and flap their wings. They can run fast! They always let me chase them, and they never chase me. That's the best way to play chase! It's my favorite game. 

Mama said, "Maggie, you are supposed to be fleeing temptation. You know what happened with the chickens the last time!" Yes, I do, but I was kinda hoping she had forgotten. I was playing chase with the chickens, and they were running and squawking like always. My mama told me to stop, but I didn't see any harm in a little chase, so I kept playing. 

All of a sudden, I tagged one of my mama's good chickens. It was one that lays green eggs, and she was flapping her wings like crazy! She didn't like getting tagged on the neck very much. Anyway, I was so happy that I shook her just like my pull toy. I don't think that shaking business is good for chickens. It makes them stop flapping, and they won't ever play chase again.

My mama was so upset. You would not have believed it. She talked about my nature and that I was going to have to get rid of that bad chicken shaking habit. I couldn't understand that. I like chicken shaking, and it doesn't hurt me one bit. It helps me run faster, and it makes me stronger. I don't think it hurts me at all, but Mama said, "Maggie, it may not hurt you, but it has destroyed this chicken. You have to think about others when you decide to do something." I was in time out for a long time about that chicken. 

Today, I really thought just a little chicken chasing wouldn't hurt. It's not like I was going to do any chicken shaking, but Mama says, "One thing will lead to another. Flee." I had some fleas one time. That was not fun at all. I didn't want anything to do with flea-ing, but Mama laughed. She said, "No, no, Maggie. Not fleas. Flee. It means to run away from doing something that is wrong or will get you in trouble or might hurt someone else. And you need to flee from anything that involves my chickens!"

Well, I didn't want that chicken-shaking time out again, so I flee'd. (Actually my mama helped. She kept the latch on the chicken door.)

Here's the Wonder Dog Lesson of the day:

FLEE

Flee what's wrong

Flee what hurts others. 

Even if you don't really want to. 

And especially if my mama's chickens are involved. 

The end. By Maggie the Wonder Dog 

Are You the One (Luke 7:18,19)

The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?" (Luke 7:18, 19 NASB)

By this time, John the Baptizer was already in prison.  This prison was not the kind of facility we have today. There were no televisions, video games, libraries, or meals. There were no work programs. Instead, it was more like a dungeon with rats, hunger, and isolation. It was a dangerous, horrifying place. His only crime was speaking the truth about Herod's unlawful marriage to his brother's wife, Herodias. John knew that Herod would eventually have him executed, but while he waited, there was plenty of think to think.  

John's disciples visited him in prison, keeping him informed on events in the outside world. Every time the stories of Jesus spread throughout the country, the disciples shared them with John. He must have listened in amazement. Healing with a word. Raising the dead with a word. Could it really be? Jesus was his cousin. John had known Him all his life. Could His cousin really be the Messiah? John had been convinced about Jesus, but in those hours of isolation and self-examination, he needed to be sure. 

The day he was born, John's father had prophesied "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, (Luke 1:76, 77 NASB). 

John had known all his life that his God-appointed job was to prepare the way for the Messiah. He had lived in the wilderness and dedicated his life to knowing God and proclaiming His words. At the end of his earthly life, he looked back on those hard years of preaching and pointing the way to the Messiah. He had directed people to Jesus, and before he faced the Almighty in eternity, he needed to be reassured that he was right. 

Much has been written about John's doubts of Jesus, but maybe the one he doubted was himself. John was only a few months older than Jesus. He was still a young man. Perhaps he simply wanted to face the hereafter with the confidence of a life well-lived and a ministry well-done. He was the forerunner for the Messiah. If Jesus was the Messiah, (and John thought He was) then John's work was complete, and he could die in peace. 

Looking back on his life, his decisions, and his ministry were not, in any way, wrong. In fact, those are tasks we all should do from time to time. Periods of self-examination help us to recognize where we've pleased God and where we have not. They allow us to recognize the need for change and take steps to accomplish that change. 

For today, spend some time in reflection on your life, past and present. Ask God to reveal what pleases Him and what does not, and pray for the will and strength to make the needed changes. Pray, too, that our loved ones will, in their own self-examination, be drawn back to the One who loves them most. 

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Link for last might's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/05/jack-is-back.html

Jack is Back

Jack is back. You may remember Jack, the stray miniature donkey that was really a miniature horse.  He lives in Blue Springs with his family, but he is a terrible rambler. In fact, he is the worst prodigal I have ever seen. Never content at home, he escapes as often as possible. His ramblings have frequently brought him to visit my horses. When he was arrested for getting in the street a while back, he was returned to his family, who intensified their efforts to contain him. 

I didn't see Jack for weeks, and thought the prodigal had finally changed. Early one morning last week, I headed to the barn, put out feed, and let the horses in for their breakfast. When I went back to let them out, I opened Belle's stall door and out walked Jack! He was visiting again. Since all my previous efforts with Jack were futile, I just let him into the pasture and sent word to his owners. 

Jack didn't come back for a few days, and I was optimistic. As I headed up the driveway last Thursday, though, I had a surprise. Jack was tied to a tree, patiently waiting for his owners to come get him again. Before his arrest, I had watched him crawl back and forth under my fence like it was a wonderful game. There is no way I can contain him. I don't know what his owners will have to do to keep him home, but it seems a nearly insurmountable problem. 

What's amazing to me is that the owners keep coming to get him and they keep trying to, well, keep him. I would have given up on this little horse long ago. Their perseverance with Jack is surprising, but their constant, consistent efforts makes me think of something Peter wrote. 

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NASB)

Maybe Jack's owners hope he will finally change and be the stay-at-home horse they meant him to be, and I hope that, too. His wanderings are really pesty, though, and I wonder if my own ramblings are as pesty to God. Of course, God 's hopes for us are as high as Jack's family's are for him. That's why He constantly, consistently takes us back from our wanderings, keeping us safe until we finally decide to be where and who He meant us to be. 

Are you a faith-rambler? Do you wander to and from faithfulness to our Lord, or stay close beside Him all the time? Jack's ramblings have caused him to miss out on the closeness of a family that loves him. What have your ramblings cost you?  Stay close, dear ones. Stay close. 

Risen Dead Goes Viral (Luke 7:16,17)

Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!" This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district. (Luke 7:16, 17 NASB)

When the dead son sat up, everyone saw it, and they were "gripped by fear". This is not just a little surprised. They were stunned, having never seen such a thing before, and overwhelmed by the mystery and beauty of the miracle, as well as by the One who had performed it. No one but Jesus could take credit for the miracle, and no one tried.  

As the crowd dispersed, they began to talk among themselves. They could hardly believe what they had seen, but it was indisputable. They had seen the dead son get down from the funeral bier, walk, and talk. They had seen his mother's great joy. They knew it was real.  

One person after another heard the animated conversations and asked about their excitement.  What they heard was unbelievable, but a quick trip to the widow's house confirmed the story. There was living proof. The story went viral. 

Before much time had passed, everyone in Nain knew it, and passersby took the story back home with them. It wasn't long before the story of the dead son walking was spread throughout Judea and the surrounding districts, and Jesus got every bit of the credit. God got all the glory. People were drawn to their Messiah. One word did all that. One single word from Jesus. 

The wonderful truth is that Jesus still does miracles today. He still intervenes in our lives and brings the most unexpectedly marvelous changes. He still transforms our hearts of stone to hearts of flesh and makes us living, breathing testimonies of His grace and power. Those miracles of grace can be used to transform our "Judea and surrounding districts".  They can be used, but only if the story of what Christ has done in us is told, and if we continue to be walking proof of what He has done. 

Are our lives an ongoing testimony of the miracle God has done in us? If not, what changes are needed?

Pray today that our own miracle of grace would be so apparent from our lives that all will hear of it, including those we love the most, and it will cause them to want a miracle of grace for their very own. 

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Here's the link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/05/no-need-to-fret.html

No Need to Fret

It was drizzling rain when I headed to the barn this morning. I checked the weather forcast and, sure enough, there was a chance of rain all day, increasing toward the late afternoon. My weather app showed rain, but there was nothing on the screen about storms. 

The afternoon schedule was just about over, so I headed down the hall to my office and a quick look outside. To my surprise, the sky was gray and completely overcast. It was suddenly dark, and my first thought was, "Oh, no. Not again." A quick check of the weather app still showed rain, so I turned to the young weatherman I've learned to trust. There was, indeed, a chance of storms. To my surprise, that sweet Matt Laubhan had written exactly what a community still reeling from the destruction of a tornado needed to hear. 

"This WILL NOT be a high-end severe weather event in Mississippi. In saying that, it only takes one damaging storm affecting you to be significant for you personally. I know people are still a little freaked out about what happened a few weeks back. This is no where near as strong of a setup, but you should still stay weather aware." (From WTVA web site 5/14/14)

His words were amazingly comforting. When I read it, I thought, "Don't fret. Be not afraid."  The weatherman sounded a lot like the angels. In Scripture, the first words out of their mouths are always, "Fear not!"  We humans are uncertain, easily frightened creatures and we crave the reassurance of someone who knows what is to come. In uncertain situations, we like to have someone who is strong and can handle anything to be in charge. 

The ironic thing is that even the strongest person, the most authoritative person, is not really in charge. God is. He made the world and everything in it, He holds it together, and is utterly in charge. When He says, "Fear not," He means it. There is nothing that will ever come our way that He cannot handle. There is nothing He can't bring us through. Whether the storms of weather or the storms of life, He is able to deliver, come what may. 

I like the way the psalmist says it. "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17 NIV)

He doesn't stop all troubles, but He carries us through. No need to fret. No need to fear. 

Fret not, dear ones, no matter what you are facing. Turn to the One in charge. He's sure to help and He will bring you through.