LESSONS FROM A LOWLY HOUSECAT (Part I)
SCRIPTURE: “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you…and the fish of the sea will explain to you.” Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this…?” Job 12:7-9
Upon reading the title verse, you may wonder is Job actually telling his friends to become “Dr. Doolittle” and talk to the animals? No, he is not, actually; yet, given the extraordinary crucible of testing that God entrusted to Job in this biblical account, I believe that most of us would totally empathize if he had directed those guys to seriously go talk to the animals! The slightly sarcastic reply of the beleaguered Job reminded me of some lessons one can learn even from a lowly feline—our thirteen-year-old tabby housecat. (Don’t laugh!) As has been said of many U.S. presidents, people may love ‘em or loathe ‘em, but seldom are they (i.e., people) neutral on the topic of cats.
Did you know that five years ago, domestic cats (AKA: felis silvestris lybica) had surpassed dogs as the leading household pet in the U.S. alone? Without a doubt, one can learn some biblical lessons from even these lowly creatures. For one thing, they put us to shame when it comes to persistence—albeit, we’re talking mealtime here. For reminding their humans about the need to feed, they’re more persistent than the widow of whom Jesus spoke in Luke 18:1-8, who sought justice from a judge. They are confident that with enough pathway interceptions (theirs into yours), you and I will stop to serve up the grub. Just imagine if they had thumbs!
Many Christians are hard-pressed to practice the acronym P.U.S.H.—pray until something happens! We much too quickly give up, contrary to the Spirit’s command in 1 Thess. 5:17 and Luke 18:1. Secondly, even before our geriatric kitty became such, he has never needed to be nudged into nap or bedtime. We can learn much from him about Psalm 127:2—“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.” If our Lord commends our giving up our daily exertions (or even entertainment) in order to give our bodies adequate sleep, why do we so often resist the Spirit’s wisdom, compromising the functionality of our heart and brain, possibly incurring memory issues, says one Online article. [www. Healthline.com, Wellness Topics].
PRAYER: Dear Abba, teach us anew how to learn and benefit from everything You’ve created in Your beautiful world—even the ants, birds, and lowly housecats! Thank You, in Jesus’ name—amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Did you know that five years ago, domestic cats (AKA: felis silvestris lybica) had surpassed dogs as the leading household pet in the U.S. alone? Without a doubt, one can learn some biblical lessons from even these lowly creatures. For one thing, they put us to shame when it comes to persistence—albeit, we’re talking mealtime here. For reminding their humans about the need to feed, they’re more persistent than the widow of whom Jesus spoke in Luke 18:1-8, who sought justice from a judge. They are confident that with enough pathway interceptions (theirs into yours), you and I will stop to serve up the grub. Just imagine if they had thumbs!
Many Christians are hard-pressed to practice the acronym P.U.S.H.—pray until something happens! We much too quickly give up, contrary to the Spirit’s command in 1 Thess. 5:17 and Luke 18:1. Secondly, even before our geriatric kitty became such, he has never needed to be nudged into nap or bedtime. We can learn much from him about Psalm 127:2—“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.” If our Lord commends our giving up our daily exertions (or even entertainment) in order to give our bodies adequate sleep, why do we so often resist the Spirit’s wisdom, compromising the functionality of our heart and brain, possibly incurring memory issues, says one Online article. [www. Healthline.com, Wellness Topics].
PRAYER: Dear Abba, teach us anew how to learn and benefit from everything You’ve created in Your beautiful world—even the ants, birds, and lowly housecats! Thank You, in Jesus’ name—amen!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
2 Comments
Praise God for His unique ways of teaching us!
It's like God has preprogrammed His creation for service and worship in lesser and greater degrees. Every aspect of creation knows its job and knows there is a creator! Amen Sus Denise. Thank you.