Our home sits near a valley, so we are frequently visited by a variety of local WILD LIFE. Peacocks, raccoons, porcupines, opossums, squirrels, skunks, and occasional stray dogs and cats manage to wander aimlessly into our yard. Invading our PRIVATE SPACE. Most activity is at night, where they think that they won’t be discovered. They usually LURK around the PERIMETER and eventually the motion detector lights FLASH ON, alerting us to their arrival. Thank God those animals shrink back into the darkness.
A few months ago during the daytime, we saw the smallest cat yet. This little DEFENSELESS creature was so desperate for attention, but was extremely NERVOUS to come near us. I’m sure Craig and I looked liked evil GIANTS. We knew that if we started to feed it, it would come back for more.
So we fed it. We placed a plate of food a short distance from the back door of the house. Day after day it would come back. Each day we moved the plate closer to the back door. Eventually, it mustered up the COURAGE to come right next to the back door and eat the food. It even became comfortable with our presence. It soon allowed us to STAND near it while it ate. It was no longer scared. Then one day, we reached out and touched it. It seemed to like the attention and love. At this point, it became apparent that this cat had adopted us.
So we felt compelled to give it a name. Kitty.
We were already calling it that anyways.
Kitty now COMES INSIDE the house. Kitty sleeps and RESTS on a special blanket, in a specific spot. LIFTED up high on our living room couch. Safe. Secure. Not scared.
Kitty FOLLOWS us everywhere These are tools that have proven track records and have stood the test of time in the hard drive recovery software center. we go. Kitty wants to be around us all of the time.
DEPENDENT and APPRECIATIVE, not a typical cat. No longer a nameless stray.
Forgive us God, for We the Church have allowed our homes to become NOT frequently visited by a variety of the local “WILD LIFE”. Because we value our PRIVATE SPACE over serving sinners and reaching the lost.
Forgive us God, for We the Church, usually LURK around the PERIMETERS of local business, government, schools and media. We fear discovery and if we are detected, and the lights of persecution FLASH ON, we shrink back. And darkness settles in.
Forgive us God , for We the Church sometimes act like we are little and DEFENSELESS creatures. So We remain extremely NERVOUS to confront the evil GIANTS in our culture, become comfortable with their presence and stay at a safe distance.
Maybe we forgot that You called us, named us and adopted us.
Before we were born. Jeremiah 1:5
Maybe we forgot that You want to feed us daily Your word. A taste of kingdom life. Psalm 34:8
Maybe we forgot that You want to love us daily by Your touch. So we can love too. 1 John 5:19
If you feel that you are stuck outside, at the back door of Gods presense…
If you feel that your relationship with Jesus STANDS at a short distance away…
If you feel that you just can’t muster up the COURAGE to come right next to Him…
He already knows. He knows your heart. And why.
Just tell Him. He hears you. He forgives. And restores.
COME INSIDE His house. REST in His presence. He will LIFT YOU UP onto His couch of safety. He will cover you with His special blanket of security. No longer scared.
So that You…
FOLLOW Him wherever You go.
Want to be with Him all of the time.
Are DEPENDENT on Him and APPRECIATIVE.
Not the typical Christian.
No longer a nameless stray.
PRAY FOR: Christians here to recognize their ability to become change agents for Jesus is based on HIS ABILITY working thru THEM. And not just relying on their pastor/leader to do it by themselves.
PRAY FOR: For the pastors/leaders to know WAR is being waged against our religious freedom. Their fight begins on their knees in prayer. Only then they can effectively STAND when engaging our culture, and leading their flocks. Pray for them to be aware that lines are being drawn in our culture RIGHT NOW that will require them to declare FIRM stands against SIN and for TRUTH.
PRAY FOR: Christians attending churches that do not stand for Gods complete word as absolute truth, need to be the refining LIGHT/FIRE in the darkness. We are living in the end times, false prophets and teachers are abundant. We need to not just read Gods word but IMMERSE ourselves in it. MEDITATE on it, APPLY it and DECLARE it.
PRAY FOR: Our business. We have many opportunities for new jobs, but they continue to be in a “holding pattern”. Once again, we need supernatural intervention to keep on track. This month we downsized our office space. We are a lean, mean marketing machine! Pray for Craig and Caleb as they attend the Freedom Fest in Las Vegas. Craig will be speaking on Saturday. We need new clients.
PRAISE: We have had some amazing speaking opportunities recently where we have been able to share our testimonies as well as the gospel. Pray for more platforms to make Him known!!!
Questions or comments? Email me at shellynotw@gmail.com.