Changes

The American Bullfrog

These days my life consists of buying enough air fresheners to cover animal smells in the Science Lab. It seems to be always on my mind. Or keeping antibacterial liquid to clean little junior-high hands after Bertha, Charlie, Carmela and the tadpoles leave their marks. But I wouldn't trade it because those hands represent our future, my future, and I have a small time slot in this life to enjoy my BIG opportunity to be their teacher. I happen to be one of those weird people who absolutely love teaching junior highers.

It would be a perfect world if EVERYONE enjoyed their current job, but we all know that this isn't the case. Sometimes we are at a job until we "find our niche in life." Sometimes a job is used as a stepping stone to THE job. Sometimes we just do the best we can because we need gas in the car. These days, we can find a little of ALL of that in our churches, circles of friends, etc, BUT the key as a Christian is contentment.

Last night we had a LUAU for the ladies of our church, and I sat and chatted with a former teacher of our school who is semi-retired but still comes around now and again to substitute for us. I listened to her stories of people who filled my past, people who at some point were an influence on my life when I was a kid. This woman taught school all those years while rearing her own children, and made such a difference. How does someone teach 6th graders for SO LONG and not tire out? Contentment.

The American bullfrog is just plain gross. I really can't believe that the 8 tadpoles in my room will turn out to look like that ugly picture up top. I'm not sure how I will fake the kids out in my Science classes and hold the things, but I'll have to find the nerve. Even though they are yucky looking, though, we all are anticipating the "change" because the development has been really fun. We have watched those back legs form, then the knees, now the indentions for front legs. It's coming.  But I have enjoyed studying the frog for a little more than just his "change." He is a content creature.

Bullfrogs adapt well to whatever environment they find themselves in. Scientists believe that one reason this is true is because of where they came from, meaning: they swam with fish and other aquatic life in their first "round of life" and learned to work under new circumstances that they carry the same habits into their second "round of life." Oh, that we would do that as Christians.

One of my mentors used to tell her students and workers who helped her, "Never forget where you came from." That means, don't forget that you were poor once you get rich and have pocket money. Help others financially. Don't forget that you were unsaved and on your way to hell before Christ richly saved you. Live your life for Him in gratitude. Don't forget that you used to "need" when you are now filled. Reach out and be a need-filler.  Don't forget that you wanted whatever you NOW have so badly. Be satisfied. Adapt. Make it.

My parents have been married 46 years. I can truly say that it is because they have learned to be content. They just deal with life. I've learned so much from them. We all admire people who are "in it for the long haul." It's Scriptural, Jesus did it, and one day in Heaven we will see just how important it is for us to be satisfied NOW with what God threw in our paths as we are constantly pushing ourselves to do more for Him.

PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13

¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 ¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
 ¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Smokey and Forgiveness

Smokey's stitches



Yesterday I picked up my cat from my vet, took one look at her incision, and knew what my next Bible lesson would be. Forgiveness.

About a week or so ago, Smokey came home with some marks on her, like animal bites. The next day she began chewing her fur around the marks, and I began to see the nicks and cuts more clearly. For a few days she kept the chewing up, and licked those places raw. At that point, I knew it was time for the vet. Sure enough, she had been attacked by an animal in the woods around my house, and would need all kinds of shots and medicine. The doctor called me within an hour of dropping Smokey off and suggested surgery. They went in and took out all the damaged, infected tissue from the 9 bites, and stitched her up. Within 36 hours, I had my Smokey back. She isn't happy with the e-collar, but I've found that PetSmart offers a soft version of one. She has to wear it for 2 weeks, so I might as well help her to enjoy it.

However, when you look at Smokey now, you don't notice her beautiful gray and white fur, her half-tail that usually gets a comment from visitors, or even how she smiles when she looks up at you. Not anymore. You see the stitches, the scar. Fortunately, the stitches will come out in a couple of weeks, the incision will heal, and the fur will grow back. But the scar will always be there.

In the Bible, David tells us in Psalm 103 that God loves us and is merciful to us if we fear Him. He remembers that we are just human and that we are going to make mistakes. Once we confess our faults, He forgives our sins and remembers them no more. Specifically we are told in 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

I often tell teenagers that God is a GOD of second chances. He does forgive, but we should be thankful to have a scar of our sin to remind us just exactly what He did for us. Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. To forgive someone relieves burdens and cleanses the soul. But to BE FORGIVEN is like new life. It is a new start with God, a person who has forgiven you, or a situation for which you finally forgive yourself. Stop dwelling on the mistake, but focus on the healing that has been done. The scar will eventually become faint. The pain is tough now; you may feel as though you just want to die. Sometimes the pain is caused from others who are careless and scar you. But trust God that He doesn't allow anything randomly. Everything we go through as a Christian has a purpose. Maybe it is to get your focus back on God. Maybe it is to know the pain of someone else so you have compassion. Maybe it is to grow you and humble you as far as patience with other people is concerned.

One time I had a heartache and Ms. Belinda stayed up all night with me. We sat outside on an Indiana winter evening for hours swinging and talking about trials that God sees us through. She told me that it would get easier, and that I would eventually get through it, but to never, ever forget what the pain felt like. Basically she meant, don't forget the scar of hurt. I have used that situation literally hundreds of times in these past 15 years.
I've never worried about forgetting. I've never forgotten.The owner of a scar NEVER forgets where the scar is.
Forgive, and move on. Allow yourself to be forgiven. Keep  your scars.

God bless.

My Smokey and Criticism

Smokey, napping on her bed



My cat, Smokey, has been in "cat trauma" in the last couple of weeks. I'm not sure what is going on with her, but she has about licked off half of the fur on her side. She is 11 years old and was earlier diagnosed with some kind of cat mental disorder. She is strange, but she is beautiful. In my rumblings on the internet searching for an answer to her behavior, I stumbled across some information that has helped me understand my Smokey more....and understand critical people.

Cats can become depressed. We all know that. When there is a change in their environment--or another pet is introduced into his environment--it can throw them into a depression. There are little pet daycares out there to help our animals in these situations.

Also, aromatherapy is recommended, especially if your cat has been sleeping too much. A vitamin B shot will benefit him as well. The idea is to diagnose his problem, and jump on it.

"Ahhh," I thought, "her condition needs to be diagnosed."

As Christians, we are going to have dilemmas and trials come our way. When we get into sin and it starts to show up in our lives, we MUST deal with it or it grows. Bro. Hyles used to tell us, "The church is like a hospital. Hearing the preaching from the Word of God by God's man gives the cure, but it is up to you to accept the medicine and use it."

Some medicine that I learned in 1989 from my 3rd favorite preacher in the world, Bro. Jack Schaap, has OFTEN helped me when criticized. It was given in church, we took it, applied it, and it worked. From time to time, I pull out this "medicine bottle" when criticized, and trust my God that He is in control.

"What To Do When You Are Criticized" by Jack Schaap

1,  Read Psalms and Proverbs daily.

2.  Read I Peter and II Peter each evening. (I don't know why the evening.)

3.  Memorize Romans 6 and Romans 8, and personalize them.

4.  Go to sleep quoting Scripture or reliving Bible stories.

5.  Read biographies of great Christians.

Christian, hang in there. God always wins.