Lord, thank you the pitbull dog didn’t bite anyone while we were on our trip, especially the grandchildren who fed both dogs while we were gone. Later we found out the pitbull dog threatened our elderly neighbor. I’m grateful the dog didn’t get through the old semi-rotten privacy fence. Thank you Lord for watching over all and keeping them safe.
Also, thank you for our travel safety as we retreated for a rest and to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary.Thank you for Your wonderful mercy Lord. The weather was beautiful and so were the mountains.
We ate here on our Honeymoon in 1973.
We were on the way home from our anniversary trip at Gatlinburg, Tennessee when our elderly neighbor called. He was very upset and complaining because our pitbull dog had terrified him by growling and jumping up on the privacy fence. Also the dog had pushed one of the fence boards loose and now had our elderly neighbor terrified. He was afraid the dog was going to come through the fence and attack him. Because of that, now the neighbor won’t even go into his own backyard due to being afraid of our pitbull dog.
65 pounds of pure muscle.
This dog was a stray that just showed up. We fed him and he stayed, but now due to our neighbor’s extreme fear Hubby says this pitbull needs to go. I agree. I have to admit I’ve become a little leary myself.
Also Lord, I’m ashamed to say I gluttonized last night. After determining not to overeat during our trip and struggling to maintain food sanity throughout, I get home and gluttonize like a crazy person. Guess I was tired from the trip and bummed out over this pitbull dog situation. What are we going to do?
Lord, I know I don’t deserve Your help, but could You help us with this pitbull situation? Could You help us find him a good home?
Child, I am helping you. Now rejoice in this, for I am in charge. Trust. I have already picked out a new home for him. Now, about you . . .
Do You think I should make another Facebook post about someone else adopting the dog?
Child, I want to talk about you now. . . Do you know how much I love you?
Sir, I can only imagine.
Right. What did I do for you?. . . Just for you?
Uh. . . You died for me.
Child, you must die to all that is “self” for Me. I can only trust those who are completely yielded to Me, just as you can only trust a dog who is submissive to you. If you desire to be used by Me and you say you do, then you must be totally yielded to Me. You must die to all that is “self”.
But Lord, how? I haven’t succeeded in total victory yet, only partially, only sometimes. So how can I die to self? I struggled against this overwhelming urge to overeat throughout our entire trip only to get home and eat until I was bloated. Yes, we ate “high on the hog” celebrating our 45th anniversary throughout this trip. We shared dessert most every meal. But I did keep it in control, portion wise and I ate no snacks at all.
Then after we got back home, around 7pm, I stood on the scales before eating supper. I should have known better. The scales showed a three pound gain. I know nighttime is not the best time to weigh myself, but I did it anyway.
And what were your thoughts before getting on those scales?
Uh, . . . I thought, “I don’t care what they say. I’m still going to eat all those leftovers.”
Child, that was your first mistake. You declared you were going to eat all the leftovers no matter what the scales said. Did you think to ask Me what I thought? Did you seek My will concerning your food?
No Sir.
I see. Child, it was your “self” that wanted it all. You weren’t even hungry. You just wanted to eat due to stress. Am I right?
Yes Sir.
What should you do next time?
Lord, should I share with the others on that Pittbull Facebook group about the fence board being loose and let them know the pitbull dog acted like he was going to get into the neighbor’s yard? The neighbor was afraid the pitbull dog was going to attack him.? Some of those people on that FB group said I should get rid of the neighbor and not the dog. What???
Child, . . . don’t change the subject. What should you do next time?
Uh, . . . first of all I shouldn’t have weighed myself after a 10 hour ride in the car. Then I shouldn’t have determined to eat all the leftover pasta from the night before. I should have asked You first Lord about what I should eat?
Child, I blessed you with many blessings throughout your trip. You won many food battles. I gave you victory throughout. Then you get home stressed over this dog issue and proceed to calm yourself with food. Did this help your situation?
No Sir.
Know this child of MIne, I am working out this dog issue for your good. I shut the mouth of a lion and I shut the mouth of this dog. Now I’m giving you an open door to provide a better home for him. Yes, I said a better home for him. I’m relieving you of this stress, worry, and even your fears concerning this dog. Watch and see what I will do. Trust Me. You don’t handle it, I will. I will send him to a new home and you will feel good about it.
Now yield yourself to Me so I can set you free from your self-inflicted chains of bondage to compulsive overeating.
Ok Lord, here I am. Do with me as You wish. I am Yours.
By the way, those size 10 pants are already yours now. I’ve already planned it.
___________________________________
Note: On Friday, a family came to meet our pitbull dog. They said they already had a pitbull and love them. They said they have three acres of fenced land for him to run.
When they got here, they played with this pitbull in ways we never have. He was so excited he was jumping up and down like a rabbit. Overall he immediately took to them and they seemed thrilled with him.
When they were ready to leave he hopped in their car so happy to go. Not only did he act so happy to be with them, but also he never even told us bye. He was so excited to be with them that he never even looked back.
Lord, I praise You for answering our prayers. Since I now get daily messages from the new owners with updates of all he is doing and how happy he is, I can see how You answered this need of a good home for this dog.
Thank you Lord!
_______________________________
The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate. He won’t withdraw His Presence from you if you return to Him. 2 Chronicles 30:9
. . . Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah 55:2
If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23–24
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
___________________________________
Holy 30 Devotional
**The short devotional, “Holy 30” (See picture of Day 27 & Day 28) is based on I Peter 1:16. First Baptist of Tillman’s Corner published this devotional. I didn’t write any of it, but I do have permission to share it with you.
If you would like some additional information about our church check out this website: http://www.fbtc.org/ . You can also listen to some sermons from our pastors. Enjoy them, I do.
(Lord above all, show me how to reach them with Your love. )
(Lord, not only could You show me how, what, and with whom I can share Your love with, but also could You open my eyes to see those around me with needs that I don’t see now. In addition, open my eyes, ears, and heart to each of those You have given to me. Finally, help me minister Your love to them in such a way so that it will cause them to seek Your love for themselves.)
