Fire for HIM

Reflecting over the past few days, "little things" had been making me extremely angry.  Being that I am usually of a calm temperament, this emotion has brought me to scratch my head in wonderment.  It was as if 'something' was simmering on the stove of my heart.  These "little" events or aggravations turned up the heat and caused what was already cooking to boil over, making a mess of my emotions.  As I restrained myself from analyzing (my comfort blanket) but did some soul searching, I was able to find the ingredients simmering beneath the surface. What I found was a potentially toxic remedy I had allowed to be concocted.  If you have ever seen baking soda and vinegar mixed together, the reaction of my ingredients was much like that.  I had allowed the bitter and the sour to be stirred together.  What happened?  You may ask.  One particular 'incident' was when my eldest child hid another child's new toy.  I let THAT act make me so...

Recently, an evangelist was speaking on vision and talked about the passage of Genesis 30.  It seems so many are talking and writing on vision.  What a great topic to stir us to move forward!  In Genesis 30, Laban tried to trick Jacob out of his inheritance.  Laban told Jacob he could have all the spotted or streaked animals, but then Laban hid those animals with his sons to keep them from Jacob.  In return, Jacob gave the animals left in his care an image to focus on in order to change the situation.  Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated.   And when they mated in front of the white- streaked  branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.   (Gen. 30: 37-39 NLT)     ...

(Disclaimer:  Although not graphic, the following blog may be disturbing to animal lovers) A few years ago, a black and white stray cat had five kittens in our hydrangea bush.  After fostering her and the litter for Animal Rescue Foundation, we kept two of the kittens (one tabby gray, one fully black).  Both have always been very docile and loving.  They were made to live outside due to their potty habits indoors, but they were fixed and have been pampered greatly by the six of us throughout their lifetime.  The children would even make them beds next to theirs or carry them in their purses when they were kittens.  The cats became comfortable being carted around in cotton pillow cases and would relax and fall asleep on jousled walks with the kids.  I tell you all of this to let you know they were a treasured part of our family. Driving  my children to school on Friday, I saw a fully b...