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Which Drip Will I Believe?

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.” Isaiah 43:2

We have a leak. A constant drip, drip, drip leak. And it’s driving me crazy. It is, of course, in my office. And I feel like I am being tortured.

Constantly reminded that I should have gotten the prior leak looked at sooner before this storm came. With each drip I feel like I am made acutely aware of my inadequacies.

And isn’t that exactly what Satan does on a daily basis? His only power is the mind. But what power he yields when he gets in there. Drip…you should really be more organized or this never would have been an issue. Drip…if you had a little more in savings you could have fixed this. Drip…your priorities are totally messed up (ministry over material things).

But when I choose to listen to God’s truth instead of Satan’s lies I am encouraged. Drip…when you go through rough waters I will be with you. Drip…when you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown. Drip…come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

The leak won’t stop until I find the source and block it. Just like the lies won’t stop until I block the source. I may not be able to stop the dripping water today but I can trust that God will provide me a way to get through this challenge. I may not be able to fully keep the lies out of my head, but I can start today to replace them with the truth.

Today I will try to look at the leak as a source of joy. I know, sounds crazy, but James 1:3 says, “when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

Drip…this is only temporary. Drip…I am doing the best I can in this world and God will take care of the rest. Drip…I can’t control the leak right now, but I can control my attitude and I choose joy.

Fly By Kisses

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Today I woke up refreshed after a good night sleep even after a rather detailed dream and my usual one-eye-open trip to the bathroom. Each morning I faithfully walk Jericho. I rolled out of bed and was greeted by what I call “fly by kisses” from Jericho. He loves us so much that we’ll walk by and he’ll quickly and gently kiss our leg or hand. And it makes my heart smile.

Almost a year ago we rescued and adopted Jericho. Our dog Sasha had just died and our house was desperately void of life (since we don’t have children our animals are our kids). As I signed the adoption papers, knowing that Jericho was heartworm positive and would require intense treatments, I remember feeling overwhelmed with emotion at giving this sweet dog a chance at love. We know almost nothing about his past. We don’t know if he had a family or if he ever experienced overwhelming love. But we know that we will be his forever family.

Jericho was a challenge at first. He ate my favorite sandals, put holes in a favorite scarf, punctured flip-flops, created craters in the yard. But that doesn’t change how much I love him or that he is forever in our lives.

I remember the day that it appeared to click in Jericho’s brain that we are his forever family. Until then he had been sweet but slightly aloof. He had been with us for about 4 months and he just changed. He began to snuggle more, cuddle more, relax more.

It makes me think: Has it clicked in my brain that God is my forever family? Do I really believe that God’s love is faithful regardless of the sins that I commit? If I as a human can love my dog this much and you can love your children as much as you do, then how much more does our almighty, wonderful God love us!

God sees the good in me, in us. And His mercies are like Jericho’s fly by kisses: they are given freely just because He loves us.