Day 4: Saturday, March 4, 2017        John 3:16

 A TAIL OF TWO CHRISTIANS

Sometimes life works in mysterious ways.  Take my two dogs, Jackson and Trinity.  Jackson was a pound puppy, rescued when he was just a puppy, and he has been most grateful ever since.  He is my champion and loves to growl his protection when strangers approach.  He has never tested the boundaries of the yard, content to stay wherever I am.  He loves to play and loves me with an unquestioning love.

Then there is Trinity.  She came from the streets.  She roamed free, but scared, and hung out with all sorts of bad fellows which led to a litter of eleven puppies.  She knew the back streets, the places to hide out, and she could outrun the dog catcher as well as those who just wanted to help. Kind folks and I left food for her as well as a dog house when winter set in.  But we couldn’t get any closer as we didn’t have her trust.  Finally, friends were able to catch her but that was when she was huge with puppies and perhaps she sensed that that they all needed help.  Eleven puppies went to good homes, but no one really wanted a half wild momma dog, so Trinity came to live with Jackson and with me.  There was an immediate clash, mostly over boundaries.  Trinity never met a fence she couldn’t scale, and mind you I tried to keep her in the yard.  But she was driven to seek a life outside the bounds I set for her, bounds that Jackson seemed to have embraced.  But Trinity would eat dinner with me and then go roam for snacks such as McDonald's or Popeye’s. Containers in the yard the next morning were the proof.  But she always came home. Always.  She understood that home represented food and safety and love, but it also came with       boundaries. 

I love them both equally.  One stays home and accepts the rules, and one breaks all the rules and still comes home.  And in my heart of hearts, I know that both love me and would defend me to the end.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son . . . “

Jackson and Trinity are like many Christians in the church today.  Jackson represents many Christians who came into the church almost from birth and fell easily into the love offered from God and the fellowship of other Christians.  It does not really occur to such Christians to step outside God’s circle of love as that is safe, warm, comfortable, and all they want. 

Other Christians, like Trinity, come to Christ the hard way, and it takes a great deal of love and patience from not only God, but fellow Christians, to help these people find God’s love and grace.  And even then, knowing what God has given them, they still stray.  They seek the world and all it has to offer, usually the worst parts.  And hopefully, like Trinity, these Christians return to the “yard,” where God welcomes them back with love, affection, and a hot meal. 

God doesn’t care whether you are a Jackson or a Trinity; He just wants you to know His love, the love that made Him send His only begotten son to die for your sins.  No matter what you do, the gate is always open to come home, and there will be no judgement.  Just love.  God’s love.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, guide us to step outside the  boundaries of our church to seek those who need our love and patience as we help lead them to You. Amen.

Contributed by Susan Frisch

Day 2: Thursday March 2, 2017             James 1:2-4

 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind 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. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

We’ve all had one of those days when nothing seems to go right. A few weeks ago, I experienced one of these. That Sunday started out perfectly normal--I got up, got my kids and myself ready for church and headed to work. After the three services were over, I grabbed my kids from the nursery and headed home to get clothes changed and get the kids to their dad’s house for their Sunday visit and to take his dog, Dozer, back to him as I had been dog sitting while he was out of town. I rounded everyone up and got everyone in the car and we headed out. About one block from my house, on Elms Road, my car decided to just come to a stop and  completely shut off. (Luckily, we got into the turn lane before it happened, so we were all safe from traffic.)

I was beside myself as I had no clue what happened. So I picked up the phone and called a good friend, Tony La Valley, who came and helped me get my car home. I called the kids’ dad, and he came to get them. Then Tony and I spent four hours attempting to find the problem; we also called Eric Madrid to come assist. After those four long hours, there was no solution, so I had to call the next day and have my car towed to the shop, only to find out that the fuel pump had gone out and that major repairs were needed. Luckily, with help from my insurance and from Ace Turland, I was able to get my car repairs scheduled and to get a rental car so that life could carry on as normal.

Although I was very upset when it initially occurred, I have to say that I worked to find the positives in the situation. I am truly blessed to have such great friends from this church to assist me as this trouble occurred. I am also blessed to have car insurance to allow me to continue working and going to school. Above all, I am blessed to have God with me always to hear my troubles and my praises. Without him, I would never have been led to this great church and met all of these wonderful people.

Day 1: Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017             John 12:26

 “Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me wherever I am.  And my Father will honor anyone who serves me.”

  This past October 19, 2016, I received a text from my sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Mackenzy: (M).  “Hey Nana (N), are you busy?” she said. (M)   No, just watching a  debate on TV, I said. (N)  “I’m currently at church with my church group, and I’m wanting to recommit myself to God.  I have always looked up to you as an example for my faith, so I just wanted you to be a part of this journey.” (M) I said, sure, my love, I’d be honored! (N) “My immediate thought was, “so you could just keep me in your    prayers and I’d love to pray with you the next time we’re together.” (M)  Tearfully I said, of course, my love, I’m praying for you right now and would love to pray with you anytime! (N)  “Thank you Nana, I love you so much!” (M) I love you and it means the world to me that you have God in your life.” (N)

Contributed by Patricia Vassaur