My Cat Reaped What He Ate

One month ago, my cat Osha was very close to death. Several months ago, I caught him eating pink fibreglass insulation. Apparently he also ate twelve inches of string and who knows what else. As a result, he vomited continually for weeks and eventually stopped eating all together. He lost a lot of weight and started to become bony.

I decided, "Enough of this! I'm not going to watch my cat die." So every few hours I fed the cat coconut milk from a baby bottle. After several days, the junk Osha ate finally passed through his digestive system. At last he could start to recover! For the next two weeks, I hand-fed him moist cat food (or, more accurately, one might say I shoved it down his throat) until he gained some of his strength back.

I am pleased to report Osha is now doing well, although he is not yet back to playing with his toys, and I sometimes still have to encourage him to eat. Here is a picture of Osha I took just a few minutes ago. He is lying on top of my son Chris, who, in turn, is lounging on the couch.

Osha ate non-food items and almost died. He reaped what he sowed. If Osha would eat only foods that are healthy for cats to eat, he would live the wonderful life of an adopted pet — fully loved and cared for. We are the same. We reap what we sow. If we live life to please our sinful nature and feed on worldly things, we will surely die. But if we live life to please the Spirit of God and feed on His Word, we will live eternally as adopted children of the King — loved and cared for forever.

"Do not be deceived:

God cannot be mocked.

A man reaps what he sows.

Whoever sows to please their flesh,

from the flesh will reap destruction;

whoever sows to please the Spirit,

from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

Galatians 6:7-8 (NLT)

Feed on God's Word daily. It restores life, heals wounded hearts, and gives strength, vitality, and joy in the midst of trials. Just as Osha was brought back to health and vitality by eating healthy foods again, we too, whenever we find ourselves weak and ill, need to be brought back to spiritual well-being and exuberance by nourishing on God's Word.

Is There Any Benefit In Gaining The Whole World If You Lose Your Own Soul?

Last night, my four sons and two of their friends went airsofting. They left immediately after work and got home fairly late. They had loads of fun!

Everyone preparing their weapons and protective gear.

Matthew posing with a friend's M16, guarding four of the flags.

Tim posing with Chris's MP5.

Daniel posing with his F2000.

Chris threatening to shoot the cameraman. Matthew rehydrating behind.

Matthew with his AUG calling, "I surrender!"

Looking at this last picture, the following question is brought to mind: How many Christians today are willing to surrender their lives to God, giving up their sinful ways, selfish ambitions, pride, and material wealth for the glory of God?

Saving our souls is much more important than gaining the whole world. It is certain that Jesus is soon coming again, and He will judge all people according to their spoken words, actions, and sacrifices made for Him and for others.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples,

'If any of you wants to be my follower,

you must turn from your selfish ways,

take up your cross,

and follow me.

If you try to hang on to your life,

you will lose it.

But if you give up your life for my sake,

you will save it.

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world,

but lose your own soul?

Is anything worth more than your soul?

For the Son of Man will come

 with His angels in the glory of His Father

 and will judge all people according to their deeds.'"

Matthew 16:24-27 (NLT)

There is no benefit in gaining the whole world if you loose your own soul.

A Church On A Hill Cannot Be Hidden

The town in which I live is built around a historic Roman Catholic church situated on top of the only "hill" for miles around. As a result, the church's steeple, with its white cross on top, is visible not only from just about every point in town, but also from a good portion of the surrounding farmland.

And just as a church (or "city") on a hill cannot be hidden, so also our light as God's children cannot be hidden. We are to be a light in a dark world. The Cross that Jesus died on so that our sins could be forgiven is our message of light to the surrounding world.

"You are the light of the world.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

Matthew 5:14 (NIV)

Let's be a light to our world by sharing this message of hope, forgiveness, and salvation to all those we meet.

Diversity In Creation

This is a female Redhead duck that I spotted swimming in a small pond near where I live. The duck stood out because of its soft red colouring.

Although I looked, I couldn't find the male Redhead. I discovered later after searching the Internet that male Redhead ducks are the love-them-and-leave-them types: as soon as the females start incubating their eggs, the males head south to molt.

Not only that, but I also learned that the male Redhead duck actually meows and purrs like a cat, instead of quacking like a duck. The female Redhead duck, however, does quacks. I guess they are smart enough to know they are not a cat.

I find the diversity in creation absolutely amazing! This verse in Psalms describes how I feel.

"How many are your works, Lord!"

Psalm 104:24 (NIV)

Are We To Be Passive Or Aggressive For Righteousness' Sake?

Let me answer this question by using Jesus as an example.

In Scripture, there are many times that, when Jesus was being attacked, tortured, ridiculed, bullied, humiliated, or rejected, He either slipped away quietly, turned the other cheek, kept silent, showed no anger, refused to defend Himself (even when given the opportunity), washed His disciples' feet (including the one who would betray Him), or prayed to His Father to forgive His enemies (as He hung from a cross, bloody and beaten).

On the other hand, there are also many times, particularly when others were being abused, hurt, turned away from God, or led astray by other people's sins, such as the hypocrisy of religious leaders, that Jesus became mightily aggressive. He spoke boldly, argued, condemned, insulted, showed courage, became heroic, commanded, yelled, flipped tables, and whipped men.

So, in the Bible, Jesus is portrayed as passive at times and aggressive at other times. Jesus acted passively when He was the only One at stake, showing God's humbleness, love, and forgiveness; Jesus acted aggressively when others were at stake, showing God's protectiveness, authority, and holiness.

Therefore, there will be times when Christians are to be passive for Christ's sake, like lambs among wolves, bringing nothing with them.

"Go!

I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Do no take a purse or bag or sandals."

Luke 10:3-4 (NIV)

And then there will be times when Christians are to be aggressive for Christ's sake, bringing with them a sword, so they will be prepared to fight.

"But now if you have a purse,

take it,

and also a bag;

and if you don't have a sword,

sell your cloak and buy one."

Luke 22:36 (NIV)

Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.

As A Hen Is With Her Ducklings, God Is With His Children

When I go for walks, I love to watch the ducklings swim peacefully on the surface of the water with their mother nearby. Why do these ducklings have no fear? Because they put their trust in their mother, who lovingly guides them in the water and stays close beside them.

When Peter, one of the twelve disciples, put his trust in Jesus, he was able to get out of the boat and walk on water. But as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, he saw the strong winds, became very afraid, and began to sink into the depths of the water.

If one of the ducklings had done the same — if he/she had taken his/her eyes off his/her mother and looked to possible dangers of his/her surroundings — then he/she would have become too afraid to follow his/her mother and other siblings, and thus would have been left behind to die. The ducklings must trust their mother to survive — and they do, without struggle.

The Christian life is the same way. We must put our trust in God our Father and His Word in order for us to be saved and to live in peace without fear. Just like the mother duck is always with her ducklings, God is always with His children. If we put our trust in God, we can walk on water and not sink. We can swim in rough waters and not drown. We just need to keep our eyes on our Father and trust Him.

"In God whose Word I praise,

in God I trust;

I will not be afraid."

Psalm 56:4 (NIV)

Don't be afraid! God is right there swimming beside you!

Look Also To The Interests Of Others

Question: do you see anything strange in the picture below? (You can click on the image to make it larger.)

Answer: the gosling in front is a different age than the other eight goslings. He/she has already developed his/her pattern of colouring, while the other eight goslings are still fuzzy, grey, and yellow. The older gosling must have been orphaned before being adopted by the parent goose. The parent goose has given the orphaned gosling a second chance in life. Not all types of birds will do this, but a Canada goose will.

The Bible tells us that it's God's desire for us to not only look to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, 

but also to the interests of others."

Philippians 2:4 (NIV)

Just like this Canada goose heard the distressed cry of an orphaned gosling, saw the need, and took action, we need to do the same. Ask God daily to open your ears to hear the cries of the hurting souls all around you, and to open your eyes to see their needs of despair and hopelessness. Then take action and do all you can to soothe their cries, comfort their hearts, and fulfil their needs, pouring over them the cascading waterfall of God's love.