| "If anyone would come after me, he must deny | | | | insects. Nope it was what we now know as essential |
| himself and take up his cross and follow me. For | | | | oils (which by the way still are used extensively in |
| whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but | | | | that part of the world for their healing benefits and |
| whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will | | | | fast growing here in the USA) mixed with most likely |
| save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole | | | | olive oil. The oils served another purpose too. Sheep |
| world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8: 34-36, NIVThis | | | | are goofy and get angry with each other over |
| has been a long arduous summer and yet so fully | | | | anything (again like us). When they did get angry, |
| alive with all the possibilites that God has shown me. | | | | they'd go charging into each other to butt heads so |
| I'm fast approaching the nearly finished task of | | | | hard that they could kill each other. With the oil on |
| co-authoring a book on natural dog health with a | | | | their heads, it would help them to skid off each other |
| holistic veterinarian, launched out a new product line | | | | keeping them from killing each other.Yep, I'm getting |
| with Saving Grace Enterprises, and ramping up for an | | | | to the pet business with Dee and the "serious stuff". |
| online conference with veterinarians, doctors, etc., to | | | | So for his own protection the shepard would carry a |
| help educate on stopping a superbug staph infection. | | | | big leather poncho he would wear during inclement |
| Now this all sounds kind of serious right? Well not | | | | weather and also use as a "pup tent" of sorts to |
| according to what God has been telling me all | | | | sleep in. So we've got Dee's leather products and my |
| week!Last Sunday in service, our pastor had a very | | | | essential oils from the pet business. Hmmm. Leather |
| interesting sermon on Psalm 23 as we closed out a | | | | was the Shepard's protection. Oil throughout the Bible |
| series on The Godward Heart. We've all heard and | | | | is representative of the Holy Spirit. He uses animals |
| read that psalm since we were children most likely, | | | | as examples of us. Is anyone else "seeing" this? God |
| no matter which Christian religion we are. However, | | | | will definitely use whatever, wherever, whomever for |
| I've not ever heard it presented like this and that is | | | | His purpose and glory if we just get the heck out of |
| most likely why it resonated so loudly with me. Let | | | | the way. Be relieved of ourselves so that Jesus can |
| me do my usual roundabout way of getting to the | | | | reign and work. He will protect us and He will provide |
| point here...Psalm 23 is all about the Shepard and His | | | | for us.Here was what was so funny to me when our |
| sheep, right? Understanding what a shepard's duty | | | | pastor got to the Three Points of Application part:1. |
| was and how he went about it in Jesus' day is what | | | | Because the Shepard is in control, I dont have to |
| got my attention. Anyone who has read my articles | | | | take myself so seriously. It's ALL about Him. This |
| here know that I am not only a pet lover but my | | | | does not mean to not take ISSUES in the world |
| business is a business in natural pet care. When our | | | | seriously because we should. It means to not take |
| pastor started explaining how a shepard cares for his | | | | OURSELVES so seriously. If we do keep taking |
| sheep and what tools he uses, I felt like God was | | | | ourselves so seriously, then that is really internalized |
| sitting next to me and whispering in my ear and it | | | | pride and wrong thinking rooted in the inability to |
| sent shivers up my spine in a most delightful way!I've | | | | surrender.2. Because the Shepard cares, I can release |
| wondered for a long time how God would use me in | | | | my burdens to Him. Matthew 11:28, 1 Peter 5:7.3. |
| a natural pet care business. Then He brought me | | | | Because the Shepard is qualified, I can trust Him to |
| together with Dee Kreidel and Saving Grace | | | | guide my life.God told me in no uncertain terms not |
| Enterprises to create our new product line in custom | | | | only WHAT I'm supposed to be doing but also WHY, |
| hand-tooled leather collars, leashes and journals. Huh I | | | | and HOW it all tied in with WHO He is. What He did |
| said? How does that go with natural pet care Lord? I | | | | not tell me was WHEN. Leave it to Him to keep |
| got an interesting answer Sunday AND one that told | | | | tempering and teaching as He goes about His |
| me not to take myself so seriously. I'll get to all that | | | | purpose.On Tuesday or Wednesday after this |
| in a bit.The shepard had a staff (we all know that) | | | | riveting sermon on Sunday, John Fischer of a Purpose |
| that was about 5 or 6 ft tall I believe our pastor said. | | | | Driven Life wrote this in his devotional Acquittal by |
| It had the hook at the end we all know about and | | | | Penguin the following paragraph:"This is not to say |
| that was to keep sheep gathered in and not | | | | that any behavior in the natural kingdom legitimizes |
| wandering. Sound familiar? Ever wonder why God | | | | corresponding activity among human beings, but I do |
| refers to us as sheep? It's not a flattering statement | | | | believe God has given us animals to mirror human |
| because they are not the brightest creatures in | | | | behavior, and help us see ourselves in another light |
| creation, and they need constant tending and | | | | and not take ourselves or our roles so seriously. " |
| supervision. The shepard also carried a baton about | | | | (italics mine)Hey, do you think God is trying to tell me |
| the size of what our police officers carry today. He | | | | something? So then I was listening to some |
| would use that to fend off attacking predators. He | | | | contemporary Christian music on Thursday while |
| also used it for something a bit more harsh.If one | | | | doing my housework. I was playing Jennifer Knapp's |
| sheep was constantly wandering off and not learning | | | | CD, Lay it Down, and the song "Into You" came on. |
| to stay with the herd, the shepard would use the | | | | The words in the chorus "relieve me of myself, bring |
| baton to break one or two of this sheep's legs and | | | | me into You" just stuck out like a sore thumb and |
| then immediately set them. Then he'd carry that | | | | I've listened to that song a multitude of times. I |
| sheep around his neck until he was fully healed. The | | | | KNOW God was telling me to take a chill pill, lay it |
| purpose? For the sheep to become dependent upon | | | | down, trust Him, don't take myself so seriously, He |
| the shepard for all its needs and to bond fully with | | | | has a purpose for the work I'm doing so allow Him to |
| him. Again, God does the same to His | | | | work, be relieved of myself, depend on Him and just |
| children.Another interesting thing the shepard would | | | | enjoy the ride! WHEW! What a ride too brethren. So |
| do is to put oil on each sheep's head and also body | | | | if anyone is getting too "puffed up" maybe we all |
| to ward off pests (fleas, ticks, flies, the usual | | | | just need to get over ourselves and rest in the |
| suspects). Now the oil referred to isn't your | | | | Shepard. I sure don't want to have to learn the hard |
| vegetable cooking oil as that would not ward off | | | | way and take a 2X4 baton! |