Yesterday I was pinch-hitting by leading an unplugged version of church (in the park under the trees) while the worship leader was on vacation. It is always a blessed time with these folks, I planned a hymn sing and short message. Holy Spirit – yes – we felt Jesus was there with us, especially since we were talking about Him in a time of sharing. We were nearly at wrap up time and the start of a special kids crafting event… So great to have these summer days with worship in the park.
God started the perfect wrap up, moving me to heart-laughing smiles – by sending a visitor – Patches – a cute dog situation – cool, this has happened to me before (see “Charlie – Live in the Moment” posted below) – and with Patches was a neighbor to one of our members, just out walking. God pulled that dog surely to us. I believe in Angel Armies – I believe that our pets are led by angels (rather than being angels themselves because watch out for that cute bite) – I believe they comfort us and want to be with us – and of course Patches saw kids and wanted to say “HI” – such an angel thing to do…
Well, with Patches interrupting Psalm 16 in a good way, what a great way to wrap up the worship service and we sang “Let There be Peace on Earth – and let it begin with me” to close… Patches brought smiles – Patches brought patching inbetween the people – and the Holy Spirit was alive and well in that time. If you have to be interrupted when you are saying something – it might as well be the Holy Spirit – just ask Peter (Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word…. the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”)
Anyway, here is the story of Charlie the dog, I’m so glad Patches was led by the angel army to bring the neighbor to stop by and chat and we enjoyed doggie kisses. How cool is the Lord, so cool and awesome!!
CHARLIE – LIVE IN THE MOMENT
Charlie was a dog that caught me off guard – I mention Charlie because I want to use the example of this sweet dog to reiterate that God wants us to “live in the moment” – He really does… I was picking up my daughter from camp – with the last trip to the store – and she says “SO, what did you do this week???” – hmmm my pause… as I wasn’t going to tell her about a particular tragedy this week [it was a sad week for a co-worker’s family] – if I didn’t have to – as I never want my kids to ever carry my burdens – but she did ask so I disclosed what made this a tough week… I only shared the news in a few sentences – not much more – very succinct – and she said it was so sad…
Then INSTANTLY – before I could speak the words that were about to roll off my tongue – there was this unreal, scariest, freaky, cold and gross feeling on my ankles – I SCREAMED!!! I thought I was bleeding?? UGH!! I am usually calm but this stilled me into a quick scream… Charlie, the dog, was waiting outside the store – I was so wrapped in my own mind with my daughter and never even saw the people sitting there and Charlie – a dark brown lab – started vigorously licking my legs – ugh – cold – wet – weird!! – I am so surprised that I didn’t fall… As soon as I realized what this feeling was, I then LAUGHED – petted Charlie – and realized that God was taking me away from my thoughts… God was stopping a discussion – FORCING me to stop my speech and go back to let my daughter have her JOY in the moment – and He was telling me by use of His angels to go back to having this focused time with my daughter… God said you must process internally but you don’t need to disturb the beauty of the moment for others – “live in the present – live in the moment.”
Charlie was interrupting me for God’s timing – Charlie then parked himself across my legs until I stopped, in the moment, petted him in the moment and SMILED in the moment, and acknowledge that God orchestrated that very moment.
Yup a wakeup call from God via Charlie… I was then released from Charlie’s tangled leash – yet I still see his eyes looking at me. I am not a dog person and God knows that – but that type of sweet dog will always induce love and smiles with his loyalty and gentle playfulness… Thanks Charlie…. We did our camp store shopping and I thanked Charlie on the way out for keeping me living in the moment – living in the present with my bubbly child…
Live for this moment – don’t over process. Keep moving – be still even in the crashing of mountains and waves and yet keep moving – BE…
Be God awakened (and dog licked).
Amen
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John 4:14-15: Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Psalm 46:1-3: God is our refuge and strength. An ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging….
Debbie Upper 