Peanut   reincarnation

I could not believe it! I heard the backdoor bang and slam shut. Then I heard it bang again. I thought what is going on.

I knew we didn’t have Peanut anymore, our big ole bobcat look-alike cat, who always banged the door when he wanted in.

So I went to the backdoor and there was Pickle, our new cat, banging the door to let us know she wanted back in the house.

This was Peanut all over again—the door banger. Back in February, when we had to put Peanut to sleep because of kidney problems, I wrote out a little prayer to God that if we got another cat that He would please pick it out for us—just the right cat.

Well, I guess He used our son Mark to do the “picking out.” I really didn’t intend to get another cat since we still had Christy but I had an idea Mark might try to get us a cat. So that’s why I thought I had better do a little praying.

And wouldn’t you know out of all the cats at Wayside Waifs his eye went  straight to this pretty tortoiseshell cat named Pickle.

And again she is so much like my beloved Peanut was in that she is calm, not flighty, loves the attention of company instead of running and hiding like our Christy does.

Although Christy and Peanut were inseparable, I had to laugh because they were just the opposite in about every way and it seems that this is carried on in the new cat too.

Now some people may think God only cares about the big eternal “salvation” things in our lives which He certainly does, but I think He cares about the little things in our lives too—like getting just the right cat.

Of course, some people may think I’m a little weird. But thank you, God, anyway for spoiling me in so many “little” ways. Thank you for Pickle.

“How good it is to give thanks to you, O Lord, to sing in your honor, O Most High God,  to proclaim your constant love every morning, and your faithfulness every night.” Psalm 92:1-2 GNB

Love in Jesus,

God’s “cat-pleased” servant,
Liz Ray

Written March 28, 2012

Cistern   serenade

“Well, back down in the cistern again.” I’m glad I don’t have to say that anymore though. That’s what I was saying last week as we were down in the cistern cleaning it out and patching cracks.

Our 5000 gallon cement cistern located under the garage went dry this winter apparently because of some cracks that had developed in it over the course of 36 years.

It was originally our only source of water back in 1976 when the house was built but now since we have rural water I have used it only for watering my plants in the summer.

It has been a lifesaver since I have lots of plants and the water you might say is free since it comes from the guttering on the roof when it rains.

Our friend Ron helped clean the sediment out. He scooped, Jim hauled the bucket of muck up and emptied it, and I held the light so they could see.

Last Thursday Jim went over the cracks with Drylok Fast Plug to seal the cracks. I did my part by holding the light. I’m a good light holder.

Now back to the title—cistern serenade. That’s what it was when it started raining this week—a beautiful, melodious serenade as the water trickled down into the cistern once again.

As of this morning it has around 2000 gallons of water in it. We have a really sophisticated method of measuring the water, a long thin narrow board with pencil markings on it for every 1000 gallons.

We lower that into the cistern and wherever the water comes to, it shows how many thousand gallons are in it.

I have always appreciated the value of water, but especially when the cistern goes dry with planting time drawing nigh.

I appreciate most of all though the “living water” that comes only from Jesus Christ. He says, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” (John 7:37, 38 TLB)

Love in Jesus,

God’s “thirsty” servant,
Liz Ray

Written March 21, 2012

Spook   light

Now it’s not even Halloween but every time here lately when I would go into our family room I would notice one of the floor lamps would be on at a certain time.

It was by the easy chair where our new cat Pickle always sleeps and I just thought maybe Jim turned it on for her each evening for some reason.

I didn’t ask him about it but I noticed every time after supper when Jim would go into the study to read his Bible, that’s when the light in the family room would be on.

Finally out of curiosity I asked him if he had been turning that light on for Pickle for some strange reason. He said no that he hadn’t but he had been noticing that it had been on also.

Well, the conclusion we have come to is that since it is a remote-controlled light, it is on the same frequency that Jim’s remote-controlled light in the study is on so when he goes in to turn his light on to read the Bible, it also turns the one on in the family room.

I am reminded of the 1977 Debby Boone hit song “You Light Up My Life.”

          You light up my life

          You give me hope
          To carry on
          You light up my days
          and fill my nights with song.

This is the way I think about Jesus as being my Light. I love life and doing lots of things, but He is the Light or the reason for my whole life.

Whatever I do, I want to do for Him even pulling weeds or sweeping the floor. He made everything in this world and so I like to think I’m showing Him thanks by helping out in taking care of the things He made—maybe being a small light to Him even or to someone else.

I like the way John 1:4 NLT puts it, “Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.”

Love in Jesus,
God’s “light” servant,
Liz Ray

Written March 14, 2012

No   discrimination

I’ve always thought “No discrimination” is the best policy, but when it comes to this “flu/cold/whatever” that is going around, I would like to have been discriminated against and not have partaken of it.

But no, what’s fair for one is fair for all, I guess. Normally I don’t get sick. Famous last words. Did I ever get sick! And it hit me on my blind side without a word of warning.

I remember it exactly. It was on a Thursday, February 16. I was working outside in beautiful warm weather getting a lot of spring cleanup done, pulling early pop-up weeds, cutting off dead stuff—just enjoying the day. I felt absolutely great.

That evening it hit me, like I said, without warning. Chills, fever, headache, the whole bit. Where did it come from? And how could it be so devastating without at least a little bit of pre-warning symptoms?

Well, unanswerable questions. Now nearly three weeks later I am finally feeling better but not completely in the clear yet. It is “wicked stuff.”

But—there’s always a good side to everything. I lost about five pounds which I was wanting to do.

I had met my weight goal last summer for my birthday in June, but somehow had gained about two to three pounds over throughout the course of the winter.

Well, thanks to the “flu thing,” I am now back down to where I wanted to be with a little leeway even for weight fluctuations.

Now on a spiritual level—and what isn’t on a spiritual level—I’m so glad when it comes to loving people, God shows “no discrimination.”

Wow! He can even love me. And sometimes that’s going some, I know. And what better reminder than John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16 KJV)

I’ll take that. And thanks for no discrimination!

Love in Jesus,
God’s “getting well” servant,
Liz Ray

Written March 7, 2012

Now   its   Pickle

I knew this would happen. I told our son Mark that we were not going to get another cat since Peanut was gone. One cat Christy was enough now.

But, oh, no when he and Todd came from Minneapolis Saturday for their annual February Christmas visit, they brought in something extra in a pet carrier—a new cat named Pickle.

They had this all planned out. They had made contact earlier with Wayside Waifs in Grandview to stop and pick up the cat as they drove through on their way to Adrian.

I will have to admit it seems to be a very nice cat. It’s a two-year old tortoiseshell cat. Tortoiseshells are not a specific breed of cat but instead a special coloring that appears in many different breeds.

The coat is mottled with patches of orange or cream and chocolate, black, or blue. And because of a special gene tortoiseshells are almost always female.

Pickle was already named and according to her history, she had been a “shop” cat. I don’t know what kind of shop she stayed in, but she seems pretty well-adjusted to people.

She is a very quiet cat; in fact, she hasn’t meowed yet. Overall, she seems very calm and self-assured. She likes to get up on high places and so far her favorite seems to be the top of the computer desk in the family room. She also likes the top of the piano in amongst family pictures. She’s very agile and doesn’t bother the pictures at all.

Well, I did not intend to get another cat and I told our son this but our children sometimes have ideas of their own so I guess that is why we now have Pickle.

“...The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21 ESV) And now the Lord has given again. So I thank you, Lord, for your new gift.

Love in Jesus,

God’s “cat-recipient” servant,
Liz Ray

Written February 29, 2012