About 3 months ago I met and adopted one of the sweetest little doggies you could ever meet.  She was loving, kind and joyful right from the start.  She greets everyone who comes into my home with confidence and acts as if she has been waiting to meet them for forever.  If you were to meet her you would assume that she had never lived anywhere but in a loving home where she was trained, adored and cared for but nothing could be further from the truth.

          The wonderful rescue that I adopted her from got her about a month before I did.  She had been picked up as a stray but from the condition she was in, it was clear that she had been used and dumped by a puppy mill.  She is a mostly black dog but her hair was so dirty she looked yellow (see pic above).  She is the kind of dog that needs to be groomed but I doubt she had ever had a bath much less a hair cut or her nails trimmed.  Her nails were so overgrown I don’t know how she managed to stand and walk; one of her nails was crossed over the one next to it.  It must have been so painful.  If she had been just a stray dog, walking on the ground would have kept her nails shorter.  The length of them indicated that she had been kept in a cage all the time, not let out for anything, lying in her own filth, popping out puppies as often as she could. 

          Safe in the care of the rescue, she was given the love and attention she needed and then eventually we got to meet her.  As I reflect on her life, I feel amazed by her spirit.  The vet estimated that she is 4 years old.  That means that she spent the first third of her life in that horrible place.  Look at it this way, if we were to live 75 years, it would be like us spending 25 years locked up in a very small room being neglected, abused, used, just kept alive, never having a hair cut or a bath or our nails cut, never loved.  I don’t think I would be like her right now.  My heart would be closed, whereas, hers is open to everyone she meets.  I would approach everything with fear and she is so loving and confident.  She is so happy and she has been, right from the start when the rescue got her.  I also think about how she has benefited from the way she has approached her hardships.  If she had allowed her abuse to make her bitter, fearful, aggressive and hard, she would not have been able to settle herself into her new loving home so quickly.  She would have missed out on so many blessings.

           How often do we allow the difficulties that come into our lives to get in the way of us being able to accept the blessings God has coming our way?  How much do we miss out on because of how we have responded to life?  I hope I can be more like Zoey in the future.

                                                             One more thing…..Here is what she looks like now.

The author, Janice, lives in Illinois and is a friend of my daughter, Greta, who also lives there.  In Greta’s words, “Janice is a stay at home wife/mother/step-mother to three amazing girls and one wonderful husband.  Before becoming a mom she taught kindergarten.  She is a small group leader in her church and also serves on the vocal team.  Janice loves Jesus with all her heart.”

© 2014 Cat Brennan

A few weeks ago,  I purchased a pair of Red Leather Gloves online but I ordered and received the wrong size.  I didn’t want to go through the hassle of returning them and all that would involve.  So, I decided to give them to a friend of mine whom I was sure had small hands; at least smaller hands than mine.  She doesn’t.

The following week, a few of my friends and I were at “the deli” for our regular Tuesday night supper. As a result of this gathering at this particular place, I’ve made some additional, new and delightful friends. One of those new friends is Pat.  Pat is a sweet and generous woman.  She once gave me a GREEN sweater that she had been wearing. This was no ordinary sweater; it was APPLE GREEN, one of my favorite shades and had some beautiful stitching on it; further, it was kitten-fur soft.  Later, I gave it to a friend, the one who doesn’t have small hands, and she enjoyed wearing it for a time. She then gave it back to Pat who has since given it away again.

On this Tuesday night, after seeing that the Red Leather Gloves would not fit, I asked Pat to try them on, noticing her smaller hands; a perfect fit!  There was a small argument about her accepting the gloves and she finally gave in or gave up.

Sometime later that same evening, Pat admitted to us that she had, just that day, given away a pair of gloves that she was wearing. They were the ‘fingerless’ kind. A woman admired them and Pat took them off and gave them to her, figuring that she could buy another pair for herself.

I felt good about giving away the Red Leather Gloves, but had no idea they were playing their part in the Paying-it-Forward-gift-of-the-day.

I love it when I see these kinds of things happen and often wonder how many of these happenings I miss.  It really doesn’t matter if I know it or not. What matters is that if I feel a “need” or a “stirring” or hear a “still small voice” saying to give away something, I never go wrong in following that prompting.

Often, the phrases, “What goes around comes around” and “You reap what you sow”, are quoted in a negative sort of way. Personally, I like looking at the good things that ‘go around’ and get “sown”.

It’s good to remember the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” for it will come back to you.

      ^“And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal 6:9 KJV).

   “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit” (Gal 6:9 The Msg).

My dear friend and ‘hero’ pastor, Dr. James B. “Jim” Richards says, “If you always believe until you receive, you will always receive what you believe.”  

What did you do with your Red Leather Gloves?

© 2014 Cat Brennan

I’ve begun writing some memories of my dad.  He was my hero growing up and I want my grand children to know a little more about the person who was my father – their great grandfather.

One of my favorite memories is a simple birthday gift he gave me when I was probably 8 or 9 years old.  But first, let me tell you a little bit about my father.

Raymond Nicholas Arnold was the oldest of 4 children; 2 boys followed by 2 girls. His father died when he was about 12.

A farmer born in West Virginia, he had to move his family to New Mexico to a drier climate for his health.  That was a good move for him, for all of us and he lived a long and productive life.

Daddy married my mom when they were 31 and 25, respectively. I was their third and youngest of 3 daughters, born just 3 days after their 10^th anniversary.  Mother was quite a lady, smart and somewhat reserved.

Daddy had quite an open and engaging personality.  He loved to laugh, joke and tease.  He was an extremely generous person; actually, both my parents were giving people.

I’ve recently learned that it is a true ‘southernism’ for a grown woman to refer to her father as Daddy; it goes right along with grits and greens and sweet tea.

Now, about that gift I mentioned earlier. It was a simple box of 24 Crayola™ Crayons.  What made this gift so grand and such a strong memory?  Daddy had taken the time to wrap it and and wrap it and wrap it in different boxes as well as many different sheets of paper. The way he wrapped it made it so much bigger than a small box of crayons. 

It was a delight to unwrap this mysterious gift and to this day, it makes me feel well loved with that warm and fuzzy feeling.

My heavenly Father also presented us with a wonderful and not so mysterious gift; a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, born in a manger to die on a cross. The Mysterious Gift, the One we call Jesus, is really easy to know and understand.  He is easy to love because He first loved us.  He was born to bring mankind back to God; to create that pathway to peace with God that really isn’t so mysterious. 

At the time of Christ’s birth, people were looking for a Ruling King, a political giant and a strong and warring soldier who would rule over Rome and free them.  The mystery of this gift was a gentle, kind and loving savior. However, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

In John 3:16, we are taught, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”

When Jesus walked the earth, He told us in John 14:6, “I am the      way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Come, unwrap this precious Gift and receive.

© 2013 Cat Brennan

Nothing rhymes with thirteen.

At twelve you can delve. At eleven there’s heaven. At ten there’s pen or hen or den or Ben.

But Thirteen? Not a single thing even resembles thirteen. Maybe that’s why it is such a difficult age. It seems as though at any given moment, little girls at thirteen think they are women (you know, thirteen going on thirty-seven) and not a moment later, that same ‘woman’ is sitting on your lap shedding waves of tears because her BFF won’t talk to her.

A few weeks ago, my 13-year-old granddaughter made an interesting post on her Face Book page. It went something like this: I’ll be so glad when I get my iPhone and can escape from this Wi-Fi jail. Quite frankly, it cracked me up but I don’t think her mother was all that amused.

How often have you or I posted our own mutterings, “I’ll be so glad when I can get a new car”? Or grumbled to God “I’m so tired of this job” or “I wish my husband would pay more attention to me”.

In Ephesians 5:20, Paul reminded us,
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ”.

No, thirteen doesn’t rhyme with anything but then, a grumbling heart at any age does not create pleasant verse.

Perhaps it’s time to rewrite this teenager’s (or grown woman’s) book and STOP! In the name of Love ♪♪ … remember that song? Yes, stop in the name of love and see how that works ..
Thank you Father, It’s no bother. To give you Glory in every story..
I’ll offer up praise, my voice I’ll raise. My life every place, is blessed with your Grace.

The next time your thirteen doesn’t rhyme with anything, try posting, thinking or speaking some awesome praises to God, while giving thanks in all things.

© 2013 Cat Brennan

Meet Christmas Kitty

Are there animals in heaven?  I have friends who firmly believe so.  I really don’t know, but what I do know is that God cares about all the animals, our pets, and our love for them right now, right here on earth.  We can see in the Gospels that God loves birds.  In both Matthew 10:29 – 31 and Luke 12: 6 – 7, Jesus asks, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father” (Mat 12 v29 KJV).  And, remember that God wanted to save all the animals from the flood; when Noah was building the ark God told him in Genesis 6:19 – 21, “And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female” (v19 KJV).

Many years ago, a dear friend gave me a little black kitten for Christmas.  But first, let me tell you . . .

A bit of history; I’m aware that black cats are not the most popular because they are steeped in so much folk-lore.  However, my family liked the black ones!  When we were kids, we usually kept only the black kittens from our many litters.  In retrospect, I imagine this was my dad’s idea and a delightful way to keep the cat population limited.  So the story continues …

This little black ball of fur, no bigger than a minute, came complete with a bow.  I named him Christmas Kitty and he was often referred to as CK.

My kitty came with a rather unique marking – he was short-haired and his sleek black fur shined like obsidian … except for one spot!  On the back of his head, he had a circle of white fur! Immediately, I decided that was his halo – no heathen kitties in my home!!!

Christmas Kitty and I made friends quickly.  I placed a ‘break-away’ collar and bell on him so I always knew where he was; he seemed fine with that.  I had to replace that collar regularly.  I thought I would leash-train him; yeah right. Did you ever try to lead a cat?  It’s like trying to harness sunshine in a box. CK was the epitome of all of the cat lore that has ever been written.

He grew into a fine specimen and was very proper!  Christmas Kitty was extremely aloof as though he were a descendant of aristocracy.  He didn’t like most strangers on first sight, but if one would leave him alone, he would eventually warm up – in his own time.  Those who didn’t believe this characteristic of his would soon be the recipient of one of his famous scratches!

Christmas Kitty and I were together for nearly 10 years. I had long forsaken the collar and bell and lived to regret that.

While cleaning out and packing up my apartment to move from Colorado to Virginia, my kitty got out when the door was left open.  I didn’t discover he was missing for about 24 hours; I never found him.  I don’t mind telling you that I was really hurting; he had been my sole companion for quite a while.  I looked and asked but found no sign of him.  I even looked in and around the dumpsters where the raccoons hung out, wondering if he had become their supper.  There wasn’t time to advertise as my departure drew near, so I left CK and my loss in God’s capable hands.  I prayed that Christmas Kitty was okay and asked God to show me just that.

Moving day arrived and off I went in the Big Truck, moving to the east coast.  About halfway to Virginia, I went into a truck stop for gas and food as was the norm.  I got ready to hit the road again, and when I paid for my meal, there, by the check out were all kinds of small items for sale; you know, the kind you buy on impulse.  I usually avoid even looking at these things, but ONE caught my eye. It was a little black CAT lapel pin, less than an inch tall and he was sporting a tiny gold HALO. I purchased the simple little bit of Collateral Grace.

In that little pin, I saw the peace that I had asked of God and the assurance of the safety of my Christmas Kitty.  Once again, I asked and God responded.

God gets us through the big heart wrenching problems of life, and He is also present in the everyday small things; like losing a well-loved pet.

Once again, God honored His Word.  One example is found in John 16:25 – 27 (KJV) ^“These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.  At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God”

Don’t hesitate to ask God for help in any situation.  He loves you because He created you. This isn’t just a song; it’s God’s Word: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. It’s from Matthew 7:7. (KJV)

Please, won’t you ask in Jesus name what you need and want, seek His perfect will for your life and knock on the door of His heart?  He will answer.  Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart Psalm 37:4 (KJV).

© 2013 Cat Brennan

My daughter told this story to me early last year (Jan 2012). Then she typed it into her pc and sent it to me.  Recently, I asked for her permission to publish that account of yet another of God’s {if-you-ask-I-will-do-it} blessings .

Mercy 

It had been a rough day. It wasn’t any more challenging than other days in some respects. But, in other ways, it was monumental. The day was Wednesday, a crazy day. Wednesdays are supposed to be my “off” day. Off day to do what? Ah, yes. We run errands, have doctors’ appointments, go to dance, go to Girl Scouts, and then we have church. This particular day had a couple of added complexities. You know the days when you plan everything so carefully and then a wrench gets thrown in? Yes, it was one of those days.

The day started out cold and the kids and I headed to the doctor’s office. It was the third time in a week we’d been there. We are there for 90 minutes, we get a diagnosis and we hit the road. My oldest isn’t feeling well. I’m beginning to feel the sickness coming on me. I knew the worst was yet to come. But, alas, we kept going. Returning home, we have lunch, the baby has a nap and we’re off again.

I make 2 stops during this outing. First, to the dance studio. The little one does her dance practice and the others meander around. We finish up and it takes 20 minutes to get out of there! I had to contend with an unhappy 4-year-old, a sick 7-year-old, and make sure the other got out the door safely. We load up and we’re gone. Second, we go to a local store to pick up the 7 year olds medication-3 prescriptions for her and 1 for her dad. We get a few other items and head back home.

Once home, I open the van door on the baby’s side of the vehicle. And so it begins. “Uh-oh,” she says, in her sweet baby voice. That “uh-oh” means she dropped something. Shoes? For once, she’d left them on. Socks? Those were on, too. Okay, no worries. I gather our things-dance bag, school bag, purse, diaper bag, blanket, and so on. I look on the opposite side of the baby’s car seat to pick up her bear-surely it was there. But, no bear. Well, perhaps the kids grabbed it. So inside we go with all of our stuff. Off go the coats and the shoes. Chaos ensues as it’s time to make dinner, clean up a bit and get ready for Dad to get home. I task the kids with looking for the bear. No bear. Hmm. Perhaps she put it somewhere. We decide to look more later.

                Dinner is successful for everyone except for our 4-year-old, who has had a trying day. She was tired after not sleeping so well. So an early bed time it will be. By 7 pm, the kids are settled down with a movie, my husband is putting the last coat of paint on the girls’ wall. We put the baby to bed and off to search for the bear we go. The bear is not under the couch, not in the van, and not in the playpen. It isn’t in any of the strange places. Then, I start to worry. I call Target three times. The people were very kind-no teddy bear to be found. I call the dance studio-of course no one will answer, it’s about 8 pm. I e-mail the dance studio. The owner e-mailed back-no bear in the lobby or bathroom.

                I ponder what to do. It is after 8 pm. I am sick and I am tired. Surely that bear is in the dance studio. I sit back and think. I remember when we got to the van at the dance studio that the baby said her famous, “uh-oh,” there. She didn’t ask for Teddy. She didn’t shriek for her baby. Just the “uh-oh.” I talk to my mother, who prays that we find the bear. I decide then that I have to go look for Teddy-if not for my baby, then for me. I knew I would not rest until I had the bear in hand.

                At 8:35 pm, I leave my house. I make the 25 minute drive from where I live to the dance studio. For most of the drive, I pray. I think of James 5:16 (KJV), which says, “[T]he effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”[1] I pray for mercy. I pray, “God, I know that this is a little thing. It is a bear. But, my baby loves that bear. I have to find it. Please, God, show mercy. Let me find that bear. Let it be there. Please, God, show mercy.” Over and over during that drive, I pray for mercy. It was all I could think to ask. Mercy.

                I drive to the shopping center where the dance studio is located, heart pounding and prayers being whispered. I pull into the parking lot, get out near the spot where I was 6 hours before. I look around the spot, under a car, on the median and by the hedges. No bear. I get in my car and circle around to look at the other side of the hedges. Still, no bear. Undefeated, I pull up to the curb where the dance studio is. I get out, look on the sidewalk, in the bushes and walk to the door. The lobby is lighted so I peer in. I see the chairs as they were left in disarray (by my child!), but still no bear. I walk away, still searching and still praying.

I decide to drive through the parking lot again. I creep slowly and something catches my eye. I look out my window and there it is. In my methodical steps to back track, I completely passed the bear. On a light pole that is surrounded by a barrel of concrete, the bear sat. It is like someone lovingly picked it up and placed it there knowing that a child’s mother would be searching for it. I pause for a minute, capture the picture in my phone and get out and grabbed that bear. My heart rejoiced and I sobbed. I felt His mercy pouring out on me. I felt like something very good had happened. The only thing I could say was, “Thank you, God.” Over and over, I said those words. He heard my cry and my call. He answered me in the way I believed He would. And, by doing that, He showed mercy.

Mercy-what is it? How is it defined? I like Merriam-Webster’s definition. Here, it is first defined as being, “a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion” and second, it is “compassionate treatment of those in distress.”[2] So by definition, it is an act of compassion for those in distress. For me, the mercy I needed could not come from any one person. It couldn’t just be handed out. I think I had to listen to the voice that told me to go get that bear. Because only once that I listened could the divine favor be handed down. But, why?

Let me paint the picture for you. Before I found the bear, my state of being was, “off.” I was distressed. I was sick. I had a rough day. It was dark. It was cold. My baby went to bed without her baby, her Teddy. And I couldn’t fix it. But, He could. He spoke to me. He told me to go. I obeyed that voice. My motive was pure-to find the bear that my baby girl clutched every day. I needed something to show me that, as my mother tells me, “His mercies are new every day.” So when I listened to Him and when I did as He told me to do, He could do as He knew He would. He showed me where the bear was and He gave me a gift. It made all the hard things of the day fall away. It made me see tangible proof of His divine mercy.

I drove home with the bear. Periodically, I picked it up and held it close, thinking of what it represented. It is a reminder of a 19 month old with a love for animals; who has a tender heart at such a young age; and it is a reminder of God’s merciful answer to a fervent prayer. I go home and take that bear to my baby. I put it in her arms and kissed her goodnight. She’ll not remember that it was missing. She’ll not know of my distress. Instead, she got to wake up in the morning and hand me her Teddy. Mercifully, I was able to retrieve it and mercifully, she never missed it when it was gone. What a gift!

What can we learn about God’s mercy? Who gets it? Mercy isn’t extended on an exclusionary basis. It is given in a variety of situations. You will see it when….

                Kids rough housing yell, “Mercy”!

                An inmate on death row is given reprieve.

                The electric company doesn’t turn off your past due electric bill

                Forgiveness is extended when you mess up.

                The Christ hanging on a cross so we never have to.

                Think you’re missing out on mercy? Think that your day, every day, is ridiculously hard and challenging and that you’ll never catch a break? Think about this. We are born sinners. When we are born, our bodies are already dying. And no second, no minute, no hour and no day is guaranteed. Every day you wake up is a gift; an extension of His mercy. He does this because He loves us. Evidence of this love? How about this one-when He died on the cross, He thought about you. And me. And my children. He knew that on a particularly cold winter’s night I would call on Him to show me where to find a little brown bear for my baby girl. He thought about that when He was dying. Instead of thinking of Himself, His pain, and His impending death, He thought about all of us and all of things that would hurt us, scare us, and distress us. And, for those things, He died so we would have mercy in every aspect of our lives.

                What a gift that mercy is. Christ extended mercy upon us because He wanted to. He cares about the little things such as a sore finger, an average cold, and a missing bear. He cares about the big things, a wounded heart, a personal catastrophe, and the death of a loved one. So no matter how small or how big you think your problem is, remember this: you matter to Him and He will extend mercy to you just because He can. It’s up to us to share His gift of mercy and extend it to others.

© 2013 Alexis Owens

I have not edited her account; there is no need.

Throughout the New Testament, you’ll find God reaching out to us.  Look at the book of  John 14:13-14  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.  (KJV)

Now look at the same verse in The Message Bible   vv 11 – 14 “Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do. (MSG)

And His mercies ARE new every morning! Lamentations 3:22 – 23 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (KJV)

     My favorite color used to be blue – just about any shade, but my preferences have changed.  I love every shade of green, even drab olive-green. I also like pink; mainly raspberry, burgundy and magenta. Those are my favorite colors; greens and lively pinks.

As you can see by my title, green is (my) new black.  I “came up” with that phrase about 6 or 7 years ago. That year for my birthday, my eldest granddaughter gave me several gifts, all of which were green! Green hangers, green water bottle – lots of green.  Additionally, she typed a scripture to put with each green offering.  What fun!

Recently, I found some cocktail napkins with MY phrase on them – Green is the new black (Oops! Can I say cocktail on this website?).  ☺

Last year, I had the opportunity to help Beverly* with her wee daughter, Emma.  I took care of Emma a few hours a week for several weeks.  I played with her, changed and dressed her and put her down for naps and fed her cheese puffs (she quickly learned where I kept my stash, and like most little ones, she loved cheese puffs). My being there with Emma allowed Beverly to do some intensive house cleaning and purging – she wanted to get everything in order before her twins were born.  I am very fond of this family.  Beverly and I had some good visits as we both loved sewing – she’s made some gorgeous quilts.  Additionally, she inherited some lovely fabrics from her creative mother whom I believe had been an interior decorator.

When I arrived one morning, there were bolts and folds of several different fabrics scattered in the room where I cared for Emma.  Beverly was putting things away, and I commented on the lush hunter green fabric lying among the textiles.  Beverly asked me if I wanted it. I was a little embarrassed.  I wasn’t coveting it; rather just commenting on how beautiful the piece was. She told me to take it and reminded me that she was trying to trim her many belongings. Wow!  I was blown away and felt very blessed.

Now let me tell you what Beverly didn’t know; no one knew. This had never crossed my lips. I’d never written it down. I hadn’t even prayed about it. But God!!!  But God heard my thoughts and He read my heart.

I have two perfectly good bathrobes, but I have wanted a nice dressing gown for quite a while.  I hadn’t looked into how much one would cost, or if I made it, which was far more likely, what kind of fabric I would or should use.  The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted the color to be either hunter green or cranberry.

I am reminded of the verse in Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Through this sweet friend Beverly, God gave me the desires of my heart.  Only He knew what I wanted and he arranged the provision through a very generous and lovely person. Thank you, Beverly. Thank you, Father.

I am continually amazed as I walk with God; as I experience Collateral Grace.

*names are changed

© 2013 Cat Brennan