Major, A Sometimes-Retriever

English Golden Retrievers are bred to run through fields, waters and grasses to retrieve birds for their masters. A long history of ruggedness and obedience follows these gentle dogs. This is my dog, Major. In my yard we have sand, grasses, and wild ferns, which shouldn't be a problem for this hardy dog.












Well, guess again. It's not his white coat that's the problem. He has allergies to certain foods, so he eats Science Diet Sensitive Stomach food. And he is prone to skin allergies which I treat almost daily. He is one of the best dogs my hubbie and I have owned, but high maintenance.

And no, he's not too spoiled. Hey, he's my empty-nest dog, so give me a break.

Anyway, Major chases rabbits and even catches the small ones, ferrets out snakes, yuk, and today even caught a bird. Yes, one of it's wings was hurt, and it couldn't fly. But man, could it run. However, he didn't bite it, but put his paw on it until hubbie rescued the bird. As soon as hubbie pulled Major off, the bird ran away under the fence.

Major's breeding automatically insures certain actions. But, my dog will not retrieve, he likes to go get and not "bring back." Sometimes he won't even go get the object at all. He lacks the training to do work at that level.

"So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10

As a child of God I possess the spiritual history that Jesus gives. But without His instruction, I run helter-skelter chasing "rabbits, birds and sometimes snakes." God in his love for me and His creation, must grab a'hold and make me release until I am ready and trained to work the right way. I have been known to chase a grudge or gripe and not only hold onto it, but step on it to grind it into the ground. I'll not go into the snakes...... Is my skin sensitive? Am I high maintenance for Him?

This post was written at a request from a new blogger friend, Parsley who loves dogs. :)

May I chase only the things God directs me toward and learn to release when commanded. I want to do the work He's saved me to do.

Photos: first and last one by Brenda Knoll the rest by karenevans

Spirit Convincer

This little orange tree lives in my neighbor's yard across the street. Small, but produces oranges. We live a block from the Middle School, so youth pass our street every day. Last week my husband and I noticed there were green oranges in our front yard. Hummmm?


The next day I sat by the window, no not like a crazy old lady, but because our computer is in the front room by the window and I was writing. (just for clarification.) I wanted to see if my suspicions were correct. The cars lined up for the kids and then came the kids. Throwing oranges happens all the time around here with all our fruit trees. I wanted to take up for my neighbor's baby tree.


Sure enough about 4 middle school boys gathered around our corner and pulled oranges off the tree to toss them into our yard, or so it seemed. One of the boys even went and talked to a mom sitting in her van waiting for her child. I thought she told them to stop. Nope. The boys picked up more to throw. So I sent (teehee, like how I did that?) my hubbie out to tell them to leave the little tree alone. (My neighbor treasures his yard-but works in the afternoons.)


To our shock, one of the boys jumped in the van with the mom and they took

off. That was a biggest surprise of all.



The kids picked oranges only to throw into the old culvert, that tempting dark hole in front of our house. But what did that mom do? What did she teach?


"You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Matthew 7:5


Then before night came, the Spirit Convincer spoke in my heart. Don't you do the same? Do you speak critically of others and laugh when others do too? Don't you get annoyed when others irritate you? Don't you turn the other way to avoid a confrontation, to wrong a right? Do you practice everything you want others to do?


I can no longer "judge" that mom. Excuse me, I have something in my eye.

Spirit Walker

My son and grandson walk down the hall. Caden can't walk by himself. (Well, he could for a few steps if he let go.) But his dad, David, is there, and that's all that matters. Caden may not know where they are going , but readily walks. David may be taking him to change his diaper, get a bath, change into pajamas, or just to stroll about. Caden's just happy to be with Dad.


David, walking "along side," will not let Caden go. Even if Caden wants to go to a spot different than his Dad, he will not go far. Safe and protected, Caden doesn't fear what's ahead.


"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." John 14:16


Jesus spoke these words to His disciples before His crucifixion. Helper, meaning Paraclete, is translated several ways. In it's passive form it means "called to one's side." Someone who helps and aids, and comforts.


Jesus knew that we, that I, would need someone to hold my hand, my life, my soul. At times I go my own way, and become fearful. My soul cries, and I look around and wonder where I am. Then the soft words of the Spirit Walker call to me, and I see I'm the one who let go. When I extend my hand, He grabs it and off we go, safe and protected.


May I remember to stay close to the Spirit who walks beside me, and not fear the future.


Photo by M Evans - of course I had to show off my family.

Results May Vary!

Really Chocolate Chocolate Cake


2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup of Hersey's Cocoa
1 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup of boiling water


Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9-inch round baking pans. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water. Pour into pans. Bake 30-35 minutes until wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean and top springs back to the touch. Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans to wire racks, until completely cooled.


Also included at end of recipe. *Results may vary.


What! I want mine to look just like that picture and taste just as good. What's up with that?


They mean of course, altitudes, oven temps and one which I also figured out, the kind of milk you use. All these things must be adjusted to produce the desired product. But everything you need to make this cake is here. (It also said to: "Enjoy in moderation as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle." That part I'm just ignoring.)


"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3


Through God I have all the ingredients for a wonderful life. When the "heat of the Spirit" warms my soul, the results may vary. If I sit and delay before acting on His word, my actions or attitudes may become dry and brittle. The taste is there, but not as effective. Or if I act ahead of time my results may be gooey and all over the place. Same taste, but not ready for serving. Only when the ingredients of His knowledge and proper time come together, do I produce a actions/cake ready to eat and serve.


May I be attentive to the working of the Spirit in my life.


Oh, if you want the recipe for the icing let me know.


Recipe and picture from Hershey's Holiday Favorites, naturally.

Bonus Book Bonanza!

Books and books and more books. The Kindred Heart Writer's blog, of which I belong, is holding a Bonus Book Bonanza contest. We are giving away books! All you need to do to enter, is answer the question and share which book interests you.


That's all!


So go for it, you ALL may win a free book!


Now, go, go on, click on the Kindred Heart Writers site.


Have fun**

What the Heck is That Smell?

This native Floridian bush nestled between my two oak trees has grown to over six feet tall. We planted this bush about five years ago. Don't ask me the name, I can't remember. Anyway, it blooms several times a year, starting with small yellow buds then a flourish of tiny pastel blue flowers cascade down on each branch. It's strong roots are resistant to our hot, humid climate and weathered our storms.

I love the old southern look among the trees and wild ferns. But this summer something strange happened. I'd walk by with my dog, as he sniffed and dodged bees when a whiff of something yucky hit my nose! I looked all around and couldn't find the owner of the odor. I thought maybe a squirrel died, or something. It became worse in the following days. I decided my beautiful bush needed pruning, to see what was under there. There's the hole where I started.

As I trimmed the wonderful bottom bushes, the light poured in to expose the awful smell. There nestled, hidden under the pretty flowers was the most ugly mushroom, I have ever seen. This one, I kid you not, was at least a foot wide and it was rotting.

The picture below, is not that one because I was too grossed out with the flies, smell and look to think about taking a picture. But this is the same type mushroom in the same place and I got it before it grew ugly. The pruned branches allowed me to see this quickly and remove it. Especially before my dog tried to eat it. (As he has done before and became very sick.)

"But all things become visible when they are exposed to the light." Ephesians 5:13

How many times do I walk around with all my beautiful branches waving in the wind, my faith, my works, my smile, my "holy assurance" only to have God whiff something rotten underneath?

I hated to cut those beautiful flowers, but it was the only way. God knows this odor owner and prunes away what is necessary. He's my soul's odor eater. His Spirit reveals my hidden sins, then takes them away. Does it hurt? Oh yes. But it's the only way. And I want Him to "odor eat" all my bad stuff, before it affects others.

May deep breaths reveal no stink.

Click on pictures to enlarge-photos by kevans

A Slow Burn by Mary Demuth

A Slow Burn is the second in DeMuth's fiction Defiance Texas Trilogy. Mary digs out the dirt in lives broken without love and forgiveness. Her characters will make you cry and scream at the injustice in the world, and make you sing when they find their way. They will stay with you long after finishing the book.

Excerpts:

"So when Hap says I'm good for nothing but sex and cleaning the house, I have two choices. I can either internalize his words as the gospel truth, or I can remember that to God I'm precious."

"Leaves blustered while his feet plodded steadily along, his breath white in the winter day. Truth was he was blustered too. When it came to Missy, he was a dried out leaf, scattering, skittering here and there, unanchored to limb, to trunk, to roots. She was the tree, he knew. And her fingers let him loose to crunch under boot, to fly on the wind, to decompose in the dirt. God must've been in the wind, hearing Hixon's plea...."

"It's not really life that does the doing, Em. It's when my heart is settled inside me, all quiet like. Then I'm happy.

I take something to help me along."

A Slow Burn is crafted to give the reader insight into abused hearts who need God's love. It's message will help those in need. I recommend the series and I can't wait for the next one.

Get a glimpse of this powerful story in this trailer of the book.

Mary helps Christian parents break fresh spiritual ground, especially those with destructive family patterns. Her message guides parents who don’t want to duplicate the home where they were raised or didn’t have positive parenting role models.



An accomplished writer, Mary’s parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, Building the Christian Family You Never Had, and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. Her real-to-life novels inspire people to turn trials into triumphs: Watching the Tree Limbs (2007 Christy Award finalist, ACFW Book of the Year 2nd Place) and Wishing on Dandelions (2007 Retailer’s Choice Award finalist).


Mary speaks at women’s retreats and parenting seminars, addressing audiences in both Europe and the United States. She also has articles published in Marriage Partnership, In Touch, and HomeLife.


Mary and her husband Patrick live in Texas with their three children. Check out Mary's website.

I received this book as a participant in the Blog Book Tour. Check out what other readers think about this book.


This one is good, folks.