First there were five.  Then one by one they left for new homes until only one puppy remained.  He’s a cute little guy named Digger.  He’s a shy little thing though.  I guess that is why he is still here, he’s afraid of people.  I wonder how badly he was hurt before he was dumped on our doorstep?

In some ways, he reminds me of the visitors who come to church.  Many of them were hurt or lost before they came.  They sneak in as quietly as possible trying not to be seen.  We then have to lovingly coax them to become a part of the “pack”.  If we’re not careful and we try too hard to get past their shyness, we may drive them away.  But if we don’t reach our hands out they’ll never learn to trust again.

Sometimes that is how we are as Christians.  We are a bit shy when it comes to reaching out to the Lord.  Where did our trust go?  One too many hurts?  I think that too often we blame God for man’s deficiencies.  Regain your trust in God and allow him to surround you with love and guidance.

Wanda Stokely

Mother nature has done such a great job of caring for the world around us.  We can enjoy it if we just take time.  Have you ever noticed how she waits until things are good and dusty, then she rinses it all clean and fresh with a nice soft rain?  She doesn’t care how her plants grow.  They are most beautiful when allowed to go their own direction.  It is man who has forced order and precision upon this earth.  How sad it is sometimes.  We must remember always to take the time to stop and smell the roses.  So what if we don’t dust for another day?  It’s ok!  It will wait for us.  And while you are at it, make some time to enjoy God too.  While you sit quietly and enjoy nature, listen for that small still voice, allow Him to talk to you.  You won’t be sorry.

Wanda Stokely

What is important in life?  I used to think that it was wearing the “right” clothes, living in the “right” house and driving the “right” car.  Please notice that I said house not home.  Over the years I’ve learned that there is a big difference. 

I had the opportunity to live in a big beautiful house.  Everyone told me how lucky I was to live in such gorgeous surroundings.  I was nothing but a servant to that house.  You see, one of the problems with big beautiful houses is that in order to be beautiful, everything must be just so.  I wasn’t perfect enough to keep it that way.

Now, I live in a wonderful home.  It’s a home because it’s full of love and although it’s not dirty, it’s lived in.  It doesn’t matter if a magazine is on the end stand.  Eventually it will be discarded.

When we die, God is not going to ask us what kind of house we lived in.  He will want to know what we did with our lives to help others and honor Him.

Wanda Stokely