Spiritual Truths We Can Learn From Our Pets (Week 37)

Bella (Week 37)

Story Behind the Painting:

Meet Bella!

Several months ago, one of my best friends asked me to paint her yellow lab.  I saved the project to surprise her for her birthday.

Happy birthday sweet Melissa:) LYLAS!

If you look back through my art gallery, you will see several pet portraits in acrylic.  Bella is the first watercolor.  My artistic process consists of studying photographs of the actual animal and then paintings that look similar to the pet, so I can observe paint technique. I was amazed to see all the different colors that went into making the overall “yellow” lab.  One small spiritual truth here is that we too are a rainbow of colors, gifts, and talents that make up the overall art we bring to the canvas!

Remember, each of us is a masterpiece, created by The Master Painter!

Take-away Treasure:

Although my Shih Tzus are the primary inspiration for this strange, but deep, take-away treasure, Bella is the poster child for this post, since she is my most recent pet portrait:)

Spiritual Truths We Can Learn From Our Pets (Week 37)

Picky Poopers! My dogs will search and search for the perfect place to “unload.”  Most of the time they will pick a place on the periphery of the yard, near the fence.  How different would our world be if people were pickier “poopers,” choosing to unload in a private place, instead of laying landmines for others to walk through.  I have thought about this for years.  I was a little weirded out by own awareness of this particular phenomenon. I was even more weirded out by the fact I wanted to share it.  I am sharing it nonetheless.

Don’t you think we would all be much better off if we took a little more time picking our place to “unload.”   We live in a culture that leads us to believe, “If we think it, we must say it.”  We also live in a culture that often masks meanness with, “I am just being honest.”   Social media can become a coward’s playground, where they can pick and win any fight, using their “wordy opinions” as swords.

Don’t get me wrong and think that I am bashing all social media, because I am not.  As with most anything, we can choose to use social media for good or evil.  This is not just a  social media problem by the way.  There are bold opinionated bullies in the face to face world as well, who feel the need to “unload” anywhere and everywhere.  Once again, the “picky pooper” technique would be a good lesson for them to learn as well.

God’s Word is always ready to shine light on any scenario, if we will go to Him and invite His perspective.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV – Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Psalm 19:14 ESV – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Proverbs 29:20 ESV – Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 17:28 ESV – Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 11:12 ESV –Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Proverbs 18:13 ESV  – If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

James 3:3-6 MSG – A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. 

God does not mind us “unloading” to Him (“to HIM” and “on HIM” are two very different things; however, I believe HE can take whatever we bring HIM and make it new.)  I believe He welcomes it.  Taking our mess to God will keep us from leaving a mess for everyone else to walk through.  May we learn to take our opinions, concerns, complaints etc… to the Throne and not the phone, or Facebook, insta-gram, twitter, snapchat, or open mic!

I have a habit of looking for “spiritual truths” in EVERYTHING. I think you can see by this post that I truly mean everything. I take God’s promises literally!

When HE said,

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”  Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

“For EVERYTHING comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” Romans 11:36 NLT

When God says EVERYTHING, I believe HE means EVERYTHING!

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” Romans 12:1 MSG

Taking my dogs out is one of my everyday ordinary things.  It’s one of my “groundhog day” moments, day-in and day-out! If you have a pet, it is probably one of yours as well.

What are some of those other daily, ordinary, mundane moments?

Taking out trash

loading and unloading the dishwasher

laundry

packing lunches

tucking kids in bed

driving, driving, driving anywhere and everywhere

showers

brushing teeth

etc…

FILL IN THE BLANK  _______!

Now, go looking for Jesus in EVERYTHING. When you find HIM, ask HIM to give you KINGDOM eyes.

The Holy Spirit will be your love glasses

and

Oh, the hues we will see!

P.S. Here is a little snap shot of the original “Picky Pooper” inspirations:

A.J. and Lucy

They will make the “pet portrait” gallery soon!